Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

BEHIND DEAD EYES BY HOWARD LINSKEY (DI Bradshaw 2)

Synopsis: A MYSTERY VICTIM

A corpse is found: its identity extinguished in the most shocking manner imaginable. Detective Ian Bradshaw can’t catch the killer if no one can ID the victim. Out there, somewhere, a missing young woman may hold the answers.

A SECRET WEB

Journalist Helen Norton is about to uncover a massive criminal conspiracy. She just needs the final piece of the puzzle. Soon, she will learn the price of the truth.

AN ‘INNOCENT’ KILLER

True-crime writer Tom Carney receives letters from a convicted murderer who insists he is innocent. His argument is persuasive – but psychopaths are often said to be charming…

WHAT IS THE DARK THREAD RUNNING THROUGH THESE CRIMES?

KAT’S RATING: 4/5 Continue reading “BEHIND DEAD EYES BY HOWARD LINSKEY (DI Bradshaw 2)”

Murder Ring by Leigh Russell (Geraldine Steel #8)

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Synopsis: ‘Hearing footsteps pounding along the street behind him he glanced back, fleetingly worried, then laughed because the street was deserted. All the same, he felt uneasy. Everything looked different in the dark. 

Then he heard more footsteps approaching, and a hoarse voice called out. Turning his head, he made out a figure hovering in the shadows and as it raised one arm, the barrel of a gun glinted in the moonlight…’ 

The dead body of unassuming David Lester is discovered in a dark side-street, and DI Geraldine Steel is plunged into another murder investigation. The clues mount up along with the suspects, but with the death of another man in inexplicable circumstances, the case becomes increasingly complex. As Geraldine investigates the seemingly unrelated crimes, she makes a shocking discovery about her birth mother.

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: First off, although this is book 8 in a series featuring Geraldine Steel, this book could certainly be read as a stand alone. I love this series and Leigh Russell has written a believable and likeable character with Geraldine. However, I have some niggles with the last and current book in that I feel like I am waiting for something to happen on her personal life front. A lot has happened with Geraldine over the last few books and currently it feels like she is in a little bit of a rut. Hopefully the next book will see a change in that. One of the reasons is that Geraldine has been searching for her Birth Mother for some time. This issue is addressed in this latest installment, however by the end of the book there are also additional threads opening up so hopefully this will show us a whole new element to Geraldine in the next installment.

That aside, Geraldine is thrown into a new murder case following the discovery of David Lester’s body. When he is found in a side alley it initially seems that it was a mugging gone wrong, however soon becomes apparent that it was no simple robbery. Geraldine’s colleague Sam returns as does a new DCI who is looking to solve this case quickly to prove he is the right man for the job. The plot is well paced and as the story progresses we see multiple suspects emerge from the woodwork.

The book is certainly an easy read and the series is still one I thoroughly enjoy. I hope that in future books we get to see a balance between work and personal life as at the moment this is the only element of this book that doesn’t feel right. I would also love to see additional characters help add to the team that Geraldine works with. I would definitely recommend this series as I think Gerladine is an interesting and very readable character. I always look forward to what comes next in the series and the same applies now.

See How They Run by Tom Bale

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Synopsis: In the dead of night, new parents Alice and Harry French are plunged into their worst nightmare when they wake to find masked men in their bedroom. Men ruthless enough to threaten their baby daughter, Evie.

This is no burglary gone wrong.

The intruders know who they’re looking for – a man called Edward Renshaw. And they are prepared to kill to get to him.

When the men leave empty handed, little do Alice and Harry realise that their nightmare is just beginning. Is it a case of mistaken identity? Who is Renshaw? And what is he hiding?

One thing is clear – they already know too much. As Alice and Harry are separated in the run for their lives, there is no time for breathe in their fight to be reunited. And with their attackers closing in, there is only a choice:

STAY ALIVE. OR DON’T.

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Alice and Harry French are an immensely likeable and ordinary couple who are in for the shock of their lives. One sleepless night, whilst still trying to adjust to a new routing with their young infant Evie they awake to find masked men in their house. Yes its the stuff of nightmares and it soon becomes apparent that this innocent couple have unwittingly been caught up in something they know nothing about.

What happens following that is the stuff of nightmares. The man these men are looking for named Renshaw becomes the focus of the story and both Alice and Harry are very quick to descend into make or break decision making. Looking at this story from the outside I think it’s completely believable as being put in a situation such as they were, it’s easy to see how rash decisions can be made. The story soon picks up in a frantic way as more characters become introduced and the reader and characters are left wondering whose side each character is on.

Once Alice and Harry become seperated they each have to then make further decisions to try and save their family. This only adds to the tension and you can almost feel the desperation of these characters pouring off the pages. I have said as much as I can about the storyline, but suffice to say Tom Bale has done an amazing job packing in everything.

There were one or two moments I wondered whether the scenes had become too well staged, but aside from that this really was a fantastic read. Bookouture seem to have no problem finding authors that create amazing stories and Tom Bale is no exception. This was certainly a gripping book and one that is difficult to put down. High energy, packed to the rafters with terrifying and heart stopping moments and a pleasure to read. I’m really looking forward to whatever comes next for Tom Bale and will now be looking to read his back catalogue.

The House on Cold Hill by Peter James

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Synopsis: The House on Cold Hill is a chilling and suspenseful ghost story from the multi-million copy bestselling author of Dead Simple, Peter James.

Moving from the heart of Brighton and Hove to the Sussex countryside is a big undertaking for Ollie and Caro Harcourt and their twelve-year-old daughter Jade. But when they view Cold Hill House – a huge, dilapidated Georgian mansion – Ollie is filled with excitement. Despite the financial strain of the move, he has dreamed of living in the country since he was a child, and he sees Cold Hill House as a paradise for his animal-loving daughter, the perfect base for his web-design business and a terrific long-term investment. Caro is less certain, and Jade is grumpy about being separated from her friends.

Within days of moving in, it becomes apparent that the Harcourt family aren’t the only residents of the house. A friend of Jade’s is the first to see the spectral woman, standing behind her as the girls talk on FaceTime. Then there are more sightings, as well as increasingly disturbing occurrences in the house. As the haunting becomes more malevolent and the house itself begins to turn on the Harcourts, the terrified family discover Cold Hill House’s dark history, and the horrible truth of what it could mean for them . . .

KAT’S RATING: 3/5

KAT’S REVIEW: I am most definitely what I would call a Peter James fan, however after reading this I was left feeling not so enamoured. Peter James has written a brilliant series featuring Roy Grace, and in my opinion his stand alone book Perfect People was GENIUS! However, this latest effort didn’t really make an impression on me. I admit I am not the biggest fan of ‘ghost stories’ but am open minded enough to try them.

This story centres on Ollie and Caro Harcourt and their twelve-year-old daughter Jade and their move to Cold Hill House. The opening of the book sets the scene pretty well and there is a heavy sense of foreboding (which of course is justified). The family are in for a nasty turn of events and these seem to spiral quite rapidly.

There was certainly nothing specific that I disliked with the book, but I just didn’t feel like there was any real substance behind the tale. Maybe I am just too adjusted to expecting a ‘Roy Grace’ type of book this didn’t suit me. I read the book to the end but in all honesty I felt like it was a bit of a struggle. I would admit I prefer to stick to crime and thrillers, however just recently discovered Caroline Mitchell who writes Supernatural and I love that series.

I guess I felt that this was missing something, but I just couldn’t put my finger on what. I’m aware that I am probably with the minority on the review of this book, but think in future I will stick to my Roy Grace or standalone crime novels by Mr James.

Perfect Weddings by Lynda Renham

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Synopsis: Every bride wants a perfect wedding and that includes Georgina Winters. Amy Perfect is the crème de la crème of wedding planners so who best to plan Georgina s wedding… except the man Georgina plans to marry is the same man who jilted Amy three years ago. Will her plan to give Georgina the most imperfect wedding backfire on her? Is this the chance for Amy to win back the love of her life, or will insufferable Ben Garret put a spanner in the works? Arab princes, spoilt brides and wedding catastrophes make Perfect Weddings a page-turning romantic comedy that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

KAT’S RATING: 5/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Okay first up if you have a filthy and stupid sense of humour (such as I do) you HAVE to get this book. I have read quite a few of Lynda Renham’s books and this is without a doubt hands down the best book of hers I have read. I was feeling a bit irritated and having one of those days when I started this on my morning commute yesterday. It was finished by the time I got home and was frankly the one thing that got me through the day!

The book starts out with the worst possible scenario for a woman, in this case Amy who gets jilted at the alter. Almost immediately the characters that surround Amy are hilarious and Amy herself is a character that had me giggling from the get go. The book skips forward a few years and we meet Amy when she is finally where she wants to be. Instead of being the slightly overweight mortician who got jilted at the alter she is now a successful wedding planner who has the body to match.

Unfortunately Amy’s life goes into a full on spin when Georgina asks Amy to be her wedding planner. The only snag is that Georgina is marrying the same man who left Amy at the alter. Of course the sensible option is to turn it down, but Amy just can’t help herself. What comes next is a hillarious story of Amy trying to conceal who she is and in turn manages to involve other Brides, strange Sheikh Princes as well as her friend Rosie and on occasion her shockingly honest family.

This book truly was a joy to read. It gave me the same feeling of joy I get when I watch Bridget Jones (if you see what I mean).  There are moments in this book which literally had me belly laughing and although there will no doubt be people that criticise the author for these ‘ridiculous and unrealistic moments’, I certainly wont be one of them.  These situations Amy manages to get herself into are funny, outrageous and sometimes stupid. What made them all the more enjoyable is how normal Amy is. As a character I felt like Amy was a real ‘no holds barred’ kind of woman and the comments, quirks and scenarios we see her in felt perfect.

Not only does Amy make this a delight to read, but the other characters within it do too. Bride Chardonnay and Georgie’s friend Patsy were just two of the characters I loved. In fact there were none that I disliked. I can only cross my fingers and hope that maybe Amy, or some of the secondary characters may make an appearance in future books, and there are plenty of great characters to choose from.

Is this a book you can look back on and discuss at a book club about the hidden and wonderful meaning and morals within? Not in my opinion no. Is this a book that will make you laugh your a*se off and cheer you up no end? Yes! I will be passing this book on to all my family and friends as a MUST READ. Bravo  Lynda Renham, this is by far the best book of yours I have read and one that had me smiling right the way through…until I finished it and then felt like I had read too fast! AN absolute MUST for your to read list.

The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell (Jennifer Knight #3)

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Synopsis: Nine-year-old twins Abigail and Olivia vow never to be parted. But when Abigail goes missing from Blackwater Farm, DC Jennifer Knight must find her before it’s too late.

Twin sister Olivia has been mute since Abigail’s disappearance. But when she whispers in Jennifer’s ear, Jennifer realises it is Abigail’s voice pleading to be found.

A damp and decaying house set in acres of desolate scrubland, the farm is a place of secrets, old and new – and Jennifer must unravel them all in order to find the lost girl. But could Olivia’s bond with her twin hold the key to finding Abigail? And can Jennifer break through her silence in time to save her sister’s life?

KAT’S RATING: 4/5 Continue reading “The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell (Jennifer Knight #3)”

Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary (Marnie Rome #3)

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Synopsis: The young girl who causes the fatal car crash disappears from the scene. A runaway who doesn’t want to be found, she only wants to go home. To the one man who understands her. Gives her shelter. Just as he gives shelter to the other lost girls who live in his house. He’s the head of her new family. He’s Harm.

D.I. Marnie Rome has faced many dangerous criminals but she has never come up against a man like Harm. She thinks that she knows families, their secrets and their fault lines. But as she begins investigating the girl’s disappearance nothing can prepare her for what she’s about to face. Because when Harm’s family is threatened, everything tastes like fear…

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: I was looking forward to book 3 in this new series and thankfully wasn’t too disappointed. For some reason I seem to be way off the mark in terms of what I thought. It seems to have accumulated a number of 5 star reviews already, however for me it was lacking something. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but there seemed to be something missing for me. I think because of that I didn’t feel it was the full 5 stars but almost. The story itself was plotted well and layers appeared making the story all the more intriguing. However this time around it was the characters that didn’t quite feel right.

I have read the other 2 books in this series and really enjoyed them. When I started reading this latest installment I felt a little confused at times. It seemed like Marnie took somewhat of a back seat, and Noah seemed to take charge more often than not. Something about that set up just didn’t ring true for me. I actually really like Noah and think he is a strong character who certainly belongs in this series alongside Marnie. The story itself was a little slow in the beginning and then picked up pace considerably and the last half was absolutely brilliant.

I certainly had no clue where the story would go and felt so relieved that the ending and plot line that was revealed was a complete surprise. There are also two additional plot threads which are slowly building interest in the background. Marnie’s family tie to Stephen and Noah’s brother Sol, both which I think will make amazing future books. By the end I realised that I had thoroughly enjoyed the book, however there were a few times when the characters just felt different. Whether that is part of future planning I have no idea, but it kind of put me off my stride a little bit. That small thing aside it was once again a great read, and a series that I think I will be waiting impatiently each time I have finished one.

The Theseus Paradox by David Videcette

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Synopsis: 7 July 2005: in the midst of Operation Theseus, the largest police investigation that the UK has ever known, Detective Inspector Jake Flannagan begins to ask difficult questions that lead to the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend and his sudden suspension from the Metropolitan Police.

Who masterminded London’s summer of terror?

Why can’t Flannagan make headway in the sprawling investigation?

Is Jake’s absent girlfriend really who she claims to be?

While hunting for the answers to the most complex case in British history,

one man will uncover the greatest criminal deception of our time.


KAT’S RATING: 5/5 Continue reading “The Theseus Paradox by David Videcette”

In The Shadows by Tara Lyons (Hamilton #1)

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Synopsis: Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton is tasked with apprehending a brutal murderer stalking the streets of London – and leaving not a shred of DNA evidence. As the suspect list mounts, his frustration and pressure from his superiors intensify. 

Grace Murphy, who is dealing with the recent loss of her beloved grandfather, falls deeper into despair when her friends’ bodies are discovered. Fearing she may be the killer’s next target, she begins to question if her horrifying nightmares are the key to unravelling the murderer’s identity. 

How far would you go to uncover the truth? Would you venture into the shadows to unmask a killer? 

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton is the main character in this debut novel by Tara Lyons along with Grace Murphy. The story started off a little slowly but in all honesty it gives you time to find out a little more about the other characters which make up this debut novel. Out of Grace and Denis, Grace was the one that held my interest initially. Grace seems like an ordinary woman, however she has recently lost her Grandfather who she was extremely close to. We see her struggle to cope with the loss and as the story unfolds she seems to spiral deeper into her own depression. The other element which makes Grace seem to spiral so quickly is that the recent murder that took place was somebody she knew. 

On the other side of the fence Hamilton and his colleague Lewis Clarke start to investigate the initial murder. However, before long it’s not just one murder they are dealing with and it become clear that the killer is extremely clued up as there is absolutely no DNA evidence making the investigation seem like a fruitless task. As the story progresses the tension mounts because it seems that each victim has a link to either Grace or the Theatre that she works at. I must say that I was pretty smug thinking I knew who the killer was after the first half of the book. I was wrong!

The whole book is written in such a way that you are drawn to reading about Grace and also you feel like you are almost part of the investigation. You don’t only see Hamilton and Clarke just swoop in and save the day, you see the whole team pulling their weight and going through the arduous tasks day by day and the frustration mounting. The last quarter of the book was absolutely brilliant and although I could see where it was going it took me until the last quarter of the book to figure it out. This is an outstanding debut novel and I am really looking forward to seeing what else Tara Lyon’s produces. This is certainly an author I would recommend and think fans of the ‘psychological thriller’ type genre will love this.

For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood (DCI Matilda Darke #1)

51YzLiJmaqL Synopsis: Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…

DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.

Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda’s case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…

Kats Rating: 5/5

My Review:

My, NOW I see what everybody was going on about! I’ve been seeing so much hype around this book but have literally been swamped with books and just haven’t had the chance. I finally got around to this and am so pleased I did. For a debut novel this was an absolute corker of a read and one that I can totally see why everybody would recommend (me included). DCI Matilda Darke isn’t just your both standard copper that has scars; it seems she is on the brink of destruction. We meet her upon her return to work. That in itself is a hardship and although the reader doesn’t quite know why, it’s very clear from the outset it won’t be an easy return to work for her.

Although Matilda has returned she is assigned with the cold case of the murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. A number of Matilda’s colleagues make appearances and they all seem to have their place within the story, especially DC Rory Fleming and DS Sian Mills. Her nemesis and acting DCI in her absence is Ben Hales. He makes for a loathsome character but an interesting one. As Matilda’s cold case starts to be worked on, DCI Hales catches a new investigation involving murder.

The two cases eventually collide which although easy to spot early on, made for extremely interesting reading. The plot was so well thought out and the characters just fitted right in. This book certainly doesn’t have the feel of a debut novel, more like a seasoned professional who has launched a new series. The flow, pace and depth of the story was all absolutely spot on and there was little to find fault with.

I certainly didn’t see the ending coming and although I wasn’t surprised by the turn of events it made for a compelling read. I devoured this book in just 2 sittings and certainly think I will be following this series. There is plenty of scope with characters and storylines, not just for Matilda although I admit she makes a cracking lead. I was certainly impressed by this debut and think most people if reading it with no knowledge would assume it’s from a longer standing author. This is most certainly a book I would highly recommend