en-US Wed, 30 Apr 2025 01:17:53 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 220481291 368 Deborah O'Connor 146423468X Emma 0 currently-reading 4.00 2025
author: Deborah O'Connor
name: Emma
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 207294238
Gela Nathaniel, head of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course, must find six students from all walks of life across the United Kingdom for her new master’s program before the university cuts her funding. The students are nothing but trouble from day one.

There’s Jem, a talented sculptor recently graduated from her university program and eager to make her mark as an artist at any cost. Jonathan, who has little experience in art practice aside from running his family’s gallery. Patrick runs an art supply store, but can barely operate his phone, much less design software. Ludya is a single mother and graphic designer more interested in a paycheck than homework. Cameron is a marketing executive in search of a hobby or a career change. And Alyson, already a successful artist, seems to be overqualified. Finally, there is the examiner, the man hired to grade students�� final works—an art installation for a local cloud-based solutions company that may have an ulterior agenda—and who, in sifting through final essays, texts, and message boards, warns that someone is in danger…or already dead. And nothing about this course has been left up to chance.

With her trademark “unique and exhilarating�� (Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot) voice, Janice Hallett weaves a fresh and mind-bending mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.]]> 480 Janice Hallett 1668023423 Emma 0 currently-reading 3.71 2024
author: Janice Hallett
name: Emma
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 212113190 352 Terry Deary 1408720094 Emma 0 3.78 2025
author: Terry Deary
name: Emma
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves:
review:

]]> 219427743
Only Luke keeps asking about their family photos, and snooping through their things. Why does he want to know everything about them?

Then, suddenly, Mum Mel texts the family to say she needs a break. But Mel has never gone away on her own before. And now it’s been days and no one can get hold of her. While daughters Jen and Amy frantically try to find their mum they're alone with Luke. They're scared, and they should be.

The Abbotts�� house is full of secrets and someone is prepared to go to horrifying lengths to protect them.

They say people never tell the whole truth. They’re right.]]> 352 Louise Jensen 0008508585 Emma 5
Mum Mel Abbott decides to take in a lodger to supplement the household income. Twenty-six-year-old daughter, Jen, really isn’t too sure. She doesn’t like the idea of a stranger living in their house. She wants to leave her underwear drying on the radiator without having to consider the lodger’s feelings. Whereas younger daughter, Amy, takes her Mum’s decision in her stride. When Luke, the lodger, arrives much later than expected to meet the sisters, Jen instantly finds him attractive and starts to come around to the idea. After all, it might be nice to have a man around the house. But Luke is secretive and seems a little on edge. When Mel sends a text telling her daughter she’s going to be away for a few days, Jen is immediately thrown. It’s unlike her mother to leave them in the lurch, especially with a stranger moving into their house. But Mel has done so much for their family, Jen wants to give her all the time she needs. Everyone needs a break now and then! But several days after Luke’s arrival, no one has heard from Mel. Who is the stranger living in the Abbotts�� house? Why is he so interested in the family’s things? How much of a threat does he pose to Jen and Amy? And perhaps most importantly of all, where the heck is Mel��?

The Liar is another cracking family-based thriller from Louise Jensen. There is so much going on in this book. Secrets and lies, half-truths and poor, poor decisions. Catastrophic even. You think you have the measure of the family. You think you know the direction the plot is going to go in. But you don’t. You don’t even know the half of it! There are so many secrets to unpick. Why, at the very start of the book, does Mel receive a threatening note? Who is Andy? He keeps being mentioned by Jen but who is he and what connection does he have to the Abbotts? Why is Jen so nervous around the police? And who (worst nightmare for any parent) is thirteen-year-old Amy messaging online? But that’s only the beginning. As the reader progresses through the book even more questions are raised. Everyone seems to have a devastating secret they would do anything to keep. And in amongst the chaos and upheaval, the lies and deceit, when her daughters are floundering and need the support of their mother, Mel is nowhere to be found.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Liar is a beautifully twisty, highly readable tale which I flew through. Promising myself ‘just one more chapter��, only to discover I had read half of the book! There are quite a few characters in the book, but it was easy to keep track of who everyone was. Alongside the family and lodger, Luke, there is also Jen’s best friend Camilla and her four-year-old son, Mason. Mason really brings the cute-factor and adds moments of light humour, along with a Thomas the Tank Engine obsession (!), in amongst the overarching darkness of the novel. There is always something going on in the story and it doesn’t really let up which means the reader is absorbed into the narrative and able to read, as in my case, half the book without really noticing. This is exactly what I want from a thriller. I want to be hooked. I want to be completely immersed, and I want to live the story alongside the characters. There are several threads running throughout �� some the reader is aware of straight away, some are revealed as you progress through the book. Keeping a tight rein on all these subplots and how meticulously Jensen brings everything together is a masterclass in thriller writing. Marvellous! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading The Liar. Immensely readable with bucketloads of intrigue. Secrets and lies galore, chock-full of deceit and overflowing with suspense. Another cracking addition to this author’s catalogue of work. I remain a Louise Jensen fan, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us readers next! Recommended.]]> 4.80
author: Louise Jensen
name: Emma
average rating: 4.80
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Mum Mel Abbott decides to take in a lodger to supplement the household income. Twenty-six-year-old daughter, Jen, really isn’t too sure. She doesn’t like the idea of a stranger living in their house. She wants to leave her underwear drying on the radiator without having to consider the lodger’s feelings. Whereas younger daughter, Amy, takes her Mum’s decision in her stride. When Luke, the lodger, arrives much later than expected to meet the sisters, Jen instantly finds him attractive and starts to come around to the idea. After all, it might be nice to have a man around the house. But Luke is secretive and seems a little on edge. When Mel sends a text telling her daughter she’s going to be away for a few days, Jen is immediately thrown. It’s unlike her mother to leave them in the lurch, especially with a stranger moving into their house. But Mel has done so much for their family, Jen wants to give her all the time she needs. Everyone needs a break now and then! But several days after Luke’s arrival, no one has heard from Mel. Who is the stranger living in the Abbotts�� house? Why is he so interested in the family’s things? How much of a threat does he pose to Jen and Amy? And perhaps most importantly of all, where the heck is Mel��?

The Liar is another cracking family-based thriller from Louise Jensen. There is so much going on in this book. Secrets and lies, half-truths and poor, poor decisions. Catastrophic even. You think you have the measure of the family. You think you know the direction the plot is going to go in. But you don’t. You don’t even know the half of it! There are so many secrets to unpick. Why, at the very start of the book, does Mel receive a threatening note? Who is Andy? He keeps being mentioned by Jen but who is he and what connection does he have to the Abbotts? Why is Jen so nervous around the police? And who (worst nightmare for any parent) is thirteen-year-old Amy messaging online? But that’s only the beginning. As the reader progresses through the book even more questions are raised. Everyone seems to have a devastating secret they would do anything to keep. And in amongst the chaos and upheaval, the lies and deceit, when her daughters are floundering and need the support of their mother, Mel is nowhere to be found.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Liar is a beautifully twisty, highly readable tale which I flew through. Promising myself ‘just one more chapter��, only to discover I had read half of the book! There are quite a few characters in the book, but it was easy to keep track of who everyone was. Alongside the family and lodger, Luke, there is also Jen’s best friend Camilla and her four-year-old son, Mason. Mason really brings the cute-factor and adds moments of light humour, along with a Thomas the Tank Engine obsession (!), in amongst the overarching darkness of the novel. There is always something going on in the story and it doesn’t really let up which means the reader is absorbed into the narrative and able to read, as in my case, half the book without really noticing. This is exactly what I want from a thriller. I want to be hooked. I want to be completely immersed, and I want to live the story alongside the characters. There are several threads running throughout �� some the reader is aware of straight away, some are revealed as you progress through the book. Keeping a tight rein on all these subplots and how meticulously Jensen brings everything together is a masterclass in thriller writing. Marvellous! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading The Liar. Immensely readable with bucketloads of intrigue. Secrets and lies galore, chock-full of deceit and overflowing with suspense. Another cracking addition to this author’s catalogue of work. I remain a Louise Jensen fan, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us readers next! Recommended.
]]> 216820690 FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of TALL


A Guardian Book of the MonthGrazia's Book Club's Book of the MonthThriller of the Month, Observer'Irresistible' PAULA HAWKINS, author of The Girl on the Train'Wonderfully haunting' JANE HARPER, author of The Dry'Conjuring up... Twin Peaks and Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects' Stylist'One of the most exciting debuts of the year' Sunday Express
______

‘There is nothing like it. The way the world gets real quiet when a gator’s nearby...And then the water, suddenly boiling as that black head surfaces and the ancient reptile erupts into the air hissing like a devil…The way the crack of the rifle seems to come from deep inside Cutter. The way she feels it in her throat; she knows she’s a good killer �� and yet. She is stalling…��

The Labasques aren’t like other families. Living in a shack out in the swamps, they scrape a living hunting down alligators and other animals just to get by. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are trouble-makers, outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want living on your doorstep. So when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two rough-cut brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her ageing mother. Loyal left town at the age of 18, having betrayed Cutter. Now there may be no way to find forgiveness, but there may be restitution��

______

Praise for TALL

‘[The] portrait of small-town intrigue is scarily credible. Bailey understands that the dynamics that drive small-town relationships are the same the world over�� VAL McDERMID

'A clever, twisting debut, about the dark side of small town America. It is packed with secrets like firecrackers ready to ignite' FRANCINE TOON, author of Pine

‘Anna Bailey writes like a dream about teenage love and lust, the terror of knowledge and the claustrophobia of families and of small towns. Tall Bones is as brutal, as bittersweet, as tender and as tense as first love itself�� EMMA FLINT, author of Little Deaths

‘An intricate and compelling thriller, beautifully nuanced and wonderfully claustrophobic. Brilliant.��
SJ WATSON, author of Before I Go to Sleep

'Tall Bones is as atmospheric as it gets. Anna writes beautifully and it was so refreshing to experience a different voice - a stunning debut that delivers on every level.' RENEE KNIGHT, author of Disclaimer

Anna Bailey, Sunday Times bestseller, April 2021]]> 312 Anna Bailey 1473581281 Emma 5
The Labasque family make a meagre living hunting alligators out in the Southern Louisiana swamps. They’re outcasts in Jacknife and the locals will go out of their way to avoid them. They have a reputation for a reason. Particularly Dewall, the older sibling. When a body turns up in the swamp, the fact it belongs to Dewall’s sister, Cutter, doesn’t seem to really worry anyone. And that includes her two brothers. However, Cutter’s teenage best friend, Loyal, is devastated. Having returned to Jacknife to care for her ailing mother, and having parted on bad terms with Cutter all those years ago, Loyal now realises that she will never be able to make amends for what she did. Loyal immediately dismisses the official verdict of suicide. There’s more to Cutter’s death than meets the eye and Loyal is going to discover exactly what��

Our Last Wild Days is a gorgeous, dark, evocative literary mystery. Full of emotion, full of regret and overflowing with beautifully written suspense. Gosh, I loved this book! The small-town setting comes to life on the page. Bailey’s descriptions of Jacknife and the swampland are exquisite. The setting becomes as much a part of the story as any of the characters are. And those characters are sublime. The Labasques are secretive, brimming with aggression and drowning in poverty. Scraping a living from farming alligators and risking life and limb on a daily basis to do it! Beau, a drug addict and the younger brother, is clearly traumatised by his sister’s death but isn’t prepared, or willing, to show it. Especially not in front of his brother, Dewall. Dewall’s reputation precedes him. Self-appointed head of the household after the horrific death of his parents years before. Could Dewall have killed his sister in a fit of rage? Loyal May is a journalist and was once, due to her friendship with Cutter, partially accepted by the family. She ended that though the moment she wrote a scathing piece on the Labasques in the ‘Bayou Leader��. Turning her back on Jacknife ten years ago for Houston, and only returning to see for herself how badly her mother’s health is declining, Loyal is immediately distracted by Cutter’s sudden, brutal death.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Our Last Wild Days is a beautifully drawn, atmospheric mystery from an author to watch. Everything about this book worked for me. I loved the pace of the book, the slow unveiling of whodunit and why. I loved the complex, multi-layered characters, their interactions with each other and how the multiple plot threads all come together in the end. The author’s descriptions of the setting transported me to Southern Louisiana, the heat, the humidity, the claustrophobia of a small-town and the ever-present threat, particularly from the primordial inhabitants of the swamp! I loved it. Every little detail. A highly immersive, hugely compelling tale. Gorgeously dark and totally unforgettable. Highly recommended.]]> 4.50 2025
author: Anna Bailey
name: Emma
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The Labasque family make a meagre living hunting alligators out in the Southern Louisiana swamps. They’re outcasts in Jacknife and the locals will go out of their way to avoid them. They have a reputation for a reason. Particularly Dewall, the older sibling. When a body turns up in the swamp, the fact it belongs to Dewall’s sister, Cutter, doesn’t seem to really worry anyone. And that includes her two brothers. However, Cutter’s teenage best friend, Loyal, is devastated. Having returned to Jacknife to care for her ailing mother, and having parted on bad terms with Cutter all those years ago, Loyal now realises that she will never be able to make amends for what she did. Loyal immediately dismisses the official verdict of suicide. There’s more to Cutter’s death than meets the eye and Loyal is going to discover exactly what��

Our Last Wild Days is a gorgeous, dark, evocative literary mystery. Full of emotion, full of regret and overflowing with beautifully written suspense. Gosh, I loved this book! The small-town setting comes to life on the page. Bailey’s descriptions of Jacknife and the swampland are exquisite. The setting becomes as much a part of the story as any of the characters are. And those characters are sublime. The Labasques are secretive, brimming with aggression and drowning in poverty. Scraping a living from farming alligators and risking life and limb on a daily basis to do it! Beau, a drug addict and the younger brother, is clearly traumatised by his sister’s death but isn’t prepared, or willing, to show it. Especially not in front of his brother, Dewall. Dewall’s reputation precedes him. Self-appointed head of the household after the horrific death of his parents years before. Could Dewall have killed his sister in a fit of rage? Loyal May is a journalist and was once, due to her friendship with Cutter, partially accepted by the family. She ended that though the moment she wrote a scathing piece on the Labasques in the ‘Bayou Leader��. Turning her back on Jacknife ten years ago for Houston, and only returning to see for herself how badly her mother’s health is declining, Loyal is immediately distracted by Cutter’s sudden, brutal death.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Our Last Wild Days is a beautifully drawn, atmospheric mystery from an author to watch. Everything about this book worked for me. I loved the pace of the book, the slow unveiling of whodunit and why. I loved the complex, multi-layered characters, their interactions with each other and how the multiple plot threads all come together in the end. The author’s descriptions of the setting transported me to Southern Louisiana, the heat, the humidity, the claustrophobia of a small-town and the ever-present threat, particularly from the primordial inhabitants of the swamp! I loved it. Every little detail. A highly immersive, hugely compelling tale. Gorgeously dark and totally unforgettable. Highly recommended.
]]> 219105766 Escape to Bali in this gripping new sunlounger thriller, for fans of Lucy Clarke and Ruth Ware.

'THE NEW QUEEN OF THE GLAMOROUS DESTINATION THRILLER' ELLERY LLOYD

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . .

Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They've been a four for as long as they can fancy dinners, dancing 'til dawn . . . Even living and working together.

So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.

But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.

Which is hardly surprising; they've been lying to each other for years.

And now, it's time for revenge.]]> 342 Nikki Smith 1405974664 Emma 0 4.06
author: Nikki Smith
name: Emma
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 221262159
When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence�� This is death, on demand.

A KILLER COUNTING DOWN

Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern.

A MISSING DETECTIVE

But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking…]]> Sam Holland 0008615136 Emma 0 4.70 2025
author: Sam Holland
name: Emma
average rating: 4.70
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:

]]> 216526942 Rita Marsh is a good person.
By day, she runs a care home, looking after the elderly and infirm. By night, she's a vigilante, posing online as young girls and snaring the men who prey on them, exposing them for what they are. Rita has successfully kept her two lives separate for years. But when an old classmate returns from her past, her two worlds start to collide. With both of her selves unravelling, Rita will have to choose between justice and revenge.

Is she a force for good - or will she become someone to fear?'

An assured debut, tautly plotted, with a striking female lead and deft handling of its dark subject matter.' LISA BALLANTYNE 'A bold, breathless, provocative story of revenge.' CHRIS WHITAKER'Got under my skin in a really terrifying way . . . Seriously impressive.' AJAY CHOWDHURY]]> Nilesha Chauvet 0571382118 Emma 3
Rita Marsh is a vigilante. She hunts down predators, men who have a penchant for young girls. By day she runs a care home for the elderly. It’s not something she would choose to do but her parents started the business, and they’re not here to run it anymore. Rita’s passion for punishing men, for exposing their sick predilections, is what gets the blood pumping. The police, who have to deal with her exposés, aren’t so sure. After all, evidence is key. These things have to be handled correctly otherwise the case crumbles. When Rita’s friend from school, Leila, unexpectedly comes back into her life, Rita is delighted. But Leila has a story of her own, a confession. The rumours were indeed true. Whilst at school Leila was having an affair with a teacher. A man who should have known better. That man, now a renowned author, is being investigated by the police after a complaint from another young woman that he instigated an inappropriate relationship with her. Rita is furious. Her love for Leila and her desire for revenge far outweigh logical thought. How far will Rita Marsh go to ensure a known abuser is never a threat to young girls again��?

Her Two Lives (previously published as The Revenge of Rita Marsh) is an intriguing revenge thriller with plenty of twists and bucketloads of well-written suspense. I thought I knew what to expect from this one, but the book delivered a lot more and went in a direction I didn’t see coming. The story opens with Rita (aka Raven) and her small team of vigilantes apprehending a man in London. The man was due to meet a fictitious twelve-year-old called Holly, played online by Rita herself. Intentions were very clear. Rita contacted the police and told them what and where the approach was going to happen. It was filmed and against the police’s advice, uploaded to Facebook. Shortly after, the accused committed suicide. All of sudden, ‘Raven Justice��, whose supporters were always vocal and proud, begin to turn. Blame is laid at Rita’s door. From here, her life begins to spiral dangerously out of control��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Her Two Lives starts with a bang which pulls the reader into the story. From here, the pace slows a little whilst Rita and Leila reconnect. Rita’s entire focus, her entire world shifts to Leila once the two are reunited. However, their friendship is very one-sided and made for some uncomfortable reading. Rita is smitten with Leila (and has been for years). But Leila barely tolerates Rita. When Leila confirms her relationship with their ex-teacher, Rita is consumed with rage and loathing towards Mr Stellans. He needs to be punished for what he did to Leila and all of the other young girls he had relationships with. Leila, however, is out to rekindle her relationship with the teacher and sees nothing wrong with what they did when she was younger. They were in love! Rita’s need to be accepted by her ‘friend�� sees a bad situation escalate tenfold. It was interesting to see how Rita dealt with the situation. How completely oblivious she was and what her worrying thought processes were. Things then go from bad to much, much worse. It’s not an easy read due to the emotional subject matter. But I was intrigued about how things would end for this traumatised, unstable woman. I very much enjoyed the well-written suspense. I couldn’t see how Rita was going to dig herself out of the metaphorical hole she found herself in and that kept me turning the pages late into the night when I probably should have been asleep! The characters are wholly unlikeable. Actually no, I liked Javid and having seen a couple of reviews, I think a number of other readers liked Javid too. He brought a little bit of light to what is a dark, intense read. All in all, Her Two Lives is an intriguing, interesting and edgy novel. The ending was absolute perfection and with hindsight, it couldn’t have ended a different way. Overall, I enjoyed this well-written debut and will keep an eye out for what Chauvet publishes next.]]> 2.88
author: Nilesha Chauvet
name: Emma
average rating: 2.88
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Rita Marsh is a vigilante. She hunts down predators, men who have a penchant for young girls. By day she runs a care home for the elderly. It’s not something she would choose to do but her parents started the business, and they’re not here to run it anymore. Rita’s passion for punishing men, for exposing their sick predilections, is what gets the blood pumping. The police, who have to deal with her exposés, aren’t so sure. After all, evidence is key. These things have to be handled correctly otherwise the case crumbles. When Rita’s friend from school, Leila, unexpectedly comes back into her life, Rita is delighted. But Leila has a story of her own, a confession. The rumours were indeed true. Whilst at school Leila was having an affair with a teacher. A man who should have known better. That man, now a renowned author, is being investigated by the police after a complaint from another young woman that he instigated an inappropriate relationship with her. Rita is furious. Her love for Leila and her desire for revenge far outweigh logical thought. How far will Rita Marsh go to ensure a known abuser is never a threat to young girls again��?

Her Two Lives (previously published as The Revenge of Rita Marsh) is an intriguing revenge thriller with plenty of twists and bucketloads of well-written suspense. I thought I knew what to expect from this one, but the book delivered a lot more and went in a direction I didn’t see coming. The story opens with Rita (aka Raven) and her small team of vigilantes apprehending a man in London. The man was due to meet a fictitious twelve-year-old called Holly, played online by Rita herself. Intentions were very clear. Rita contacted the police and told them what and where the approach was going to happen. It was filmed and against the police’s advice, uploaded to Facebook. Shortly after, the accused committed suicide. All of sudden, ‘Raven Justice��, whose supporters were always vocal and proud, begin to turn. Blame is laid at Rita’s door. From here, her life begins to spiral dangerously out of control��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Her Two Lives starts with a bang which pulls the reader into the story. From here, the pace slows a little whilst Rita and Leila reconnect. Rita’s entire focus, her entire world shifts to Leila once the two are reunited. However, their friendship is very one-sided and made for some uncomfortable reading. Rita is smitten with Leila (and has been for years). But Leila barely tolerates Rita. When Leila confirms her relationship with their ex-teacher, Rita is consumed with rage and loathing towards Mr Stellans. He needs to be punished for what he did to Leila and all of the other young girls he had relationships with. Leila, however, is out to rekindle her relationship with the teacher and sees nothing wrong with what they did when she was younger. They were in love! Rita’s need to be accepted by her ‘friend�� sees a bad situation escalate tenfold. It was interesting to see how Rita dealt with the situation. How completely oblivious she was and what her worrying thought processes were. Things then go from bad to much, much worse. It’s not an easy read due to the emotional subject matter. But I was intrigued about how things would end for this traumatised, unstable woman. I very much enjoyed the well-written suspense. I couldn’t see how Rita was going to dig herself out of the metaphorical hole she found herself in and that kept me turning the pages late into the night when I probably should have been asleep! The characters are wholly unlikeable. Actually no, I liked Javid and having seen a couple of reviews, I think a number of other readers liked Javid too. He brought a little bit of light to what is a dark, intense read. All in all, Her Two Lives is an intriguing, interesting and edgy novel. The ending was absolute perfection and with hindsight, it couldn’t have ended a different way. Overall, I enjoyed this well-written debut and will keep an eye out for what Chauvet publishes next.
]]> 208885818 290 Peter Swanson 0571373658 Emma 5 20booksofsummer2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this third instalment of the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series. Definitely more Lily than Henry this time around but that doesn’t matter one jot. For those not familiar with this series, Henry and Lily first crossed paths in The Kind Worth Killing (2015) which still, to this day, is one of my all-time favourite books. But their story wasn’t done. A second book featuring the characters was published in 2023, that was The Kind Worth Saving and it was the most perfect sequel to the first book. So, I was delighted, nay over the moon to discover that a third book was heading our way. And what an absolute corker of a read it was.

However, I don’t think you need to have read any of the earlier books to enjoy this latest instalment. I mean, I don’t really know WHY you wouldn’t read them first. They’re superb and give you a better feel for some of the characters. But I do believe you will be fine just cracking on with A Talent for Murder.

Would I recommend this book? Of course I would, it’s a Peter Swanson novel! The twists and turns, as I have come to expect from this author, are sublime. The pacing is masterful, keeping the reader fully immersed in the story and wondering what is going to happen next. The plotting is intricate and takes you in directions you could never predict. There is so much more to this book than is detailed in the synopsis. The blurb contains only a mere fraction of the story! With red herrings galore, fascinating, well-drawn characters and multiple shocks and surprises along the way, this is another outstanding thriller from a true talent. I cannot wait for more from Peter Swanson in the not-too-distant future. Highly recommended.]]> 3.99 2024
author: Peter Swanson
name: Emma
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/01
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: 20booksofsummer2024
review:
All my reviews can be found at

I thoroughly enjoyed this third instalment of the Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series. Definitely more Lily than Henry this time around but that doesn’t matter one jot. For those not familiar with this series, Henry and Lily first crossed paths in The Kind Worth Killing (2015) which still, to this day, is one of my all-time favourite books. But their story wasn’t done. A second book featuring the characters was published in 2023, that was The Kind Worth Saving and it was the most perfect sequel to the first book. So, I was delighted, nay over the moon to discover that a third book was heading our way. And what an absolute corker of a read it was.

However, I don’t think you need to have read any of the earlier books to enjoy this latest instalment. I mean, I don’t really know WHY you wouldn’t read them first. They’re superb and give you a better feel for some of the characters. But I do believe you will be fine just cracking on with A Talent for Murder.

Would I recommend this book? Of course I would, it’s a Peter Swanson novel! The twists and turns, as I have come to expect from this author, are sublime. The pacing is masterful, keeping the reader fully immersed in the story and wondering what is going to happen next. The plotting is intricate and takes you in directions you could never predict. There is so much more to this book than is detailed in the synopsis. The blurb contains only a mere fraction of the story! With red herrings galore, fascinating, well-drawn characters and multiple shocks and surprises along the way, this is another outstanding thriller from a true talent. I cannot wait for more from Peter Swanson in the not-too-distant future. Highly recommended.
]]> 220353062
The reappearance of a woman thought long dead results in a safe in Langley being opened for the first time in ten years. Inside there is a letter. On it is written, 'The Acacia Avenue Protocol has been initiated.' Four names are listed underneath. Three of the people on the list are dead. The fourth name is Ben Koenig.

Koenig doesn't know why he's on the list and he doesn't know what the Acacia Avenue Protocol is. But he does know the woman who has reappeared. One of the bravest women Koenig has ever met, ten years ago he was asked by a senior intelligence officer to help her fake her own death. Koenig didn't ask why she had to die but he knows one thing for if she's resurfaced then something is very wrong.

From the windswept cities of northern England to a remote Scottish airfield, from New York to Nevada, Koenig will follow a trail of death and destruction as he uncovers the horrific protocol. Along the way he'll have run ins with a cabal of corrupt cops known as the East Coast Sweeney, a ruthless private military contractor, and a contract killer with an aversion to the colour yellow.

But Koenig will keep going. He has no choice. Because someone has initiated the Acacia Avenue Protocol and if Koenig can't stop it, the world will never be the same again . . .]]> 448 M.W. Craven 1408717603 Emma 5
Nobody’s Hero is the second book in the Ben Koenig series written by one of my favourite authors, M.W. Craven. This series though is a little different to the author’s other books which tend to be police procedurals. Ben Koenig used to head the US Marshal’s Special Operations Group until he disappeared one day. Koenig had to vanish after a Russian crime syndicate put a five-million-dollar bounty on his head. Now, he’s a hunted man. But that doesn’t scare Ben Koenig. Nothing scares Ben Koenig. Ben Koenig doesn’t have the capacity to feel fear due to a condition, which makes him highly dangerous to his enemies. His lateral thinking skills outshine everyone else. His determination and approach to getting the job done make him a valued member of the security service. He can also be a little reckless and impulsive, and that’s where Jen Draper comes in.

Ben and his handler, Jen, return in his highly thrilling second instalment of the series. Both Ben and Jen have complicated pasts and a fairly complicated working relationship. They really don’t like each other but the trust the two of them share is quite extraordinary. They are a formidable, unstoppable team.

Ben’s missions are always multi-layered and intricate, with numerous seemingly unrelated threads coming together in perfect harmony and setting the storyline up for an explosive finale. That is certainly the case in Nobody’s Hero. When an elderly academic is snatched in broad daylight by a homeless woman on the streets of London, the case immediately goes cold. The women haven’t been seen on any of the myriad of CCTV cameras in the Capital since leaving Speaker’s Corner. Ben is tasked with finding the academic and her abductor. But where others fail, Koenig thrives! Particularly when he recognises the homeless woman as someone he shot in the head ten years earlier��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Nobody’s Hero is thrilling, unstoppable and completely gripping from the first word to the very last. I have enormous respect for the author. To write such a complex, imaginative and full-on story, to have so many individual pieces, so many seemingly unconnected threads that all need to be tied together at the end, and to do it with such incredible style is an achievement. I love the characterisation. I like Koenig but the more time I spend with Jen Draper, the more my girl-crush develops! The storyline doesn’t really let up. There are no quieter moments for the characters to take a breather. There’s always someone trying to shoot them/blow them up/run them off the road. As I think you would expect, the level of violence is fairly high. A hell of a lot of people die and for a lot of them, their deaths are quite grisly. There are a couple of really big twists in the tale. Twists that the reader just doesn’t see coming. One of which, was delivered in the most perfect way. Loved it! The ending is explosive and totally full-on. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I couldn’t see how Koenig was going to get out of this one. You’ll have to read the book for yourself to see if he does! M.W. Craven is a superb storyteller, and I cannot wait to read more of his work. All in all, thrilling from the get-go, chock full of action, totally unexpected and stuffed full of twists. An absolutely relentless read that will consume you. Recommended.]]> 4.33 2024
author: M.W. Craven
name: Emma
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Nobody’s Hero is the second book in the Ben Koenig series written by one of my favourite authors, M.W. Craven. This series though is a little different to the author’s other books which tend to be police procedurals. Ben Koenig used to head the US Marshal’s Special Operations Group until he disappeared one day. Koenig had to vanish after a Russian crime syndicate put a five-million-dollar bounty on his head. Now, he’s a hunted man. But that doesn’t scare Ben Koenig. Nothing scares Ben Koenig. Ben Koenig doesn’t have the capacity to feel fear due to a condition, which makes him highly dangerous to his enemies. His lateral thinking skills outshine everyone else. His determination and approach to getting the job done make him a valued member of the security service. He can also be a little reckless and impulsive, and that’s where Jen Draper comes in.

Ben and his handler, Jen, return in his highly thrilling second instalment of the series. Both Ben and Jen have complicated pasts and a fairly complicated working relationship. They really don’t like each other but the trust the two of them share is quite extraordinary. They are a formidable, unstoppable team.

Ben’s missions are always multi-layered and intricate, with numerous seemingly unrelated threads coming together in perfect harmony and setting the storyline up for an explosive finale. That is certainly the case in Nobody’s Hero. When an elderly academic is snatched in broad daylight by a homeless woman on the streets of London, the case immediately goes cold. The women haven’t been seen on any of the myriad of CCTV cameras in the Capital since leaving Speaker’s Corner. Ben is tasked with finding the academic and her abductor. But where others fail, Koenig thrives! Particularly when he recognises the homeless woman as someone he shot in the head ten years earlier��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Nobody’s Hero is thrilling, unstoppable and completely gripping from the first word to the very last. I have enormous respect for the author. To write such a complex, imaginative and full-on story, to have so many individual pieces, so many seemingly unconnected threads that all need to be tied together at the end, and to do it with such incredible style is an achievement. I love the characterisation. I like Koenig but the more time I spend with Jen Draper, the more my girl-crush develops! The storyline doesn’t really let up. There are no quieter moments for the characters to take a breather. There’s always someone trying to shoot them/blow them up/run them off the road. As I think you would expect, the level of violence is fairly high. A hell of a lot of people die and for a lot of them, their deaths are quite grisly. There are a couple of really big twists in the tale. Twists that the reader just doesn’t see coming. One of which, was delivered in the most perfect way. Loved it! The ending is explosive and totally full-on. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I couldn’t see how Koenig was going to get out of this one. You’ll have to read the book for yourself to see if he does! M.W. Craven is a superb storyteller, and I cannot wait to read more of his work. All in all, thrilling from the get-go, chock full of action, totally unexpected and stuffed full of twists. An absolutely relentless read that will consume you. Recommended.
]]> 208901312 Darkly funny and provocative, this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride follows two unlikely fugitives—an SAT tutor who finds her rich employers brutally murdered and the bound woman she frees from their mansion—an irresistible debut novel perfect for fans of��The Guest�����Ի���My Sister, the Serial Killer

A scholarship kid with straight As and big dreams, Evie Gordon always thought she was special, that she’d be someone. But after graduating from an elite university, she finds herself drowning in debt and working as an SAT tutor for the super-rich of Los Angeles.

Everything changes one Sunday, when she arrives for her weekly lesson at the Victors�� Beverly Hills estate and, in lieu of a bored teenager, finds the bloody remains of the parents strewn through their beautiful back garden, and a woman crying for help within a closet. As Evie works to free her, the two are spotted—and within moments, they go from bystanders to suspects to fugitives.

Suddenly at the heart of a manhunt and accompanied by a mysterious woman who refuses to speak, Evie knows the only way to clear her name is to find the real killer. But first she’ll have to break down the barriers of her companion, who is quickly becoming the most important person in Evie’s upside-down life. Their breathless spree takes them across the U.S. as developments in the case shock the nation and the press runs wild with Evie’s a gifted kid turned killer. She's now on the cover of every magazine and newspaper—anointed the new Charles Manson, a bloodthirsty ninety-nine percenter looking to start a class war. Evie is finally��someone.

By turns cuttingly hilarious and deeply insightful,��Killer Potential��is a strikingly original debut. A literary novel with the page-turning intensity of a thriller that asks timely questions about our belief in the romance of social mobility, and how the stories we’re sold about our potential can shape the course of our lives.]]> 320 Hannah Deitch 1399619594 Emma 4
Evie Gordon was once a grade A+ student with bags of potential and a blindingly bright future. Now, with her school days a distant memory, she’s a SATS tutor for the privileged, struggling to pay off an overwhelming mountain of college debt. Her regular tutoring session on a Sunday is with Serena Victor. When Evie arrives at the allotted time, she notices the front door of the Victor’s grand home is wide open, which is unusual. Further investigation reveals the bodies of Serena’s parents in the garden. Terrified, Evie knows she must call the police, but she wants to be a million miles away from the house when that happens. On her way to her car, she hears a voice calling for ‘help’��.’please��. Evie knows she needs to leave, put herself first, but she can’t leave a stranger to the same fate as the Victors. What follows is a chain events that turn Evie into the most wanted woman in the US. Chased across the country, vilified and hated by the nation. With her face splashed across every newspaper and live news broadcast, will Evie’s life ever be the same again��?

Killer Potential is a cracking read. A superbly written debut from an author to watch. I LOVED the setup of this book. I love how the title is a perfect fit for the story. It was one of those books where I was reading the first couple of chapters whilst thinking to myself ‘someone definitely needs a pay rise for coming up with that title!��. Magic. Let’s talk about Evie. Evie was an honors student at high school. With praise heaped upon her from every direction; her parents, her teachers, and literally everyone else, she was told how much potential she had and all the great things she could accomplish. But, following an expensive college course which resulted in a mountain of debt, she’s still nothing special and hasn’t made her mark on life. So she spends her time as a SATS tutor to the super-rich of LA. Surely the promises made by her parents and teachers meant something, didn’t they? Evie is a great character. Multi-layered and interesting. The story is mainly told from her perspective as she and the woman she rescued from the Victors�� understairs cupboard make their way across America in multiple stolen cars. Hoping a solution to their problem will be around the next corner.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Killer Potential is a great debut novel and I’m excited to see what Deitch publishes next. We spend a lot of time with Evie and her mysterious passenger which allows the reader to really get to know what makes Evie tick. During their trek they find themselves in numerous scrapes and dangerous life or death predicaments, which only add to the overall tension of the novel. The big twist wasn’t all that surprising for me but that certainly didn’t take anything away from the story. I enjoyed the way the author tells a story. I thought Deitch’s characters were strong, and I found myself fully immersed in the women’s plight. Evie’s thoughts of her family back home, how they were feeling and whether their opinion of their bright, clever daughter had changed brought a lump to my throat. Whilst this is a literary mystery with a Thelma & Louise feel about it, it’s also a love story. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Killer Potential. An enthralling, character-driven thrill ride across the US. A strong plot, even stronger characters and chock-full of lovely suspense. Recommended.]]> 3.87 2025
author: Hannah Deitch
name: Emma
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Evie Gordon was once a grade A+ student with bags of potential and a blindingly bright future. Now, with her school days a distant memory, she’s a SATS tutor for the privileged, struggling to pay off an overwhelming mountain of college debt. Her regular tutoring session on a Sunday is with Serena Victor. When Evie arrives at the allotted time, she notices the front door of the Victor’s grand home is wide open, which is unusual. Further investigation reveals the bodies of Serena’s parents in the garden. Terrified, Evie knows she must call the police, but she wants to be a million miles away from the house when that happens. On her way to her car, she hears a voice calling for ‘help’��.’please��. Evie knows she needs to leave, put herself first, but she can’t leave a stranger to the same fate as the Victors. What follows is a chain events that turn Evie into the most wanted woman in the US. Chased across the country, vilified and hated by the nation. With her face splashed across every newspaper and live news broadcast, will Evie’s life ever be the same again��?

Killer Potential is a cracking read. A superbly written debut from an author to watch. I LOVED the setup of this book. I love how the title is a perfect fit for the story. It was one of those books where I was reading the first couple of chapters whilst thinking to myself ‘someone definitely needs a pay rise for coming up with that title!��. Magic. Let’s talk about Evie. Evie was an honors student at high school. With praise heaped upon her from every direction; her parents, her teachers, and literally everyone else, she was told how much potential she had and all the great things she could accomplish. But, following an expensive college course which resulted in a mountain of debt, she’s still nothing special and hasn’t made her mark on life. So she spends her time as a SATS tutor to the super-rich of LA. Surely the promises made by her parents and teachers meant something, didn’t they? Evie is a great character. Multi-layered and interesting. The story is mainly told from her perspective as she and the woman she rescued from the Victors�� understairs cupboard make their way across America in multiple stolen cars. Hoping a solution to their problem will be around the next corner.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Killer Potential is a great debut novel and I’m excited to see what Deitch publishes next. We spend a lot of time with Evie and her mysterious passenger which allows the reader to really get to know what makes Evie tick. During their trek they find themselves in numerous scrapes and dangerous life or death predicaments, which only add to the overall tension of the novel. The big twist wasn’t all that surprising for me but that certainly didn’t take anything away from the story. I enjoyed the way the author tells a story. I thought Deitch’s characters were strong, and I found myself fully immersed in the women’s plight. Evie’s thoughts of her family back home, how they were feeling and whether their opinion of their bright, clever daughter had changed brought a lump to my throat. Whilst this is a literary mystery with a Thelma & Louise feel about it, it’s also a love story. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Killer Potential. An enthralling, character-driven thrill ride across the US. A strong plot, even stronger characters and chock-full of lovely suspense. Recommended.
]]> 218024270 They're all killers, but only one will resort to murder. The stunning new novel from international bestseller Kayte Nunn, for all fans of Lucy Foley and White Lotus.

Successful beauty entrepreneur Vivi Savidge is about to celebrate her fortieth birthday at the Palazzo Stellina, a historic former convent in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Vivi's little sister is flying in from Brisbane with her sixteen-year-old twins in tow. Her ex-colleague and his new husband are coming from Boston, and old university friend Caroline is driving from Turin. Every one of them is hiding a shameful secret.

Amid a suffocating heatwave, the holiday ignites an explosive cocktail of obsession, jealousy, and greed. Before the week is over, secrets will be exposed and the gathering will turn deadly, leaving one victim, a handful of suspects, and a murderer in their midst.

'A brilliantly twisty thriller in a beautiful setting. I couldn't put this down' Pip Drysdale

'Will whisk you away from everyday life and immerse you in the Italian mountainside, which turns out to be as deadly as it is idyllic' B.M. Carroll]]> Kayte Nunn 1835011500 Emma 0 3.50
author: Kayte Nunn
name: Emma
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 216751889 A page-turning, supernaturally-tinged LA puzzle-box thriller �� Zodiac with teeth, from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated and bestselling author of Come with Me. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Lauren Beukes.

What do you see...?

When the mutilated body of a young woman is discovered in the desert on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the detective assigned to the case can't deny the similarities between this murder and one that occurred a year prior. Media outlets are quick to surmise this is the work of a budding serial killer, but Detective Bill Renney is struggling with an altogether different a secret that keeps him tethered to the husband of the first victim.

What do you hear...?

Maureen Park, newly engaged to Hollywood producer Greg Dawson, finds her engagement party crashed by the arrival of Landon, Greg’s son. A darkly unsettling young man, Landon invades Maureen’s new existence, and the longer he stays, the more convinced she becomes that he may have something to do with the recent murder in the high desert.

What do you feel...?

Toby Kampen, the self-proclaimed Human Fly, begins an obsession over a woman who is unlike anyone he has ever met. A woman with rattlesnake teeth and a penchant for biting. A woman who has trapped him in her spell. A woman who may or may not be completely human.��

In Ronald Malfi's brand-new thriller, these three storylines converge to create a tapestry of deceit, distrust, and unapologetic horror.��A brand-new novel of dark suspense set in the City of Angels, as only “horror’s Faulkner�� can tell it.]]> 432 Ronald Malfi 1803367601 Emma 5
Ronald Malfi has quickly become my favourite horror author. His books, whilst quite dark and disturbing, have such beauty and depth to them. I adore how this author tells a story, along with the characters he creates. The release of a new Ronald Malfi book is something I always look forward to very much. And if you’re a fan of horror fiction and you haven’t discovered this author yet then you’re truly missing out on something GREAT! Senseless is a superb addition to Malfi’s catalogue of work. Something a little different, but just as haunting and unsettling. A subtle horror story that gets under the skin and doesn’t let you go.

Detective Bill Renney is called to the LA county line to investigate the murder of a young woman. Having recently lost his wife, Renney is deep in grief and struggling to function normally. But even he can’t help but draw similarities between this recent murder and an unsolved murder from a year ago.
Maureen Park is celebrating her engagement to movie producer, Greg Dawson in a room full of people she doesn’t know. When Greg’s son, Landon, arrives uninvited, the mood instantly sours. There’s something about Landon that makes Maureen feel uncomfortable. And Landon seems to relish the fact.
Toby Kampen is a human fly. Finding himself in a nightclub one evening he meets a woman who Toby finds utterly captivating. He believes the mysterious woman has supernatural powers and he wants more from her. Toby’s obsession knows no bounds.

Three seemingly unconnected stories come together in a creeping, nuanced way. Unexpected and completely shocking, the links are slowly revealed to the reader. I loved Senseless. It’s one of those books (and I do find this happens a lot with Malfi’s books) that just stays with you. You’ll be thinking about this book weeks after you’ve finished reading it. The storytelling is superb. The reveal of how each storyline is connected �� where all of a sudden, the pace completely changes and you don’t know which way is up �� will leave you breathless. Senseless is such a clever, well-plotted novel. No one else tells a story like Ronald Malfi.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Senseless is a dark and hypnotic story. Full of dread and menace. It puts you on edge with its palpable, building tension and I loved every second of it. I’ve already said it once in this review but it bears repeating, no one tells a story like Ronald Malfi. The writing is sublime. The characters are truly magnificent creations, and the plot was unlike anything I’ve read previously. Three very different stories featuring their own beautifully defined characters whose paths eventually cross and it all makes the most perfect sense. Personally, I’m always in awe of writers and how they create their stories. But to do THIS, to create Senseless…WOW! Absolutely outstanding. I savoured every word, every minute I spent with this book. All in all, a dark, subtle, meticulous tale. Expertly written and a real experience for the reader. Highly recommended.]]> 4.01 2025
author: Ronald Malfi
name: Emma
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/15
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Ronald Malfi has quickly become my favourite horror author. His books, whilst quite dark and disturbing, have such beauty and depth to them. I adore how this author tells a story, along with the characters he creates. The release of a new Ronald Malfi book is something I always look forward to very much. And if you’re a fan of horror fiction and you haven’t discovered this author yet then you’re truly missing out on something GREAT! Senseless is a superb addition to Malfi’s catalogue of work. Something a little different, but just as haunting and unsettling. A subtle horror story that gets under the skin and doesn’t let you go.

Detective Bill Renney is called to the LA county line to investigate the murder of a young woman. Having recently lost his wife, Renney is deep in grief and struggling to function normally. But even he can’t help but draw similarities between this recent murder and an unsolved murder from a year ago.
Maureen Park is celebrating her engagement to movie producer, Greg Dawson in a room full of people she doesn’t know. When Greg’s son, Landon, arrives uninvited, the mood instantly sours. There’s something about Landon that makes Maureen feel uncomfortable. And Landon seems to relish the fact.
Toby Kampen is a human fly. Finding himself in a nightclub one evening he meets a woman who Toby finds utterly captivating. He believes the mysterious woman has supernatural powers and he wants more from her. Toby’s obsession knows no bounds.

Three seemingly unconnected stories come together in a creeping, nuanced way. Unexpected and completely shocking, the links are slowly revealed to the reader. I loved Senseless. It’s one of those books (and I do find this happens a lot with Malfi’s books) that just stays with you. You’ll be thinking about this book weeks after you’ve finished reading it. The storytelling is superb. The reveal of how each storyline is connected �� where all of a sudden, the pace completely changes and you don’t know which way is up �� will leave you breathless. Senseless is such a clever, well-plotted novel. No one else tells a story like Ronald Malfi.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Senseless is a dark and hypnotic story. Full of dread and menace. It puts you on edge with its palpable, building tension and I loved every second of it. I’ve already said it once in this review but it bears repeating, no one tells a story like Ronald Malfi. The writing is sublime. The characters are truly magnificent creations, and the plot was unlike anything I’ve read previously. Three very different stories featuring their own beautifully defined characters whose paths eventually cross and it all makes the most perfect sense. Personally, I’m always in awe of writers and how they create their stories. But to do THIS, to create Senseless…WOW! Absolutely outstanding. I savoured every word, every minute I spent with this book. All in all, a dark, subtle, meticulous tale. Expertly written and a real experience for the reader. Highly recommended.
]]> 217524895 MORNING, AFTERNOON, NIGHT. THE MOTHERS ARE ALWAYS WATCHING . . .

'Original, dark, clever and compelling' Mary Ann Sieghart, author of The Authority Gap

'This is a compelling and terrifying novel whose alternative history engages chillingly with current possibilities. No one writes children better than Chidgey. She exactly gets their experimental cruelty and related innocence as they attempt to piece their world together' Elizabeth Cook, author of Lux

England, 1979. Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents of a secluded New Forest home, part of the government's Sycamore Scheme. Every day, the triplets do their chores, play their games and take their medicine, under the watchful eyes of three Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night.

Their nightmares are recorded in The Book of Dreams.
Their lessons are taken from The Book of Knowledge.
And their sins are reported in The Book of Guilt.

All the boys want is to be sent to the Big House in Margate, where they imagine a life of sun, sea and fairground rides. But, as the government looks to shut down the Sycamore Homes, the triplets begin to question everything they have been told.

Gradually surrendering its dark secrets, The Book of Guilt is a profoundly unnerving exploration of belonging in a world where some lives are valued less than others.]]> 397 Catherine Chidgey 1399823639 Emma 0 4.69
author: Catherine Chidgey
name: Emma
average rating: 4.69
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/10
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:

]]> 227907365

SOON TO BE A MAJOR FILM STARRING JULIA ROBERTS


'Deliciously dark.' JOHN MARRS

'Exhilarating' DANYA KUKAFKA
'Ingenious' LAURA LIPPMAN

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Till Death Do Us Part

The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.


After forty years, Thom Graves has become an incredible disappointment to his wife, Wendy - he drinks too much, flirts with other women, and worst of all, is in danger of revealing their dark secret. But how far is Wendy willing to go to stop him?



Starting at the end, and ending at the beginning, Kill Your Darlings is an ingenious mystery about two people's life together, and the secrets which fatally bind them.


PRAISE FOR PETER

'A killer read with twist after twist.' JANICE HALLETT (on A Talent for Murder)


'One of the world's best crime writers. Nobody writes psychopaths like Swanson.' MARK EDWARDS


'Delicious . . . I defy you to stop reading once you begin.' New York Times (on The Christmas Guest)
]]> 288 Peter Swanson 0571393152 Emma 0 to-read, my-netgalley-shelf 4.50 2025
author: Peter Swanson
name: Emma
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves: to-read, my-netgalley-shelf
review:

]]> 216381272 'Reminiscent of Mo Hayder at her darkest' - OBSERVER
'A tour de force with superb dramamtic twists' - DAILY MAIL
'The best book I've read all year' - SARAH PINBOROUGH

' This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.'

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer. He is also a father, a widower, and a beloved celebrity in his small town. He is an unassuming man ­- tall, thin and quietly friendly. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has known the truth about his father since he was ten years old. Too terrified to go to the police, he ran away from home as soon as he was able, carrying the guilt of leaving his sister behind. But when Lucas is found dead in a dingy motel room, Nathan returns to his childhood home for the first time in seventeen years. It's there he finds The Midnight King, his father's final unpublished manuscript, a fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing eight-year-old girl who disappeared only days before his father's death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father's secret. But it may not be as simple as finding a lost child. For The Midnight King holds Nathan's secrets as well as Lucas's, and he is not the only one searching for the truth...

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

'If you're a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this' - PRIMA
'Lean, taut, gripping and bloody' - CHRIS BROOKMYRE
'The best book I've read about a serial killer since Red Dragon' - GARETH BROWN]]> 349 Tariq Ashkanani 1805222295 Emma 5
Nathan Cole returns to the small town he grew up in following his father’s sudden death. Nathan didn’t have the easiest childhood. Lucas, his father, was a well-loved, much-admired, bestselling writer on the outside. But at home he was a cruel and unloving father. Lucas was also a serial killer. Nathan and his sister, Kate, were always aware of what their father was. But they did nothing about it. Whilst going through his deceased father’s things, Nathan discovers an unpublished manuscript titled ‘The Midnight King�� hidden inside a box also containing souvenirs from Lucas’s victims. The book claims to be fiction, not a confession. But Nathan knows the truth��

This is the third book I’ve read by this author and oh my goodness, the future of crime fiction is looking very, very bright with Tariq Ashkanani in it! Ashkanani’s award-winning debut, Welcome to Cooper, took readers on a dark journey to the heart of Nebraska. With this latest book, The Midnight King, the author has ramped that darkness level up tenfold. Where to begin with this twisty read? I’ve seen a couple of reviews that say, ‘the less you know about this book before making a start, the better��. As someone who automatically downloaded it without actually reading the blurb (knew it would be great!), I can wholeheartedly agree with that. I didn’t know what to expect and that, for me, heightened the entire reading experience.

Just know that this is a multi-layered, multifaceted exploration of how a traumatic past can influence our present selves. Not only does Nathan discover the manuscript when he’s looking through his father’s belongings, he also finds souvenirs from his father’s victims. One of which is a red ribbon. Nathan immediately knows who the ribbon belongs to; an 8-year-old girl who went missing a few days before Nathan’s father died. Was Lucas still up to his old tricks in the days before his death? Tasked by the child’s parents to find their missing daughter, disgraced cop, now private investigator and childhood friend of Nathan, Isaac Holloway starts to investigate the disappearance. Isaac is such a brilliant character. His connection to Nathan and the Cole family increases the already palpable tension throughout the book. Bloody marvellous!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Midnight King is like nothing I have ever read before. It takes the serial killer trope and adds multiple new dimensions. As a lover of the serial killer thriller (I’ve read quite a few over the years), I applaud Ashkanani for taking the story in a different direction. Those twists��*chefs kiss*. Absolutely shocking! I loved the characterisation. I’ve already mentioned how much I loved Isaac in particular. I loved how gripping the story is, how the reader can’t predict how things are going to pan out. I loved the pace of the story with peaks and troughs to keep you thoroughly immersed from page one to the end. I loved the Nashville setting (Nashville!). All in all, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with The Midnight King, and I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next. Hugely tense, highly unsettling, totally irresistible and all-consuming. Skilled storytelling from an author to watch. Highly recommended.]]> 4.01
author: Tariq Ashkanani
name: Emma
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Nathan Cole returns to the small town he grew up in following his father’s sudden death. Nathan didn’t have the easiest childhood. Lucas, his father, was a well-loved, much-admired, bestselling writer on the outside. But at home he was a cruel and unloving father. Lucas was also a serial killer. Nathan and his sister, Kate, were always aware of what their father was. But they did nothing about it. Whilst going through his deceased father’s things, Nathan discovers an unpublished manuscript titled ‘The Midnight King�� hidden inside a box also containing souvenirs from Lucas’s victims. The book claims to be fiction, not a confession. But Nathan knows the truth��

This is the third book I’ve read by this author and oh my goodness, the future of crime fiction is looking very, very bright with Tariq Ashkanani in it! Ashkanani’s award-winning debut, Welcome to Cooper, took readers on a dark journey to the heart of Nebraska. With this latest book, The Midnight King, the author has ramped that darkness level up tenfold. Where to begin with this twisty read? I’ve seen a couple of reviews that say, ‘the less you know about this book before making a start, the better��. As someone who automatically downloaded it without actually reading the blurb (knew it would be great!), I can wholeheartedly agree with that. I didn’t know what to expect and that, for me, heightened the entire reading experience.

Just know that this is a multi-layered, multifaceted exploration of how a traumatic past can influence our present selves. Not only does Nathan discover the manuscript when he’s looking through his father’s belongings, he also finds souvenirs from his father’s victims. One of which is a red ribbon. Nathan immediately knows who the ribbon belongs to; an 8-year-old girl who went missing a few days before Nathan’s father died. Was Lucas still up to his old tricks in the days before his death? Tasked by the child’s parents to find their missing daughter, disgraced cop, now private investigator and childhood friend of Nathan, Isaac Holloway starts to investigate the disappearance. Isaac is such a brilliant character. His connection to Nathan and the Cole family increases the already palpable tension throughout the book. Bloody marvellous!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Midnight King is like nothing I have ever read before. It takes the serial killer trope and adds multiple new dimensions. As a lover of the serial killer thriller (I’ve read quite a few over the years), I applaud Ashkanani for taking the story in a different direction. Those twists��*chefs kiss*. Absolutely shocking! I loved the characterisation. I’ve already mentioned how much I loved Isaac in particular. I loved how gripping the story is, how the reader can’t predict how things are going to pan out. I loved the pace of the story with peaks and troughs to keep you thoroughly immersed from page one to the end. I loved the Nashville setting (Nashville!). All in all, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with The Midnight King, and I cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us next. Hugely tense, highly unsettling, totally irresistible and all-consuming. Skilled storytelling from an author to watch. Highly recommended.
]]> 199271013
Now with a successful career as a criminal psychiatrist, Neil pours himself into his work, understanding the very darkest of human behaviour. Because, despite what he saw that day, Neil knows there's no such thing as a monster.

But now he's got a call. His father, John, a retired police officer, has disappeared, last seen approaching a high cliff, known locally as a suicide spot. Neil can't believe he didn't see the signs.

It's just, the more he looks, the more it seems like there weren't any signs. In fact, John seemed to be conducting some kind of off-the-books investigation, into the mysterious murder of an unidentified woman.

Why didn't John go to his former colleagues? What did he uncover? Did it drive him to take his own life, or did it drive him into the hands of a killer?

But the most important questions of all are the ones that Neil doesn't know to ask. How does this modern-day murder connect back to what happened that day when he was twelve? And, this time, when he comes face to face with the darkest killer he's ever faced, will he have the courage to step out of the shadows and save the people he loves?


Praise for Alex North

"As terrifying as a great horror novel, as unpredictable as the best type of crime novel and above all beautifully written...a writer who is an absolute master of his craft" Jane Casey

"This is absorbing, headlong reading, a play on classic horror with an inventiveness of its own" New York Times

"Hugely atmospheric and deliciously creepy" Alex Michaelides]]> 400 Alex North 0241438144 Emma 0 3.67 2025
author: Alex North
name: Emma
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves:
review:

]]> 219375126 It was supposed to be paradise.
A group of friends are studying abroad in Australia, having the time of their lives. Sun-kissed skin, whirlwind romances, all-night parties �� they think it will never end, that nothing bad will ever happen to them.

But not all of them came home.
Accepted onto the exclusive Adventure Abroad Programme, they travel the country, swim with sharks, hike in the national park. But it isn’t long before their trip of a lifetime ends in violence and betrayal.

And now they have to go back...
Years pass, but none of the surviving friends forget what happened that night. So when the remains of a girl are found in the outback, they know it’s time to face up to the past. All of them are guilty of something, but who is really to blame?]]> Sara Ochs 1529905532 Emma 0 my-netgalley-shelf, to-read 0.0 2025
author: Sara Ochs
name: Emma
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: my-netgalley-shelf, to-read
review:

]]> 222255947
All of you are young, all beautiful, all keen to escape the grinding poverty, political unrest and environmental catastrophe of the outside world.

You realise that cameras are tracking your every move, broadcasting to millions of reality TV fans.

Soon, ten men will arrive on foot �� if they all survive the journey.

What will you have to do to win?

And what happens to the losers?

LORD OF THE FLIES meets LOVE ISLAND in this explosive, addictive debut novel, as bingeable as the best reality TV, with dark undercurrents of literary dystopia and consumerist satire. ]]> 336 Aisling Rawle 0008710104 Emma 0 to-read, my-netgalley-shelf 4.00 2025
author: Aisling Rawle
name: Emma
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: to-read, my-netgalley-shelf
review:

]]> 213713209 “So clever and fresh with a wild and incredibly satisfying twist at the end.�� —Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A dinner party in a beautiful Notting Hill townhouse turns into a sinister game, as six old friends are forced to spill their darkest secrets…or else.

Six friends reunite in London to celebrate the life of their recently deceased ex-employer, a professor that brought them together in 1999 to help build a dating website based on psychological testing.

But what is meant to be a night of bittersweet nostalgia soon becomes a twisted and deadly game when the old friends find themselves held at gunpoint. They are given an ultimatum: reveal their darkest secrets to the group or pick each other off one-by-one.

It soon becomes clear that their current predicament is related to their shared past. The love questionnaire they helped develop in 1999 for the dating site was also turned into a tool for weeding out The Wasp Trap. This and the other tragic events of that summer long ago may help reveal the truth behind a killer hiding in plain sight.

Alternating between the past and present with a colorful ensemble of characters, The Wasp Trap is a fast-paced and twisty thrill ride that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Alice Feeney.]]> 0 Mark Edwards 1405971495 Emma 0 to-read, my-netgalley-shelf 4.29 2025
author: Mark Edwards
name: Emma
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: to-read, my-netgalley-shelf
review:

]]> 220160111 After killing an intruder in self-defense, a wealthy London mother must unravel a terrifying mystery filled with twists and turns, from the author of the “deliciously twisted thriller�� (People) The Other Mothers.

Alice, a professional mother of one, is hosting a playdate with friends at her upscale London home when a disturbed man breaks in. With her child in the next room, Alice panics and kills him—an act later ruled to have been in self-defense.

Everyone tries to encourage Alice to move on with her life—but with strange comments appearing online, a mysterious phone call telling her all is not as it seems, and her husband, nanny, and friends behaving strangely, Alice finds herself drawn to the mystery of who her intruder really was. As she digs deeper, she discovers a trail of dark secrets that spiral closer to home than she ever could have imagined.]]> 400 Katherine Faulkner 1668024810 Emma 0 my-netgalley-shelf, to-read 4.06
author: Katherine Faulkner
name: Emma
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: my-netgalley-shelf, to-read
review:

]]> 219603177 One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge.

In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family.��Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Under false pretenses, Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall onto��a luxury��train from Philadelphia to Chicago,��an overnight��journey of fourteen hours. Her goal? Confront the people who’ve wronged her, get them to confess their crimes, and deliver them into the hands of authorities waiting at the end of the line. Justice will at last be served.

But Anna’s plan is quickly derailed by the murder of one of the passengers. As the train barrels through the night, it becomes clear that someone else on board is enacting their own form of revenge—and that they won’t stop until everyone else is dead.

With time running out before the train reaches its destination, Anna is forced to hunt the killer in their midst while protecting the people she hates the most. In order to destroy her enemies, she must first save them—even though it means putting her own life at risk.]]> 400 Riley Sager 0593472403 Emma 0 my-netgalley-shelf, to-read 3.59 2025
author: Riley Sager
name: Emma
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: my-netgalley-shelf, to-read
review:

]]> 204324075 D B Stephens 0008697450 Emma 0 4.01 2024
author: D B Stephens
name: Emma
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves:
review:

]]> 214020968 WISH YOU WERE HERE? THINK AGAIN��

High on the wave-pounded cliffs, far from the bustling souks of Marrakech, sits The Surf House.

A hidden gem on Morocco’s shores, the house is a sanctuary for the surfers, travellers and dreamers who wash in.

But the idyll is built on something rotten.

And when Bea arrives, relieved to find refuge after a dangerous encounter in a Marrakech alleyway, she soon gets caught in the swell of a deep, dark mystery.

Because another young woman went missing one year ago �� and the last place she was sighted was The Surf House.]]> 416 Lucy Clarke 000863940X Emma 4
The Surf House is another cracking read from the queen of destination thrillers. I’ve only really covered the first couple of chapters in the paragraph above. There’s so much more to this book which I haven’t yet mentioned. The titular surf house for example. Bea thankfully survives the attack in Marrakesh and befriends motherly Marnie, who takes her under her wing and gives her room and board free of charge at the Surf House. In exchange, Bea is expected to help out around the place; making breakfast, cleaning the rooms. It feel like the perfect arrangement and the break Bea needs. But then Seth arrives. Seth’s sister, Savannah, stayed at the Surf House when it first opened and shortly after leaving, went missing. She hasn’t been seen since and Seth is keen to find his sibling and ensure she’s safe. When questioned about Savannah, Marnie and her partner, Ped, are tight-lipped. Bea feels indebted to Marnie for giving her a roof over her head and feeding her. But something just doesn’t feel right. Bea is torn between helping Seth, and staying loyal to Marnie. Because Marnie knows Bea’s biggest, most destructive secret. And without Marnie’s protection, Bea’s life could be over in second��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Surf House is a twisty, compelling read with a host of well-written, yet highly unlikable, characters. They’re all very suspicious. I think I doubted every single one of the cast, including Bea, at some point or another! I did gradually warm to Bea but she is the only character in the book I wanted to get through unscathed! There are secrets and lies a-plenty, and I was wholeheartedly there for it. No one tells the truth, everyone is hiding something. Now, regular readers of the blog will know that I’m not really a fan of romance in my crime/thriller novels. I can stomach small amounts occasionally. Very occasionally. Bea falls quite hard for Aiden, who runs the hostel next door to the Surf House. Aiden won’t commit though, which results in a bit of a ‘will they/won’t they�� throughout the storyline, with the odd hook up here and there. It WAS needed to help the storyline move along, it was key to the plot, but I did feel it pushed the book a touch further into the Women’s Fiction genre than Clarke’s earlier thrillers. Of course, this is my own personal interpretation of the book and you may feel completely differently. I very much enjoyed The Surf House. It’s full of surprises, the characters are well-written, the plot moves at a compelling, engaging pace and I felt truly satisfied by the conclusion. It’s a great book by a great author and I cannot wait to see what Clarke has for us next! Twisty, engaging, full of intrigue and lots of lovely suspense. Recommended.]]> 4.08
author: Lucy Clarke
name: Emma
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The Surf House is another cracking read from the queen of destination thrillers. I’ve only really covered the first couple of chapters in the paragraph above. There’s so much more to this book which I haven’t yet mentioned. The titular surf house for example. Bea thankfully survives the attack in Marrakesh and befriends motherly Marnie, who takes her under her wing and gives her room and board free of charge at the Surf House. In exchange, Bea is expected to help out around the place; making breakfast, cleaning the rooms. It feel like the perfect arrangement and the break Bea needs. But then Seth arrives. Seth’s sister, Savannah, stayed at the Surf House when it first opened and shortly after leaving, went missing. She hasn’t been seen since and Seth is keen to find his sibling and ensure she’s safe. When questioned about Savannah, Marnie and her partner, Ped, are tight-lipped. Bea feels indebted to Marnie for giving her a roof over her head and feeding her. But something just doesn’t feel right. Bea is torn between helping Seth, and staying loyal to Marnie. Because Marnie knows Bea’s biggest, most destructive secret. And without Marnie’s protection, Bea’s life could be over in second��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Surf House is a twisty, compelling read with a host of well-written, yet highly unlikable, characters. They’re all very suspicious. I think I doubted every single one of the cast, including Bea, at some point or another! I did gradually warm to Bea but she is the only character in the book I wanted to get through unscathed! There are secrets and lies a-plenty, and I was wholeheartedly there for it. No one tells the truth, everyone is hiding something. Now, regular readers of the blog will know that I’m not really a fan of romance in my crime/thriller novels. I can stomach small amounts occasionally. Very occasionally. Bea falls quite hard for Aiden, who runs the hostel next door to the Surf House. Aiden won’t commit though, which results in a bit of a ‘will they/won’t they�� throughout the storyline, with the odd hook up here and there. It WAS needed to help the storyline move along, it was key to the plot, but I did feel it pushed the book a touch further into the Women’s Fiction genre than Clarke’s earlier thrillers. Of course, this is my own personal interpretation of the book and you may feel completely differently. I very much enjoyed The Surf House. It’s full of surprises, the characters are well-written, the plot moves at a compelling, engaging pace and I felt truly satisfied by the conclusion. It’s a great book by a great author and I cannot wait to see what Clarke has for us next! Twisty, engaging, full of intrigue and lots of lovely suspense. Recommended.
]]> 213330572 You can hear his every thought. But he can hear yours too...

When Elijah suggests going to OneMind to celebrate their ten-year anniversary, Anna is dubious about getting the revolutionary implant that will allow them to hear each other’s thoughts. However, she’s also eager to please him, and to make up for the fact she can’t give him what he really wants, so she agrees to take this step towards the ultimate intimacy.

And at first things are great. Anna feels closer to her husband than she ever has, and the novelty of communicating mind to mind is a thrill. But then she develops a strange side effect and begins having dreams that aren’t dreams, but memories. Memories that aren’t hers. And if Anna is now experiencing Elijah’s memories, what if he can access hers? And what if he learns the terrible secret she has managed to keep from him all these years?

Desperate to keep the truth from her husband, Anna's mind becomes a prison she can't escape. How long can she keep the traitorous thoughts at bay before she drives herself mad?

A clever exploration of toxic relationships, power imbalances, and privacy from an exciting new voice in the high-concept thriller space.]]> 374 Carys Green 1529932289 Emma 4
Anna and Elijah met ten years ago at university. Since then, life for the couple has been pretty sweet. Tech-fanatic Elijah has a good job allowing them to live in a luxurious, tech-driven house. Whilst Anna concentrates on making her name as an artist. For their tenth wedding anniversary Elijah surprises Anna with an unexpected gift. ‘Unity�� offers the chance for couples to become even closer by hearing your other half’s most intimate, inner thoughts. No matter how many miles divide you, you’ll always be able to speak to your partner as if they were in the same room as you. To do this both Anna and Elijah must undergo a procedure to have the chips implanted just beneath the skin behind their ears. The chips are synced, and from then on, your every waking thought will be beamed to your spouse’s mind. Making the closest couple even closer. But Anna has secrets of her own. Things she doesn’t want her husband to know. Things which would tear their solid marriage to shreds. When Anna’s chip begins to malfunction, she realises that Elijah may be able to see her memories as well as her thoughts. Does he already know the truth? Can Anna control her thoughts and memories enough so that he never discovers what happened? And in doing so, will Anne drive herself completely mad in the process��?

I was so completely and utterly drawn to this thriller. Such a different premise that I had to see how this crazy tech would affect the couple in the story. I found Always on My Mind utterly engrossing. A domestic tech thriller that had me hanging on every word. Original and thought-provoking. Terrifying and tense.

The characters are well-drawn. I believed in the couple and their relationship. I didn’t particularly like either of them (I expect you won’t like Elijah much either!) but that’s quite normal for me and to be honest, I’m not sure the author was aiming for ‘likeable�� with either of them. I felt quite sorry for Anna at times. Elijah is controlling and manipulative. His constant checks on Anna pre-chip (where are you? What are you doing?) were completely frustrating and infuriating. He uses his status and wealth to control not only his wife but his friends as well. He’s pretty despicable but that only added to the story. It ramps the tension up and puts the reader beautifully on edge throughout.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Always on My Mind is a gripping, compelling thriller that had me in its thrall from the start of the book to the very end. I was able to predict how a couple of things were going to turn out but that didn’t take anything away from the story for me. The supporting cast of characters were all strong. I found Anna’s best friend Mandie a little infuriating, but I won’t go into why as that could end in a spoiler, of sorts. The dual timeline allows the reader to see how the small group of friends met at university and how their relationships/friendships grew over the years to what we see in the present day. All in all, I found Always on My Mind to be a highly readable, suspense-packed, engaging thriller. Something a little bit different that we should definitely (DEFINITELY!!) leave in fiction forever more. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Recommended.]]> 3.87
author: Carys Green
name: Emma
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Anna and Elijah met ten years ago at university. Since then, life for the couple has been pretty sweet. Tech-fanatic Elijah has a good job allowing them to live in a luxurious, tech-driven house. Whilst Anna concentrates on making her name as an artist. For their tenth wedding anniversary Elijah surprises Anna with an unexpected gift. ‘Unity�� offers the chance for couples to become even closer by hearing your other half’s most intimate, inner thoughts. No matter how many miles divide you, you’ll always be able to speak to your partner as if they were in the same room as you. To do this both Anna and Elijah must undergo a procedure to have the chips implanted just beneath the skin behind their ears. The chips are synced, and from then on, your every waking thought will be beamed to your spouse’s mind. Making the closest couple even closer. But Anna has secrets of her own. Things she doesn’t want her husband to know. Things which would tear their solid marriage to shreds. When Anna’s chip begins to malfunction, she realises that Elijah may be able to see her memories as well as her thoughts. Does he already know the truth? Can Anna control her thoughts and memories enough so that he never discovers what happened? And in doing so, will Anne drive herself completely mad in the process��?

I was so completely and utterly drawn to this thriller. Such a different premise that I had to see how this crazy tech would affect the couple in the story. I found Always on My Mind utterly engrossing. A domestic tech thriller that had me hanging on every word. Original and thought-provoking. Terrifying and tense.

The characters are well-drawn. I believed in the couple and their relationship. I didn’t particularly like either of them (I expect you won’t like Elijah much either!) but that’s quite normal for me and to be honest, I’m not sure the author was aiming for ‘likeable�� with either of them. I felt quite sorry for Anna at times. Elijah is controlling and manipulative. His constant checks on Anna pre-chip (where are you? What are you doing?) were completely frustrating and infuriating. He uses his status and wealth to control not only his wife but his friends as well. He’s pretty despicable but that only added to the story. It ramps the tension up and puts the reader beautifully on edge throughout.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Always on My Mind is a gripping, compelling thriller that had me in its thrall from the start of the book to the very end. I was able to predict how a couple of things were going to turn out but that didn’t take anything away from the story for me. The supporting cast of characters were all strong. I found Anna’s best friend Mandie a little infuriating, but I won’t go into why as that could end in a spoiler, of sorts. The dual timeline allows the reader to see how the small group of friends met at university and how their relationships/friendships grew over the years to what we see in the present day. All in all, I found Always on My Mind to be a highly readable, suspense-packed, engaging thriller. Something a little bit different that we should definitely (DEFINITELY!!) leave in fiction forever more. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Recommended.
]]> 213893472 Kirby Cornell needs a break from everything:
- Her crumbling flat in the sleepy town of Crowhurst (famous for its award-winning sausage rolls and a second-rate serial killer from the 90s).
- Her dead-end job.
- Her sleazy landlord
- Her slobbish housemates.
- And, most of all, the terrible thing they all did.

Luckily, that hasn't caught up with her just yet. Until a new message on their old group chat pops

Everyone in the group chat will die.

It's the first text her ex-flatmate and social-media sleuth Esme has sent for ages, but that's not the really weird thing.

The really weird thing is, Esme died twelve months ago��

Don't miss the new laugh-out-loud thriller from L.M. Chilton, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies �� a murder mystery that fuses the flatmate comedy of Friends with the serial-killer thrills of I Know What You Did Last Summer.

]]> 342 L.M. Chilton 1837930279 Emma 3
Kirby Cornell hates her life. She spends her days cleaning up after chaotic singles in Magaluf, watching them party ’til they puke. One day whilst fishing half-empty beer cans out of the swimming pool, she receives a message in a long-abandoned group chat from Esme, one of her old housemates. Which is very strange as Esme died a year ago. Thinking nothing of it, Kirby continues to slack off in the Magaluf sunshine. Then a second notification appears telling her Max, another housemate, has left the group. With her interest piqued, Kirby decides to Google Max, see what he’s up to these days. Only to discover Max has died. Shocked and saddened by her ex-housemate’s untimely death, she reaches out to the rest of the group for comfort. But the only person to reply is Esme and this time she’s not messing around. This time Esme means business, murderous business: ‘Everyone in the group chat dies’��

Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a funny, easy to read mystery which I devoured in two short sittings. Told in the past and the present, the reader gets to see what happened twelve months earlier. Why Kirby left her journalist career behind and ran away to be holiday rep in Magaluf. Bit by bit, we discover the secret the former friends hold and the reason why Esme may have returned from the dead to wreak revenge in the group chat.

Crowhurst, in the home counties, is a mundane place to live. Famous for, well, a spree killer who murdered five teenagers in 1996 and not a lot else. But it’s home to a disparate group of flatmates, thrown together only because they were looking for somewhere fairly cheap to live. Clare ‘Kirby�� Cornell is a journalist at the Crowhurst Gazette. Seema is a dental nurse. Dylan is a chef at the local pub. There’s Dave. No one’s really sure what Dave does. Max is pretty much absent from the get-go but he’s still on the tenancy agreement, which immediately qualifies him to be the first to die. And then there’s the new arrival, Esme. Esme is a true crime influencer on ShowMe �� a bit like TikTok but WAY cooler. London-based Esme arrives in Crowhurst to investigate what really happened that fateful day in 1996 when Peter Doyle murdered five teens. One minute Esme is there. The next, she has vanished into thin air which causes Kirby a lot of anxiety. So Kirby takes it upon herself to use ShowMe to discover what happened to the influencer.

Back in the present day and unfortunately back in Crowhurst, Kirby notices a new notification in the group chat. Another former housemate has left. Based on everything that happened to Max, that can’t be a good thing. Can it?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a light-hearted, murder mystery with a cast of intriguing characters. I couldn’t help but warm to Kirby who leads the way from start to finish. She has her flaws but she’s well aware of them. The other supporting characters are well-formed and play their parts well, helping to move the story along. Was I able to tell whodunnit? Nope, not at all and it came as quite a surprise too. I loved the small-town vibe of the setting. A lot of Brits have either lived in or know a town like Crowhurst with its odd local traditions, and often stranger local residents. The dual timeline worked well. I think (and I haven’t checked to be sure) we spend a lot more time in the past than we do in the present. I felt, for me, the main mystery in the book was what happened a year ago to cause the group to break apart and lose touch with each other. Rather than who was killing them off one by one in the present day. That might just be me though. All in all, I enjoyed Everyone in the Group Chat Dies. It’s a laugh-out-loud, easy to read murder mystery. Quite different to the books I tend to choose. I read this straight off the back of a long historical horror novel. It was the perfect palate cleanser. Refreshing and lots of fun! Recommended.]]> 3.58
author: L.M. Chilton
name: Emma
average rating: 3.58
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/03
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Kirby Cornell hates her life. She spends her days cleaning up after chaotic singles in Magaluf, watching them party ’til they puke. One day whilst fishing half-empty beer cans out of the swimming pool, she receives a message in a long-abandoned group chat from Esme, one of her old housemates. Which is very strange as Esme died a year ago. Thinking nothing of it, Kirby continues to slack off in the Magaluf sunshine. Then a second notification appears telling her Max, another housemate, has left the group. With her interest piqued, Kirby decides to Google Max, see what he’s up to these days. Only to discover Max has died. Shocked and saddened by her ex-housemate’s untimely death, she reaches out to the rest of the group for comfort. But the only person to reply is Esme and this time she’s not messing around. This time Esme means business, murderous business: ‘Everyone in the group chat dies’��

Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a funny, easy to read mystery which I devoured in two short sittings. Told in the past and the present, the reader gets to see what happened twelve months earlier. Why Kirby left her journalist career behind and ran away to be holiday rep in Magaluf. Bit by bit, we discover the secret the former friends hold and the reason why Esme may have returned from the dead to wreak revenge in the group chat.

Crowhurst, in the home counties, is a mundane place to live. Famous for, well, a spree killer who murdered five teenagers in 1996 and not a lot else. But it’s home to a disparate group of flatmates, thrown together only because they were looking for somewhere fairly cheap to live. Clare ‘Kirby�� Cornell is a journalist at the Crowhurst Gazette. Seema is a dental nurse. Dylan is a chef at the local pub. There’s Dave. No one’s really sure what Dave does. Max is pretty much absent from the get-go but he’s still on the tenancy agreement, which immediately qualifies him to be the first to die. And then there’s the new arrival, Esme. Esme is a true crime influencer on ShowMe �� a bit like TikTok but WAY cooler. London-based Esme arrives in Crowhurst to investigate what really happened that fateful day in 1996 when Peter Doyle murdered five teens. One minute Esme is there. The next, she has vanished into thin air which causes Kirby a lot of anxiety. So Kirby takes it upon herself to use ShowMe to discover what happened to the influencer.

Back in the present day and unfortunately back in Crowhurst, Kirby notices a new notification in the group chat. Another former housemate has left. Based on everything that happened to Max, that can’t be a good thing. Can it?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a light-hearted, murder mystery with a cast of intriguing characters. I couldn’t help but warm to Kirby who leads the way from start to finish. She has her flaws but she’s well aware of them. The other supporting characters are well-formed and play their parts well, helping to move the story along. Was I able to tell whodunnit? Nope, not at all and it came as quite a surprise too. I loved the small-town vibe of the setting. A lot of Brits have either lived in or know a town like Crowhurst with its odd local traditions, and often stranger local residents. The dual timeline worked well. I think (and I haven’t checked to be sure) we spend a lot more time in the past than we do in the present. I felt, for me, the main mystery in the book was what happened a year ago to cause the group to break apart and lose touch with each other. Rather than who was killing them off one by one in the present day. That might just be me though. All in all, I enjoyed Everyone in the Group Chat Dies. It’s a laugh-out-loud, easy to read murder mystery. Quite different to the books I tend to choose. I read this straight off the back of a long historical horror novel. It was the perfect palate cleanser. Refreshing and lots of fun! Recommended.
]]> 199757490 A chilling horror novel about a haunting told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy,�� from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box
��
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s��Mommy,��Daddo,��and Grandma Ruth.��But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”����
��
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay.��
��
Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling.����
��
But Other Mommy needs an answer.��
��
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror told by the child Bela. A story about a family as haunted as their home.]]> 367 Josh Malerman 0593723120 Emma 3
Bela is eight years old and lives with her Mommy and Daddo. There’s also Other Mommy, a malevolent being who lives in Bela’s wardrobe. Other Mommy started out as Bela’s friend but now Bela’s not so sure how she feels about Other Mommy. She’s started to get closer to Bela’s bed and she’s started talking. She doesn’t say much. But there’s one question she asks Bela over and over again. ‘Can I go inside your heart?�� Bela has managed to avoid answering the question up until this point. No one else knows about Other Mommy. It’s Bela’s secret. But Other Mommy seems to be getting stronger. The love and protection of her family, the emotional security blanket Bela has always known is there is starting to fray. Cracks have appeared in her parent’s once solid marriage. Things are changing. And Other Mommy really needs an answer��

WTF have I just read?! Incidents Around the House is full of creeping, palpable unease, only heightened by its young, impressionable narrator in the form of Bela. The entire story is told from Bela’s point of view which is a very brave direction to take for any author. Everything the reader sees is through Bela’s eyes and oh my gosh, you can’t help but feel for the character. Because she’s so young and because she isn’t aware that a monster in the closet is NOT a normal thing, she doesn’t react the way an adult would. She just seems to accept that this creature, this terrifying apparition (and I’ve read the descriptions of Other Mommy, terrifying is actually an understatement!) is now living in her bedroom cupboard. She doesn’t seem at all alarmed or panicked that Other Mommy wants to possess her, most probably because she doesn’t understand what that means. That naivety in itself is scary. Her parents slowly (OMG hurry the f*** up and realise what is happening to your daughter!!) begin to see and smell things that don’t make sense. But Other Mommy has powers beyond those of a normal ghost and this haunted house is heading out on the road!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Incidents Around the House is a unique story told in a fascinating way. The adult characters are difficult to like. Bela’s parents aren’t going to win any awards for parenting BUT the relationship Bela has with her Daddo was something quite special. Her mother, meh! What a cow. The actual story is presented in a different way. Not only is it single POV of a child but the formatting of the text is unusual. My advice, have a quick look at the ‘read a sample�� option which is available on a certain book retail site or pick up a physical copy. Personally, I’m still not sure how I feel about how the story was presented to the reader. So much so, that I would LOVE to listen to this book on audio. From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty intense, haunting experience! All in all, I enjoyed Incidents Around the House and would read another book by this author in a heartbeat (which is great news as I have several of his earlier books on the TBR still!). A creeping, multi-faceted, hypnotic read. Intriguing, heart-breaking and with a building sense of unease. Recommended.]]> 3.61 2024
author: Josh Malerman
name: Emma
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Bela is eight years old and lives with her Mommy and Daddo. There’s also Other Mommy, a malevolent being who lives in Bela’s wardrobe. Other Mommy started out as Bela’s friend but now Bela’s not so sure how she feels about Other Mommy. She’s started to get closer to Bela’s bed and she’s started talking. She doesn’t say much. But there’s one question she asks Bela over and over again. ‘Can I go inside your heart?�� Bela has managed to avoid answering the question up until this point. No one else knows about Other Mommy. It’s Bela’s secret. But Other Mommy seems to be getting stronger. The love and protection of her family, the emotional security blanket Bela has always known is there is starting to fray. Cracks have appeared in her parent’s once solid marriage. Things are changing. And Other Mommy really needs an answer��

WTF have I just read?! Incidents Around the House is full of creeping, palpable unease, only heightened by its young, impressionable narrator in the form of Bela. The entire story is told from Bela’s point of view which is a very brave direction to take for any author. Everything the reader sees is through Bela’s eyes and oh my gosh, you can’t help but feel for the character. Because she’s so young and because she isn’t aware that a monster in the closet is NOT a normal thing, she doesn’t react the way an adult would. She just seems to accept that this creature, this terrifying apparition (and I’ve read the descriptions of Other Mommy, terrifying is actually an understatement!) is now living in her bedroom cupboard. She doesn’t seem at all alarmed or panicked that Other Mommy wants to possess her, most probably because she doesn’t understand what that means. That naivety in itself is scary. Her parents slowly (OMG hurry the f*** up and realise what is happening to your daughter!!) begin to see and smell things that don’t make sense. But Other Mommy has powers beyond those of a normal ghost and this haunted house is heading out on the road!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Incidents Around the House is a unique story told in a fascinating way. The adult characters are difficult to like. Bela’s parents aren’t going to win any awards for parenting BUT the relationship Bela has with her Daddo was something quite special. Her mother, meh! What a cow. The actual story is presented in a different way. Not only is it single POV of a child but the formatting of the text is unusual. My advice, have a quick look at the ‘read a sample�� option which is available on a certain book retail site or pick up a physical copy. Personally, I’m still not sure how I feel about how the story was presented to the reader. So much so, that I would LOVE to listen to this book on audio. From what I’ve heard, it’s a pretty intense, haunting experience! All in all, I enjoyed Incidents Around the House and would read another book by this author in a heartbeat (which is great news as I have several of his earlier books on the TBR still!). A creeping, multi-faceted, hypnotic read. Intriguing, heart-breaking and with a building sense of unease. Recommended.
]]> 198407218 From the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that spans decades.

1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.

When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy with one eye, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.

Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.

A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.]]> 581 Chris Whitaker 1398707651 Emma 5
I loved every single second I spent in the company of Patch and Saint. All the Colours of the Dark was, without a shadow of a doubt, my book of 2024.

All the Colours of the Dark is an unforgettable story featuring a cast of exquisite characters. The small town of Monta Clare, Missouri is shocked when thirteen-year-old Joseph ‘Patch�� Macauley is kidnapped whilst trying to save a fellow classmate from the same fate. Saint Brown, Patch’s best friend, is devastated. Her world is turned upside down and she vows to do whatever it takes to find Patch and return him home. No one is more driven than Saint. But Patch, trapped in a cellar in the pitch-dark, isn’t alone. Grace is with him, and she paints a world of adventure and opportunity, of literature and of travel. And Patch falls in love. The boy who escapes the cellar is not the same boy who was snatched. Patch is obsessed with Grace, the idea of her, the memory of their brief time together, and vows to spend his entire life searching for her, despite never actually seeing her face. It’s a love story, a serial killer thriller, a police procedural and so, so much more.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, without a second’s hesitation (not even a nanosecond’s hesitation). All the Colours of the Dark is a beautifully told piece of fiction. Poetic, immersive, multifaceted, heartbreaking, it’s everything! I adored this book. The characters will stay with me forever. I am changed after reading this magnificent novel (I and many other people). You cannot go wrong with this author’s books. The characters are divine, the plot draws the reader in and doesn’t let you go. Not even when you’ve finished reading. I’m still thinking about this book months after finishing it! This is a book you live alongside the characters and, I’ll be honest, I am most definitely here for that. Just sublime from start to finish. All the Colours of the Dark is a masterpiece. Authors will read this book and wish they’d written it! Devastating but full of hope. Dark but with perfectly placed moments of light. An epic tale of two lives bound by friendship, love and ultimately, trauma. Incredible, well-plotted storytelling. Standout characterisation. No one writes characters like Whitaker does. Affecting, emotional and utterly haunting. A triumph! Highly recommended.]]> 4.29 2024
author: Chris Whitaker
name: Emma
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/12
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

I loved every single second I spent in the company of Patch and Saint. All the Colours of the Dark was, without a shadow of a doubt, my book of 2024.

All the Colours of the Dark is an unforgettable story featuring a cast of exquisite characters. The small town of Monta Clare, Missouri is shocked when thirteen-year-old Joseph ‘Patch�� Macauley is kidnapped whilst trying to save a fellow classmate from the same fate. Saint Brown, Patch’s best friend, is devastated. Her world is turned upside down and she vows to do whatever it takes to find Patch and return him home. No one is more driven than Saint. But Patch, trapped in a cellar in the pitch-dark, isn’t alone. Grace is with him, and she paints a world of adventure and opportunity, of literature and of travel. And Patch falls in love. The boy who escapes the cellar is not the same boy who was snatched. Patch is obsessed with Grace, the idea of her, the memory of their brief time together, and vows to spend his entire life searching for her, despite never actually seeing her face. It’s a love story, a serial killer thriller, a police procedural and so, so much more.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, without a second’s hesitation (not even a nanosecond’s hesitation). All the Colours of the Dark is a beautifully told piece of fiction. Poetic, immersive, multifaceted, heartbreaking, it’s everything! I adored this book. The characters will stay with me forever. I am changed after reading this magnificent novel (I and many other people). You cannot go wrong with this author’s books. The characters are divine, the plot draws the reader in and doesn’t let you go. Not even when you’ve finished reading. I’m still thinking about this book months after finishing it! This is a book you live alongside the characters and, I’ll be honest, I am most definitely here for that. Just sublime from start to finish. All the Colours of the Dark is a masterpiece. Authors will read this book and wish they’d written it! Devastating but full of hope. Dark but with perfectly placed moments of light. An epic tale of two lives bound by friendship, love and ultimately, trauma. Incredible, well-plotted storytelling. Standout characterisation. No one writes characters like Whitaker does. Affecting, emotional and utterly haunting. A triumph! Highly recommended.
]]> 209749343 The Chalet and The Cruise‘Intense and claustrophobic�� HEAT

‘Agatha Christie with glamour�� SUNDAY TIMES

Nineties girl band Breathe were the girls every teenage girl wanted to be �� until the lead singer, Enola, went missing at the height of her fame and was never found.

Conspiracy theories abounded, and the people closest to her came under suspicion; her boyfriend Max, her manager, her stepdad, and even Angel, the lead singer of rival girl band Attitude. But no evidence of any wrongdoing was ever found and, bar various unverified sightings of her over the years, no trace of Enola has ever been found.

Now four decades later, three bands are part of a revival tour, but when nasty accidents start happening, and band members start dying, it looks like this blast from the past is about to blow them all away. But who wants them dead and why?]]> 381 Catherine Cooper 0008672563 Emma 0 3.91
author: Catherine Cooper
name: Emma
average rating: 3.91
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/25
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 217554533 PRE-ORDER NOW!

Ninety-year-old Daphne Saint Clair has just confessed to being a serial killer.
But someone else has been keeping score...

Typically, no one bats an eyelid when a care home resident dies in their sleep. But then the dead man's late-in-life companion confesses to his murder. And to many more.

Daphne St Clair is finally ready to share her story.
And podcaster Ruth King is the person Daphne chooses to tell it.

As each murder is revealed and each episode lands, the country is soon swept up in the most sensationalised serial killer investigation in living memory. Is Daphne a feminist icon taking revenge on bad men? Or just a ruthless criminal?

And as the season finale approaches, it soon becomes clear neither woman has been honest with the other. After all, is murder really the darkest secret you can hide?]]> MacKenzie Common 1035425785 Emma 0 to-read, my-netgalley-shelf 4.04
author: MacKenzie Common
name: Emma
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: to-read, my-netgalley-shelf
review:

]]> 128007059 A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this binge-worthy thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.

Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.

At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.]]> 384 Lisa Unger 0778333345 Emma 4
I am ashamed to say The New Couple in 5B is the first book I have read by acclaimed author, Lisa Unger. I know. I’m letting the side down! I do have a couple of this author’s earlier books on the TBR including the irresistibly titled Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. I just haven’t managed to squeeze it into my reading schedule as yet. Same as 99% of all my other non-ARC, gifted or purchased books! However, having read the thoroughly compelling The New Couple in 5B that will definitely change.

Rosie Lowan is a writer based in bustling NYC. Her debut, a true crime exposé, was a hit but since then she’s struggled to come up with a concept good enough to take to her editor. Her husband, Chad, is an actor still waiting on his big break. In amongst the stress of their everyday lives, they’ve also been trying to start a family, but it’s just not happening. When Chad’s uncle dies and leaves them his sprawling apartment in a well-to-do, historic building, they can’t believe their luck. They move to The Windermere, hoping it’s the start of something big. A bright new future for them in both their careers and in their personal lives. But The Windermere, with its ever-present, all-seeing doorman and its myriad of cameras, has secrets of its own. Many have died at The Windermere since its inception, including the architect who designed and built the structure at the start of the Great Depression. Rosie doesn’t feel as settled or as comfortable as her husband in their new home. There’s something about the place that just feels…off? Then, when one of their neighbours plummets to his death, Rosie suddenly realises that The Windermere may not be the blessing the Lowan’s first thought. It could, in fact, be the death of them��

The New Couple in 5B is a very well-written, engrossing mystery with a delicious supernatural edge to proceedings. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! Rosie and Chad, having spent time caring for Chad’s terminally ill uncle, are already familiar with the eclectic residents of The Windermere before they move in. They’ve become quite close to Ella and Charles who live next door in 5A. But then things start to go wrong for the Lowans. Strange things start to happen. Rosie is trapped in the basement and sees something she herself can’t quite believe. Abi, the doorman, is always on duty, no matter what time of day or night. He never leaves his post. And the deaths. There have been so many terrible deaths in the building over the years. Determined to uncover the true history of the building and bring light to the darkness within its walls, Rosie starts to investigate. But perhaps The Windermere isn’t quite ready to give up all of its secrets just yet��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The New Couple in 5B is a twisty, compelling read with a cast of interesting characters. This is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll read just one more chapter, but that quickly turns into half of the book! I was bursting to find out what was going on at The Windermere. Just exactly what was Rosie dealing with here? She’d seen things she probably shouldn’t have. She’d had conversations with people that made her see the building in a different light. And along the way, a whole host of terrible things had happened. What was behind it all? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find that out. But let’s just say, I had an inkling about one aspect of the reveal but the other big twist, it took me completely by surprise. I did not see that coming! The setting is as much a character as the lead protagonist is. The story is well-paced throughout, and the added supernatural elements cast doubt over absolutely everything. All in all, The New Couple in 5B is a chilling, unnerving and suspense-laden tale. Creepy, claustrophobic and highly atmospheric. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author soon. Recommended.]]> 3.55 2024
author: Lisa Unger
name: Emma
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

I am ashamed to say The New Couple in 5B is the first book I have read by acclaimed author, Lisa Unger. I know. I’m letting the side down! I do have a couple of this author’s earlier books on the TBR including the irresistibly titled Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. I just haven’t managed to squeeze it into my reading schedule as yet. Same as 99% of all my other non-ARC, gifted or purchased books! However, having read the thoroughly compelling The New Couple in 5B that will definitely change.

Rosie Lowan is a writer based in bustling NYC. Her debut, a true crime exposé, was a hit but since then she’s struggled to come up with a concept good enough to take to her editor. Her husband, Chad, is an actor still waiting on his big break. In amongst the stress of their everyday lives, they’ve also been trying to start a family, but it’s just not happening. When Chad’s uncle dies and leaves them his sprawling apartment in a well-to-do, historic building, they can’t believe their luck. They move to The Windermere, hoping it’s the start of something big. A bright new future for them in both their careers and in their personal lives. But The Windermere, with its ever-present, all-seeing doorman and its myriad of cameras, has secrets of its own. Many have died at The Windermere since its inception, including the architect who designed and built the structure at the start of the Great Depression. Rosie doesn’t feel as settled or as comfortable as her husband in their new home. There’s something about the place that just feels…off? Then, when one of their neighbours plummets to his death, Rosie suddenly realises that The Windermere may not be the blessing the Lowan’s first thought. It could, in fact, be the death of them��

The New Couple in 5B is a very well-written, engrossing mystery with a delicious supernatural edge to proceedings. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is! Rosie and Chad, having spent time caring for Chad’s terminally ill uncle, are already familiar with the eclectic residents of The Windermere before they move in. They’ve become quite close to Ella and Charles who live next door in 5A. But then things start to go wrong for the Lowans. Strange things start to happen. Rosie is trapped in the basement and sees something she herself can’t quite believe. Abi, the doorman, is always on duty, no matter what time of day or night. He never leaves his post. And the deaths. There have been so many terrible deaths in the building over the years. Determined to uncover the true history of the building and bring light to the darkness within its walls, Rosie starts to investigate. But perhaps The Windermere isn’t quite ready to give up all of its secrets just yet��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The New Couple in 5B is a twisty, compelling read with a cast of interesting characters. This is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll read just one more chapter, but that quickly turns into half of the book! I was bursting to find out what was going on at The Windermere. Just exactly what was Rosie dealing with here? She’d seen things she probably shouldn’t have. She’d had conversations with people that made her see the building in a different light. And along the way, a whole host of terrible things had happened. What was behind it all? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find that out. But let’s just say, I had an inkling about one aspect of the reveal but the other big twist, it took me completely by surprise. I did not see that coming! The setting is as much a character as the lead protagonist is. The story is well-paced throughout, and the added supernatural elements cast doubt over absolutely everything. All in all, The New Couple in 5B is a chilling, unnerving and suspense-laden tale. Creepy, claustrophobic and highly atmospheric. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author soon. Recommended.
]]> 74606787 In the early 1950s, the Berkshire Constabulary finally opened its ranks to more women. And WPC Crockford was one of those early pioneers...

When 21-year-old Gwendoline Crockford signed up to join the Berkshire Constabulary in 1951, she had little idea of what she was getting herself into. Whether carrying a human skeleton out of the woods, finding a missing child, investigating thefts, or chasing an escaped zebra, every day brought fresh adventures.

In this nostalgic, tender and honest account of post-war British society, we follow a bright, determined woman navigating a man's world, serving as many people as she can. From performing traffic duties to unravelling a dark secret at the heart of an impoverished family, WPC Crockford's career was full of joy, thrills �� and heartbreak.

Written by her daughter Ruth, this is the story of a real-life woman police constable as she embarks on her police career.]]> 345 Ruth D'Alessandro 1787399656 Emma 4
Last year my local library (where I happen to work!) invited Ruth D’Alessandro, author of the WPC Crockford trilogy, to speak about her novels. The books are based on Ruth’s mother’s experience of being a WPC in 1950s Berkshire (which happens to be just down the road!). Ruth spoke with so much love and affection about her trailblazing mother, the stories her mother would tell and the difference she made to the local Wokingham community. I was captivated by Ruth’s words (which probably wasn’t the most ideal situation as I was in charge of changing the slides for Ruth’s talk!! ]]> 4.60 2022
author: Ruth D'Alessandro
name: Emma
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/31
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Last year my local library (where I happen to work!) invited Ruth D’Alessandro, author of the WPC Crockford trilogy, to speak about her novels. The books are based on Ruth’s mother’s experience of being a WPC in 1950s Berkshire (which happens to be just down the road!). Ruth spoke with so much love and affection about her trailblazing mother, the stories her mother would tell and the difference she made to the local Wokingham community. I was captivated by Ruth’s words (which probably wasn’t the most ideal situation as I was in charge of changing the slides for Ruth’s talk!!
]]> 131698542
As the sun rises on Warrah Place, news of Antonio Marietti's death spreads like wildfire, gossip is exchanged in whispers and suspicion mounts. Twelve-year-old Tammy, an amateur observational scientist, is not alone in feeling determined to find out what happened. There are secrets behind every closed door in the neighbourhood, and the identity of the murderer is only one of them . . .]]> 400 Kate Kemp 1399619004 Emma 5
The Grapevine is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite book of the year so far. I bloody loved it! I loved the Aussie-ness of it (yes, I do have a bit of a thing for Australian fiction), I loved the quiet cul-de-sac setting of the novel and I loved how beautifully the author unravels the plot for her readers. But most of all, I adored the characters. Gosh, the characters in this novel are strong. Occasionally you pick up a book and find yourself completely and utterly immersed in everything about it. This is what happened with me and The Grapevine. I lived every second of this story alongside the characters.

The residents of Warrah Place, Canberra, are shocked to hear that a severed foot has been discovered in the hills overlooking their quiet, suburban cul-de-sac. It feels too close for comfort. Their shock intensifies when it’s confirmed the foot belongs to Antonio Marietti, their neighbour from number two. Then the rumours start. Everyone has something to say about the Marietti family. Some of it, not pleasant at all. Twelve-year-old Tammy is determined to find out what has happened to Antonio, who she considered a friend. After all, no one really pays much attention to Tammy, not even her own mother. She’ll be able to snoop on her neighbours, eavesdrop on conversations she’s not meant to hear, whilst staying under the radar. But Tammy discovers a lot more than she bargained for. Warrah Place is full of devastating secrets that will change �� and destroy �� lives forever��

Would I recommend this book? Hell yeah! I loved everything about The Grapevine. I know I rattle on about characters a lot here on the blog but, for me, the characters can make or break a novel. Kemp has created a stellar cast. A real cross-section of society with their own views and beliefs. The book opens with Naomi Kreeger on her hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom floor. She’s a woman on a mission, obsessed with the task at hand. Ensuring all of the evidence is removed, even if that means throwing out her brand-new towels, bathmat and toilet seat cover. You think you know the direction the story is heading in following this shocking introduction, but you don’t. Not really. Everyone in Warrah Place has something to say about Antonio Marietti. They’ve all had a run in of some sorts with the lad. Yes, this is a murder mystery but it’s also so much more than that. The reader really gets to see what makes this small group of people, people who perhaps wouldn’t necessarily choose each other, tick. There are secrets and there are lies a plenty. Neighbours who receive smiles and warm greetings to their faces are judged behind closed doors, deemed second-class. And in the middle of it all, you have Tammy trying to make sense of the world around her. She is reluctantly assisted in her endeavours by eight-year-old Colin, son of Naomi and Richard. There is so much to love about this book but the friendship between Tammy and Colin is the icing on this well-written cake. Colin’s father is away a lot. Colin’s mother is distant, not really present in her son’s life. So Colin roams Warrah Place looking for something (anything!) to do. Being passed from one family to the next. First he’s an annoyance to much-older Tammy. But it doesn’t stay that way for long. Their friendship builds to something special. Colin is a gem of a character. Upon entering Tammy’s house, he makes his way to her wardrobe and selects the dress he’s going to wear that day. He gets the odd look from the locals, but they tend to shrug off his unique style and let the kids carry on with whatever they’re doing �� scientific research into ant colonies, if the adults ask (but really, they’re investigating a murder!). It’s truly wonderful. Totally captivating, highly immersive and impossible to put down. I loved The Grapevine. It will most definitely feature on my top books of the year list. It could even be my favourite book of the year! From now on everything else I read in 2025 has an awful lot to live up to! Beautifully written with gorgeously rich characterisation, a totally enchanting and engrossing story, with a completely unexpected ending. A superb debut. Count me in for everything else Kate Kemp writes in the future please. Absolutely bloody LOVED IT! Highly, highly recommended.]]> 3.82 2025
author: Kate Kemp
name: Emma
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The Grapevine is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite book of the year so far. I bloody loved it! I loved the Aussie-ness of it (yes, I do have a bit of a thing for Australian fiction), I loved the quiet cul-de-sac setting of the novel and I loved how beautifully the author unravels the plot for her readers. But most of all, I adored the characters. Gosh, the characters in this novel are strong. Occasionally you pick up a book and find yourself completely and utterly immersed in everything about it. This is what happened with me and The Grapevine. I lived every second of this story alongside the characters.

The residents of Warrah Place, Canberra, are shocked to hear that a severed foot has been discovered in the hills overlooking their quiet, suburban cul-de-sac. It feels too close for comfort. Their shock intensifies when it’s confirmed the foot belongs to Antonio Marietti, their neighbour from number two. Then the rumours start. Everyone has something to say about the Marietti family. Some of it, not pleasant at all. Twelve-year-old Tammy is determined to find out what has happened to Antonio, who she considered a friend. After all, no one really pays much attention to Tammy, not even her own mother. She’ll be able to snoop on her neighbours, eavesdrop on conversations she’s not meant to hear, whilst staying under the radar. But Tammy discovers a lot more than she bargained for. Warrah Place is full of devastating secrets that will change �� and destroy �� lives forever��

Would I recommend this book? Hell yeah! I loved everything about The Grapevine. I know I rattle on about characters a lot here on the blog but, for me, the characters can make or break a novel. Kemp has created a stellar cast. A real cross-section of society with their own views and beliefs. The book opens with Naomi Kreeger on her hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom floor. She’s a woman on a mission, obsessed with the task at hand. Ensuring all of the evidence is removed, even if that means throwing out her brand-new towels, bathmat and toilet seat cover. You think you know the direction the story is heading in following this shocking introduction, but you don’t. Not really. Everyone in Warrah Place has something to say about Antonio Marietti. They’ve all had a run in of some sorts with the lad. Yes, this is a murder mystery but it’s also so much more than that. The reader really gets to see what makes this small group of people, people who perhaps wouldn’t necessarily choose each other, tick. There are secrets and there are lies a plenty. Neighbours who receive smiles and warm greetings to their faces are judged behind closed doors, deemed second-class. And in the middle of it all, you have Tammy trying to make sense of the world around her. She is reluctantly assisted in her endeavours by eight-year-old Colin, son of Naomi and Richard. There is so much to love about this book but the friendship between Tammy and Colin is the icing on this well-written cake. Colin’s father is away a lot. Colin’s mother is distant, not really present in her son’s life. So Colin roams Warrah Place looking for something (anything!) to do. Being passed from one family to the next. First he’s an annoyance to much-older Tammy. But it doesn’t stay that way for long. Their friendship builds to something special. Colin is a gem of a character. Upon entering Tammy’s house, he makes his way to her wardrobe and selects the dress he’s going to wear that day. He gets the odd look from the locals, but they tend to shrug off his unique style and let the kids carry on with whatever they’re doing �� scientific research into ant colonies, if the adults ask (but really, they’re investigating a murder!). It’s truly wonderful. Totally captivating, highly immersive and impossible to put down. I loved The Grapevine. It will most definitely feature on my top books of the year list. It could even be my favourite book of the year! From now on everything else I read in 2025 has an awful lot to live up to! Beautifully written with gorgeously rich characterisation, a totally enchanting and engrossing story, with a completely unexpected ending. A superb debut. Count me in for everything else Kate Kemp writes in the future please. Absolutely bloody LOVED IT! Highly, highly recommended.
]]> 219375047 *PRE-ORDER NOW! THE EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT*

'An accomplished crime debut...this is a must read' Jo Callaghan
'A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming' Mark Edwards

Natalie has spent ten years trying to get over the twin set of events which changed her life forever.

The the moment her boss assaulted her. The the moment the jury declared him innocent - and her, a liar.

The memories continue to haunt Natalie, and in her attempts to block out the past, she often wakes up with no memory of where she’s been �� or what she’s done.

So when her husband, Ryan, gets accused of the same crime, Natalie comes perilously close to the edge.

Natalie wants to believe him. But when the body of the young woman who made the accusation is found in the woods near their house, Ryan becomes a prime suspect, and Natalie realises she can't trust anyone - herself included...

Why authors are loving Believe

'A really strong debut with loads of twists and turns to keep you guessing and flipping the pages!' Sarah Pinborough

'A wonderfully tantalising novel, layered, with characters who guide you with every step towards the devastating conclusion. A fabulous debut' Sam Holland

'Simmering with tension, secrets and dark intrigue, Believe is an utterly compulsive thriller. A clever, classy and addictive read with characters that get under your skin and a twist that will knock you sideways. An utter triumph' A.A. Chaudhuri

'Page-turning and delightfully moreish' Helen Lederer
]]> 320 S.M. Govett 1405968443 Emma 0 to-read, my-netgalley-shelf 4.48
author: S.M. Govett
name: Emma
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: to-read, my-netgalley-shelf
review:

]]> 203435476
Tolly Driver, seventeen, a good kid with more potential than application, exists on the outskirts with his best friend, Amber. They navigate the hellscape of the teenage social scene, sticking together in a place that doesn't know how to be different.

But when they go to a fateful party at Deek Masterton's house �� a party that ends in a series of gruesome, brutal and extravagant murders �� Tolly's world gets flipped upside-down. Because some slashers are born in violence and retribution, some were born that way �� and some were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time…]]> 379 Stephen Graham Jones Emma 5
Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favourite horror authors. It started with The Last Final Girl a few years ago and now I devour every new book with uninhibited glee! Particularly the slashers. Gotta love the slasher genre! When I first laid eyes on I Was a Teenage Slasher I may have let a small, undignified squeak of happiness. A new slasher from an author I know will never let me down. And what an incredible book it is. Divine characters, an impossible situation, all rolled up in SGJ’s distinctive storytelling. Smitten. That’s what I am with this book. But I have one massive regret (MASSIVE REGRET!). I actually read this book towards the end of last year. By that point, my ‘books of the year�� post had been written. I wanted to add this to my top ten and make it a top eleven. But what with Christmas being a busy time at damppebbles HQ, I completely forgot to do so. It should have been on the list. It is, without doubt, one of the most memorable, most emotional novels I read in 2024. And I failed to give it the credit, the massive fanfare with added glitter cannon, it was due. But I have a plan. I’m going to add it to my ‘top books of 2025�� list in December. It’s the first and only book on there at the moment and seeing as I’m reviewing it in 2025, I feel that gives me all the permission I need!

Tolly Driver is quite possibly my favourite character ever. Seventeen-year-old Tolly is not one of the popular kids, he’s more of an outcast hovering on the outskirts. He’s tolerated. Tolly lives in a small Texan town, Lamesa, where everyone knows your business. He’s recently lost his father, which still really hurts, and he has a pretty intense peanut allergy. He and his ‘best friend forever��, Amber Big Plume Dennison, end up at Deek Masterson’s party where, almost out of the blue, a slasher appears hellbent on revenge. Amongst the bloody carnage something happens which sets Tolly on a completely unexpected path. With Amber as his guide, Tolly has a lot to learn. Because, as the blurb says “some slashers are born in violence and retribution, some were born that way �� and some were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time…��

I Was a Teenage Slasher is a bloodthirsty, emotional, character-driven tale which stole my heart. I adored this book from start to finish. I was gobbling up the pages, all the time wishing that the book would never end. That my limited time with Tolly and Amber would go on forever. I was drawn into their story. Could this end well for either of them? Well, you’ll just have to read the book and find out for yourself!

Would I recommend this book? Hell, yeah! I love this book with my very bones. I Was a Teenage Slasher is, for me, a perfect piece of fiction. Tolly Driver is an unforgettable character, his friendship with Amber gave me all the feels and the end of their story left me sobbing my heart out. I loved the nostalgia, I loved the small town feel, I loved the complete and utter reluctance from Tolly regarding his brand new destiny and I love how he just got on with the job he’d been given (even if that meant killing six high schoolers!). I loved how much I believed in this book. I could picture the scenes in my mind with ease, forgetting often that I was reading a book and not actually watching a movie. I loved the emotion it invoked and I love that I’m left wanting more (highly unlikely to happen). I miss the characters. I miss Lamesa, and the more I think about this book, the more my love for it grows (it seems impossible!). I don’t know many authors who can affect their readers the way SGJ does. Totally sublime. Beautifully and intricately paced. A highly immersive coming-of-age tale with a reluctant teenage slasher at the helm. Gory and gruesome. Heartfelt and multi-layered. I absolutely bloody loved it! Can’t wait for more from SGJ soon. Highly recommended.]]> 3.60 2024
author: Stephen Graham Jones
name: Emma
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favourite horror authors. It started with The Last Final Girl a few years ago and now I devour every new book with uninhibited glee! Particularly the slashers. Gotta love the slasher genre! When I first laid eyes on I Was a Teenage Slasher I may have let a small, undignified squeak of happiness. A new slasher from an author I know will never let me down. And what an incredible book it is. Divine characters, an impossible situation, all rolled up in SGJ’s distinctive storytelling. Smitten. That’s what I am with this book. But I have one massive regret (MASSIVE REGRET!). I actually read this book towards the end of last year. By that point, my ‘books of the year�� post had been written. I wanted to add this to my top ten and make it a top eleven. But what with Christmas being a busy time at damppebbles HQ, I completely forgot to do so. It should have been on the list. It is, without doubt, one of the most memorable, most emotional novels I read in 2024. And I failed to give it the credit, the massive fanfare with added glitter cannon, it was due. But I have a plan. I’m going to add it to my ‘top books of 2025�� list in December. It’s the first and only book on there at the moment and seeing as I’m reviewing it in 2025, I feel that gives me all the permission I need!

Tolly Driver is quite possibly my favourite character ever. Seventeen-year-old Tolly is not one of the popular kids, he’s more of an outcast hovering on the outskirts. He’s tolerated. Tolly lives in a small Texan town, Lamesa, where everyone knows your business. He’s recently lost his father, which still really hurts, and he has a pretty intense peanut allergy. He and his ‘best friend forever��, Amber Big Plume Dennison, end up at Deek Masterson’s party where, almost out of the blue, a slasher appears hellbent on revenge. Amongst the bloody carnage something happens which sets Tolly on a completely unexpected path. With Amber as his guide, Tolly has a lot to learn. Because, as the blurb says “some slashers are born in violence and retribution, some were born that way �� and some were just in the wrong place, at the wrong time…��

I Was a Teenage Slasher is a bloodthirsty, emotional, character-driven tale which stole my heart. I adored this book from start to finish. I was gobbling up the pages, all the time wishing that the book would never end. That my limited time with Tolly and Amber would go on forever. I was drawn into their story. Could this end well for either of them? Well, you’ll just have to read the book and find out for yourself!

Would I recommend this book? Hell, yeah! I love this book with my very bones. I Was a Teenage Slasher is, for me, a perfect piece of fiction. Tolly Driver is an unforgettable character, his friendship with Amber gave me all the feels and the end of their story left me sobbing my heart out. I loved the nostalgia, I loved the small town feel, I loved the complete and utter reluctance from Tolly regarding his brand new destiny and I love how he just got on with the job he’d been given (even if that meant killing six high schoolers!). I loved how much I believed in this book. I could picture the scenes in my mind with ease, forgetting often that I was reading a book and not actually watching a movie. I loved the emotion it invoked and I love that I’m left wanting more (highly unlikely to happen). I miss the characters. I miss Lamesa, and the more I think about this book, the more my love for it grows (it seems impossible!). I don’t know many authors who can affect their readers the way SGJ does. Totally sublime. Beautifully and intricately paced. A highly immersive coming-of-age tale with a reluctant teenage slasher at the helm. Gory and gruesome. Heartfelt and multi-layered. I absolutely bloody loved it! Can’t wait for more from SGJ soon. Highly recommended.
]]> 221625625
Whether creeping across the moonlit lawns in her undergarments or gently tormenting the house staff, Winifred struggles at every turn to stifle the horrid compulsions of her past until her chillingly dark imagination breaches the feeble boundary of reality on Christmas morning. Wielding her signature sardonic wit and a penchant for the gorgeously macabre, Virginia Feito returns with a vengeance in Victorian Psycho.]]> 204 Virginia Feito 0008739595 Emma 5
Victorian Psycho is a fairly short novel at 184 pages but oh my gosh, it packs one helluva punch. Winifred Notty has arrived at Ensor House as new Governess to the Pound Family. Tasked with looking after the two rather obnoxious Pound children, Winifred spends her days entertaining herself with her own, somewhat dark thoughts. That is until Christmas morning arrives and the dark fantasies harboured by the Governess spill over into reality with gruesome results. Read with caution if you’re uncomfortable with fairly graphic violence.

Personally, I loved Victorian Psycho. Extreme, violent, totally unrelenting and wholly unapologetic. Unlike anything I’ve read before (and I’ve read a number of Victorian Gothic thrillers where the Governess dallies with the dark side). Victorian Psycho really pushes those boundaries. Feito takes her main character further than most who write in the same sub-genre would dream, and it was a nerve-shredding, exhilarating experience. The book starts three months before Christmas but in that time the reader becomes acquainted with Winifred Notty and her innermost thoughts. She’s dangerous, darkly funny, completely unpredictable and the last person suited to the role of Governess. No one, old or young, human or animal, is safe from the murderous hands of Miss Notty.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Victorian Psycho is a shocking, unsettling, creeping read that won’t let you go until you’ve turned the final page. It’s full-on, macabre and totally engrossing. I adored the feminist edge, I fell head over heels in love with Winifred (she’s wholly unlikeable and evil to the core so I may be the only one there!). The dreary Victorian setting of Ensor House and its grounds was uncomfortably vivid, creeping under my skin and giving me chills. The supporting characters were sublime, I whole heartedly believed in them. And I was entranced by the dark, disturbing plot which had me turning the pages at a rate of knots. Oozing darkness, totally irresistible and shocking to the core. Truly a Penny Dreadful for the modern times! Highly recommended.]]> 3.73 2025
author: Virginia Feito
name: Emma
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Victorian Psycho is a fairly short novel at 184 pages but oh my gosh, it packs one helluva punch. Winifred Notty has arrived at Ensor House as new Governess to the Pound Family. Tasked with looking after the two rather obnoxious Pound children, Winifred spends her days entertaining herself with her own, somewhat dark thoughts. That is until Christmas morning arrives and the dark fantasies harboured by the Governess spill over into reality with gruesome results. Read with caution if you’re uncomfortable with fairly graphic violence.

Personally, I loved Victorian Psycho. Extreme, violent, totally unrelenting and wholly unapologetic. Unlike anything I’ve read before (and I’ve read a number of Victorian Gothic thrillers where the Governess dallies with the dark side). Victorian Psycho really pushes those boundaries. Feito takes her main character further than most who write in the same sub-genre would dream, and it was a nerve-shredding, exhilarating experience. The book starts three months before Christmas but in that time the reader becomes acquainted with Winifred Notty and her innermost thoughts. She’s dangerous, darkly funny, completely unpredictable and the last person suited to the role of Governess. No one, old or young, human or animal, is safe from the murderous hands of Miss Notty.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Victorian Psycho is a shocking, unsettling, creeping read that won’t let you go until you’ve turned the final page. It’s full-on, macabre and totally engrossing. I adored the feminist edge, I fell head over heels in love with Winifred (she’s wholly unlikeable and evil to the core so I may be the only one there!). The dreary Victorian setting of Ensor House and its grounds was uncomfortably vivid, creeping under my skin and giving me chills. The supporting characters were sublime, I whole heartedly believed in them. And I was entranced by the dark, disturbing plot which had me turning the pages at a rate of knots. Oozing darkness, totally irresistible and shocking to the core. Truly a Penny Dreadful for the modern times! Highly recommended.
]]> 211965585 From the author who brought you the jaw-dropping twist of I Let You Go, the gasp-out-loud ending of Let Me Lie, and the loveable, unpredictable Ffion Morgan in The Last Party and A Game of Lies.]]> 352 Clare Mackintosh 1408726025 Emma 5
Clare Mackintosh’s police procedural series featuring DC Ffion Morgan is quite possibly the greatest new crime series to have been published in the last few years. It’s rapidly become a firm favourite of mine, with the release of a new book being a highlight of my reading year. Other People’s Houses is the third instalment of the series and is, unsurprisingly, a brilliant addition. Other People’s Houses sees Ffion investigate the murder of a woman who turns up in a kayak on the banks of the Awen River (a ‘canoe-dunnit�� �� full credit to the author for the terrible pun!). Whilst over the border in Cheshire, Ffion’s boyfriend �� DS Leo Brady �� is attempting to find a link between a string of break-ins in a well-to-do, exclusive, residential area. There seems very little to connect the two investigations at first. But the more Ffion and Leo scratch the surface, the more they reveal. Someone killed the estate agent, strapped her body into a kayak and left her on the river. And someone will do just about anything to ensure their secrets stay hidden��

Other People’s Houses is a brilliantly plotted, engrossing mystery featuring some of the best characters in crime fiction at the moment. DC Ffion Morgan is a joy! She’s head-strong, determined and very relatable. An intelligent, kick-ass female protagonist who gets the job done. Whilst also being wonderfully ‘normal�� and doing ‘normal�� things. For example, DC Morgan is looking to buy a new house so when she is asked to investigate the murder of an estate agent, her first thought is to wonder how she will cut such an extensive list of suspects down to an acceptable level. After all, ‘some�� estate agents have a habit of causing a lot of undue upset and distress to their clients, which *could* result in a lot of tension and hurt. Not in my experience, of course, but I’ve heard tales (]]> 4.47 2025
author: Clare Mackintosh
name: Emma
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Clare Mackintosh’s police procedural series featuring DC Ffion Morgan is quite possibly the greatest new crime series to have been published in the last few years. It’s rapidly become a firm favourite of mine, with the release of a new book being a highlight of my reading year. Other People’s Houses is the third instalment of the series and is, unsurprisingly, a brilliant addition. Other People’s Houses sees Ffion investigate the murder of a woman who turns up in a kayak on the banks of the Awen River (a ‘canoe-dunnit�� �� full credit to the author for the terrible pun!). Whilst over the border in Cheshire, Ffion’s boyfriend �� DS Leo Brady �� is attempting to find a link between a string of break-ins in a well-to-do, exclusive, residential area. There seems very little to connect the two investigations at first. But the more Ffion and Leo scratch the surface, the more they reveal. Someone killed the estate agent, strapped her body into a kayak and left her on the river. And someone will do just about anything to ensure their secrets stay hidden��

Other People’s Houses is a brilliantly plotted, engrossing mystery featuring some of the best characters in crime fiction at the moment. DC Ffion Morgan is a joy! She’s head-strong, determined and very relatable. An intelligent, kick-ass female protagonist who gets the job done. Whilst also being wonderfully ‘normal�� and doing ‘normal�� things. For example, DC Morgan is looking to buy a new house so when she is asked to investigate the murder of an estate agent, her first thought is to wonder how she will cut such an extensive list of suspects down to an acceptable level. After all, ‘some�� estate agents have a habit of causing a lot of undue upset and distress to their clients, which *could* result in a lot of tension and hurt. Not in my experience, of course, but I’ve heard tales (
]]> 220296540 A chilling historical horror set in the American west in 1912 following a Lutheran priest who transcribes the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice. Perfect for fans of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab and Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice.

Etsy Beaucarne is an academic, who needs to get published. So when a journal, written in 1912 by a Arthur Beaucarne, a Lutheran pastor and her grandfather, is discovered within a wall during renovations, she sees her chance. She can uncover the lost secrets of her family, and get tenure.

As she researches, she comes to learn of her grandfather's life, and the life of a Blackfeet called Good Stab, who came to Arthur to share the story of his extraordinary life. She discovers the journals detail a slow massacre, a chain of events charting the history of Montana state as it formed. A cycle of violence that leads all the way back to 217 Blackfeet murdered in the snow.

A blood-soaked and unflinching saga of the violence of colonial America, a revenge story like no other, and the chilling reinvention of vampire lore from the master of horror.]]> 447 Stephen Graham Jones Emma 0 4.40 2025
author: Stephen Graham Jones
name: Emma
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves:
review:

]]> 213477288 ONCE UPON A TIME LIKE YOU'VE NEVER READ IT BEFORE . . .

DI Lyla Rondell is on the case of a lifetime. Tasked with investigating a series of perplexing deaths, the only lead she has is that each appears to be based on a different classic fairy tale. Far from the stuff of bedtime stories, the press is having a field day with what they have named the Grimm Ripper Murders.

But as the bodies stack up, Lyla’s whole world is about to flip on its head. Because the killer’s bloody trail stretches deep into her own origin story, and when she discovers the truth, nothing will ever be the same again.

Faced with the fact that everything she knows is fiction, Lyla will have to take a little creative license of her own if she’s going to turn the final page on the killings . . . ]]> 383 A.K. Benedict Emma 4
Fairy tales. They’re fascinating, aren’t they? Moralistic. Creepy. The Brothers Grimm tales tend to be quite sinister, often grotesque. So when an author sets their story with fairy tales as the basis, you can certainly count me in! DI Lyla Rondell suffered a tragedy as a teenager when her best friend, Allison, disappeared in the middle of the night. The only thing left behind was a half-red, half-green apple with a bite taken out of the red side, matching Allison’s dental records. The press dubbed Allison ‘Snow White��, and she was never seen or heard from again. Now, twenty-five years later, Lyla is a DI in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. When the body of a young woman is discovered in the New Forest, Lyla is startled to discover a fairy tale theme to the murder. Close to the grotesque tableau is a note from the killer taunting Lyla, calling her Little Red Rondell. And that’s when the red cloak and basket left nearby come to light. With far reaching echoes of the past stepping heavily into the present, can Lyla put her own personal trauma to one side and stop the murderous Grimm Ripper before the body count rises��?

Books about books and writing ALWAYS appeal to me. A.K. Benedict though, has come up with something very different and completely unique. I very much enjoyed the fairy tale aspect. By which I mean the real fairy tales and how they were originally written by the Brothers Grimm. The dark, disturbing nature of the stories rather than the saccharine sweetness of the Disney versions we’re more familiar with today. But there is so much more to this book than the fairy tales. First of all, there’s Lyla. She’s ballsy, she doesn’t really give a flying you-know-what about what you think of her. She’s determined, steeped in grief after the loss of her best friend and one true love, Allison. She’s dogged, smarter than she thinks and highly capable. Yet emotional, broken and raw. But there’s something she doesn’t know. There’s something about her that she’s really not aware of and it’s going to blow her mind, and yours!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Little Red Death is a clever, highly intricate and wonderfully plotted, dark tale. Part police procedural, part horror, part��..well, to go into detail may take this review into spoiler territory, so I won’t say anymore. Just know that this book is more than you initially expect it to be. There are so many layers, countless, unexpected reveals. You think you know what’s going on. You probably don’t. Benedict has given us a fresh and somewhat inspired take on detective fiction. Given it a twist and pulled its damned head off! The setting is eerie and the stuff of nightmares. A living breathing entity in its own right. Chilling and haunting. The supporting characters (of which there are quite a few) all felt very much at home in the fairy tale/creepy forest setting, helping the story move along, all with purpose and all well-written. The plot will swallow you whole. It’s like nothing I have read before. Atmospheric, unexpected, beautifully dark, highly intriguing and imaginative. More please! Recommended.]]> 3.38 2025
author: A.K. Benedict
name: Emma
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Fairy tales. They’re fascinating, aren’t they? Moralistic. Creepy. The Brothers Grimm tales tend to be quite sinister, often grotesque. So when an author sets their story with fairy tales as the basis, you can certainly count me in! DI Lyla Rondell suffered a tragedy as a teenager when her best friend, Allison, disappeared in the middle of the night. The only thing left behind was a half-red, half-green apple with a bite taken out of the red side, matching Allison’s dental records. The press dubbed Allison ‘Snow White��, and she was never seen or heard from again. Now, twenty-five years later, Lyla is a DI in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary. When the body of a young woman is discovered in the New Forest, Lyla is startled to discover a fairy tale theme to the murder. Close to the grotesque tableau is a note from the killer taunting Lyla, calling her Little Red Rondell. And that’s when the red cloak and basket left nearby come to light. With far reaching echoes of the past stepping heavily into the present, can Lyla put her own personal trauma to one side and stop the murderous Grimm Ripper before the body count rises��?

Books about books and writing ALWAYS appeal to me. A.K. Benedict though, has come up with something very different and completely unique. I very much enjoyed the fairy tale aspect. By which I mean the real fairy tales and how they were originally written by the Brothers Grimm. The dark, disturbing nature of the stories rather than the saccharine sweetness of the Disney versions we’re more familiar with today. But there is so much more to this book than the fairy tales. First of all, there’s Lyla. She’s ballsy, she doesn’t really give a flying you-know-what about what you think of her. She’s determined, steeped in grief after the loss of her best friend and one true love, Allison. She’s dogged, smarter than she thinks and highly capable. Yet emotional, broken and raw. But there’s something she doesn’t know. There’s something about her that she’s really not aware of and it’s going to blow her mind, and yours!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Little Red Death is a clever, highly intricate and wonderfully plotted, dark tale. Part police procedural, part horror, part��..well, to go into detail may take this review into spoiler territory, so I won’t say anymore. Just know that this book is more than you initially expect it to be. There are so many layers, countless, unexpected reveals. You think you know what’s going on. You probably don’t. Benedict has given us a fresh and somewhat inspired take on detective fiction. Given it a twist and pulled its damned head off! The setting is eerie and the stuff of nightmares. A living breathing entity in its own right. Chilling and haunting. The supporting characters (of which there are quite a few) all felt very much at home in the fairy tale/creepy forest setting, helping the story move along, all with purpose and all well-written. The plot will swallow you whole. It’s like nothing I have read before. Atmospheric, unexpected, beautifully dark, highly intriguing and imaginative. More please! Recommended.
]]> 213330589 No crime writing retreat is complete without a murder...

When legendary author J. R. Alastor hires Mila del Angél to host a murder mystery retreat on his private island, she jumps at the chance. The guest list? Six crime and thriller writers, all masters of the genre.

Alastor wants to give his guests the thrill of their a week of party games, trope-fuelled riddles, and maybe a jump-scare or two �� but Mila is plotting some fun of her own for one of the names on the list.

Then a different guest turns up dead, and suddenly Mila finds herself in a lethal game she didn’t plan for. With a storm cutting off the island and the body count rising, Mila must work out how to escape a killer who knows literally every trick in the book…]]> 384 Ande Pliego 1529927595 Emma 4
There are some books you’re intrigued by, but they pass you by. There are some books which, let’s face it, you’re just not the intended audience. And then there are books which feel as though they were written with you, specifically, in mind. You Are Fatally Invited is a book I felt was written for me. I am, 100%, the target audience here. There was no way on this earth I wasn’t going to read this book. Everything else on the TBR got shoved unceremoniously to one side and this book got my full, undivided attention. And what a corker of a book it is too!

Mysterious, elusive bestselling author, J.R. Alastor, has invited six thriller authors at different stages of their careers to an island off the coast of Maine to attend an exclusive writers�� retreat. The selected few are bubbling with excitement to learn from one of the greats. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, particularly as Alastor is known to shy away from the limelight, keeping his identity a closely guarded secret. When the group first meet, many of the guests are surprised at who else is also attending. Who Alastor has selected as being worthy of such an invitation, and his undivided attention. They’re immediately wary of each other, dismissive of each others work, perhaps a little jealous��? The week gets off to a rocky start, which only gets rockier when the first dead body (one of their own) is discovered. Completely isolated and alone with a murderer, can the remaining writers work out the killer’s MO before they become a gore-soaked victim in someone else’s story��

You Are Fatally Invited is a compulsive, highly intriguing mystery which held my attention from beginning to end. Told using snippets from Alastor’s newest book ‘The Ink in Your Veins: On Writing Fear�� and from multiple POVs, I was initially a little concerned that I was going to struggle to follow the story. But I needn’t have worried. Pliego handles the different POVs like a pro! It’s not just a bunch of writers stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere though. There’s also the hired help consisting of a chef, a housekeeper and Mila, an event planner who is responsible for the guests (and staff) over the course of the week. The reader discovers fairly early on that Mila has a secret of her own, that she’s out for revenge, but it’s not until much later in the book that we discover the details. All in all, there are nine characters in total (plus the ever-present but nowhere to be seen Alastor) and we hear from most of them at some point.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I enjoyed You Are Fatally Invited and would happily read more from Pliego in the future. I am a self confessed book nerd so books ABOUT books and writers are always going to appeal. This is definitely one of the best books ABOUT books and writers I have read in recent years. I absolutely loved how inventive the author was in killing off her characters. I also loved the setting of the isolated island. All escape attempts are thwarted as the levels of despair amongst those who remain increase. There were other little touches which I really appreciated. One of which was Alastor’s memorabilia museum where grisly props from horror movies were stored. A plethora of interesting ways to kill off your characters! All in all, You Are Fatally Invited is a compelling, trope-filled mystery that I found thoroughly entertaining. Loved the bookish-ness of it all. Loved how wonderfully ‘Agatha Christie�� it was. What an homage to one of the greats! Recommended.]]> 3.74 2025
author: Ande Pliego
name: Emma
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2025/02/13
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

There are some books you’re intrigued by, but they pass you by. There are some books which, let’s face it, you’re just not the intended audience. And then there are books which feel as though they were written with you, specifically, in mind. You Are Fatally Invited is a book I felt was written for me. I am, 100%, the target audience here. There was no way on this earth I wasn’t going to read this book. Everything else on the TBR got shoved unceremoniously to one side and this book got my full, undivided attention. And what a corker of a book it is too!

Mysterious, elusive bestselling author, J.R. Alastor, has invited six thriller authors at different stages of their careers to an island off the coast of Maine to attend an exclusive writers�� retreat. The selected few are bubbling with excitement to learn from one of the greats. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, particularly as Alastor is known to shy away from the limelight, keeping his identity a closely guarded secret. When the group first meet, many of the guests are surprised at who else is also attending. Who Alastor has selected as being worthy of such an invitation, and his undivided attention. They’re immediately wary of each other, dismissive of each others work, perhaps a little jealous��? The week gets off to a rocky start, which only gets rockier when the first dead body (one of their own) is discovered. Completely isolated and alone with a murderer, can the remaining writers work out the killer’s MO before they become a gore-soaked victim in someone else’s story��

You Are Fatally Invited is a compulsive, highly intriguing mystery which held my attention from beginning to end. Told using snippets from Alastor’s newest book ‘The Ink in Your Veins: On Writing Fear�� and from multiple POVs, I was initially a little concerned that I was going to struggle to follow the story. But I needn’t have worried. Pliego handles the different POVs like a pro! It’s not just a bunch of writers stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere though. There’s also the hired help consisting of a chef, a housekeeper and Mila, an event planner who is responsible for the guests (and staff) over the course of the week. The reader discovers fairly early on that Mila has a secret of her own, that she’s out for revenge, but it’s not until much later in the book that we discover the details. All in all, there are nine characters in total (plus the ever-present but nowhere to be seen Alastor) and we hear from most of them at some point.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I enjoyed You Are Fatally Invited and would happily read more from Pliego in the future. I am a self confessed book nerd so books ABOUT books and writers are always going to appeal. This is definitely one of the best books ABOUT books and writers I have read in recent years. I absolutely loved how inventive the author was in killing off her characters. I also loved the setting of the isolated island. All escape attempts are thwarted as the levels of despair amongst those who remain increase. There were other little touches which I really appreciated. One of which was Alastor’s memorabilia museum where grisly props from horror movies were stored. A plethora of interesting ways to kill off your characters! All in all, You Are Fatally Invited is a compelling, trope-filled mystery that I found thoroughly entertaining. Loved the bookish-ness of it all. Loved how wonderfully ‘Agatha Christie�� it was. What an homage to one of the greats! Recommended.
]]> 213245170 In this cozy crime novel, a previous puzzle prodigy returns to the competing world. A thoughtful, low-stakes mystery, perfect for fans of The Queen's Gambit.

Once a child prodigy of puzzles and logic games, Gillian Charles now barely ekes out a living in Los Angeles. With her sick mother facing eviction from her care facility, Gillian can't say no when her childhood nemesis, Tommy, shows up at her apartment with a $50k offer. All she has to do is return to the place where it all started, where she swore she'd never set foot Miscellany.

Miscellany is a place of wonder and enchantment—a Disney World for puzzle lovers, and one that quickly owns the lives of those who stay too long. Tommy is running the park's latest big game, and he's convinced someone is leaking the answers. With investment and expansion in the cards, Miscellany can’t afford a scandal. As a former puzzler who kept her distance from Miscellany for twenty years, Gillian should find it easy to investigate while avoiding Miscellany’s charms and entanglements.

But when Gillian arrives, she discovers things aren't so straightforward. Her turncoat ex-friend Martin Ellsberg holds the security reins, Tommy’s estranged wife Evelina spins PR webs around the park’s machinations, and the manipulative park founder Sebastian offers her the financial security and intellectual future she always wanted. With her mother’s circumstances growing more dire, and under pressure to sweep the accusations under the rug, Gillian finds childhood games all the more treacherous for adults.

Miscellany is offering Gillian the life she always wanted. But at what price?]]> 325 Jeff Macfee 1915523451 Emma 4
As a child Gillian Charles was a puzzle-solving genius. She pitted her skills in a contest against other children her age to win the ultimate prize; fame, fortune and a lifestyle where she and her family would never have to worry about a thing, ever again. But she failed. In a moment of compassion, Gillian let the lead slip and came in a paltry second place. As an adult, Gillian makes ends meet in Los Angeles. It’s a life, but not the life she thought she would have. Now, the winner of the contest, Tommy Kundojjala, is on her doorstep asking for help. Miscellany, the place where the Contest Extraordinaire took place all those years ago is set to run another big event. Tommy is convinced one of the contestants taking part has cheated in the preliminaries. And the only person who can uncover the truth is Gillian��

The Contest is a highly intriguing novel about child prodigies and what happens when it all goes wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that most of the action is set in and around a puzzle theme park. Can you imagine such a thing! A place where elite children consume riddles and conundrums, pushing themselves to be the best of the best. I was very impressed with the clever, well-drawn setting. The idea that instead of going to other well-known, adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and consuming vast amounts of calories and sugar, some children would opt for more intellectual nourishment (although I could see it providing the same level of adrenaline to its players!). The main characters are all interesting and help move the story along. Gillian is our lead. The much maligned loser of the Contest Extraordinaire. Reluctantly she returns to Miscellany because, in truth, she needs the cash Tommy has put on the table. Her mother, who she still feels she let down terribly by not winning, is severely ill and needs constant care. Plus, the draw of the puzzles is always strong. But on arrival Gillian discovers that not everything is as it should be at Miscellany. Tommy hasn’t told her the whole truth. Far from it.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Contest is an enjoyable mystery and very different to anything else I’ve read of late. I liked the world-building (elite mathletes battling it out in specially constructed arenas to be the best and win big!), I became fond of Gillian over the course of the book (not sure others will warm to her in the same way as she does have quite a hard edge to her) and I liked how all of it, everything in this strange puzzle focussed world, was the creation of one man, Willy Wonka style! The book is billed as cosy crime but I struggle with that. There’s a certain grittiness to the story. Back to that hard edge I mentioned Gillian having a few moments ago. Definitely more grit than you normally get in a cosy crime novel. I also felt there was a literary tone to the story. All in all, I enjoyed The Contest. It’s a strong debut and I look forward to seeing what Macfee has for us next. Wonderfully intricate, well-plotted and with believable, well-drawn characters. Recommended.]]> 3.90 2025
author: Jeff Macfee
name: Emma
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

As a child Gillian Charles was a puzzle-solving genius. She pitted her skills in a contest against other children her age to win the ultimate prize; fame, fortune and a lifestyle where she and her family would never have to worry about a thing, ever again. But she failed. In a moment of compassion, Gillian let the lead slip and came in a paltry second place. As an adult, Gillian makes ends meet in Los Angeles. It’s a life, but not the life she thought she would have. Now, the winner of the contest, Tommy Kundojjala, is on her doorstep asking for help. Miscellany, the place where the Contest Extraordinaire took place all those years ago is set to run another big event. Tommy is convinced one of the contestants taking part has cheated in the preliminaries. And the only person who can uncover the truth is Gillian��

The Contest is a highly intriguing novel about child prodigies and what happens when it all goes wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that most of the action is set in and around a puzzle theme park. Can you imagine such a thing! A place where elite children consume riddles and conundrums, pushing themselves to be the best of the best. I was very impressed with the clever, well-drawn setting. The idea that instead of going to other well-known, adrenaline-fuelled theme parks and consuming vast amounts of calories and sugar, some children would opt for more intellectual nourishment (although I could see it providing the same level of adrenaline to its players!). The main characters are all interesting and help move the story along. Gillian is our lead. The much maligned loser of the Contest Extraordinaire. Reluctantly she returns to Miscellany because, in truth, she needs the cash Tommy has put on the table. Her mother, who she still feels she let down terribly by not winning, is severely ill and needs constant care. Plus, the draw of the puzzles is always strong. But on arrival Gillian discovers that not everything is as it should be at Miscellany. Tommy hasn’t told her the whole truth. Far from it.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Contest is an enjoyable mystery and very different to anything else I’ve read of late. I liked the world-building (elite mathletes battling it out in specially constructed arenas to be the best and win big!), I became fond of Gillian over the course of the book (not sure others will warm to her in the same way as she does have quite a hard edge to her) and I liked how all of it, everything in this strange puzzle focussed world, was the creation of one man, Willy Wonka style! The book is billed as cosy crime but I struggle with that. There’s a certain grittiness to the story. Back to that hard edge I mentioned Gillian having a few moments ago. Definitely more grit than you normally get in a cosy crime novel. I also felt there was a literary tone to the story. All in all, I enjoyed The Contest. It’s a strong debut and I look forward to seeing what Macfee has for us next. Wonderfully intricate, well-plotted and with believable, well-drawn characters. Recommended.
]]> 165012818 A destination to die for...

WELCOME TO PARADISE!

Or so the staff say when they greet the Hamiltons at the idyllic Asana Fushi resort in the Maldives.

And it starts off that champagne picnics on powder-white sand, snorkelling in the serene blue sea and moonlit walks under the stars.

But lies lurk beneath the luxury because each of the guests has a secret, and they're not the only ones.

How can a once-in-a-lifetime trip turn into the holiday from hell?

From the author of THE BEACH PARTY comes a novel of sun, sea and secrets for fans of ONE OF THE GIRLS and WHITE LOTUS.]]> 416 Nikki Smith 024160785X Emma 5
This is the first book I’ve read by Nikki Smith but it certainly won’t be the last. I love me a destination thriller and this one had me gripped within its pages from the moment I cracked the spine (helped by the wonderfully, somewhat macabre, prologue). The reader is introduced to the Hamilton family and our lead protagonist, Cara, as they’re about to board a seaplane to Asana Fushi in the Maldives. Cara and her husband, businessman Zack, along with their teenage daughter, Alexa, are on the holiday of a lifetime. A chance to reconnect, a chance to reflect and a chance to escape the humdrum of home. But all is not as it first appears. Because everyone on the island has a secret. A secret they’d do anything to keep��

I loved The Guests! Destination thrillers are absolutely top of the list for me at the moment and have been for a while. The setting screamed glamour, wealth and exclusivity. I’m sure many of us would love to holiday in the Maldives, myself included. I would however advise on avoiding this particular, fictional hotspot. Trust me, I’ve read the book! I thought the characters were well-written and I found myself warming to Cara. The more she showed her true colours, the more I liked her. The supporting characters were all strong and played their parts well. The plot moved along at a great pace, keeping me engaged and immersed in the story. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. As I approached the denouement, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, keen to find out how things were going to end for the Hamiltons. Still can’t quite believe how wrong I actually got it! All in all, The Guests is a very readable, intriguing psychological thriller which I devoured with a big ol�� smile on my face. Hugely entertaining, perfectly pitched escapism. I’m looking forward to reading more by Nikki Smith soon. Recommended.]]> 3.47 2024
author: Nikki Smith
name: Emma
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/20
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

This is the first book I’ve read by Nikki Smith but it certainly won’t be the last. I love me a destination thriller and this one had me gripped within its pages from the moment I cracked the spine (helped by the wonderfully, somewhat macabre, prologue). The reader is introduced to the Hamilton family and our lead protagonist, Cara, as they’re about to board a seaplane to Asana Fushi in the Maldives. Cara and her husband, businessman Zack, along with their teenage daughter, Alexa, are on the holiday of a lifetime. A chance to reconnect, a chance to reflect and a chance to escape the humdrum of home. But all is not as it first appears. Because everyone on the island has a secret. A secret they’d do anything to keep��

I loved The Guests! Destination thrillers are absolutely top of the list for me at the moment and have been for a while. The setting screamed glamour, wealth and exclusivity. I’m sure many of us would love to holiday in the Maldives, myself included. I would however advise on avoiding this particular, fictional hotspot. Trust me, I’ve read the book! I thought the characters were well-written and I found myself warming to Cara. The more she showed her true colours, the more I liked her. The supporting characters were all strong and played their parts well. The plot moved along at a great pace, keeping me engaged and immersed in the story. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. As I approached the denouement, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, keen to find out how things were going to end for the Hamiltons. Still can’t quite believe how wrong I actually got it! All in all, The Guests is a very readable, intriguing psychological thriller which I devoured with a big ol�� smile on my face. Hugely entertaining, perfectly pitched escapism. I’m looking forward to reading more by Nikki Smith soon. Recommended.
]]> 205335016 A nail biting, claustrophobic thriller with a plot that will give you shivers, and a twist that will blow your mind.�� Sarah Clarke, author of The Ski Trip

It seems too good to be true��

When struggling writer Sebastian finds a room to let in a palatial Hampstead residence he cannot believe his luck. The rent is ridiculously cheap and he immediately feels a connection with his beautiful widowed landlady, Adriana.

It is.

Things take a dark turn when he finds out what happened to the last lodger. Could this be why the house is a fortress of security, and why Adriana seems so fragile? Adriana doesn’t want to talk about the death and sadness that seem to follow her wherever she goes and Sebastian has secrets of his own.

Now someone is watching their every move and there is nowhere to hide.

This house of light becomes a dark nightmare as the threat ramps up - what does the watcher want? And how far will they go to get it?

A gripping, twisty thriller perfect for fans of B.A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Lucy Foley. If you were hooked by Netflix series You or The Watcher then you will love this.

‘The brilliant A.A. Chaudhuri with another thrilling read. This one is her best yet. Taut and intricately plotted with such exquisite writing. Characters that jump off the page. And a smouldering read. You know something is going to get you. You just don’t know what.�� Imran Mahmood

‘A�Դdzٳ��� spectacular triumph for A.A. Chaudhuri - creepy, sinister, compelling - this is a taut, gripping page-turner with an unguessable twist.�� Lucy Martin

Praise for A.A. Chaudhuri

'A hugely addictive, pacy and consuming thriller...kept me guessing (and turning pages) right up to the incredible conclusion.' Gytha Lodge

'Thrilling twists, terrific characters and a setting to die for...a thoroughly gripping ride!' B P Walter

'A compelling page turner with a gasp around every corner... a perfect unravelling of a friendship built on secrets and lies' Lauren North

'One of the best writers of crime fiction around.' Howard Linskey

'The most well plotted and expertly told thriller I've read in years...a masterpiece of deception, betrayal and murder that will astound you till the very last page.' Graham Bartlett

'The reveals kept coming at super speed, taking my breath away as I eagerly turned the pages.' Christie J Newport

'Stylish and twisty, with secrets and lies galore' Emily Freud]]> 366 A.A. Chaudhuri 1804362948 Emma 4
Sebastian Walker, a struggling writer, has called upon his best mate’s good nature for long enough. Sebastian knows it’s time to find a place of his own and give Jasper and girlfriend, Rochelle, the space they need. When he sees a room to rent in a grand Hampstead home for minimal rent, he can’t believe his luck. Before long Sebastian has moved in to Serenity House and is getting to know his new, glamourous landlady, who also happens to live in the house. But then Seb discovers the fate of his predecessor and things take a dark turn. His relationship with Adriana deepens, turning physical, only for Seb to start receiving ominous warnings. It seems someone is watching his every move and they’re not afraid to put the pressure on. Seb’s dream house quickly turns into a living nightmare. How far will they go to get what they want? And how many of Seb’s own secrets will be revealed along the way��

Under Her Roof is an intriguing, suspenseful tale full of brooding tension and creeping menace. Sebastian is a likeable, well-written character, although he has plenty of secrets of his own. These secrets hang over him from the start of the book, with the author teasing the reader, dropping hints about a troubled past but not really revealing anything of substance. It’s not until much later in the book that we discover the truth about Sebastian and what a shocker! All tied together beautifully by this talented author. The story is fairly intricate with flashbacks to the past, and told in the present day by both Sebastian, and our glamourous widower, Adriana. The flashbacks don’t really seem to fit with everything else initially. But the further the reader progresses through the story, the more it all starts to slot into place.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Under Her Roof is a highly intriguing tale that captivates the reader’s attention and keeps you turning the pages late into the night. I couldn’t for the life of me work out who or what was behind the threats. But the big reveal is done so very well, everything positioned perfectly ready for the jaw-dropping twist in the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I’m keen to read more from this author in the not too distant future. Great characters, a killer, unexpected twist and bucketloads of simmering menace. What more could you want? Recommended.]]> 4.02
author: A.A. Chaudhuri
name: Emma
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/10
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Sebastian Walker, a struggling writer, has called upon his best mate’s good nature for long enough. Sebastian knows it’s time to find a place of his own and give Jasper and girlfriend, Rochelle, the space they need. When he sees a room to rent in a grand Hampstead home for minimal rent, he can’t believe his luck. Before long Sebastian has moved in to Serenity House and is getting to know his new, glamourous landlady, who also happens to live in the house. But then Seb discovers the fate of his predecessor and things take a dark turn. His relationship with Adriana deepens, turning physical, only for Seb to start receiving ominous warnings. It seems someone is watching his every move and they’re not afraid to put the pressure on. Seb’s dream house quickly turns into a living nightmare. How far will they go to get what they want? And how many of Seb’s own secrets will be revealed along the way��

Under Her Roof is an intriguing, suspenseful tale full of brooding tension and creeping menace. Sebastian is a likeable, well-written character, although he has plenty of secrets of his own. These secrets hang over him from the start of the book, with the author teasing the reader, dropping hints about a troubled past but not really revealing anything of substance. It’s not until much later in the book that we discover the truth about Sebastian and what a shocker! All tied together beautifully by this talented author. The story is fairly intricate with flashbacks to the past, and told in the present day by both Sebastian, and our glamourous widower, Adriana. The flashbacks don’t really seem to fit with everything else initially. But the further the reader progresses through the story, the more it all starts to slot into place.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Under Her Roof is a highly intriguing tale that captivates the reader’s attention and keeps you turning the pages late into the night. I couldn’t for the life of me work out who or what was behind the threats. But the big reveal is done so very well, everything positioned perfectly ready for the jaw-dropping twist in the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I’m keen to read more from this author in the not too distant future. Great characters, a killer, unexpected twist and bucketloads of simmering menace. What more could you want? Recommended.
]]> 199026522 In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed monsters roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.]]> 367 Riley Sager 0593472373 Emma 5
Middle of the Night is another triumph for Sager! An emotional, tension-laden tale of a tragic event that, thirty years later, still deeply affects Ethan, our lead protagonist. Returning to Hemlock Circle dredges up memories for him which were never really that far from the surface. As children he and his best friend, Billy, used to camp out in a tent in the Marsh’s back garden on Friday nights. One morning, Ethan woke and Billy was gone. Billy’s side of the tent had a tear in the fabric, it looked as though it had been cut with a knife. Billy’s disappearance was never solved. Unable to escape the memory of that night, haunted by nightmares and insomnia, Ethan begins to notice peculiar things in Hemlock Circle. Are his neighbours the people he always thought they were, or are they hiding a terrible secret��?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved every second I spent with Middle of the Night. As things start to get stranger and stranger, Ethan puts all of his efforts into finding the truth. Many of his neighbours are still the same people who lived on Hemlock Circle the night Billy disappeared. Plus the small group of kids who he used to hang around with have all grown up and have differing memories of what happened that fateful day. Told in the past and the present, the reader watches as the truth slowly unfolds. But this is a Riley Sager novel so expect the unexpected! With ghostly goings-on, a building unease as you approach the denouement and a shocking reveal that I certainly didn’t see coming, Middle of the Night is a superb, psychological suspense novel, wonderfully written characters, a strong sense of place and a compelling storyline. And it was fantastic to have a male lead character in a Riley Sager novel. The first male lead I think we’ve seen from Sager! Recommended.]]> 3.65 2024
author: Riley Sager
name: Emma
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Middle of the Night is another triumph for Sager! An emotional, tension-laden tale of a tragic event that, thirty years later, still deeply affects Ethan, our lead protagonist. Returning to Hemlock Circle dredges up memories for him which were never really that far from the surface. As children he and his best friend, Billy, used to camp out in a tent in the Marsh’s back garden on Friday nights. One morning, Ethan woke and Billy was gone. Billy’s side of the tent had a tear in the fabric, it looked as though it had been cut with a knife. Billy’s disappearance was never solved. Unable to escape the memory of that night, haunted by nightmares and insomnia, Ethan begins to notice peculiar things in Hemlock Circle. Are his neighbours the people he always thought they were, or are they hiding a terrible secret��?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved every second I spent with Middle of the Night. As things start to get stranger and stranger, Ethan puts all of his efforts into finding the truth. Many of his neighbours are still the same people who lived on Hemlock Circle the night Billy disappeared. Plus the small group of kids who he used to hang around with have all grown up and have differing memories of what happened that fateful day. Told in the past and the present, the reader watches as the truth slowly unfolds. But this is a Riley Sager novel so expect the unexpected! With ghostly goings-on, a building unease as you approach the denouement and a shocking reveal that I certainly didn’t see coming, Middle of the Night is a superb, psychological suspense novel, wonderfully written characters, a strong sense of place and a compelling storyline. And it was fantastic to have a male lead character in a Riley Sager novel. The first male lead I think we’ve seen from Sager! Recommended.
]]> 213061986 A single mother working in the gothic mansion of a reclusive horror director stumbles upon terrifying secrets.

Harry Adams loves horror movies,��so it’s no coincidence��that she accepted a job cleaning house for horror-movie director Javier Castillo. His forbidding gray-stone��Chicago��mansion,��Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes as well as glittering awards from his career making movies that thrilled audiences—until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry.

Javier values discretion, and Harry always tries to keep the house immaculate, her head down, and her job safe. Then she hears noises from behind a locked door, noises that sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help. Harry knows not asking questions is a vital part of keeping her job, but she soon discovers that the house may be home to secrets she can’t ignore.]]> 322 Christina Henry 1835411614 Emma 3
The plot of this one grabbed my attention from the get-go and I was looking forward to it. I love anything to do with horror movies (don’t watch them because I’m a chicken but oh boy, do I love horror movies to feature in the books I read!!!).

Overall, I did enjoy the time I spent with The House that Horror Built and I would definitely read more by Christina Henry, without a shadow of a doubt. However, something wasn’t quite right for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high and that influenced my feelings more than it should have. I’m sure this happens to all reviewers at some point, to some degree. Any reader who tells you otherwise isn’t, I don’t feel, being entirely honest with themselves. I enjoyed the premise, I enjoyed the set-up, I thought Gabe �� Harry’s son �� was a good character. I liked the overall gothic feel and the haunted, possessed house vibe the setting had going on. I also liked how the tension built throughout the story. I was just left feeling a little…disappointed? And I couldn’t shake that feeling. However, I am looking forward to more from this author. And I do feel I am in the minority on this one.]]> 3.19 2024
author: Christina Henry
name: Emma
average rating: 3.19
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/10
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The plot of this one grabbed my attention from the get-go and I was looking forward to it. I love anything to do with horror movies (don’t watch them because I’m a chicken but oh boy, do I love horror movies to feature in the books I read!!!).

Overall, I did enjoy the time I spent with The House that Horror Built and I would definitely read more by Christina Henry, without a shadow of a doubt. However, something wasn’t quite right for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high and that influenced my feelings more than it should have. I’m sure this happens to all reviewers at some point, to some degree. Any reader who tells you otherwise isn’t, I don’t feel, being entirely honest with themselves. I enjoyed the premise, I enjoyed the set-up, I thought Gabe �� Harry’s son �� was a good character. I liked the overall gothic feel and the haunted, possessed house vibe the setting had going on. I also liked how the tension built throughout the story. I was just left feeling a little…disappointed? And I couldn’t shake that feeling. However, I am looking forward to more from this author. And I do feel I am in the minority on this one.
]]> 58903118 She's got secrets to keep,burdens to carry,and anger to burnThe author of the bestselling The Hunted returns...'A ferocious tale.' Canberra Weekly'Heart-in-mouth reading.' Queensland Reviewers' Collective'More twists than a roller-coaster.' Herald SunA young woman is hiding out in a sleepy North Queensland tourist town, trying to stay under the radar, when she stumbles across a dangerous drug cartel. Anyone else might back away, pretend they haven't seen anything, keep quiet, but Maggie is no ordinary girl.She has to get out of town - fast. She heads towards Melbourne, where she just might find the answers she about her mother, her past and the sins of her father. With a dubious cop as her ally, the police tracking her and a dangerous biker gang on their trail, Maggie's troubles are doubling down fast.'A heroine you can't look away from, pure thrills and wallop, wilder and gamier than your average Aussie noir, this is fierce storytelling.' Kyle Perry'The Inheritance locks the reader in the trunk and puts the pedal to the metal for twenty-two blistering chapters.' Jack HeathThis Kindle edition of The Inheritance includes an *exclusive* short story, The Survivors What readers are 'I felt like a needed a lie down after this high octane adrenaline fuelled ride by Gabriel Bergmoser.''I felt like I was reading an action film.''Holy Moly this book is amazingly gripping and what a bloody thrill ride! (When I say bloody, I mean bloody!)''I read it in two breathless sittings.''Action a-plenty in this fast-paced tension filled thriller. And an awesome protagonist - Maggie is one tough lady not to be messed with.']]> 217 Gabriel Bergmoser 0571372376 Emma 4
I LOVED The Hunted, the first book in this gripping Australian thriller/horror series. It warmed my dark little heart on so many levels. So, without question, The Inheritance was one of my most anticipated books of the year. And oh boy, it didn’t disappoint. We’re back with kick-ass, bad-ass Maggie who has a personal mission to fulfil. Anyone who gets in her way better watch out because Maggie has been through hell and back to get to this point and she’ll do whatever it takes to discover the truth��

This is a very personal mission for Maggie and I loved finding out more about her history, what shaped her to be the determined, stop-at-nothing woman she’s become. There’s bloodshed galore, some particularly grisly moments but I loved being along for the ride as Maggie dug deeper into her family history. She comes across some particularly violent and unrelenting characters on her quest, does some pretty horrendous things to them but I couldn’t help but like her. She’s a one-woman powerhouse but I could understand where she was trying to get to.

I found it fascinating to watch as she discovered that what she believed to be one of the few good things about her childhood turned out to be not as peachy as she recalled. I was on the edge of my seat as she ran, full pelt, from her enemies (and there are a few!), having to trust people she’s not completely sure she can, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in her wake. Wonderful stuff.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Inheritance is a gutsy, thrilling read which I devoured with glee. Maggie is a force to be reckoned with and I hope there is more to come. Despite her penchant for violence, you can’t help but warm to this very human character who just wants answers after a lifetime of misery. The Inheritance is a non-stop, adrenaline ride of a book �� it would make a GREAT movie �� and I hope this isn’t the last we see of this intriguing, well-written character. If you love a thrilling, female-led tale then make sure you pick this one up. I don’t think you need to have read The Hunted first as it works well as a standalone. Although, like its sequel, The Hunted is a fantastic book so why not treat yourself to both! Recommended.]]> 4.11 2021
author: Gabriel Bergmoser
name: Emma
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/22
date added: 2025/02/01
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

I LOVED The Hunted, the first book in this gripping Australian thriller/horror series. It warmed my dark little heart on so many levels. So, without question, The Inheritance was one of my most anticipated books of the year. And oh boy, it didn’t disappoint. We’re back with kick-ass, bad-ass Maggie who has a personal mission to fulfil. Anyone who gets in her way better watch out because Maggie has been through hell and back to get to this point and she’ll do whatever it takes to discover the truth��

This is a very personal mission for Maggie and I loved finding out more about her history, what shaped her to be the determined, stop-at-nothing woman she’s become. There’s bloodshed galore, some particularly grisly moments but I loved being along for the ride as Maggie dug deeper into her family history. She comes across some particularly violent and unrelenting characters on her quest, does some pretty horrendous things to them but I couldn’t help but like her. She’s a one-woman powerhouse but I could understand where she was trying to get to.

I found it fascinating to watch as she discovered that what she believed to be one of the few good things about her childhood turned out to be not as peachy as she recalled. I was on the edge of my seat as she ran, full pelt, from her enemies (and there are a few!), having to trust people she’s not completely sure she can, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in her wake. Wonderful stuff.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Inheritance is a gutsy, thrilling read which I devoured with glee. Maggie is a force to be reckoned with and I hope there is more to come. Despite her penchant for violence, you can’t help but warm to this very human character who just wants answers after a lifetime of misery. The Inheritance is a non-stop, adrenaline ride of a book �� it would make a GREAT movie �� and I hope this isn’t the last we see of this intriguing, well-written character. If you love a thrilling, female-led tale then make sure you pick this one up. I don’t think you need to have read The Hunted first as it works well as a standalone. Although, like its sequel, The Hunted is a fantastic book so why not treat yourself to both! Recommended.
]]> 213719511 A fast-paced tongue-in-cheek YA novel about two friends trying to survive senior year - literally!
Perfect for fans of Fear Street, The Midnight Club and the SCREAM franchise.]]> 352 Scarlett Dunmore 1788957121 Emma 0 3.75
author: Scarlett Dunmore
name: Emma
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:

]]> 38470063 'I could probably have been an actress.
It is not difficult to pretend to be somebody else.
Isn't that what I've been doing for most of my life?'

Cordelia Russell has been living on the French Riviera for twenty-five years, passing herself off as an English socialite. But her luck, and the kindness of strangers, have run out.

The arrival of a visitor from her distant past shocks Cordelia. She reacts violently to the intrusion and flees her flat to spend a drunken night at a glittering party. As dawn breaks she stumbles home through the back streets. Even before she opens her door she can hear the flies buzzing. She did not expect the corpse inside to start decomposing quite so quickly . . .]]> 384 Liz Nugent 0241979730 Emma 5
Skin Deep is a corker of a book. Nugent is incredibly talented at creating fascinating, multi-layered characters. Often flawed to their very bones and in this case, pretty repugnant through and through. Cordelia is not a character to love but she will astound you with her lack of compassion, how utterly self-absorbed and self-focussed she is and how cold and calculating she can be. You won’t find much to like about Cordelia Russell but you will find her fascinating. The book follows Cordelia’s life from a young age with her family on the island, to her moving unexpectedly to the main land and a foster family. From there, as a young, attractive woman, she uses the weapons she has to hand �� including her beauty �� to wreak havoc and cause complete chaos to those around her. She destroys lives without a second thought, causing deep emotional damage and dividing families. Always, always ensuring she gets exactly what she wants.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Skin Deep is a forensic, psychological dive into one of the most unlikeable, most despicable characters I have ever met and I loved every uncomfortable minute of it! The reader watches as Cordelia goes from one awful situation to the next, hurting the people who dare to care for her. The reader first meets Cordelia as she flees into the night from her French Riviera apartment. Leaving on the floor a slowly decaying body. Returning hours later and a little worse for wear, she’s surprised to find a swarm of flies feasting on the still warm corpse. The reader has to wait until the end of the book to discover who the unfortunate soul is. I loved the ending of the book as much as I enjoyed being an observer in Cordelia’s life. I find there are some books where you turn the final page, think to yourself ‘what a great ending that was�� and then you forget all about them. And then there are the books where the author writes such a brilliant ending that you know you’ll never forget the characters or how their story ended. That’s definitely the case here. It was the *most* perfect conclusion. All in all, I enjoyed watching such a selfish, self-absorbed character cause complete and utter devastation physically and emotionally to those around her (which feels a strange thing to say but I just couldn’t look away!). I heartily recommend Skin Deep to those who aren’t looking for a lead character to love or sympathise with. And if you’re a psychological suspense fan who enjoys a more literary tone, this is an absolute must read. It’s a hell of a good book so if you’re into well-plotted, clever storytelling then get yourself a copy. Dark, engrossing, superbly written throughout with an outstanding, unforgettable lead character. I cannot wait to read more of Liz Nugent’s books soon. Recommended.
]]> 3.98 2018
author: Liz Nugent
name: Emma
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Skin Deep is a corker of a book. Nugent is incredibly talented at creating fascinating, multi-layered characters. Often flawed to their very bones and in this case, pretty repugnant through and through. Cordelia is not a character to love but she will astound you with her lack of compassion, how utterly self-absorbed and self-focussed she is and how cold and calculating she can be. You won’t find much to like about Cordelia Russell but you will find her fascinating. The book follows Cordelia’s life from a young age with her family on the island, to her moving unexpectedly to the main land and a foster family. From there, as a young, attractive woman, she uses the weapons she has to hand �� including her beauty �� to wreak havoc and cause complete chaos to those around her. She destroys lives without a second thought, causing deep emotional damage and dividing families. Always, always ensuring she gets exactly what she wants.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Skin Deep is a forensic, psychological dive into one of the most unlikeable, most despicable characters I have ever met and I loved every uncomfortable minute of it! The reader watches as Cordelia goes from one awful situation to the next, hurting the people who dare to care for her. The reader first meets Cordelia as she flees into the night from her French Riviera apartment. Leaving on the floor a slowly decaying body. Returning hours later and a little worse for wear, she’s surprised to find a swarm of flies feasting on the still warm corpse. The reader has to wait until the end of the book to discover who the unfortunate soul is. I loved the ending of the book as much as I enjoyed being an observer in Cordelia’s life. I find there are some books where you turn the final page, think to yourself ‘what a great ending that was�� and then you forget all about them. And then there are the books where the author writes such a brilliant ending that you know you’ll never forget the characters or how their story ended. That’s definitely the case here. It was the *most* perfect conclusion. All in all, I enjoyed watching such a selfish, self-absorbed character cause complete and utter devastation physically and emotionally to those around her (which feels a strange thing to say but I just couldn’t look away!). I heartily recommend Skin Deep to those who aren’t looking for a lead character to love or sympathise with. And if you’re a psychological suspense fan who enjoys a more literary tone, this is an absolute must read. It’s a hell of a good book so if you’re into well-plotted, clever storytelling then get yourself a copy. Dark, engrossing, superbly written throughout with an outstanding, unforgettable lead character. I cannot wait to read more of Liz Nugent’s books soon. Recommended.

]]> 200475237 ‘I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.��

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.

Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. There, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to keep her baby and escape to a commune. Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.

Every moment of their waking day is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid . . . and it’s usually paid in blood.]]> 496 Grady Hendrix 103503087X Emma 4
It’s 1970, Neva is fifteen years old and nearly 6 months pregnant. Her father, who radiates nothing but disappointment, drives her in near silence to Florida. Neva has no idea of where they are going but she’s smart enough to know something about the trip doesn’t feel quite right. Their destination is Wellwood House, a home for young, unwed mothers. Whilst Neva is shown around the house, completely out of sorts and in utter dismay, her father signs the paperwork and leaves without saying goodbye. Neva is told she needs to leave her old life back in Alabama behind. She can’t talk about her past, she can’t share any personal details and she can’t tell anyone her real name. She’s now Fern and her days will be spent carrying out chores and waiting for the inevitable, the arrival of her baby. Fern begins to make friends whilst hating every moment away from her family. The days are long, the food is awful and the healthcare provision is very old and very fusty. The only thing which brings joy is the arrival of the travelling library, staffed by the ancient Miss Parcae. Miss Parcae takes an interest in Fern, one day slipping her a book from behind the counter titled ‘How to be a Groovy Witch��. Suddenly the girls have something else to occupy their minds. Out for revenge towards the adults who dictate and dominate their days, they try a simple spell �� and suddenly the power balance shifts. But in exchange for the book, Fern and her friends made a blood promise, albeit in haste. And promises must be kept no matter what the consequences��

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a beautifully written, witchy horror novel. Hendrix’s characters are once again divine. The author spends a lot of quality time shaping and moulding the main players, so the reader really gets to know the bones of them. Life is pretty miserable for these young women, the youngest being fourteen. Being fed lies by the adults responsible for them, promises of pain-free, easy labour that they won’t even be awake for. When Fern witnesses the gory truth in the bathroom, she begins to question everything the girls have been told. So when a new power enters their lives in exchange for the ultimate sacrifice, how can they say no? After all, it’s only words. It doesn’t really MEAN anything.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a character-driven, coming of age tale that I found both compelling and enthralling. There is quite a big build up to anything witchy actually happening but this is the readers�� chance to get to know the teens at the heart of this story. Alongside Fern there are a small group of girls who together make a promise they probably shouldn’t have and are dragged kicking and screaming into the melee. I believed in all of these characters. They were all strong personalities, a bonded group of friends thrown together due to their circumstance. Unlikely to have met otherwise. I became invested in their lives and wanted to see their story through to the end. The way the teens are treated, the now outdated views held by the adults in the book and the vivid, eerie setting of the isolated home was handled masterfully by the author. Bloody brave of a male author to take on a story like this but again, handled like the pro Hendrix is! If you’re a horror fan then you need Witchcraft for Wayward Girls in your life. And if you’re not, then this is a fantastic choice to cut your teeth on! With dark themes, beautifully written characters and a slow, escalating horror from start to finish, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with this fabulous, dark novel. Recommended.]]> 4.10 2025
author: Grady Hendrix
name: Emma
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

It’s 1970, Neva is fifteen years old and nearly 6 months pregnant. Her father, who radiates nothing but disappointment, drives her in near silence to Florida. Neva has no idea of where they are going but she’s smart enough to know something about the trip doesn’t feel quite right. Their destination is Wellwood House, a home for young, unwed mothers. Whilst Neva is shown around the house, completely out of sorts and in utter dismay, her father signs the paperwork and leaves without saying goodbye. Neva is told she needs to leave her old life back in Alabama behind. She can’t talk about her past, she can’t share any personal details and she can’t tell anyone her real name. She’s now Fern and her days will be spent carrying out chores and waiting for the inevitable, the arrival of her baby. Fern begins to make friends whilst hating every moment away from her family. The days are long, the food is awful and the healthcare provision is very old and very fusty. The only thing which brings joy is the arrival of the travelling library, staffed by the ancient Miss Parcae. Miss Parcae takes an interest in Fern, one day slipping her a book from behind the counter titled ‘How to be a Groovy Witch��. Suddenly the girls have something else to occupy their minds. Out for revenge towards the adults who dictate and dominate their days, they try a simple spell �� and suddenly the power balance shifts. But in exchange for the book, Fern and her friends made a blood promise, albeit in haste. And promises must be kept no matter what the consequences��

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a beautifully written, witchy horror novel. Hendrix’s characters are once again divine. The author spends a lot of quality time shaping and moulding the main players, so the reader really gets to know the bones of them. Life is pretty miserable for these young women, the youngest being fourteen. Being fed lies by the adults responsible for them, promises of pain-free, easy labour that they won’t even be awake for. When Fern witnesses the gory truth in the bathroom, she begins to question everything the girls have been told. So when a new power enters their lives in exchange for the ultimate sacrifice, how can they say no? After all, it’s only words. It doesn’t really MEAN anything.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a character-driven, coming of age tale that I found both compelling and enthralling. There is quite a big build up to anything witchy actually happening but this is the readers�� chance to get to know the teens at the heart of this story. Alongside Fern there are a small group of girls who together make a promise they probably shouldn’t have and are dragged kicking and screaming into the melee. I believed in all of these characters. They were all strong personalities, a bonded group of friends thrown together due to their circumstance. Unlikely to have met otherwise. I became invested in their lives and wanted to see their story through to the end. The way the teens are treated, the now outdated views held by the adults in the book and the vivid, eerie setting of the isolated home was handled masterfully by the author. Bloody brave of a male author to take on a story like this but again, handled like the pro Hendrix is! If you’re a horror fan then you need Witchcraft for Wayward Girls in your life. And if you’re not, then this is a fantastic choice to cut your teeth on! With dark themes, beautifully written characters and a slow, escalating horror from start to finish, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with this fabulous, dark novel. Recommended.
]]> 213939197
For childhood friends Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo, death has always been close. Hurricanes. Car accidents. Gang violence. Suicide. Estamos rodeados de fantasmas was Gabe’s grandmother’s refrain. We are surrounded by ghosts. But this time is different. Bimbo's mom has been shot dead. We’re gonna kill the guys who killed her Bimbo swears. And they all agree.

Feral with grief, Bimbo has become unrecognizable, taking no prisoners in his search for names. As the boys strategize, a storm gathers far from the Puerto Rican coast. Hurricanes are known to carry evil spirits in their currents and bring them ashore, spirits which impose their own order.]]> 416 Gabino Iglesias Emma 0 4.00 2024
author: Gabino Iglesias
name: Emma
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves:
review:

]]> 206719562
The contract would be the most lucrative of Kate’s career, but it comes with a price of its own, dredging up a sordid, complicated past that she would sooner forget . . . one that the paparazzi are determined to keep in the headlines.

As Kate and her partner, Tristan, scour King’s Cross for clues, no two leads seem to point in the same direction. The last person to see Janey alive has already been tried, convicted, and then acquitted of her murder, Peter Conway is in poor health and fading fast, and the line between their clients and their suspects is blurring with each new revelation about the case.

With little to work from, can Tristan and Kate wade through clandestine phone calls, decades-old secrets, and deteriorating DNA evidence to solve Janey’s murder, or will she remain one of London’s countless missing persons, forever lost to time?

Can be read as a stand-alone.]]> 322 Robert Bryndza 191454725X Emma 0 4.42 2024
author: Robert Bryndza
name: Emma
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves:
review:

]]> 190592262
The brand new psychological thriller for fans of T.M. Logan, Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell.

The village of Nether Appleford calls itself ‘England’s Kindest Village��. Overseen by the Kindness Committee, this close-knit community strives to live their lives with kindness at the heart of everything they do.

Just Be Kind. It’s as simple as that.

But what is kindness? Is it doing something to help someone else? Is it giving up your time to help your community? Or, perhaps it’s something a lot less obvious��

What if the kindest thing you could do meant hurting someone? Then what would you do?]]> 400 S.R. Masters 0008520143 Emma 5
A young couple who are having a tough time of it stumble upon a quaint Oxfordshire village. The village, Nether Appleford, claims to be the kindest village in England, with an elected Kindness Committee ensuring the village lives up to its high standards. The committee also reviews all applications from potential new residents and approves those they think will add to their community. After several unsuccessful rounds of IVF Tessa and Andy know they need to make a big change in their lives, so they submit an application to the committee and ask to move to Nether Appleford. They’re shocked when their application is accepted and hastily leave London, and hopefully their heartache, behind. But life in their new village isn’t quite as Tessa expected. Andy seems to have made a good name for himself. Tessa, not so much. Life in Nether Appleford isn’t the tranquil, picturesque dream come true Tessa had hoped for. So much so, that it could become her worst nightmare��

How to Kill with Kindness is the third book I’ve read by S.R. Masters. I enjoyed the author’s first two books but this dark and twisted tale is definitely my favourite! It’s full of unexpected twists and turns. There’s a wonderful sense of menace running through the narrative as things begin to spiral out of control and I couldn’t look away! I just had to keep reading to find out what awful thing was going to befall our protagonist next. It really is one thing after another for poor Tessa. She’s not the most likeable of characters (no one in this book is!) but I did like how tough she was. The first half of the novel is a little slower in pace but stick with it because things really ramp up in the second half. All in all, a compelling, compulsive thriller that I couldn’t get enough of. As a resident of Oxfordshire I completely believed the setting. I’m pretty sure we have a few strange, little (although hopefully not as deadly!) villages hidden away somewhere in the county! Intriguing, engrossing and very difficult to put down for any length of time. Recommended.]]> 3.71 2024
author: S.R. Masters
name: Emma
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/22
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

A young couple who are having a tough time of it stumble upon a quaint Oxfordshire village. The village, Nether Appleford, claims to be the kindest village in England, with an elected Kindness Committee ensuring the village lives up to its high standards. The committee also reviews all applications from potential new residents and approves those they think will add to their community. After several unsuccessful rounds of IVF Tessa and Andy know they need to make a big change in their lives, so they submit an application to the committee and ask to move to Nether Appleford. They’re shocked when their application is accepted and hastily leave London, and hopefully their heartache, behind. But life in their new village isn’t quite as Tessa expected. Andy seems to have made a good name for himself. Tessa, not so much. Life in Nether Appleford isn’t the tranquil, picturesque dream come true Tessa had hoped for. So much so, that it could become her worst nightmare��

How to Kill with Kindness is the third book I’ve read by S.R. Masters. I enjoyed the author’s first two books but this dark and twisted tale is definitely my favourite! It’s full of unexpected twists and turns. There’s a wonderful sense of menace running through the narrative as things begin to spiral out of control and I couldn’t look away! I just had to keep reading to find out what awful thing was going to befall our protagonist next. It really is one thing after another for poor Tessa. She’s not the most likeable of characters (no one in this book is!) but I did like how tough she was. The first half of the novel is a little slower in pace but stick with it because things really ramp up in the second half. All in all, a compelling, compulsive thriller that I couldn’t get enough of. As a resident of Oxfordshire I completely believed the setting. I’m pretty sure we have a few strange, little (although hopefully not as deadly!) villages hidden away somewhere in the county! Intriguing, engrossing and very difficult to put down for any length of time. Recommended.
]]> 211399646 The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this twisty, addictive thriller.

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ...]]> 333 Leah Konen 059371590X Emma 4
Kerry has hit rock bottom. She’s separated from her husband, Frank. Her best friend, Siobhan, hates her. She’s under pressure from her publisher following a large advance for a book that she just can’t write. And the only comfort Kerry can find is in a large glass of wine (or whatever she has to hand that’s strong enough to numb the pain). In order to escape her many distractions and focus on her writing, Kerry takes a caretaker job at a revamped motel in the Catskills. With very little required of her on a day to day basis, and no booze to distract her, it’s the perfect location to finally write the novel that will make her a household name. But on arrival at the remote motel, Kerry makes a a startling discovery. A body in the snow. Trapped in a blizzard all alone and with no phone service, will Kerry make it out of the Twilite Motel alive��?

The Last Room on the Left is the third book I have read by Leah Konen. What I have come to expect from this author over the years is a strong female-led thriller, where friendships and allegiances are put to the test. Konen’s books are always very readable, easy to immerse yourself in and they are always, always entertaining. The Last Room on the Left is no different. Kerry is an unlikeable, unreliable lead who, in a moment of clarity, realises that she needs to step away from the mess of her life to try and get the book that’s hanging over her written. The caretaker job seems perfect. Perhaps, too perfect? But on arrival Kerry discovers that the previous caretaker, there for the month of January only, hasn’t checked out. Further investigation finds her room in disarray. Half drunk bottles of wine, evidence of a wild party. No sign of the occupant though. That is, until the following morning when Kerry sees bright red finger nails poking out of snow. And the horror of her situation finally hits home.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. If you’re looking for a very readable, snowbound psychological thriller with a cast of unlikeable characters (always makes for a more interesting read in my opinion!) then The Last Room on the Left will certainly fit the bill. My love for an unreliable narrator has grown over the years and Kerry is about as unreliable as they come! She is consumed with thoughts of where her next drink is coming from, how her marriage fell apart and how her friendship with Siobhan broke down. The reader doesn’t find out until much later in the book the reasons behind her relationship issues with her husband and her friend, but the more I read, the more curious I became. I had to discover how things had gone so badly wrong for Kerry. All in all, I enjoyed The Last Room on the Left with its interesting, flawed characters, multiple POVs and isolated setting. Recommended.]]> 3.37 2025
author: Leah Konen
name: Emma
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/12
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Kerry has hit rock bottom. She’s separated from her husband, Frank. Her best friend, Siobhan, hates her. She’s under pressure from her publisher following a large advance for a book that she just can’t write. And the only comfort Kerry can find is in a large glass of wine (or whatever she has to hand that’s strong enough to numb the pain). In order to escape her many distractions and focus on her writing, Kerry takes a caretaker job at a revamped motel in the Catskills. With very little required of her on a day to day basis, and no booze to distract her, it’s the perfect location to finally write the novel that will make her a household name. But on arrival at the remote motel, Kerry makes a a startling discovery. A body in the snow. Trapped in a blizzard all alone and with no phone service, will Kerry make it out of the Twilite Motel alive��?

The Last Room on the Left is the third book I have read by Leah Konen. What I have come to expect from this author over the years is a strong female-led thriller, where friendships and allegiances are put to the test. Konen’s books are always very readable, easy to immerse yourself in and they are always, always entertaining. The Last Room on the Left is no different. Kerry is an unlikeable, unreliable lead who, in a moment of clarity, realises that she needs to step away from the mess of her life to try and get the book that’s hanging over her written. The caretaker job seems perfect. Perhaps, too perfect? But on arrival Kerry discovers that the previous caretaker, there for the month of January only, hasn’t checked out. Further investigation finds her room in disarray. Half drunk bottles of wine, evidence of a wild party. No sign of the occupant though. That is, until the following morning when Kerry sees bright red finger nails poking out of snow. And the horror of her situation finally hits home.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. If you’re looking for a very readable, snowbound psychological thriller with a cast of unlikeable characters (always makes for a more interesting read in my opinion!) then The Last Room on the Left will certainly fit the bill. My love for an unreliable narrator has grown over the years and Kerry is about as unreliable as they come! She is consumed with thoughts of where her next drink is coming from, how her marriage fell apart and how her friendship with Siobhan broke down. The reader doesn’t find out until much later in the book the reasons behind her relationship issues with her husband and her friend, but the more I read, the more curious I became. I had to discover how things had gone so badly wrong for Kerry. All in all, I enjoyed The Last Room on the Left with its interesting, flawed characters, multiple POVs and isolated setting. Recommended.
]]> 220468055 Adrianna, heir to the multimillion dollar Kensington nightclub empire, is planning her dream wedding - a lavish ceremony funded by exclusive sponsors, on the Kensington's private tropical island Elysium.

There's only one flaw in her perfect plans. Elysium holds traumatic memories as the place where she was kidnapped and held hostage for three days on her 21st birthday - a case that was never solved...

When a bridesmaid is murdered the night before the dress fitting, it soon becomes clear that Adrianna won't be able to get hitched without a hitch. The body is staged in a gruesome display, chillingly reminiscent of Adrianna's kidnapping.

When forensic expert Holly becomes embroiled in this alien world, the secrets that have dogged the bride and her bridesmaids since childhood start to come out. The answers lie on Elysium, if Holly can find her way into this playground of the rich and famous - and more importantly, if she can get out of it alive...

****

PRAISE FOR CATE

'Absolutely thrilling' ALEX MICHAELIDES, bestselling author of The Silent Patient

'A superior, creeping psychological thriller taut with tension and drama' SEATTLE TIMES

'Utterly compelling'
MARIAN KEYES

'A sly, contemporary crime masterpiece. I loved it'
ADRIAN MCKINTY

'Intense, gripping, superb'
WILL DEAN

'Atmospheric and addictive'
THE SUN ]]> 375 Cate Quinn 1398720534 Emma 4
Cate Quinn has, in a fairly short space of time, become a favourite author of mine. It all started with the incredible Black Widows. Closely followed by the The Clinic. Confession time: I haven’t read Blood Sisters yet but it will happen very soon (this is the whole ‘books I purchased versus books I have for review�� thing �� review books take priority above everything else which is why I still haven’t read a book published in 2023 but I’m about to share my review of a book published this very day!). I saw Cate Quinn’s new release �� The Bridesmaid �� on NetGalley and it would have been impossible for me to ignore. Why? Because I love the way the author tells a story. Cate Quinn’s thrillers are engrossing, unexpected and always full of twists. The Bridesmaid was no different.

Adrianna Kensington, heiress to the Kensington Nightclub empire, is set to marry her tech billionaire fiancé, Mark Li, within a matter of days on her family’s private island. The night before the dress fitting a shocking discovery is made. One of the bridesmaids�� has been slaughtered. Her bloody corpse suspended from the ceiling in one of Adriana’s exclusive, designer wedding dresses. The wedding must go on though and so, with a healthy mistrust of the police, Mark asks forensic specialist Holly Stone for help. Everything needs to run to schedule with as little disruption as possible, otherwise the Kensington brand could be tarnished forever. Can Holly, completely out of her depth with the privileged Kensingtons, discover the reasons behind the bridesmaid’s brutal death and ensure, with the help of New York detective Fitzwilliam, the safety of those attending the three day long ceremony on the private island? Or will Adriana’s long-held family secrets finally come to light, destroying her picture perfect life once and for all��?

The Bridesmaid is a book with a heck of a lot going on within the pages. Sitting here now, writing (as I always do) my own brief synopsis of the book (⬆️), looking back at what I’ve written, I don’t feel I’ve really done the book justice. If you compare the official blurb to what I’ve written in the paragraph above, you *could* think they were two similar but different books. There are two main threads in this story. One I’ve covered, the other I’ve barely touched on, but it all comes together perfectly in the end. The part I haven’t really mentioned is Elysium, the private island. Whilst staying on the island for her 21st birthday celebrations three years previously, Adriana was kidnapped. Unaware she was still on the island and at the family home, she was taken to the panic room and kept hostage for three days before finally escaping. Her kidnapper was never caught and Adriana only managed to get away after dislocating her wrist and escaping the handcuffs. This is the bit that ties it all together. Could the kidnapper have returned? And, in the three years since Adriana went missing, has kidnap escalated to murder? So yes, there is a lot going on in this book but I do feel, now I’ve added a little about the island and Adriana’s traumatic experience whilst there, that you’re getting a much clearer idea of what the book is about. Holly Stone, master of forensics, is the main character in The Bridesmaid. She is a wonderful lead and I would love to see more of her in the future (her own series perhaps?). Holly is thrown head first into the circus that is the Kensington family, secretly acting on behalf of Mark Li, whilst also, somehow, now acting as replacement bridesmaid. She is so out of her depth she is drowning!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Bridesmaid is a thoroughly entertaining, twisty read from a favourite author of mine. It’s a little bit bonkers in places and, as I’ve already mentioned, quite busy at times but I enjoyed the time I spent in Holly’s company. The story is told from three points of view; Holly, Adriana and one of the bridesmaids, Petra. I did enjoy seeing how the story was unfolding from the different perspectives but I always looked forward to hearing from Holly the most. Although the simmering chemistry between Holly and Detective Fitzwilliam didn’t really add anything to the story for me. I’m not one for romance in a crime thriller. However, I know others feel differently. The ending was explosive and fast paced. I was able to predict a couple of things which happened but I still enjoyed the book and look forward to more from this author in the future (I’ll hopefully get Blood Sisters read and reviewed before Quinn’s next book comes out!). Recommended.]]> 3.30
author: Cate Quinn
name: Emma
average rating: 3.30
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/15
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Cate Quinn has, in a fairly short space of time, become a favourite author of mine. It all started with the incredible Black Widows. Closely followed by the The Clinic. Confession time: I haven’t read Blood Sisters yet but it will happen very soon (this is the whole ‘books I purchased versus books I have for review�� thing �� review books take priority above everything else which is why I still haven’t read a book published in 2023 but I’m about to share my review of a book published this very day!). I saw Cate Quinn’s new release �� The Bridesmaid �� on NetGalley and it would have been impossible for me to ignore. Why? Because I love the way the author tells a story. Cate Quinn’s thrillers are engrossing, unexpected and always full of twists. The Bridesmaid was no different.

Adrianna Kensington, heiress to the Kensington Nightclub empire, is set to marry her tech billionaire fiancé, Mark Li, within a matter of days on her family’s private island. The night before the dress fitting a shocking discovery is made. One of the bridesmaids�� has been slaughtered. Her bloody corpse suspended from the ceiling in one of Adriana’s exclusive, designer wedding dresses. The wedding must go on though and so, with a healthy mistrust of the police, Mark asks forensic specialist Holly Stone for help. Everything needs to run to schedule with as little disruption as possible, otherwise the Kensington brand could be tarnished forever. Can Holly, completely out of her depth with the privileged Kensingtons, discover the reasons behind the bridesmaid’s brutal death and ensure, with the help of New York detective Fitzwilliam, the safety of those attending the three day long ceremony on the private island? Or will Adriana’s long-held family secrets finally come to light, destroying her picture perfect life once and for all��?

The Bridesmaid is a book with a heck of a lot going on within the pages. Sitting here now, writing (as I always do) my own brief synopsis of the book (⬆️), looking back at what I’ve written, I don’t feel I’ve really done the book justice. If you compare the official blurb to what I’ve written in the paragraph above, you *could* think they were two similar but different books. There are two main threads in this story. One I’ve covered, the other I’ve barely touched on, but it all comes together perfectly in the end. The part I haven’t really mentioned is Elysium, the private island. Whilst staying on the island for her 21st birthday celebrations three years previously, Adriana was kidnapped. Unaware she was still on the island and at the family home, she was taken to the panic room and kept hostage for three days before finally escaping. Her kidnapper was never caught and Adriana only managed to get away after dislocating her wrist and escaping the handcuffs. This is the bit that ties it all together. Could the kidnapper have returned? And, in the three years since Adriana went missing, has kidnap escalated to murder? So yes, there is a lot going on in this book but I do feel, now I’ve added a little about the island and Adriana’s traumatic experience whilst there, that you’re getting a much clearer idea of what the book is about. Holly Stone, master of forensics, is the main character in The Bridesmaid. She is a wonderful lead and I would love to see more of her in the future (her own series perhaps?). Holly is thrown head first into the circus that is the Kensington family, secretly acting on behalf of Mark Li, whilst also, somehow, now acting as replacement bridesmaid. She is so out of her depth she is drowning!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Bridesmaid is a thoroughly entertaining, twisty read from a favourite author of mine. It’s a little bit bonkers in places and, as I’ve already mentioned, quite busy at times but I enjoyed the time I spent in Holly’s company. The story is told from three points of view; Holly, Adriana and one of the bridesmaids, Petra. I did enjoy seeing how the story was unfolding from the different perspectives but I always looked forward to hearing from Holly the most. Although the simmering chemistry between Holly and Detective Fitzwilliam didn’t really add anything to the story for me. I’m not one for romance in a crime thriller. However, I know others feel differently. The ending was explosive and fast paced. I was able to predict a couple of things which happened but I still enjoyed the book and look forward to more from this author in the future (I’ll hopefully get Blood Sisters read and reviewed before Quinn’s next book comes out!). Recommended.
]]> 199618106
He watches your every move...
We’ve all experienced it. That creeping sensation of eyes on your back, the faint echo of footsteps following yours.

He controls you...
Across the country, a madman is carefully choosing his victims. Once he has you in his sights, he won’t let go.

He will make you pay...
You think you’re in control of your own life? Think again. Because The Puppet Master is coming for you, and he won’t stop until you’re dead…]]> 400 Sam Holland 000861508X Emma 5
The Puppet Master by Sam Holland is the third book in the Major Crimes series. I’ve read, and thoroughly enjoyed, the first two books with the second book, The Twenty, featuring on my top books of 2023 list. The Puppet Master was one of my most eagerly anticipated reads of 2024 and oh boy, it did not disappoint. The first thing you need to know about this series is that it is not for the feint of heart. It’s gruesome, it’s gritty and it doesn’t hold back like many others in the genre do. You need a strong stomach to read these books (thinking about one aspect of The Twenty still makes me a little queasy!). I think that is why this is one of my favourite crime series out there at the moment. The Puppet Master is a brilliant addition to what is proving to be a must read series for crime fans. DCI Cara Elliot is back and joined by DS Jamie Hoxton. Something you find quite often in crime fiction is that the core investigating team tends to stay the same. That is not the case in this series. The first book featured Elliot, the second book moved away from Elliot and focussed on DS Jamie Hoxton and his DCI. Now Elliot and Hoxton are teaming up to catch a sadistic, manipulative killer. I loved the character development. I love how unusual and different this series feels to everything else out there. And I love how twisted and dark Holland’s plots are. I’m excited to see where the author takes book four which is out later this year. Would I recommend this book? You bet I would! If you love a serial killer thriller then what are you waiting for? Dark, disturbing and utterly thrilling from start to finish. Highly recommended.]]> 4.17
author: Sam Holland
name: Emma
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/04
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland is the third book in the Major Crimes series. I’ve read, and thoroughly enjoyed, the first two books with the second book, The Twenty, featuring on my top books of 2023 list. The Puppet Master was one of my most eagerly anticipated reads of 2024 and oh boy, it did not disappoint. The first thing you need to know about this series is that it is not for the feint of heart. It’s gruesome, it’s gritty and it doesn’t hold back like many others in the genre do. You need a strong stomach to read these books (thinking about one aspect of The Twenty still makes me a little queasy!). I think that is why this is one of my favourite crime series out there at the moment. The Puppet Master is a brilliant addition to what is proving to be a must read series for crime fans. DCI Cara Elliot is back and joined by DS Jamie Hoxton. Something you find quite often in crime fiction is that the core investigating team tends to stay the same. That is not the case in this series. The first book featured Elliot, the second book moved away from Elliot and focussed on DS Jamie Hoxton and his DCI. Now Elliot and Hoxton are teaming up to catch a sadistic, manipulative killer. I loved the character development. I love how unusual and different this series feels to everything else out there. And I love how twisted and dark Holland’s plots are. I’m excited to see where the author takes book four which is out later this year. Would I recommend this book? You bet I would! If you love a serial killer thriller then what are you waiting for? Dark, disturbing and utterly thrilling from start to finish. Highly recommended.
]]> 211414146
The victim is Wolfgang Burnside, deputy mayor - a champion of change or local schemer, depending on who you ask. He had been working on plans to take the Valley off-grid with hydro-power using the lake surrounding the abandoned mine. Until he was poisoned, his body dumped in the river for all to see.

Detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are dispatched to investigate. The warning is clear - there are secrets lurking in the depths of this Valley, secrets worth more than their weight in gold. What price will this town have to pay to ensure that they never see the light of day?

An epic, atmospheric mystery spanning generations set against a luscious backdrop and the twisting veins of gold that lurk beneath.]]> 420 Chris Hammer 103541080X Emma 5
A body is discovered on the banks of the Broken River in The Valley, a small former gold mining town in NSW. On first inspection, it looks like a tragic drowning. But when Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic and Detective Senior Constable Nell Buchanan are told to attend the scene, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident. Entrepreneur Wolfgang Burnside was known to ruffle the locals�� feathers, but who would want him dead? As Nell and Ivan investigate, a shocking connection comes to light. Things all of a sudden become personal for Nell. With the secrets of Nell’s past weighing heavy on her shoulders, and with pressure mounting from above to solve Burnside’s murder, can Nell sift through the secrets and lies to discover who killed Wolfgang Burnside��?

The Broken River is a beautifully complex, highly intriguing, slow-burn crime thriller that I very much enjoyed from start to finish. Told using dual timelines and multiple, seemingly unrelated threads throughout, the mystery is slowly, enticingly revealed. In the present day, Nell and Ivan investigate Wolfgang’s murder, whilst unexpectedly revealing a link between Nell and the murder victim. The past chapters start in 1990 and show how desperate the local community are to reopen the long-closed Gryphon Gold Mine, returning the town to its more prosperous, affluent days. As the story progresses those aforementioned threads that felt so unconnected at times, start to cross, bringing the two timelines together. All whilst Nell struggles to come to terms with the new information she has unwittingly discovered. It’s worth saying at this point that I recommend you read the earlier books first. Nell Buchanan has been put through the wringer of late and knowing some of her backstory will definitely help when reading The Broken River.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Broken River is an intelligently written, immersive, cleverly plotted novel. Perfect for readers who aren’t afraid of a slower paced plot or a more literary tone. The character development is superb across the series. Nell has very much been on a personal journey and I look forward to seeing where the author takes the character next. Personally, I would like to see a little bit more of that development in Ivan Lucic’s character as well. Nell comes across as the more layered individual. The sense of place is really quite stunning in Hammer’s books. I don’t know another author who is able to paint such a vivid, rich and realistic picture in their readers�� heads. As a fan of Australian fiction, this is something I always appreciate. All in all, a wonderful addition to what is proving to be a must-read crime series from an author who is at the top of his game. A twisty, page-turner of a novel full of atmosphere and a delicious sense of place. Looking forward to more Nell and Ivan in the future! Recommended.]]> 4.18 2024
author: Chris Hammer
name: Emma
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/08
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

A body is discovered on the banks of the Broken River in The Valley, a small former gold mining town in NSW. On first inspection, it looks like a tragic drowning. But when Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic and Detective Senior Constable Nell Buchanan are told to attend the scene, it quickly becomes clear that this was no accident. Entrepreneur Wolfgang Burnside was known to ruffle the locals�� feathers, but who would want him dead? As Nell and Ivan investigate, a shocking connection comes to light. Things all of a sudden become personal for Nell. With the secrets of Nell’s past weighing heavy on her shoulders, and with pressure mounting from above to solve Burnside’s murder, can Nell sift through the secrets and lies to discover who killed Wolfgang Burnside��?

The Broken River is a beautifully complex, highly intriguing, slow-burn crime thriller that I very much enjoyed from start to finish. Told using dual timelines and multiple, seemingly unrelated threads throughout, the mystery is slowly, enticingly revealed. In the present day, Nell and Ivan investigate Wolfgang’s murder, whilst unexpectedly revealing a link between Nell and the murder victim. The past chapters start in 1990 and show how desperate the local community are to reopen the long-closed Gryphon Gold Mine, returning the town to its more prosperous, affluent days. As the story progresses those aforementioned threads that felt so unconnected at times, start to cross, bringing the two timelines together. All whilst Nell struggles to come to terms with the new information she has unwittingly discovered. It’s worth saying at this point that I recommend you read the earlier books first. Nell Buchanan has been put through the wringer of late and knowing some of her backstory will definitely help when reading The Broken River.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Broken River is an intelligently written, immersive, cleverly plotted novel. Perfect for readers who aren’t afraid of a slower paced plot or a more literary tone. The character development is superb across the series. Nell has very much been on a personal journey and I look forward to seeing where the author takes the character next. Personally, I would like to see a little bit more of that development in Ivan Lucic’s character as well. Nell comes across as the more layered individual. The sense of place is really quite stunning in Hammer’s books. I don’t know another author who is able to paint such a vivid, rich and realistic picture in their readers�� heads. As a fan of Australian fiction, this is something I always appreciate. All in all, a wonderful addition to what is proving to be a must-read crime series from an author who is at the top of his game. A twisty, page-turner of a novel full of atmosphere and a delicious sense of place. Looking forward to more Nell and Ivan in the future! Recommended.
]]> 199644125 Big Brother meets Black Mirror in this high-concept thriller in which six strangers take part in a mysterious medical experiment in an isolated mansion.After winning the popular reality talent show Searching for a Star and a subsequent record deal at the age of nineteen, Amanda Pearson was the hottest thing in the UK. But as her short-lived fame began to fade, the cracks began to stumbling and mumbling on stage, slurring during live TV interviews, suspicious photos of her at nightclubs with powder around her nostrils. The dream was over. Amanda Pearson would forever be a one-hit wonder.Six years later, after cleaning her act up but failing to reestablish her career, her ex-manager informs her of an unexpected opportunity that will help alleviate her dire financial situation and potentially thrust her back into the spotlight. The proposal is Six strangers alone in a mansion, under constant observation, for the duration of a week. Every day they take a pill. Five people are taking a placebo, but one person will be taking an experimental drug, which they are assured has no side adverse effects.The other participants - a dinner lady who moonlights as a comedian, an eccentric theatre actor, a popular YouTuber, a dance choreographer, and a car salesman - all seem normal at first. However, as each day goes by, cracks begin to show in the group. Paranoia leads to violence. Who is taking the real pill, and what does it do? Amanda realises that this is no normal she is trapped, the old mansion is rigged, and there is no way out.Can she find a way out of this nightmare with her sanity in tact?]]> 400 S.B. Caves 1915523222 Emma 0 3.67 2024
author: S.B. Caves
name: Emma
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves:
review:

]]> 182127464
The second rip-roaring mystery from multi-award-winning number international bestseller Mark Billingham starring Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated...

Unconventional Detective Declan Miller has a problem. Well, two problems. First, there's his dead wife and her yet-to-be-solved murder. He really should stop talking to her ghosts...

Second, and most pressing, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands. Miller knows this case is proof of a contract killing commissioned by local ne'er do well Wayne Cutler—a man he suspects might also be responsible for his wife's death. Now Miller has leverage, but unfortunately, he also has something that both Cutler and a villainous fast-food kingpin are desperate to get hold of.

Sprinkle in a Midsomer Murders-obsessed hitman, a psychotic welder, and a woman driven over the edge by a wayward Crème Egg, and Miller is in a mess that even he might not be able to dance his way out of.]]> 416 Mark Billingham 1408726378 Emma 4 4.44 2024
author: Mark Billingham
name: Emma
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/08
date added: 2024/12/11
shelves:
review:

]]> 203150553 From the bestselling author of the DCI Matilda Darke series and Dr Olivia Winter series, comes a standalone thriller to keep you up all night!

A GRUESOME MURDER

Twenty years ago, a young girl vanished from a quiet street in Northumberland. When her body was found in an attic close to her home, the whole neighbourhood was shocked.

A DEVASTATING SECRET

For her entire life, Dawn Shephard has never known her father. But when news breaks that a murderer is about to be released from prison, her mother has no choice but to reveal his identity.

THE ORIGINS OF EVIL

As Dawn digs into her father’s history, she lands on a chilling connection. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes. Just how far will she go to discover if a killer’s blood runs through her veins?]]> 386 Michael Wood 0008618550 Emma 0 4.24 2022
author: Michael Wood
name: Emma
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/01
date added: 2024/12/01
shelves:
review:

]]> 211741158 FOLLOW HIM OR DIE.

When The Speaker posts, his followers must listen ... no matter the consequences.

Exposed as the masked social media influencer The Speaker by shy misfit Crystal, Aaron Fortin embarks on an insidious campaign to erase her - permanently.

Having already committed multiple brutal murders to try and feel some form of emotion, he charms and recruits Crystal's friends as his latest loyal followers. Aaron's influence is powerful and wide-reaching, and so begins his deadliest and most gruesome plan yet.

But has Aaron underestimated quiet Crystal? And can she stop him before it's too late?

A dark and twisted psychological horror for fans of You, from Bram Stoker Award-winning author Adam Cesare, adapted from the Audible Original.

NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER contains strong violence and themes some readers may find disturbing ]]> 346 Adam Cesare 1444979523 Emma 0 3.50 2024
author: Adam Cesare
name: Emma
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/22
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves:
review:

]]> 206790679 Pre-order the hugely entertaining slasher horror of the summer . . .

--

Willow is in need of an escape.

A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.

She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.

It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.

They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.

Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it��

Knock, Knock, Knock.

--

Praise for Josh Winning

"Be sure to make the popcorn and dim the lights."
Paul Tremblay, author of A Cabin At The End Of The World

"Josh Winning has won my heart��
Clay McLeod Chapman, author of The Remaking

"Wow! No one can make us feel so much childhood nostalgia and then so much terror as Josh Winning! Absolutely loved it. This one's a killer."
CJ Leede, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Maeve Fly

"There was the impulse to binge just one more chapter before closing the covers, combined with layered characterization, sensitivity, and Winning's respect for and love of pop-culture and what it gives, and takes away."
Deirdre Sullivan, author of Perfectly Preventable Deaths

"A relentless supernatural page-ripper that doubled as pure catnip for the horror connoisseur in me."
David Yoon, author of City of Orange

"An all-consuming obsession…a perfect mash-up of Night Film and Harrow Lake."
Dawn Kurtagich, author of The Creeper Man]]> 320 Josh Winning 1405968893 Emma 0 3.71 2024
author: Josh Winning
name: Emma
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/11/05
shelves:
review:

]]> 30357452
With her one-time detective partner, Jack Brennan, back in America, Sarah is at first reluctant to take on the case. But when she does get involved, it soon becomes clear that the tragic accident might really be a case of murder - and even Sarah herself could be in danger...

"Dead in the Water" is the first full-length novel set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, featuring the unlikely sleuthing duo Sarah, an English web designer, and Jack, American ex-cop. Thrilling and deadly - but with a spot of tea - it's like Rosamunde Pilcher meets Inspector Barnaby.]]> 281 Matthew Costello 373251854X Emma 4
I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.

For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!

I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit�� with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.

Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.

Merged review:

The end of the school year is a time for celebration. A prom maybe? Followed by a rather loud and lively night in the local pub, present are a mix of teachers and senior students. All making the most of the time they have together. But for one teacher, that time is shorter than he thinks. Full of drink and drugs, Josh Owen’s body is found later that night following a tumble from Cherringham’s idyllic stone bridge, into the freezing Thames. Was it an accident? Did Josh commit suicide? Or was it something more sinister? Amateur sleuth, Sarah Edwards, a local web designer with a history of solving difficult criminal cases with her ex-cop partner, Jack Brennan, is called in to investigate. But Sarah is on her own this time. Jack returned to the US a year ago and Sarah hasn’t heard from him recently. Can she use her detective skills to work out what happened to Josh? Is the school’s drug problem bigger than she originally thought? Has Sarah managed to get herself in too deep��?

I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.

For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!

I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit�� with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.

Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.]]> 4.07 2016
author: Matthew Costello
name: Emma
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/11/11
date added: 2024/09/29
shelves:
review:
The end of the school year is a time for celebration. A prom maybe? Followed by a rather loud and lively night in the local pub, present are a mix of teachers and senior students. All making the most of the time they have together. But for one teacher, that time is shorter than he thinks. Full of drink and drugs, Josh Owen’s body is found later that night following a tumble from Cherringham’s idyllic stone bridge, into the freezing Thames. Was it an accident? Did Josh commit suicide? Or was it something more sinister? Amateur sleuth, Sarah Edwards, a local web designer with a history of solving difficult criminal cases with her ex-cop partner, Jack Brennan, is called in to investigate. But Sarah is on her own this time. Jack returned to the US a year ago and Sarah hasn’t heard from him recently. Can she use her detective skills to work out what happened to Josh? Is the school’s drug problem bigger than she originally thought? Has Sarah managed to get herself in too deep��?

I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.

For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!

I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit�� with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.

Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.

Merged review:

The end of the school year is a time for celebration. A prom maybe? Followed by a rather loud and lively night in the local pub, present are a mix of teachers and senior students. All making the most of the time they have together. But for one teacher, that time is shorter than he thinks. Full of drink and drugs, Josh Owen’s body is found later that night following a tumble from Cherringham’s idyllic stone bridge, into the freezing Thames. Was it an accident? Did Josh commit suicide? Or was it something more sinister? Amateur sleuth, Sarah Edwards, a local web designer with a history of solving difficult criminal cases with her ex-cop partner, Jack Brennan, is called in to investigate. But Sarah is on her own this time. Jack returned to the US a year ago and Sarah hasn’t heard from him recently. Can she use her detective skills to work out what happened to Josh? Is the school’s drug problem bigger than she originally thought? Has Sarah managed to get herself in too deep��?

I’ll openly admit to being a huge fan of the TV show Midsomer Murders. I cried a little when John Nettles left but soon fell completely in love with Neil Dudgeon’s Barnaby. Being such a fan of the series, I have tried to read Caroline Graham’s original novels but strangely, I didn’t really enjoy them as much as I expected. Midsomer Murders is one series (and please forgive me for saying this booky people) where the tv adaptation, in my eyes, is far superior. Anyway, get to the point Emma! The point being, that you cannot move for comparisons between Midsomer and Cherringham on the web. But Cherringham stands alone (and stands strong!) and I really enjoyed it. What I’m trying to say in a very round-about way is that this book (or rather this series) feels like the perfect read for fans of that cosy style of village crime series. And having read Dead in the Water I would always recommend Cherringham above others.

For those not familiar with the series, co-authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards have written 24 short eBook novellas featuring Sarah Edwards and Jack Brennan. Dead in the Water is their first full length novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m adding all 24 eBooks to my wishlist as there was something so wonderfully endearing and engaging about these characters that I need to read more. The plot wasn’t the usual thrill a minute I crave in my other reads but it was very well written and to be honest, I went in expecting a cosy mystery and that was what I got…I just enjoyed it more than I expected too!

I enjoyed the plot; the search for what really happened to Josh Owens and the sub plot of the drugs epidemic at the local school. I did realise fairly early on ‘whodunit�� with regards to Josh’s demise but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the rest of the novel as I was caught up in the hunt for the drugs lord.

Would I recommend this book? I would! It has a wonderful gentleness about it that I know will appeal to many people. If you don’t normally read crime but would like to start, this would be a good series to start with. Very enjoyable, wonderful characters with lots of heart and a beautiful Cotswold setting (just down the road from me!).

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review an ARC of Dead in the Water. Many thanks to Sophie Goodfellow at edpr.
]]> 58478723
Jen Shaw has climbed all her daring ascents of sheer rock faces, crumbling buildings, cranes - the riskier the better. Both her work and personal life revolved around it. Until she went too far and hurt the people she cares about. So she's given it all up now. Honestly, she has. And she's checked herself into a rehab centre to prove it.

Yet, when Jen awakens to find herself drugged and dangling off the local lighthouse during a wild storm less than twenty-four hours after a 'family emergency' takes her home to Cornwall, she needs all her skill to battle her way to safety.

Once safe, the real challenge begins. Jen must face her troubled past in order to figure out whether something triggered a relapse to this risky behaviour, or if there is a more sinister explanation hidden in her hometown. Only when she has navigated her fragmented memories and fraught relationships will she be able to piece together what happened - and trust herself to fix it.]]> 304 Jane Jesmond 0857308173 Emma 4
Jenifry Shaw lives for climbing. It’s in her blood and something she’s been doing for as long as she can remember. There were no limits in Jen’s mind, often undertaking dangerous climbs just for the buzz it gave her. Until the accident. The accident changed everything and instead of climbing, Jen turned to recreational drugs for the same high. But the drugs are behind her now. She’s checked out of rehab and is on her way home to a small Cornish village to answer her brother’s call for help. But on her first night in Craighston, she regains consciousness, precariously hanging from the edge of the lighthouse with no memory of what happened to get her there. Jen has to face facts. She’s either back to her old habits, or someone from her past has just tried to kill her��

On the Edge is the most beautifully atmospheric novel I have read in a long time. I was swept away by the author’s vivid descriptions of the dark and stormy Cornish landscape, as tension built and Jen stumbled her way to the truth. Jen is a terrific character and I was pleased to see that this is the first book in a series. If you’re a fan of the unreliable narrator then Jen is your woman! Parts of her past are patchy due to her drug use, she’s never sure if she can trust herself and she questions everything. Her unreliability made for a suspenseful read which this reader thoroughly enjoyed.

The mystery at the heart of the book is an intriguing one and I was with Jen every step of the way as she considered the options and questioned her friends and family’s motives. The enigmatic new arrival in town, who Jen unquestionably has chemistry with, adds another thread for her to unpick as she tries to discover what happened to her that dark and stormy night. Can Jen trust him? Can Jen trust anyone? I found myself suspicious of most of the characters at one time or another, which is testament to the author’s wonderful, suspense-laden writing.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. On the Edge is a very impressive debut and I’m looking forward to picking up Jen Shaw’s next literary adventure as soon as it’s available. The attention to detail and the research that has gone into this book is clear to the reader from the outset. From what I can gather, the author isn’t a climber but you would never guess that from the precise knowledge she displays of the sport (I should add that I’m also NOT a climber and get a little dizzy on the upper deck of a double decker bus!). It’s not just the technical stuff though. It’s the way the feel of the rock is described, along with the smell and a myriad of other sensations which cumulate to give Jen the high she so desperately craves. A very well thought out tale with an unexpected darker edge which I appreciated. All in all, a thoroughly tense and enjoyable book which transported me to the atmospheric Cornish moors. Recommended.]]> 4.11 2021
author: Jane Jesmond
name: Emma
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/13
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves:
review:
All of my reviews can be found at

Jenifry Shaw lives for climbing. It’s in her blood and something she’s been doing for as long as she can remember. There were no limits in Jen’s mind, often undertaking dangerous climbs just for the buzz it gave her. Until the accident. The accident changed everything and instead of climbing, Jen turned to recreational drugs for the same high. But the drugs are behind her now. She’s checked out of rehab and is on her way home to a small Cornish village to answer her brother’s call for help. But on her first night in Craighston, she regains consciousness, precariously hanging from the edge of the lighthouse with no memory of what happened to get her there. Jen has to face facts. She’s either back to her old habits, or someone from her past has just tried to kill her��

On the Edge is the most beautifully atmospheric novel I have read in a long time. I was swept away by the author’s vivid descriptions of the dark and stormy Cornish landscape, as tension built and Jen stumbled her way to the truth. Jen is a terrific character and I was pleased to see that this is the first book in a series. If you’re a fan of the unreliable narrator then Jen is your woman! Parts of her past are patchy due to her drug use, she’s never sure if she can trust herself and she questions everything. Her unreliability made for a suspenseful read which this reader thoroughly enjoyed.

The mystery at the heart of the book is an intriguing one and I was with Jen every step of the way as she considered the options and questioned her friends and family’s motives. The enigmatic new arrival in town, who Jen unquestionably has chemistry with, adds another thread for her to unpick as she tries to discover what happened to her that dark and stormy night. Can Jen trust him? Can Jen trust anyone? I found myself suspicious of most of the characters at one time or another, which is testament to the author’s wonderful, suspense-laden writing.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. On the Edge is a very impressive debut and I’m looking forward to picking up Jen Shaw’s next literary adventure as soon as it’s available. The attention to detail and the research that has gone into this book is clear to the reader from the outset. From what I can gather, the author isn’t a climber but you would never guess that from the precise knowledge she displays of the sport (I should add that I’m also NOT a climber and get a little dizzy on the upper deck of a double decker bus!). It’s not just the technical stuff though. It’s the way the feel of the rock is described, along with the smell and a myriad of other sensations which cumulate to give Jen the high she so desperately craves. A very well thought out tale with an unexpected darker edge which I appreciated. All in all, a thoroughly tense and enjoyable book which transported me to the atmospheric Cornish moors. Recommended.
]]> 53615047 Is a marriage worth saving �� whatever the cost?

Ruby didn’t plan to have an affair. She doesn’t love her husband, but wouldn’t set out to steal someone else’s. Yet when she met Harry they simply couldn’t keep apart. Now, she’s brave enough to leave her marital home and start again, as is Harry, or so she thinks.

Waiting at a hotel for her lover to arrive, Ruby realises she has made a mistake. Harry won’t come. He will never leave his wife.

What Ruby hasn’t worked out is that Harry’s wife Emma knows all about the affair. And she’s hanging on to her husband. Whatever the cost. But can she forgive and forget? Or is revenge the only way to settle the score?

Don’t miss this taut and gripping novel packed with edge-of-your-seat tension and a tale of love that goes badly wrong, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland and Lisa Hall.]]> 370 Mary Torjussen 1788631153 Emma 4
I received a free digital eARC which has in no way influenced my review.

If you’re looking for a character-driven domestic suspense novel to get your teeth into, then look no further, dear reader. You have found it. What a cracking book this is! I have to be honest and confess to not reading many domestic thrillers of late. I seem to be leaning back towards my first love, crime and serial killer fiction, so reading The Closer You Get reminded me exactly how good the genre is, how devilish and despicable the characters can be and how I should really be reading A LOT more.

Ruby is a very relatable character and I warmed to her almost immediately. Despite the fact she’s out the door, with her bags packed, when we first meet her. Leaving her husband of ten-plus years for another man. It’s quite clear to the reader though that there’s something else going on here. Something which we haven’t yet been made party to. After, very decently I think, waiting for Tom to return home, explaining that she’s been unhappy for a while now, and departing the marital home, she heads to a local hotel to wait for her new love, Harry, to join her. But he doesn’t show. So she waits some more. And he still doesn’t show. Your heart sinks for Ruby. You can imagine the anguish she’s going through, the realisation as it dawns on her that something isn’t right. Ruby is alone, heart-broken and homeless. But then strange things start happening to her. It seems someone else knows her secret and is going to make her pay��

It’s not often I write an expletive in my notes whilst reading a book. But I did as I read The Closer You Get. I’m not going to reveal the word but looking back at my notes now, I wouldn’t change a thing! There are some characters in this book who will really get under your skin and make you want to scream. Manipulative, controlling and detestable people who the author has written so very well. You can’t help but hate them! They made the book for me. I couldn’t wait to see what terrible event was going to befall poor Ruby next.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. It’s a gripping domestic suspense thriller and I was hooked from the first page. The ending is very satisfying and exactly what I hoped for. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more from Mary Torjussen in the future.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Closer You Get. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.]]> 4.34 2020
author: Mary Torjussen
name: Emma
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/21
date added: 2024/09/22
shelves:
review:
All of my reviews can be found at

I received a free digital eARC which has in no way influenced my review.

If you’re looking for a character-driven domestic suspense novel to get your teeth into, then look no further, dear reader. You have found it. What a cracking book this is! I have to be honest and confess to not reading many domestic thrillers of late. I seem to be leaning back towards my first love, crime and serial killer fiction, so reading The Closer You Get reminded me exactly how good the genre is, how devilish and despicable the characters can be and how I should really be reading A LOT more.

Ruby is a very relatable character and I warmed to her almost immediately. Despite the fact she’s out the door, with her bags packed, when we first meet her. Leaving her husband of ten-plus years for another man. It’s quite clear to the reader though that there’s something else going on here. Something which we haven’t yet been made party to. After, very decently I think, waiting for Tom to return home, explaining that she’s been unhappy for a while now, and departing the marital home, she heads to a local hotel to wait for her new love, Harry, to join her. But he doesn’t show. So she waits some more. And he still doesn’t show. Your heart sinks for Ruby. You can imagine the anguish she’s going through, the realisation as it dawns on her that something isn’t right. Ruby is alone, heart-broken and homeless. But then strange things start happening to her. It seems someone else knows her secret and is going to make her pay��

It’s not often I write an expletive in my notes whilst reading a book. But I did as I read The Closer You Get. I’m not going to reveal the word but looking back at my notes now, I wouldn’t change a thing! There are some characters in this book who will really get under your skin and make you want to scream. Manipulative, controlling and detestable people who the author has written so very well. You can’t help but hate them! They made the book for me. I couldn’t wait to see what terrible event was going to befall poor Ruby next.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. It’s a gripping domestic suspense thriller and I was hooked from the first page. The ending is very satisfying and exactly what I hoped for. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more from Mary Torjussen in the future.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Closer You Get. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
]]> 31550419 Most first days in a new job go well - some don't . . .

Alexander Gerlach assumes that his promotion to Police Chief of Heidelberg will bring with it a quieter life. A widower and a single parent raising twin teenage daughters, Gerlach is slowly beginning to rediscover not only himself, but also the dating scene again.

On his first day in his new job, however, the body of a chemistry student is discovered, and what at first seems to be an open-and-shut case with a clear culprit quickly changes into something more complex. When another murder casts doubt on all previous assumptions, Gerlach must unravel the conspiracy, before it's too late . . .

Meet the Heidelberg version of Commissario Brunetti in the first book in the highly-praised Alexander Gerlach series. ]]> 256 Wolfgang Burger 1786580136 Emma 2
Merged review:

I love German crime fiction so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read Heidelberg Requiem. However, I'm afraid this book and I did not click at all. It's taken me a full two weeks to read from start to finish and yes, life did get in the way a little, but I had to push myself to pick up my Kindle (this coming from a bookworm!). The characters held no attraction for me; they felt cold, lifeless and I couldn't really bring myself to care for any of them. The story I found uninteresting and I hate to say it, dull. I'm not one to give up on a book part way through and although I did consider walking away from Heidelberg Requiem, I persevered and I'm glad I did. I'm sorry but I can not recommend this book.]]> 3.64 2005
author: Wolfgang Burger
name: Emma
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 2017/02/19
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves:
review:
I love German crime fiction so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read Heidelberg Requiem. However, I'm afraid this book and I did not click at all. It's taken me a full two weeks to read from start to finish and yes, life did get in the way a little, but I had to push myself to pick up my Kindle (this coming from a bookworm!). The characters held no attraction for me; they felt cold, lifeless and I couldn't really bring myself to care for any of them. The story I found uninteresting and I hate to say it, dull. I'm not one to give up on a book part way through and although I did consider walking away from Heidelberg Requiem, I persevered and I'm glad I did. I'm sorry but I can not recommend this book.

Merged review:

I love German crime fiction so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read Heidelberg Requiem. However, I'm afraid this book and I did not click at all. It's taken me a full two weeks to read from start to finish and yes, life did get in the way a little, but I had to push myself to pick up my Kindle (this coming from a bookworm!). The characters held no attraction for me; they felt cold, lifeless and I couldn't really bring myself to care for any of them. The story I found uninteresting and I hate to say it, dull. I'm not one to give up on a book part way through and although I did consider walking away from Heidelberg Requiem, I persevered and I'm glad I did. I'm sorry but I can not recommend this book.
]]> 56870623 Think you know the person you married? Think again��

Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife.
Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts �� paper, cotton, pottery, tin �� and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after.

Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget.

Rock Paper Scissors is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney.]]> 320 Alice Feeney 0008371008 Emma 4
I just couldn’t resist. If you’ve read a novel by Alice Feeney before then you’ll just know. If you haven’t read anything by her yet then you’ve gotta get that sorted. Alice Feeney is an utter genius when it comes to the killer twist and every book I’ve read by this author, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. A beautiful blend of domestic drama and psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Amelia and Adam Wright are heading north to the Scottish Highlands for a romantic weekend away with their aging pup, Bob. There’s a lot riding on the weekend. Both sides have their secrets. Both sides have a hidden agenda. On arrival at their destination, a converted and isolated chapel, the place is eerily quiet. Something about the building doesn’t feel right. Before long, strange things start to happen. Tension between the couple increases, what little trust they have between them crumbles. Because the truth is out to make them pay��

Rock Paper Scissors is an eminently readable and highly absorbing book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do love a secluded, snowy setting and the author gave me chills with her spooky isolated chapel on the banks of a loch. The characters�� desperate and rapidly increasing need to escape the chapel was marvellous and really added to the fear factor. Amelia and Adam are brilliantly written. Adam is instantly unlikable as he has a bit of a superiority complex believing himself to be cleverer of the couple. I couldn’t make my mind up about Amelia. I felt sorry for her at times for having to put up with her obnoxious and self-important husband, but my feelings towards her seemed to change quite dramatically as I progressed through the story.

The reader gets to hear from both Adam and Amelia as their situation spirals out of control. We also get a glimpse into the past in the form of private letters written to Adam every anniversary along with their gifts to each other (using the traditional markers for wedding anniversaries: paper, cotton, leather etc). Initially rosy, things start to decline as the years progress. Taking us up to the present day in all its shocking glory!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Rock Paper Scissors is a twisty, thrilling read which had me gripped from the start. Feeney has done it again and produced another very compulsive novel where she successfully pulls the wool over her reader’s eyes. And damn, she does it with such style! If you’re a fan of the psychological thriller you need to add Alice Feeney to your ‘must read�� list. You won’t regret it! Deliciously devious and a proper page-turner. Recommended.]]> 4.00 2021
author: Alice Feeney
name: Emma
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/07/27
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves:
review:
All of my reviews can be found at

I just couldn’t resist. If you’ve read a novel by Alice Feeney before then you’ll just know. If you haven’t read anything by her yet then you’ve gotta get that sorted. Alice Feeney is an utter genius when it comes to the killer twist and every book I’ve read by this author, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. A beautiful blend of domestic drama and psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Amelia and Adam Wright are heading north to the Scottish Highlands for a romantic weekend away with their aging pup, Bob. There’s a lot riding on the weekend. Both sides have their secrets. Both sides have a hidden agenda. On arrival at their destination, a converted and isolated chapel, the place is eerily quiet. Something about the building doesn’t feel right. Before long, strange things start to happen. Tension between the couple increases, what little trust they have between them crumbles. Because the truth is out to make them pay��

Rock Paper Scissors is an eminently readable and highly absorbing book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I do love a secluded, snowy setting and the author gave me chills with her spooky isolated chapel on the banks of a loch. The characters�� desperate and rapidly increasing need to escape the chapel was marvellous and really added to the fear factor. Amelia and Adam are brilliantly written. Adam is instantly unlikable as he has a bit of a superiority complex believing himself to be cleverer of the couple. I couldn’t make my mind up about Amelia. I felt sorry for her at times for having to put up with her obnoxious and self-important husband, but my feelings towards her seemed to change quite dramatically as I progressed through the story.

The reader gets to hear from both Adam and Amelia as their situation spirals out of control. We also get a glimpse into the past in the form of private letters written to Adam every anniversary along with their gifts to each other (using the traditional markers for wedding anniversaries: paper, cotton, leather etc). Initially rosy, things start to decline as the years progress. Taking us up to the present day in all its shocking glory!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Rock Paper Scissors is a twisty, thrilling read which had me gripped from the start. Feeney has done it again and produced another very compulsive novel where she successfully pulls the wool over her reader’s eyes. And damn, she does it with such style! If you’re a fan of the psychological thriller you need to add Alice Feeney to your ‘must read�� list. You won’t regret it! Deliciously devious and a proper page-turner. Recommended.
]]> 32185440
As word spreads of the siege, the hostage victims are bargaining for their lives against a twisted individual who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

With the bomb designed to detonate if the gunman’s heart rate changes, killing him is not an option. But with only four hours to stop him, JJ will have to think fast to stop a terrifying nightmare becoming reality.

“James Carol is a non-American who has mastered the idiom of the US thriller.��
�� Barry Forshaw, The Independant]]> 380 J.S. Carol 178681031X Emma 5
Hollywood publicist JJ Johnson wines, dines and spins for a living. And she’s good at it, really good. So much so that the high and mighty of Hollywood knock on her door on a daily basis. Whilst out for one of her many business lunches at an exclusive LA restaurant, JJ is caught up in a terrifying hostage situation. A heavily armoured terrorist wearing a bomb holds the diners and staff prisoner. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his reasons for holding Hollywood’s elite captive and he’s not all that bothered who he kills either. Any excuse will do. And if you try to kill him, the bomb goes off. It’s connected to a heart rate monitor so if he dies, they all die. Can terrified JJ work out what is going on before the terrorists sights land on her��.?

This is a seriously exciting, pulse racing read and I LOVED it! One for my top reads of 2016 list I do believe. I can’t remember that last time I read a book that was this captivating, this enthralling that I had to put normal life on hold. I should say that I am a huge fan of James Carol’s Jefferson Winter books so I had high expectations. Also, a number of my blogger friends read this book earlier in the year and told me how good it was. They also told me that I would love it so when I say expectations were high, they were really high. It went so far beyond what I expected. A sublime piece of storytelling!

The story is told from several perspectives; from JJ’s, from movie action hero Alex King’s and from the TV journalists reporting on the hostage situation from outside. I loved JJ. She’s a bottom kicking business woman with somewhat dubious morals (I guess you have to be being a publicist!) but a lot of heart too. Her back story was fascinating and provided me with all I needed to understand her character a little more. Alex King was the perfect anti-hero; completely different to his screen persona and I loved the contrast that real vs. fiction brought. And then you have the tv news teams to whom it doesn’t matter if people die, providing they get it on film. They don’t care, they just want to make thrilling television so their ratings go through the roof. Brilliant! Each individual account builds the story into a nail biting tale that I couldn’t put down.

Would I recommend this book? You bet I would. I don’t need to go to the gym, this book gave me the best cardiac workout I’ve had in a while! A completely absorbing read that kept me on the edge from the very start to the very end. I loved the unexpected violence, the callousness of the characters and their ability to stab others in the back to save their own. Loved it!

Five out of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and J.S. Carol. I chose to read and review an ARC copy of The Killing Game.

Merged review:

Oh wow, oh gosh and another whopping ‘oh wow��! What a book��..heart stopping, edge of your seat, can’t put it down stuff. Absolutely brilliant! Blimey��

Hollywood publicist JJ Johnson wines, dines and spins for a living. And she’s good at it, really good. So much so that the high and mighty of Hollywood knock on her door on a daily basis. Whilst out for one of her many business lunches at an exclusive LA restaurant, JJ is caught up in a terrifying hostage situation. A heavily armoured terrorist wearing a bomb holds the diners and staff prisoner. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his reasons for holding Hollywood’s elite captive and he’s not all that bothered who he kills either. Any excuse will do. And if you try to kill him, the bomb goes off. It’s connected to a heart rate monitor so if he dies, they all die. Can terrified JJ work out what is going on before the terrorists sights land on her��.?

This is a seriously exciting, pulse racing read and I LOVED it! One for my top reads of 2016 list I do believe. I can’t remember that last time I read a book that was this captivating, this enthralling that I had to put normal life on hold. I should say that I am a huge fan of James Carol’s Jefferson Winter books so I had high expectations. Also, a number of my blogger friends read this book earlier in the year and told me how good it was. They also told me that I would love it so when I say expectations were high, they were really high. It went so far beyond what I expected. A sublime piece of storytelling!

The story is told from several perspectives; from JJ’s, from movie action hero Alex King’s and from the TV journalists reporting on the hostage situation from outside. I loved JJ. She’s a bottom kicking business woman with somewhat dubious morals (I guess you have to be being a publicist!) but a lot of heart too. Her back story was fascinating and provided me with all I needed to understand her character a little more. Alex King was the perfect anti-hero; completely different to his screen persona and I loved the contrast that real vs. fiction brought. And then you have the tv news teams to whom it doesn’t matter if people die, providing they get it on film. They don’t care, they just want to make thrilling television so their ratings go through the roof. Brilliant! Each individual account builds the story into a nail biting tale that I couldn’t put down.

Would I recommend this book? You bet I would. I don’t need to go to the gym, this book gave me the best cardiac workout I’ve had in a while! A completely absorbing read that kept me on the edge from the very start to the very end. I loved the unexpected violence, the callousness of the characters and their ability to stab others in the back to save their own. Loved it!

Five out of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and J.S. Carol. I chose to read and review an ARC copy of The Killing Game.]]> 4.09 2016
author: J.S. Carol
name: Emma
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2016/10/25
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves:
review:
Oh wow, oh gosh and another whopping ‘oh wow��! What a book��..heart stopping, edge of your seat, can’t put it down stuff. Absolutely brilliant! Blimey��

Hollywood publicist JJ Johnson wines, dines and spins for a living. And she’s good at it, really good. So much so that the high and mighty of Hollywood knock on her door on a daily basis. Whilst out for one of her many business lunches at an exclusive LA restaurant, JJ is caught up in a terrifying hostage situation. A heavily armoured terrorist wearing a bomb holds the diners and staff prisoner. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his reasons for holding Hollywood’s elite captive and he’s not all that bothered who he kills either. Any excuse will do. And if you try to kill him, the bomb goes off. It’s connected to a heart rate monitor so if he dies, they all die. Can terrified JJ work out what is going on before the terrorists sights land on her��.?

This is a seriously exciting, pulse racing read and I LOVED it! One for my top reads of 2016 list I do believe. I can’t remember that last time I read a book that was this captivating, this enthralling that I had to put normal life on hold. I should say that I am a huge fan of James Carol’s Jefferson Winter books so I had high expectations. Also, a number of my blogger friends read this book earlier in the year and told me how good it was. They also told me that I would love it so when I say expectations were high, they were really high. It went so far beyond what I expected. A sublime piece of storytelling!

The story is told from several perspectives; from JJ’s, from movie action hero Alex King’s and from the TV journalists reporting on the hostage situation from outside. I loved JJ. She’s a bottom kicking business woman with somewhat dubious morals (I guess you have to be being a publicist!) but a lot of heart too. Her back story was fascinating and provided me with all I needed to understand her character a little more. Alex King was the perfect anti-hero; completely different to his screen persona and I loved the contrast that real vs. fiction brought. And then you have the tv news teams to whom it doesn’t matter if people die, providing they get it on film. They don’t care, they just want to make thrilling television so their ratings go through the roof. Brilliant! Each individual account builds the story into a nail biting tale that I couldn’t put down.

Would I recommend this book? You bet I would. I don’t need to go to the gym, this book gave me the best cardiac workout I’ve had in a while! A completely absorbing read that kept me on the edge from the very start to the very end. I loved the unexpected violence, the callousness of the characters and their ability to stab others in the back to save their own. Loved it!

Five out of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and J.S. Carol. I chose to read and review an ARC copy of The Killing Game.

Merged review:

Oh wow, oh gosh and another whopping ‘oh wow��! What a book��..heart stopping, edge of your seat, can’t put it down stuff. Absolutely brilliant! Blimey��

Hollywood publicist JJ Johnson wines, dines and spins for a living. And she’s good at it, really good. So much so that the high and mighty of Hollywood knock on her door on a daily basis. Whilst out for one of her many business lunches at an exclusive LA restaurant, JJ is caught up in a terrifying hostage situation. A heavily armoured terrorist wearing a bomb holds the diners and staff prisoner. He’s not particularly forthcoming with his reasons for holding Hollywood’s elite captive and he’s not all that bothered who he kills either. Any excuse will do. And if you try to kill him, the bomb goes off. It’s connected to a heart rate monitor so if he dies, they all die. Can terrified JJ work out what is going on before the terrorists sights land on her��.?

This is a seriously exciting, pulse racing read and I LOVED it! One for my top reads of 2016 list I do believe. I can’t remember that last time I read a book that was this captivating, this enthralling that I had to put normal life on hold. I should say that I am a huge fan of James Carol’s Jefferson Winter books so I had high expectations. Also, a number of my blogger friends read this book earlier in the year and told me how good it was. They also told me that I would love it so when I say expectations were high, they were really high. It went so far beyond what I expected. A sublime piece of storytelling!

The story is told from several perspectives; from JJ’s, from movie action hero Alex King’s and from the TV journalists reporting on the hostage situation from outside. I loved JJ. She’s a bottom kicking business woman with somewhat dubious morals (I guess you have to be being a publicist!) but a lot of heart too. Her back story was fascinating and provided me with all I needed to understand her character a little more. Alex King was the perfect anti-hero; completely different to his screen persona and I loved the contrast that real vs. fiction brought. And then you have the tv news teams to whom it doesn’t matter if people die, providing they get it on film. They don’t care, they just want to make thrilling television so their ratings go through the roof. Brilliant! Each individual account builds the story into a nail biting tale that I couldn’t put down.

Would I recommend this book? You bet I would. I don’t need to go to the gym, this book gave me the best cardiac workout I’ve had in a while! A completely absorbing read that kept me on the edge from the very start to the very end. I loved the unexpected violence, the callousness of the characters and their ability to stab others in the back to save their own. Loved it!

Five out of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and J.S. Carol. I chose to read and review an ARC copy of The Killing Game.
]]> 210846606 'Hauntingly creepy' - ERIN KELLY'A unique jewel of a book' - LIZZY BARBER'A heartfelt and chilling gothic tragedy' - CHRIS WHITAKERPeople come to visit my home and I love to show them around. It's not the original house of course. That was destroyed the day my entire family died. But I don't think their ghosts know the difference.Pera Sinclair was nine the day the pilot intentionally crashed his plane into her family's grand home, killing everyone inside. She was the girl who survived the tragedy, a sympathetic oddity, growing stranger by the day. Over the decades she rebuilt the huge and rambling building on the original site, recreating what she had lost, each room telling a piece of the story of her life and that of the many people who died there, both before and after the disaster. Her sister, murdered a hundred miles away. The soldier, broken by war. Death follows Pera, and she welcomes it in as an old friend. And while she doesn't believe in ghosts, she's not above telling a ghost story or two to those who come to visit Sinclair House.As Pera shows a young family around her home on the last haunted house tour of the season, an unexpected group of men arrive. One she recognises, but the others are strangers. But she knows their type all too well. Dangerous men, who will hurt the family without a second thought, and who will keep an old woman alive only so long as she is useful. But as she begins to show them around her home and reveal its secrets, the dangerous men will learn that she is far from helpless. After all, death seems to follow her wherever she goes...Sinister and lyrical, The Underhistory is a haunting tale of loss, self-preservation and the darkness beneath.]]> 374 Kaaron Warren 1800812027 Emma 4
Pera Sinclair isn’t frightened of death. As a young child Pera was the sole survivor of a terrible tragedy which killed her entire family. Her family home, Sinclair House, was also destroyed. But over the years Pera has rebuilt the house from the ground up, restoring the rooms and decorating them with treasures and oddities from her travels. She dedicates each room to a family member or one of the many other people who died when the plane intentionally crashed into the house. And as she guides curious tourists around the maze of her home, she tells them stories about the ghosts that reside there. It’s approaching the end of the season and Pera, now in her sixties, is keen to have a break. She’s partway through the last tour when a group of men arrive, letting themselves into the house. Pera immediately knows the men are trouble and are there to steal her most precious belongings, and perhaps more. Goodness knows what they will do to the young family she is escorting around the house. In a bid to keep herself and her guests safe, Pera encourages the men to join the tour. But there’s more to Pera than meets the eye. And the small group of men are about to find out that they’ve underestimated Pera Sinclair��

The Underhistory is one of a kind. It’s the most unique and intriguing piece of fiction I have read in a long, long time. Pera is a sublime character. Shaped and moulded by her own personal tragedy at a young age. Bearing the almost suffocating burden of survivor’s guilt whilst her entire family (and it was a large family with many sisters) perished. All the while knowing that she would have been killed too had she not been behaving like a petulant, spoilt child (I’m sure every nine-year-old has their moments!). However, Pera’s dance with tragedy began several years before her entire family were wiped out with the murder of her older sister, Hazel, in 1936. As the blurb says, death seems to follow Pera wherever she goes. She’s no longer scared of dying or death. Death has been present at every twist and turn of her life, and she’s managed to avoid it. So far��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Underhistory is a very different book to everything else that’s currently available out there. With such well-drawn, believable characters, a setting that is as much a part of the story as Pera is herself, and with an ever-prevalent, pressing sense of threat, plus a truly satisfying conclusion, it’s definitely one to add to your bookshelf. The reader gets a sense that something is very wrong from the moment the men arrive at the house. From then on, you can feel the aggression simmering. The balance of power has been disturbed and you can never be sure how things are going to go. I didn’t have a clue as to which direction the author was going to take the story but I was delighted with the ending. All in all, The Underhistory is a slow-burn tale that transports the reader to the heart of Sinclair House and its many dark and deadly secrets. The more I got to know Pera, the more I liked her and wanted her to succeed in her plight to save both the young family and the house she had so lovingly restored. This is the first book I have read by Kaaron Warren but I’m going to make sure it’s not the last. Also, I loved that the book is Australian. Regular visitors to the blog may be aware that I’m pretty obsessed with Australian books and authors so that was a lovely unexpected surprise and just made me like the book even more. Recommended.]]> 3.50 2024
author: Kaaron Warren
name: Emma
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/05
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Pera Sinclair isn’t frightened of death. As a young child Pera was the sole survivor of a terrible tragedy which killed her entire family. Her family home, Sinclair House, was also destroyed. But over the years Pera has rebuilt the house from the ground up, restoring the rooms and decorating them with treasures and oddities from her travels. She dedicates each room to a family member or one of the many other people who died when the plane intentionally crashed into the house. And as she guides curious tourists around the maze of her home, she tells them stories about the ghosts that reside there. It’s approaching the end of the season and Pera, now in her sixties, is keen to have a break. She’s partway through the last tour when a group of men arrive, letting themselves into the house. Pera immediately knows the men are trouble and are there to steal her most precious belongings, and perhaps more. Goodness knows what they will do to the young family she is escorting around the house. In a bid to keep herself and her guests safe, Pera encourages the men to join the tour. But there’s more to Pera than meets the eye. And the small group of men are about to find out that they’ve underestimated Pera Sinclair��

The Underhistory is one of a kind. It’s the most unique and intriguing piece of fiction I have read in a long, long time. Pera is a sublime character. Shaped and moulded by her own personal tragedy at a young age. Bearing the almost suffocating burden of survivor’s guilt whilst her entire family (and it was a large family with many sisters) perished. All the while knowing that she would have been killed too had she not been behaving like a petulant, spoilt child (I’m sure every nine-year-old has their moments!). However, Pera’s dance with tragedy began several years before her entire family were wiped out with the murder of her older sister, Hazel, in 1936. As the blurb says, death seems to follow Pera wherever she goes. She’s no longer scared of dying or death. Death has been present at every twist and turn of her life, and she’s managed to avoid it. So far��

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Underhistory is a very different book to everything else that’s currently available out there. With such well-drawn, believable characters, a setting that is as much a part of the story as Pera is herself, and with an ever-prevalent, pressing sense of threat, plus a truly satisfying conclusion, it’s definitely one to add to your bookshelf. The reader gets a sense that something is very wrong from the moment the men arrive at the house. From then on, you can feel the aggression simmering. The balance of power has been disturbed and you can never be sure how things are going to go. I didn’t have a clue as to which direction the author was going to take the story but I was delighted with the ending. All in all, The Underhistory is a slow-burn tale that transports the reader to the heart of Sinclair House and its many dark and deadly secrets. The more I got to know Pera, the more I liked her and wanted her to succeed in her plight to save both the young family and the house she had so lovingly restored. This is the first book I have read by Kaaron Warren but I’m going to make sure it’s not the last. Also, I loved that the book is Australian. Regular visitors to the blog may be aware that I’m pretty obsessed with Australian books and authors so that was a lovely unexpected surprise and just made me like the book even more. Recommended.
]]> 63912769 The unsolved mystery of a murder lies at the heart of this page-turning story of a young couple who are struggling to find happiness and meaning in their lives together . . . perfect for fans of Claire Douglas!___________When Ben was seven, his mother was murdered in the woods while he waited for her in their car.The case made the front pages, but her killer was never found.Thirty years later, Ben has a safe, grown-up a job, a ramshackle cottage and, most importantly, a happy marriage to Rebecca.His mother has receded to the corners of his mind, lingering only in the nightmares that won't quite go away.Then Rebecca takes on a new job, painting a fairy-tale fresco for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Ben's mother . . .Is it time for the truth to come out - and for Ben to face the questions he's never dared ask before?___________Love for The House at the Edge of the Woods . . .* 'Breathtaking.' ** 'Full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and intrigued' ** 'Superb compelling reading. Excellent novel.' ** 'An intriguing premise and some thoughtful storytelling.' ** 'The unravelling of the story worked well ... I was fully satisfied by the end.' *]]> 400 Rachel Hancox 1529160340 Emma 4
Seven-year-old Ben Swarbrick and his mother, Kirsty, are driving home one late August afternoon when the car they’re in starts to break down. Determined to get home before the car completely conks out, Kirsty pushes on. But before long it becomes clear that they need help from someone more qualified in car mechanics than she. Making the tough decision to leave her young son in the car, Kirsty tells Ben to lock the doors and to stay put. Kirsty makes her way into the woods to seek help and is never seen alive again. Thirty years later and now an adult, Ben rarely talks about his mother and that fateful Sunday afternoon. Pushing the horror to the recesses of his mind, reliving the trauma only in his nightmares. When Ben’s artist wife, Rebecca, is given a new commission �� to paint a fairytale fresco on the ceiling of a wealthy businessman’s luxurious home �� she cannot refuse such an exciting, elaborate and detailed job. But the businessman, Pieter, starts to ask probing questions about Ben. Whether Rebecca really believes Ben’s account of what happened that day. Whether Ben, a large, sturdily built seven-year-old at the time would be able to overpower his mother. Whether Ben has since suffered some form of amnesia, making him forget important details from that afternoon. Rebecca starts to doubt herself and her husband. How well does she really know Ben? Why is Kirsty’s own mother so disparaging of her own deceased daughter? And what is Pieter’s interest in a murder case from thirty years ago��?

I thoroughly enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. Steeped in family drama, and woven through with lots of lovely suspense and bucketloads of intrigue. I liked Rebecca. She sees herself as a little odd, a little quirky, perhaps a little awkward. I warmed to her character over the course of the book. I particularly liked her when evidence of an event is presented to her and instead of bluffing or biding her time to think through the options, she goes all out on the truth. I thought that was rather refreshing! I really got a sense of how keen Rebecca was to discuss Ben’s trauma, talk about his mother in detail with him and how much she wanted to help him through the repercussions of that. But getting a foothold into that conversation felt virtually impossible. The more Rebecca discovers about Kirsty and the past, the closer to the truth she feels she’s getting and the greater her need for Ben to open up becomes.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I very much enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. I thought the intrigue was perfectly pitched. The characters are well-written and believable. The book does have a slightly slower pace but that’s never a problem for me. There are sections which are repeated but from a different point of view each time. We see things from Rebecca’s perspective (this was the voice I enjoyed the most), Ben’s perspective, and from Pieter’s perspective. With each new viewpoint, the reader gets to see things differently, slightly skewed. I enjoyed this approach. I liked how, through different eyes, things changed quite dramatically. All in all, I enjoyed this character-driven, suspenseful mystery. The intrigue builds and builds over the course of the book leading to an unexpected yet highly satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed that the book is partly set in Oxfordshire, my home county (the first of three books I’ve read lately set in Oxon!!). Compelling storytelling with strong characters and an atmospheric feel. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.]]> 3.43
author: Rachel Hancox
name: Emma
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/11
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Seven-year-old Ben Swarbrick and his mother, Kirsty, are driving home one late August afternoon when the car they’re in starts to break down. Determined to get home before the car completely conks out, Kirsty pushes on. But before long it becomes clear that they need help from someone more qualified in car mechanics than she. Making the tough decision to leave her young son in the car, Kirsty tells Ben to lock the doors and to stay put. Kirsty makes her way into the woods to seek help and is never seen alive again. Thirty years later and now an adult, Ben rarely talks about his mother and that fateful Sunday afternoon. Pushing the horror to the recesses of his mind, reliving the trauma only in his nightmares. When Ben’s artist wife, Rebecca, is given a new commission �� to paint a fairytale fresco on the ceiling of a wealthy businessman’s luxurious home �� she cannot refuse such an exciting, elaborate and detailed job. But the businessman, Pieter, starts to ask probing questions about Ben. Whether Rebecca really believes Ben’s account of what happened that day. Whether Ben, a large, sturdily built seven-year-old at the time would be able to overpower his mother. Whether Ben has since suffered some form of amnesia, making him forget important details from that afternoon. Rebecca starts to doubt herself and her husband. How well does she really know Ben? Why is Kirsty’s own mother so disparaging of her own deceased daughter? And what is Pieter’s interest in a murder case from thirty years ago��?

I thoroughly enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. Steeped in family drama, and woven through with lots of lovely suspense and bucketloads of intrigue. I liked Rebecca. She sees herself as a little odd, a little quirky, perhaps a little awkward. I warmed to her character over the course of the book. I particularly liked her when evidence of an event is presented to her and instead of bluffing or biding her time to think through the options, she goes all out on the truth. I thought that was rather refreshing! I really got a sense of how keen Rebecca was to discuss Ben’s trauma, talk about his mother in detail with him and how much she wanted to help him through the repercussions of that. But getting a foothold into that conversation felt virtually impossible. The more Rebecca discovers about Kirsty and the past, the closer to the truth she feels she’s getting and the greater her need for Ben to open up becomes.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I very much enjoyed The House at the Edge of the Woods. I thought the intrigue was perfectly pitched. The characters are well-written and believable. The book does have a slightly slower pace but that’s never a problem for me. There are sections which are repeated but from a different point of view each time. We see things from Rebecca’s perspective (this was the voice I enjoyed the most), Ben’s perspective, and from Pieter’s perspective. With each new viewpoint, the reader gets to see things differently, slightly skewed. I enjoyed this approach. I liked how, through different eyes, things changed quite dramatically. All in all, I enjoyed this character-driven, suspenseful mystery. The intrigue builds and builds over the course of the book leading to an unexpected yet highly satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed that the book is partly set in Oxfordshire, my home county (the first of three books I’ve read lately set in Oxon!!). Compelling storytelling with strong characters and an atmospheric feel. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.
]]> 199135484
It's the day of the demolition at White Cross Academy, and a crowd of former pupils and teachers have gathered to watch. But as the final charges are laid in the basement, the crew make a shocking discovery - a human skull.

Former student DI Jennie Whitmore is assigned to the case, her first big murder investigation and one where there can be no room for mistakes. The remains are identified as Hannah Jennings, a popular, but troubled classmate who went missing during her lower Sixth year.

As news of the body's discovery soon leaks, the small town erupts with intrigue, conspiracy and accusation. Jennie now finds herself at the heart of the storm, tasked with making up for the failings of the initial investigation to ensure that justice is finally done. At the centre is Hannah's five closest friends who used the basement as a base for the photography club.

Jennie knows many of the suspects personally and she is convinced that one of this group of five knows the truth about what happened to the wilful, beguiling teenager. As Jennie unearths secrets buried deep, and lies repeatedly told, the assembled friends must reassess their past, before confronting the terrible realisation that one amongst them would rather kill to protect their new life, than pay for the sins of their teenage years.]]> 292 M.J. Arlidge 1398716561 Emma 4 20booksofsummer2024
The Reunion is a well-written tale which pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there. I was intrigued to find out what had happened to Hannah and I found Jennie to be fascinating lead character. I felt for her on one hand, the more she discovered about her friends and their relationships, the more it became clear that Jennie’s memories weren’t quite as rosy as she had painted them to be. I also couldn’t help but suspect Jennie. Those slightly clouded, fuzzy memories, could there be more to them? I certainly wasn’t ready to believe that Jennie was completely innocent! There are quite a few characters in this book but it was easy to keep tabs on who everyone was and what their relationship/role was. As well as the small friendship group, there is also a team of detectives pulling the clues together. And despite being a standalone, the authors did a great job of giving the more secondary characters a voice and a personality. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Reunion. I thought the plot was strong, I thought the cast of characters all played their parts well and I liked how the tension built as I approached the denouement. An interesting lead character who manages to keep her connection to the victim under wraps for a surprising amount of time (and then convincingly persuades her DCI to keep her on the case!) really added to my overall enjoyment of the novel. One for the crime fans, that’s for sure. Add it to your reading list. You won’t regret it. Recommended.]]> 3.73 2024
author: M.J. Arlidge
name: Emma
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/07
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: 20booksofsummer2024
review:
All my reviews can be found at

The Reunion is a well-written tale which pulls the reader into the story and keeps them there. I was intrigued to find out what had happened to Hannah and I found Jennie to be fascinating lead character. I felt for her on one hand, the more she discovered about her friends and their relationships, the more it became clear that Jennie’s memories weren’t quite as rosy as she had painted them to be. I also couldn’t help but suspect Jennie. Those slightly clouded, fuzzy memories, could there be more to them? I certainly wasn’t ready to believe that Jennie was completely innocent! There are quite a few characters in this book but it was easy to keep tabs on who everyone was and what their relationship/role was. As well as the small friendship group, there is also a team of detectives pulling the clues together. And despite being a standalone, the authors did a great job of giving the more secondary characters a voice and a personality. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Reunion. I thought the plot was strong, I thought the cast of characters all played their parts well and I liked how the tension built as I approached the denouement. An interesting lead character who manages to keep her connection to the victim under wraps for a surprising amount of time (and then convincingly persuades her DCI to keep her on the case!) really added to my overall enjoyment of the novel. One for the crime fans, that’s for sure. Add it to your reading list. You won’t regret it. Recommended.
]]> 199466138
The small town of Rislake in the picturesque Blue Mountains is about to be engulfed by a major bushfire.
The order has been given for the residents to clear out.
But a last sweep uncovers one person is Tracey Hilmeyer, wife of one of the firefighters tackling the blaze.
��
Detective Kennard is in town to help with crowd control, but instead he finds himself driving straight towards the inferno to look for Tracey at the Hilmeyer home.
When he gets there, he finds her dead at the bottom of the stairs, and it’s clear she was murdered.
��
With the evacuation almost complete there is barely enough time to save the living never mind the dead.
But Detective Kennard has something to prove and cannot let this one go.

Can he solve her murder before the crime scene, and the entire town turns to ash?
��]]> 400 James Delargy 1398525154 Emma 4 20booksofsummer2024
When a bushfire starts to get out of control in Rislake, a popular Australian tourist destination, DS Alex Kennard decides to lend a hand evacuating the locals. But it soon becomes clear that someone important is missing �� Tracey, the wife of one of the firefighters. Throwing caution to the wind, DS Kennard joins Russell, the anxious husband, and his best mate, fellow firefighter Joel, in the hunt for the missing woman. Only to discover her crumpled, bloodied corpse at the bottom of the stairs. It’s clear to experienced detective Kennard that Tracey has been murdered. But the fire is edging ever closer to the property, promising to destroy the murder scene and any evidence left behind by the killer. It’s a race against time for DS Kennard who feels he has something to prove to both his superiors and to himself. Can he solve the murder before the fire destroys him��?

Into the Flames is a compelling, atmospheric, claustrophobic crime thriller that held my attention from beginning to end. I was drawn into the story by the vivid setting, the ever-present threat of the fire devouring everything in its path, the flawed main character and the high tension stakes. Would Kennard be able to get beyond his own demons and discover what happened to Tracey or would those same demons take hold of this fragile man and destroy him? Leaving the city behind following a hostage situation gone terribly wrong, Alex Kennard and his wife Ann are making a new life for themselves in Katoomba, New South Wales. Having had a rather shaky start in the new town, Kennard knows he needs to work hard to build trust. So when he realises that he’s inadvertently stumbled into a murder scene, Kennard is keen to take control of the situation. Show his superiors and those colleagues who doubt him that he is a good detective. That he is capable of solving a murder and that the past is firmly in the past. But time is running out, along with Kennard’s list of suspects. And still the fire burns, getting closer and closer to the murder scene, ready to destroy everything.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Into the Flames is a gripping, thrilling, tension-laden read perfect for fans of well-written mysteries. I adored the small-town Australian setting. The way the author builds the threat of the fire throughout the book is done very well. The scale and the impact for someone who has never experienced an Australian bushfire first hand was staggering. There was no stopping the devastation and destruction. And on top of the drama and imminent threat posed by the fire, there is an intriguing murder investigation playing out. I quite liked Kennard as a lead character. He’s flawed but that only made him all the more interesting to me. I enjoyed seeing the journey he took, particularly the really quite reckless decisions he made along the way. They certainly added a lot of tension to the narrative. All in all, I very much enjoyed Into the Flames and would happily read more by this author without a moment’s hesitation. A very vivid story and a great murder mystery set against one of the best backdrops I have read in recent years. Unpredictable, claustrophobic and highly compelling. Recommended.]]> 3.54
author: James Delargy
name: Emma
average rating: 3.54
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/08
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: 20booksofsummer2024
review:
All my reviews can be found at

When a bushfire starts to get out of control in Rislake, a popular Australian tourist destination, DS Alex Kennard decides to lend a hand evacuating the locals. But it soon becomes clear that someone important is missing �� Tracey, the wife of one of the firefighters. Throwing caution to the wind, DS Kennard joins Russell, the anxious husband, and his best mate, fellow firefighter Joel, in the hunt for the missing woman. Only to discover her crumpled, bloodied corpse at the bottom of the stairs. It’s clear to experienced detective Kennard that Tracey has been murdered. But the fire is edging ever closer to the property, promising to destroy the murder scene and any evidence left behind by the killer. It’s a race against time for DS Kennard who feels he has something to prove to both his superiors and to himself. Can he solve the murder before the fire destroys him��?

Into the Flames is a compelling, atmospheric, claustrophobic crime thriller that held my attention from beginning to end. I was drawn into the story by the vivid setting, the ever-present threat of the fire devouring everything in its path, the flawed main character and the high tension stakes. Would Kennard be able to get beyond his own demons and discover what happened to Tracey or would those same demons take hold of this fragile man and destroy him? Leaving the city behind following a hostage situation gone terribly wrong, Alex Kennard and his wife Ann are making a new life for themselves in Katoomba, New South Wales. Having had a rather shaky start in the new town, Kennard knows he needs to work hard to build trust. So when he realises that he’s inadvertently stumbled into a murder scene, Kennard is keen to take control of the situation. Show his superiors and those colleagues who doubt him that he is a good detective. That he is capable of solving a murder and that the past is firmly in the past. But time is running out, along with Kennard’s list of suspects. And still the fire burns, getting closer and closer to the murder scene, ready to destroy everything.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Into the Flames is a gripping, thrilling, tension-laden read perfect for fans of well-written mysteries. I adored the small-town Australian setting. The way the author builds the threat of the fire throughout the book is done very well. The scale and the impact for someone who has never experienced an Australian bushfire first hand was staggering. There was no stopping the devastation and destruction. And on top of the drama and imminent threat posed by the fire, there is an intriguing murder investigation playing out. I quite liked Kennard as a lead character. He’s flawed but that only made him all the more interesting to me. I enjoyed seeing the journey he took, particularly the really quite reckless decisions he made along the way. They certainly added a lot of tension to the narrative. All in all, I very much enjoyed Into the Flames and would happily read more by this author without a moment’s hesitation. A very vivid story and a great murder mystery set against one of the best backdrops I have read in recent years. Unpredictable, claustrophobic and highly compelling. Recommended.
]]> 207452098 Beth, Nicole and Michael are forced to reunite to sort out their childhood home. Beth, the oldest, never left, caring for their mum until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, is drowning in her destructive drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, has moved far away and hasn't been back to their small town since their father ran out on them.

When the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos, it feels like a good idea to revisit those happier memories. But then one of the tapes reveals a shocking scene none of them expect to see. They watch their father, covered in blood, carrying a dead body, and hear a secret pact with their mother to never tell a soul. Is this secret connected to why their father vanished all those years ago?

Burying their mother is already hard enough, but now the siblings must uncover what dark secrets she took to her grave.]]> 249 Jeneva Rose 1398723576 Emma 4 20booksofsummer2024
Beth knows her terminally ill mother doesn’t have very long left. Laura’s carer has been preparing her for this moment for a number of days now. So when her mother, weak and barely able to speak, beckons her to her side to watch the sunset, Beth doesn’t hesitate. With her last breath Laura shares something unexpected with her eldest child. “Your father. He didn’t disappear. Don’t trust��.�� Beth has made it her mission to find her missing father since he left his family seven years ago. Unsure what to make of her mother’s last words, she puts them to the back of her mind. She knows as the eldest sibling it is going to be down to her to make all of the necessary arrangements. She needs to take control of the situation, particularly with her brother’s arrival imminent, quickly followed by a call from the hospital about her sister. With the estranged siblings reunited for the first time in years, they start to reminisce and watch videos shot by their mother of the most mundane family moments. Until the picture on the screen changes to something shocking, something they cannot tear their eyes away from. The body of a young, local girl. Their father, the man they loved and trusted for so long, covered in Emma Harper’s blood. What part did their parents, and in particular, their father, play in Emma’s horrific death? Has Laura taken the biggest secret of all to her grave with her? And how well do we really know those we’re closest to��?

Home Is Where The Bodies Are is a highly emotional, suspense-laden thriller. With themes of grief and family resentment, there aren’t many characters to like in this book but that only adds to their appeal for me. Beth is the eldest of the three siblings. She’s the only one to have returned to her mother’s side when it became clear that Laura was dying. Being the big sister automatically means she’s the bossy one, the one who sorts everything out. But she doesn’t feel she’s made the most of her life. A loveless marriage which inevitably crumbled, having a very distant relationship with her daughter and working the same, meaningless job for years. However, she knows without a shadow of a doubt that she wouldn’t swap her life with Nicole’s, her sister. Nicole is a drug addict who often contacts Beth begging for money, calling her all of the names under the sun and threatening her if she doesn’t deliver. Beth wants to help Nicole but feels Nicole needs to help herself first. Michael is the youngest. A tech entrepreneur who escaped the small-town hell that still ensnares Beth and Nicole. Living it up in California and splashing the cash, Beth can’t help but resent her brother.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Home Is Where the Bodies Are. The siblings�� story is a very compelling one and I was intrigued to discover the truth, what really happened that night in June 1999. Told in the voices of Beth, Nicole and Michael, and with flashbacks narrated by their mother, Laura, the reader really gets a feel for these characters. The ending was unexpected and really quite shocking. There were several well-written twists along the way that knocked me for six. Despite frequently trying, I couldn’t guess what direction Rose was going to take the story in! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and on the back of how much I enjoyed HIWTBA, I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Jeneva Rose in the future. All in all a well-written, engaging psychological suspense thriller with a fascinating, highly compelling, complex family dynamic at its heart. Recommended.]]> 3.86 2024
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Emma
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/24
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves: 20booksofsummer2024
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Beth knows her terminally ill mother doesn’t have very long left. Laura’s carer has been preparing her for this moment for a number of days now. So when her mother, weak and barely able to speak, beckons her to her side to watch the sunset, Beth doesn’t hesitate. With her last breath Laura shares something unexpected with her eldest child. “Your father. He didn’t disappear. Don’t trust��.�� Beth has made it her mission to find her missing father since he left his family seven years ago. Unsure what to make of her mother’s last words, she puts them to the back of her mind. She knows as the eldest sibling it is going to be down to her to make all of the necessary arrangements. She needs to take control of the situation, particularly with her brother’s arrival imminent, quickly followed by a call from the hospital about her sister. With the estranged siblings reunited for the first time in years, they start to reminisce and watch videos shot by their mother of the most mundane family moments. Until the picture on the screen changes to something shocking, something they cannot tear their eyes away from. The body of a young, local girl. Their father, the man they loved and trusted for so long, covered in Emma Harper’s blood. What part did their parents, and in particular, their father, play in Emma’s horrific death? Has Laura taken the biggest secret of all to her grave with her? And how well do we really know those we’re closest to��?

Home Is Where The Bodies Are is a highly emotional, suspense-laden thriller. With themes of grief and family resentment, there aren’t many characters to like in this book but that only adds to their appeal for me. Beth is the eldest of the three siblings. She’s the only one to have returned to her mother’s side when it became clear that Laura was dying. Being the big sister automatically means she’s the bossy one, the one who sorts everything out. But she doesn’t feel she’s made the most of her life. A loveless marriage which inevitably crumbled, having a very distant relationship with her daughter and working the same, meaningless job for years. However, she knows without a shadow of a doubt that she wouldn’t swap her life with Nicole’s, her sister. Nicole is a drug addict who often contacts Beth begging for money, calling her all of the names under the sun and threatening her if she doesn’t deliver. Beth wants to help Nicole but feels Nicole needs to help herself first. Michael is the youngest. A tech entrepreneur who escaped the small-town hell that still ensnares Beth and Nicole. Living it up in California and splashing the cash, Beth can’t help but resent her brother.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Home Is Where the Bodies Are. The siblings�� story is a very compelling one and I was intrigued to discover the truth, what really happened that night in June 1999. Told in the voices of Beth, Nicole and Michael, and with flashbacks narrated by their mother, Laura, the reader really gets a feel for these characters. The ending was unexpected and really quite shocking. There were several well-written twists along the way that knocked me for six. Despite frequently trying, I couldn’t guess what direction Rose was going to take the story in! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and on the back of how much I enjoyed HIWTBA, I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Jeneva Rose in the future. All in all a well-written, engaging psychological suspense thriller with a fascinating, highly compelling, complex family dynamic at its heart. Recommended.
]]> 199798006
As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel “is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it�� (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).]]> 312 Marcus Kliewer 1982198788 Emma 5
Eve and Charlie are the new owners of 3709 Heritage Lane. Once a grand home in a remote and much admired neighbourhood, the house needs a lot of care and attention to return it to its former glory. The couple plan to live in the house whilst work is ongoing, and then sell the property on to the highest bidder pocketing a large profit in the process. One evening when Eve is home alone there is a knock at the door. On the doorstep stand a family of five. The father claims to have lived in the house as a boy and asks if he could show his family his childhood home. They’ll be fifteen minutes tops. Not a second more. Eve’s gut tells her to slam the door in their faces without a second thought but politeness and good manners overrule her instincts, and she lets the family in. Upon entering the property Eve knows there is something strange about her guests. She has an uneasy feeling about the family, particularly when peculiar things start to happen. No matter how hard Eve tries, no matter how many heavy hints she drops, the family just won’t leave. Trapped in the house with these odd people, unsure where Charlie is and with a blizzard imminent, Eve knows that something is terribly wrong. Or is it all in her head��?

We Used To Live Here is a captivating psychological horror debut with an unnerving, ever-present sense of building unease. As soon as the family arrive on the doorstep the reader knows this is not going to end well. It can’t end well. The family seem stilted, somewhat unnatural and Eve can’t quite get the measure of her unexpected guests. As time marches on and the promised fifteen minutes becomes an hour, then two, you can’t help but feel for Eve. Her uncomfortableness radiates from the page. She doesn’t want these people in her house. She can’t understand why they don’t leave and her frustrations build and build and build.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. We Used To Live Here is getting a lot of attention at the moment and deservedly so. I found the writing captivating and completely engaging. I thought the characters were well defined and provoked a plethora of emotions within me (why the hell won’t they leave???). The setting is vivid and is as much a part of the plot as Eve, the main character, is. The storyline is seriously dark and twisted and will mess with your mind in the best way possible. Other reviewers have described this book as a mindf**k. They’re not wrong. A brilliantly written debut from an author to watch. Completely unnerving, totally unsettling and with a building sense of inescapable, impending doom. Truly terrifying. We Used To Live Here is THE book all horror fans need on their shelves this year. You ain’t read a book like this one before! Highly recommended.]]> 3.66 2024
author: Marcus Kliewer
name: Emma
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/03
date added: 2024/09/12
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Eve and Charlie are the new owners of 3709 Heritage Lane. Once a grand home in a remote and much admired neighbourhood, the house needs a lot of care and attention to return it to its former glory. The couple plan to live in the house whilst work is ongoing, and then sell the property on to the highest bidder pocketing a large profit in the process. One evening when Eve is home alone there is a knock at the door. On the doorstep stand a family of five. The father claims to have lived in the house as a boy and asks if he could show his family his childhood home. They’ll be fifteen minutes tops. Not a second more. Eve’s gut tells her to slam the door in their faces without a second thought but politeness and good manners overrule her instincts, and she lets the family in. Upon entering the property Eve knows there is something strange about her guests. She has an uneasy feeling about the family, particularly when peculiar things start to happen. No matter how hard Eve tries, no matter how many heavy hints she drops, the family just won’t leave. Trapped in the house with these odd people, unsure where Charlie is and with a blizzard imminent, Eve knows that something is terribly wrong. Or is it all in her head��?

We Used To Live Here is a captivating psychological horror debut with an unnerving, ever-present sense of building unease. As soon as the family arrive on the doorstep the reader knows this is not going to end well. It can’t end well. The family seem stilted, somewhat unnatural and Eve can’t quite get the measure of her unexpected guests. As time marches on and the promised fifteen minutes becomes an hour, then two, you can’t help but feel for Eve. Her uncomfortableness radiates from the page. She doesn’t want these people in her house. She can’t understand why they don’t leave and her frustrations build and build and build.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. We Used To Live Here is getting a lot of attention at the moment and deservedly so. I found the writing captivating and completely engaging. I thought the characters were well defined and provoked a plethora of emotions within me (why the hell won’t they leave???). The setting is vivid and is as much a part of the plot as Eve, the main character, is. The storyline is seriously dark and twisted and will mess with your mind in the best way possible. Other reviewers have described this book as a mindf**k. They’re not wrong. A brilliantly written debut from an author to watch. Completely unnerving, totally unsettling and with a building sense of inescapable, impending doom. Truly terrifying. We Used To Live Here is THE book all horror fans need on their shelves this year. You ain’t read a book like this one before! Highly recommended.
]]> 199699590 Midsummer, the Dorset coast

In the shadows of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor: a beautiful new countryside retreat.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. And the candles have barely been lit for a solstice supper when the body is found.

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at��]]> 421 Lucy Foley 000838505X Emma 0 3.85 2024
author: Lucy Foley
name: Emma
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/22
date added: 2024/09/04
shelves:
review:

]]> 53562875 Alex lived through the war, but will he survive the peace?

Jewish gang member, Alex comes back from the Great War almost destroyed by the horrors he has seen. When he is plucked from certain death by an old friend, he commits to making so much money he'll never know that agony again.

But the route to the top is fraught with danger and every time he helps one of his powerful friends like Al Capone, he acquires more enemies who want to see him dead. When organised crime financier, Arnold Rothstein dies, the turmoil caused by his loss sets in train a chain of events which means Alex must once more fight for his life. How far would you go to attain your American dream?

The second book in the Alex Cohen series is a violent historical novel, which tears through the Prohibition years of the Jewish New York mob. Leopold Borstinski's gripping crime noir pierces the heart of every reader like a bullet from Alex's sniper rifle.

Grab your copy NOW.]]> 263 Leopold Borstinski 1913313166 Emma 4
East Side Hustler is the second book in the Alex Cohen Series written by Leopold Borstinski. I read and reviewed the first book, The Bowery Slugger, last year and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was really looking forward to this one. I received a free eARC of East Side Hustler but that has in no way influenced my review.

We were last with Alex Cohen as he leapt onto a train destined for the trenches of the Great War. East Side Hustler begins in 1919 with Alex’s return to New York but he’s a shadow of the man he was. Traumatised by the sights and smells of war, he finds himself desolate and alone. Having once run the streets which he now sleeps on, it’s a dramatic fall from grace for the man they used to refer to as ‘Slugger��. His family believe him to be dead. He has no one. That is until a familiar face finds him and offers shelter. A warm bed, food on the table and the warm embrace of Sarah, a friend and lover from the past. Alex’s strength builds, he discovers his reputation is unblemished and his determination to live the American dream reignites. And Alex will do that anyway he can, no matter who stands in his way��

East Side Hustler spans the years from 1919 to 1929 and Alex’s return to the mean streets of New York. It’s difficult to not like Alex. He’s ruthless, menacing and a pretty terrible human being but there’s also something about him that appeals to the reader. In The Bowery Slugger Alex was a teenager on the up. You couldn’t help but admire his gumption and his desire to make something of himself. He’s older now and affected by war, but the character readers fell in love with is still very much present.

So much happens in East Side Hustler that it’s hard to summarise the book for this review. After all, East Side Hustler spans a ten-year period in Alex’s life. There’s a lot going on so the reader is quickly absorbed into the story and into the dark underbelly of New York in the 1920s. The main point to mention is the introduction of prohibition which saw the manufacture and sale of alcohol stopped by law. Alex and his ‘colleagues�� quickly discover a way of smuggling alcohol into New York from Canada via Chicago. Risking life and limb in the process, it makes for gripping reading and provides a fair amount of spilt blood. The inclusion of some familiar names, such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran, bring a dash of realism to the story.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. East Side Hustler can be read as a standalone but it’s worth picking up a copy of The Bowery Slugger too, as you get to discover where Alex Cohen has come from and what drives him. This series is a gritty look at life on the streets of New York. A no-holds-barred historical noir novel with a lead character that you shouldn’t like, but you won’t be able to help yourself. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what Bostinski has in store for Alex next.

I chose to read and review an eARC of East Side Hustler. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.]]> 4.03
author: Leopold Borstinski
name: Emma
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/03/14
date added: 2024/09/04
shelves:
review:
All of my reviews can be found at

East Side Hustler is the second book in the Alex Cohen Series written by Leopold Borstinski. I read and reviewed the first book, The Bowery Slugger, last year and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was really looking forward to this one. I received a free eARC of East Side Hustler but that has in no way influenced my review.

We were last with Alex Cohen as he leapt onto a train destined for the trenches of the Great War. East Side Hustler begins in 1919 with Alex’s return to New York but he’s a shadow of the man he was. Traumatised by the sights and smells of war, he finds himself desolate and alone. Having once run the streets which he now sleeps on, it’s a dramatic fall from grace for the man they used to refer to as ‘Slugger��. His family believe him to be dead. He has no one. That is until a familiar face finds him and offers shelter. A warm bed, food on the table and the warm embrace of Sarah, a friend and lover from the past. Alex’s strength builds, he discovers his reputation is unblemished and his determination to live the American dream reignites. And Alex will do that anyway he can, no matter who stands in his way��

East Side Hustler spans the years from 1919 to 1929 and Alex’s return to the mean streets of New York. It’s difficult to not like Alex. He’s ruthless, menacing and a pretty terrible human being but there’s also something about him that appeals to the reader. In The Bowery Slugger Alex was a teenager on the up. You couldn’t help but admire his gumption and his desire to make something of himself. He’s older now and affected by war, but the character readers fell in love with is still very much present.

So much happens in East Side Hustler that it’s hard to summarise the book for this review. After all, East Side Hustler spans a ten-year period in Alex’s life. There’s a lot going on so the reader is quickly absorbed into the story and into the dark underbelly of New York in the 1920s. The main point to mention is the introduction of prohibition which saw the manufacture and sale of alcohol stopped by law. Alex and his ‘colleagues�� quickly discover a way of smuggling alcohol into New York from Canada via Chicago. Risking life and limb in the process, it makes for gripping reading and provides a fair amount of spilt blood. The inclusion of some familiar names, such as Al Capone and Bugs Moran, bring a dash of realism to the story.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. East Side Hustler can be read as a standalone but it’s worth picking up a copy of The Bowery Slugger too, as you get to discover where Alex Cohen has come from and what drives him. This series is a gritty look at life on the streets of New York. A no-holds-barred historical noir novel with a lead character that you shouldn’t like, but you won’t be able to help yourself. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what Bostinski has in store for Alex next.

I chose to read and review an eARC of East Side Hustler. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
]]> 29548973 UM CORPO ESCRUPULOSAMENTE MUTILADO
JAZ NO SEU INTERIOR��
Helen Grace, até aqui considerada a melhor detetive do país, é acusada de homicídio e aguarda julgamento na prisão de Holloway. Odiada pelas restantes prisioneiras e maltratada pelos guardas, Helen tem de enfrentar sozinha este pesadelo. Tudo o que deseja é conseguir provar a sua inocência. Mas, quando um corpo aparece diligentemente mutilado numa cela fechada, essa revela ser, afinal, a menor das suas preocupações.

Os macabros crimes sucedem-se em Holloway e o perigo espreita em cada cela ou corredor sombrio. Helen não pode fugir nem esconder-se por atrás do distintivo.
Precisa agora de ser rápida a encontrar o implacável serial killer�� se não quiser tornar-se a sua próxima vítima.]]> 373 M.J. Arlidge Emma 4 20booksofsummer2018
If you're new to this series let me tell you, it is incredibly difficult to start this review as anything I say, anything I hint at could be (is) a massive spoiler regarding a previous book (the massive spoiler is also mentioned in the blurb so don't look ]]> 4.45 2016
author: M.J. Arlidge
name: Emma
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2018/06/21
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: 20booksofsummer2018
review:
DI Helen Grace has always been a firm favourite of mine. Hide and Seek is the sixth book in the DI Helen Grace series and my new favourite. Despite reading book five in the series, Little Boy Blue over two years ago, the plot and that breathtaking ending have been playing on my mind. Yes, it's true, I have spent the last two years wondering about the general health and well-being of a fictional character! Book blogger problems taken to a whole new level, maybe?!

If you're new to this series let me tell you, it is incredibly difficult to start this review as anything I say, anything I hint at could be (is) a massive spoiler regarding a previous book (the massive spoiler is also mentioned in the blurb so don't look
]]> 23995526
By 1979, these Tokyo Zodiac Murders have been obsessing a nation for decades, but not one of them has been solved. A mystery-obsessed illustrator and a talented astrologer set off around the country - and you follow, carrying the enigma of the Zodiac murderer through madness, missed leads and magic tricks. You have all the clues, but can you solve the mystery before they do?]]> 320 Sōji Shimada Emma 5
An artist spiralling into madness decides to create his perfect woman, Azoth. To do this he needs to kill and dismember six young woman. Luckily for him four of his five daughters and his two nieces live in the same house as him so he doesn't have to look too hard for his victims.

Unluckily for him he is killed and left in a locked room before he has a chance to create Azoth. However if Heikichi Umezawa can't make his dream woman then someone else will. The bodies of the original six young women turn up dead, dismembered and scattered all over Japan. Does this mean Azoth exists, and if so where is she?

The story is told from the perspective of Kazumi Ishioka who decides with his slightly strange friend, Kiyoshi Mitarai, to solve the mystery when they are presented with new evidence. All of the clues are there for you to solve the mystery yourself so it's a perfect read for amateur sleuths. The culprit is of course revealed in the end so you're not left disappointed.

I couldn't put this book down. It held my attention as I turned the pages and before I knew it the killer was being revealed! There are three different investigations to uncover and each one blends seamlessly with the next. I really warmed to Kazumi Ishioka. He felt like the bumbling sidekick to Kiyoshi Mitarai's super intelligent super sleuth. Always three or four steps behind!

Did I work out who the murderer was? No chance I'm afraid. The book is so intricate and absorbing that I was just enjoying the story and paying little attention to what could and what couldn't be a clue. I absolutely loved this book and will recommend to anyone who asks in the future. It really is THAT good.

Five out of five stars.]]> 3.72 1981
author: Sōji Shimada
name: Emma
average rating: 3.72
book published: 1981
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/02
date added: 2024/07/06
shelves:
review:
Take a compelling, intricate, well-written 'locked room' mystery and set it in Japan. What have you got? Probably my perfect book! My husband gave me this book as part of my Christmas present (one book, every month for 12 months) and he did his thorough, pain-staking research before choosing The Tokyo Zodiac Murders. He chose a blinder!

An artist spiralling into madness decides to create his perfect woman, Azoth. To do this he needs to kill and dismember six young woman. Luckily for him four of his five daughters and his two nieces live in the same house as him so he doesn't have to look too hard for his victims.

Unluckily for him he is killed and left in a locked room before he has a chance to create Azoth. However if Heikichi Umezawa can't make his dream woman then someone else will. The bodies of the original six young women turn up dead, dismembered and scattered all over Japan. Does this mean Azoth exists, and if so where is she?

The story is told from the perspective of Kazumi Ishioka who decides with his slightly strange friend, Kiyoshi Mitarai, to solve the mystery when they are presented with new evidence. All of the clues are there for you to solve the mystery yourself so it's a perfect read for amateur sleuths. The culprit is of course revealed in the end so you're not left disappointed.

I couldn't put this book down. It held my attention as I turned the pages and before I knew it the killer was being revealed! There are three different investigations to uncover and each one blends seamlessly with the next. I really warmed to Kazumi Ishioka. He felt like the bumbling sidekick to Kiyoshi Mitarai's super intelligent super sleuth. Always three or four steps behind!

Did I work out who the murderer was? No chance I'm afraid. The book is so intricate and absorbing that I was just enjoying the story and paying little attention to what could and what couldn't be a clue. I absolutely loved this book and will recommend to anyone who asks in the future. It really is THAT good.

Five out of five stars.
]]> 181133 317 page edition

First, there were ten—a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a little private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal—and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. A famous nursery rhyme is framed and hung in every room of the mansion:

"Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none."

When they realize that murders are occurring as described in the rhyme, terror mounts. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. Who has choreographed this dastardly scheme? And who will be left to tell the tale? Only the dead are above suspicion.]]> 250 Agatha Christie Emma 4 4.30 1939
author: Agatha Christie
name: Emma
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1939
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2024/07/01
shelves:
review:

]]> 199602729 Pitlaw is itching for change. Enter the Freakslaw �� a travelling funfair populated by deviant queers, a contortionist witch, the most powerful fortune teller, and other architects of mayhem. It doesn’t take long for the Freakslaw folk to infiltrate Pitlaw’s grey world, where the town’s teenagers �� none more so than Ruth and Derek �� are seduced by neon charms and the possibility of escape. But beneath it all, these newcomers are harbouring a darker revenge. And as tensions reach fever pitch between the stoic locals and the dazzling intruders, a violence that’s been simmering for centuries is about to be unleashed…]]> 304 Jane Flett Emma 0 20booksofsummer2024 3.74 2024
author: Jane Flett
name: Emma
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/06/18
date added: 2024/06/18
shelves: 20booksofsummer2024
review:

]]> 200262496 Maybe this is a ghost story...
Andrew Larimer thought he left the past behind. But when he receives a late-night phone call from an old friend, he finds he has no choice but to return home, and to confront the memories―and the horror―of a night, years ago, that changed everything.
For Andrew and his friends, the past is not dead, and the curse that has befallen them now threatens to destroy all that they've become.
One dark secret...
One small-town horror...]]> 411 Ronald Malfi Emma 5
Andrew Larimer is a successful lawyer in New York. His wife, Rebecca, is expecting their first child and things really seem on the up for the couple. So when late at night, an old friend from his hometown of Kingsport calls and tells Andrew he must return to the small fishing town, he reluctantly does exactly that. Leaving heavily pregnant Rebecca alone, telling her he’s going on a business trip rather than the truth. Andrew swore he would never return to Kingsport. The town doesn’t fit in with his life anymore. He managed to escape, the others didn’t. Now all grown up, Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and Meach need to confront what happened that night twenty years ago. They need to own up to what they did. Otherwise, it could be the end of everything as they know it��

Superbly written, as I have come to expect from this author. Small Town Horror has a creeping, building sense of foreboding and I gobbled it up with glee. Andrew is a fairly normal guy on first meeting. He’s successful, adores his wife and, understandably, is fairly anxious about becoming a father for the first time. But Andrew’s ‘fairly anxious�� is a little more heightened perhaps than other first time parents. When he receives a call from an old childhood friend that implies he must return to Kingsport, he drops everything and heads home. Enter everything ominous you can possibly think of. On arrival at his late father’s house he’s greeted by turkey vultures sitting on the roof, a smell of death permeating the premises, evidence of a squatter and a pressing sense that there is something seriously wrong with the house. Surrounded by his father’s possessions, having to face his grief head on, Andrew decides the house will do for the short time he plans to stay. But then things get really weird.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Small Town Horror is another stunning read from a skilled storyteller. Malfi’s characters are very believable. You may not particularly like them, but you will become invested in their story. And what a story they have to share! Utterly haunting, creepy, full of atmosphere and with a strong sense of place. I was drawn into the world of Kingsport and the dark history held between these five people. There’s an absolute shocker of a twist in the second half of the book which changed everything for me. Perfectly placed and expertly delivered for maximum effect. I cannot get enough of the author’s writing and I urge all horror readers out there to make sure you have at least one Ronald Malfi book on your shelf. Once you’ve read one and experienced the author’s clever, vivid, emotional, haunting prose I can guarantee you’ll be on the hunt for more! As for THAT ending��*chef’s kiss*. Absolute perfection. I am devastated and I flipping loved it. Highly recommended]]> 4.07 2024
author: Ronald Malfi
name: Emma
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/26
date added: 2024/06/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Andrew Larimer is a successful lawyer in New York. His wife, Rebecca, is expecting their first child and things really seem on the up for the couple. So when late at night, an old friend from his hometown of Kingsport calls and tells Andrew he must return to the small fishing town, he reluctantly does exactly that. Leaving heavily pregnant Rebecca alone, telling her he’s going on a business trip rather than the truth. Andrew swore he would never return to Kingsport. The town doesn’t fit in with his life anymore. He managed to escape, the others didn’t. Now all grown up, Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and Meach need to confront what happened that night twenty years ago. They need to own up to what they did. Otherwise, it could be the end of everything as they know it��

Superbly written, as I have come to expect from this author. Small Town Horror has a creeping, building sense of foreboding and I gobbled it up with glee. Andrew is a fairly normal guy on first meeting. He’s successful, adores his wife and, understandably, is fairly anxious about becoming a father for the first time. But Andrew’s ‘fairly anxious�� is a little more heightened perhaps than other first time parents. When he receives a call from an old childhood friend that implies he must return to Kingsport, he drops everything and heads home. Enter everything ominous you can possibly think of. On arrival at his late father’s house he’s greeted by turkey vultures sitting on the roof, a smell of death permeating the premises, evidence of a squatter and a pressing sense that there is something seriously wrong with the house. Surrounded by his father’s possessions, having to face his grief head on, Andrew decides the house will do for the short time he plans to stay. But then things get really weird.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Small Town Horror is another stunning read from a skilled storyteller. Malfi’s characters are very believable. You may not particularly like them, but you will become invested in their story. And what a story they have to share! Utterly haunting, creepy, full of atmosphere and with a strong sense of place. I was drawn into the world of Kingsport and the dark history held between these five people. There’s an absolute shocker of a twist in the second half of the book which changed everything for me. Perfectly placed and expertly delivered for maximum effect. I cannot get enough of the author’s writing and I urge all horror readers out there to make sure you have at least one Ronald Malfi book on your shelf. Once you’ve read one and experienced the author’s clever, vivid, emotional, haunting prose I can guarantee you’ll be on the hunt for more! As for THAT ending��*chef’s kiss*. Absolute perfection. I am devastated and I flipping loved it. Highly recommended
]]> 200262477 The monster at the heart of a cult 90s cursed horror film tells his shocking and bloody secret history. Slow-burn terror meets high-stakes showdowns, from the bestselling author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World.

Summer, 1993 �� a group of young guerrilla filmmakers spend four weeks making Horror Movie, a notorious, disturbing arthouse horror film. Steeped in mystery and tragedy, the film has taken on a mythic, cult renown, despite only three of the original scenes ever being released to the public.

Decades later, a big-budget reboot is in the works, and Hollywood turns to the only surviving cast member �� the man who played 'the Thin Kid', the masked teen at the centre of it all. He remembers all too well the secrets buried within the original screenplay, the bizarre events of the filming, and the crossed lines on set.

Caught in a nightmare of masks and appearances, facile Hollywood personalities and the strangeness of fan conventions, the Thin Kid spins a tale of past and present, scripts and reality, and what the camera lets us see. But at what cost do we revisit our demons?

After all these years, the monster the world never saw will finally be heard.]]> 352 Paul Tremblay Emma 0 3.35 2024
author: Paul Tremblay
name: Emma
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/30
date added: 2024/05/30
shelves:
review:

]]> 196052609 Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin . . .

Washington Poe has a story to tell.

And he needs you to listen.

You'll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . .

He'll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He'll tell you how the man's murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family.

And finally, he'll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . .
Poe hopes you've been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .]]> 485 M.W. Craven Emma 5 4.54 2024
author: M.W. Craven
name: Emma
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/28
date added: 2024/05/28
shelves:
review:

]]> 150038748 The Chalk Man.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?]]> 416 C.J. Tudor 0241486270 Emma 5 4.01 2024
author: C.J. Tudor
name: Emma
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/16
date added: 2024/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 203351234
You know Miss Havisham.

The world's most famous jilted bride.

This is her daughter’s story.

Raised in the darkness of Satis House where the clocks never tick, the beautiful Estella is bred to hate men and to keep her heart cold as the grave.

She knows she doesn’t feel things quite like other people do but is this just the result of her strange upbringing?

As she watches the brutal treatment of women around her, hatred hardens into a core of vengeance and when she finds herself married to the abusive Drummle, she is forced to make a deadly

Should she embrace the darkness within her and exact her revenge?

A stunningly original, gripping Gothic read, perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Madeline Miller and Jessie Burton.

Readers are stunned by Estella's Revenge:

‘The genius concept behind this book is so irresistible, it makes the novel feel like magic…Charles Dickens's spirit would be definitely securing his copy now!�� Sophie Hannah

‘This gripping and clever novel takes Miss Havisham’s daughter and tells us her dark and compelling tale. Masterfully constructed, complex, immersive and delivered through Havelocke’s beautiful prose. Both heartbreaking and uplifting, this is an absolute must-read.' Rebecca Netley

'Thrillingly dark and beautifully written, this twisty Gothic tale will grip you to the last page and beyond.' Bella Ellis

��Deliciously creepy and decidedly dark, I loved this foray into the mind of Dickens’s most enigmatic heroine…It’s so beautifully written, it gripped me from the very first sentence and would not let me go until I finished reading.�� Jessica Bull

'I truly cannot rave about this book enough!... Estella's Revenge is a dark, cunning story full of twists and turns and with plenty of heart.' Victoria Hawthorne

‘A darkly ingenious take on a classic character, Estella’s story had me gripped. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.�� Susi Holliday

��Utterly beautiful.�� Louise Beech

'Meticulously researched and full of dark intrigue, I loved being transported into Estella's world. A page-turning delight.' Sarah Ward

‘Barbara Havelocke...makes the era come alive for the reader...A story with great depth...I look forward to reading more of Estella's story.' Valerie Keogh

��A dream to read…I believe that this book will in time be shelved next to Great Expectations as an essential complimentary read... Stunning.�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

��I absolutely loved this. A retelling of Charles Dickens�� Great Expectations? Please, yes, give it to me. This absolutely DELIVERED.'⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

��Superbly and skilfully written. Great characters, twists and turns and a terrific gothic eeriness.]]> 451 Barbara Havelocke 180436701X Emma 0 4.14
author: Barbara Havelocke
name: Emma
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/05/08
date added: 2024/05/08
shelves:
review:

]]> 131707062 Everybody needs saving sometimes��

For Kate, having a newborn baby means she is almost never alone. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t lonely. The move from London to Somerset with her husband Jay was supposed be the start of an exciting new chapter. But sometimes she can’t help but wonder if she turned the pages too soon . . .

Phoebe needs help. As a mental health nurse serving her community, the wellbeing of her patients has always come before her own. Yet there’s only so long she can pour from an empty cup.

Looking for a lifeline, Kate and Phoebe find a sense of community �� and each other �� through their local river swimming group. But when things get tough, they realise that good friends can both raise us up and stop us sinking.]]> 391 Libby Page 1398708488 Emma 0 4.13 2024
author: Libby Page
name: Emma
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/04/16
date added: 2024/04/16
shelves:
review:

]]> 62792245 A gripping tale of revenge, loyalty, and the secrets hidden between the walls of the most beautiful home in town. Ellen Walsh has done something very, very bad. If only she knew what it was...

Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail, People have to learn there are consequences, Ellen. And I’m going to teach you that lesson. Right under your nose.

Why would someone send her this? Ellen has no clue. She’s no angel—a white lie here, an occasional sharp tongue there—but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy. She’d never intentionally hurt anyone. But intention doesn’t matter to someone. Someone blames this supposed “good person�� for all the bad they’ve experienced. And maybe they have reason to? Because few of us get through life without leaving a black mark on someone else’s. Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?��As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her reputation and her future, Ellen continues to receive increasingly threatening messages... each one hitting closer to everything she cherishes.]]> 416 Caz Frear 0063091119 Emma 5
Teacher Ellen Walsh tries her best. Tries to be a good mother to her teenage daughter and twin toddler boys. Tries to be a good wife to her husband, Adam. Tries to be a good friend to those she surrounds herself with. Tries to live a good, honest, decent life. But we all tell the odd ‘porky pie*�� here and there, right? To protect someone’s feelings, to swerve an awkward social situation, to hide your own embarrassment about something. Some would say it’s unavoidable. So when an ominous note arrives at Ellen’s enchanting Cotswold stone farmhouse, in the small village of Thames Lawley, addressed to her, Ellen struggles to understand what she has done to incite such anger, such venom. But perhaps Ellen isn’t as perfect as she likes to believe. Because Ellen it seems has made an enemy out of the wrong person. A person intent on destroying everything she holds dear. Will Ellen discover who is behind the escalating campaign of hate before it’s too late��?

Five Bad Deeds is a highly readable, hugely compelling psychological suspense novel which I devoured over the course of two sittings. I was engrossed in Ellen’s story. Keen to find out who was behind the unravelling of her life. And believe me when I say there are several suspects. But Ellen is oblivious to her friends and family’s true feelings towards her. Because Ellen has a habit of getting involved when she really shouldn’t. Her opinions should perhaps be kept to herself more often than not. But offering some friendly advice can’t hurt…can it? I didn’t like Ellen but I did sympathise with her. I don’t think she’s there to be liked but I do think many of us will recognise something of ourselves in the character. How many times have you shared a nugget of advice with a friend you thought would help them? How many times have you considered the full implications of that well-meaning advice?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Five Bad Deeds. There are quite a few characters but I was able to keep track of who everyone was and their different relationships. It’s an intriguing read which builds in intensity over the course of the book until the shocking denouement is revealed. No matter how much you dislike Ellen as a person, you will end up feeling sorry for her. The book is told via multiple points of view and it was interesting to get insight into supposedly loyal friends�� real feelings towards Ellen. Who has it in for her? Who wants to destroy everything she holds dear? And most importantly, why are they doing this? As the book progresses the punishments meted out increase. From a report to the police that she was drunk driving (she did have a skinful the night before and she had just left the pub following her sister’s birthday celebration) to someone reporting her to the council’s Children’s Services Department regarding safeguarding issues with her twin boys. Things really do escalate, building the tension and increasing the level of threat, leaving Ellen confused, bewildered and ultimately, scared. Because Ellen has a secret. And it’s a secret she will do anything to protect��

All in all, Five Bad Deeds is a very engaging, well-written story with great characterisation, expertly written suspense and a shocking conclusion. It’s a cracking, compelling, irresistible read and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Highly recommended.]]> 3.36 2023
author: Caz Frear
name: Emma
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/31
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Teacher Ellen Walsh tries her best. Tries to be a good mother to her teenage daughter and twin toddler boys. Tries to be a good wife to her husband, Adam. Tries to be a good friend to those she surrounds herself with. Tries to live a good, honest, decent life. But we all tell the odd ‘porky pie*�� here and there, right? To protect someone’s feelings, to swerve an awkward social situation, to hide your own embarrassment about something. Some would say it’s unavoidable. So when an ominous note arrives at Ellen’s enchanting Cotswold stone farmhouse, in the small village of Thames Lawley, addressed to her, Ellen struggles to understand what she has done to incite such anger, such venom. But perhaps Ellen isn’t as perfect as she likes to believe. Because Ellen it seems has made an enemy out of the wrong person. A person intent on destroying everything she holds dear. Will Ellen discover who is behind the escalating campaign of hate before it’s too late��?

Five Bad Deeds is a highly readable, hugely compelling psychological suspense novel which I devoured over the course of two sittings. I was engrossed in Ellen’s story. Keen to find out who was behind the unravelling of her life. And believe me when I say there are several suspects. But Ellen is oblivious to her friends and family’s true feelings towards her. Because Ellen has a habit of getting involved when she really shouldn’t. Her opinions should perhaps be kept to herself more often than not. But offering some friendly advice can’t hurt…can it? I didn’t like Ellen but I did sympathise with her. I don’t think she’s there to be liked but I do think many of us will recognise something of ourselves in the character. How many times have you shared a nugget of advice with a friend you thought would help them? How many times have you considered the full implications of that well-meaning advice?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with Five Bad Deeds. There are quite a few characters but I was able to keep track of who everyone was and their different relationships. It’s an intriguing read which builds in intensity over the course of the book until the shocking denouement is revealed. No matter how much you dislike Ellen as a person, you will end up feeling sorry for her. The book is told via multiple points of view and it was interesting to get insight into supposedly loyal friends�� real feelings towards Ellen. Who has it in for her? Who wants to destroy everything she holds dear? And most importantly, why are they doing this? As the book progresses the punishments meted out increase. From a report to the police that she was drunk driving (she did have a skinful the night before and she had just left the pub following her sister’s birthday celebration) to someone reporting her to the council’s Children’s Services Department regarding safeguarding issues with her twin boys. Things really do escalate, building the tension and increasing the level of threat, leaving Ellen confused, bewildered and ultimately, scared. Because Ellen has a secret. And it’s a secret she will do anything to protect��

All in all, Five Bad Deeds is a very engaging, well-written story with great characterisation, expertly written suspense and a shocking conclusion. It’s a cracking, compelling, irresistible read and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Highly recommended.
]]> 199617736 448 Louise Jensen 0008508569 Emma 5
Newington House seems the perfect solution to James�� problem. He’s about to be evicted from his flatshare and his girlfriend of six months, Cass, lives hundreds of miles away with her ageing dad. But James has found a solution that could be the answer to all their problems. The only thing he has to do is convince Cass. And it’s going to take a lot of convincing! Because Newington House has a dark history of its own. Thirty years ago all but the youngest member of the Madley family were brutally murdered. Since then the house has sat empty and decaying. Now Richardson’s Retreats plan to turn the house into an exclusive, high-end retreat and while they’re ploughing through all of the red tape, they need caretakers to keep an eye on the place. It couldn’t be more perfect. Cass and James will be paid to live in the house whilst saving for a deposit on their own home. But there’s no escaping the dark past of Newington House. Particularly when strange things start happening��

Another thrilling, shocking tale from the brilliant Louise Jensen. Cass and James are starting out on their life together but they’re both carrying the burden of grief. Cass desperately wants to know more about her mother who died when she was only a baby. Her secretive father refuses to talk about his wife though which only makes Cass crave answers all the more. She has vivid memories of being trapped in a cupboard and can’t help but question how she got there. Did she hide in the cupboard herself or did her alcoholic, angry father have something to do with it? James is still mourning the recent death of his mother. James is desperate for comfort from his own father but that’s not the type of man he is. He’s always been cold and distant to James and the death of his wife won’t change that. When the opportunity to live at Newington House for a few months arises, the couple can’t help but feel it’s going to be a fresh start, a new beginning. Allowing them to leave the past behind. But it’s far, far from it. Circumstances mean that they can’t turn their backs on the past and the need for answers becomes even more urgent.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Intruders is a cleverly written, engrossing psychological suspense thriller and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I thought I had it all solved but I couldn’t have been further from the truth. Jensen is a master of deception. Lulling her readers into believing they know the score when really they don’t have the foggiest! Cass is an interesting character. I don’t think I particularly liked her but I did feel for her as everything she thought she knew came crashing down around her. Violence is never the answer to anything but oh my goodness, I wanted to thump James. It’s his idea to move into Newington House, something he applied to do without Cass’s knowledge or permission. He neglects to tell her the truth about the house until it’s too late. He gets her to move from one end of the country to the other. He’s not there to meet her when she arrives, due to his work. And then he spends most of the book away from home, again, due to work. Personally, if I were Cass, I would have hopped on the next train home! The Intruders is told from both the past and the present as Cass and James search for answers. It’s deliciously creepy, helped by the macabre history of the house. But that’s only half of the story. Things take a very dark and twisted turn as you approach the end of the book and it goes in a direction I never expected. I think it’s safe to say that this is Louise Jensen’s darkest, creepiest book yet! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Intruders from its chilling prologue which made me want to double check all of the windows and doors were definitely locked, to the shocking, jaw-dropping denouement. With secrets and revelations galore, I was completely immersed in Jensen’s smart storytelling. You really cannot go wrong with a Louise Jensen thriller! Highly recommended.]]> 4.08 2024
author: Louise Jensen
name: Emma
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/29
date added: 2024/04/11
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Newington House seems the perfect solution to James�� problem. He’s about to be evicted from his flatshare and his girlfriend of six months, Cass, lives hundreds of miles away with her ageing dad. But James has found a solution that could be the answer to all their problems. The only thing he has to do is convince Cass. And it’s going to take a lot of convincing! Because Newington House has a dark history of its own. Thirty years ago all but the youngest member of the Madley family were brutally murdered. Since then the house has sat empty and decaying. Now Richardson’s Retreats plan to turn the house into an exclusive, high-end retreat and while they’re ploughing through all of the red tape, they need caretakers to keep an eye on the place. It couldn’t be more perfect. Cass and James will be paid to live in the house whilst saving for a deposit on their own home. But there’s no escaping the dark past of Newington House. Particularly when strange things start happening��

Another thrilling, shocking tale from the brilliant Louise Jensen. Cass and James are starting out on their life together but they’re both carrying the burden of grief. Cass desperately wants to know more about her mother who died when she was only a baby. Her secretive father refuses to talk about his wife though which only makes Cass crave answers all the more. She has vivid memories of being trapped in a cupboard and can’t help but question how she got there. Did she hide in the cupboard herself or did her alcoholic, angry father have something to do with it? James is still mourning the recent death of his mother. James is desperate for comfort from his own father but that’s not the type of man he is. He’s always been cold and distant to James and the death of his wife won’t change that. When the opportunity to live at Newington House for a few months arises, the couple can’t help but feel it’s going to be a fresh start, a new beginning. Allowing them to leave the past behind. But it’s far, far from it. Circumstances mean that they can’t turn their backs on the past and the need for answers becomes even more urgent.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Intruders is a cleverly written, engrossing psychological suspense thriller and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I thought I had it all solved but I couldn’t have been further from the truth. Jensen is a master of deception. Lulling her readers into believing they know the score when really they don’t have the foggiest! Cass is an interesting character. I don’t think I particularly liked her but I did feel for her as everything she thought she knew came crashing down around her. Violence is never the answer to anything but oh my goodness, I wanted to thump James. It’s his idea to move into Newington House, something he applied to do without Cass’s knowledge or permission. He neglects to tell her the truth about the house until it’s too late. He gets her to move from one end of the country to the other. He’s not there to meet her when she arrives, due to his work. And then he spends most of the book away from home, again, due to work. Personally, if I were Cass, I would have hopped on the next train home! The Intruders is told from both the past and the present as Cass and James search for answers. It’s deliciously creepy, helped by the macabre history of the house. But that’s only half of the story. Things take a very dark and twisted turn as you approach the end of the book and it goes in a direction I never expected. I think it’s safe to say that this is Louise Jensen’s darkest, creepiest book yet! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Intruders from its chilling prologue which made me want to double check all of the windows and doors were definitely locked, to the shocking, jaw-dropping denouement. With secrets and revelations galore, I was completely immersed in Jensen’s smart storytelling. You really cannot go wrong with a Louise Jensen thriller! Highly recommended.
]]> 61344814 A BOOKSHOP. A TRUE CRIME CASE. A DEADLY FRIENDSHIP.

THE UNMISSABLE DEBUT THRILLER.

Roach - bookseller, loner and true crime obsessive - is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep.

That is, until Laura joins the bookshop.

Smelling of roses, with her cute literary tote bags and beautiful poetry, she's everyone's new favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses.

As Roach's curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, it becomes clear that she is prepared to infiltrate Laura's life at any cost.]]> 384 Alice Slater Emma 4
Roach has been a bookseller at Spines since her teens. She’s a true crime obsessive, whether that be through podcasts or the true crime section in the shop, which she expertly curates. Curates to own tastes and interests that is, using the books on sale as her own personal library! All Roach needs is her true crime and her pet snail, Bleep. She really isn’t all that bothered about making friends, or even selling books! One day, thanks to a management shake-up, Laura appears in the shop. She’s hard-working, everyone’s favourite bookseller and the antithesis of Roach. But Roach senses a kindred spirit in Laura and she’ll do anything to win her over��

Death of a Bookseller is a thoroughly entertaining read with truly fascinating characters who you’ll struggle to forget (despite possibly wanting to �� particularly Roach). Initially I felt quite sorry for Roach (real name Brogan but Roach is so much better!) when we were first introduced but as the novel progressed, I quickly changed my mind. Roach’s obsession with true crime made me feel really quite uncomfortable. I, myself, have tried to listen to true crime podcasts before but there’s something about glorifying real-life killers gave me the ick. Roach’s reverence for cold blooded killers gave me the ick. Now, you may be thinking, ‘but Emma, you’re a crime fiction reader�� and to that I would say ‘yes, I can’t explain it either (but what I read is made up!).

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Death of a Bookseller is unlike anything else I have read before. The characters are sublime and Slater adds layers and depth with the skill of a more experienced author. I’m very excited to see what this debut author comes up with next. Roach is an unforgettable character and at times I found myself wanting to look away from her odd awkwardness and obsessive behaviour but I just couldn’t. A book about books is always a wonderful thing and you get a good insight into the day-to-day life of a bookshop here. I work in my local library and there are definite similarities between the two. I found it strangely relatable in parts! (By which I mean the bookish parts, not the obsessive stalker-ish colleague part �� my colleagues are all absolutely lovely!) All in all, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with this book. The characters are superb, the plot is highly intriguing and draws the reader in and the pace kept me turning the pages, even when Roach’s actions made me feel a little uncomfortable. Recommended.]]> 3.69 2023
author: Alice Slater
name: Emma
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/14
date added: 2024/04/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Roach has been a bookseller at Spines since her teens. She’s a true crime obsessive, whether that be through podcasts or the true crime section in the shop, which she expertly curates. Curates to own tastes and interests that is, using the books on sale as her own personal library! All Roach needs is her true crime and her pet snail, Bleep. She really isn’t all that bothered about making friends, or even selling books! One day, thanks to a management shake-up, Laura appears in the shop. She’s hard-working, everyone’s favourite bookseller and the antithesis of Roach. But Roach senses a kindred spirit in Laura and she’ll do anything to win her over��

Death of a Bookseller is a thoroughly entertaining read with truly fascinating characters who you’ll struggle to forget (despite possibly wanting to �� particularly Roach). Initially I felt quite sorry for Roach (real name Brogan but Roach is so much better!) when we were first introduced but as the novel progressed, I quickly changed my mind. Roach’s obsession with true crime made me feel really quite uncomfortable. I, myself, have tried to listen to true crime podcasts before but there’s something about glorifying real-life killers gave me the ick. Roach’s reverence for cold blooded killers gave me the ick. Now, you may be thinking, ‘but Emma, you’re a crime fiction reader�� and to that I would say ‘yes, I can’t explain it either (but what I read is made up!).

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Death of a Bookseller is unlike anything else I have read before. The characters are sublime and Slater adds layers and depth with the skill of a more experienced author. I’m very excited to see what this debut author comes up with next. Roach is an unforgettable character and at times I found myself wanting to look away from her odd awkwardness and obsessive behaviour but I just couldn’t. A book about books is always a wonderful thing and you get a good insight into the day-to-day life of a bookshop here. I work in my local library and there are definite similarities between the two. I found it strangely relatable in parts! (By which I mean the bookish parts, not the obsessive stalker-ish colleague part �� my colleagues are all absolutely lovely!) All in all, I very much enjoyed the time I spent with this book. The characters are superb, the plot is highly intriguing and draws the reader in and the pace kept me turning the pages, even when Roach’s actions made me feel a little uncomfortable. Recommended.
]]> 200456207 Some people are in
On the last Saturday in August, politicos and socialites trade tidbits of gossip and sips of Pimm's under the tasteful bunting of a Richmond garden party. They'd never guess that the police are just a stone's throw away, pulling a body out of the river Thames.

Some people wish they were
The drowning appears to be a tragic accident - until Detective Caius Beauchamp gets an unexpected tip. The victim, it seems, had enemies in high places. Did being on the wrong side of them get her killed?

Either way, being out is absolute murder]]> 424 Charlotte Vassell 0571376215 Emma 5
Not far from the River Thames in well-to-do Richmond, a celebratory garden party is taking place. Those present are influential, rich and powerful. They’re monied to the gills and have the most important people in the land at their beck and call. They’re also blissfully unaware that a corpse is being dragged from the Thames a short distance away. Told to discover who the Jane Doe is, DI Caius Beauchamp, secretly assisted by someone who seems to know far too much, makes a startling discovery as to the woman’s identity. But that’s not the only investigation Caius has on his plate. With two cold cases to solve, with the team divided due to their increased workload and with pressure from above to get results fast, the pressure is really on��

I very much enjoyed the time I spent with The In Crowd, the second book in the DI Caius Beauchamp series. Confession time, I haven’t read the first book but I will certainly make sure that changes as soon as possible. This also means I can vouch for it when it comes to its standalone-ability. There were moments here and there and a couple of references I didn’t quite get, but overall I felt it stood on its own two feet. DI Caius Beauchamp is a dream! So very likeable, thoroughly engaging and generally an all round wonderful character. It doesn’t stop with just Caius though. His team �� DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes �� are as beautifully drawn as their senior officer. The wit, the humour and the banter between these three really gave the book a lovely warmth that you don’t tend to find in many police procedurals.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved The In Crowd. It’s such a well-written, well-plotted, clever tale which drew me into the story and kept me hooked. There’s a lot going on for the reader to get their teeth into. Alongside the two cold case investigations, there is a hint of romance in the air. A failed Tinder date results in what initially appears to be a lonely night ahead at the theatre for Caius. That is until he spies the woman in the striking hat, milliner Calliope Foster! A strange bond is formed between the two of them when a bad theatre production becomes one of the worst nights either of them have ever had at the theatre. But despite the odd circumstances, the spark is undeniable. I loved how well the author keeps these separate storylines running alongside each other. Everything comes together so beautifully in the end, it’s all so skilfully done. All in all, I found The In Crowd to be a very compelling, twisty, assured read, delivered with style and conviction. The characters are superb and wholly believable, whilst the plot moves at an intriguing pace. I’m excited to read more by this author in the future. Vassell is certainly an author to watch. An excellent, astutely told mystery. Highly recommended.]]> 4.14 2024
author: Charlotte Vassell
name: Emma
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/24
date added: 2024/04/04
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Not far from the River Thames in well-to-do Richmond, a celebratory garden party is taking place. Those present are influential, rich and powerful. They’re monied to the gills and have the most important people in the land at their beck and call. They’re also blissfully unaware that a corpse is being dragged from the Thames a short distance away. Told to discover who the Jane Doe is, DI Caius Beauchamp, secretly assisted by someone who seems to know far too much, makes a startling discovery as to the woman’s identity. But that’s not the only investigation Caius has on his plate. With two cold cases to solve, with the team divided due to their increased workload and with pressure from above to get results fast, the pressure is really on��

I very much enjoyed the time I spent with The In Crowd, the second book in the DI Caius Beauchamp series. Confession time, I haven’t read the first book but I will certainly make sure that changes as soon as possible. This also means I can vouch for it when it comes to its standalone-ability. There were moments here and there and a couple of references I didn’t quite get, but overall I felt it stood on its own two feet. DI Caius Beauchamp is a dream! So very likeable, thoroughly engaging and generally an all round wonderful character. It doesn’t stop with just Caius though. His team �� DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes �� are as beautifully drawn as their senior officer. The wit, the humour and the banter between these three really gave the book a lovely warmth that you don’t tend to find in many police procedurals.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved The In Crowd. It’s such a well-written, well-plotted, clever tale which drew me into the story and kept me hooked. There’s a lot going on for the reader to get their teeth into. Alongside the two cold case investigations, there is a hint of romance in the air. A failed Tinder date results in what initially appears to be a lonely night ahead at the theatre for Caius. That is until he spies the woman in the striking hat, milliner Calliope Foster! A strange bond is formed between the two of them when a bad theatre production becomes one of the worst nights either of them have ever had at the theatre. But despite the odd circumstances, the spark is undeniable. I loved how well the author keeps these separate storylines running alongside each other. Everything comes together so beautifully in the end, it’s all so skilfully done. All in all, I found The In Crowd to be a very compelling, twisty, assured read, delivered with style and conviction. The characters are superb and wholly believable, whilst the plot moves at an intriguing pace. I’m excited to read more by this author in the future. Vassell is certainly an author to watch. An excellent, astutely told mystery. Highly recommended.
]]> 184907763
Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist whose job is to understand the minds of serial killers. There’s only one monster she can’t understand, her father.

A NEW IDENTITY

Notorious and brutal, he held a reign of terror until he was caught. His nine-year-old daughter was supposed to be his last victim, but she survived.

A SERIAL KILLER WHO WILL STOP AT NOTHING

Now, a serial killer is stalking the streets of London. As the body count rises, the police need Olivia’s help to profile him before he can strike again. But to do so, she will need to confront her own demons…]]> 454 Michael Wood 0008618852 Emma 4
A serial killer is stalking the streets of London, preying on single women in their homes. The killer, being forensically aware, leaves no trace behind leaving the Metropolitan Police at a loss. With the timespan between each murder reducing at a rapid rate, the police decide to turn to Dr Olivia Winter, a forensic psychologist for help. But Olivia doesn’t get involved with active cases. She prefers dealing with killers when they’re locked up behind bars. However, with this killer, things have suddenly become very personal. With her own tragic history weighing her down, can Olivia help the Met catch one of London’s most prolific serial killers before the body count rises even further��?

The Mind of a Murderer is an intriguing, pacy serial killer thriller and the start of a brand new series from one of my favourite authors. If you’re a regular visitor to the blog then you may have seen me mention DCI Matilda Darke before. I’ve read all but one (weirdly the first one!) of the series so far and I will continue to read them for as long as Michael Wood writes them. They’re dark, shocking and I really enjoy the way Wood torments his characters �� killing one off here, changing another’s life forever there. He really puts his characters through the mill! So I was excited to read The Mind of a Murderer and meet new creation, Dr Olivia Winter. There are plenty of Wood’s trademark shocks and surprises present. But there are also quite a few differences which make this new character distinct. The most obvious is that Olivia is a forensic psychologist (yes, I did Google what a forensic psychologist does �� just to be sure) rather than your run-of-the-mill detective. I thought this was an interesting choice and gave the book a very different feel to other serial killer thrillers I’ve read recently. Particularly as Olivia repeatedly tells her police colleagues that she’s not a profiler but then, in the next breath, delivers a profile of the killer. Makes for a good reading though!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Mind of a Murderer is a well-paced, compulsive start to what promises to be an intriguing new series. I found Olivia to be an interesting but slightly frustrating character. I had a couple of niggles about her that I just couldn’t shake. First though, I need to give some background. Olivia was nine-years-old when her otherwise loving father was unmasked as a serial killer. He brutally killed Olivia’s mother and her younger sister. Olivia walked in on the carnage but managed to escape the house. However, her father found her and wanting to finish the job off, stabbed her four times in the shoulder. She hasn’t seen her serial killer father for twenty-five years. I don’t understand how, with her past, she has taken the career path she has. She’s clearly highly traumatised by her past (who wouldn’t be??!) so it felt like an odd choice. I know it’s only fiction but it just didn’t sit right with me. I hope that by the time book two is available, I will have gotten over my initial reservations. Olivia’s best friend is killed fairly early on in the book. She sheds a tear or two and then gets stuck into the investigation. Later on in the book a man Olivia hardly knows dies, yet Olivia is consumed with grief. A tidal wave of tears and anger at the death of an almost stranger who caused her actual harm. I found it all very peculiar. I keep telling myself it was an accumulation of grief over time, but I’m not sure. Please don’t get me wrong, these are all small niggles that most people won’t mind in the slightest. I’ve been very nit-picky here. I’ve had a look at other reviews for this book and they tend to be five stars all the way. I did enjoy the plot. I wasn’t able to guess whodunit and I liked the set-up. I would recommend this book to crime fiction fans who don’t mind a little sauciness in their reads (Olivia is a woman with needs!). Also good if you’re looking for a different take on a serial killer case rather than the traditional detective (although there are plenty of traditional detectives present!). I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series. Michael Wood is a fantastic author and I am a huge fan of his work. I feel perhaps he has laid the groundwork and now it’s time to really build the character on book one’s foundations.]]> 4.28 2024
author: Michael Wood
name: Emma
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/22
date added: 2024/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

A serial killer is stalking the streets of London, preying on single women in their homes. The killer, being forensically aware, leaves no trace behind leaving the Metropolitan Police at a loss. With the timespan between each murder reducing at a rapid rate, the police decide to turn to Dr Olivia Winter, a forensic psychologist for help. But Olivia doesn’t get involved with active cases. She prefers dealing with killers when they’re locked up behind bars. However, with this killer, things have suddenly become very personal. With her own tragic history weighing her down, can Olivia help the Met catch one of London’s most prolific serial killers before the body count rises even further��?

The Mind of a Murderer is an intriguing, pacy serial killer thriller and the start of a brand new series from one of my favourite authors. If you’re a regular visitor to the blog then you may have seen me mention DCI Matilda Darke before. I’ve read all but one (weirdly the first one!) of the series so far and I will continue to read them for as long as Michael Wood writes them. They’re dark, shocking and I really enjoy the way Wood torments his characters �� killing one off here, changing another’s life forever there. He really puts his characters through the mill! So I was excited to read The Mind of a Murderer and meet new creation, Dr Olivia Winter. There are plenty of Wood’s trademark shocks and surprises present. But there are also quite a few differences which make this new character distinct. The most obvious is that Olivia is a forensic psychologist (yes, I did Google what a forensic psychologist does �� just to be sure) rather than your run-of-the-mill detective. I thought this was an interesting choice and gave the book a very different feel to other serial killer thrillers I’ve read recently. Particularly as Olivia repeatedly tells her police colleagues that she’s not a profiler but then, in the next breath, delivers a profile of the killer. Makes for a good reading though!

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Mind of a Murderer is a well-paced, compulsive start to what promises to be an intriguing new series. I found Olivia to be an interesting but slightly frustrating character. I had a couple of niggles about her that I just couldn’t shake. First though, I need to give some background. Olivia was nine-years-old when her otherwise loving father was unmasked as a serial killer. He brutally killed Olivia’s mother and her younger sister. Olivia walked in on the carnage but managed to escape the house. However, her father found her and wanting to finish the job off, stabbed her four times in the shoulder. She hasn’t seen her serial killer father for twenty-five years. I don’t understand how, with her past, she has taken the career path she has. She’s clearly highly traumatised by her past (who wouldn’t be??!) so it felt like an odd choice. I know it’s only fiction but it just didn’t sit right with me. I hope that by the time book two is available, I will have gotten over my initial reservations. Olivia’s best friend is killed fairly early on in the book. She sheds a tear or two and then gets stuck into the investigation. Later on in the book a man Olivia hardly knows dies, yet Olivia is consumed with grief. A tidal wave of tears and anger at the death of an almost stranger who caused her actual harm. I found it all very peculiar. I keep telling myself it was an accumulation of grief over time, but I’m not sure. Please don’t get me wrong, these are all small niggles that most people won’t mind in the slightest. I’ve been very nit-picky here. I’ve had a look at other reviews for this book and they tend to be five stars all the way. I did enjoy the plot. I wasn’t able to guess whodunit and I liked the set-up. I would recommend this book to crime fiction fans who don’t mind a little sauciness in their reads (Olivia is a woman with needs!). Also good if you’re looking for a different take on a serial killer case rather than the traditional detective (although there are plenty of traditional detectives present!). I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series. Michael Wood is a fantastic author and I am a huge fan of his work. I feel perhaps he has laid the groundwork and now it’s time to really build the character on book one’s foundations.
]]> 208290516 GET READY FOR THE SCARIEST READ OF 2024 - a gripping new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases

April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn.

They're on a long dark road, late at night, and they see a woman up ahead, clearly in trouble.

They stop and pick her up. It's only once she's in the car that they see the blood.

And then they see the headlights, and at last, the woman speaks, her voice faint. "I'm sorry, he's coming."

Ingeniously plotted and heartstoppingly terrifying, are you ready to uncover the secret of Murder Road?]]> 368 Simone St. James 0241678188 Emma 5
It’s July 1995 and newlyweds Eddie and April are driving to their honeymoon at Five Pines Resort when Eddie takes a wrong turn. April, who has been asleep in the passenger seat, senses they’re lost the moment she wakes up. Trying to correct Eddie’s mistake, they spot a young woman by the side of the road. Unable to leave the woman on her own on such a dark, lonely road the Carters offer her a lift. Reluctantly the woman agrees but it soon becomes clear that they need to get to a hospital ASAP. Because the woman is bleeding from a horrific stomach wound all over the back seat of their car. When the hitchhiker utters the words ‘I’m sorry, he’s coming�� both Eddie and April know they’ve somehow ended up in a nightmare, and this is only the beginning��

Murder Road is a highly addictive, thoroughly gripping supernatural thriller which I devoured over the course of a day. Chilling, engrossing and nigh-on impossible to put down, I was drawn into April and Eddie’s story as they became prime suspects for the murder of Rhonda Jean, the hitchhiker they picked up on Atticus Line. With little to no evidence, Detective Quentin and his bumbling, less-effective partner, Detective Beam, do everything in their power to make the evidence stick. Because Rhonda Jean isn’t the first hitchhiker to be killed on that particular stretch of road. Sure there is more to the story, April decides to dig further into the horrific deaths that have been happening since the 1970s on Atticus Line. But the truth is more terrifying than April ever imagined it could be.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved Murder Road with its atmospheric, creepy setting and small-town vibes. I fell completely in love with April and Eddie who both have their own secrets which they are yet to tell their new spouse. The other characters are all so wonderfully written. Detective Quentin is deliciously frustrating and highly antagonising. He’s like a dog with a bone and just won’t quit. He’ll do whatever it takes to make the few facts he has stick to April and Eddie. He makes some highly inappropriate moves to ensure there is tension between April and Eddie. Violence is never the answer but I was ready to thump him one! Detective Beam is the more crumpled, older detective. Waiting it out until the day he can claim his pension but he’s more than happy to offer up his opinion on April. Both Detectives take an instant dislike to April. But have they got the true measure of her? I have to mention Rose who is the owner of the B&B the couple stay at. She’s highly disagreeable with a gruff exterior. But when it comes to Eddie, her frosty shell does melt a little. In a town where Eddie and April are very much alone, Rose is the only person on their side. The characters are all so beautifully written. It was a joy (if a somewhat unnerving joy!) to spend time in their company. The plot moves at a steady, intriguing pace with twists and turns along the way keeping the reader immersed in the story. Personally, I was hooked throughout. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! It’s been a while since I last felt so completely absorbed by a book. All in all, I loved Murder Road. I’ve been wanting to read a Simone St. James book for a while now having heard so many positive things about the author’s writing and I’m so pleased I started with this one (I have a couple on the TBR but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet). It’s a creepy, unsettling tale with an overarching, cleverly crafted sense of impending doom and I loved every moment of it. Absolutely excellent in every respect. Highly recommended.]]> 3.69 2024
author: Simone St. James
name: Emma
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/17
date added: 2024/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

It’s July 1995 and newlyweds Eddie and April are driving to their honeymoon at Five Pines Resort when Eddie takes a wrong turn. April, who has been asleep in the passenger seat, senses they’re lost the moment she wakes up. Trying to correct Eddie’s mistake, they spot a young woman by the side of the road. Unable to leave the woman on her own on such a dark, lonely road the Carters offer her a lift. Reluctantly the woman agrees but it soon becomes clear that they need to get to a hospital ASAP. Because the woman is bleeding from a horrific stomach wound all over the back seat of their car. When the hitchhiker utters the words ‘I’m sorry, he’s coming�� both Eddie and April know they’ve somehow ended up in a nightmare, and this is only the beginning��

Murder Road is a highly addictive, thoroughly gripping supernatural thriller which I devoured over the course of a day. Chilling, engrossing and nigh-on impossible to put down, I was drawn into April and Eddie’s story as they became prime suspects for the murder of Rhonda Jean, the hitchhiker they picked up on Atticus Line. With little to no evidence, Detective Quentin and his bumbling, less-effective partner, Detective Beam, do everything in their power to make the evidence stick. Because Rhonda Jean isn’t the first hitchhiker to be killed on that particular stretch of road. Sure there is more to the story, April decides to dig further into the horrific deaths that have been happening since the 1970s on Atticus Line. But the truth is more terrifying than April ever imagined it could be.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved Murder Road with its atmospheric, creepy setting and small-town vibes. I fell completely in love with April and Eddie who both have their own secrets which they are yet to tell their new spouse. The other characters are all so wonderfully written. Detective Quentin is deliciously frustrating and highly antagonising. He’s like a dog with a bone and just won’t quit. He’ll do whatever it takes to make the few facts he has stick to April and Eddie. He makes some highly inappropriate moves to ensure there is tension between April and Eddie. Violence is never the answer but I was ready to thump him one! Detective Beam is the more crumpled, older detective. Waiting it out until the day he can claim his pension but he’s more than happy to offer up his opinion on April. Both Detectives take an instant dislike to April. But have they got the true measure of her? I have to mention Rose who is the owner of the B&B the couple stay at. She’s highly disagreeable with a gruff exterior. But when it comes to Eddie, her frosty shell does melt a little. In a town where Eddie and April are very much alone, Rose is the only person on their side. The characters are all so beautifully written. It was a joy (if a somewhat unnerving joy!) to spend time in their company. The plot moves at a steady, intriguing pace with twists and turns along the way keeping the reader immersed in the story. Personally, I was hooked throughout. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! It’s been a while since I last felt so completely absorbed by a book. All in all, I loved Murder Road. I’ve been wanting to read a Simone St. James book for a while now having heard so many positive things about the author’s writing and I’m so pleased I started with this one (I have a couple on the TBR but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet). It’s a creepy, unsettling tale with an overarching, cleverly crafted sense of impending doom and I loved every moment of it. Absolutely excellent in every respect. Highly recommended.
]]> 125045100 You thought you could trust her.
You thought wrong.
The gripping new thriller from Leah Konen, author of You Should Have Told Me

Mary never meant to tell Willa her secret.

But after leaving her husband and father of her young son, meeting Willa feels like fate. Finally, she has someone on her side. Until Willa disappears.

Mary is heartbroken and confused. Why would her friend abandon her? But when she sees Willa months later, it's clear she never knew her at all.

Because Willa's in a new town, with a new name, and a brand-new family.

Mary knows she can't trust Willa. But Willa knows her very worst secret. And to keep her secret safe, Mary will have to keep her friend close - or risk losing everything . . .]]> 400 Leah Konen 1405947535 Emma 4
Newly separated new mum, Mary, can’t help but feel a little lonely. Her monied husband and his family have managed to drive a particularly large wedge between her and her best friend, sister-in-law Cassandra. However, one day at the park with her young son, she meets glamourous fellow mum Willa. It feels as though a weight has been lifted from Mary’s shoulders. The two quickly become firm friends. So much so, that one drunken night Mary confesses things about her husband that maybe she shouldn’t. The next day Mary contacts Willa to apologise for her drunken, inappropriate ramblings but receives no response. Willa seems to have vanished into thin air. Did Willa really react that badly to what Mary said that she no longer wants to be part of her life? It was always Mary’s intention to move away from Brooklyn to Woodstock, NY as part of the separation from her husband. So seeing someone who looks just like Willa, with a brand new family, on the streets of Woodstock comes as a shock. But the woman vehemently denies that she’s who Mary firmly believes she is. Hurt and betrayed Mary needs to decide how to handle the situation. Particularly when Mary’s husband is found dead, and Willa holds undeniable proof that Mary could be the one who killed him��

Keep Your Friends Close is a suspenseful, engaging read which I devoured in two sittings. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and what has become clear is that Konen really knows how to write female friendships, particularly the toxic kind. Mary is a little needy, a little insecure having made the difficult decision to leave her controlling, well-to-do husband. Having lost the one friend she could talk to (sister-in-law Cassandra) and with so much going on in her life, when Willa strikes up a conversation at the park, Mary can’t help but feel they’ve made a real connection. Willa is perfect. Perhaps too perfect. She’s younger than Mary, beautiful and well-dressed. She also speaks her mind when it comes to motherhood which Mary can’t help but find refreshing. So when Willa stops returning Mary’s calls, she’s heartbroken. She really believed in their friendship. Perhaps Willa was too perfect to be true after all��.?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Keep Your Friends Close from the moment I picked the book up. Konen’s writing style really pulls the reader into Mary’s world. You may not like the character (I struggled to, I found her a little too needy) but you will certainly feel for her as she tries to understand what is happening in Woodstock. Could Mary be the one who killed her husband? She certainly has the most to gain from his death and it puts an end to their ongoing, tortuous custody battle over little Alex. I thought Willa was an excellent character, beautifully drawn with lots of dark and mysterious edges. I was almost as smitten as Mary! The plot moves at a thoroughly engaging pace. There is always something happening to keep the reader turning the pages with lots of lovely twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed Keep Your Friends Close and look forward to more from this author in the future. With female friendship at the core of the story, this well-written mystery was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish and brimming with lots of lovely suspense. All in all, a highly readable, well-paced, addictive psychological thriller that I devoured with glee. Recommended.]]> 3.77 2024
author: Leah Konen
name: Emma
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/16
date added: 2024/03/28
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Newly separated new mum, Mary, can’t help but feel a little lonely. Her monied husband and his family have managed to drive a particularly large wedge between her and her best friend, sister-in-law Cassandra. However, one day at the park with her young son, she meets glamourous fellow mum Willa. It feels as though a weight has been lifted from Mary’s shoulders. The two quickly become firm friends. So much so, that one drunken night Mary confesses things about her husband that maybe she shouldn’t. The next day Mary contacts Willa to apologise for her drunken, inappropriate ramblings but receives no response. Willa seems to have vanished into thin air. Did Willa really react that badly to what Mary said that she no longer wants to be part of her life? It was always Mary’s intention to move away from Brooklyn to Woodstock, NY as part of the separation from her husband. So seeing someone who looks just like Willa, with a brand new family, on the streets of Woodstock comes as a shock. But the woman vehemently denies that she’s who Mary firmly believes she is. Hurt and betrayed Mary needs to decide how to handle the situation. Particularly when Mary’s husband is found dead, and Willa holds undeniable proof that Mary could be the one who killed him��

Keep Your Friends Close is a suspenseful, engaging read which I devoured in two sittings. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and what has become clear is that Konen really knows how to write female friendships, particularly the toxic kind. Mary is a little needy, a little insecure having made the difficult decision to leave her controlling, well-to-do husband. Having lost the one friend she could talk to (sister-in-law Cassandra) and with so much going on in her life, when Willa strikes up a conversation at the park, Mary can’t help but feel they’ve made a real connection. Willa is perfect. Perhaps too perfect. She’s younger than Mary, beautiful and well-dressed. She also speaks her mind when it comes to motherhood which Mary can’t help but find refreshing. So when Willa stops returning Mary’s calls, she’s heartbroken. She really believed in their friendship. Perhaps Willa was too perfect to be true after all��.?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Keep Your Friends Close from the moment I picked the book up. Konen’s writing style really pulls the reader into Mary’s world. You may not like the character (I struggled to, I found her a little too needy) but you will certainly feel for her as she tries to understand what is happening in Woodstock. Could Mary be the one who killed her husband? She certainly has the most to gain from his death and it puts an end to their ongoing, tortuous custody battle over little Alex. I thought Willa was an excellent character, beautifully drawn with lots of dark and mysterious edges. I was almost as smitten as Mary! The plot moves at a thoroughly engaging pace. There is always something happening to keep the reader turning the pages with lots of lovely twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed Keep Your Friends Close and look forward to more from this author in the future. With female friendship at the core of the story, this well-written mystery was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish and brimming with lots of lovely suspense. All in all, a highly readable, well-paced, addictive psychological thriller that I devoured with glee. Recommended.
]]> 178033396
On a foggy winter morning Luca Wolf and Emma Reich discover an eighteenth-century sailing ship stranded on a barren flower field, its name written on its side: Oracle.

Emma, unable to resist, enters the hatch on the tilted deck. The ship's bell begins to toll and no one sees her again.

Not much later, eleven people have disappeared, Luca and his mother have been absconded by a clandestine government agency which has questions, no answers, and are determined to uncover the ship’s secrets before a media storm erupts.

But as they force Robert Grim, a retired specialist of the occult with a strange history and a healthy dislike of authority, to unravel the mystery, the Oracle is revealed to be a harbinger of an ancient doom awakened underneath the sea.

What follows is a maelstrom of international intrigue, history, young love, humanity’s relationship with climate and disease, and pure terror as they come face to face with an open doorway to apocalypse.]]> 384 Thomas Olde Heuvelt 1529331951 Emma 4
Making their way to school through the dense fog, long-time friends Luca and Emma make a startling discovery. An eighteenth-century ship in the middle of a tulip field. They approach full of excitement and apprehension. After all, this isn’t something that happens every day. Emma, confident and without fear, climbs inside the open hatch. Luca holds back, hesitant and worried. And rightly so as Emma completely disappears. Luca calls for help which results in a number of official and unofficial have-a-go-heroes climbing through the hatch. They too disappear. It soon becomes clear that this is a supernatural phenomenon never seen on Dutch soil before. Which immediately escalates the ghostly problem to the top levels of homeland security. Before long the Dutch General Intelligence Agency are involved, creating strangely believable alternatives to explain away the truth, which the Dutch people accept without question. But the authorities know they need help and there’s only one man who has ever faced such an unknown supernatural occurrence before, and lived to tell the tale��

Oracle is a chilling horror/thriller crossover novel with a palpable sense of unease and an overarching sense of dread and imminent doom. The author builds the tension from the moment the ghostly ship appears, drawing Luca and Emma into its paranormal orbit. Thirteen-year-old Luca, who has been best friends with Emma for some time and has the cutest crush on her, is the more cautious of the pair. Emma is keen to investigate the apparition and climbs into the open hatch. Shortly after, the ominous sound of a bell tolling reaches Luca’s ears and he knows something has gone terribly wrong. But this is only the start of Luca’s harrowing journey to the truth. There are so many elements to the story that at times I wondered how the author had managed to keep the different threads as easy to understand and follow as he did. It’s a complex, cinematic tale. One perhaps the reader needs to invest in a little to get the most out of.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Oracle was very different to everything else I’ve read recently and I enjoyed losing myself in Grim’s odd, often terrifying world. There is a lot going on in this book but it all ties together well, creating an intriguing read chock-full of tension and creepy unknown forces. There are peaks and troughs throughout the storytelling creating wonderful moments of high drama alongside some rather heartbreaking, emotional scenes. I enjoyed how the initial threat mutates throughout the book becoming something else Grim and co. need to battle against and outsmart. One particular twist was done in the most frightening and nerve-shredding way and I loved it! All in all, I found Oracle to be a well-written, immersive horror/thriller crossover with interesting characters (I was on Luca’s side from the moment things went a little iffy for him!) and a well-drawn, intricate, full-on plot. I don’t think this is going to be a one-sitting read for many people. I felt it was a book that the reader needs to savour rather than rush. That way it delivers the gut punch it was designed to. Very enjoyable and I look forward to more from this author in the future. I’ll leave you with one final thought �� give and give in abundance (that will make no sense to anyone unless you’ve read the book so you know what to do!). Recommended.]]> 3.98 2021
author: Thomas Olde Heuvelt
name: Emma
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/14
date added: 2024/03/22
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Making their way to school through the dense fog, long-time friends Luca and Emma make a startling discovery. An eighteenth-century ship in the middle of a tulip field. They approach full of excitement and apprehension. After all, this isn’t something that happens every day. Emma, confident and without fear, climbs inside the open hatch. Luca holds back, hesitant and worried. And rightly so as Emma completely disappears. Luca calls for help which results in a number of official and unofficial have-a-go-heroes climbing through the hatch. They too disappear. It soon becomes clear that this is a supernatural phenomenon never seen on Dutch soil before. Which immediately escalates the ghostly problem to the top levels of homeland security. Before long the Dutch General Intelligence Agency are involved, creating strangely believable alternatives to explain away the truth, which the Dutch people accept without question. But the authorities know they need help and there’s only one man who has ever faced such an unknown supernatural occurrence before, and lived to tell the tale��

Oracle is a chilling horror/thriller crossover novel with a palpable sense of unease and an overarching sense of dread and imminent doom. The author builds the tension from the moment the ghostly ship appears, drawing Luca and Emma into its paranormal orbit. Thirteen-year-old Luca, who has been best friends with Emma for some time and has the cutest crush on her, is the more cautious of the pair. Emma is keen to investigate the apparition and climbs into the open hatch. Shortly after, the ominous sound of a bell tolling reaches Luca’s ears and he knows something has gone terribly wrong. But this is only the start of Luca’s harrowing journey to the truth. There are so many elements to the story that at times I wondered how the author had managed to keep the different threads as easy to understand and follow as he did. It’s a complex, cinematic tale. One perhaps the reader needs to invest in a little to get the most out of.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Oracle was very different to everything else I’ve read recently and I enjoyed losing myself in Grim’s odd, often terrifying world. There is a lot going on in this book but it all ties together well, creating an intriguing read chock-full of tension and creepy unknown forces. There are peaks and troughs throughout the storytelling creating wonderful moments of high drama alongside some rather heartbreaking, emotional scenes. I enjoyed how the initial threat mutates throughout the book becoming something else Grim and co. need to battle against and outsmart. One particular twist was done in the most frightening and nerve-shredding way and I loved it! All in all, I found Oracle to be a well-written, immersive horror/thriller crossover with interesting characters (I was on Luca’s side from the moment things went a little iffy for him!) and a well-drawn, intricate, full-on plot. I don’t think this is going to be a one-sitting read for many people. I felt it was a book that the reader needs to savour rather than rush. That way it delivers the gut punch it was designed to. Very enjoyable and I look forward to more from this author in the future. I’ll leave you with one final thought �� give and give in abundance (that will make no sense to anyone unless you’ve read the book so you know what to do!). Recommended.
]]> 6011275 A young man is fighting for his life.
Into his room walks a bewitching woman who believes she can save him.
Their journey will have you believing in the impossible.

The nameless and beautiful narrator of The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over - he is now a monster.

But in fact it is only just beginning. One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, to love.]]> 499 Andrew Davidson 1847671691 Emma 3 3.90 2008
author: Andrew Davidson
name: Emma
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 182106201 293 Georgina Lees 0008614083 Emma 5
Grace Harper’s twenty-year-old daughter, Katy, left work ten years ago and was never seen again. Understandably Grace has spent the last ten years of her life fixated on her daughters�� whereabouts. And she’s not the only one. Grace finds comfort in talking to a small group of strangers on a message board who are also interested in what happened to Katy. Using the cloak of internet anonymity Grace listens to their theories whilst adding her own, keen to keep Katy’s name fresh in people’s minds. So when a television production company approaches Grace asking to dig deeper into Katy’s disappearance she agrees, desperate to find out what happened and hoping it will bring new evidence to light. But the documentary is nothing like Grace expected. The emphasis is all wrong. And no matter how prepared she felt she was, it inevitably opens painful old wounds. Inching ever closer to the truth, Grace takes matters into her own hands. Someone somewhere knows what happened to Katy Harper and they’ll go to extreme measures to keep the secret buried forever��

True Crime is an intense, emotional and gripping psychological thriller which had me turning the pages at a rate of knots. Grace is angry, and rightly so. Her daughter vanished without a trace ten years ago and despite a fairly thorough investigation by the police, no trace of Katy was ever found. At the time of her disappearance, there were three main suspects; her older boyfriend who seemed much more into their relationship than Katy ever was. Her English professor who was rumoured to have had affairs with other students on Katy’s course, Katy being his latest conquest, and an intense colleague at work who seemed to know Katy’s every move. Rather than shining a spotlight on those Grace feels responsible for Katy’s disappearance, the documentary gives them a voice and Grace doesn’t like what she hears. The author has excelled at showing how true crime documentaries can tilt the emphasis of an investigation, giving those initial suspects who felt strongly aggrieved by being accused, the opportunity to have a voice and how, edited just the right way, that voice can sound authoritative, conclusive and be taken as truth.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. True Crime is a superbly written, highly emotional tale of a desperate, heartbroken mother’s search for the truth. With each new episode of the documentary, Grace realises that perhaps she didn’t know Katy anywhere near as well as she thought. Could one of the three original suspects be responsible for her disappearance? Or did something else happen to Katy that night? The majority of the story is told from Grace’s point of view. The reader gets to see her heartfelt reaction to the documentary episodes, her relationship with Detective Harrison Lane �� the lead investigator when Katy first went missing �� (who I loved!) and how Grace slowly starts to make progress in her own investigation off of the back of the series. We also see first-hand how each episode plays out, the startling revelations, the sudden reappearance of Katy’s ‘dad�� and how the suspects easily turn things around, making Katy’s own actions look highly suspicious. And finally, we hear from Katy in the lead-up to her disappearance. Step by step the reader watches as that fateful night unfolds and the truth finally comes to light. And it’s a shocker! I certainly didn’t expect the author to take the story in the direction they did. Wonderfully unexpected, perhaps a smidge hard to believe but I didn’t really care. The ending was explosive and I loved it. All in all, a hugely addictive novel, utterly compelling and nigh-on impossible to put down. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I can guarantee I will be reading more. How can I not after being swept up in this cracking story? Tense, involving and very intriguing. Highly recommended.]]> 3.79 2024
author: Georgina Lees
name: Emma
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/16
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Grace Harper’s twenty-year-old daughter, Katy, left work ten years ago and was never seen again. Understandably Grace has spent the last ten years of her life fixated on her daughters�� whereabouts. And she’s not the only one. Grace finds comfort in talking to a small group of strangers on a message board who are also interested in what happened to Katy. Using the cloak of internet anonymity Grace listens to their theories whilst adding her own, keen to keep Katy’s name fresh in people’s minds. So when a television production company approaches Grace asking to dig deeper into Katy’s disappearance she agrees, desperate to find out what happened and hoping it will bring new evidence to light. But the documentary is nothing like Grace expected. The emphasis is all wrong. And no matter how prepared she felt she was, it inevitably opens painful old wounds. Inching ever closer to the truth, Grace takes matters into her own hands. Someone somewhere knows what happened to Katy Harper and they’ll go to extreme measures to keep the secret buried forever��

True Crime is an intense, emotional and gripping psychological thriller which had me turning the pages at a rate of knots. Grace is angry, and rightly so. Her daughter vanished without a trace ten years ago and despite a fairly thorough investigation by the police, no trace of Katy was ever found. At the time of her disappearance, there were three main suspects; her older boyfriend who seemed much more into their relationship than Katy ever was. Her English professor who was rumoured to have had affairs with other students on Katy’s course, Katy being his latest conquest, and an intense colleague at work who seemed to know Katy’s every move. Rather than shining a spotlight on those Grace feels responsible for Katy’s disappearance, the documentary gives them a voice and Grace doesn’t like what she hears. The author has excelled at showing how true crime documentaries can tilt the emphasis of an investigation, giving those initial suspects who felt strongly aggrieved by being accused, the opportunity to have a voice and how, edited just the right way, that voice can sound authoritative, conclusive and be taken as truth.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. True Crime is a superbly written, highly emotional tale of a desperate, heartbroken mother’s search for the truth. With each new episode of the documentary, Grace realises that perhaps she didn’t know Katy anywhere near as well as she thought. Could one of the three original suspects be responsible for her disappearance? Or did something else happen to Katy that night? The majority of the story is told from Grace’s point of view. The reader gets to see her heartfelt reaction to the documentary episodes, her relationship with Detective Harrison Lane �� the lead investigator when Katy first went missing �� (who I loved!) and how Grace slowly starts to make progress in her own investigation off of the back of the series. We also see first-hand how each episode plays out, the startling revelations, the sudden reappearance of Katy’s ‘dad�� and how the suspects easily turn things around, making Katy’s own actions look highly suspicious. And finally, we hear from Katy in the lead-up to her disappearance. Step by step the reader watches as that fateful night unfolds and the truth finally comes to light. And it’s a shocker! I certainly didn’t expect the author to take the story in the direction they did. Wonderfully unexpected, perhaps a smidge hard to believe but I didn’t really care. The ending was explosive and I loved it. All in all, a hugely addictive novel, utterly compelling and nigh-on impossible to put down. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I can guarantee I will be reading more. How can I not after being swept up in this cracking story? Tense, involving and very intriguing. Highly recommended.
]]> 201897376 12 girls gone. Can she save The 13th Girl?

After decades in a mental health hospital, Dee knows that people find her creepy �� because they tell her so. Once the reluctant star of an infamous documentary, she is trying to blend back into the outside world. But when a string of local girls disappear, only to be found dead days later, she becomes fixated on the case and decides to film her own True Crime documentary.

There is a serial killer on the loose - The Righteous Wraith. Girls are being found one by one, their bodies gruesomely staged in the most innocent public spaces. With the killer taunting the police and public fear mounting, the armchair detectives begin pointing fingers at one suspect. But for Dee, something isn’t adding up.

She knows what it’s like to be accused of something that you didn’t do.

She resolves to prove his innocence, unmask the real killer, and save The 13th Girl.

But who will believe her?

A dark, inventive thriller perfect for fans of Chris Carter, Alice Feeney and C.J. Scuse.

Praise for N V

‘A twisty-turny original take on the serial killer thriller. A truly captivating and, at times, chilling read.�� C.J. Skuse, author of Sweetpea

‘A twisted, chilling journey to the darkest side of human nature. I burned through Little Bones in a day.�� Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End

‘An exciting new voice in thriller fiction.�� Sarah Pinborough, author of Behind Her Eyes

‘Wow �� this deftly plotted, twisty �� and twisted �� thriller got under my skin and chilled me to the bone! Excellent from the first page until the last. This is a debut not to be missed.�� Sam Carrington, author of The Open House

‘Darkly addictive and creepy as hell�� lingers long after the last page.�� Jane Isaac, author of Hush Little Baby

‘Dark, chilling, original and compulsive, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!�� A A Chaudhuri, author of The Loyal Friend

‘Geez! What a book!…suspense, intrigue, action, murder, a crazy serial killer, a great whodunit, great sleuthing and great police work�� a few crazy twists and turns! I definitely recommend�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

‘Wow, what a book…I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend to others�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

‘An intense and twisted page-turner…This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down�� a truly thrilling read.�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

‘…near perfection in every way. This is one of those top tier murder mysteries that keeps you guessing. There are so many twists and turns…I was…captivated.�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

‘Oh. Whoa. This book…The tension is immediate and slowly ratchets up with each chapter…making it impossible to put down…The ending left me literally reeling. The world will go away as you read this�� Clever, diabolical and completely delicious…Colour me a lifetime fan.�� ⭐⭐⭐⭐�� Reader Review

‘What a nerve-wracking read! interesting and believable and quite different from other psychological thrillers I’ve read recently.]]> 347 N.V. Peacock 1804366390 Emma 4
Following a terrible accident as a child, which led to her suffering bursts of furious rage as a young teen, adult Dee is seen by many as different and weird. Particularly after she was made the unwilling star of a viral documentary by someone she thought was a friend. Many still believe Dee to be possessed, having watched her exorcism on film, something that keeps many people at bay and that suits Dee just fine. When a notorious serial killer starts snatching women from the streets of Northamptonshire, Dee sees this as the perfect opportunity to start her own career as a documentary film maker. All she needs is an angle. And that angle is Andy Fryer. Andy is believed by many to be the serial killer who calls themselves ‘The Righteous Wraith�� but Dee isn’t so sure. After all, she knows how it feels when people get it wrong. When they judge your character and accuse you of things that just aren’t true. Dee feels it’s her duty to prove Andy innocent, unmask the true killer and to make her name as the next big thing in documentary film making. That’s providing the killer doesn’t get to her first��

The 13th Girl is a very compelling, thoroughly enjoyable serial killer thriller. It felt quite different to others in the same genre and truth be told, I was sold! I really enjoyed every moment I spent with this book. Reluctant to put it down when life demanded, but ALWAYS keen to return to Dee’s story and find out where our unlikely protagonist would end up next. I’m not sure Dee will be a hit with all readers but the more of her story I read, the more I warmed to her. As a child she was involved in a devastating accident. The reader gets the bare bones of the incident, thanks to her fear of getting in a car. The accident resulted in Dee suffering from uncontrollable flashes of rage, moments she describes as ‘red��. Her church-going parents, unable to deal with the change in their daughter, agree to have her exorcised �� all arranged by Louisa Black, a novice documentary maker who convinces them Dee is possessed by a demon. The exorcism goes ahead, every moment filmed by a fame hungry Louisa. Flash forward several decades and after spending most of her life in a mental health hospital, Dee is finally starting over. She’s living back with her parents, she takes the bus everywhere, she isn’t allowed a key to her parent’s house, she’s only allowed to use plastic cutlery, she has a sweet tooth that made my own teeth hum and she’s determined to find a vicious murderer who sadistically kills and maims his poor victims, leaving them in the most macabre set-ups. Dee is an unlikely hero but I thought she was magnificent.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The 13th Girl and will, without a doubt, be downloading the author’s first two books. My main focus was on discovering who the murderer was, I was keen to find out if my suspicions were correct. And I was right, in a way. But a lot of the appeal of this book was also the grisly murders, the taunting letters the killer sent, the macabre tableaus set for the unfortunate soul who discovered the bodies. And as the title of the book implies, there are many bodies. I do love a serial killer thriller! The relationship Dee has with her parents is written so well that I felt really quite awkward at times, it’s strained at best! Dee’s father tries his best but Dee’s mother, I couldn’t help but feel she was living on the edge. Waiting for Dee to relapse again. This once religious family has all but turned its back on its faith, Dee being the only believer left. She turns to God for signs she should follow a certain path or just for someone to talk to when she’s unsure or lonely. There are many references to God and the church which I didn’t mind as religion is a big part of Dee’s life. It’s all part of her story. All in all, I very much enjoyed The 13th Girl. I enjoyed spending time with Dee, I thought she was quite different to many other lead protagonists in crime fiction. There’s a vulnerability there. I thought the plot was paced extremely well with lots of tense, gripping moments and lots of intrigue to keep me turning the pages. I couldn’t help but feel that if Strange Sally Diamond (Liz Nugent) and Death of a Bookseller (Alice Slater) had a baby, The 13th Girl would be the result. Highly compelling, great characterisation and a perfectly pitched, twisty plot. Recommended.]]> 3.18 2024
author: N.V. Peacock
name: Emma
average rating: 3.18
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/21
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Following a terrible accident as a child, which led to her suffering bursts of furious rage as a young teen, adult Dee is seen by many as different and weird. Particularly after she was made the unwilling star of a viral documentary by someone she thought was a friend. Many still believe Dee to be possessed, having watched her exorcism on film, something that keeps many people at bay and that suits Dee just fine. When a notorious serial killer starts snatching women from the streets of Northamptonshire, Dee sees this as the perfect opportunity to start her own career as a documentary film maker. All she needs is an angle. And that angle is Andy Fryer. Andy is believed by many to be the serial killer who calls themselves ‘The Righteous Wraith�� but Dee isn’t so sure. After all, she knows how it feels when people get it wrong. When they judge your character and accuse you of things that just aren’t true. Dee feels it’s her duty to prove Andy innocent, unmask the true killer and to make her name as the next big thing in documentary film making. That’s providing the killer doesn’t get to her first��

The 13th Girl is a very compelling, thoroughly enjoyable serial killer thriller. It felt quite different to others in the same genre and truth be told, I was sold! I really enjoyed every moment I spent with this book. Reluctant to put it down when life demanded, but ALWAYS keen to return to Dee’s story and find out where our unlikely protagonist would end up next. I’m not sure Dee will be a hit with all readers but the more of her story I read, the more I warmed to her. As a child she was involved in a devastating accident. The reader gets the bare bones of the incident, thanks to her fear of getting in a car. The accident resulted in Dee suffering from uncontrollable flashes of rage, moments she describes as ‘red��. Her church-going parents, unable to deal with the change in their daughter, agree to have her exorcised �� all arranged by Louisa Black, a novice documentary maker who convinces them Dee is possessed by a demon. The exorcism goes ahead, every moment filmed by a fame hungry Louisa. Flash forward several decades and after spending most of her life in a mental health hospital, Dee is finally starting over. She’s living back with her parents, she takes the bus everywhere, she isn’t allowed a key to her parent’s house, she’s only allowed to use plastic cutlery, she has a sweet tooth that made my own teeth hum and she’s determined to find a vicious murderer who sadistically kills and maims his poor victims, leaving them in the most macabre set-ups. Dee is an unlikely hero but I thought she was magnificent.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The 13th Girl and will, without a doubt, be downloading the author’s first two books. My main focus was on discovering who the murderer was, I was keen to find out if my suspicions were correct. And I was right, in a way. But a lot of the appeal of this book was also the grisly murders, the taunting letters the killer sent, the macabre tableaus set for the unfortunate soul who discovered the bodies. And as the title of the book implies, there are many bodies. I do love a serial killer thriller! The relationship Dee has with her parents is written so well that I felt really quite awkward at times, it’s strained at best! Dee’s father tries his best but Dee’s mother, I couldn’t help but feel she was living on the edge. Waiting for Dee to relapse again. This once religious family has all but turned its back on its faith, Dee being the only believer left. She turns to God for signs she should follow a certain path or just for someone to talk to when she’s unsure or lonely. There are many references to God and the church which I didn’t mind as religion is a big part of Dee’s life. It’s all part of her story. All in all, I very much enjoyed The 13th Girl. I enjoyed spending time with Dee, I thought she was quite different to many other lead protagonists in crime fiction. There’s a vulnerability there. I thought the plot was paced extremely well with lots of tense, gripping moments and lots of intrigue to keep me turning the pages. I couldn’t help but feel that if Strange Sally Diamond (Liz Nugent) and Death of a Bookseller (Alice Slater) had a baby, The 13th Girl would be the result. Highly compelling, great characterisation and a perfectly pitched, twisty plot. Recommended.
]]> 75542641 But she soon discovers that being known as a "self-made" widow has some surprising perks. No one messes with her, no one threatens her, and no one tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It's even been good for her business; no one wants to risk getting on her bad side by not buying her jewelry.

Freedom must look good on Geeta, because other women in the village have started asking for her help to get rid of their own no-good husbands...but not all of them are asking nicely.

Now that Geeta's fearsome reputation has become a double-edged sword, she must decide how far to go to protect it, along with the life she's built. Because even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry.]]> 352 Parini Shroff 1838957154 Emma 5
Geeta’s husband, Ramesh, disappeared five years ago from their small village in India and hasn’t been seen since. The rumour being that Geeta killed him and did away with his body. It’s a rumour she uses to her advantage, preferring a solitary life and having local children fear her. One of her few social obligations is her mandatory attendance at her loan group. The group, made up of Geeta and four other women, meet regularly to repay their debts. She doesn’t like any of the women, especially Saloni who she grew up with. Painful memories of how close they used to be are pushed aside, allowing more room for her dislike of her former BFF to grow. When one of the other women in the group decides she’s had enough of her drunken, abusive husband she turns to Geeta for advice on how to do what they all assume Geeta did to Ramesh. She reluctantly agrees to help. But how can Geeta carry out the perfect murder when she hasn’t the faintest idea of what she’s doing��?

The Bandit Queens is a wonderful, character-driven tale featuring a small group of women in a rural Indian village. Very different to my other reads this heartfelt story of sisterhood, of battling against the odds (and the patriarchy) and of making your own destiny was a joy to read from start to finish. If you’re a regular visitor to the blog then you may be aware that I’m all about the characters in the books I read. The Bandit Queens is a perfect example of how to write a cast of standout, unforgettable characters. They’re utterly sublime. Geeta had my heart from the moment I met her. She wants to be left alone so she uses her neighbours�� perception of her, believing her to be a churel, to ensure she’s not bothered by anyone. The local kids keep their distance, there’s no pressure to socialise with anyone, Geeta is happy with her lot. Plus, having a fearsome reputation works well for her in a village where being a single woman immediately puts a target on your back. When another member of the loan group decides she has had enough of her own husband, she turns to Geeta for help. Putting the disparate group of acquaintances with only a loan in common on a path none of them foresaw.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. There is so much to love about The Bandit Queens. The characters are beautifully drawn, each flawed in their own unique way. It makes the women all the more believable and I loved their interactions, their petty squabbles, the one-upwomanship (I know it’s one-upmanship but this is a feminist tale so I felt it more fitting!) and the ingrained traditions these Indian women adhere to, whether they want to or not. I thought the setting was superb. Rural India came to life on the page and I relished the backdrop just as much as I enjoyed spending time with Geeta and co. I thought the humour was delivered well with several laugh-out-loud moments and lots of heartfelt smiles. The plot is a little on the slow side but that’s something I tend to enjoy so I savoured the slower pace of the novel, enjoying the time I was spending in the characters�� company. As you approach the end of the book the tension really ramps up and a couple of things become uncomfortably clear. I was on the edge of my seat with my heart in my mouth. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything awful happening to the characters, I had become that invested in them. All in all, I loved The Bandit Queens. It was completely different to everything else I’ve read before. Wonderful characters, a glimpse into a different way of life (aspects of which made my toes curl in anger!), heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. I’ve already mentioned how much I liked Geeta but I can’t end this review without mentioning Bandit the dog. Bandit totally stole the show. He adds so much fun and spontaneity to proceedings, he’s comedy gold! Highly immersive, totally enchanting and irresistible from beginning to end. A book which deserves to be made into a movie or TV series. I very much look forward to reading more from this author soon. Highly recommended.]]> 3.94 2023
author: Parini Shroff
name: Emma
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/25
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Geeta’s husband, Ramesh, disappeared five years ago from their small village in India and hasn’t been seen since. The rumour being that Geeta killed him and did away with his body. It’s a rumour she uses to her advantage, preferring a solitary life and having local children fear her. One of her few social obligations is her mandatory attendance at her loan group. The group, made up of Geeta and four other women, meet regularly to repay their debts. She doesn’t like any of the women, especially Saloni who she grew up with. Painful memories of how close they used to be are pushed aside, allowing more room for her dislike of her former BFF to grow. When one of the other women in the group decides she’s had enough of her drunken, abusive husband she turns to Geeta for advice on how to do what they all assume Geeta did to Ramesh. She reluctantly agrees to help. But how can Geeta carry out the perfect murder when she hasn’t the faintest idea of what she’s doing��?

The Bandit Queens is a wonderful, character-driven tale featuring a small group of women in a rural Indian village. Very different to my other reads this heartfelt story of sisterhood, of battling against the odds (and the patriarchy) and of making your own destiny was a joy to read from start to finish. If you’re a regular visitor to the blog then you may be aware that I’m all about the characters in the books I read. The Bandit Queens is a perfect example of how to write a cast of standout, unforgettable characters. They’re utterly sublime. Geeta had my heart from the moment I met her. She wants to be left alone so she uses her neighbours�� perception of her, believing her to be a churel, to ensure she’s not bothered by anyone. The local kids keep their distance, there’s no pressure to socialise with anyone, Geeta is happy with her lot. Plus, having a fearsome reputation works well for her in a village where being a single woman immediately puts a target on your back. When another member of the loan group decides she has had enough of her own husband, she turns to Geeta for help. Putting the disparate group of acquaintances with only a loan in common on a path none of them foresaw.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. There is so much to love about The Bandit Queens. The characters are beautifully drawn, each flawed in their own unique way. It makes the women all the more believable and I loved their interactions, their petty squabbles, the one-upwomanship (I know it’s one-upmanship but this is a feminist tale so I felt it more fitting!) and the ingrained traditions these Indian women adhere to, whether they want to or not. I thought the setting was superb. Rural India came to life on the page and I relished the backdrop just as much as I enjoyed spending time with Geeta and co. I thought the humour was delivered well with several laugh-out-loud moments and lots of heartfelt smiles. The plot is a little on the slow side but that’s something I tend to enjoy so I savoured the slower pace of the novel, enjoying the time I was spending in the characters�� company. As you approach the end of the book the tension really ramps up and a couple of things become uncomfortably clear. I was on the edge of my seat with my heart in my mouth. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything awful happening to the characters, I had become that invested in them. All in all, I loved The Bandit Queens. It was completely different to everything else I’ve read before. Wonderful characters, a glimpse into a different way of life (aspects of which made my toes curl in anger!), heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. I’ve already mentioned how much I liked Geeta but I can’t end this review without mentioning Bandit the dog. Bandit totally stole the show. He adds so much fun and spontaneity to proceedings, he’s comedy gold! Highly immersive, totally enchanting and irresistible from beginning to end. A book which deserves to be made into a movie or TV series. I very much look forward to reading more from this author soon. Highly recommended.
]]> 75257282 In a brilliant and addictive thriller for fans of Tana French and Liz Moore, FBI rookie Riley Fisher must navigate a brutal serial killer as well as a kidnapping plot against the governor

It's a brutal winter in Des Moines, Iowa, and the city is gripped by fear. A serial attacker known as the Sin Eater is stalking women and has just struck again. It's a tough time and a tough place for Riley Fisher, a former small-town sergeant, to be reporting for duty as an FBI agent on her first assignment.

Teamed with a man she's not sure she can trust and struggling to prove herself - while fighting the pull of her old life and family dramas - Riley is tasked with investigating a vicious death threat against the newly elected female state governor. Gradually, she traces a disturbing connection between this case and the hunt for the Sin Eater. Through snow, ice, violence and lies, Riley Fisher is drawn towards a terrifying revelation.

Erin Young follows up her acclaimed crime debut, The Fields, which has drawn comparisons with Mare of Easttown, Silence of the Lambs and True Detective, with another stunning thriller full of dark menace and suspense.]]> 352 Erin Young Emma 5
Since The Fields, the first book in the Riley Fisher series, a lot has changed for our lead protagonist. She’s still as strong, determined and out for justice as ever. She still has a hell of a lot on her plate. But Riley has left the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and moved to the big city. Having undergone rigorous training, Riley is now a Rookie FBI Agent based in Des Moines, the last place any new agent wants to be stationed. But it’s close enough �� and far away enough �� from her difficult family to just about work. But there’s no time for worrying about her family when there’s a serial attacker at large. Someone is terrorising the women of Des Moines, brutally attacking them and leaving them close to death’s door. The Press call him the Sin Eater and if Riley’s colleagues are correct, he’s been destroying the lives of local women for many years. Stuck with a colleague she doesn’t trust and tasked to ensure the safety of the Governor on top of everything else, can Riley put an end to the Sin Eater’s reign of terror��

Original Sins is a highly compelling, tense, literary crime thriller full of atmosphere and intrigue. Riley is back with a vengeance and I loved every minute I spent with this multi-layered character. But life has changed for Riley. Before, she was stuck in the small town where she grew up. I won’t say investigating small-town crimes because if you’ve read The Fields you’ll know that what plays out cannot be described as small-town in any way, shape or form! But her family, with all of their flaws and their relentless demands, were a stone’s throw away, sapping Riley’s energy. Piling on the pressure, distracting her in the middle of a case and adding to her worries. That’s not so much the case in this latest book. I loved how Riley’s attitude towards her family had changed. I felt she had come to terms with putting herself first. That it was okay to focus on herself and her career and leave her hopeless adult brother to make his own decisions. She didn’t seem to carry the burden of being the only responsible adult anymore. I liked the change in her.

Riley’s move to the FBI has clearly not been an easy one. The reader is given a glimpse into the training she’s undertaken in the last two years since we left Riley in book one. It sounds intense, to say the least! But she’s made it through and requested one of the least attractive field offices for her posting �� Des Moines, Iowa. Partnered with an experienced agent, she is instructed to provide a security detail to the first female Governor of Iowa. But Riley is quickly pushed aside and told by her new partner that he works alone. However, similarities between the threat received by the Governor and the Sin Eater case cannot be ignored.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Original Sins is a superb thriller. Full of menace, anger and malevolence. The threat builds as the story unfolds revealing the dark, shocking reason behind the horrific attacks. The author has done a masterful job delivering the next instalment in Riley’s tale, building on the characters we got to know in the first book and lifting the bar even higher. I loved the setting, I could feel the chill in the air as the weather worsened, adding to the overall feel of mounting pressure. I thought the characters were superb. I’ve only really mentioned Riley but alongside her is a well-drawn cast of supporting characters. Riley’s niece, now two years older but still closer to her aunt than she is to her wayward father. Detective Julius ‘Fogg�� Verne of the DCI who I hope we get to see again in future books. Agent Peter Altman who is partnered with Riley to protect the Governor. But he’s having none of that! Noah Case, a young FBI agent and the only one in the Des Moines field office who seems to be on Riley’s side. All in all, Original Sins is a tense, thrilling, dark read with lots of beautifully penned suspense and lashings of well-written intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed Young’s writing style, her characters and the way she tells a story. Highly recommended.]]> 3.77 2024
author: Erin Young
name: Emma
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/29
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Since The Fields, the first book in the Riley Fisher series, a lot has changed for our lead protagonist. She’s still as strong, determined and out for justice as ever. She still has a hell of a lot on her plate. But Riley has left the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and moved to the big city. Having undergone rigorous training, Riley is now a Rookie FBI Agent based in Des Moines, the last place any new agent wants to be stationed. But it’s close enough �� and far away enough �� from her difficult family to just about work. But there’s no time for worrying about her family when there’s a serial attacker at large. Someone is terrorising the women of Des Moines, brutally attacking them and leaving them close to death’s door. The Press call him the Sin Eater and if Riley’s colleagues are correct, he’s been destroying the lives of local women for many years. Stuck with a colleague she doesn’t trust and tasked to ensure the safety of the Governor on top of everything else, can Riley put an end to the Sin Eater’s reign of terror��

Original Sins is a highly compelling, tense, literary crime thriller full of atmosphere and intrigue. Riley is back with a vengeance and I loved every minute I spent with this multi-layered character. But life has changed for Riley. Before, she was stuck in the small town where she grew up. I won’t say investigating small-town crimes because if you’ve read The Fields you’ll know that what plays out cannot be described as small-town in any way, shape or form! But her family, with all of their flaws and their relentless demands, were a stone’s throw away, sapping Riley’s energy. Piling on the pressure, distracting her in the middle of a case and adding to her worries. That’s not so much the case in this latest book. I loved how Riley’s attitude towards her family had changed. I felt she had come to terms with putting herself first. That it was okay to focus on herself and her career and leave her hopeless adult brother to make his own decisions. She didn’t seem to carry the burden of being the only responsible adult anymore. I liked the change in her.

Riley’s move to the FBI has clearly not been an easy one. The reader is given a glimpse into the training she’s undertaken in the last two years since we left Riley in book one. It sounds intense, to say the least! But she’s made it through and requested one of the least attractive field offices for her posting �� Des Moines, Iowa. Partnered with an experienced agent, she is instructed to provide a security detail to the first female Governor of Iowa. But Riley is quickly pushed aside and told by her new partner that he works alone. However, similarities between the threat received by the Governor and the Sin Eater case cannot be ignored.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Original Sins is a superb thriller. Full of menace, anger and malevolence. The threat builds as the story unfolds revealing the dark, shocking reason behind the horrific attacks. The author has done a masterful job delivering the next instalment in Riley’s tale, building on the characters we got to know in the first book and lifting the bar even higher. I loved the setting, I could feel the chill in the air as the weather worsened, adding to the overall feel of mounting pressure. I thought the characters were superb. I’ve only really mentioned Riley but alongside her is a well-drawn cast of supporting characters. Riley’s niece, now two years older but still closer to her aunt than she is to her wayward father. Detective Julius ‘Fogg�� Verne of the DCI who I hope we get to see again in future books. Agent Peter Altman who is partnered with Riley to protect the Governor. But he’s having none of that! Noah Case, a young FBI agent and the only one in the Des Moines field office who seems to be on Riley’s side. All in all, Original Sins is a tense, thrilling, dark read with lots of beautifully penned suspense and lashings of well-written intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed Young’s writing style, her characters and the way she tells a story. Highly recommended.
]]> 157044811
On the beautiful and windswept island of Tresco, two worlds live side by side. The wealthy visitors come by helicopter to stay at their lavish time-share properties. The estate staff travel by boat, and work all hours to keep them happy, to keep the money flowing in. But while the blue skies and savage waves make the island seem a wild paradise, under the surface the inhabitants are concealing more than they dare reveal. The truths about their marriages, their love affairs, and what they do in the darkness while their neighbours are sleeping.

As black clouds come rolling in and a storm hits the island, truths and rumours begin to tumble out, wreaking terrible damage. In the midst of the tempest, two women are attacked and one goes missing. The secrets of this fragile community can no longer be hidden if it hopes to survive. The islanders must finally reveal what they did in the storm, no matter the cost.

From the #1 bestselling author of Call Me Mummy comes a dark and luscious thriller, perfect for readers of Harriet Tyce, Amanda Jennings and Louise Candlish.]]> 384 Tina Baker 1800811845 Emma 4
Tresco, part of the Isles of Scilly and just off the coast of Cornwall, is a fair-weather second home to many wealthy and influential people. They arrive by helicopter looking for a few weeks of rest and relaxation. A home away from home. Leaving well before the weather really turns and island life becomes less than bearable. That’s not so much the case for the workers on the island who need to keep things ticking along, no matter how bad the weather or the pressing sense of isolation gets. Two very different groups of people, rubbing along together, hiding so many devastating secrets. And the approaching storm will bring them all out into the open��

What We Did in the Storm is another cracking, tension-laden read from Tina Baker. I’m a huge fan of this author’s books and this latest release firmly cements Baker on my ‘must-read�� author list. What We Did in the Storm had a different feel to the author’s earlier books though. They’ve always focussed on one or two main characters in the past, making the reading experience feel quite personal (particularly so with Nasty Little Cuts). What We Did�� has a large cast of characters �� a mix of staff and the more well-to-do visitors �� and the reader gets to hear from many of them. Despite the large cast, I was able to keep track of who was whom. A small group rise above the rest as the main characters but there are plenty of juicy secrets to be discovered everywhere the reader turns. Baker has done an excellent job in bringing Tresco to life on the page. The beauty of the island coupled with the savagery of the tumultuous sea, the jagged cliffs and the ever-changing weather really add to the suspense of the novel. The surroundings are unpredictable and untameable. I loved how the setting really added to the overall tension of the story.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. What We Did in the Storm is a wonderfully written, character-driven tale with lashings of expertly delivered suspense and a finely tuned overarching sense of inescapable, impending doom. We discover early on in the book that two women have been attacked and one is still missing. The identity of both women isn’t revealed until the end of the novel. The reader watches as the events, which lead up to that fateful night, unfold before them. Relationships change, resentment and anger builds �� the more I read, the more engrossed I became in the story. I had my suspicions as to whodunit and why, and I was proved correct. That didn’t spoil my enjoyment though. I did find the timeline a little confusing at times (not helped by reading the book via The Pigeonhole in ten predetermined staves over the course of ten days) and found myself getting a little muddled about the order of events. It all came together in the end though. All in all, What We Did in the Storm is a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller with well-drawn characters, a superb, vividly depicted setting, Baker’s trademark humour and wit (which adds splashes of light to the darker moments), and a wonderful, pressing sense of impending doom. Very compelling, full of delicious atmosphere and overflowing with suspense. Recommended.]]> 3.90 2024
author: Tina Baker
name: Emma
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/16
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Tresco, part of the Isles of Scilly and just off the coast of Cornwall, is a fair-weather second home to many wealthy and influential people. They arrive by helicopter looking for a few weeks of rest and relaxation. A home away from home. Leaving well before the weather really turns and island life becomes less than bearable. That’s not so much the case for the workers on the island who need to keep things ticking along, no matter how bad the weather or the pressing sense of isolation gets. Two very different groups of people, rubbing along together, hiding so many devastating secrets. And the approaching storm will bring them all out into the open��

What We Did in the Storm is another cracking, tension-laden read from Tina Baker. I’m a huge fan of this author’s books and this latest release firmly cements Baker on my ‘must-read�� author list. What We Did in the Storm had a different feel to the author’s earlier books though. They’ve always focussed on one or two main characters in the past, making the reading experience feel quite personal (particularly so with Nasty Little Cuts). What We Did�� has a large cast of characters �� a mix of staff and the more well-to-do visitors �� and the reader gets to hear from many of them. Despite the large cast, I was able to keep track of who was whom. A small group rise above the rest as the main characters but there are plenty of juicy secrets to be discovered everywhere the reader turns. Baker has done an excellent job in bringing Tresco to life on the page. The beauty of the island coupled with the savagery of the tumultuous sea, the jagged cliffs and the ever-changing weather really add to the suspense of the novel. The surroundings are unpredictable and untameable. I loved how the setting really added to the overall tension of the story.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. What We Did in the Storm is a wonderfully written, character-driven tale with lashings of expertly delivered suspense and a finely tuned overarching sense of inescapable, impending doom. We discover early on in the book that two women have been attacked and one is still missing. The identity of both women isn’t revealed until the end of the novel. The reader watches as the events, which lead up to that fateful night, unfold before them. Relationships change, resentment and anger builds �� the more I read, the more engrossed I became in the story. I had my suspicions as to whodunit and why, and I was proved correct. That didn’t spoil my enjoyment though. I did find the timeline a little confusing at times (not helped by reading the book via The Pigeonhole in ten predetermined staves over the course of ten days) and found myself getting a little muddled about the order of events. It all came together in the end though. All in all, What We Did in the Storm is a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller with well-drawn characters, a superb, vividly depicted setting, Baker’s trademark humour and wit (which adds splashes of light to the darker moments), and a wonderful, pressing sense of impending doom. Very compelling, full of delicious atmosphere and overflowing with suspense. Recommended.
]]> 200489946 A brilliantly compelling domestic suspense from a rising star of the crime fiction world, and the man behind BBC/Netflix smash hit, You Don't Know Me

Sophie King is missing.

Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they've done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she's gone. The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways.

Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won't open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they're going to have to take the matter into their own hands.

But just how far are they both prepared to go for the love of their daughter?]]> Imran Mahmood 1526647583 Emma 4
Harry and Zara King’s world has come crashing down. Their seventeen-year-old daughter, Sophie, is missing. The police have no leads and seem to be keeping her distraught parents in the dark. So Harry and Zara take it upon themselves to find out where their daughter is, they’re desperate to bring her home. Canvassing the neighbours, knocking on doors, dropping off questionnaires. Everyone is so sympathetic and understanding, answering their many questions, helping them piece together her last movements. Except one. The man who lives at number 210. He won’t answer the door, won’t engage with Harry or Zara at all despite their many failed attempts. But Harry and Zara are determined to get answers. And they’ll do whatever it takes to find Sophie��

Finding Sophie is a highly emotional, thought-provoking tale. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. The child you’ve loved and adored for many years suddenly disappears without a trace. Is Sophie still alive? There is no way either Harry or Zara will even begin to entertain the idea that she’s not. For them, acknowledging the worst possible outcome is akin to inviting it in, to giving up the only thing they have left. Hope. But the devastation wracked by Sophie’s absence runs deep. The cracks in their relationship begin to show. The more the couple look into what was happening in Sophie’s life in the lead-up to her disappearance, the more they realise that they didn’t know their daughter at all. But are they also to blame? Did they always do the right thing by their child?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Poetic throughout, Finding Sophie is an astute and highly affecting novel. The thoughts, actions and emotions of a couple on the edge are laid bare before the reader. One parent takes a deep dive into hopelessness, her pain palpable and all-consuming. While the other takes a more practical approach to matters, pushing boundaries. Both are keen for answers but will the answers be the ones they’re hoping for? We get to hear from both Harry and Zara, but alongside these chapters, the reader is transported to The Old Bailey where a murder trial is taking place. Initially, you can’t be completely sure who has been killed and who is on trial but this all becomes clear fairly quickly. The author is a practicing criminal barrister and yes, there are legal thriller aspects to the story but for me, it was so much more than that. The emotion conveyed, the absolute devastation the couple suffer in their hunt for the truth and the shocking ending to their story can’t, for me, be categorised as simply as that. Finding Sophie is an emotional spiral of a tale which leads the reader down a rabbit hole of hopelessness, despair and fear. The characters are believable and painted in what felt like a realistic light. They’re heartbroken and prepared to do anything to find their daughter. There’s no sugar-coating going on here. The lengths they go to build over time adding tension and suspense to proceedings. I had a feeling I knew one direction the story was going to go in and I was proved correct but there were still many twists and turns to come. All in all, Finding Sophie is a superbly written, evocative, intelligent, suspense-laden thriller. Heartbreaking and affecting, I will be reading more of this author’s books. Recommended.]]> 4.06 2024
author: Imran Mahmood
name: Emma
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/05
date added: 2024/03/14
shelves:
review:
All my reviews can be found at

Harry and Zara King’s world has come crashing down. Their seventeen-year-old daughter, Sophie, is missing. The police have no leads and seem to be keeping her distraught parents in the dark. So Harry and Zara take it upon themselves to find out where their daughter is, they’re desperate to bring her home. Canvassing the neighbours, knocking on doors, dropping off questionnaires. Everyone is so sympathetic and understanding, answering their many questions, helping them piece together her last movements. Except one. The man who lives at number 210. He won’t answer the door, won’t engage with Harry or Zara at all despite their many failed attempts. But Harry and Zara are determined to get answers. And they’ll do whatever it takes to find Sophie��

Finding Sophie is a highly emotional, thought-provoking tale. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. The child you’ve loved and adored for many years suddenly disappears without a trace. Is Sophie still alive? There is no way either Harry or Zara will even begin to entertain the idea that she’s not. For them, acknowledging the worst possible outcome is akin to inviting it in, to giving up the only thing they have left. Hope. But the devastation wracked by Sophie’s absence runs deep. The cracks in their relationship begin to show. The more the couple look into what was happening in Sophie’s life in the lead-up to her disappearance, the more they realise that they didn’t know their daughter at all. But are they also to blame? Did they always do the right thing by their child?

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Poetic throughout, Finding Sophie is an astute and highly affecting novel. The thoughts, actions and emotions of a couple on the edge are laid bare before the reader. One parent takes a deep dive into hopelessness, her pain palpable and all-consuming. While the other takes a more practical approach to matters, pushing boundaries. Both are keen for answers but will the answers be the ones they’re hoping for? We get to hear from both Harry and Zara, but alongside these chapters, the reader is transported to The Old Bailey where a murder trial is taking place. Initially, you can’t be completely sure who has been killed and who is on trial but this all becomes clear fairly quickly. The author is a practicing criminal barrister and yes, there are legal thriller aspects to the story but for me, it was so much more than that. The emotion conveyed, the absolute devastation the couple suffer in their hunt for the truth and the shocking ending to their story can’t, for me, be categorised as simply as that. Finding Sophie is an emotional spiral of a tale which leads the reader down a rabbit hole of hopelessness, despair and fear. The characters are believable and painted in what felt like a realistic light. They’re heartbroken and prepared to do anything to find their daughter. There’s no sugar-coating going on here. The lengths they go to build over time adding tension and suspense to proceedings. I had a feeling I knew one direction the story was going to go in and I was proved correct but there were still many twists and turns to come. All in all, Finding Sophie is a superbly written, evocative, intelligent, suspense-laden thriller. Heartbreaking and affecting, I will be reading more of this author’s books. Recommended.
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