Year: 2015

A Cold Killing by Anna Smith (Rosie Gilmour #5)

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Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Crime reporter Rosie Gilmour returns from hiding in Bosnia to a story of a brutal execution. University lecturer Tom Mahoney was shot at point blank range, the killing has all the signs of a hit. But who would want to kill a retired lecturer? Rosie throws herself into the investigation, looking for a witness that has gone missing. A witness that might hold the key to the story. But she has her own reasons to stay hidden. As Rosie digs deeper, she finds the story has connections to the Ministry of Defence and MI6 and Mahoney’s past is darker than anyone could imagine. Rosie’s running out of time to find out the truth, before Mahoney’s killers silence her for good.

My Review: Rosie Gilmour is something of a compelling series. Maybe it’s because she isn’t a copper? Maybe it’s because she is just a darn interesting character, who knows the exact reasoning but whatever it is, it draws me back to each new book in the series. Rosie Gilmour is a journalist that takes far too many risks just to scoop the story. This is book 5 in the series and after Rosie’s last escapade I was expecting it to be quieter and for Rosie to take less risky escapades. Not sure why I thought that and as usual Rosie has only just got herself back on safe ground when a new story breaks that piques hers and her boss Micks interest.

The shooting of a University lecturer at point blank range is what gets Rosie’s knickers in a twist this time and the victim Tom Mahoney is a seemingly mild mannered retired lecturer. Rosie’s instincts know this isn’t straightforward. I was pleased to see that Rosie’s colleague Matt returns (albeit briefly) as well as Adrian to help her out and follow leads. As usual Rosie’s leads are always fraught with danger and you end up holding your breath when she gets herself cornered in certain situations. There is a change in tack with the type of story Rosie follows but it made the book no less thrilling.

I swear to God I spend half the time when reading a Rosie book waiting for her to get killed, and the other half trying to work out how on earth she will get the answers she is looking for. We see all sorts of murky secrets uncovered and towards the end I still wasn’t sure whether the good guys were actually bad guys or what! Another great read which will have you turning the pages late into the night. I think maybe the reason this series is so popular is down to the tough character of Rosie, combined with varying themes that she works on. I guess Anna’s real life journalist experience helps her keep her books feeling very different without losing the main threads of the characters. Highly recommended!

The Dandelion Years by Erica James

My Rating: 5/5

Available: Hardcover, Kindle, Audio, Kobo, Nook, Paperback due 18.06.15

Synopsis: Ashcombe was the most beautiful house Saskia had ever seen as a little girl. A rambling pink cottage on the edge of the Suffolk village of Melbury Green, its enchanting garden provided a fairy-tale playground of seclusion, a perfect sanctuary to hide from the tragedy which shattered her childhood.

Now an adult, Saskia is still living at Ashcombe and as a book restorer devotes her days tending to the broken, battered books that find their way to her, daydreaming about the people who had once turned their pages. When she discovers a notebook carefully concealed in an old Bible – and realising someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide a story of their own – Saskia finds herself drawn into a heart-rending tale of wartime love.

My Review:  I wasn’t entirely sure about the synopsis of this book but all those reservations went away when I started reading this latest release by Erica James. It was a bit of a slow burner but well worth the wait. Saskia seems something of a loner and following the death of her mother and grandmothers her life has fallen into an unusual situation. She lives with her father and two grandfathers in relative harmony. Saskia is a book restorer and along with her father they arrive at a job where Saskia finds a hidden notebook which soon becomes a bit of an obsession.

Saskia wasn’t a character I was drawn to immediately, but as you get to know her father and two grandfathers each character means you understand Saskia that little bit more. Matthew Grey is recovering from the death of the man closest to him Jacob, who he considered a father figure. When Saskia and Matthew meet they have no idea how they are linked but their awkward and faltering start makes for compulsive reading. 

The notebook is the second thread of the story and features a man who falls in love with the love of his life Kitty during the war. This element of the story was one that made me question whether I would enjoy the book, but Erica James has a way with storytelling that means it matters little what era you are in. The war time love tale between Kitty and the man in her life had me hooked. I would say this is the furthest from what I would traditionally read, but a book that took me completely by surprise. An absolutely wonderful book by an author I love, and I cannot recommend this highly enough!

The Treatment by Mo Hayder (Jack Caffrey #2)

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Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Available: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Kobo

Synopsis: A quiet residential street in south London. A husband and wife are discovered, imprisoned in their own home. Badly dehydrated, they’ve been bound and beaten. He is close to death. But worse is to come: their young son is missing. When Detective Inspector Jack Caffery is called in to investigate, the similarities with events in his own past make it impossible for him to view this new crime dispassionately. And as he digs deeper – as he attempts to hold his own life together in the face of ever more disturbing revelations about both his past and his present – the real nightmare begins

My Review: I have literally <insert shocked expression here, I know> started reading Mo Hayder. Why? Hell, I have no idea! As soon as I had finished book 1 I just knew I had to go on to book 2. There is however, something I feel I should point out about this book. It is DARK, and I mean dark. It covers subjects (such as child abuse and paedophilia) so if you haven’t the stomach for that sort of story please don’t read it, as it will no doubt disappoint and upset. Although the subject matter is awful, Hayder has a certain flair for making you, frankly scared witless! She has a rather dark manner about her books but they also show huge flair and skill which makes for a shockingly gripping book.

Jack Caffrey as the lead is a great character, but I tend to swing between loving him, and wanting to smack the shit out of him! Following on from book 1, I wanted to know more about his dark past and his gripping addiction with finding out what happened to his brother many years before. Thankfully this part of the storyline is dealt with and makes for a huge chunk in working out just how screwed up Jack has become. That aside, the book starts us off with a shocking and disturbing scene in South London. It’s always a bonus when a book is set in an area you know as you find yourself naturally gravitating there in your imagination. Jack and his colleague Danni (who I really liked) investigate a missing child. His parents are found bound and beaten in their own home with no sign of their young son.

What follows is a disturbing but weaving and layered plot that will keep you guessing about who is involved and why. This was another Mo Hayder book that I really didn’t want to put down. She has a very descriptive way about scenes which can have you coming out in goose bumps, to the point where I wondered how far over the line this had to go to become a horror! I found myself turning the pages with rapid speed and as dinner went unchecked, and the bath left on I continued right to the end. When I had finished I realised although I loved it, the first book slightly edges over the second, but all the same I HAD to have book 3 ready. Luckliy I have the rest of the series ready to catch up on, which I fully intend to do ASAP!

Forgive Me by Lesley Pearce

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Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Available: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Nook, Kobo

Synopsis: Eva Patterson’s life is forever altered by the devastating discovery of her mother, Flora, dead in the bath leaving only a note: ‘Forgive Me’. Until Flora’s suicide, Eva’s world had been secure – but overnight everything changes. For when Flora leaves Eva a London artist’s studio in her will, she finds her mother had a secret past. In the studio’s attic are Flora’s paintings and diaries, and Eva learns her mother was a popular artist in the swinging sixties. Eva’s hunt for answers uncovers clues to a shocking crime which led Flora to hide her past. But will discovering the truth destroy Eva’s belief in everything she holds dear? And will this journey lead her and those she loves into danger?

My Review: I have never read a Lesley Pearce which I now realise was a huge mistake on my part. However, this gave me the added advantage of having no expectations when I started reading. The main character Eva Patterson is the lead character and the opening chapters put you firmly into the horrifying discovery Eva makes as she finds her mother following her suicide. It is this event that starts a chain reaction that is horrifying and I certainly didn’t expect from a book with some an endearingly beautiful cover.

Aside from her Mothers suicide it’s hard to mention anything else within the story for fear of spoiling it for others. As a reader you literally follow Eva throughout her life and as each new trauma unfolds you feel yourself willing her on and hoping that things turn out okay for her. It’s an extremely gripping book and I can honestly say buy the end of it I was certain that I needed to stock up on Lesley Pearse’s back catalogue.

From start to finish I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster and found myself utterly enthralled by this book. The cover (although beautiful) didn’t even give me the slightest hint that this book would be so full of drama and tension. I would truly recommend this book and am thrilled that I have discovered just how great an author she is. I am now eagerly looking forward to reading her other books.

Disobey by Jacqui Rose

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Bad things are going down in Soho. Someone’s going to have to pay the price…Alfie Jenkins breaks a lot of rules. When he sets up an illegal casino in Soho there’s bad will all round and soon Alfie and those closest to him become embroiled in an all-out war with a dangerous gang. Unfortunately this gang is a deadly enemy to have. When Alfie’s teenage niece Chloe is kidnapped and there are rumours she’s been enslaved in a sex gang it becomes a terrifying race against time to save her. Will Alfie be able to right wrongs, build bridges and protect his family, whatever the cost?

My Review: I have continually enjoyed Jacqui Rose books and have not yet been disappointed. My favourite however was Dishonour which was her best to date in my opinion. With this latest release featuring characters from previous books I was really looking forward to it. Alfie Jennings is a character that I didn’t like all that much at the beginning but eventually he grew on me. What I was chuffed about was the return of some fantastic characters from previous books such as Franny Doyle, Vaughn Sadler and Del Williams.

The book starts off really well and you are thrown straight into the dire situation it seems Soho is now in. With some of the well-known faces having all returned to London they have no idea that the Triads who they are up against are ready for an all-out war. Alfie seems to be at the middle of everything and when his niece Chloe-Jane rocks up it seems that things rapidly go from bad to worse.

There is plenty to keep the reader entertained pretty much from the get-go and there wasn’t a moment where there wasn’t something going on. As the book gets towards the halfway point it seems to ratchet up in terms of fear factor and when Chloe-Jane gets involved without realising it, you just know that the outcome cannot be good.

I found myself turning the pages quickly and totally immersing myself in this latest tale. I had a couple of minor niggles, but nothing much to write home about and thoroughly enjoyed this latest book. I must say though that I think this book should be where it ends for certain characters that are reaching a point where they don’t need to return. Although this wasn’t a 5 star read for me (that was most definitely Dishonour!) this was another cracking read and I will as always look forward to the next one.

The Jackdaw by Luke Delaney (Sean Corrigan #4)

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: 12 March 2015 – Hardcover, Kindle, Nook, Kobo,

24 Sept 2015 – Paperback

Synopsis: Guilty or not guilty? A lone vigilante is abducting wealthy Londoners and putting their fate in the hands of the public. Within hours of disappearing, the victims appear on the internet, bound to a chair in a white room. Revenge or mercy? Their crimes of greed and incompetence are broadcast to the watching thousands who make up the jury. Once the verdict is cast, the man who calls himself ‘The Jackdaw’ will be judge and executioner.

Live or die? DI Sean Corrigan and his Special Investigations Unit are under pressure to solve this case fast. But as The Jackdaw’s popularity grows, Corrigan realizes he’s hunting a dangerously clever and elusive adversary – one who won’t stop until his mission is complete.

My Review: Luke Delaney is something of a new kid around town. His debut novel Cold Killing was released in 2013. It took me some time to get around to reading and once I had I didn’t want to stop. The first two books in the series were amazing and I really do think Delaney is a very quick rising star who will soon become as well read as the likes of Patterson and Lee Child. The one thing that for me is a winner is the lead character Sean Corrigan. He walks the tightrope to a point where you wonder whether he will fall into the worlds of the psychologically damaged and become just like the killers he hunts.

The fourth book from Luke Delaney brings Corrigan back into the fold with the latest case along with his colleagues Donnelly and Sally. It seems that there is a lone vigilante kidnapping Londoners and then putting them in front of a live audience via the web and asking them to vote so that the killer can become both judge and executioner. I only had one problem with this initial story and that was that I very recently read a book with a similarly themed plot. With that small issue aside, the story launches straight back in and I felt like I hadn’t been away from Sean and his work colleagues.

This latest book not only brings a fast paced plot to it, it also highlights Sean’s somewhat dangerous state of mind. I wasn’t a fan of the psychologist Anna appearing again and it felt like this added to Sean’s misery somewhat and it made me dislike her. The plot was well paced and there was so much going on that at times I could sympathise with the varying degrees of stress the characters were under. It also felt like we are uncovering more and more of Sean and his personal life with each case that he works. It certainly makes me question (and want to know) what will happen next. The Jackdaw made for a great killer and it was done cleverly with me thinking I had it worked out and realising I didn’t.

As ever this is a solid read and one that I think his fans will love. If you haven’t read this series I would highly recommend you do, but from book one. The first two books still remain my favourites but Luke Delaney is fast becoming one of my must read authors.

Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell

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My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis: Hallie has a secret. She’s in love. He’s perfect for her in every way, but he’s seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren’t going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn’t have long to live. Time is running out…

Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won’t be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends – let alone anything more.

Tasha has a problem. Her new boyfriend is the adventurous type. And she’s afraid one of his adventures will go badly wrong.

Three Amazing Things about You begins as Hallie goes on a journey. A donor has been found and she’s about to be given new lungs. But whose?

Kat’s Review: For some reason, although I had this copy early, it just got pushed out of my mind. When I took a look through my books I realised with horror I still hadn’t read it and it had been out weeks. I made an immediate start and as usual devoured this in one sitting. The book revolves around three characters and although the synopsis doesn’t say too much (and neither will I), it’s clear when you start reading that this isn’t all going to be plain sailing.

The three main characters were all extremely likeable and their lives were full and happy for the most part. Hallie is the one who has an illness. It doesn’t stop her trying to do things, but with the clock ticking it seems like she really doesn’t have much time left. I really liked Hallie and her condition (which I confess I know nothing about) was written about sympathetically without it being ‘poor me’. I really liked her and she seemed like a ballsy kind of girl that would give anything a try.

There is also Flo who is the caring and nurturing one. She realises she has a problem when she falls for Zander, as his sister absolutely loathes Flo and is determined to make Flo’s life as difficult as possible. Lastly there is Tasha who made me laugh as we see her circumstances as she meets her boyfriend for the first time. I loved reading about all of the characters and the storylines have plenty going on in each of them. 

However, as the book continues, you just know that the murky ‘elephant in the room’ is there waiting to happen and you just don’t know who it’s going to effect. Eventually the reader discovers that all three women are linked, it’s just a hell of a journey to find out how. I am very aware this review may sound sketchy but I really don’t want to spoil the plot for people. All I will say is that this book is the usual exceptionally high standard from Jill Mansell and has a few tears as well as laughter along the way. This is a wonderful book that I truly adored and enjoyed from the first page to the last. Jill Mansell continues to amaze me with each and every release, and somehow never disappoints me. 5 Stars from me!

No Name Lane by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #1)

My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Released 12th March 2015 on Kindle, paperback, Nook and Kobo

Synopsis: Young girls are being abducted and murdered in the North-East. Out of favour Detective Constable Ian Bradshaw struggles to find any leads – and fears that the only thing this investigation will unravel is himself. Journalist Tom Carney is suspended by his London tabloid and returns to his home village in County Durham. Helen Norton is the reporter who replaced Tom on the local newspaper. Together, they are drawn into a case that will change their lives forever. When a body is found, it’s not the latest victim but a decades-old corpse. Secrets buried for years are waiting to be found, while in the present-day an unstoppable killer continues to evade justice… Continue reading “No Name Lane by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #1)”

The Doll’s House by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #3)

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Synopsis: A young woman wakes up in a cold, dark cellar, with no idea how she got there or who her kidnapper is. So begins her terrible nightmare. Nearby, the body of another young woman is discovered buried on a remote beach. But the dead girl was never reported missing – her estranged family having received regular texts from her over the years. Someone has been keeping her alive from beyond the grave. For Detective Inspector Helen Grace it’s chilling evidence that she’s searching for a monster who is not just twisted but also clever and resourceful – a predator who’s killed before. And as Helen struggles to understand the hiller’s motivation, she begins to realize that she’s in a desperate race against time . . .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

My Review:  I’ve only recently discovered M J Arlidge and Helen Grace and must say I am certainly a fan now that’s for sure. Helen Grace is a fabulous character and one that you root for because you know she doesn’t care about superiors or the rules, she works on gut instinct. However, I had some reservations with this latest release as I knew that following the last book it appeared her colleague Charlie was no longer working with her. Thankfully though, Charlie appears and I am hoping it’s not the last we see of her. We also see her new boss Ceri Harwood who I instantly disliked and just knew she was there to cause trouble.

The case for Helen involves missing girls, and it seems another girl has now become a victim. The victim gets to tell her story too and we see her go though some harrowing times as she faces her killer on a regular basis. In a weird way, I liked the killer and how he was portrayed. It seemed much more realistic for some reason and I really believed that the guy was a complete nut job. It seems like Helen has her hands full and we see the full extent of the problems she faces with both work and her personal life,

The writing flows well and as with the other MJA books I read they are so easy to get absorbed into that before you know it you are nearly done. There was plenty to keep me entertained in this book and I am so pleased that Charlie appears alongside Helen at times, maybe we get to see her in future books? Who knows? I couldn’t get along with some of the newer characters that now work with Helen but I’m hoping that won’t matter by book 4!

This was certainly another cracking read and it makes me look forward to reading book 4 in the series which is due out in a matter of months (September 2015).

Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner (Tessa Leoni #3)

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Availability: Released 3rd Feb 2015 on Kindle, Hardcover, Audio Nook & Kobo, Paperback available 16th July 2015

Rated: 3/5

Synopsis: My name is Nicky Frank. I’m in hospital after crashing my car. I am afraid. The only thing that I can think about is Vero. I know I have to save her but why couldn’t I find her? She’s just a little girl. The man standing in my hospital room tells me we are married but there is no Vero. That six months ago I suffered a traumatic brain injury which caused changes to my personality. I have dramatic mood swings, an inability to concentrate and large gaps in my memory. I’m much easier to anger these days. And I drink. All of which he says explains the car accident and my confusion. Now a Sergeant Wyatt Foster is investigating. He has questions about the car accident. He has concerns about my husband. And he’s worried about a missing girl. He would like to know what happened to me. So would I. My name is Nicky Frank. This is my life. Watch me crash and burn.

My Review: I was pretty torn about how to rate this but have to stay true to what I thought and stick with the middle of the road. It’s certainly a good read and solid writing but there were a number of things that just didn’t sit right with me. Nicky Frank has woken in hospital and her memory is not what it should be. She recalls a little girl Vero yet the man standing beside that she is told is her husband claims they don’t have children. The story certainly starts off well with a very descriptive and tense car crash but for me it then becomes somewhat disjointed.

Nicky’s husband Thomas certainly makes for an interesting read, and he certainly piques my interest from the very beginning. Wyatt Foster, the sergeant looking after the case is also a good character and seeing him chase down leads is the usual engaging ‘Gardner’ style. Nicky Frank is a character I just couldn’t get along with and I found the constant switch between her lucidness and strange visions regarding Vero quite annoying after a while.

It sounds like I am being un-necessarily harsh and that’s certainly not my intention. I always try to explain to people why I didn’t like something and I think for me this was one of the things I struggled with in the book. In addition, I actually read a book (less than 2 weeks ago) about somebody who awoke from a car crash with no memory. Maybe the similarities were too much in such a short space of time. I think this is quite a departure in style fro Lisa Gardner and I think people will really enjoy the book. There are certainly a lot of twists and turns and I was surprised at the outcome. I just think that maybe this one wasn’t for me. I will eagerly await the next DD novel and look forward to what comes next.