Claire loves to read!

Self-published (19th December 2017)

ISBN: 978-1973547808

Source: Purchased

Rating: 4.5*

Synopsis:

Jake and Kate live in Camden, London and have had enough of the hassle with parking, overbooked restaurants and burglaries. After an altercation with a stranger who pulls a knife on Jake, they take their son Sean, and move to a house in the woods. It’s their dream home, or so they think. People in the village warn them they shouldn’t have come. Neighbours are over friendly and who was the face at the window Kate saw late at night? They find a DVD hidden in the loft of their new house, a home made video recording of the previous family, the Prescotts. What they view, chills them to the bone. They realise that the family living there before them have disappeared and now, they could be next......

Review:

The House on Rectory Lane is far from your typical 'house in the woods' story and has a real gripping undertone of menace that pulls you in from outset. This is author Stuart James' first novel, and shows real potential. There is great attention to detail in places, and the sense of horror in some of the characters is portrayed perfectly. This book would have benefitted from a final proofread, but that didn't detract me from the story and the final twist that I did not see coming at all! Between this book and Turn the Other Way, a later book by the same author, I can see a great difference and growth in his writing. The House on Rectory Lane is a fantastic read and if you like compelling, twisty, psychological crime thrillers, I highly recommend it.

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (7th March 2019)

ISBN: 978-1503905023

Source: Netgalley 

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

Four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger in the dead of night. Her devastated mother, Nicole, receives four identical phials and a threatening note in a familiar scrawl that chills her to the bone. But she always knew this would happen. She’s been expecting it for years.

According to the note, one of the phials is poisoned. Nicole is given a deadly challenge: if she drinks one, the sadistic kidnapper will notify the police of Ellen’s location. The sender claims to be Luka Volkov but Luka is supposed to be dead, killed long ago in a fire that haunts all those involved.

DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer, and her childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken, Amy finds herself in a race against time. To rescue the children, must she seek help from the one person she wants to forget?

Review:

In the first novel in the D.I. Amy Winter series, Amy learns that she has a notorious serial killer for a mother. If you've not yet read Truth and Lies I urge you to pick up a copy. Although The Secret Child reads well as a stand alone, there are references to events that happened in first book, (though they are well explained) plus it's the perfect introduction to the character! 

In this second outing for Amy, we are plunged into tension immediately as the kidnapper strikes, spiriting little Ellen away. I was on the edge of my seat straight away, not knowing what was about to happen. Caroline Mitchell is fantastic at conjuring up an air of menace and keeping it palpable throughout, whilst simultaneously juggling several other interwoven storylines.  Her finger never wavering off the pulse for a second as she seamlessly ties all the invisible ends together in one fell swoop that just made me gasp and shout 'Nooooo!' very loudly at my kindle! I will never tire of reading Caroline's books because they are simply unputdownable and I can never forsee what is going to happen. 

Special thanks to Caroline Mitchell, Thomas & Mercer for providing a review copy via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review. 

Published by: KAW Publishing (21st December 2018)


ISBN: 978-0957016422


Source: Netgalley


Rating: 5*


Synopsis:

It started with a phone call. With just one word: ‘Jessica’ - and now Detective Inspector Jessica Daniel has a big problem. Her missing friend, Bex, called from a battered seaside payphone and yet, by the time Jessica arrived, there was nobody there. 
One man claims he can help – but then he turns up on a beach stabbed to death.


Jessica believes someone must be framing her. 
Someone who is always a step ahead. When she finds a boy whose tattoo matches Bex's, she becomes more desperate than ever for answers. 
But, with the police growing more suspicious, Jessica doesn’t have long to find Bex before she becomes the prime suspect for a murder.


With more than her career at stake, can Jessica clear her name - and find her friend – before it’s too late for them both?


Review:

I really enjoyed seeing Jessica step away from the office and the complete change of environment for her in this book. Her search for the elusive Bex is fraught with mystery and red herrings that just more frustrating with each turn of the page. 
Kerry Wilkinson winds the tension ever tighter with each and every chapter as Jessica's clue's towards Bex's location turn quite literally into dead ends.


As Jessica seeks help from a character seen in previous novels, it feels good to revisit that character interaction with Jessica. 
The police are on her tail and she needs someone she can trust. Typically, the author's character detailing is second to none and his description of the environment, both the city and the rural landscape is stunning. 
I could almost feel the earth beneath my hands as Jessica was scrambling around.


This was a book full of trepidation, which the author kept up all the way through. There were shocks and surprises and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!

Independently published (8th February 2019)

ASIN: B07MQNYNN1

Source: author provided review copy

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

Sometimes revenge is the deadliest game of all.
A derelict farmhouse in the Essex countryside.
A deranged family. 
Innocent victims picked at random.
If you're chosen, Turn The Other Way.
Simon Bairstow is a top London surgeon. He's performed dozens of life-saving operations. But something goes horribly wrong. The machine Eve Johnson is attached to flatlines, and suddenly her parent's world has collapsed.
They're hellbent on revenge, someone to answer for the horrific error that's been made.
Noah and Jess are driving home on a busy dual carriageway and stuck in traffic. They hear thumping coming from the back doors of the transit van in front of them. When Noah steps out onto the road, he hears muffled screams. 
He opens the back doors and what he sees shocks him to the core.
The van pulls off, spilling Noah onto the road.
Ignoring his wife's plea to leave it, he hits the accelerator in pursuit of the van.
Chloe's parents are missing. She hasn't seen them since they left the party in Hampstead on Friday night. She needs answers, deciding to take matters into her own hands. 
A serial killer is stalking the streets of Islington in North London late at night leaving his victims in a horrific way. 
The press have dubbed him the Angel Attacker.
A terrifying tale of revenge with a twist that will hit you like a sledgehammer.

Review:

This is a deadly game like no other with a plot that will have you shouting at your kindle/book in disbelief, make no mistake about about it. Stuart James has constructed a cleverly interconnected web of characters with a story that is pure evil. There are twists at every corner, the intelligently written tale barely giving you time to recover from the last revelation before you are sent hurtling off another knife edge. 

I've read many crime and psychological thriller novels and am rarely shocked, but this author managed to do it twice in one book - with the plot itself, and with the final twist. You're not forgiven Mr James!

Published by: Pan (11th January  2018)

ISBN: 978-1509806652

Source: Netgalley 

Rating: 4*

Synopsis: 

Seventeen years ago, Damian Walker abducted five women because the voices in his head told him to. Now he has been declared sane and is about to be released back onto Manchester’s streets with a new identity. But within hours, there is another attack similar to his previous ones. Walker has proof it’s not him – but is he reliable, and, if so, who is trying to frame him?

DI Jessica Daniel and her chief are given a parallel task to the main investigation: keep an eye on Walker – but that’s not all Jessica has to do.

Rock star Blaine Banner is playing a series of homecoming gigs but is convinced someone’s trying to kill him, while a bride-to-be is picketing the police station, demanding someone finds her missing fiancé.

All the while, faces from Jessica’s past are watching and waiting. Someone wants a word . . .

Revew:

I adore Jessica Daniel and in this book she faces some of her toughest challenges yet, in both her professional and personal life. Focusing mainly on her work, Jessica has difficult cases to crack and a team of mainly familiar faces to ably assist her. There was plenty going on to keep me interested, from Jessica's flits to assist rock star Blaine at all hours and the added tension of a side team on surveillance, but ultimately I felt the identity of the killer somewhat unbelievable, hence not awarding five stars. But an entertaining, engrossing read nonetheless. 

Published by: Killer Reads (23rd December 2016)

Source: purchased

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

A man has been found brutally murdered in his own home. The victim is Iain Kilbride, a once-famous TV star who has faded into obscurity. All signs point to a break-in, but why has nothing been taken?

For DCI Matilda Darke, this is the perfect chance to prove her newly formed Murder Investigation Team are up to the task. Matilda suspects the clue to finding the killer lies in Iain’s past, but she’s about to discover how dark that past really is…

Review:

I came across this prequel to the DCI Matilda Darke series a little late, but absolutely relished reading about the initial setting up of the MIT and about Matilda's first faltering steps as she returns to work as a newly appointed DCI. Seeing Matilda's historic exchanges with familiar characters such as the irrepressible Ben Hales is an added bonus, and getting to peek inside her relationship with husband James is insightful.

Although this is a short story, nothing feels rushed. The pace is steady and the story and characters have time to unfurl in an unhurried manner.  The case itself is utterly gripping and cleverly written with the author's usual incredible attention to detail. I completely forgot I was even reading a short story!

Published by: Canelo (22nd October 2018)


ASIN: B07HYQ99YV


Source: Netgalley


Rating: 4.5*


Synopsis:

DI Tom Ridpath was on the up in the Manchester CID:
a promising young detective whose first case involved
capturing a notorious serial killer. But ten years
later he’s recovering from a serious illness and on
the brink of being forced out of the police. Then 
people start dying: tortured, murdered, in an uncanny
echo of Ridpath’s first case.

As the investigation intensifies, old bodies go missing,
records can’t be found and the murder count grows. 
Caught in a turf war between the police and the coroner’s 
office, digging up skeletons some would rather forget, 
Ridpath is caught in a race against time: a race to save 
his career, his marriage… And lives.

When a detective goes missing everything is on the line. 
Can Ridpath close the case and save his colleague?


Review:

Where The Truth Lies is the kind of book that gets 
under your skin from the very first chapter. Tom 
Ridpath is a character that I wasn't entirely sure I 
liked at the beginning of the book, but he really grew
on me the deeper I delved into the case. He's not your
run of the mill, predictable detective and that is 
refreshing. He's not afraid to bend the rules to get 
results and as his personality emerged, the more I 
admired and respected him.


The investigation that consumes DI Ridpath is utterly 
chilling, well constructed and finely detailed. The cast
of supporting characters is varied and colourful, and 
the case itself makes for gripping reading. I'm very 
much looking forward to meeting DI Ridpath on his 
next case.

Published by: Bookouture (10th October 2018)

ISBN: 978-1786817075

Source: Netgalley 

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

Charley Willis was thirteen years old when her parents were killed in their family home and she was found hiding in a cupboard upstairs. 

Fifteen years later, Charley is marrying Seth Chambers. It should be the happiest day of their lives, a chance for Charley to put her past behind her, but just hours after the ceremony, she is missing.

No one saw her leave. No one knows where she is.

One thing is for certain…Seth is about to discover he doesn’t really know the woman he just married. And his nightmare is only just beginning. 

Review:

Oh WOW! I've not read one of Kerry's books for a while and how I've missed them! This deftly woven tale of intrigue caught my attention from the get go and completely ensnared me. I wasn't prepared for what was to unfold as the dramatic plot shared its darkest secrets, told from the perspectives of both Charley's husband Seth, in the present day, and Charley herself, via flashbacks. 

With more twists and turns than your average rollercoaster, The Wife's Secret will have you reading way past your bedtime and questioning every disappearance you will ever hear about again. It's full of suspense, familial tension and the author's brilliant attention to detail make this truly outstanding. 

Published by: Bookouture (22nd August 2018)

ISBN: 978-1786816153

Source: Netgalley 

Rating: 3*

Synopsis:

One evening as the sun is setting, Amelia Madison’s car slides into the sea off Mason’s Pier. Her body is never found.

Two years later, Elena Langdon meets Nicholas Madison. She is grieving the loss of her mother, he is grieving for his wife. Together they can help each other.

Now Elena is living with Nicholas. But Elena doesn’t really know him. She doesn’t know what he is capable of.

And she doesn’t know what really happened to Amelia.

Until the day she discovers the torn page of a letter and the words she reads chill her to the bone.

Elena must find the person who wrote these letters if she is to save herself.

Review:

When I haven't enjoyed a book as much as average review scores tend to suggest, I do something that's rather out of character for me, and read those other reviews prior to writing my own, in case I've completely missed the point, or fallen asleep at a crucial moment and awoken later having omitted to read some vital shred of the plot that ties the whole book together. 

The Wife Before Me has some rave reviews, but I felt so disappointed with it. Some aspects of it I thought were well done, such as the domestic violence. As a survivor and also someone who has worked in DV, I found it to be realistic. However, I found it confusing at times and it was difficult to work out who was narrating. The ending was the biggest disappointment of all, it seemed so illogical. I read the last sentence and, I kid you not, actually said out loud "What?! Is that it?!" I found it contrived and it also felt rushed. 

Thanks to Bookouture for the ARC via Netgalley. This is my unbiased opinion. 

Independently published (6th June 2018)

ISBN: 978-1983052606

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

TC is the wonder drug. Manufactured in secrecy on a remote planet at the edge of the galaxy, it makes worlds inhabitable; and Balcom Industrial lots of money. Then, suddenly, the people who need to take it to stay alive start to die! For Layla Balcom, fresh from wresting control of her father’s inheritance from those who would have destroyed it, the news is devastating. Can the drug be flawed? Or is something else going on?  

Review:

I very much enjoyed Ribbonworld, the first book in The Balcom Dynasty when I devoured it in virtually one sitting last year, so Jungle Green was an eagerly anticipated read for me. It was a real pleasure to catch up with Miles Goram again, the central character and unlikely hero of Ribbonworld.

The story piqued my curiosity from the off, the author laying a trail of breadcrumbs but there's no hand holding and leading you from one clue to the next; some things you need to work out for yourself! The plot is interesting and cast of characters varied and well rounded - some seemingly lovely, others hateful! 

Richard Dee has a wonderful way of weaving a way with words, he's a masterful storyteller and I suspect he doesn't even realise this. When I'm reading one of his books, regardless of genre, I'm utterly transfixed and lose all track of time. There could be a monsoon (or anything else) going on outside, I really wouldn't have the faintest idea! I am really pleased to see a prequel is forthcoming, I can't wait to read that! 

Published by: Thomas & Mercer (30th August 2018)

ISBN: 978-1503903142

Source: Netgalley 

Rating: 5*

Synopsis: 

DI Amy Winter is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father. But when a letter arrives from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious husband-and-wife serial-killer team, it contains a revelation that will tear her life apart.

Responsible for a string of heinous killings decades ago, Lillian is pure evil. A psychopathic murderer. And Amy’s biological mother. Now, she is ready to reveal the location of three of her victims—but only if Amy plays along with her twisted game.

While her fellow detectives frantically search for a young girl taken from her mother’s doorstep, Amy must confront her own dark past. Haunted by blurred memories of a sister who sacrificed herself to save her, Amy faces a race against time to uncover the missing bodies.

But what if, from behind bars, Grimes has been pulling the strings even tighter than Amy thought? And can she overcome her demons to prevent another murder?

Review :

I have been feeling rather spoilt of late with the number of incredible female lead characters I've had the fortune to read, and DI Amy Winter is no exception! Although she appears somewhat of a closed book at times, the way this particular case interweaves with her childhood forces her to open up. She's a fascinating, multi-faceted character, deftly supported by an array of other characters that play their part in building the story.

The way Amy's background pertains to the main case is intricately plotted, down to the very last detail. I enjoyed the amount of focus on the police personnel's home lives, it really brought the characters to life as well as satisfying my nosey streak! There were plenty of surprises that I didn't expect including one huge one. I thought I had it all worked out, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong! I'm a huge fan of the author's work, and am really looking forward to the next outing for DI Amy Winter. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley; this is my honest review. 

ISBN: 978-0008311629

Published by: Killer Reads (24th August 2018)

Rating: 5*

Synopsis:

There’s a killer in your house.
The Hangman waits in the darkness of your living room. As soon as you get home, he will kill you – hang you by the neck – and make you pay for all the crimes you have tried desperately to forget.

He knows your darkest secrets.
The police are running out of time. DCI Matilda Darke is facing her worst nightmare: a serial killer pursuing his own brand of lethal justice, whose campaign of violence is spreading fear throughout the city.

And he is closer than you think.
As the body count rises, Matilda is personally targeted and even her most trusted colleagues fall under suspicion. But can she keep those closest to her from harm? Or is it already too late?

Review:

DCI Matilda Darke is such a beautifully written character. She's strong - capable of barking out orders with a ferocity that demands results, yet has a beguiling fragility as a result of the most unimaginable emotional trauma. In The Hangman's Hold, Matilda faces losing her very sanity as she and her team hunt down a vigilante serial killer who has decided to take matters into their own hands. 

This is an intriguing book that grabbed my attention from the outset. The Hangman character is utterly creepy and made me feel uneasy enough to look over my shoulder as I read, but at the same time I felt compelled to keep reading to find out what they would do next! There are many personal and professional relationships within the police team that get tested to the max when the elusive killer seems to be out of their grasp. With more twists and turns than a hangman's noose, this novel also really made me think. When is a crime paid for? 

Michael Wood has managed to squeeze all the elements needed for a brilliant crime novel into a truly engrossing read. DCI Matilda Darke is fast becoming one of my favourite characters because she is just so real. I'd like to thank the author, Harper Impulse, Killer Reads and Netgalley for providing an ARC. This is my unbiased review. 

Catch the rest of the blog tour with these fabulous bloggers here: -

ISBN: 9781999881405

Self-published

Synopsis:

Awakening in a strange new world – red lights flashing by themselves, doors opening on their own, lights existing behind walls – Jerome wonders where it all went wrong. Under the scrutiny of Tathism, a new and fanatical religion, he wonders what happened to end the eight years of happiness. Reunited with his old friends, all of whom seem bound by immortality, he tries to accept this new world. However, The Reformation is eager to put to right the mistakes of the past.

Now, with Tathites and The Reformation determined to find them, the group must make a choice – whether to try and find a way home, or remain drifters in the void of time. However is the choice even their own? Or is it really the calling of a deeper, otherworldly future…?

Review:

This second volume of The Theurgy Revolution is a book I have been anticipating since the epic first volume appeared on my best reads of 2014. The wonderful cast of characters from the author's first novel are personalities that really sprang to life from the pages, so I had been wondering all this time what their fate would be.

Jerome is a beautifully written character totally lost in the world he has awoken into, everyday objects that we take for granted are described perfectly. As the story progresses and the Tathites make themselves known, the author's use of complex language again comes into play and makes me use my brain (and google!).

I don't want to give the plot of this sequel away, but meeting some familiar characters, the fascinating play between the different personalities and finding out unforseen secrets are all highlights. Personally, I cannot wait for volume 3 as I am dying to find out what happens next!

Published by: Avon (23rd July 2018)

ISBN: 978-0008300814

Source: Netgalley

Rating: 5*

Synopsis:

Deborah’s son was killed four years ago. Alice’s son is in prison for committing that crime.

Deborah would give anything to have her boy back, and Alice would do anything to right her son’s wrongs.

Driven by guilt and the need for redemption, Alice has started a support group for parents with troubled children. But as the network begins to grow, she soon finds out just how easy it is for one little lie to spiral out of control…

They call it mother’s intuition, but can you ever really know your own child?

Review:

Wow, this is such a masterfully plotted novel. Everything is planned out, down to the last intricate detail. It was a real pleasure to read and almost impossible to put down! There is plenty to keep you guessing, hold your interest and keep you up reading all night! Sam Carrington is one of those writers that has the knack of weaving all the threads of her story together so subtly so that you've not realised until the last moment. What a talent!

One Little Lie contains some of the characters from Sam Carrington's last book, Bad Sister, in therapist Connie and police officers Lindsay and Mack. I wasn't expecting this, but it was a really nice surprise as I thought the characters had worked well in the previous book. This is a stand alone novel, so it's not necessary to read Bad Sister first, although there is a bit of reference to the previous case. 

Chapters are alternated from the points of view of Deborah and Alice, with Connie interspersed too, as she is caught up in the case too, as are Lindsay and Mack. I can't really say much more about it without giving any of the plot away, but there is an awful lot going on in this book, so you need to keep your wits about you! It's a very tangled web and utterly gripping. There are some truly shocking parts, emotional scenes too, but there are also some very touching parts, to bring in more light to all the darkness. It was great to get to know Connie a little better, and to see the interaction with her, Lindsay and Mack. I hope they will be all returning in another of Sam's books!

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher, via Netgalley; this is my honest review.