Crime, Thriller, Mystery – Page 16 – Best Crime Books and More

The Knock by Jessie Keane

Synopsis: Dora O’Brien had a good start in life, but things went bad when she began to mix with the wrong company. Pregnant by her gangster lover, she found herself on the streets and then in the grips of a bent copper called Donny Maguire.

When her daughter Angel is born, Dora is already under the influence of drink and drugs, and handed around to Donny’s mates. Growing up in the shadow of her mother’s abusive relationship, Angel is nothing like her mother, but when matters turn murderous, Angel is forced to grow up fast and survival becomes the name of the game.

For some, being on the wrong side of the law is the safest place to be . . .

My Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “The Knock by Jessie Keane”

The Empty Nest by Sue Watson

48118701._SY475_ Synopsis: ‘Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with…’

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn’t leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat’s legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone – to university in a town several hours away. Kat’s house – which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy – is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy. Continue reading “The Empty Nest by Sue Watson”

Child’s Play by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #11)

Synopsis: Late one summer evening, Detective Kim Stone arrives at Haden Hill Park to the scene of a horrific crime: a woman in her sixties tied to a swing with barbed wire and an X carved into the back of her neck.

The victim, Belinda Evans, was a retired college Professor of Child Psychology. As Kim and her team search her home, they find an overnight bag packed and begin to unravel a complex relationship between Belinda and her sister Veronica.

Then two more bodies are found bearing the same distinctive markings, and Kim knows she is on the hunt for a ritualistic serial killer. Linking the victims, Kim discovers they were involved in annual tournaments for gifted children and were on their way to the next event. Continue reading “Child’s Play by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #11)”

Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham

41SWJCXtmCL._SY346_ Synopsis: Six years ago, Evie Cormac was discovered, filthy and half-starved, hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a shocking crime. Now approaching adulthood, Evie is damaged, self-destructive and has never revealed her true identity.

Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven, a man haunted by his own past, is investigating the death of champion figure-skater Jodie Sheehan. When Cyrus is called upon to assess Evie, she threatens to disrupt the case and destroy his ordered life. Because Evie has a unique and dangerous gift – she knows when someone is lying. And nobody is telling the truth.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

My Review: Wow! This was an absolute belter of a book and I was absolutely gutted when I finished it. I can only hope that we see the return of these two characters I absolutely loved. Evie Cormack is damaged and has had a horrendous start to her life. Now she is approaching adulthood her life is getting even more complicated. Psychologist Cyrus Haven somehow ends up agreeing to be her responsible foster parent and that is where the book gets even more interesting.

Both of the characters are very different and extremely engaging. It’s clear that Evie is overly bright and intelligent albeit damaged in other ways. This story actually follows two threads, one being Evie’s background and what she appears to be hiding. The other is Cyrus helping on a murder case featuring Jodie Sheehan. Gone are the days where where I will re-hash the story line to pad a review. What I will say is that this book was absolutely brilliant and I would LOVE to read the second book featuring these two and think this could be an amazingly good series. An absolutely excellent read and one that I would HIGHLY recommend

Hard Shot by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #7)

51Rq3q-Qq8L._SY346_ Synopsis: When a group of homegrown attackers takes aim at cops outside a Fourth of July baseball game, black-ops specialist Jon Reznick and his daughter, Lauren, are caught in the cross fire. Jon hunts down two of the gunmen. But the last member of the group is at large and about to launch a fresh killing spree across the city. Cops are under fire, and Jon must stop this madman before more people are killed.

But Jon’s renegade tactics and vigilante justice are starting to ruffle some feathers, and his friends in high places might not be able to help him anymore. With leaks inside the FBI and resistance from the NYPD, Reznick doesn’t know whom to trust.

He knows one thing: he won’t watch the city he loves be torn apart, especially not with his daughter in the crosshairs. But can he get to her in time?

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: YES! Finally another installment featuring Jon Reznick. I like Jon as a main character and it seems like things are starting to take its toll and I think this latest book we see him try and take a step back (well at the end at least). This book is a typical high octane and action packed book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Jon attends a ball game with is daughter when attackers start to take out police officers. Jon being Jon means he cannot leave it and as such becomes embroiled in this latest attack on US soil. Only this time it seems the attackers are closer to home. At 248 pages it isn’t a particularly long read but certainly an entertaining one.

I really love the characters and am crossing my fingers that we get to see Jon make a few changes in his personal life in the next book. I could easily read these books over and over as they are fantastic and I admit I am a bit of a fan. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Jon and highly recommend this series.

Down to the Woods by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #8)

Synopsis: If you go down to the woods today . . .

The last thing Tom Campbell remembers is camping in the New Forest with his girlfriend, Melissa. Now he is helpless, alone and consumed by fear, hunted through the woods by a sinister, masked figure…

When Tom’s body is found, displayed with grisly relish, Helen Grace takes the case. But before she can catch her breath, a second victim is taken – a serial killer is on the loose.

You better not go alone . . .

Something dark and deadly stalks the forest. Helen and her team must race against time to catch the perpetrator, before more blood is shed. But the hunt will take Helen back into the eerie twilit woods – and this time she might not make it out alive.

My Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Down to the Woods by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #8)”

My Girl by Jack Jordan

download Synopsis: Paige Dawson: the mother of a murdered child and wife to a dead man. She has nothing left to live for… until she finds her husband’s handgun hidden in their house. Why did Ryan need a gun? What did he know about their daughter’s death? Desperate for the truth, Paige begins to unearth her husband’s secrets. But she has no idea who she is up against, or that her life isn’t hers to gamble – she belongs to me. From the bestselling author of Anything for Her, Jack Jordan’s My Girl is the new chilling thriller that you won’t want to miss.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

My Review: This is my first book by Jack Jordan and I was pleasantly surprised. Paige Dawson is our lead character and in short she is a mess. She is a functioning alcoholic who pops pills to make her life seem a little easier. Since her daughters death 10 years previously as well as her husbands more recent suicide she is sliding down a slippery and very destructive route. At first she is written off as somebody who is seeing things when she convinces herself she didn’t leave the TV on, or the recorder playing. Of course everybody else assumes its Paige in her own world. Pretty soon Paige knows that something is amiss especially when she discovers that her husband was hiding a gun in their house.

The writing was good and the pace was certainly set early on in the book. However, there were a couple of things that I think could have been left out (such as the issue with her Doctor, that made me super uncomfortable) and at parts the story felt padded when it didn’t need to be. Those small niggles aside I think this was an interesting read which certainly kept my attention. I will definitely be reading other books of his I have waiting on my ever growing to be read list

Deceit by Kerry Barnes

Synopsis: Living in a beautiful home on the edge of a council estate, Kara Bannon can’t imagine what it’s like to have nothing.

An eerie phone call plays on her mind and within three days she loses everything – her job, her home and Justin, the only person she thought she could trust.

Alone and terrified, she makes a decision that will change her life forever.

Suddenly she has to enter a new world – Prison.

Revenge is not always so sweet…

My Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Deceit by Kerry Barnes”

The Sting by Kimberley Chambers

Synopsis: Tommy Boyle and Scratch always had each other’s backs. But old loyalties die hard on London’s streets, and when Tommy throws his lot in with the notorious Darling family, Scratch gets thrown to the wolves.

TWO SIDES OF THE LAW.

Shedding her old life for the Old Bill, Scratch goes undercover on Operation Sting. Bringing down the Darlings’ empire will be her duty – and getting revenge for an old friend’s sins will be her pleasure.

ONE SHOCKING TWIST.

My Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “The Sting by Kimberley Chambers”

Torment by Mark Tilbury

Synopsis: Beth couldn’t be happier. She is eight weeks pregnant and married to the man of her dreams. But after returning home from a celebratory meal, she finds a wreath from her sister’s grave hanging above the bed and a kitchen knife embedded in her pillow. There are no signs of a forced entry. Nothing is stolen. And no one other than the cleaner has a key to the house.

Then a campaign of terror begins. Beth becomes increasingly paranoid as it becomes clear that someone close to the family is behind these disturbing events. But who would want Beth dead? Does the past hold the clue? And can Beth find the answer before it’s too late?

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: Beth is the main character and is currently pregnant again following past miscarriages. Along with her husband David they are looking forward to the pregnancy and life seems good for them. That is until they arrive home one day to find a wreath from her sisters grave hanging above their bed. This is the start of a very different life to what they planned.

The ensuing story is a very detailed and disturbing tale and highlights just how much havoc things like that have on a person and how their life is truly affected. In this case Beth becomes almost a different person. As the story progresses the tension seems to up a notch with every single day that passes and another event happens. Before too long I think I had suspected every character in this book of being the culprit but that’s the beauty of this book, is that you (and Beth) are never quite sure.

I have never read Mark Tilbury before but this was certainly a page turner for me and I will most definitely be looking out for books of his in the future.