Blood Lines by Angela Marsons Book Review

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

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

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

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

A totally gripping thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page to the final, dramatic twist.


MY THOUGHTS

I couldn’t have been more excited when I could finally read the fifth book in the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. I was excited to learn that we would be meeting, yet again the psychopath, Alexandra Throne who we were first introduced to in Evil Games. Angela really has sent Kim on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride in this novel, and whilst Alexandra attempts to use her as a puppet in her game she has to try and find a serial killer who has hidden themselves well within the shadows.

Blood Lines grabs you from the set off, when we find Kim seemingly on her own at night and being followed by a serial rapist. Thankfully, the operation is swiftly concluded and the criminal arrested. But without a moment to pause and think, Kim and her team are called to a scene where a dead body has been discovered, a young woman, a social care worker, has been found with a single stab wound.

As the body count begins to ride, Kim must try and find a link between the victims and it is during this time that from within prison walls, Alexandra Throne begins to bring her plans to fruition. Kim is faced with the unthinkable possibility for her, that her mother, who was sectioned in a psychiatric unit after killing Kim’s twin, Mikey, after she convinced herself that her son was the devil, could be set free. The final showdown Angela has written between the pair is brilliant and one of my favourite scenes from the novel.

The novel is taut with tension throughout and I even felt scared for some of the inmates Alexandra was imprisoned with. Alex Thorne is an ingenious creation and I do wonder if this is the last we’ll hear from her, I would like to see how she gets on after the events that have occurred in Blood Lines.

The Kim Stone novels keep getting better and better, roll on the next one Angela, I can’t wait to read it! Thank you to Bookouture  and Netgalley for the early review copy. 

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 4th November 2016

Print length: 380 pages

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Ragdoll by Daniel Cole Book Review

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The nation is gripped by the infamous 'Ragdoll Killer'
Your friends, your family and your neighbours are all talking about it.
'...utterly addictive with brilliant characters and a killer twist you will never see coming - the best debut I've ever read.' Rachel Abbott, No. 1 bestselling author
'A star is born. Killer plot. Killer pace. Twisted killer and a killer twist. Kill to get a copy.' Simon Toyne, Sunday Times bestselling author 
'A brilliant, breathless thriller. If you liked Se7en, you'll love this!' M.J. Arlidge,Sunday Times bestselling author

Believe the hype. Sold in over 32 countries and counting, RAGDOLL is the standout thriller of the year.

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

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

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

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

MY THOUGHTS 

Ragdoll has been on my wish list since I first heard about its acquisition by Trapeze books way back in April. I was desperate to get my hands on a copy, and when my copy finally came in the post I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and I can tell you, Ragdoll has certainly lived up to the hype. Ragdoll electrified me from page one and I found myself on the edge of my seat, waiting with baited breath to find out what happened next, throughout my reading journey, until I had turned the final page.

Ragdoll has been sold in thirty four countries around the world and has been snapped up by ITV’s ‘The Durrells,’ Sid Gentle.

In Daniel Cole’s debut, we meet Detective William Oliver Layton-Fawkes, aka Wolf, to his team and members of the press. Four years ago, Wolf headed up the enquiry into a series of murders known as ‘The Cremation killings.’ After losing control on the final day of the trial, which almost ended his career, Wolf was subjected to months of psychological assessment before finally returning to the police force.

When Wolf arrives on the scene in the present day, he is faced with a career defining cadaver, which his colleague Baxter excitedly describes as ‘the one, a once-in-a-career case.’ One body, six victims sewn together to make a corpse; the cadaver is soon dubbed by the press as the Ragdoll which has everyone in the media world talking and speculating.  Whilst the team are trying to identify the different body parts, the investigation into the killings steps up a pace when the killer releases a list of six names to the press of intended victims and the dates on which they intend to murder them. The final name on the list is Wolf’s.

Daniel Cole has created a stunning cast of characters in his first novel. It is amazing to think that this started off as a screen play and was turned down repeatedly before Daniel finally made the decision to turn his idea into a book, because he was desperate to know the end, which in my opinion was the right choice. I would have to say that my favourite character was Baxter, I admired her way of dealing with pressing issues, particularly when it was announced that Wolf’s name is on the killer’s hit list. I also loved her wit and sense of humour throughout the novel which made me laugh out loud in places. I found myself feeling sorry for Edmunds, who is trying to impress his team and crack the case before anyone else, but struggles to juggle his work and home life together, especially as his girlfriend, Tia, is pregnant. Tia doesn’t seem to quite understand how demanding a detective’s work is. 

There are some clever and original ideas in this book which Daniel uses when he kills off his characters, you can see the influence from his days working as a paramedic. If you love crime, I challenge you not to love this book. Many thanks to Ben Willis and Sam Eades at Trapeze for the advance review copy. Ragdoll publishes on the 23^rd February 2017, you’d be mad to miss out! 

Publisher: Trapeze 

Publication date: 23rd February 2017

Print length: 359 pages 

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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 

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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