I’m delighted to have Alison Morton back on the blog, telling us about the books she loves, the ones she wishes she’d written and her new book which is out NOW!
Over to you, Alison, let’s hear about your choices.

Thank you so much, Georgia, for inviting me to talk about books. This could be dangerous as there’s nothing I like better!
First up, the book(s) that I loved so much I had to buy new copies because I’d destroyedmy original ones by reading them so much. It’s confession time. Although I devouredadventure books such as the Angelique series by Sergeanne Golon and Leslie Charteris’s The Saint series, my true loves that have stayed with me are These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer and Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. Both have independent heroines and dialogue to die for.
Shades is a tougher story as the stakes are so high and the balance between abject poverty andexaggerated luxury is more pronounced. At first, there is little pity in Avon’s motivation – revenge – but of course he is redeemed. Elizabeth Bennett’s world is precarious but despite the pressures of manners and matrimony, she holds her own. Austen and Heyer are both suchdownright clever and elegant writers.

The book(s) I wish I’d written… Hm, you can tell I’m a Libran who can never make up her mind. As an alternative history thriller writer, I would love to have written Fatherland by Robert Harris. Not only for his idea of building an excellent thriller round his policeman Xavier March, but for his projection of a Germany that won the Second World War and writing it so succinctly. His is a style I strive to copy!
And the second one is William Boyd’s Restless featuring mother and daughter across the decades in a story of deception, foregone love and spying. It’s subtle, nuanced and engaging on many levels; his perception of the mind’s working is breathtaking. William Boyd writes like a dream, but he drops humour in here and there just to tease you.
If I could combine the style, dialogue, wit and cleverness of all of these in my own writing, I would count myself incredibly blessed!

And lastly, Double Identity, which came out on 7 January. It’s a thriller, not an alternative history one featuring Roma Novans Carina or Aurelia, but a contemporary European crime thriller.
Deeply in love, a chic Parisian lifestyle before her. Now she’s facing prison for murder.

It’s three days since Mel des Pittones threw in her job as an intelligence analyst with the French special forces to marry financial trader Gérard Rohlbert. But her dream turns to nightmare when she wakes to find him dead in bed beside her.
Her horror deepens when she’s accused of his murder. Met Police detective Jeff McCracken wants to pin Gérard’s death on her. Mel must track down the real killer, even if that means being forced to work with the obnoxious McCracken.
But as she unpicks her fiancé’s past, she discovers his shocking secret life. To get to the truth, she has to go undercover with the European Investigation and Regulation Service and findsalmost everybody around her is hiding a second self.
Mel can trust nobody. Can she uncover the real killer before they stop her?

Bio and links – here’s where you can find out more about Alison:
Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough, but compassionate heroines. She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical, adventure and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.
“Grips like a vice – a writer to watch out for” says crime thriller writer Adrian Magson about Roma Nova series starter INCEPTIO. All six full-length Roma Nova thrillers have won the BRAG Medallion, the prestigious award for indie fiction. SUCCESSIO, AURELIA and INSURRECTIO were selected as Historical Novel Society’s Indie Editor’s Choices. AURELIA was a finalist in the 2016 HNS Indie Award. The Bookseller selectedSUCCESSIO as Editor’s Choice in its inaugural indie review.
Alison now lives in Poitou in France, where part of Double Identity is set and is writing a sequel as well as continuing her Roma Nova series.
Buying links
For all ebook and paperback retailers: https://bit.ly/3s0XUlV
Separately
Kindle: https://mybook.to/DoubleIdentity (ASIN: B08P5YD3CN)
Apple: https://books.apple.com/book/double-identity/id1542244030
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/fr/en/ebook/double-identity-11
B&N Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-identity-alison-morton/1138382128?ean=2940162679202
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/DoubleIdentity (All ebooks)
Social media links
Connect with Alison on her thriller site: https://alison-morton.com
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonMortonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alison_morton @alison_morton
Alison’s writing blog: https://alisonmortonauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonmortonauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5783095.Alison_Morton
Alison’s Amazon page: http://Author.to/AlisonMortonAmazon
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/ckNeFL
Thanks so much for coming on Alison and huge luck with the new book; it sounds a fabulously thrilling read!
Love,
Georgia x
Thank you so much for hosting me and my books, Georgia. It was fascinating to look back and try to choose the ‘beloved’ books.
It shows how different books can have such a strong influence!
You’re more than welcome, Alison. Fascinating choices. I loved Fatherland too. The best of luck with your new book!