Category: Book Review

The Forgotten by Casey Kelleher (Byrne #3)

51dZ2J07i4L._UY250_

Synopsis: Nancy Byrne might be the head of the notorious Byrne crime family, but she’s determined to give her little daughter, Scarlett, the best start possible.

After the death of her beloved father, the notorious gangster Jimmy Byrne, nothing’s stopping Nancy from making money on her own terms – even if she has to combine motherhood with providing for her entire family. But with enemies at their door, she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her loved ones.

But then comes the day when Scarlett goes missing, snatched by a stranger during a trip to the local park, and Nancy’s world is torn apart. Amidst the terror of losing her precious daughter, Nancy is sure of only two things. Someone has taken her daughter … and when she finds them, there’s going to be hell to pay.

Can she find Scarlett – before it’s too late? Or will Nancy’s life of crime come back to haunt her in the worst way possible?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “The Forgotten by Casey Kelleher (Byrne #3)”

The Deep Lonely by Sean Black (Ty Johnson Novella)

41XxuaAjVPL

Synopsis: Ty Johnson has made the transition from the US Marine Corp to a succesful career as a private security specialist. But not all of his former comrades have been so lucky.

When the news of an armed siege at a nearby emergency room flashes on screen, Ty recognizes Pete Green, one of his old Marine buddies. Ty knows that he has to move fast if he’s to save his friend’s life.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay people, if you haven’t read the Ryan Lock and Ty Johnson series by Sean Black then there is seriously something wrong…this is one of the best series of books written and is hugely under-rated. I am not necessarily a lover of the short novella type books (in this case a 17,000 word short book) but for these guys…I make an exception.

Not a lot to say about this particular little nugget of a book except that it’s brilliant and will give you an insight into the sort of guy Ty Johnson is. I already know what sort of guy he is along with his partner Ryan Lock and this seems more like something to whet the appetite until the next full length novel comes out (which I think is October). I would highly recommend people read not only this novella but the whole series as it’s awesome! One thing I will say is that Ryan Lock gets more airtime and it’s great seeing Ty get all of the attention. I would always read a book about either character but their strength is when they work together!

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #8)

51DwTgfVf+L._SY346_

Synopsis: With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop.

Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss didn’t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found.

Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away.

But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he pursues.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Something VERY strange happened when I started reading this book. So I picked it up, read a couple of chapters and put it down. This happened on three occasions and with many months in between picking it up again. For some reason I just couldn’t seem to engage, and then finally I just forced myself to continue reading. By the time I had got past those first few strangely non-engaging chapters (for me anyway) I was away as per normal. It was incredibly strange as I am a huge fan of this author, maybe I wasn’t in the correct mindset the first few times. However, I am so glad I pushed on through my initial reluctance as this ended up being another cracking book in this brilliant series.

Will Trent is a very likable character, as is his current girlfriend Sara. However his wife Angie is a different kettle of fish. I actually love reading about her but despise her as a character. However this time around she seems to be front and centre with this latest  story line. A dead cop’s body is found and when Sara, Will and his partner Faith and their boss Amanda are at the scene it becomes apparent that all the blood there is not from just the victim.

I absolutely love this series and it wasn’t until the story starts to unfold that I was reminded of just why I love it so much. Sara and Will are a good match but I love the fact that Will has SO many issues one of which is his evil and manipulative wife Angie. In addition I’m a huge fan of Amanda and it was so great to catch up with all of them. The story (once past the first few chapters) was full of pace and grit and its usual dark and disturbing content all of which made me totally an utterly engrossed. This was another cracking book in the series and I am looking forward to reading another Karin Slaughter book.

The Chosen Ones by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #5)

51nB1qhyJXL._SY346_Synopsis: Eva Dunbar wakes in a large metal box. She has no idea who has taken her. She has no way out . . 

Eva isn’t the first young woman to disappear. Detective Ian Bradshaw, leading the search, has no leads – and precious little time.

When at last a body is found, the police hope the tragic discovery might at least provide a clue that will help them finally find the kidnapper.

But then they identify the body – and realise the case is more twisted than they ever imagined . . .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “The Chosen Ones by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #5)”

The Stranger Within by Tara Lyons (DI Hamilton #4)

51+tZ4nXAIL._SY346_ Synopsis: Torn away from his family life, DI Denis Hamilton is urgently called into a briefing in the early hours of his weekend off. He must unravel an investigation he thought had long closed.

Putting his personal worries to one side, Hamilton and his Murder Investigation Team come up against a patient with a mental disorder hell-bent on revenge.

Comparing the present day with memories of his tragic past, can Hamilton open his mind to the difficulties of mental illness in order to catch a murderer?

And when a colleague’s life is threatened, can Hamilton unlock the truth of the stranger within before it’s too late?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “The Stranger Within by Tara Lyons (DI Hamilton #4)”

Blood Secrets by Dreda Say Mitchell (Flesh and Blood #4)

51eRw9tFQFL

Synopsis: The past comes back to haunt her. Will it destroy her family?

Only two people know what’s happened to the gold stolen in an underworld bullion heist. That’s East End gangster’s widow Babs Miller and her best friend Pearl. So when the gold vanishes from its hiding place that means there can only be two suspects. 

Neither can believe they’ve been betrayed by the other. Neither wants a war. But honour, pride and tit for tat revenge drag them and their families towards a cliff edge of brutal gangland violence. 

And as they try and stay alive, what other dirty secrets are going to be dug up while these two women duel to the death?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Blood Secrets by Dreda Say Mitchell (Flesh and Blood #4)”

The Teacher by Katerina Diamond

51HE0OpJ8YL Synopsis: You think you know who to trust? You think you know the difference between good and evil? You’re wrong …

The body of the head teacher of an exclusive Devon school is found hanging from the rafters in the assembly hall.

Hours earlier he’d received a package, and only he could understand the silent message it conveyed. It meant the end.

As Exeter suffers a rising count of gruesome deaths, troubled DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles must solve the case and make their city safe again.

But as they’re drawn into a network of corruption, lies and exploitation, every step brings them closer to grim secrets hidden at the heart of their community.

And once they learn what’s motivating this killer, will they truly want to stop him?

My Rating: 3/5

My Review: I have to be honest and say I am not entirely sure what to think about this book. This book focuses on DS Adrian Miles after his return to work following a suspension. He is teamed with DS Imogen Grey who has been relocated and they have to investigate the death of a headteacher. Of course that is just the beginning in terms of story line but it’s also a book I don’t feel you can say too much about without spoiling.

I struggled at the beginning to get into this and I cannot even work out why or what my issue was but it just felt sluggish and hard going at times. I actually liked the two main characters Miles and Grey, but aside from that…I just don’t know. It’s a very graphic book with very explicit descriptions of pretty gruelling scenes. This certainly doesn’t bother me but may be worth readers being aware of it.

Overall it was just middle of the road for me. I may well go back to this author in the future and hopefully will find the next book a little easier to get into.

When The Waters Recede by Graham Smith

Synopsis: When a car is pulled from raging floodwaters with a dead man in the front and the decapitated body of an evil woman in the boot, Cumbria’s Major Crimes Team are handed the investigation.

The woman is soon recognised, but the man cannot be identified and this leads the team and their former leader, Harry Evans, into areas none of them want to visit.

Before they know it, they’re dealing with protection scams and looking for answers to questions they didn’t know needed to be asked.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “When The Waters Recede by Graham Smith”

BLOG TOUR – Love Lies and Wedding Cake by Sue Watson

Synopsis: Faye Dobson is in crisis. You wouldn’t know it, because of the big fat smile on her face, but inside, she’s one step away from nuclear meltdown. And she shouldn’t be. Dan ?? is the man of her dreams. Her really quite energetic dreams, that frequently come true. Sometimes twice in one night. And he’s just asked her to marry him.

But Faye’s been down the marriage road before and it ended up with her having Ryan Gosling fantasies while her ex-husband obsessed about the plumbing. The actual plumbing. Faye and Dan have been living their lives to the fullest, travelling around the world, having sex under the stars… They haven’t argued about unrolling socks before putting them in the laundry.

Besides, even if she wanted to say yes, how could she move to the other side of the world? Because marrying Dan would mean living in Australia. Beautiful, warm and a gazillion miles from Faye’s daughter, Emma, a single mum with her own crazy little girl who both need Faye every single day. Leaving them – even for someone who makes her laugh as much as Dan – simply isn’t an option. 

Dan is offering Faye everything she ever wanted. So why does she feel like she’s about to lose it all? Continue reading “BLOG TOUR – Love Lies and Wedding Cake by Sue Watson”

Dead If You Don’t by Peter James (Roy Grace #14)

Synopsis: Roy Grace, creation of the CWA Diamond Dagger award winning author Peter James, faces his most complex case yet in Dead If You Don’t.

Kipp Brown, successful businessman and compulsive gambler, is having the worst run of luck of his life. He’s beginning to lose, big style. However, taking his teenage son, Mungo, to their club’s Saturday afternoon football match should have given him a welcome respite, if only for a few hours. But it’s at the stadium where his nightmare begins.

Within minutes of arriving at the game, Kipp bumps into a client. He takes his eye off Mungo for a few moments, and in that time, the boy disappears. Then he gets the terrifying message that someone has his child, and to get him back alive, Kipp will have to pay.

Defying instruction not to contact the police, Kipp reluctantly does just that, and Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is brought in to investigate. At first it seems a straightforward case of kidnap. But rapidly Grace finds himself entering a dark, criminal underbelly of the city, where the rules are different and nothing is what it seems .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Dead If You Don’t by Peter James (Roy Grace #14)”