Novel Kicks Book Club: Well, That Escalated Quickly by Sarah Turner

Published November 1, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Book Club. 

Hello November.

This year has just flown by. We’re heading towards the end of the year already, and I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely ready for some cosy evenings, a blanket, a hot chocolate and, of course, a good book. November always feels like that little pause before the madness of Christmas begins. Haha!

As you would have already seen from the title, this month’s book pick is Well, That Escalated Quickly by Sarah Turner.

I have to say, the title alone caught my attention. It immediately made me chuckle… in a good way. We’ve all had those moments when life takes an unexpected turn and things seem to spiral rather quickly. Sometimes all you can do is laugh, pick yourself up and see what happens next. I’m looking forward to seeing what Sarah Turner has in store for us with this one.

As usual, anyone can join, whether you’ve already read the novel or will be reading along with me. I have placed a question in the comments below to kick off the discussion.

I really hope to see you there.

 

About Well, That Escalated Quickly – 

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Book Spotlight: Death the Second Time Around by Jeanine Englert

Published October 31, 2026 | By Laura

I’m happy to welcome Jeanine Englert to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on her book, Death the Second Time Around.

Burying her husband the first time was hard. . . but the second time might just kill her.

Priscilla Newberry’s move to Obley, England was supposed to be a fresh start for her and her young daughter. But when the body of her late husband she believed long dead is found at her former home in Clun, she is pulled reluctantly back into the past and an inquiry case to find out who murdered him now and why.

Widower Augustus Travers is driven to protect the people of Clun in his new role as Constable, but nothing could prepare him for his first case: finding a man murdered, especially a man who was believed to already be dead and the late husband of a woman he could lose his heart to if he wasn’t careful.

As the clues unfold, Priscilla and Augustus find themselves in a harrowing race against time as they face the past and the consequences of death the second time around.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: The Tide Line

Published October 30, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome to Fiction Friday, our weekly flash fiction challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Set a timer for five minutes and start writing

Keep going for as long as you can once the timer goes off

No editing allowed—raw writing only

When you’re finished, feel free to share in the comments (but there’s no pressure.) 

 

Today’s prompt – The Tide Line.

Every morning, the tide leaves something unusual on the beach outside your character’s home: a single glove, a child’s shoe, a perfect blue shell. One morning, it leaves something that belongs to them—something they lost years ago.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Character Challenge – The Past

Published October 29, 2026 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room.

It’s week four of our character challenge.

As we progress through this challenge, we’ll take a character from a simple idea and gradually develop them into someone with a personality, history, relationships, flaws, fears and a meaningful character arc.

You don’t need to be writing a novel to take part. Your character can be created specifically for these exercises, or you can use a character from a story you’re already working on.

 

WEEK 4 — The Past

 

Our characters didn’t begin on page one. Something happened before the story started that helped make them who they are.

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Book Review: Death On All Hallows’ Eve by Rita Mistry

Published October 28, 2026 | By Chris Parish

I’m pleased to welcome Rita Mistry to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Death On All Hallows’ Eve.

‘Bridget and Eileen sit like two old friends, except that one is dreaming while the other is dead.’

But when Eileen introduces her new dead friend, Bridget’s dream is in danger of becoming a nightmare.

Life is simpler when Omisha is just grieving for the tragic loss of her father, Harish. Yes, she is hiding away in a dingy coffee shop instead of going back to university. And she is using her best friend’s brother because she is too young for commitment. Oh, and there is the disgusting possibility that her uncle has been getting up close and personal with her mum.

She wishes she could go back to those halcyon days because now, her dad has sent her a message from beyond the grave. A message delivered by complete strangers who she has no reason to trust: ‘He was murdered.’

 

*****

Death On All Hallows Eve is an interesting book. Think Ghost Whisperer meets Hetty Wainthropp.

Meet Bridget, a mid-life widow with two kids who realises that she can speak to the dead in her dreams. Not all dead people, just her old acquaintance who had died almost a year ago. After speaking to her for a while, she is introduced to another ghost who asks her if his murderer is in prison.

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