The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter. This is the second in her North Falls series, set in a small town after the shooting of a woman and her daughter and the subsequent investigation carried out by the local sheriff, which uncovers secrets and lies aplenty. It’s a classic small town where everybody knows everybody else, but don’t necessarily see them as they really are. Very cleverly constructed and a terrific addition to Karin Slaughter’s extensive body of thrillers.

Blood Will Flow by Alex Perry. Some years ago, an enormous gas field was discovered in Mozambique, after which the wealthy foreign companies arrived and started to export the gas, benefiting themselves and the West, but leaving the local people no better off. The French company TotalEnergies managed an enormous operation there, paying lip service to the notion of adequate security and when a rebel ISIS group arrived and carried out a vicious attack, help was not forthcoming. The book is populated with oil magnates, corporate greed, mercenaries and billionaires and is a strong indictment of an industry completely lacking a moral compass.

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This weekend is July 4th - a big occasion as America celebrates their 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Despite record breaking temps, it looks the fireworks are all on around the country, with many of the nation's biggest cities planning celebrations.

BloggerAtLarge's Megan Singleton explained further.

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Cook time: 10 minutes

Prep time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

8 slices of thick white bread or sour dough

1 ltr bechamel sauce

8 slices gruyere cheese

4 slices of smoked ham

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

butter for spreading on bread

Bechamel sauce

4 tbsp butter

4 tbsp flour

500 ml milk

Pinch of nutmeg

Salt

Preheat a oven to 200*c

Start by making a bechamel sauce. In a medium sized saucepan melt the butter, adding in the flour, cook over a medium heat for a couple of minutes - then turn off and allow to cool.

Slowly add in the milk a little bit at a time, whisking after each addition. Once all the milk has been added, cook out for a further couple of minutes. Add the nutmeg and salt and allow to cool.

To make up your croque monsieur:

Take one piece of bread and spread over a good layer of bechamel sauce, then a little Dijon. Slice of ham and cheese, then another layer of bread. Bechamel another slice of cheese.

Sprinkle with salt and then place into the oven for 10 minutes.

The end result should be bubbling cheese with a gooey center.

The best toasted sandwich in the world.

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