WW2 crime mystery set in Canterbury, Kent (and London)
GIVEAWAY: Win 1 of 3 copies of LOOK CLOSER – LONDON
29th March 2026
GIVEAWAY: WIN 1 of 3 copies of Look Closer by Rachel Amphlett, thriller set in LONDON (and Home Counties)
OPEN TO WINNERS IN UK, AUSTRALIA and USA
Will Fletcher seems to have it all – perfect job, perfect life. Then in one act of extreme violence, his world is turned upside down
A bungled assassination attempt on a London street uncovers a disturbing conspiracy fuelled by organised crime and political ambition. Now, Will finds himself on the run, pursued by a dangerous enemy who will stop at nothing to protect his employer’s past
The only way to stop the chain of events is to follow a trail of clues that lead to the heart of British politics.
With the date for the UK General Election only days away and the killers closing in, Will is running out of time to deliver his own version of vigilante justice and expose the corruption. As the web of lies and deceit unravels, Will knows the answer’s out there.
All he has to do is look closer.
Everyone has secrets.
Everyone lies.
Winners’ copies are not signed by the author
HOW TO ENTER
- You need to be a member of TripFiction. Simply go to tripfiction.com and scroll down to the JOIN NOW tab. And we do check!
- Just let us know in the Comments below by midnight, 11 April 2026, share details with us of the book you are currently reading and is it strong on location (don’t worry if it’s not!)?
UK, AUSTRALIA and USA ENTRY
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The winners are:
thea13
Emma Kinsey
Mkinsey
rereading, 1984
Deadline by Steph McGovern. I’m almost half way through but I wouldn’t say that it is a location based book.
not currently reading anything.
I am reading One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune. An atmospheric story set in a lake cottage in Ontario, Canada.
I’m enjoying The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Stephen Graham Jones. This is a great book set in the American west.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab which has a variety of strong locations.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy which is set on an island near Antarctica
I’m currently reading Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon – it’s historical fiction and is strong on location in North Carolina and also Scotland xxx
I am reading Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, which is set in Stratford-upon-Avon, with most of the story staying rural, and a few scenes set in London. It generally details the natural environment and feels very alive and immersive.
I’m reading Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. It’s very rooted in small town life in Illinois
I am reading The Collected Regrets of Clover which is mainly set in New York
The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith, set around Bath.
I am reading The Figurine by Victoria Hislop. As with all her novels it captures perfectly the beauty and allure of Greece and the Aegean.
I’m re reading The Thorn Birds – very strong on the Australian Outback location
I’m reading The Island Love Song and it is very strong on location, which is the island of Hydra in Greece
Harlan Coben – location is invented though not very strong anyway – doesnt take away it’s appeal
I am reading The Case of the Screaming Beauty by Alison Golden and Grace Dagnall. Quite a light short book but very readable. I will have finished by tonight – just a days reading!
I’ve just started ‘Man in Black’ and other stories by Elly Griffiths. I never think short stories are particularly strong on place – it’s all about the characters!
All her little lies – no, not particularly strong on location.
I’m currently reading Rain Gods by James Lee Burke,
it is based in Texas.
I’m currently reading a novella: Wish You Were Dead by Peter James. It is very strong on its French location, which isn’t very inviting at the moment.
The Violin Makers Secret. Very unusual mystery with lots of varied locations. Strong in musical history
I am currently reading My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney and it is strong on location. It is based in Hope Falls in Cornwall. The cliffs, sea, and clifftop house in Hope Falls create a tense, atmospheric setting that shapes the whole story.
Currently reading The Casual Vacancy
Novel by J. K. Rowling. It’s set in Pagford, a beautiful English village with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, The idyllic location is not indicative of the village life with its own scandals!
Ocean by David Attenborough – stunning location!
the housemaids secret – set in manhatten
I am reading Summer by Rosamund Pilcher which is based in Cornwall
Jo Nesbo – Wolf Hour ok on location but not as good as the Harry Hole books
Im reading the bad sister so far its good
I’m registered
I’m currently reading 59 minutes by Holly Seddon, set in London and South West England. A tense scenario only enhanced by my familiarity with the London setting!
I am just starting Beautiful Ugly so I amnot sure of it’s location yet.
I’m reading Reservoir Bitches, which tells the stories of several Mexican women xx
A friend has lent me Miss Read and Miss Clare remembers. The former rekindled many memories of my first teaching post in 1968. A village school, next to the church, two rooms with two equally troublesome stoves and a cleaner who was always moaning about the mess! Mine was in a fenland village rather than at the foot of The Downs but there was a very strong link to my experience of a country school and I was very moved by it.
I am currently reading Journey to Jupiter by Hugh Walters from the 1960’s. Pure nostalgia and the location is Jupiter and Io
Chasing Hare by Chloe Dalton
i reading sociopath and the location is not very exciting
I am reading Rabbit is Ruch, I have only just started, but it does paint a wonderful picture of small town Pennsylvania
Book, How They Broke Britain by James O’Brien, Very heavy reading, I do not believe I can in future ever again believe a Politician or the Fourth estate. It’s location is the UK but I think it applies all over the world.
Elizabeth Chadwick the Crownless Queen set in Oxfordshire
I’m reading The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross. I’ve just started and it’s mostly action-based at the moment.
Currently reading Death of an Ice Cream Salesman by Steve Higgs.
Set in Kent, England
Currently reading The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard, based in an Edinburgh tenement over 12 decades.
Black as he’s painted – very strong
I’m currently reading “Laidlaw” by William McIlvanney. It’s set in Glasgow and the sense of place is so strong it’s almost a character in its own right. By turns beautiful and dystopian, it gives a fabulous sense of the city and its inhabitants.
Just coming to the end of A Friend of the Family by Lisa Jewell. It’s set in London.
I’m currently reading murder in the library, based in a cosy town in England, and it sounds like a beautiful place.
I’m currently reading We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer set near Yale, USA.
I’m currently reading Reminders Of Him by Colleen Hoover, and yes, I’d say it’s strong on location!
Reading and loving The Sixteen trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting. Set in North Norway, The Shetlands and the Somme it is indeed strong on location !
I’m reading The Wedding People by Alison Espach – set in Rhode Island at a cliffside hotel
I’m reading The Sun in Her Eyes which is based on Australia
I just finished The Lost Bookshop and really enjoyed it. It’s fairly good on location although I would have enjoyed more details.
I have just finished rereading Last Light by Alex Scarrow
It’s not what you think by Clare Mackintosh – not strong on location
I am re-reading Huxley “Brave New World”, no not strong on location for obvious reasons 🙂
I am reading ‘Love By The Book’ by Jessica George and it’s set in a bookshop!
I’m reading the housemaid secret use location and I’m really loving it so far
Streets of Darkness by A.A. Dhand based in Bradford
I’m currently reading Butter – set in Japan. It’s a intense read but it’s imteresting
I am reading The Last Devil to Die set in the south of England
I’m reading The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. I’m not sure I would say it’s strong on location but I’ve really enjoyed this series. I love a cosy mystery
I’m reading Packinko by Min Jin Lee. It has strong links to both Sth/Nth Korea and Japan and is the story of a migrant family over 80 years. It’s such a good book!
The Names by Florence Knapp which features Ireland
I’m currently reading Meet Me Under the Northern Lights by Mandy Baggot — it’s wonderfully strong on location, with Iceland’s landscapes and sights woven through the story. Really enjoying it so far.
I am reading the chimp paradox, brilliant book 🙂
The chimp paradox, it is amazing!
Reading “Three Act Tragedy” by Agatha Christie – can’t say it’s big on location but enjoying it -Love Truman Capote for his descriptions of places x
Im re-reading The Island by Victoria Hislop as I’m off to Crete next month 🙂
Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben and yes I think so but only just started but is set in America but could move around America
Currently reading The Wrong Sister which is set mainly in the UK but there has been some action in Venice. Not heavy on location though.
Very much keeping me guessing at the moment with all its twists and turns.
the thrusday murder club series
Anna & The Beast by Christine Reddall set in the UK telling the tragic life of her daughter who suffered from Dementia at only 37 years old.
Reading Time Shelter, Georgi Gospodinov, set in Switzerland and Bulgaria. It is for a read the world country challenge and I found it using the TripFiction search function!
All about us, not strong on location
Murder at the Book Festival – Jane Bettany.
Only two chapters in and so far it could be set in any UK village …..
I’m reading Meet Me Under the Northern Lights by Mandy Baggot, based in Iceland and highlights a lot of the sights to be seen.
50 Shades of Grey … because I’m that sort of gal!
I’m reading Atomised by Michel Houellebecq, very much a French setting
Dead Souls by Ian Rankin. Strong on location.
I’m reading Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. Mostly set in America, not too strong on location. Good book so far though!
Reading ‘The Trad Wife’s Secret’ by Liane Cild.
Set in Montana USA.
Gives the sense of isolation and huge skies and the homesteading life- real and media hyped.
The Neon Rain – James Lee Burke
Strong New Orleans setting.
I’m enjoying Mythos by Stephen Fry. A funny vivid retelling of the Greek myths – does Ancient Greece count as a location ??
I’m reading My Bonnie – John Suchet. It’s very sad – about his wife suffering with Dementia. It’s set in London and France.
Currently reading Havoc by Rebecca Wait. Very disappointed in it. Have read previous books of hers and really enjoyed them but this one is really not up to her usual standard I feel. Set in a boarding school in the 1980’s – not really getting any good vibes. It’s trying to be funny but sadly not!
I’m reading “Seeds of Murder”, it’s set in a gated estate that sounds beautiful from the description on the outskirts of London.
I’m reading “Murder in the Arctic” by Tom Hindle. Good descriptions of Svalbard.
I’m currently reading The Names & there are a few location related descriptions.
Currently reading Complicity by Iain Banks. It’s not very strong on location, but I think it’s set in Scotland.
Weavenshaw
I am just starting Penitence by Kristin Koval, a new author for me.
I’ve just started reading The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, loved her other books so excited for this one!
Currently reading The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves. Set in North Devon
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French.
It is set in Norfolk, UK and mentions areas that I’m familiar with as it’s within reach of where I live. The book is from my book club.
Currently reading an old one – Rachel Gibson’s Truly Madly Yours
I’m reading Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. It’s a fantasy novel, so all the places are fictional, but there is a lot of detail about the different locations, which really brings them to life.
i am reading Dracula by Bram stoker
I’m currently reading T.M. Logan’s new thriller, The Weekend, which is set in the Yorkshire Dales. I’m only a few pages in though!
currently reading (again) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel, set in prehistoric Europe
Last Train to Scarborough by Andrew Martin – I have a strong affiliation to Scarborough having always holidayed there as a child and now living close by. Thrilling disappearance story around the Great War, thoroughly enjoyable read
I am reading Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and it is very strong on place – the Appalachians
I am currently reading The War of the Worlds by HG Wells. It is based in southern England, particularly Surrey/outer London.
I am reading Death in Soho by Shiv Saywack but have only just started it but I am guessing by the title that it will be strong on location!
I’m currently reading [State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg], which has me happily wandering its pages like a tourist who forgot to bring a map but remembered to bring snacks. The sense of place is lovely — not so vivid that I’m checking flight prices, but strong enough that I can almost feel the weather and hear the background hum of life there. It’s the kind of book that quietly transports you without shouting about it, and I’m enjoying every step of the journey.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest
Novel by Stieg Larsson. I dont think it is strong on location
I am rereading the book thief, it is not big on location but is set in Germany
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Rizden set in Sweden but not massively heavy on location
I am reading The Salt Path, it is all about location. It covers the Devon to Cornwall costal path and talks about a lot of places in detail
I’m reading The House Warming by Kristin Offiler. It’s mostly set somewhere called Brick Island in America, it’s a bit vague on details but I think it’s a coastal area of New York state. But frankly it could be anywhere, there’s no sense of place at all. In fact you didn’t ask for a review so I’ll just say there’s no sense of anything much and I’m getting tempted to dnf
surviving the evacuation book 23 and its largely based on locations
I’m currently reading a book called Ring if Fire. It’s a fantasy story set mainly in a very severe prison.
Im reading Peter james the hawk is dead
Yes has its roots in southern England
Currently reading City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Quiet Girls by Dorothy Koomson. Yes, her books feature Brighton in them a lot.
The Final Vow M.W. Craven.
As with all of the series it is strong on location in Cumbria