Tag: Dr Martyn Pritchard

Monthly Wrap-Up – July 2026

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In early July, I took a bit of a step back from reading. I had a bit of a reading slump at the end of June. Honestly, I was too ambitious in my hopes for completing the Goodreads Spring challenge. I pushed too hard and failed. Nevertheless, we love onwards and upwards. 

So, I enjoyed a break, some craft projects and then dived in to fulfil some blog tour obligations and get back in the swing of audiobooks. If you’re interested, you can check out the list of books I intended to read in July by looking at my July TBR post. Now, let’s recap what I read in July. 

Books Read

Behind Closed Doors

Goodreads Link

My audiobook listen right at the end of June was Behind Closed Doors. I listened to this relatively short thriller over the end of June and into the beginning of July. If I recall correctly, I was around a third of the way through the audiobook as at the end of June. 

Given the break I ended up taking, I finished this audio a little later than I expected. However, when it came down to it, I did enjoy going back to and wrapping up this one. 

Did Behind Closed Doors blow me away in the way I hoped? No. Secretly, I was hoping this book would be a little different from other books in the same genre. Maybe the unlikely Millie would turn events on their head. Or, maybe our expectations of a controlling husband are unfounded and it’s Grace that’s the problem. No. sadly not. 

Nevertheless, Behind Closed Doors was a decent read. Just not genre-defining. 

Katabasis

Goodreads Link 

Early in the month, I read just a handful of pages of Katabasis. I made a decision to break from the book slump at end of June. So, I consciously chose to pick up different reads to those I was slogging over at the end of June.

I’ll go back to Katabasis in the near future. More on this to follow on the blog shortly. However, my first priority is to get back into reading more regularly and find some stunning reads to put me back in the right headspace. 

House of Twisted Shadows

Goodreads Link 

It helps that I had some reading deadlines to meet. Else, I may not have read much at all in July. 

My first reading deadline was a review of House of Twisted Shadows on the 25th July. I love the combination of WW2 history and Nazi associations/ties to Tyler House and the mystery underpinning the whole story. House of Twisted Shadows is moody, aesthetic and honestly, it was the refreshing read I needed. 

If you’re curious, check out my review here. 

A Painkiller to Die For

Goodreads Link 

Hot on the heels of my review of House of Twisted Shadows, my obligation to review A Painkiller to Die For fell just a few days later on the 28th July. 

This book was very different in its style and angle. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters, the morality question of what was going on and exploring the underlying motives and goals of the characters in the storyline. 

A Painkiller to Die For is another interesting read I think you’ll enjoy if you like the sound of it based on the description above. Want to find out more? Take a look at that review here. 

The Tw*t Files

Goodreads Link 

Like Katabasis, I picked up The Tw*t Files at the end of June to hopefully break the reading slump. 

At the beginning of July, I read around 100 pages. It’s pretty quick to read, and very funny. However, I did stop reading this one in favour of making a friend a birthday gift. Then, my blog tour obligations took priority. This is another book you’ll see more of in the near future – watch this space!

Empire of Storms

Goodreads Link 

Finally, the read that’s been dominating my attention for most of the month, on and off, it Empire of Storms. 

Whilst this book is definitely easier to listen to than read, I didn’t quite finish it before the end of July. In fact, as of writing, I have just under 3 hours left. I made a valiant effort last Sunday and listened to around 6 hours whilst my partner was at work. One last push to go and I will be able to tick Empire of Storms off the list! ✅

Summary

July was a bit of a slow month, but that’s okay! I’m hoping things will settle down shortly and I’ll be able to reading at my regular pace before I know it! 

How is your summer reading going? 

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Sunday Summary – 2nd August 2026

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Last week’s Sunday Summary post was written ahead of normal time, and this week’s timing is a little off as well. However, we are the other way this time. Whereas last week’s Sunday Summary was drafted in the afternoon because I had friends coming over, this Sunday Summary has been drafted at normal time, but has been scheduled to go live first thing on Monday morning. Why? Because I had a blog tour review post scheduled for Sunday that needed to take priority.

It’s one of two blog tours I have part taken in this week. The first of those was for a book called A Painkiller to Die For, which I reviewed on Tuesday. Then, between these two blog tour obligations, I shared a First Lines Friday feature. Finally, on Sunday I took part in the blog tour for a book called Duel of Beasts.

Books Read

Empire of Storms

In recent weeks, progress with Empire of Storms has been pretty slow. Whilst I have had the time and opportunity to listen to this audiobook, I confess I haven’t made the most of those opportunities.

Truthfully, that’s the same for this week, with the exception of today. Conscious that I am now once again slightly behind on my read along, I made a solid push with this audiobook today. I have only listened to to this audiobook today, but I managed to plough through six and three-quarter hours. The other half was at work today, so I pretty much kept it on for company whilst pottering around the house and enjoying some crafting hobbies.

I’m curious to see how Empire of Storms  will pan out. Whilst there are aspects of this narrative, I’m really enjoying, we are seeing a bit more in the way of romance coming into the storyline. I’m not a huge fan of these sections, so the slightly heavier leaning into the romance aspect isn’t my cup of tea. However, I do want to see where the main plot line takes us and where Empire of Storms  will conclude.

A Painkiller to Die For

I started this week having made a start with a painkiller to die for, but I confess I had a decent junk of the book still to read before sharing my review on Tuesday. Nevertheless, I hunker down on Monday night to finish the remainder of the book before getting my post out on time.

I enjoyed this medical/science themed thriller. It was an interesting book full of characters that you end up with mixed feelings about. They aren’t exactly moral or altruistic, yet we can understand their positions and motives. It’s a complex narrative, and one that has you thinking long after the book has been closed. 

I won’t rehash my whole review here. You can go and find it here if you want to find out more.

Duel of Beasts

I hadn’t started Duel of Beasts before this week, so I’ve dedicated a solid amount of effort into reading this ahead of Sunday’s blog tour post. 

In my review, I talked about how this book started as a bit of a stretch goal for myself, but quickly became a book. I was looking forward to picking up. I’ll admit I had precious little understanding of European Medieval history. So, from this book, I learned that Spain was run by sultans of the Muslim faith between the eighth and 15th century. Duel of Beasts is set in the 14th century, so towards the end of their dynasty and during a time of political intriguing as well as religious conflict.

Historical adventure sums up Duel of Beasts perfectly – full of action, conniving and intrigue, there is action in every chapter and the protagonists Willa and Gerard are out of their depth really. If you’re keen to find out more based on this snapshot, go check out my full review here.

Books Discovered

Another week of no news here – I really do have to be on a record right now. I haven’t added a book to my TBR in seven weeks now! 

Coming Up…

What I’m Reading…

In this section, I give you a heads up on my planned reads for the next seven days. Here’s what I’m hoping to tackle:- 

  • Finish Empire of Storms – I’ve only got 3hrs of audio left
  • Listen to The Midnight Train 
  • Continue The Pillars of the Earth
  • Continue with Katabasis

So, the theme of next week’s reads is to try finish up some ongoing reads ready for a clean slate. 

Blog

It’s the beginning of August, so that can only mean it’s time to share my progress with reading in July. That post will go live on Tuesday. 

Next, I’ve got my August TBR to think about. I’ve got a couple of blog tours later this month, but otherwise, you’ll see some familiar titles on my August TBR… 

Finally, I’ll round up my week with my usual Sunday Summary. There’s nothing special next week, so it should come to you at the usual time! 

Summary

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary! I hope you have a fantastic week coming up and I will catch up with you shortly. 

Happy reading! 

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Book Birthday Blitz! – A Painkiller to Die For – Martyn Pritchard

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If you like the sound of a mystery thriller based on the moral dilemmas of ethical science, you’re probably very open-minded. Or, you have niche tastes. Personally, as a pretty open-minded reader I was curious to give A Painkiller to Die for a try! It’s a unique premise, and one that was very different from anything I’ve read lately. 

As always, thanks to Rachel and the author, Dr Martyn Pritchard, for the opportunity to read and review A Painkiller to Die For this July in celebration of its book birthday. Whilst I was provided a copy of the book for the purpose of giving my review, the thoughts expressed within this review are entirely my own.

Here are the details, the synopsis, and purchase links. Then, my (hopefully) highly anticipated review for the book birthday of A Painkiller to Die For can get underway! 

A Painkiller to Die For – Martyn Pritchard

Genre: Mystery Thriller 
Pages: 282
Audience: Adult
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Limited
Original Publication Date: 28 July 2025
Rating: ???

Goodreads – A Painkiller to Die For

It was difficult for Will Jeavons to imagine just how his life could possibly get any better. Having overcome a traumatic childhood, he had gone on to study molecular pharmacology and win tenure as a lecturer at his beloved Cambridge University. But his life was soon to become better still, the CEO of a biotech company. Will’s unique research led to the discovery of a non-addictive drug for chronic pain. A remarkable solution for the opioid epidemic which had claimed the life of his mother. 

Will’s flourishing company was subsequently acquired, and this was when he first met Celeste Simmonds. The beguiling Celeste would steer Will away from his earlier hedonistic, womanising lifestyle. However, the only way he could ensure the success of his drug was to bury key safety data which could have led to the clinical trials being terminated. 

Clinical trials which resulted in the husband of Lydia Goldberg falling into a deep coma. It was Lydia’s scientific training which led her to discover Will’s fraudulent cover-up. She was determined to seek vengeance and concocted an elaborate honeytrap and a decision for Will to make. A career ending confession or being submitted to a life-threatening game of Russian roulette.

Purchase Links – Amazon UK Amazon US

My Thoughts…

Plot

In A Painkiller to Die For, the plot as it unravels is all about to a moral dilemma. When a drug flags up some concerning test results, do you be honest and face the consequence of losing everything you have built to date? Or, are you supposed to suppress it  hope that the cost paid down the line isn’t a human one. 

I personally enjoyed the conflict that takes place throughout this book. Combining the plot line with a set of less than altruistic characters, we end up with the engaging mystery and ultimate thriller narrative we see in A Painkiller to Die For! 

I’m not going to spoil anything for you here. Otherwise, how would I be encouraging you to pick up the book for yourself? Instead, what I will say is that I was engaged for this book and read most of it in one sitting. 

Characters

I personally have mixed feelings over characters, Will especially. However, I’d argue that’s intentional given storyline. Will is hardly upstanding and honest in the face of moral dilemma that could shut down his small company for good. 

The one redeeming aspect of Will’s character is his backstory. It lends context to why Will ends up in the job/position he is and his motivations for keeping Granta Pain Therapeutics alive. 

Otherwise, we are treated to a wide cast of characters that help bring an overall storyline. Some are stronger than others, such as Celeste and Lydia. Others provide more of a background, but no less contribute to the wider narrative.

Setting

The overall setting of A Painkiller to Die For is pretty modern. The Narrative re refers to post-Covid events. So, really we’re looking at a book set in today’s world. 

And really, this is done very well. It checks out. Characters are in line with expectations in terms of modern technology, attitudes etc. It feels like it could be happening here and now in the real world. We can only hope not! 

Narrative Style

I enjoy a multi perspective narrative, which we readers are treated to here. Written from the perspectives of multiple characters, we get to see the events of A Painkiller to Die For unfold and watch the moral dilemma play out. This kind of book wouldn’t be the same in a single perspective. This is definitely a designed choice that works for the book, and it suits my overall preference! 

What’s also a bit different is that the story starts at end and we discover ‘how we got there’ throughout the page count. Whilst I think this style can be a bit of a risk, it’s worth the payoff. The mystery in this case is to uncover the truth that gets to an epic and drastic conclusion. In A Painkiller to Die For, we get the payoff we’re looking for. 

A Painkiller to Die For is also written in a reasonably easy to follow style. I had no trouble devouring the narrative at all… 

Summary

A Painkiller to Die For is an interesting book – the author’s experience in the field is without question. It’s a unique take on a topic we don’t read much about, yet I enjoyed something different. 

I hope you can pick a copy of A Painkiller to Die For and let me know your thoughts in due course! 

Author Bio



Dr Martyn Pritchard is currently moving towards retirement following on from a 35-year long career in drug discovery research focusing on neuroscience as well as novel medicines to treat pain. He is the author of over 50 scientific papers and book chapters along with one novel written under a nom de plume: A Practical Arrangement.

Social Media Links – 
Instagram: martyn.pritchard1 (Instagram)
Facebook: (20+) Facebook

Sunday Summary – 26th July 2026

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Good afternoon everyone! I’m drafting this a little earlier than usual for today’s Sunday Summary as I’m having friends around this evening. Needless to say, I won’t be getting any additional reading done. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a good catch up, and I can’t wait to see how my friends have been doing.

But what have I been doing? That’s what you’re here to learn. I’ve managed to get some reading done this week, which is a bonus given I’ve had some reading obligations to take care of. On top of that, I have enjoyed learning and swearing at my new knitting machine ? it’s an experience I have to say… 

On the blog, I’ve shared a Top Ten Tuesday about books that live in my head rent free (basically, I think about them a lot). Then, my most recent blog post went live yesterday. That post was my blog tour review of House of Twisted Shadows by J.H. Mann. 

Books Read

House of Twisted Shadows

Naturally, with a blog tour obligation this week, reading House of Twisted Shadows was my main priority. This book over the course of the week, between getting excited to test out my knitting machine amongst other obligations. You’ll be pleased to know I finish this book well in time to put together my blog to review post. If you haven’t checked that out already, you can do so here. 

A Painkiller to Die For

Another blog tour obligation is rapidly approaching! My review for A Painkiller to Die For is due on the 28th of July. The good news for you is that you don’t have long to wait to hear my thoughts on this book. The ‘bad’ news for me is that I’m only just starting to read it.

Jesting aside, i’m looking forward to getting into this one properly. And, it’s a relatively short book meaning it shouldn’t take me too long to get through to the interesting aspect of the narrative. I have some suspicions already from the synopsis of how this may pan out. In a way, I hope I can be surprised though.

More to follow on this one in just a couple of days, so hang tight. 

Empire of Storms

I had hoped to hit Empire of Storms a little harder this week. However, as of drafting this Sunday’s Summary post, I have listened to just three hours this week.

We’re now fast approaching the end of July, so I need to step up with progress in order to finish the audiobook before the end of the month. Was my being on track with this book and series short-lived? Quite possibly! However, I am nothing if not capable of pulling things out of the bag last minute. I’m going out of my way more to do my own thing at the gym, so that is opportunity every day for some listening time. Not only that, but some nights I listened before bed as well. 

Is it doable? Yes! Will I manage it? … We’ll see! 

Books Discovered 

Sorry to disappoint, but my wallet remains happy and my TBR is still going in the right direction (down!)

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here are the books I will be reading in the next seen days. At minimum…

  • ??Read A Painkiller to Die For – review due 28th July
  • ??Read Duel of Beasts – review due 2nd August
  • Finish Empire of Storms – take your bets on whether I complete before the end of July now! 

Blog

Next week on the block is going to be a busy one! As you will have already gathered from earlier content in this Sunday Summary post, I have a blog tour review due on Tuesday, the 28th of July for A Painkiller to Die For. 

Next, I’ll return with a Friday feature post, this time a  First Lines Friday. To be honest, priority is going towards focusing on my review reads. Therefore, I’m not going to set any form of challenge or task that’s going to make selection more difficult. Instead, I’ll do what takes my fancy on the day… 

Next Sunday, my review is due for Duel of Beasts. Obviously this conflicts with my usual Sunday Summary post. In order to give that blog to book full priority, that will go live first thing on Sunday morning. I will still draft my Sunday Summary, but this will go live at a minute past midnight on Monday morning.

Summary

Thanks for reading today’s Sunday Summary instalment! I hope you’ve enjoyed catching up with me and my current reads.

What audiobook are you listening to right now? Do you have any reading deadlines coming up? 

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