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TRUTH & LIES BY CAROLINE MITCHELL (DI AMY WINTER 1)

Truth & Lies Synopsis: Meet Amy Winter: Detective Inspector, daughter of a serial killer.

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?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Ohhhh I just LOVE getting stuck into a new series and this one is right up my alley! DI Amy Winter is a copper just like her highly respected Dad who was also a serving officer. However, we meet Amy at a crucial time in her life as she buries her Father and is coming to terms with never seeing him again. Not only is she going through the tragedy and grief over losing a parent she has to deal with an even bigger bombshell.

Lillian Grimes is one half of a serial killer pair along with her husband and is currently in jail serving time for the deaths of many young women. She is the absolute definition of a psychopath however she also happens to be Amy’s biological Mother. She decides that it’s time to reveal the location of three of the victims but only on her terms and those terms heavily include Amy. Alongside all this a young girl is taken from her doorstep and Amy’s team are racing against the clock to try and find her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and getting to know Amy, her colleague Paddy and her Mother Flora as it’s given me such good history each character. The storyline has plenty going on, and I didn’t want to put it down. Thank goodness I am at the beginning of the journey and can now go straight onto book 2 to find out what is going to happen next.

PIECES OF HER BY KARIN SLAUGHTER

Pieces of Her Synopsis:

She’s the person you think you know best…

But what if you don’t actually know her at all?

Andy Oliver thinks she knows everything about her mother Laura.

Until, in a moment of terrible danger, Laura steps forward into the line of fire.

Now, Andy must embark on a desperate race against time to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past.

Before they both run out of time…

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I must say I am a huge fan of Karin Slaughter, whether it’s a part of her series of books or a standalone I am normally thoroughly absorbed with her books…until now! For some reason this book just rubbed me up the wrong way! The synopsis kind of gives you the idea as follows:-

“What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all . . . ?

Andrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?

But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura”

Well all I can say is that by the end of the third chapter I wanted to slap the hell out of the character Andrea. She made me feel like she was a slightly spoiled and at times slow on the uptake woman. The idea behind the story was good and as the story unfolds flipping between the current time with Andrea and the past with her Mum I could see that the idea was a great one…for me it just wasn’t executed not because of the writing, but because I just didn’t particularly like any of the characters, To be fair the last quarter of the book was more well paced and things unfolded in a way that made you want to read more.

Sadly for me the dislike of the main characters was the first hurdle and I just couldn’t gel quite as well with the story and writing as well as I usually would with this author. Overall an okay book, but not one I would return to unless I literally had nothing left to read!

SAY GOODBYE BY KAREN ROSE (SACRAMENTO 3)

Say Goodbye Synopsis: FBI Agent Tom Hunter has been chasing down leads to find the brutal cult that damaged some of his closest friends. They managed to escape to tell their stories, but Eden’s location has always remained a mystery.

Liza Barkley is struggling with her feelings for Tom and wonders if their friendship can survive the secrets they’ve kept from one another. But they may be forced to confront the truth when a chance to help the investigation puts Liza directly in the line of fire.

When the perpetrator of an attempted sniper attack on Liza and her friends is discovered to be one of the cult’s leaders, DJ Belmont, it becomes clear that he is out to get revenge on the victims who escaped Eden’s clutches.
But there is one person who has always had control over DJ, and who no one outside of Eden has ever glimpsed: cult leader Pastor. When a serious injury forces Pastor to seek help outside the confines of the Eden, Tom and his team finally have a chance to bring the cult down.

But DJ Belmont has his own plan, and is not going to stop until he gets what he wants…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Say Goodbye is the third and final instalment in The Sacramento series and this book sees more about ex basketball player Tom Hunter who now works for the FBI along with his lifelong friend Liza. Liza was an army medic so is no shrinking violet when it comes to dealing with difficult situations and this book certainly sees her in plenty of those! For those that have read the first two books they will know they are centered around a cult named Eden and its leader who is known only as Pastor.

In addition we meet pregnant teenager Hayley and her younger brother Graham who are being held within the Eden compound. We also see the return of Gideon, Mercy, Rafe and the rest of the Solokov clan. I absolutely loved reading more about Tom as he featured in Books 1 and 2 and to get the backstory with him and Liza was also compelling reading. I powered through this book and it kept me hooked all the way through. I was sad to get to the end as the trilogy has been absolutely amazing but this set of books is highly recommended!

SAY NO MORE BY KAREN ROSE (SACRAMENTO 2)

Say No More Synopsis: Mercy Callahan never thought she’d be able to talk about her past. When she arrives in Sacramento to make peace with her brother Gideon, and to help find the brutal cult that took away her childhood, she is finally ready to talk. But when Ephraim Burton – the man who made her life a living hell – follows her there, she realises she might never be safe.

Rafe Sokolov would do anything to have Mercy back in his life and would go to any length to protect her. But when it becomes apparent that Ephraim is more determined than ever to get Mercy back, even Rafe might not be able to stop the trail of destruction he leaves in his wake. As Ephraim draws near, it’s clear it’s not just Mercy who is in danger; those closest to her are firmly in his sights.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Karen Rose has this ability to draw you in to not only one book but a whole series. After reading book 1 I knew it was impossible to leave it alone until I had read all of the books. So on to book 2 I went with baited breath. I suppose in theory these books could be read as standalones but I have absolutely no idea why anybody would want to. My recommendation would be to read book 1 and go straight onto book 2 as I did.

Book 1 featured Gideon and all of the other characters one of which was his sister Mercy Callahan. Mercy is the central focus of book 2 and I was thrilled that we got to learn more about her. The basis of these stories is that both Gideon and Mercy were kept in a cult when they were younger and have spent many years both running and hiding. The Solokov family play an integral part in this series and Rafe Solokov features heavily in this second book.

The elders of the Eden Cult are chasing both Mercy and Gideon and Mercy is literally fighting life and death. Mercy knows that if she is captured she will never make it out of Eden alive again and this makes for a VERY high-octane read with lots of action and drama. You really don’t need a blow by blow account and the synopsis of these books gives you a taster to see if it fits the bill for your sort of book.

What I will say is that this is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable book which kept me reading at every opportunity. I read this in around 4 sittings over two days and am already eagerly well into book 3. Karen Rose as an author is absolutely brilliant and somebody that I would highly recommend.

SAY YOU’RE SORRY BY KAREN ROSE (SACRAMENTO 1)

Say Youre Sorry Synopsis: When a killer closes in, there’s only one way to stay alive. Say You’re Sorry is the gripping first book in a brand new series from Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

A serial killer is on the loose in California, leaving letters carved into the torsos of his victims.

When Daisy Dawson fights off a masked attacker one night, she grabs a necklace from around his neck. What she doesn’t know then is that she’s found the missing link to a cold case that Special Agent Gideon Reynolds has been tracking for seventeen years. With Daisy’s help, he finally has the opportunity to get closer to the truth than ever before.

But it soon becomes clear that Daisy’s attack was just the beginning. Now the bloodied bodies of young women are showing up all over the state. As Gideon tries to track down the killer, it’s clear he has a new target. Daisy is in more danger than they ever could have realised…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Oh. My. Goodness! I was a HUGE fan of the Cincinnati books and was a little sad when they ended. I decided on a whim to pick this book up and LOVED the fact that this is like an extension of the series by linking characters from the previous series to this one. This first book introduces us to Special Agent Gideon Reynolds. Gideon was a member of a cult named Eden but is trying to move on with his life with the help of his close friend who are like family the Sokolov’s.

When Daisy Dawson is attacked but manages to run free she enlists the help of her friend which in turn brings in the Solokov family and the meeting of both Daisy and Gideon. I absolutely fell in love with every character in this book and am very much hoping we get to see all of them feature somehow in the upcoming books to this series. There are. alot of threads running through this book and a lot of leads and avenues for everybody to follow up on. This is packed with action, drama, tears, romance and a splash of violence….there isn’t really much that isn’t covered to be fair.

Overall a thoroughly engaging book and I enjoyed it that much I moved straight onto book 2 (I can see me binge reading all three books in this series). Very much reccomended!

DANGEROUS BY JESSIE KEANE

Dangeroud Synopsis: Whatever the cost, she would pay it . . .

Fifteen-year-old Clara Dolan’s world is blown apart following the death of her mother. Battling to keep what remains of her family together, Clara vows to protect her younger siblings, Bernadette and Henry, from danger, whatever the cost.

With the arrival of the swinging Sixties, Clara finds herself swept up in London’s dark underworld where the glamour of Soho’s dazzling nightclubs sits in stark contrast to the terrifying gangland violence that threatens the new life she has worked so hard to build.

Sinking further into an existence defined by murder and betrayal, Clara soon realizes that success often comes at a very high price . . .

My Rating: 4/5

My Review:Well it seems that Jessie Keane can do no wrong, this latest book of hers I have read included! 15 year old Clara is left alone in the world with her two siblings and finds herself way out her depth as a teenager. However, she is determined to make things right and ensure the safety of her brother Henry and her sister Bernie. The book is set in London in the 50’s and 60’s and Keane has the ability to physically transport your mind back to that time.

In all honesty I can’t say I particularly liked Clara as a character but you can see her grit and determination and just kept on turning the pages to see how life pans out for all of them. The storyline is fast paced and there are. alot of things in store in Clara’s life that you couldn’t inamgine making the story all the more engaging. In a way I liked the slight departure from her usual character type and era and although this maybe wasn’t my favourite book by this author it was certainly a very enjoyable read!

THE MINUTE I SAW YOU BY PAIGE TOON

41fGhhExpvL Synopsis: Attraction is easy… Falling in love can be hard

When Hannah meets Sonny, she’s irresistibly drawn to him: he’s sexy and confident, but only in town on holiday. That’s fine with Hannah – she doesn’t do long-term relationships. And luckily for her, neither does Sonny. But before they can even so much as kiss, Sonny receives some shocking news and commits to making serious life changes – ones that can’t and won’t include romance.

With even a short fling now off the cards, Hannah and Sonny settle for being friends. But as summer hots up and their chemistry shows no signs of cooling, they start to question their reasons for shutting each other out.

Are they both too broken to find love? And if they tear down the walls between them, will they still like what’s on the other side?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I generally really enjoy Paige Toon books and this one was no different, however the subject matter within the storyline was very sensitive but was dealt with incredibly well by the author. Hannah is house sitting for her uncle and also looking after his dog Bertie. She has a job working at the opticians in town which she thoroughly enjoys. However, when she meets Sonny she has instant chemistry with him. However, it becomes clear pretty quickly that both Hannah and Sonny each have their demons to deal with.

The reason behind Hannah’s reluctance for a relationship was very unexpected and was not something I can recall reading in a fictional book before and this made it all the more enjoyable to read about. I don’t want to say too much more for fear of spoling the plot. In addition to Hannah, Sonny is also reluctant to engage in any kind of relationship due to his past. The nice thing about this book is how each character’s past is revealed. It’s done very slowly and with compassion by the author. I felt like this had an overall different feel to other Paige Toon books I have read but it wasn’t any less enjoyable.

A CORNISH SUMMER BY CATHERINE ALLIOTT

Synopsis: Flora’s been in love with her husband for twenty years. The trouble is, he’s been married to someone else for the past fifteen . . .

A summer on Cornwall’s sandy beaches sounds like the perfect getaway.

Except Flora finds she’ll be spending it with her former scheming mother-in-law, ex-husband and his new wife . . .

Can she survive the summer playing happy families?

Could a holiday romance help her finally get over her him?

And will stumbling on the family secret change her mind about them all?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: It’s been quite some time since I have read a Catherine Alliott book but decided to give this one a go. The basic premise doesn’t need repeating as the synopsis says it all, however this book is what I would describe as a slow burner. There are a lot of characters and it takes some time to wrap your head around all of them and what part they play.

The storyline and writing was okay but nothing that blew me away but it was reasonably enjoyable. I think the sheer volume of characters at the beginning put me off a little and although I completed the book for some reason it felt like a little bit of a chore. I finished this and didn’t feel compelled to write a review which left me conluding this as a middle of the of rating.

HIDDEN SCARS BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE 17)

51G6PTfrWuL._SY346_ (1) SYNOPSIS: When a nineteen-year-old boy, Jamie Mills, is found hanging from a tree in a local park, his death is ruled a suicide. Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right. Why, when his mother is told, does she not break down in tears? And how could Jamie have climbed the tree with a recent injury?

Kim should be easing back into work gently after a harrowing case left her body and mind broken, but quickly taking charge of her team, Kim is shocked to learn that Jamie’s parents had sent him to a clinic to ‘cure’ him of his sexuality.

The clues to smashing open this disturbing case lie behind the old Victorian walls of the clinic, run by the Gardner family. They claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those who attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And where did the faded restraint marks on Jamie’s wrists come from?

Kim makes a further chilling discovery – the head of the clinic, Celia Gardner, was sent there for conversion therapy when she was sixteen.

Then the body of a young woman is found dead by suffocation, her death also staged to look like a suicide.

Scarred from a previous case that nearly took her life, can Kim unearth the dark secrets within the Gardner family and is she strong enough to stop a terrifying killer silencing the clinic’s previous patients one by one?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

My Review: I absolutely LOVED this latest book as we see Kim at her most vulnerable. Following the events of book 16, Kim is trying to get back to some form of normality and is clearly struggling. As she attempts to return to work the reader gets to see a very different side to Kim. As she returns to her team, we see her excuse of a replacement behaving like a complete moron and her team are completely demoralised.

When a supposed suicide is brought to the teams attention it is initially dismissed but once Kim gets her teeth into it, thankfully the team can start to investigate. This book delves into some very disturbing topics such as conversion therapy, and although you may believe this is fiction sadly it isn’t. It was extremely interesting to see this brough into a ficitonal story but was dealt with brilliantly.

Overall this latest book shows just how skilled an author Angie Marsons is. Not only are we on book 17 in a series, there is no sign of the series or its characters slowing down. Once again a hugely enoyable book by this author and if you haven’t read any in this series you are in for a treat!

SIX GRAVES BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE 16)

51cpCOFq2ML._SY346_ Synopsis: When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene of a house fire, she’s shocked to discover it’s claimed the lives of two teenage children and their parents. But this tragedy is not quite as it seems. Each body is marked by a gunshot wound and the mother, Helen Daynes, is holding the gun.

The case sparks painful childhood memories for Kim who suffered at the hands of her own abusive mother, but it just makes her more determined to uncover the truth. As Kim untangles Helen’s past, she finds a history of clinical depression. But did it drive Helen to murder her loved ones?

Then Kim uncovers a tiny, vital clue in Helen’s bedroom that throws the investigation wide open. Could someone else have killed the Daynes family?

Just as Kim feels she’s making progress, a deadly threat is made to her own life by a dangerous psychopath from her past. Biting back her fear, she keeps digging. And when Kim hits upon a shocking secret that changes everything she thought she knew about Helen, she realises that the remaining family members are in grave danger.

Kim is under pressure like never before, and the monster circling her is getting ever closer. Four bodies already. Four graves fresh in the ground. Who will be next? Can Kim find the killer and save herself before it’s too late?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Blimey….I am not even sure how to start this review! This book was an absoluter smasher and has left me feeling very odd about how things will be for the next book! The main storyline and the case the team are working on is what seems to be a murder suicide. Helen Daynes is a wife and mother however when the team arrive on scene all of them are dead and Helen Daynes is holding the gun!

Bryant, Stacey and Penn are all tasked with the various jobs involved when running a murder case because Kim is convinced this isn’t as straightforward as it looks. However, what Kim didn’t account for was the re-appearance of a man from her past that is literally going to push her to the very edge. I really don’t want to elaborate any more on the storyline because that really would ruin it, but what I will say is this is possibly my favorite book of the series (and that is going some!)

This book literally had me on the edge of my seat with every page and chapter that I read. Packed to the rafters with suspense, drama and nail biting scenes that had me anxious to the point of biting my nails! Cannot believe we are 16 books in to such a fabulous series and Angela just pulls out all the stops and is still producing such amazing storylines…….an absolute MUST READ and I don’t just mean this book. The whole series is absolutely brilliant!