Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 16/12/16 Pages: 320 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Gift - Louise Jensen The perfect daughter. The perfect girlfriend. The perfect murder? Jenna is given another shot at life when she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. Eternally grateful to Callie and her family, Jenna gets closer to them, but she soon discovers that Callie’s perfect family is hiding some very dark secrets … Callie’s parents are grieving, yet Jenna knows they’re only telling her half the story. Where is Callie’s sister Sophie? She’s been ‘abroad’ since her sister’s death but something about her absence doesn’t add up. And when Jenna meets Callie’s boyfriend Nathan, she makes a shocking discovery. Jenna knows that Callie didn’t die in an accident. But how did she die? Jenna is determined to discover the truth but it could cost her everything; her loved ones, her sanity, even her life. So we kick off the new year with another Bookouture author and yet another 5 star review for a truly great book. I can only imagine what it must be like to be given another chance at living because someone else has died, although you may have been gifted the chance to live, the physical and psychological side effects must be life changing. The daily reminder that you have someone else inside you would be enough but to then suffer from Cellular Memory, giving you flash backs and memories from the organs donator would be enough to drive you mad. Wether or not Cellular Memory is real or not, Being the skeptic that I am I have my doubts, doesn't really matter and Louise Jensens writing is so persuasive that if she wrote to me telling me the world was flat or a Businessman and reality TV star was President of the USA, I would believe her. Its a brilliantly crafted story that had my emotions and thoughts all over the place. I changed my mind over and over undecided on what had happened and who could of done it. Was Jenna Psychotic? Was it Murder? Was it important to get some sleep or feed the kids or just read one more chapter?. The ending was perfect for me. Totally unexpected. The Book has also made me think about Organ donation and I have now signed up to the NHS Organ Donation Register

Kindle Edition Publisher: Published: 28/04/17 Pages: 330 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here

Gone Too Far - Steven Suttie Kathy Hopkirk, the nation's most detested "celebrity" has disappeared. Famed for her outrageous remarks and nasty observations about ordinary people in the street and stars from the showbiz world, Kathy has always taken great delight in grabbing the headlines and causing as much controversy as possible. But now she is in the news for a different reason. She is missing. While visiting Manchester for work, she was staying at The Midland. The iconic, world famous hotel was the last place Kathy was seen, CCTV recorded her leaving on foot. Her destination was unknown. Three days later, her disappearance was reported to police by her manager. The sensational news was met with great interest by the British public, though very little surprise or sympathy. Kathy Hopkirk had been pushing it for years. It looks like this time, she may just have gone too far. DCI Miller and his team are overwhelmed by the amount of vitriol and hatred which surrounds the missing woman. Where do they possibly start with this one? Kathy has had thousands of death threats on Twitter alone. This is the forth story in the DCI Miller series of books and it doesn't disappoint. I adore this series of books. In a bloated genre where everyone seems to be a thriller writer Steven Sutties books stand out from the crowd with great story lines that hold on to you and keep you interested throughout the whole of the book, regardless of whether you think you know where the story is going or not and if you do think you know whats happening I can almost guarantee you will be wrong. Its also a refreshing change to read dialogue that feels real, written the way people actually speak to each other, rather than some clunky middle classed nonsense. The story revolves around the search for Katie Hopkins,Kathy Hopkirk the nations most detested celebrity when she goes missing after leaving the Midland Hotel in Manchester. As always its written with a great dollop of black humour that will have you chuckling away one minute and WTF the next. This series of books are must reads for me. Highly recommended.

Kindle Edition Publisher: Little, Brown Published: 20/04/17 Pages: 432 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

Zero - Matt Brolly No crime will go unpunished It is the near future. A zero tolerance policy results in the death penalty for all crimes, no matter how minor. When a judge is kidnapped, and a ransom note demands the release of all prisoners awaiting execution,kleptomaniac Detective Inspector Kate Swanson is put on the case. But soon her boss also disappears. Under increasing pressure from her superiors, and caught between the security services and the growing social unrest, Swanson must race to find a man whose murdered wife and daughter link the missing men. Can she find him before it’s too late? Set in a Zero tolerance to crime society in a Sci-fi/Dystopian world, sometime in the near future,Probally a few years after Brexit the story revolves around the kidnapping of a Judge and DI Kate Swansons attempts to find him. I didnt enjoy the book, I felt it to lack a spark that would keep me wanting to read. It became a bit of a chore. I love Matt Brollys DCI Lambert series so I was a bit disapointed that I couldnt really get into this. I liked the concept, which is why I wanted to read it but I never got to grips with the characters at all. It will appeal to readers who enjoyed BladeRunner and the like but it just didnt do it for me.

Losing Juliet - June Taylor

Kindle Edition Publisher: Killer Reads Published: 25/11/16 Pages: 343 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

You can’t escape the past…

Juliet and Chrissy were best friends until one fateful summer forced them apart. Now, nearly twenty years later, Juliet wants to be back in Chrissy’s life.

But Chrissy doesn’t want Juliet anywhere near her, or her teenage daughter Eloise. After all, Juliet is the only person who knows what happened that night – and her return threatens to destroy the life that Chrissy has so carefully built.

Because when the past is reawakened, it can prove difficult to bury. And soon all three of them will realize how dangerous it can get once the truth is out there…

My Thoughts

I found losing Juliet quite by accident. Whilst browsing twitter I happened upon a tweet from whom I dont remember. The tweet told me to forget my TBR pile and put Losinh Juliwet to the top. As I believe everything I read on twitter I had no choice. I had to do as I was being told by a faceless 140 character paragraph on the internet.

The book is told in alternating chapters through the eyes of Chrissy, who is reluctantly explaining to her daughter Eloise why she no longer speaks to her one time best friend Juliet. This comes about after Juliet, who is now a worldwide fashion designer, finds Chrissy and wants to rekindle their friendship. So we are taken back to France 1989 with the two of them working their way their summer break.

The second part of the book takes part in Italy where Chrissy, Juliet and Eloise are staying at a luxury getaway. This is where plans come to a head. Truth and lies are exposed until a quite fantastic last 20%, which left me on a few occasions breathless, quite literally.I hold my breath when im reading tense parts of a story. There are a few twists and I just didn't see the first one. It was marvelous. The kind that made me turn off my kindle to take it all in. My only tiny criticism of the book is the start of the second part felt like a tourist guide to Italy but that's me being extra picky. I loved this book and felt so so sorry for Chrissy. I have read some fantastic books this year and without doubt losing Juliet is in my top 10. Loved it.

Dark Water - Robert Bryndza

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 20/10/16 Pages: 368 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Beneath the water the body sank rapidly. Above her on dry land, the nightmare was just beginning.

When Detective Erika Foster receives a tip-off that key evidence for a major narcotics case was stashed in a disused quarry on the outskirts of London, she orders for it to be searched. From the thick sludge the drugs are recovered, but so is the skeleton of a young child.

The remains are quickly identified as seven-year-old Jessica Collins. The missing girl who made headline news twenty-six years ago.

As Erika tries to piece together new evidence with the old, she must dig deeper and find out more about the fractured Collins family and the original detective, Amanda Baker. A woman plagued by her failure to find Jessica. Erika soon realises this is going to be one of the most complex and demanding cases she has ever taken on.

Is the suspect someone close to home? Someone is keeping secrets. Someone who doesn’t want this case solved. And they’ll do anything to stop Erika from finding the truth.

My Thoughts

Without sounding like a gushing fanboy I believe that Robet Bryndza will become one of the big "names" in the Crime / Thriller genre. The writing in the previous 2 Erika books has been fast paced with fluid story lines that are easy to follow, unpretentious and realistic, and with each book it gets better and better. This book is no exception.

I was afraid that like some of his peers who have found a formula that works, he would fall into the same trap of rehashing and repeating story lines from past books to cover for poor story lines. Needn't have worried because with this story we see a different side to Erika. A softer more human side to her. Personally I would have left the sex out of the book, didnt think the story needed it, but that is just a personal thing.

The case is different as well. This time it is a 25yr old cold case that Erika stumbles upon after searching a quarry for drugs in a case she was working on. There are new characters and a few old ones from the previous books. The ending is a good one and left me slightly upset for the perpetrators.

In the future I would love to see a longer, grittier story with Erika.

A great read which I highly recommend.

Book Of The Month - November

My book of the month for November is the fantastic Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

I have no doubt this award is the highlight of Mrs Douglas writing career and why wouldn't it be?



My original review is here.

Hide and Seek - M.J Arlidge

Kindle Edition Publisher: Penguin Published: 08/09/16 Pages: 373 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has spent her whole life running.

From the past. From herself. From everyone who's ever tried to get close to her.

She's spent her whole life hiding.

Behind the badge. Behind her reputation as one of the country's best detectives. Until - framed for murder - she became one of its most high-profile prisoners. Now there is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Because HMP Holloway is a place of dark days and long nights with dangers at every turn. Despised by the inmates and reviled by the guards, Helen must face her nightmare alone.

And then a carefully mutilated body is found in a locked cell.

Now Helen must find a ruthless serial killer. Before the killer finds her.

My Thoughts

A welcome return for DI Helen Grace and like The A Team she has been sent to Prison for a crime she didnt commmit; but unlike The A Team she cant turn an old Ford Fiesta and a few drain pipes into a make shift Cabbage shooting Tank to make her escape.

This book has a different feel to the rest of the series and unlike some series that stay within the same safe narrative we see Helen Grace in a tension filled, constrained, dangerous and alien surroundings. She no longer has the backing and safety net of her team and still she finds herself having to, unofficially, investigate the odd murder or two.

As with the rest of the series it is fast paced, easy to read and will keep you guessing right until the end.

Certainly a different Helen Grace Novel but still a sure fire winner that will keep old and new fans happy. Highly recommended.

The Girls Next Door - Mel Sherratt

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 27/10/16 Pages: 318 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

One warm spring evening, five teenagers meet in a local park. Only four will come out alive.

Six months after the stabbing of fifteen-year-old Deanna Barker, someone is coming after the teenagers of Stockleigh, as a spate of vicious assaults rocks this small community. Revenge for Deanna? Or something more?

Detective Eden Berrisford is locked into a race against time to catch the twisted individual behind the attacks – but when her own niece, Jess Mountford, goes missing, the case gets personal.

With the kidnapper threatening Jess’ life, can Eden bring back her niece to safety? Or will the people of Stockleigh be forced to mourn another daughter…?

My Thoughts

At last a Detective who is in a happy relationship, doesn't have a habit, gets on with people and doesn't have a passion for rare cars or motorbikes. It was nice to see a detective with less personal baggage than an easyjet cabin allowance.

Unfortunately that was the only positive I took from the book. Thats not 100% true, the prologue was a good read. I just wish the rest of the book had lived up to it. From the first chapter there was name after name thrown at me and I couldn't keep up with who was who and what they meant to each other. I started to take notes so I could reference who was who but this didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience. Judging from the 5 star reviews I have read I appear to be in the minority. I found no mystery or suspense and I was certainly nowhere near the edge of my seat.

I did finish the book but didn't enjoy it. I cant imagine myself reading anymore in the series. I really dont like writing reviews like this and If I had bought the book I wouldn't have written anything, just put it down to a bad choice. I could have given a gushing 5 star review but I promised to give an honest review in return for a chance to read it, so I have to be honest.

Blood Lines - Angela Marsons

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 04/11/16 Pages: 388 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up.

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother.

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

My Thoughts

I love the Kim Stone series and believe that in a few years Angela Marsons can be a big name in the crime genre. As much as I was looking forward to the 5th installment of Kim Stones story, unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to the previous 4.

The main story suffered form a lack of depth which culminated in a rushed ending with Google doing the work for Kim to piece the puzzle together. I was utterly frustrated reading this book and skip read big chunks of it because of its repetitive nature. If you have read Evil Games then you would be familiar with the returning Dr Alex Thorne. Her thread in this book, apart from being way beyond my ability to suspend belief, had nearly a whole chapter devoted to her back story from Evil Games this along with Kims back story being picked apart and retold made for a repetitive read and one that didn't hold my attention as I felt I had read it many times before.

The Keeper - Alastair Gunn

Kindle Edition Publisher: Penguin Published: 06/10/16 Pages: 432 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Let the games begin.

A man is found buried in a secluded wood on the outskirts of London. Naked, beaten and bruised; forensics also show that he hasn't eaten in the 24 hours before his murder. To DCI Antonia Hawkins it looks like a vicious, targeted attack.

The hunt is on.

But as more bodies are unearthed in the same state, Hawkins struggles to find a pattern in the seemingly random killings as the body count continues to climb.

But who is the hunter?

unique kind of serial killer. One that is playing a twisted game. And so far the killer is one winning . . .

My Thoughts

Oh Look its another brilliant messed up Detective with a love of cars at loggerheads with their superiors about something that happened in their past, trying to hunt a serial killer whilst balancing their work, family, love life and past problems.

I adore reading Crime/Thriller novels. I have read hundreds of them and unfortunately this is one that I have read many times before. Its not a bad book by a long shot and I can imagine loads of people will adore it, just not me.

If you read a lot of this genre then the plot is quickly worked out and becomes a drawn out wait to confirm your theory was right. The twists were sign posted and totally expected for me and lets be honest, there wasn't much detecting to catch the Killer. It was given to them on a plate really.

I would much rather have read about the relationship between Rupert and Ash than Antonias sisters failing marriage. It lent nothing to the plot.

Not my cup of tea at all.

While You Were Sleeping - Kathryn Croft

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 16/10/16 Pages: 286 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour, Lee Jacobs’ bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood. But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth?

My Thoughts

So you wake up in your neighbours bed with no memory of how you got there and he cant tell you as he is stone cold dead after being stabbed in the bed. What would you do? Well, if you are Tara Logan, you get dressed sneek back home and hope for the best. That is until her daughter is made a suspect.

From here the story takes us on a thrilling page turning, head mashing journey until the quite fantastic ending. I changed my mind time and time again as to who the guilty party was and you wont be let down when you discover the Killer.It builds tension perfectly and you never know who to trust. Rosie was a great character, one who you could never trust whatever came out of her mouth.

My only negative point was the relationship between Tara and Holden. I didnt feel it had a place in the book and was a bit distracting. But then I suppose thats the point.

Local Girl Missing - Claire Douglas

Kindle Edition Publisher: Penguin Published: 18 July 2016 Pages: 368 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Twenty years ago 21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night. She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier - and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now A body's been found. And Francesca's drawn back to the seaside town she's tried to forget. Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out. Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn't returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past. The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth. But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now's the time to find out - isn't it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear - your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

My Thoughts

It may be because this Book reminded me of my youth, without the killing and weird stuff, but I really enjoyed reading this. I couldnt help but substitute the word Weston Super Mare for Oddcliffe everytime I read it and the characters I pictured in my head were all old friends. Not sure if thats weird or not, but I enjoyed it.

The story kept my interest all the way thorough and the secrets and twists were great. Not really sure how I felt about many of the characters really. I didn't take to them but it didn't really make that much of a difference to reading it as the story was strong enough. Could of done with out the romance between Daniel and Francesca though it felt a bit like reading a letter from Jackie of Just 17.

The ending was either a work of genius or a work of a A level English Student. Im leaning towards genius. Totally unexpected and it will hit you like a fly hits a windscreen on the M5.

A great and highly recommended read.

The Silence Between Breaths - Cath Staincliffe

Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.

Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .

Kindle Edition

Cost: Netgalley

Publisher: Constable

Published: 22/09/16

Pages: 272

Amazon Uk link: Here

Goodreads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

We see the pictures on the news of attacks and whilst we are horrified and sickened our lives carry on as normal. This story takes us into the lives of people involved in a terrorist attack and their struggle with the aftermath.

The book is told in alternating chapters from the view point of the passengers and their families. We also learn the fate of the family the bomber leaves behind. The characters are so well written and every one of them is believable, I loved some characters and equally disliked others.

The Silence Between Breaths is a thought provoking, upsetting and rewarding story that will stay with me for a long time.

Tell Me No Lies - Lisa Hall

Kindle Edition Publisher: Carina Published: 20/10/16 Pages: 183 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

The Blurb

Don’t. Trust. Anyone.
It was supposed to be a fresh start.

A chance to forget the past and embrace the future. But can you ever really start again?

Or does the past follow you wherever you go?

Steph and Mark have just moved house, trying to find a way forward after all the secrets, lies and betrayal.

But starting over isn’t always easy. Especially when someone will go to any lengths to make sure you never forget…

My Thoughts

I used to work on the Bins in the 70s, there were 5 of us roaming the streets of Worcestershire, bit like the Wombles. One of the lads was a great lad called Jamie Lawson and as he kept saying then, way before he started playing his Banjo and singing, "I wasnt expecting that"and I really wasn't expecting that.

Steph and Mark have had a few issues over the years. They decide they need a fresh start. So a Pregnant Steph, Mark and their young child Henry move into a new home. Before they are unpacked they are welcomed by a knock on the door by the new neighbors and nothing from that moment is what it seems.

When I was a trainee Doctor at Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, My mentor, Dr Gregory House used to tell me that "Everybody Lies" and this book personifies his words.

Stephs descent into deep Anxiety is brilliantly written and it was a real "just one more chapter" of a read. I couldn't get enough of it, I was desperate to find out what was going on. I dont want to use any spoilers so I cant go into much detail but the ending was a real mouth dropper.Highly recommended and definitely in my top 10 books of this year.

The Good Sisters - Helen Phifer

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Carina Published: 31/10/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

1931, Mother Superior Agnes offers sanctuary to a desperate young woman fleeing for her life. Only to wake in the morning to discover a terrible fate has befallen one of the Sisters – in a room locked from the inside. Agnes can’t help but fear that she has allowed a great evil to enter the convent, but she has no idea how far reaching the consequences of that one fateful night will be…

Over 80 years later, Kate Parker, divorced, alcoholic, and broke, moves into the dilapidated old convent she dreams of turning into a bed and breakfast, whilst changing her life. Although the locals refuse to go near the place at night, Kate is determined to stay while the renovations take place. But when she starts to hear strange noises at night, and the crucifixes she had removed reappear on the walls, Kate starts to suspect she is not entirely alone in her new home.

My Thoughts

After losing her best friend to Cancer and ultimately her husband and kids to the alcoholism, Kate Parker has very little left. She stumbles upon a derelict house that would be perfect for her to renovate and turn into a small guesthouse.

The story is told between the 1930s and the present day where we learn of the Evil residing in the house. Its a fast paced story that deals with alcoholism, heartache and romance all wrapped up in a classic horror story.

I enjoyed the book but the style and content of the writing would have been better suited to a younger audience. I also felt that the tension and horror was missing. There was no build up, no tension just straight into the action. You knew what was going on from the first chapter and the ending was obvious.

Not a bad book, but not a great one either.

The Killing Game - JS Carol

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Bookouture Published: 13/10/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

A woman walks into a restaurant. Will she come out alive?

JJ Johnson is Hollywood’s favourite publicist. Her word can launch careers – and break them.

But when lunch at exclusive restaurant Alfie’s turns into a fight for her life against a terrifying stranger, she quickly learns this is one situation she can’t talk her way out of.

The twisted individual knows everything about each of the wealthy diners. And soon, it becomes clear that he wants something more than money.

Can JJ find a way out, or risk becoming a victim to a man with nothing left to lose…?

My Thoughts

Alfies is "the" restaurant to be seen in for the Hollywood Glitterati; Actors, Agents, Directors, If you are A-list you need to be there.

JJ is a PR Guru, think a female Max Clifford but not in Jail. At one of the tables she is joined by Dan Stone. Across the room are, If JJ has anything to do with it, the newest Hollywood golden couple, Actor Alex King and Simone Kristionsen. As Alex goes to the restroom a masked man with guns and explosives strapped to his chest enters the restaurant taking everyone hostage.

The story is told in real time between 13:30 and 16:30. The main narrators are JJ, Alex King, Tv Journalist Rob Taylor and his Boss Seth Allan. Is it a terrorist attack or something more personal?

The main characters with the exception of Alex King and surprisingly the masked hostage taker were all Greedy, Self serving, Narcissistic, deeply unlikable characters. The killings are brutal and unexpected at times.

The story moves at a fast pace which is full of tension, twists and discoveries throughout.

This is a genuine thriller that had me thinking about it for days afterwards and one that I will defiantly re-read. A must read and if you have a Kindle a steal at 99p.

Safe With Me - KL Slater

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Bookouture Published: 03/11/2016 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even …

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people to get too close – she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully …

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows…

But as Anna’s obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

My Thoughts

Anna works for the Post Office and to say the least has a few issues to deal with.

Anna witnesses a road accident between Motorcyclist Liam Bradley and Amanda Danson. Whilst comforting Liam in the road, she thinks she recognizes the driver of the other car from 13 years previous. This encounter starts a campaign of revenge for Anna. Problem is not everything is what it seems.

The Story is told in alternating voices from 13 years ago and the present day, each chapter builds up the tension until the story reaches its climax. The book is, forgive the cliche, a real page turner that was a genuine bind to put down.

I felt sorry for Anna. She was the architect of her own downfall but she never got the help she needed 13 years ago. To be fair the main characters were all a pretty messed up bunch.

A great plot which was well paced and well written, believable characters and dialogue with a satisfying ending and only 99p. What more could you want?

"A suit and tie and you think you can tell the whole world what to do..."

Ragdoll - Daniel Cole

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Trapeze Published: 23/02/17 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

A body is discovered with the dismembered parts of six victims stitched together like a puppet, nicknamed by the press as the 'ragdoll'.

Assigned to the shocking case are Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes, recently reinstated to the London Met, and his former partner Detective Emily Baxter.

The 'Ragdoll Killer' taunts the police by releasing a list of names to the media, and the dates on which he intends to murder them.

With six people to save, can Fawkes and Baxter catch a killer when the world is watching their every move?

My Thoughts

If, like me, you are a big fan of this genre of books then like a fluorescent monkey trapezing through the aisles of lidl, this book has been hard to miss.

I first read about Daniel Cole in this article from the Telegraph in April of this year And like a obsessive stalker have been on the lookout for this book ever since.

Not another crime book hyped up to reel us in only to let us down with plot holes bigger than Watford gap with convoluted characters who we couldn't give a damn about I hear you say. Well no. Nope not here. With this Book we have ourselves a genuine contender for book of the year and with it a truly great story teller in Daniel Cole. My personal favorite Author is Chris Carter and at last the UK has found an author who can stand shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe and any other bodily part with him.

The story itself is a wonderful, full on, catalogue of everything a book of this genre should be Its full of suspense, horror, gore and tension all topped off with a splash of humor.

Like all fictional detectives Wolfe is a man with a history and has to face his own demons as well as solve the case. He is surrounded by a plethora of characters that all play a part in the story and you never quite know what their intentions are. The villain of the story is a fantastic creation but the question I asked myself at the end was who is the real villain of the book?

The last book that had me this enthused was Tom Bales See How They Run and as I did with that book, I will be buying copies of Ragdoll to give to my friends and family.

This has been the only book I have ever read twice back to back. A truly great book.

The Two O'Clock Boy – Mark Hill

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group Published: 22/09/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS... ONE BECAME A DETECTIVE... ONE BECAME A KILLER...

One night changed their lives
Thirty years ago, the Longacre Children's Home stood on a London street where once-grand Victorian homes lay derelict. There its children lived in terror of Gordon Tallis, the home's manager.

Cries in the fire and smoke
Then Connor Laird arrived: a frighteningly intense boy who quickly became Tallis' favourite criminal helper. Soon after, destruction befell the Longacre, and the facts of that night have lain buried . . . until today.

A truth both must hide
Now, a mysterious figure, the Two O'Clock Boy, is killing all who grew up there, one by one. DI Ray Drake will do whatever it take to stop the murders - but he will go even further to cover up the truth.

My Thoughts

Another Cop, Another morally corrupt kid’s home, Another Killer knocking off individuals and their families. How is this book any different from the rest of the books published in this overcrowded genre?

It may seem to be another story full of cliques from the How to Write Crime Thrillers tutorial on YouTube but Mark Hills writing style takes this book to a different level, way above a lot of the books I have read. I was kept captivated by the writing style and descriptive narrative; I could feel the tension and panic that DI Ray Drake felt as he tried to keep his family and his secret safe. The relationships with other characters were realistic with the interaction between them and the language used was captivating. I really wanted to know which way the story was going, the book is a genuine page turner and I didn’t guess the ending until I had read around 78% of the book, even so the ending is great and leaves the story open for, I hope, more DI Ray Drake books.

Mark Hill has created an unusual and interesting character in DI Ray Drake which sets this book apart from many and if this is just the beginning of the Ray Drake story, who knows where he could end up.

Nothing Short Of Dying - Erik Storey

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK Published: 14/07/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

Sixteen years. That’s how long Clyde Barr has been away from Colorado’s thick forests, alpine deserts, and craggy peaks, running from a past filled with haunting memories. But now he’s back, having roamed across three continents as a hunter, adventurer, soldier of fortune, and most recently, unjustly imprisoned convict. And once again, his past is reaching out to claim him.

By the light of a flickering campfire, Clyde received a frantic phone call for help from Jen, the youngest of his three older sisters. Then the line goes dead. Clyde doesn’t know how much time he has. He doesn’t know where Jen is located. He doesn’t even know who has her. All he knows is that nothing short of dying will stop him from saving her.

Tagging along with Clyde on this strange, desperate, against-all-odds rescue mission is a young woman named Allie whose motivations for hurtling into harm’s way are fascinatingly complex. As the duo races against the clock, it is Allie who gets Clyde to see what he has become and what he can be.

My Thoughts

Whether good or bad this book has attracted the inevitable comparisons to Jack Reacher. I have read all the Jack Reacher books; In fact the series was the first that I had read all.

Is it a fair comparison? Not really. It’s in the same genre but that’s where the similarity to Jack Reacher ends. If you need to pigeon hole Clyde Barr then he is more of a John Rambo crossed with Bonny and Clyde with a little bit of Bryan Mills from the film “taken” thrown in.

The story itself isn’t a mystery you know where the story is going from the first chapter and from that point on its all out action, with enough fights, car chases, death and excitement to fill 3 Jack Reacher books. I enjoyed it immensely and can see the series running for a long time. Clyde’s back-story was interesting and I’m sure more will be reveled as the series progresses but it didn’t get in the way of the main story of rescuing his sister from the bad guys. I don’t want to give any of the story away but I was so upset 75% of the way through, wasn’t expecting what happened to happen. Read it and you will understand what I mean.

Cut To The Bone – Alex Caan

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: twenty7 Published: 14/07/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

A DARK AND GRIPPING DEBUT FOR FANS OF SARAH HILARY AND THE FALL . . . One Missing Girl. Two Million Suspects.

Ruby is a vlogger, a rising star of YouTube and a heroine to millions of teenage girls.

And she's missing . . .

But she's an adult - nothing to worry about, surely?

Until the video's uploaded . . .

Ruby, in the dirt, pleading for her life.

Enter Detective Inspector Kate Riley; the Met's rising star and the head of a new team of investigators with the best resources money can buy. Among them, Detective Sergeant Zain Harris, the poster boy for multiracial policing. But can Kate wholly trust him - and more importantly, can she trust herself around him?

As hysteria builds amongst the press and Ruby's millions of fans, Kate and her team are under pressure to get results, and fast, but as they soon discover, the world of YouTube vloggers and social media is much darker than anyone could have imagined.

And the videos keep coming . . .

My Thoughts

When I first read the synopsis for this book it really caught my attention and I couldn’t wait to read it. The plot was something new and it sounded interesting.

Having finally got round to reading it, I wasn’t let down. I really enjoyed the book, although I’m not 100% sure on some of the characters. There may have been a few too many for my liking that didn’t really add much to the overall story, Rob Pelt I mean you. The two lead characters were well written both with back stories of which I am sure we will find out more as more books are hopefully written. I could see a book series with DS Zain Harris.

It is written in short chapters that keep you wanting to read more until you find out what’s going to happen next. Just as you think the story is heading in one direction you are taken in a completely different one, more than once. The ending of the book is a good one and not one I saw coming until the very end. I hope there will be more books with DCI Kate Riley and DS Zain Harris, I know I would love to read more.

“Rubberdingyrapids bro”

Black Widow - Christopher Brookmyre

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgalley Publisher: Grove Atlantic Published: 28/01/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

There is no perfect marriage. There is no perfect murder.

Diana Jager is clever, strong and successful, a skilled surgeon and fierce campaigner via her blog about sexism. Yet it takes only hours for her life to crumble when her personal details are released on the internet as revenge for her writing.

Then she meets Peter. He's kind, generous, and knows nothing about her past: the second chance she's been waiting for.

Within six months, they are married. Within six more, Peter is dead in a road accident, a nightmare end to their fairytale romance.

But Peter's sister Lucy doesn't believe in fairytales, and tasks maverick reporter Jack Parlabane with discovering the dark truth behind the woman the media is calling Black Widow...

My Thoughts

This is the first book by Chris Brookmyre that I have read and to be perfectly honest I fell in love. For the first time in my life I have managed to fall in love with a character from a book.

Like Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly in Weird Science I wish I could bring Diana Jager to life. Yes my 17 readers, you really did read that. I think my wife and Kids may object, so I will have to keep her in the shed or something but that’s just details. We can work that out.

I loved this book. Everything about it, the way it was told, the characters, the plot and, my god the ending made me swear and throw the Kindle across the room in delight.

The book is told from various sides, but mainly through Diana Jager and Jack Parlabane. It begins with a court case and works backwards peeling back layer upon layer of lies, love and intrigue until it reaches an ending that I’m struggling to think of any better.

I now need to raid the housekeeping money to buy the other 6 in the series, leave the kids some co-co pops and milk, shut myself away and read them back to back.

It’s so much better than 5* this is the perfect thriller.

I’m off for a lie down.