I’m so happy to be in the book tour for Rather Like Marzipan by F.E Birch today. Thanks to Heather Fitt and the author for the copy of the book to take part.
Dark, delectable and devious – stories to make you squirm, stories that worm their way into your head and heart, leaving you chilled, perhaps thrilled, and maybe a tad paranoid.
These stories all have dark themes, with many of them touching on subjects that could be distressing. Some are at the grimmest edge of crime fiction, nothing cosy about them, with the exception of perhaps one, two. If you like your stories cosy then they aren’t for you!
Will Alvira get the night out she’s hoping for? And if so, at what cost? – Night Out
A mum looks for her daughter on the beach. Can she ever forgive herself for the tragic events she blames herself for? – Kaleidoscope of Seaweed, Stars and Footprints
The stress of IVF, an errant husband, and the murders of hard-working sex workers come together in a Blueprint for Murder
The secrets of the past threaten the now comfortable life of retired Tilda Fox – will she follow her heart or head?
Will Uncle Harry succumb to the dastardly deeds of his niece who is plotting a Caribbean cruise with the inheritance she’s due – Spring Menu
Does having a famous name bring celebrity and fame? And what do you have to do to achieve that notoriety? – What’s in a Name
When is enough finally enough of a charmer? How will Donal’s long-suffering wife seek revenge? – Blarney
Will Alice finally get to meet her sister, Izzie? Why did they come to be separated? When is a bad thing a good thing? – Finding Izzie
Kelly is missing her mum. How can Someone Else’s Mum ever replace her own?
Can a hardened detective save a vulnerable baby? What is the legacy of saving babies – or not – for a living? – That Tiny Sliver of Time
A short story collection that’s as dark and chilling as it says! I always enjoy a set of short stories due to the fact I can dip in and out without having to sit for hours.
I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading these, but F. E. Birch definitely knows how to craft a tale that worms its way into your head and sets a chain of thoughts going!
There is something for everyone in this book. The stories are all varying themes, and every story is a different length. There are some sensitive subjects contained within these stories, so be warned.
I did find myself getting a bit emotional while reading one particular story. That’s how disturbing these stories can be! But every one of them was written so well. If you like something to just pick up and have a quick read, Rather Like Marzipan is great if you like your fiction on the dark side!
Author Bio
Rather Like Marzipan is the second short story collection of F.E. Birch (also known as Effie Merryl). Her first is Bowl of Cherries. Each anthology contains short stories that have been previously published and/or placed in competitions 2004 – 2022.
F.E. Birch is an ex-cop from the North-East of England. She’s lived in London and Scotland and often inside her head. She is a prolific short story writer with a trail of pseudonyms and publications behind her. She won the first Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect competition in 2012 with the premise for her debut novel, She’s Not There, (Red Dragon Publishing) 2023. She is also the author of Confessions of an Undercover Cop, Ash Cameron (Harper Collins) 2013.
A businesswoman with a bendy EDS body, GSOH, and a tad clumsy, she wears many hats and loves wigs. Her friends call her Effie. With a penchant for dark, deep and disturbing, her crimes are rarely cosy.
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