2022 – Page 4 – Best Crime Books and More

No Way Back by J B Turner (Jack McNeal 1)

Synopsis: When the people he loves most are in danger, Jack McNeal will get revenge…or die trying.

NYPD detective Jack McNeal is used to asking the tough questions. But a late-night visit from the Secret Service lands Jack on the other side of the table—as a suspect in the disappearance of his estranged wife, Caroline, a prominent reporter on the White House beat. When her body is found floating in the Potomac, Jack is overcome by disbelief and despair.

Her death seems eerily similar to the suspicious fatality of a young socialite years before. Is the similarity of the two tragic incidents simply a coincidence, or could it be a sign of a murderous orchestrated plot to protect those in the highest echelons of the American government?

To avenge Caroline’s death, Jack embarks on a journey into the darkest recesses of power. Suspects abound—from haunted Special Forces soldiers to ex-CIA to the president’s own body man. Along the way, Jack will be forced to decide: Is there a line he won’t cross to expose the killer?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I am a huge fan of this author and especially the Jon Reznick series. I was excited to see he had a new series out featuring Jack McNeal. I admit I started this book and a chapter or two in I put it down again as I just couldn’t get into it. I went back a few weeks and a few books later and thankfully that changed. I soon got into the world of Jack McNeal and was pleasantly surprised. This is certainly not as great as the Reznick series but I always find that getting into a new series sometimes takes a while to do.

The story centers around NYPD Detective Jack McNeal, and the main aim of his job is investigating corrupt and dirty cops. Late one night he gets a visit from the Secret Service who are there to ask questions about his estranged but missing wife. The story is well paced and there is certainly a lot going on. When Jack decides to investigate what has happened to his wife it soon becomes apparent that he will have to break lots of rules to get the answers he needs.

I can see why many reviewers are not that impressed as if you take the character and story at face value its been done a million times before with a straight shooting guy going off the rails. However, I think the writing is just as good as ever from this author and this makes for a great starting point for a series. No this wasn’t as good as the Reznick books but it’s definitely a well written and engaging story like all of Turners books are and I am looking forward to the next one in this series to see where he takes the character.

Crazy House by James Patterson

Synopsis: Becca Greenfield, 17, disappeared one morning on her way to school.

Everyone from her town, including her twin sister, is desperately searching for Becca.

They won’t find her.

Becca is being held prisoner in the crazy house.

She’s on death row, but is completely innocent.

No one has ever gotten out of the crazy house alive.

But there’s always a first time.

Kat’s Rating: 2/5

Kat’s Review: I will be honest and say that when it comes to books such as the Alex Cross and Bennett series I consider myself a Patterson fan. However, I HAVE had a few books which I have really not liked by him. Sadly this is one of them! I am aware this is a YA book and is different from the usual Patterson style of writing. However, once again it calls into question just how much input he had and whether this was more a book written by Gabrielle Charbonnet and just maybe contributed to by Patterson.

The story itself is okay, but even that as a description is maybe stretching it a little. Having said that it takes skill to even write a book, let alone make it amazing! I don’t want to re-hash the storyline to pad out a review because the general synopsis can be found in many places. What I will say is I didn’t particularly like the characters, and this mirrored the Hunger Games too much for my liking. Some of the dialogue was cringe-worthy and I just found myself completely un-interested in what would happen. I completed the book out of sheer will rather than anything else and although there is a follow up book I don’t care too much about it that I want to read any more. Not recommended by me I am afraid!

The Promise by Lucy Diamond

Synopsis: When faced with the sudden death of his brother, Dan’s mission is clear. He puts together a project to help pick up the pieces and support his grieving sister-in-law Zoe, plus her young children. This is Dan’s promise – to ensure his family’s happiness, and to try and live up to the man his brother was.

But tying up loose ends brings a shocking secret to light, and calls into question everything Dan knew about his older brother. With more than just his promise on the line, Dan is faced with an ultimatum: Should he tell the truth and risk his family’s fragile happiness, or will his brother’s secrets end up becoming his own?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: When Patrick Sheppard dies suddenly his brother is plunged into a place where he is lost and isn’t quite sure what to do. It’s clear from the outset that Dan feels a little responsible for his brother dying and although as the reader we don’t know what happened on that fateful evening, it’s clear that Dan needs to try and help in any way he can. It’s them that he decides to try and be there and support Dan’s wife Zoe and the three kids, his niece Bea and nephews Ethan and Gabe. He has absolutely no clue what Patrick’s life was like and even less idea about helping run a family home.

Dan is a very endearing character and you can’t help but feel for him as he tries and then fails miserably to get everything right. All of the characters that are in this story are easy to read about and likeable. As the story progresses the reader gets to see that everything was not as it seemed and we take the journey alongside Dan as he uncovers secrets that he knew nothing about. A lovely read that kept me intrigued about everybody in the story and a book I would definitely recommend.

Until I Find You by Anna Smith (Billie Carson 1)

Synopsis: WHEN YOU’VE LOST EVERYTHING, YOU’LL STOP AT NOTHING

Billie Carlson left the police force under a cloud. Once a promising young officer she now works as a private investigator, rooting out insurance scams and spying on cheating spouses.

One morning a distraught young woman comes into her office saying that her baby has been stolen. Her story seems unbelievable, yet something about her makes Billie want to help – Billie knows what it’s like to lose someone too.

To get to the bottom of the case Billie must rattle some dangerous cages and rely on old police friends for inside help. Soon she discovers a network of crime deeper and far more twisted than she ever could have imagined. But is she in way over her head?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I was devastated when Anna Smith’s series featuring Rosie Gilmour finished, that was until she released her Kerry Casey books, and now I am thrilled to add another amazing character and series to my list of ‘must read’ books. This new series features Billie Carlson. Billie used to be a copper until her boy disappeared and her life changed. Now she is a private investigator and when a woman comes into her office saying her baby has been stolen it’s a story that’s too close to home to let go.

There is plenty of action in this book from the outset pretty much through until the end. There is plenty to the plot including drugs, people trafficking and murder to name a few. The only downside to a new series is that it takes me a while to catch onto the additional characters that will feature as the series progresses. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in close to two sittings. I am even more thrilled to realise that the next installment is due out in under a year. Another belter of a book from Anna Smith and an author that I would highly recommend you try!

Something to Tell You by Lucy Diamond

Synopsis: When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.

Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband has become distant, and she begins to wonder exactly what he’s keeping hidden. Dare she find out more?

As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if her relationship will survive when everyone discovers who she really is – and what she did.

As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they’ll never forget.

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I would definitely say I am a fan of Lucy Diamond and as much as this book was very enjoyable and passed the time it certainly wasn’t one of my favourites from this author. We meet Frankie who has found a letter from her late mother and it’s a gift and a curse all in one. The letter explains about her father along with his name and all of this comes as such a surprise her impromptu trip ends up not going quite as she expected it to.

Frankie takes a chance and travels to York and ends up stumbling into the middle of a party to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Harry and Jeanie Mortimer. Of course this becomes an instant bombshell among the Mortimer family and as such the dominoes start to fall. I actually liked reading about the various Mortimer family members however there are a lot of threads to the story which normally doesn’t bother me too much but for some reason it seemed a little too much with this story.

It was certainly an enjoyable read and an author that I will continue to read, however this one just wasn’t one of my favourites

I’ll Never Tell by Casey Kelleher

Synopsis: When we were young, Sarah and I did a terrible thing – but it was only me who paid the price. Now, just when I thought no one from my old life would ever find me, a note is slid under my door: I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgiven. FOUND YOU.

My best friend Sarah and I used to spend all our time in a place we called the Doll House. It was just an old, abandoned cottage in the woods behind our house but it was heaven to us. Until one of our games went wrong. And someone ended up dead.

It was an accident, or at least Sarah told me it was. But when I tried to tell the police that I wasn’t involved, they didn’t believe me. When the Doll House Girls were splashed across the newspapers, it was my face they showed under the headlines. I’m the one who stood trial.

Now, twenty years on, I’ve made a new life with a new identity. I have a wonderful husband, Carl, and Jacob, our adorable son. Despite everything in my past, I’m happy.

Then the first note arrives. FOUND YOU. Soon other threats start coming, and the person behind them is clear they’d be willing to hurt my family – to hurt Jacob – to get to me. I know who they are. And I know what they’re capable of. The other doll… The girl who got away with murder.

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I am a huge fan of Casey Kelleher books and was looking forward to the latest one however I have to be totally honest and say this wasn’t one of my favourites by this author. It is absolutely NOT a bad book it’s just a slight departure from her normal type of storyline. The story is based around Alessia who is married to Carl and has a young son Jacob. Alessia is extremely happy with her life until a brick through the window with a note saying ‘I Found You’ kicks off the start of some awful things happening. Alessia is convinced its her old school friend Sarah. It is hard to be very specific about the book without inevitable spoiling it for people so I will say little about the actual storyline. However, what I will say is that the narrative is split between now and then which although it works, just didn’t have the same flow as previous books have had. I think this book is definitely a great psychological thriller and it’s certainly well written however for me I just didn’t gel with the story or characters like I normally do with this authors books .

One for Sorrow by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 7)

Synopsis: One for sorrow, two for joy

Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known: a lone bomber is targeting victims across the city, and no one is safe.

Three for a girl, four for a boy

In their jobs, DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach deal with death every day. But when it becomes clear that every bomb is a trap designed to kill them too, the possibility of facing it themselves starts to feel all too real.

Five for silver, six for gold

With the body count rising daily and the bomber’s methods becoming ever more horrifying, Ava and Luc must race to find out who is behind the attacks – or pay the ultimate price…

Seven for a secret never to be told…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay, hands down the best of the series. That’s it. Seriously this book had me (literally) perched on the edge of a seat shouting ‘NOOOOOO’ within the first few pages. Even when I realised what was actually happening I was still shouting ‘NOOOOOO’.

So as my binge on this series continues I am onto book 7. The books opening is in itself an eye opener (that’s all I can say for fear of spoilers) but the upshot is that there is a bomber that is targeting what seems like innocent people. DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach have to work out who is behind these bombs but it’s pretty clear that every bomb is also designed to kill them too.

I’m going to say that Helen Fields has a very dark and macabre way of writing (which I love) but she even outdoes herself with this book. Nothing is off limits and the terror that not only the General Public are feeling but which every member of the MIT team is feeling is blatantly clear. The story is frenetic but awesome. There are major personal links to many characters for this book so it’s hard to expand on the storyline without ruining it for people that maybe haven’t read these books. What I will say is that this book I finished on the same day I started it and think it’s an absolute belter of a book. If you haven’t read this author or series I would recommend binge readint them all like I have in order…..these book s are definitely worth the time!!!

Perfect Kill by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 6)

Synopsis: He had never heard himself scream before. It was terrifying. Alone, trapped in the darkness and with no way out, Bart Campbell knows that his chances of being found alive are slim. Drugged and kidnapped, the realisation soon dawns that he’s been locked inside a shipping container far from his Edinburgh home. But what Bart doesn’t yet know is that he’s now heading for France where his unspeakable fate is already sealed…

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are working on separate cases that soon collide as it becomes clear that the men and women being shipped to France are being traded for women trafficked into Scotland. With so many lives at stake, they face an impossible task – but there’s no option of failure when Bart and so many others will soon be dead…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: The general theme of this latest book is people trafficking. The reader gets to meet Bart during the darkest hours of his life when he is kidnapped and transported in the dark. Luc and Ava are once again tasked with the case, except this time around they are in different countries with Ava leading the team in Scotland and Luc back in France.

It was an interesting take to see Luc back with his old partner from Interpol in France and I love how his history and story is slowly unfolding with each book. There are clearly old wounds between Luc and his old friend Jean-Paul but this book tackles that brilliantly.

The case itself brings plenty of misery, violence and grisly scenes which Fields has down to perfection. Her books are descriptive and at times eye watering but absolutely fabulous from a readers perspective. This type of narrative which is sometimes violent and graphic may not be everybody’s cup of tea but is right up my alley.

In addition to people trafficking and organ-harvesting you also get to see the characters and their lives which are so intertwined. We get to see more of Ava and Luc’s friend Natasha and it certainly makes for another worrying sub plot within this series. I absolutely loved this latest installment as I have with each book before it. I would certainly recommend this author and this series.

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 5)

Synopsis: Stephen Berry is about to jump off a bridge until a suicide prevention counsellor stops him. A week later, Stephen is dead. Found at the bottom of a cliff, DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner are drafted in to investigate whether he jumped or whether he was pushed…

As they dig deeper, more would-be suicides roll in: a woman found dead in a bath; a man violently electrocuted. But these are carefully curated deaths – nothing like the impulsive suicide attempts they’ve been made out to be.

Little do Callanach and Turner know how close their perpetrator is as, across Edinburgh, a violent and psychopathic killer gains more confidence with every life he takes…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Perfect Crime is the fifth instalment in this series featuring DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner. This time around s man named Stephen is about to jump off a bridge to take his own life. Luckily he is talked down but a week later is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Now Luc and Ava have to work out whether it was in fact Stephen took his own life or if he was murdered.

There are elements to this story that are ongoing threads concerning Luc and his childhood. You don’t have to have read the books previous to this one…but why wouldn’t you? Besides it makes it so much more intriguing to have seen this story play out.

There is a lot going on in this book but the one thing that I just wish would play out is the whole Luc and Ava relationship. It’s driving me crazy but making this whole series a firm favourite of mine. In truth I have been binge reading these books but am acutely aware I need to slow down as I will be devastated at the seemingly long wait once I reach her latest release. This is a series that I would highly reccomend and I cannot wait to get stuck into book 6.

Perfect Silence by Helen Fields (DI Callanach 4)

Synopsis: When silence falls, who will hear their cries?

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside on the outskirts of Edinburgh. When pathologists examine the remains, they make a gruesome discovery: the outline of a doll carved into the victim’s skin.

DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach are struggling to find leads in the case, until a doll made of skin is found nestled beside an abandoned baby.

After another young woman is found butchered, Luc and Ava realise the babydoll killer is playing a horrifying game. And it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again. Can they stop another victim from being silenced forever – or is it already too late?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: This story goes to new depths with it’s macabre descriptive narrative (which doesn’t bother me one iota) however be warned…it’s not for the faint hearted. This latest Callanach installment has two main threads running through the story. The first is young women getting kidnapped, mutilated and then murdered. The second is the attack and slashing of homeless people in the community. Both Luc and Ava have their hands full and the story puts the pedal to the metal from the very beginning.

I have absolutely loved getting into this series and each book I read makes me want to read another (which is always a good sign) and this book was another brilliant read. The relationship between Callanach and Ava is messy and complicated but draws you in, as well as (my personal favourite) seeing more of both DS Lively and Overbeck. The descriptive murder, mutilation and slashing scenes are suitably chilling and combining that with the characters and writing skill these books are the type you don’t want to put down for too long. An absolutely riveting read and a book and series I would highly recommend.