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”
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”
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.
Synopsis: Mike Regan and Zara Ezra believe the so-called Governor is safely locked away – in Zara’s hangar.
But less than twenty-four hours later, the Governor is loose and out there, wreaking havoc.
After what Zara made him do to his own son, she knows he’ll be back with more than murder on his mind.
Moving the families to a safe place was all the firm could do to protect them. But now one of the boys goes missing. It can only mean one thing – the Governor has started his revenge.
Zara is faced with an unimaginable choice just as she forced the Governor to make his – only this time, it could cost the man she loves his life.
My Rating: 5/5
My Review: Oh. My. God. What an ending to this trilogy and a pretty amazing one at that! This was merely the cherry on the cake with this trio of books and my recommendation would be to buy all three. They are definitely making it into my top ten reads in this genre for the year!!! If you do plan on reading them in order, it’s probably best not to read on because there will inevitably be spoilers.
We return to Zara and Mike Regan along with Willie, Lou and Staffie. Alongside them we see their kids and we return to Ricky’s dilemma following his stay in hospital. From the very start of the book the action takes a front seat and pretty much stays there the entire book. Considering this is the last in the trilogy this didn’t surprise me as there is a lot going on.
The story line doesn’t need to be repeated in my review but I was surprised at a few events that unfolded. Having said that there wasn’t a moment in this book I didn’t enjoy. This is a prime example of what a British Crime writer should be doing, and boy has Kerry Barnes got it right! I was enthralled with this latest book but luckily I realised I have yet to read another of her books Deceit so I am off to start that!
Synopsis: Three lives cut short. Two decades of silence. One evil secret.
By day, the park rings with the sound of children’s excited laughter. But in the early hours of the morning, the isolated playground is cloaked in shadows – the perfect hiding place to conceal a brutal murder.
When London journalist, Mark Roberts, is found battered to death, the police quickly arrest petty thief, Nick Connor. Criminal defence lawyer, Dan Grant, along with investigator Jayne Brett, are called to represent him – but with bloody footprints and a stolen wallet linking him to the scene, this is one case they’re unlikely to win. Continue reading “The Innocent Ones by Neil White”
See no evil . . .
When Lizzie Barnsley is murdered along a canal after escaping her abusive boyfriend, Dan Grant is called in to represent her alleged killer, Peter Box. The evidence is strong, but did he actually do it? He didn’t know Lizzie, so why would he kill her?
Hear no evil . . .
As Dan and his investigator, Jayne Brett, begin their case, they discover a number of murders and disappearances along the canals, including the brutal killing of fourteen-year-old Rosie Smith ten years earlier. Rosie’s stepfather Sean had been accused of her murder, but then Dan finds out that Peter tried to confess to that crime as well and was ignored.
Speak no evil . . .
With a client who won’t tell anyone what really happened, Dan and Jayne have their work cut out, but when it becomes clear that Peter Box can’t have been involved in every murder and disappearance, they realise that they may have stumbled on to something far more sinister.
But the clock is ticking and time is running out for the next victim . . . Continue reading “The Darkness Around Her by Neil White (Dan Grant Trilogy #2)”
Synopsis: Lucy has a kind and adoring husband, a job she loves as a teacher, and a house on Mulberry Avenue with floaty curtains and the softest bed linen. After her troubled childhood, she knows life will never be perfect, but it’s pretty close.
She’s also got Amber, right next door. They never run out of things to talk about. Even if Amber’s life – with her high-profile job and handsome, wealthy boyfriend – is more glamorous than Lucy’s.
But then Amber starts to hint that her life isn’t all it seems, and when she comes to Lucy, terrified, saying that she’s getting threatening messages, Lucy promises to protect her. Continue reading “The Woman Next Door by Sue Watson”
Synopsis: Mark Abbott is dead. His sister refuses to believe it was suicide, but only Detective Sergeant Geraldine Steel will listen.
When other members of Mark’s family disappear, Geraldine’s suspicions are confirmed.
Taking a risk, Geraldine finds herself confronted by an adversary deadlier than any she has faced before… Her boss Ian is close, but will he arrive in time to save her, or is this the end for Geraldine Steel?
My Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Death Rope by Leigh Russell (Geraldine Steel #11)”
Synopsis: When three domestic abuse offenders are found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.
The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered. And he is Lucy’s husband.
Now the finger of suspicion points at Lucy and the police are running out of time. Can Maggie and her team solve the murders before another person dies? And is Lucy really a cold-blooded killer?
Rated: 5/5
My Review: Okay so I have to be completely honest here and say that I know Noelle as she first became a reviewer on my Blog, and not long after that we became firm friends. When she mentioned she would like to write a book, little did I realise that here I would be years later reading her debut novel. I also have to confess I was nervous going in, because all my friends, and some followers as well as authors know I am always honest about books. I mean what if I didn’t like it and had to say as much in the review? Well I was so busy worrying about all that I didn’t consider how I would feel if I started reading, and then realised that I hadn’t put the book down because it was so good? Thankfully, it seems the Universe has aligned Noelle with the job she was meant to do as her debut novel was written like she was a seasoned pro.
Lucy Sherwood is our main character and what a character she is. Instantly you are drawn into the story as it becomes very apparent that Lucy has two very separate lives. Her work life as a Probation Officer was genuinely authentic (and Noelle’s previous career knowledge shone through there) and she was a likeable character. However, then there is the issue of her home life which is nothing short of harrowing.
On the other side of the fence is DC Maggie Jamieson who is investigating the murders of 3 men with a history of violence and domestic abuse. Sadly for Lucy all three men had her as their Probation officer. When Lucy’s husband becomes the fourth victim all eyes turn to Lucy!
I really thought I would be able to pull some criticisms from this but I truly couldn’t. It kept me gripped from start to finish and fits the bill perfectly for what a true psychological thriller should be. I would absolutely recommend this to people, the only thing I would say is that it obviously does touch on domestic abuse and some of it is not easy to read. I would suggest if the subject matter is something you are sensitive to then this may not be to your taste, but I felt it was dealt with extremely well. I am thrilled that Noelle is finally writing as it’s pretty clear that this is what she should have been doing for a career! An amazing debut novel!
Synopsis: He’s fighting for justice while she fights for her life.
With his daughter lying in the hospital, struck down in a reckless hit-and-run, the only thing Jon Reznick can do is wait—and plot his revenge. Not satisfied with the slow-moving police investigation, he starts his own manhunt.
He discovers that the car belongs to a high-ranking diplomat whose interests are closely tied to those of the United States government, and this man may not be what he appears. The FBI wants Reznick to back down, but the more information Jon digs up, the more questions he finds. Was it a simple accident, or is there more to it? How many young women’s lives has this man ruined? Lauren’s life hangs in the balance, and Jon must get answers, no matter the cost—to him or the government.
With the help of a dedicated NYPD detective who has suspicions of her own, as well as FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein, Jon Reznick will have to fight for his daughter while she fights for her life.
Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Hard Hit by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 6)”
