The Last Thing I Remember by Deborah Bee Book Review

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Sarah is in a coma.

Her memory is gone - she doesn't know how she got there. And she doesn't know how she might get out.

But then she discovers that her injury wasn't an accident. And that the assailant hasn't been caught.

Unable to speak, see or move, Sarah must use every clue that she overhears to piece together her own past.

And work out who it is that keeps coming into her room.

A novel that grips from the very beginning and that will live long in the memory, The Last Thing I Remember is Deborah Bee's startling debut thriller.


MY THOUGHTS

The Last Thing I Remember, by Deborah Bee is told from the point of view of our two protagonists, Kelly and Sarah. A really good book, I read it in just two days.

The novel begins with Sarah being rushed into hospital where she is put into an induced coma by the doctors. We learn quickly that it appears that she and her husband, Adam may have been the victims of a random mugging attack.

We see most of the action in this book, mainly, from Kelly’s point of view. She retells the story for us as the main part of the story has already happened. I loved Kelly’s character and I thought that her voice was really unique. Her sense of humour really made me laugh in some places, I imagine that her scenes must have been quite fun to write. There is a much more serious note in the chapters told from Sarah’s point of view. The doctor’s believe that she is in a vegetative state and that she is unlikely to make a recovery. But Sarah can hear everything that is going on around her, she knows that time is running out for her when the doctors tell her parents that soon they’ll have to make an important decision: is it kinder to switch off the life machines and let nature take its course?

There were lots of moments that surprised me in this book and some twists that I didn’t expect. As Sarah begins to think and as she tries to remember more and more, we learn about the difficult past she had when she was a child. I couldn’t believe some of the things that her own mother came out with.

A really exciting tale from start to finish. This is an impressive debut from Deborah Bee, an author to watch! 

Publisher: twenty7

Publication date: 25th February 2016

Print length: 304 pages 

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The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney Book Review

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The hole they dug was not deep. A white flour bag encased the little body. Three small faces watched from the window, eyes black with terror. 

The child in the middle spoke without turning his head. ‘I wonder which one of us will be next?’

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how? 

The trail leads Lottie to St Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal. 

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger? 

Lottie is about to come face to face with a twisted soul who has a very warped idea of justice. 

Fans of Rachel Abbott, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni will be gripped by this page-turning serial killer thriller, guaranteed to keep you reading late into the night.


MY THOUGHTS 

The Missing Ones is Patricia Gibeny’s debut novel. I was intrigued by the striking cover and the premise and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

The novel begins with a disturbing scene in which two children witness the burial of a dead body, one whispers to the other: “I wonder which one of us will be next?” What an opener! In the present day, Detective Inspector Lottie Parker is investigating the murder of Susan Sullivan, whose body has been discovered in a cathedral. She takes on the case alongside her colleague, Detective Boyd. There is plenty of sexual tension between the pair, after a short fling with Boyd a few months ago, Lottie wants to put that memory to bed; but it seems as though some of her feelings do not want to stay silent.

Lottie is still grieving for her husband who died a short while after being diagnosed with cancer and she is trying to raise her children whilst juggling her career and her family life which doesn’t appear to be working out well. On top of the investigation she has to think about, Lottie is also worrying about her eldest daughter, Katie who is beginning to slip off the rails.

When Susan’s body is discovered in the cathedral I did think that this novel could very much be something to do with the Church. The book brought back memories of watching the film Philomena but the story line here is much darker.

I loved how the mystery deepened in the book, pulling me further into the story. I did find the story a little bit slow to begin with but once the investigation really gets going and we learn more about the murdered woman’s character I found the book impossible to put down. When a second body turns up, Lottie is certain that there is something connecting these victim’s pasts which is behind the reason as to why they have turned up dead in the present. But as she delves deeper into the victim’s pasts she might be putting her own family at risk.

There are definitely some dark themes in the book and some upsetting scenes which I did find a little disturbing. This is a book that certainly isn’t for the faint hearted.

An intelligent and startling thriller, I really enjoyed reading this book. Lottie Parker is a character who I would like to hear more from and I’m excited to see what Patricia does next. I highly recommend! Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy. 

Publisher: Bookouture 

Publication date: 16th March 2017

Print length: 518 pages

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Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty Book Review

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The bestselling psychological thriller from Louise Doughty

Shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger for Best Thriller and the Specsavers National Book Awards Crime & Thriller of the Year

Yvonne Carmichael has a high-flying career, a beautiful home and a good marriage.

But when she meets a stranger she is drawn into a passionate affair.

Keeping the two halves of her life separate seems easy at first.

But she can't control what happens next.

MY THOUGHTS

I added Apple Tree Yard to my huge TBR read pile towards the end of last year after hearing rave reviews. I wasn’t sure when I was going to get round to it but when I saw last week that an adaptation of the book was starting on the BBC in January, it shot straight to the top of my list. I wanted to read the book before I sat down to watch the television show.

I can understand the hype surrounding this book. Louise Doughty is a seriously talented writer and there were several points in the book which left me gasping. When the novel begins, Yvonne Carmichael is already in court, being questioned in the witness box. I was intrigued by the opening chapter and all sorts of questions started firing off in my head? What has Yvonne done? Is she a witness or is she a criminal? After reading the opening chapter, I did find the novel a little bit slow, for a time, but once Yvonne’s affair really began with a stranger who she meets at the Houses of Parliament the novel really picked up its pace. Louise Doughty’s writing is seriously addictive.

I’m not sure that I ever felt any sympathy for Yvonne. There were times when I grew a bit tired of being stuck in her head all the time and I would have liked for there to have been a little more dialogue, particularly between her and her lover. Even when she was having her affair, there seemed to be a very moody and drawn atmosphere surrounding her all the time which made her difficult to like as a character.

The final scenes of the novel really were tense. This is when we go back to the very first scene, where Yvonne is standing in the witness box. When I first started reading I really had no idea where this novel was going to go. There were just some times when I felt my attention wavering a little, which was a shame because most of the story was really good. 

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Publication date: 6th June 2013

Print length: 358 pages

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The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza Book Review

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Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

A page-turning thriller packed with suspense. If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter, discover Rob Bryndza’s new series today – at a special launch price.

Watch out for more from DCI Erika Foster

She’s fearless. Respected. Unstoppable. Detective Erika Foster will catch a killer, whatever it takes.

MY THOUGHTS

The Girl In The Ice is Robert Bryndza’s first crime thriller. The novel features DCI Erika Foster who is another fantastic heroine. This new series is on par with Angela Marson’s Kim Stone novels and I will definitely be returning for more.

DCI Foster has just arrived at Lewisham  Row Police Station in London. She has been drafted in to lead the investigation into the murder of Andrea Douglas-Brown the daughter of a top Labour peer. The case is huge in the media, and when politics become involved Erika knows she will have to work hard to find her killer. She certainly has to push for her lines of enquiry to be investigated and I really felt her frustration when her superiors were not taking her seriously.

There was some excellent humour in the book; I particularly liked the joke about Kate Moss when Foster is chatting to one of her colleagues with the same name. The atmosphere in the book is chilling and the action is fast paced and hard hitting. I liked the twist at the end which totally hit me out of the blue; it really wasn’t what I was expecting. Robert kept me guessing right till the end, I never could be sure in which direction the book was heading. 

The Girl In The Ice is a captivating crime thriller, I will definitely be reading The Night Stalker (the next book in the series). Five stars from me! 

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 17th February 2016

Print length: 394 pages

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Blink by K.L. Slater Book Review

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What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger … because of you?

Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace. 

But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.

Toni’s mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter. 

A compelling, gripping thriller with a breathtaking twist that will keep you awake until the early hours. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and The Sister. 


MY THOUGHTS

I’m always checking out the latest authors that Bookouture are publishing. I’m already a fan of Angela Marsons and Robert Bryndza and now I have just added K.L. Slater to the list. In her second novel, Blink, we meet Toni Cutter who is settling into her new life in Nottingham with her five-year-old daughter, Evie. Toni has had a tough year, her husband was killed on active duty in Afghanistan and she is now trying to move forward with her life.

There were a few characters in the book which really got under my skin, including Toni’s mother during some scenes in the book. When we are inside Toni’s head we can see her frustration and when people ask questions about her past and what brought her to Nottingham I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

K.L. Slater does a fantastic job of lining up a list of suspects; there were so many characters who I had my suspicions about. But the twist towards the end took me completely by surprise. I actually had to put the book down for a moment and stop before I could carry on. It really took my breath away. K. L. Slater pulled this off brilliantly and that wasn’t the only twist up her sleeve. I haven’t been this impressed by a twist since I read I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. This book is perfect for fans of Linda Green’s While My Eyes Were Closed. I loved it. I highly recommend! 

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 16th February 2017

Print length: 295 pages

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What Remains of Me by A.L. Gaylin Book Review

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People don't need to know you're a murderer.
They just have to think you could be...

June 1980: 17-year-old Kelly Lund is jailed for killing Hollywood film director, John McFadden

Thirty years later, Kelly is a free woman. Yet speculation still swirls over what really happened that night.

And when her father-in law, and close friend of McFadden is found dead - shot through the head at point-blank range - there can only be one suspect.

But this time Kelly has some high-profile friends who believe she's innocent of both crimes.

But is she?

'You'll stay up late to read this' Laura Lippmann

'Full of crackling energy and heartache' Megan Abbott

'An exceptional book by an exceptional writer' Alex Marwood


MY THOUGHTS

In this new novel by A. L. Gaylin, she puts a dark spin on the world of Hollywood, peeling back the facade of the glitz and fame to reveal a dark undertone of lies and deceit.

What Remains of Me is told over two timelines, in 1980 and in 2010. In 1980, Kelly Lund has befriended Bellamy Marshall the daughter of a famous actor. Kelly is amazed at this new, glamorous world that she finds herself in; but things soon begin to spiral downwards for Kelly when she learns some dark truths that have been buried for a long time. The big question at the heart of this novel is what happened on the night that Kelly Lund supposedly pulled the trigger and shot John McFadden, an award winning film director and Bellamy’s father’s best friend? Is Kelly really guilty? 

After her release in 2006, Kelly tries her best to make the most of her new life outside of prison; but in 2010, Sterling Marshall, now her father-in-law, is found dead in his study. Again, Kelly must face the possibility of being a suspect in another high profile murder and another prison sentence looms in the distance.  

The dialogue in this book was superb, I wasn’t particularly a fan of Bellamy but I really liked Kelly and I definitely think that she was my favourite character from the book; I knew straight away that I was going to like her. My opinion of Bellamy did change though as the novel progressed, and at the very end she shows her true colours. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, A. L. Gaylin knows how to keep her readers engaged and she is an author who takes you on a twisty ride and knows how to pull it off. I would definitely recommend this one.

Publisher: Arrow 

Print length: 400 pages

Publication date; 1st December 206

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He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly Book Review

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The perfect read for fans of Disclaimer, In a Dark Dark Wood and Apple Tree Yard. Who do you believe? 

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack.

She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, it is not only the victim's life that is changed forever.

Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear.

And while Laura knows she was right to speak out, the events that follow have taught her that you can never see the whole picture: something - and someone - is always in the dark...

MY THOUGHTS

I only discovered Erin Kelly earlier this year after reading her debut novel The Poison Tree which was released back in 2010. I loved the characters and the depth she gave them in her first novel and I particularly felt that with Laura and Kit in He Said/She Said. Her writing is going from strength to strength!

Laura and Kit are eclipse chasers. Kit has been obsessed with the stars and astrology since he was a child and he has made it his lifelong mission to witness every eclipse he possibly can, even it means travelling across continents. I loved Erin’s unique idea of using this as a backdrop for the story which fed into every part of the book. I felt that it really gave the novel a spooky atmosphere, giving you the sense that anything can happen when the world turns dark. He Said/She Said is a very atmospheric piece of work.

When Laura and Kit stumble across a violent act on a young woman during an eclipse festival in Cornwall in 1999 they have no idea how much of an emotional impact that this chance meeting will have on the rest of their lives. This, in my opinion, is where Kelly’s writing is at its finest when she entwines her character’s lives; this idea reminds us that we don’t really know what is going to happen around the corner and that the future is full of uncertainty.

I think my favourite scenes from this book were the court room scenes in which Laura and Kit and the victim, come under fire from the defendants lawyer. I have watched many courtroom dramas on TV, but I still find it shocking to see how these people can attack a victim of a heinous crime; what I can never quite get my head around is how they are allowed to get away with it.

The only scenes I did find a little slow to get through was when Kit was on board the Princess Celeste in today’s time period. But Erin built up the tension marvelously and she made me question what had happened with her characters in the last fifteen years to get them to this point. I raced through the second half of the book as the novel drew towards its climatic close.

I’m sure that He Said/She Said will be one of THE books of 2017 that everyone will be talking about and it deserves to be a hit. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book to review. He Said/She Said is out in April 2017. 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Print length: 416 pages

Publication date: 20th April 2017

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