Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

Blood Lines by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #5)

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Synopsis: How do you catch a killer who leaves no trace?

 A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring mother and social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up.

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother.

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Continue reading “Blood Lines by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #5)”

Death Note by Caroline Mitchell (Ruby Preston #1)

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Synopsis: Twenty years ago you were forced to give your daughter up. Now she’s back. Or is she?

Women who’ve had to give up children for adoption are being killed. A knock at their front door begins a nightmare from which they will never wake up.

Detective Ruby Preston and her team must hunt down a disturbed individual before someone else is taken. But just when they think they’ve made a breakthrough, Ruby receives a sinister email, and the case takes a terrifying personal twist.

When bodies start turning up, staged in perfect, domestic scenes, Ruby realises they’re chasing the most frightening serial killer she has ever faced.

Can Ruby catch the killer before they strike again? Or will her troubled past catch up with her first?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Continue reading “Death Note by Caroline Mitchell (Ruby Preston #1)”

Dark Fragments by Rob Sinclair

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Synopsis: Murder. Money. Revenge.

Outwardly, Ben Stephens appears to be a normal, hard-working family man. In reality, his life has been in turmoil since the murder of his wife, Alice, seven years ago. The killer was never caught.

Now re-married – to the woman he was having an affair with while still married to Alice – Ben’s life is once again spiralling out of control, and he’s become heavily indebted to an unscrupulous criminal who is baying for Ben’s blood.

When Ben’s estranged twin sister, a police detective, unexpectedly returns to his life, asking too many questions for comfort, it becomes clear that without action, Ben’s life will soon reach a crisis point from which there will be no return.

In order to avoid falling further into the mire, Ben must examine the past if he is to survive the present – but just how much pressure can one man take before he breaks?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I was a little undecided about this book but have decided 4/5 is a deserved rating. In this stand alone book we meet Ben Stephens whose life seems top be on an extremely hard and fast path downward. The reason I originally said I wasn’t sure about the rating was the leas character himself. At time I couldn’t feel anythimng than irritation at this man who seems pitiful at times. That aside, the book was written with a great pace and an easy flow to the writing. Once I was quite a few chapters in although Ben irritated me less the decisions he made were ones that made me want to thump him…quite hard!

Ben’s wife was murdered and although he has moved on with his life and children his new wife Gemma is unforgiving when his bad decisions affect them as a family. Ben is involved with some shady characters and as the chapters unfold we get to understand more and more about why he has got to where he is now. Sadly, he just makes even worse decisions and thing progress quickly and not in a good way. As Ben weaves himself into more and more trouble the plot picks up a little pace.

As a stand alone this wasn’t too shabby at all, but my lack of empathy for Ben made me feel a bit ore distanced from the story than I normally would. Even though it was a bit of a stumbling book this was ultimately a good read and I will certainly be reading more of Rob’s stuff in the future.

Phoebe Smith’s Private Blog by Lynda Renham

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Synopsis: Fashion conscious Phoebe Smith wants only one thing: a date for the works party in six weeks’ time. She embarks on a journey to find her man and keeps a private blog of all her disastrous encounters. But when her four-year-old nephew gets into her account, Phoebe’s problems only just begin. With Tinder calamities, a male escort and a pork pie addiction, Phoebe tackles her biggest problem: the just too irritating Harry Bloom. Come with Phoebe on her search for the perfect man and see who will accompany her to the party in this hilarious romantic comedy novel.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I really love Lynda Renham Books as they never fail to make me chuckle. In this case the same rule applies and I found that it cheered me up immensely in the middle of a particularly drudge filled week. Phoebe Smith is a funny character that I instantly liked. She works at the Department store and is 34 and single. She has a group of equally crazy friends and her current mission is to find a date for the upcoming ‘Works Party’ following her disastrous break up.

With her friend Imogen and the very camp Mak she is surrounded by friends whose solution is to drink through it, but those friends make for some stupidly funny decisions she makes. One drunken encounter sees them all agreeing that Phoebe should write a Blog, albeit a personal one about her life instead of writing in a diary. What follows is a stupidly funny tale where Phoebe finds herself in all sorts of weird situation featuring things such as Pork Pies, Male Escorts and Tinder (and that’s just the start).

I admit I loved the character Harry Bloom, but the ones that made me really laugh were the disastrous dates! The story flows along with the help of Phoebes friends and over lactating Sister Rita as well as her Mum who had some brilliant lines in the book. I can truly say this book had me smiling and laughing and certainly ticked many boxes but (I hear people say) why only 4 stars?

Well the only negative for me was that at times I found myself comparing this to Bridget Jones. There were moments that I read and instantly brought to mind Bridget, however having recently seen the film this may account for why. That was the only reason I didn’t give it the full 5, but at a guess I am assuming Lynda Renham won’t mind me comparing her book to the Bridget film too much! Overall a great romantic comedy that will no doubt cheer up somebody else’s dreary week.

Dark Waters by Robert Bryndza (Erika Foster #3)

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Synopsis: When Detective Erika Foster receives a tip-off that key evidence for a major narcotics case was stashed in a disused quarry on the outskirts of London, she orders for it to be searched. From the thick sludge the drugs are recovered, but so is the skeleton of a young child. 

The remains are quickly identified as seven-year-old Jessica Collins. The missing girl who made headline news twenty-six years ago. 

As Erika tries to piece together new evidence with the old, she must dig deeper and find out more about the fractured Collins family and the original detective, Amanda Baker. A woman plagued by her failure to find Jessica. Erika soon realises this is going to be one of the most complex and demanding cases she has ever taken on. 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I came to the Robert Bryndza party late (book 2 to be precise), but having read that and then this latest release I realise why everyone was making such a fuss. First off Erika Foster is a great lead character and the writing is flawless! That’s just for starters, so yes I think we can safely say I am a fully fledged fan now and will be impatiently waiting for each new instalment.

Erika Foster is a Detective working in South London and the book opens with her and a colleague waiting for a team of divers to dredge a disused quarry. What they were looking for was linked to a drugs case, however what they didn’t bank on was the discovery of the body of a young child. Yep, I know it’s certainly not the nicest of stories to read about but with the setting so atmospheric the tension jumps up a few stages in the very first couple of chapters.

Erika quickly establishes herself as being the one who wants this case, but to do that she has to put a few noses out of joint which is not a problem in her world. Erika is an interesting character especially since she lost her husband on the job previously. What it means is that she takes everything extra personally, and you can tell she is constantly battling with herself to always do her best and to not make mistakes. When she finally gets her wish of running the case she has to break the news to the family. Jessica Collins was only 7 when she went missing and Erika is determined to find out what really happened.

The story has multiple layers pretty early on and we see the old case officer Amanda Baker being brought into the story. However Amanda Baker has her own issues and it makes for interesting reading. In addition numerous characters are brought in as potential suspects and the story just keeps building in suspense. The best part was that Erika gets to choose officers to work with and she calls back 2 old colleagues, Moss and Peterson, both of whom I think deserve a place in this series. I read this in 2 sittings and absolutely loved it from the first page to the last. I certainly didn’t see where the ending was going and by the time I got there I was genuinely surprised. As always comes the crashing disappointment of having to wait for the next book but I’m confident it will be worth the wait. If you haven’t read this author, I suggest you give him a try, I doubt you will be disappointed!

Safe With Me by K L Slater

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Synopsis: Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even …

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people to get too close – she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully …

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows…

But as Anna’s obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: This is a strange book, in the sense that sometimes while I was reading it I wasn’t sure what was the truth and what was paranoia on behalf of the lead character Anna. Anna lives a very strange and solitary life. At the beginning of the book she witnesses a car accident and is even more shocked that she recognised the driver that had caused the collision. She makes it her mission to befriend Liam, the man injured in the accident so she can garner as much information about the driver Carla as possible.

I have read plenty of books where the lead character is slightly damaged and flawed but Anna seems to take this to a whole new level. At times her logic makes perfect sense, and at others my skin would be crawling with the lengths she was going to, to ensure she was part of Liam’s life. You garner snippets of her past as the story goes along but to say any more would ruin the story for others so I will leave it there. What I will say is that what you feel is obvious as a reader, turns out to be anything but.

Although there were times I felt a little uncomfortable reading this, it was quite a page turner and frankly had the weird and dangerous element to it which makes you want to continue reading. I was surprised where the story went which was welcome in all honesty and by the time I had finished the book I realised that I had thoroughly enjoyed it, albeit in a strangely dark way. I will certainly look forward to future books by K L Slater.

BLOG TOUR: The Girl’s Next Door by Mel Sherratt (Eden Berrisford #1)

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Synopsis: One warm spring evening, five teenagers meet in a local park. Only four will come out alive.

Six months after the stabbing of fifteen-year-old Deanna Miller, someone is coming after the teenagers of Stockleigh, as a spate of vicious assaults rocks this small community. Revenge for Deanna? Or something more? 

Detective Eden Berrisford is locked into a race against time to catch the twisted individual behind the attacks – but when her own niece, Jess Mount, goes missing, the case gets personal.

With the kidnapper threatening Jess’ life, can Eden bring back her niece to safety? Or will the people of Stockleigh be forced to mourn another daughter…?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Continue reading “BLOG TOUR: The Girl’s Next Door by Mel Sherratt (Eden Berrisford #1)”

THE SUICIDE PLAN BY EMMA CLAPPERTON (PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN #3)

Synopsis: Standing up and welcoming everyone to the spiritualist church is something Patrick McLaughlin does most evenings. Most of the faces in the audience are familiar to him, except one. David Hopkirk walks into the West End Spiritualist church in Glasgow and slits his own throat in the middle of a demonstration. His reasoning? Patrick is only of use to him in death. In this novella, Patrick is once more catapulted into a world which sees the death of a ten year old boy, a failed court case and a family torn apart. He has most of the puzzle pieces in his possession, he just needs to fit them together. 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 

Kat’s Review: This novella by Emma Clapperton forms part of the series featuring Patrick McLaughlin. Now firstly this series is a paranormal series which I know isn’t for everybody, and normally I would include myself in that list. However, there are exceptions to my rule and certain authors manage to hook me with this genre and Emma Clapperton is one of them. Patrick and Jodie McLaughlin are both mediums and Patrick uses his gift to try and pass along messages to people who have lost loved ones. One evening in the spiritualist church where Patrick and Jodie work a man named David Hopkirk arrives and slits his own throat in front of everybody, asking Patrick to help him before he commits this terrible suicide!

Yep, sounds crazy I know but in a weird way although it’s a grisly and violent opening it has the wow factor and you  can’t help but wonder what it is that this man needs help with. Patrick then goes on to delve into the world of David and find out what was driving him so hard to commit suicide and help him. Although this is only 78 pages and a novella/short story (which I normally don’t enjoy) this one hit the spot nicely.

It re-introduces you to Patrick and Jodie and where they are with their lives, whilst delivering a fast paced and enthralling story. All in all this was a cracking book and only made me want to read the next full length book in the series….yesterday! A great book for this genre and a series I will continue to follow.

BLOG TOUR: THE KILLING GAME BY JS CAROL

This new release by JS Carol is also the one and only James Carol who writes the series of books featuring Jefferson Winter which I LOVE. This new book is a fast paced thriller which I promise…you won’t want to put down.

Synopsis: Imagine you are having lunch at an exclusive restaurant, filled with Hollywood’s hottest stars.

 And a masked gunman walks in and takes everyone hostage. 

You must bargain for your life against a twisted individual who knows everything about you.

 He also has a bomb set to detonate if his heart rate changes. 

If he dies. You die.

You have four hours to stay alive.

What would you do? 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Continue reading “BLOG TOUR: THE KILLING GAME BY JS CAROL”

I Know Your Secret by Graham Smith

Synopsis: What would you do if your most intimate secrets got into the wrong hands?”

Set in modern day Cumbria, I Know Your Secret is a police thriller in which a priest is found crucified to the stone floor of his church. Fearing more attacks on the clergy, DI John Campbell and his team of misfits race to find the killer before he strikes again.

Meanwhile, DI Harry Evans, spends his days attending the trial of his wife’s rapist and his nights interfering in the investigation. 

Can they catch the killer before he strikes again?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I read the latest in this series with the short story ‘Matching The Evidence’. Although it’s not necessary to read it, I enjoyed having that as a buffer prior to this book as you get a feel for where the team are in terms of work etc. DI Harry Evans runs the Major Crimes Team but at the beginning of the book its clear that he is preparing to hand the reins over to DI John Campbell. Harry is also going through the harrowing task of attending the trial of his wife’s rapist and the man who he believes led to her death and the death of his child.  There are straight away two clear threads and although vastly different each had their place and kept me turning pages. 

I like DI John Campbell and he was easy to read but there is always a question mark over whether he really is okay or not (if you know what I mean). He is trying to lead a new team, with the shadow of Harry as in the teams eyes there will only ever be one leader! With the crucifixion of a Priest being the tip of the Iceberg things just keep falling upon the team which makes each job that little bit harder. On top of that you have Harry trying to to keep his calm whilst attending court, as well as involve himself in the current case the team are working on the plot threads keep coming fast and furiously. Add in the model who cries rape, along with a bunch of detectives on the team who all have their own quirks and you have an extremely complex and entertaining story.

The book picks up pace towards the second half of the book and to be honest with you I think I finished that section in one go it was so enthralling! There was nothing I could find to criticise at all and thoroughly loved this. I also noticed that on the odd rare occasion that black sense of humour belonging to Mr Smith shines through which I absolutely adored! A great story with numerous plot threads, plenty of twists and fabulously flawed characters. You couldn’t really ask for more!