The Birdwatcher by William Shaw Book Review

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Sergeant William South has always avoided investigating murder. A passionate birdwatcher and quite man, he has few relationships and prefers it that way.

But when his only friend is found brutally beaten, South's detachment is tested. Not only is he bereft - it seems that there's a connection between the suspect and himself.

For South has a secret. He knows the kind of rage that killed his friend. He knows the kind of man who could do it. He knows, because Sergeant William South is a murderer.

Moving from the storm-lashed, bird-wheeling skies of the Kent Coast to the wordless war of the Troubles, The Birdwatcher is a crime novel of suspense, intelligence and powerful humanity about fathers and sons, grief and guilt and facing the darkness within.

MY THOUGHTS

The Birdwatcher is the first book by William Shaw which I have read, I was so excited when I finally got round to reading it. I was captivated by the opening paragraph, which has to be one of the best openings to a book I’ve read. ‘There were two reasons why William South did not want to be on the murder team. The first was that it was October. The migrating birds had begun arriving on the coast. The second was that, though nobody knew it, he was a murderer himself.’ How can you fail to be hooked? Bravo on the great opening, William!

The novel is told over two timelines, in the present day when William South is serving as a police officer in Kent and when he is growing up in the 70s in Northern Ireland during the troubles. I found both timelines gripping, but particularly when William is younger. In the present day one of his closest friends has been found murdered and William finds himself reluctantly caught up in the investigation when the new DS, Alexandra Cupidi asks for his help. She is using the fact that William knew the man who has been murdered to the case’s advantage in the hope of finding a quick resolution.

I loved Alex’s character, personally I think she was my favourite character in the book, I’m hoping that William may return to Alex in a later book as I would like to find out more about her. Her daughter Zoe was also interesting, particularly as she began to develop a friendship with William through bird watching. I really liked the use of William South’s hobby in this book which added a sense of calm to the story, which is probably what William South sometime needs.  

A really great read, a must read for crime lovers, this book is perfect for you to take away on holiday, I’ll certainly be looking out for more of William’s books. 

Publisher: riverrun

Publication date: 9th February 2017 

Print length: 400 pages

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All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker Book Review

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'Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for.'

Everyone loves Summer Ryan. A model student and musical prodigy, she's a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama - especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine. Then Summer goes missing.

Grace is already simmering, and with this new tragedy the police have their hands full keeping the peace. Only Raine throws herself into the search, supported by a most unlikely ally.

But perhaps there was always more to Summer than met the eye . . .

For fans of The Roanoke Girls and Fargo, All the Wicked Girls is a gripping crime novel with a huge heart from an exceptional talent. 


MY THOUGHTS 

I absolutely loved Chris Whitaker’s debut novel Tall Oaks and I couldn’t wait to see what he had install for us next and All the Wicked Girls didn’t disappoint. It is even better and much darker than Tall Oaks; I think it has to be one of my favourite reads of this year.

All the Wicked Girls is set in the fictional small town of Grace, Alabama. A giant storm cloud hangs above the town which panics the residents into thinking that something evil is brewing. And then Summer Ryan goes missing, a model student with a talent for music. Summer’s sister Raine is distraught and puts every effort in to finding her sister.

Chris Whitaker is seriously one of the best writers in the business at the moment; it’s hard to believe that this is only his second book. His characterisation skills are excellent, when you turn the final page; you have that feeling that you have got to know every character really well and for me, good characterisation is one of the most important aspects that make up a good story. We need a character who we can get behind and Chris has definitely got that here with Raine. I could feel her agony as she searched to find the truth as to what happened to her sister and I was rooting for her to find her, it was clear that Raine would use any means to make sure that her sister was safe. Chris is an expert in giving the reader the sense that every character in his book has a secret, it makes for a gripping read, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

The setting of the fictional town of Grace was really well done, I really felt as though I was in America’s Deep South, although the town was fictional I had no trouble at all imagining it as a town in this area. Chris captured the mood and the atmosphere of the town really well, particularly when the people who live there are dealing with a crisis, you can begin to see cracks in relationships forming and a society beginning to fall apart as they fight to find answers.

Another brilliant book by Chris, All the Wicked Girls is a book I predict will be huge. It’s definitely one of those books that you don’t want to end. The only problem is now that I’ve finished is that I have to wait for Chris’s next book; I can’t wait to see what he does next. Thank you to Emily Burns at Bonnier Zaffre Books for sending me a copy to review. 

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication date: 24th August 2017

Print length: 448 pages


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99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter Book Review

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Two girls go missing, decades apart. What would you do if one was your daughter?

When eight-year-old Grace goes missing from a sweet shop on the way home from school, her mother Emma is plunged into a nightmare. Her family rallies around, but as the police hunt begins, cracks begin to emerge.

What are the secret emails sent between Emma's husband and her sister? Why does her mother take so long to join the search? And is Emma really as innocent as she seems?

Meanwhile, ageing widow Maggie Taylor see Grace's picture in the newspaper. It's a photograph that jolts her from the pain of her existence into a spiraling obsession with another girl - the first girl who disappeared . . .

This is a gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist that will take you breath away.

MY THOUGHTS

Every so often a book comes along with a twist that really knocks you for six. 99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter is one of those books. It is a psychological thriller that is filled with suspense from the first page and the writing and the characters keep you turning the pages. I’m sure that this book will be a big hit this summer.

Two girls go missing, decades apart, what if your daughter was one of them? Eight-year-old Grace Harper disappears outside a sweet shop in her hometown of Lincoln. When ageing widow, Maggie Taylor hears about Grace’s disappearance on the news she is immediately taken back to the time of her own granddaughter’s kidnapping more than thirty years ago. Is it possible that the two cases are connected?

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s one of those books that you just have to keep reading until you turn the final page, there was a great use of tension throughout the book and then Elisabeth delivered that twist. I love those moments when you’re just totally taken aback by what you just read that you have to put the book down for a bit to process it. The author really did surprise me. I’ll be telling everyone I know to read it just so that I can discuss it with them.

The book is told from multiple perspectives and I really liked the unique voices that Elisabeth gave to everyone of her characters, particularly to Stephanie and Emma, I found it interesting to see how their relationship as sisters played out in the wake of Grace’s disappearance, particularly as I didn’t like their mother at all. I really liked how Elisabeth constructed her plot which I thought was really clever which is why I won’t say anything more about it here.

A brilliant debut novel, Elisabeth Carpenter has created an intriguing and suspenseful read. I’ll be keeping an eye out to see what she does next. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to read. 

Publisher: Avon

Publication date: 24th August 2017

Print length: 352 pages


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The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane blog tour

Today I'm delighted to be hosting today's blog tour stop for The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane.


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A life no girl should endure. A father no daughter could love. A twist no one would predict.

From award-winning author Pamela Crane comes a terrifying tale of small-town secrets and murder.

Ari Wilburn's life ended long ago - the day she watched her little sister die in a tragic accident and did nothing to stop it. Crippled with self-blame and resented by her parents, she stumbles through life ... and onto an unexpected clue that casts doubt on whether the death was accidental.

Now a psychological wreck, Ari joins a suicide support group where she meets Tina, a sex-enslaved escapee who finds her long-lost father dead. Suicide, police ruled it. But Tina suspects foul play. As a bond develops between the women in their shared loss, they're dragged into playing a dangerous game with a killer.

Faced with a murderous wake-up call and two possibly linked deaths, Ari's investigation puts her next on the killer's list. But she's never been one to back down from a fight.

Needing closure, Ari must face her demons and the killer behind them ... or lose everything she loves.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR 



Pamela Crane is a professional juggler. Not the type of juggler who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler of four kids, a writing addiction, a horse rescuer, and a book editor by trade. She lives on the edge (ask her Arabian horse about that - he'll tell you all about their wild adventures while trying to train him!) and she writes on the edge. Her characters and plots are her escape from the real world of dirty diapers and cleaning horse stalls, and the masochist in her thrives off of hurting her characters to create an entertaining tale.

She is the author of several best-selling and award-winning thrillers. To pick up a copy of a FREE book and other prizes, or to find out more about her chaotic existence, visit her website at www.pamelacrane.com


MY THOUGHTS 

This novel jumped right out at me when I was asked if I would like to be involved in the blog tour. I knew that as a fan of gritty crime thrillers that it would be right up my street and it didn’t disappoint. Pamela has woven a clever and intriguing story which will have you gripped right from the first page.

The Art of Fear is the first in an exciting new series by Pamela Crane. In the novel we meet Tina and Ari. Both women have had traumatic pasts and they soon build a friendship after they first meet at a suicide support group. Ari is determined that they will both get justice for what happened to them and makes it her mission to uncover the truth.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Pamela pulls you into her story and she has created a cast of intriguing characters who will keep you gripped. I really liked Ari, she was a strong female lead and I especially liked her determination to get justice for herself and Tina even though she has only known Tina for a short while.

Pamela writes about some dark themes in this book including sex and child trafficking. I found Tina’s story heartbreaking at times to hear what she has been through and that it is all down to the skill of the author who really makes you care about her characters and their lives.

A really enjoyable read this is a series that I am keen to follow; I’m looking forward to reading Pamela’s next book. Thank you to Thick as Thieves Publicity service for the advance copy of this book and for organising the blog tour.

Publisher: Tabella House

Publication date: 18th July 2017

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Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell Book Review

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A MISSING GIRL. A BURIED SECRET.

From the acclaimed author of I Found You and the Richard & Judy bestseller, The Girls, comes a compulsively twist psychological thriller that will keep you gripped to the very last page.

She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl.
She had her whole life ahead of her.
And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.

Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet.

But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter.

Because his daughter is the image of Ellie.

Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.

What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide? 


MY THOUGHTS

Then She Was Gone is the first book by Lisa Jewell which I have read. It tells the tale of a distraught mother who fights to find answers as to what happened to her daughter who went missing ten years before.

In Then She Was Gone, Laurel is still searching for her daughter, Ellie ten years after she disappeared. The police believe that her daughter ran away and eventually she has to accept that as the only possible scenario. Surely that’s what the evidence points to. Ten years later, Laurel is finally ready to start moving on with her life although she has never truly left her daughter behind. And when she meets someone who she falls head over heels in love with she can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is only when she meets his daughter Poppy, who is the spitting image of her daughter who went missing does she begin to question what really happened to Ellie and the truth finally begins to unravel.

We hear the voices of both Laurel and her daughter, Ellie who went missing ten years ago. Lisa gives us an insight into Ellie’s mind in the days leading up to her disappearance whilst in the present, Laurel and the rest of her family are rocked when the police uncover a significant piece of evidence. It is soon after this point that Laurel first meets Floyd who she falls head over heels in love for.

There were definitely some chilling scenes in this book, particularly when the novel was told from Ellie’s perspective; I can imagine that some of these scenes must’ve been hard for Lisa to write. There was one character in the book who really gave me chills. The ending of this book really was heartbreaking and so well done.

Lisa Jewell’s latest novel really had me gripped all the way through and I wanted to find out what had happened to Ellie, Lisa has woven a gripping and intriguing tale which keeps you guessing right up until the end.

A fantastic read, five stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to read. 

Publisher: Century

Publication date: 27th July 2017

Print length: 432 pages


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The Other Twin by Lucy V Hay Blog Tour

I'm delighted to be taking part in The Other Twin blog tour today, a fantastic new novel published by Orenda Books.

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When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India's death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, he boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents, and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking into India's laptop. What exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her? Taking the reader on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its well-heeled families, The Other Twin is a startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade, and where there is no such thing as the truth...


ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Lucy V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2wite consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers Deviation (2012) and Assassin (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader of the London Screenwriters' Festival and has written two non-fiction books, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays, plus its follow-up Drama Screenplays. She lives in Devon with her husband, three children, six cats and five African Land Snails.


MY THOUGHTS 

The Other Twin is the debut novel by Lucy Hay and Orenda Books have found another winner! Set in Brighton, Poppy is left distraught when her sister India falls from a bridge and is killed by a passing train. The police rule India’s death as suicide but Poppy is convinced that there is another explanation to India’s death and she sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth to find out what really happened to her sister. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers then you won’t want to miss this one.

The Other Twin is an utterly engrossing read, it is hard to believe that it is a debut novel as the characters are all so well developed and I could picture the Brighton scenery clearly in my mind. I really felt as though I connected to Poppy’s character as she fought to uncover the truth and I was rooting for her throughout the story especially as she faces many challenges along the way. The other characters in this book were also engrossing and I found Poppy’s relationship with her ex boyfriend, Matthew intriguing and this was also a good source of tension on the book.

The book deals with some very current themes in the world today and for me this was what made the novel standout. Lucy constructs these themes around her plot really well, particularly how she opens up the mind to the struggles faced by the LGBT community. It really made me think at how people in this community must feel at certain times and her book reminds us how we must treat everyone in this world as equal. She also deals with the issue with social media in her book and she reminds us of how careful we have to be online.

The ending of this book was a corker, there were some particularly chilling moments and I raced through the final pages. This is definitely a novel which will have you gripped to the end of your seat. As I read the final chapters there were moments when my jaw dropped open as Lucy pulled the plot together.  

The Other Twin is an engrossing and compelling read. I can’t wait to see what Lucy does next. If you enjoy a thought provoking and twisty read, this novel is definitely one for you. A brilliant debut, Lucy is certainly a writer to watch. Thank you to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for sending me a copy to review and for organising the blog tour. 

Publisher: Orenda

Publication date: 3rd July 2017

Print length: 250 pages


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The Chalk Man by C. J Tudor Book Review

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Looking back, it all started on the day of the fair and the terrible accident. When twelve-year-old Eddie first met the Chalk Man.

It was the Chalk Man who gave Eddie the idea for the drawings: a way to leave secret messages between his group of friends.

And it was fun, to start with, until the figures lead them to the body of a young girl.

That was thirty years ago and Ed thought the past was behind him. Then he receives a letter containing just two things: a piece of chalk, and a drawing of a stick figure. As history begins to repeat itself, Ed realises the game was never over . . .

Everyone has secrets.

Everyone is guilty of something.

And children are not always so innocent. 


MY THOUGHTS

The Chalk Man is a novel that everyone is going to be talking about a lot in the coming months. It is going to be one of the biggest book launches of 2018.

I have been desperate to read The Chalk Man since I first heard about it. One of my work colleagues has a brother who works for Penguin and occasionally he brings a lot of books into work that his brother has been given by the publishers. In amongst the books I saw the spine of The Chalk Man and I made a beeline for it, no one else had a chance to even have a look at it before I spirited it away but don’t worry they’ll all be hearing about it a lot now that I have read it. Sold already in 39 countries and hotly competed for in a nine way auction in the UK, there is no question that this book is going to be a hit. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  

The book is told over two different time periods, in the 1980s and in the present day in 2016. I’m a huge fan of novels which are told over different times and I love trying to work out what is going on and how the two timelines will come together, it’s a great source for leaving cliff hangers as well and C.J. Tudor does this really well. I loved the opening of this book which is so chilling. C.J. Tudor pulls you into the story on the first page and doesn’t let you go until you have reached the end.

In the 1980s Ed is twelve years old and has a great friendship with Hoppo, Mickey, Fat Gav and Nicky. But not everything is plain sailing for them and on the day of the terrible accident at the fair, when a young girl known to Ed as Waltzer girl has a horrific accident on a Waltzer cart and is rushed to hospital, things really do begin to take a dark turn for the group and things are never quite the same again. In 2016, Ed is in his forties and lives alone with his lodger, a girl in her twenties called Chloe. It is in the present day that the truth about what really happened when they were kids begins to unravel. I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for readers but it has to be a contender for one of my top reads of this year. C. J. Tudor delivers a stomach flipping twist at the end of this book which I did not see coming.

I really liked all the characters in this book and C.J. Tudor made them all feel real, especially Ed, the main character who I think was definitely my favourite although I really liked his gang of friends as well and once I started to get to know them all I really wanted to find out more about them. For me, a book has to have great and compelling characters to pull you into the story and this book certainly does. Once I finished the book I really wanted to know what happens next.

The author also explores some interesting themes in this book, some of them are quite dark and there are some scenes in the book which are a little gory. C. J. Tudor writes these scenes really well and she really makes you feel for her characters as they find themselves in new predicaments.

I will be raving about this book a lot prior to its publication in January next year. Really, really excellent. You won’t want to miss this book! Mark the 11^th January 2018 in your diaries. 

Publisher: Penguin (Michael Joseph)

Publication date: 11th January 2018

Print length: 352 pages


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Little Sister by Isabel Ashdown Book Review

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After sixteen years apart Jessica and Emily are reunited. With the past now behind them, the warmth they once shared quickly returns and before long Jess has moved into Emily's comfortable island home. Life couldn't be better. But when baby Daisy disappears while in Jess's care, the perfect life Emily has so carefully built starts to fall apart.

Was Emily right to trust her sister after everything that happened before? 


MY THOUGHTS 

Little Sister is the first book by Isabel Ashdown which I have read. I have seen this book a lot on social media and I couldn’t wait to start reading it. Set in the Isle of Wight, Isabel tells the story of a family whose life is ripped apart when their young daughter Daisy goes missing.  

When Emily and James return home from a night out at a party on New Year’s Eve, their world is turned upside down when they discover that their daughter, Daisy is missing. Emily’s sister, Jess was babysitting for the night and is distraught to learn that Daisy disappeared in her care. Jess’s memory of that night, before Emily and James returned home is patchy. What happened in those missing hours that she struggles to put together? What happened to Daisy and where is she now?

This is a powerful novel by Isabel Ashdown. Isabel deals with the trauma of a family in the wake of a tragedy in her latest novel and she does this incredibly well, particularly when she explores Emily’s trauma after losing her daughter. I also thought that Isabel painted the scenery really well. I last went to the Isle of Wight eleven years ago on a school trip and reading Little Sister brought all the memories back. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to go back to.

I thought that Isabel explored the relationship between Emily and Jess brilliantly and I found it interesting to learn about their past and how it has affected them in the future. She delivers a brilliant ending to this book. I won’t say too much more about the plot here but the direction the book takes really will take you by surprise. There are some shocking revelations in this book and one twist in particular made my jaw drop open, only a small handful of books have been able to do that.

Isabel hooks her reader from the first page, I was quickly absorbed by the story and it didn’t take me long to finish. A real page turner, I can’t wait to see what Isabel does next. 

Publisher: Trapeze

Publication date: 27th April 2017

Print length: 384 pages


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Fire Damage by Kate Medina Book Review

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To find a killer, she must unlock a child's terror . . .

The first in an exciting new crime series featuring psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn - a brilliantly complex character who struggles with a dark past.

'The girl knows,' he whispered . . .

Four-year-old Sami is deeply traumatized, and its up to psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn to unlock his terrifying memories. She needs to find out who 'the girl' is - but nothing can prepare her for the truth about what haunts him.

Meanwhile, Jessie's former patient Captain Ben Callan, is investigating the suspicious death of an officer in Afghanistan - the problem is the only suspect refuses to talk.

When a dead body washes up on a Sussex beach, Jessie's and Ben's cases converge. Soon it's clear that the mystery in Afghanistan began with a secret much closer to home. And a desperate killer will do anything to keep it buried . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve had Fire Damage by Kate Medina on my TBR list for a while but because of other commitments I haven’t been able to get round to it as quickly as I would have liked, so I was so pleased when I finally started reading it last week.

Fire Damage is the first book in the Jessie Flynn series. Psychologist, Jessie Flynn has been assigned to a case where it is her job to get to the bottom of a little boy’s trauma. Four-year-old Sami’s father, Sergeant Major Scott has been seriously burnt whilst he was serving in Afghanistan and seeing his father in this condition has left Sami seriously traumatized. Jessie is left feeling frustrated when his family come forward with little information and sometimes she has to resort to desperate measures to get that information, to understand what is going on in Sami’s world. But what she does not realize is how big this case really is, is it possible that the discovery of a burnt corpse, washed up on a Sussex beach could be linked to Sami’s case?  

I really liked Jessie’s character in this book. She has an interesting back story which she finds difficult to re visit and I thought that Kate wrote her emotions really well, particularly when she was reliving parts of her earlier life. I thought that this was particularly well done when Kate explored Jessie’s relationship with her mother. I liked as well her determination to get to the bottom of Sami’s case, no matter what it’ll cost her in doing so.

The ending of this book was brilliant; Kate had me on tenterhooks as I was waiting to find out what happened next, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Really excellent writing.

This was a brilliant first book in the Jessie Flynn series. Original and intriguing characters and a twisty plot that’ll keep you hooked. This is a crime novel that you do not want to miss. I can’t wait to read the next book!  

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication date: 24th March 2016

Print length: 384 pages


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Little Boy Found by LX Fox blog tour

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Little Boy Found blog tour today. Little Boy Found is an e book only publication published by Quercus.


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WHEN HE FOUND HIS LITTLE BOY, NICK THOUGHT THE NIGHTMARE WAS OVER . . . IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING. 

One rainy morning, just after Nick drops off his young son Gabriel outside the crowded school gates, he has a minor collision with another car. The driver won't surrender his insurance details, so Nick photographs the licence plate. When he gets home, he enlarges the shot on his phone and spots something odd about the picture - Gabriel in the back seat, being driven away by a stranger. Nick needs to know what happened to his little boy, but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him. Now, to discover the truth, he must relive the nightmare all over again . . . Be warned, this is not another missing child story: what happened to Nick and his son is far more shocking.


MY THOUGHTS

This novel is an unusual take on the "missing child" story, it is a psychological drama filled with suspense that will keep you turning the pages.

When Nick drops his eight year old son, Gabriel off at school, his car is hit by another vehicle. The driver does not want to share their insurance details so Nick takes a photograph of the number plate. When Nick returns home he enlarges the picture on his phone and sees something, his son Gabriel in the back seat of the car as he is being driven away by a stranger. But the truth of what happened to Gabriel that day is far more shocking, and as Nick strives to find answers is he prepared to find out the truth about what happened to his son?

The novel is told from two perspectives, Nick and Ella. I really liked both of the stories here, although I found Ella slightly more engaging than Nick. The author made me want to understand how the two stories were connected and there are some shocking revelations. I liked how he intertwined the two tales and it was interesting to see how they would develop as the book progressed. I was sad to say goodbye to Nick and Ella after I finished, I was intrigued to learn more about what happened to Ella after the final page. It's difficult to say too much about the plot without giving away the story but it makes for a riveting read.

This was a captivating read from LX  Fox, I would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense, I'll be interested to see what he does next. Thank you to Alainna Georgiou at Quercus for sending me a copy to review and for organising the blog tour.

Publisher: Quercus

Publication date: 6th July 2017 (E book only)

Print length: 270 pages

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Good as Gone by Amy Gentry Book Review

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Eight years ago, thirteen-year-old Julie Whitaker was kidnapped from her bedroom in the middle of the night.

In the years since, her family have papered over the cracks of their grief - while hoping against hope that Julie is still alive.

And then, one night, the doorbell rings.

Gripping, shocking, and deviously clever, Good as Gone is perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and The Ice Twins - and will keep readers guessing until the final page.


MY THOUGHTS

Good as Gone is the debut novel by Amy Gentry. It is a fast paced novel which will grab you by the throat and you won’t want to put it down until you have finished it.

The book opens with a shocking scene which pulls you into the story. Julie Whitaker is thirteen when she is kidnapped by knife point from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Her sister, Jane, is powerless and she has to live with the guilt that she didn’t do more to save her sister that night. Eight years later and Julie’s family are still searching for her but they are stunned when one night the doorbell rings, Julie has come home. But is everything as it seems and when Julie’s mother, Anna begins to have doubts she fights to find out what is really going on. But is she prepared to find out what really happened the night her daughter disappeared?

What I really liked about Amy Gentry’s writing is its addictive quality. Amy knows how to hook her reader. There are some scenes in the novel, however, which I did find confusing. Amy tells the story from different perspectives, it was difficult to tell how these scenes connected to the story at first and occasionally I did have to go back and re read a few paragraphs so I could make sense of what was happening but as the plot unravels everything did begin to pull together.

Amy has created some intriguing characters in this book. As I started reading I wanted to find out more about Julie and her sister Jane, what would their relationship be like now that Julie has come back and how this would affect their family.

A really enjoyable read, perfect for fans of Helen Callaghan’s Dear Amy and the BBC Drama The Missing. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy to read in exchange for a review. 

Publisher: HQ

Publication date: 6th April 2017

Print length: 384 pages

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The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza book review

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If the Night Stalker is watching, you're already dead...

In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer's night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.

A few days later, another victim is found dead, in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer - stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.

The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?

As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched...Erika's own life could be on the line.

MY THOUGHTS

The Night Stalker is the second book in the DCI Erika Foster series by Robert Bryndza. I was so pleased when I finally got round to reading it as I loved The Girl in the Ice and The Night Stalker didn’t disappoint. Although The Night Stalker is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, but you'll definitely want to read more once you have finished.

Erika and her team are called to the scene of the shocking murder of a doctor, they believe the murder is a one off but when the body count starts to rise they realise that they are looking for a new serial killer who is stalking the streets of London. Erika and her team race against the clock to try and find the killer before they strike again.

I love the characters in this series; Erika is one of my favourite fictional police detectives and she continues to prove that she is at the top of her game, even though she doesn’t always follow orders or stick to protocol. And that is what I like about her that she sticks to her guns which is a great way of adding to the tension.

Robert’s writing is hugely addictive and I raced through this installment in just a couple of days, he draws you into Erika’s world and into her character, so much so that I didn’t want the book to end.

Another excellent book in the Erika Foster series which I highly recommend. I’m off now to buy the next book in the series which I can’t wait to get started on. This is proving to be a gripping and very addictive crime series, worthy of all the praise it is getting. 

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 2nd June 2016

Print length: 382 pages

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An Act of Silence blog tour Q&A with Colette McBeth

I'm delighted to be taking part in the An Act of Silence blog tour today, featuring a Q&A with author Colette McBeth.


ABOUT THE BOOK 

These are the facts I collect.

My son Gabriel met a woman called Mariela in a bar. She went home with him. The next morning she was found in an allotment.

Mariela is dead.

Gabriel has been asked to report to Camden Police station in six hours for questioning.

Linda Moscow loves her son; it's her biological instinct to keep him safe. But if she's not sure of his innocence, how can she stand by him? Should she go against everything she believes to protect him?

She's done it before, and the guilt nearly killed her.

Now, the past is catching up with them. As old secrets resurface, Linda is face with another impossible choice. Only this time, it's her life on the line...


Q&A



Hi Colette, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. To start things off, can you give us your one line pitch for your new novel An Act of Silence?

It's about a mother faced with an impossible choice to save her son, and the lives destroyed by the decision she makes.

An Act of Silence has a very intricate plot, I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about how you plotted the novel and how long it took you to write it?

With great difficulty! I'm a plotter and find it hard to write anything without having a clear sense of where I'm going. What tends to happen is that I have an idea for a novel and then spend about six months or more trying to pin it down while it's constantly changing. Then I get to the point where I can draw it all out, chapter by chapter, usually on a roll of wallpaper. It changes all the time but that's my road map. If I don't have it all laid out I can't remember what I'm supposed to be writing!

In the beginning of the novel, your character Linda Moscow is faced with an unprecedented situation when her son is accused of murder and she must decide if she will protect him. Did this every make you think how you would react if you were in Linda's situation?

Absolutely. I think we all believe we're essentially good people, and that we'd do what's right and proper in certain situations but sometimes life presents you with impossible choices. Linda was forced to make one such choice years before, and while I don't agree with what she did, as a mother I know I'd do anything to save my children.

An Act of Silence is your third novel, I was wondering if you could tell us how that feels to have your third novel out there and how life has changed for you since you became a published author?

When I was working full time, I used to dream of spending my days writing in a shed at the bottom of my garden without a care. The reality is somewhat different; I don't have a shed for starters (I have a study) and while it is a wonderful job, the truth is it can be quite tough mentally. Sitting on your own every day for a year and a half and producing a book you have no idea anyone is going to like or buy is terrifying. The benefit of having written three novels is that when I'm struggling to fix a story down, and the voice in my head is telling me it won't work, I now know from experience it will, but it takes time and thought.

I also have a great group of author friends who I chat to online (way too much if I'm honest) so when it's not going well I have twenty people telling me that it will be fine, and to just get on with it!

The other truth I've discovered is that writing tends to happen between the cracks of family life. There's always a meeting or a sports day or something happening that trumps my work so I end up writing a lot at night. Then again, there are amazing times, like publication day last week, where I can sit back and enjoy the achievement. 

Once your book is out there in the world, have you ever wished that you could go back and redraft it or change any other aspects about the plot?

Yes, always. No book is perfect and I think authors are way more critical of their work than most reviewers. But that's why it's a learning curve, and the beauty of starting a new book is you have a chance to do it better.

When I read An Act of Silence I was surprised by the direction it took, without trying to give too much of the plot away, did you always know how the story was going to develop?

Not when I had the inital idea of the mother son dynamic but as soon as the characters began to emerge I saw very clearly what had happened. If I'm honest I shied away from the subject matter at first and I do think it was absolutely right to be cautious. The last thing I wanted was for it to be gratuitous, but I also wanted to show the personal tragedy caused by such an abuse of power.

Who are your favourite authors in the crime fiction genre at the moment?

I'm a big fan of Liz Nugent and I loved Susie Steiner's Missing, Presumed. I'm hoping Rachel Rhys' Dangerous Crossing will be massive this summer. It's incredibly good.

Do you stick to a writing routine? Do you have a limit for how many words you write a day?

I'm a terrible procrastinator particularly at the plotting stage so my writing happens in stages; I don't seem to achieve much in the first six months and then I work flat out for the next six. When I'm at the writing stage I'll try and do 1,500 words a day.

What advice would you give to any aspiring authors?

Your book isn't going to write itself. No matter how great your idea is, how wonderful your prose, unless you find the time and make yourself do it, your novel will only ever be a dream. Set yourself a weekly target but don't stress if life gets in the way, it's not the end of the world.

And finally, what are you reading at the moment and what are you looking forward to reading this year?

I'm reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine right now for a break from crime fiction. I'll be downloading Persons, Unknown onto my kindle next.


Thank you Colette, for taking the time to answer my questions. And you can purchase her latest novel, An Act of Silence now by clicking HERE.

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Dying to Live by Michael Stanley blog tour

BLURB

The body of a Bushman is discovered near the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and the death is written off as an accident. But all is not as it seems. An autopsy reveals that although he's clearly very old, his internal organs are puzzingly young. What's more, an old bullet is lodged in one of his muscles . . . but where is the entry wound? When the body is stolen from the morgue and a local witch doctor is reported missing, Detective 'Kubu' Bengu through a confusion of rhino-horn smugglers, foreign gangsters and drug manufactures, the wider and more dangerous the case becomes... A fresh, new slice of 'Sunshine Noir', Dying to Live is a classic tale of greed, corruption and ruthless thuggery, set in one of the world's most beautiful landscapes, and featuring one of crime fiction's most endearing and humane detectives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Michael Stanley is the writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. Both were born in South Africa and have worked in academia and business. On a flying trip to Botswana, they watched a pack of hyenas hunt, kill, and devour a wildebeest, eating both flesh and bones. That gave them the premise for their first mystery. A Carrion Death, which introduced Detective 'Kubu' Bengu of the Botswana Criminal Department. It was a finalist for five awards, including the CWA Debut Dagger. The series has been critically acclaimed, and their third book, Death of the Mantis, won the Barry Award and was a finalist for an Edgar award. Deadly Harvest was a finalist for an International Thriller Writers' award, and book 5, A Death in the Family, was an international bestseller.


MY THOUGHTS

Dying to Live is the sixth book in the Detective Kubu series by Michael Stanley. Although this is the first book by Michael Stanley which I have read, I didn’t have any trouble in getting into the story and it can be read as a standalone, if you are new to the series as well. But once you have finished this one, you’ll want to go back and read them all. It reminded me of the television show Death in Paradise on BBC One and I could instantly see the series appeal as a TV drama.

In the latest installment, the discovery of the body of an elderly bushman stumps detectives assigned to the case. An autopsy report reveals that the man’s organs are surprisingly young which can’t be possible. Detective Kubu does not believe in medicines and ‘magic’ created by Witch doctors but the autopsy revelations trouble him. But when the body is stolen from the morgue and a local witch doctor disappears he knows that this is going to be much more than a simple case. And who is the mysterious American anthropologist who also disappears under a shroud of mystery?

Dying to Live is another corker of a read from Orenda books. I really liked Detective Kubu and he seemed like a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of fictional police detectives out there. I also liked his colleague Samantha, and in my personal opinion, she was my favourite character from the book. She was the first woman detective on the team and she often has to stand up for herself. I liked her determination to see a case through, even though, if perhaps, it is one she would rather not be investigating.

This novel is packed with plenty of twists and turns, I also found Kubu’s family life interesting and heartbreaking at times. Kubu’s daughter was born with HIV and he and his wife are left at their wits end when she falls dangerously ill. Kubu must manage to keep track of what is happening with the investigation whilst worrying about his daughter and his own family at the same time.

A really enjoyable read, the detective Kubu series is definitely one to watch. Thank you to Anne Cater and Orenda books for sending me a copy to read and for organising the blog tour. 

Publisher: Orenda Books

Print length: 300 pages

Publication date: 12th July 2017

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