My Day at the Killer Women Writing Festival

On Saturday, I went to the first ever Killer Women Festival in London at Shoreditch’s Town Hall where in 1888 the inquest into Mary Jane Kelly, believed to be the final victim of Jack the Ripper was held. What better place to host a festival for crime fans and crime writers.

The day itself was jam packed full of events, it was impossible to see them all but one of my favourites which I attended was Sarah Hilary’s fresh blood panel where she quizzed four debut authors: Paul Burston, author of The Black Path, Michelle Davies, author of Gone Astray, Agnes Ravatn, author of The Bird Tribunal, and Chris Whitaker, author of Tall Oaks. It only took Chris four weeks to write the first draft of his debut, when he was writing five thousand words a day and a year to tidy it all up. The panel drew much laughter and gasps from the crowd. I thought it was inspiring to hear how the authors developed their debut novel and their path to publication. It was interesting to hear how Michelle Davies drew inspiration from her novel after interviewing Kerry Needham, the mother of missing Ben Needham, when she was working as a journalist. Her interviews with Kerry inspired the creation of the main detective in her novel, a family liaison officer. The Bird Tribunal is Agnes Ravtn’s first novel published in English and is set in the idyllic Norwegian landscape which Sarah Hilary described as Rebecca with fjords. Agnes talked about how working in a creepy cabin, with spiders in the toilet, and no social media, finally gave her the time to finish the book. Personally, I think I would prefer working at my desk.

Early on the morning I attended the How to Pitch Your Novel panel with Sam Eades (Trapeze Publishing), Nelle Andrews (Literary Agent) and Jane Casey (author of the Maeve Kerrigan series). This panel offered plenty of information about the publishing world and it was interesting hearing some of the pitches Sam Eades had received, the worst pitch she ever received was Joseph Fritzel meets The Sound of Music. 

What a shame that I had to leave in the afternoon, particularly as I missed out on Killer Women cocktails in the evening, but I’ve heard that the rest of the day was a roaring success. I hope that there will be another festival next year, which I will certainly be attending. 

Never Look Back by Clare Donoghue Book Review

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Never Look Back is a chilling and compelling debut crime thriller from Clare Donoghue set in South East London. For all those who enjoy Peter James, Mark Billingham and Peter Robinson.

Three women have been found brutally murdered in south London, the victims only feet away from help during each sadistic attack. And the killer is getting braver . . .

Sarah Grainger is rapidly becoming too afraid to leave her house. Once an outgoing photographer, she knows that someone is watching her. A cryptic note brings everything into terrifying focus, but it's the chilling phone calls that take the case to another level.

DI Mike Lockyer heads up the regional murder squad. With three bodies on his watch, and a killer growing in confidence, he frantically tries to find the link between these seemingly isolated incidents. What he discovers will not only test him professionally but will throw his personal life into turmoil too.

MY THOUGHTS

Clare Donoghue’s debut, Never Look Back, featuring Detective Inspector Mike Lockyer and Detective Sergeant Jane Bennet, has been on my reading list for a while and I was so glad when I finally got round to reading it. I fell into the story straight away and read well into the night to find out who the culprit was behind the murders. Clare certainly knows how to keep her reader interested. Clare’s debut is a cracking read and I will certainly be reading the next book in the series, No Place to Die. She has leapt straight onto my list of top favourite authors.  

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way in this novel and the final twist in the book left me gasping. In the opening pages of the novel, two women are already dead and now a third victim has been found. The police know they have to work hard to stop a killer who is growing increasingly confident and who is looking to stretch their wings. Lockyer desperately wants to find a link between the victims, and is desperate to blow the case wide open before another victim is found. When Sarah Grainger reports to the police her concerns that she is being stalked, the investigation steps up a pace and it is feared that Sarah’s stalker could be the killer they are looking for. Sarah has been repeatedly ignored when she has visited the police to report her fears, and I could feel her frustration when she tries to get someone to listen to her concerns. I was glad when DI Lockyer finally took her concerns seriously.

The pace in the novel moved very fast and there was never a dull moment where I felt my eyes sagging. I enjoyed reading the relationship that developed between Lockyer and Sarah which adds to the tension in the novel as Lockyer knows that his job could be on the line if he pursues this relationship. I also liked seeing his softer side when he visits his brother, who is living in a residential care home. Lockyer also faces problems with his teenage daughter, this sub plot also teaches you more about the detective and I felt that Lockyer’s character was fleshed out very well. Clare has developed her characters well in her first novel and they have all stuck in my mind.

Never Look Back is the first in a series of books, and Clare has introduced us to DS Bennet and DI Lockyer in a very promising start. Five stars from me. If you enjoy a good British, police procedural, then this book should definitely be on your reading list. Clare Donoghue is an author to watch. 

Publisher: Pan

Publication date: 13th March 2014

Print Length: 304 pages 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 

The Two o'clock Boy by Mark Hill Book Review

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

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

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

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

Discover the gripping, twist-filled start to a fantastic new London-set crime thriller series starring morally corrupt DI Ray Drake - the perfect new addiction for fans of Luther.

MY THOUGHTS 

Mark Hill’s debut, The Two o’clock Boy, is a startling first novel from an exciting new voice in crime fiction. The ending of this book blew me away.

I was drawn into Hill’s book which focuses primarily on events which took place in 1984 at the  Longacre children’s home which is under the management of a man, not to be reckoned with, Gordon Tallis. The children there are petrified of the man and when a boy called Toby Turrell arrives on the scene, who has been entrusted into the care of Gordon by his parents, things begin to go from bad to worse. In the present day, a family have been slaughtered in their home and it doesn’t take Detective Inspector Ray Drake and Detective Sergeant Flick Crowley long to establish a link between the recent murders and what went on in the children’s home over thirty years ago.

DI Ray Drake is desperate to brush any link between the children’s home and what is happening in the present under the carpet which arouses suspicions in his colleague, DS Flick. As the investigation progresses, tension grows between the pair as DS Flick struggles to unravel the truth behind the ghastly crimes that are taking place today and what happened in 1984 which continues to haunt DI Drake.

Mark Hill’s book was intelligent and expertly plotted. Each chapter will leave you on tenterhooks waiting to find out what happens next. There is no doubt about it, if you enjoy crime fiction, you will enjoy this book. Mark Hill is a talent to watch! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy.

Publisher: Sphere

Publication date: 22nd September 2016 (kindle) 6th April 2017 (paperback)

Print Length: 432 pages

THE TWO O'CLOCK BOY IS OUT NOW! 

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Book Review

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There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .

On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt, but instead she is met by his sharp-tongued sister, Marin. Only later does Johannes appear and present her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected ways . . .

Nella is at first mystified by the closed world of the Brandt household, but as she uncovers its secrets she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?

Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heart-pounding suspense, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

MY THOUGHTS

It has taken me a while to get round to reading Jessie Burton’s, The Miniaturist. Jessie Burton has created a magical story set in the late seventeenth century in the bustling city of Amsterdam.

It is winter, 1686, Nella Oortman is about to begin her new life. At the age of eighteen, she has been married to a wealthy merchant, Johannes Brandt who is twenty-one years her senior and a man she barely knows, although this certainly isn’t unusual for this period in history. Things start of shaky for Nella as she tries to adapt to her married life. She is greeted by Joanne’s sister, Marin, who is a complex character. Marin is strong wielded, God fearing character and carries herself very much as the lady of the manor. Jessie Burton has created a mysterious and intricate background for her, which you learn more about as the novel progresses, but I do not want to reveal any spoilers here.

Although her new husband is not there to greet her upon her arrival, Johannes has gifted to Nella, an extraordinary cabinet-sized replica of their home and he instructs Nella to furnish the item, he implies that the object is for Nella’s education. Nella feels ridiculed by the object at first but then she undertakes the task of furnishing the item and employs a Miniaturist to construct beautiful figurines. But when items start to arrive they bear a remarkable significance on events that are yet to come.

Jessie Burton’s writing lights up every page in this book. From the very first sentence, Jessie shows that she has the ability to hook her readers and keep them turning the pages. What she has produced is an emotional, powerful piece of literature which will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. Five stars from me, and I can’t wait to read her latest book, The Muse. 

Publisher: Picador 

Publication date: 1st January 2015

Print Length: 400 pages

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miniaturist-Jessie-Burton/dp/1447250931/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=35CRWVE7838Q1G25Z891

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Book Review

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When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman's severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible - and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them...

A fiendishly clever mystery with unexpected twists around every corner, Career of Evil is also a gripping story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives. You will not be able to put this book down.

MY THOUGHTS

In J.K. Rowling’s third crime novel, writing under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith, Comoroan Strike, an ex-army officer and his assistant Robin Ellacott, a wannabe detective, are hot on the trail of a serial killer. The Strike novels have certainly taken a darker turn as Galbraith’s themes include: paedophilia, serial murder and Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID). In the opening pages of the novel, Robin receives, addressed to her, an amputated female leg. Horrified by the discovery, Strike is forced to contemplate the demons of his past and as the police investigation begins, so does Strike’s own quest to discover who is responsible for sending the leg.

In Strike’s third outing, Rowling continues to show off to the world her excellent story telling techniques. I was hooked from the opening pages of the novel and I loved the detail that she puts in, especially into the minor characters as well. This says to me, that the author truly cares about the world they have created. We learn more about Robin’s past and character which I think will continue to play heavily on her as the series progresses, revelations about her past will, in my opinion, shock Galbraith’s readers. In Robin’s own personal life there are tensions as her own relationship with her partner, Matthew, comes under strain. Robin faces some pretty tough times in this novel as well as contemplating the fact that she is on a serial killer’s hit list. Strike’s past is also further explored in this novel and we learn more about what he got up to with the army before he set up his private detective agency which makes for interesting reading.

One of the things that surprised me whilst reading the novel was reading about the Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID), a mental illness that make people believe that they should be disabled. This was interesting to learn about as it was something that I had never come across before. This particularly touches a nerve with Strike who was blown up whilst he was serving in the army and had to have one of his legs amputated. Meeting people who suffer from this illness face to face and talking to them does not sit well with Strike.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, the tension kept me turning the pages and the ending left me feeling very satisfied. I’m already looking forward to reading Strike’s next adventure. Carer of Evil is out now.

Publisher: Sphere

Publication date: 20th October 2015 

Print length: 512 pages

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Career-Cormoran-Strike-Robert-Galbraith/dp/0751562270/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1474548750&sr=1-1 

I See You by Clare Mackintosh Book Review

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When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation, no website: just a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015

MY THOUGHTS

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of I Let You Go comes a new, gripping page turner that will keep you reading well into the night.

Travelling on the Underground will never be the same again after reading this book. When Zoe Walker finds her picture in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, her world and everything she knows about it is turned upside down. Her family is trying to convince her that it is just someone who looks like her, but Zoe is less than convinced. The advert is for a website called findtheone.com but the most disturbing detail is that other women, who appear on the site, have had terrible crimes committed to them and Zoe is certain that she will fall foul of whatever sick game it is that the website owner is creating. She believes that whatever is happening to her and a series of other women is linked to the recent murder of a young woman.

Zoe reports her concerns to the police and Kelly Swift, a British Transport Police officer is assigned to the case and is a real champion in the police force. Kelly has had her own problems in the past and she is working hard to overcome them and to prove to her boss’s that she is a good detective. This was after she was sentenced for beating a child molester whilst he was in custody. It isn’t going to be easy for Kelly but once she lands a job she is determined to see it through and she is a real force of nature.

I really liked how Mackintosh built a strong background for of the female protagonists in her novel. There was tension on every page of the novel and I got a real sense that time was running out to catch whoever was behind the crimes. Mackintosh delivers a clever ending with a twist I didn’t see coming. But you will be thinking to yourself, the next time you go work, perhaps you’ll want to consider changing your route, just to put your mind at ease. I See You is a brilliant, on the edge of your seat psychological thriller which will keep you turning the pages. It is a book that will stay with you for a long time after you have finished. 

Publisher: Sphere

Print Length: 384 pages

Publication date: 28th July 2016

https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-See-You-Clare-Mackintosh/dp/0751566047/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473847752&sr=1-1&keywords=i+see+you+clare+mackintosh

Saving Sophie by Sam Carrington Book Review

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A teenage girl is missing. Is your daughter involved, or is she next?

Your daughter is in danger. But can you trust her?

When Karen Finch’s seventeen-year-old daughter Sophie arrives home after a night out, drunk and accompanied by police officers, no one is smiling the morning after. But Sophie remembers nothing about how she got into such a state.

Twelve hours later, Sophie’s friend Amy has still not returned home. Then the body of a young woman is found.

Karen is sure that Sophie knows more than she is letting on. But Karen has her own demons to fight. She struggles to go beyond her own door without a panic attack.

As she becomes convinced that Sophie is not only involved but also in danger, Karen must confront her own anxieties to stop whoever killed one young girl moving on to another – Sophie.

A taut psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and I Let You Go.

MY THOUGHTS: 

From the moment I started reading Saving Sophie, I was hooked, and the tension that grabbed me from the beginning carried me right through to the end. The writing is taut and keeps you guessing, with plenty of twist and turns along the way.

At the beginning of the novel, Sophie is brought home drunk by the police after a night out, and it isn’t even late. No question about it, her parents are furious with her and when it is discovered that her friend Amy didn’t return home, tensions begin to stretch out tight. Before long a body is found and Sophie finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. She makes for a great, unreliable narrator and she keeps the reader on tenterhooks as she tries to delve deeper as she attempts to work out what happened that night.  

I liked Karen’s character, Sophie’s mother, there were points when I found myself shaking my head when she wouldn’t go and visit her best friend, the mother of the murdered girl, but Karen suffers from agoraphobia after she was attacked two years previously. This is an obstacle she has to overcome in the novel and is a magnet for creating tension. I thought this was an interesting idea to explore as I hadn’t come across it in any previous crime or psychological novels I have recently read.

I would have liked to have seen more action from DI Wade and DI Lindsay. I really enjoyed reading the scenes between them and I would have liked to have found out more about their characters and what they were investigation. It was a breath of fresh air to read about a detective character who doesn’t have a haunted or damaged background. I did read in the questions Sam answered at the back, that these characters will appear in her next book so I’m hoping to learn more about them in her next piece of work.

The ending of Saving Sophie shook me to the core and I’m still thinking about it a couple of days after I finished reading the book. For me, that is always the sign of a good book, to carry on thinking about the plot a long time after the final page has been turned. Overall, I thought Saving Sophie was a five star read and I can’t wait for Sam’s next book and to see what she does next. 

Publisher: Avon 

Publication date: 12th August 2016 (Kindle) 15th December 2016 (Paperback)

Print length: 400 pages

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-Sophie-gripping-psychological-brilliant/dp/0008191816/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1473330479&sr=1-1