Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

Redemption by Stephen Edger (Mark Baines #2)

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: A year ago, Mark Baines was blackmailed into laundering two hundred and fifty million pounds through the bank he worked for. The same people framed him for murder. Now serving two life sentences in a maximum security prison, the future looks bleak. On Christmas Day the prison is breached and Mark is abducted by an unknown group. They are after a mysterious package that is locked in a secret vault deep within the foundations of a tower in Canary Wharf and they believe Mark is the key to finding it. Ali Jacobs is still undercover, trying to infiltrate the Russian mafia. Now based in London, she is shocked when her path brings her into contact with Mark again. The next seven days will define their lives. Kidnap, car chases, a botched M.I.6 operation and an uneasy union with underworld figures mean Mark is in a race against time to prove his innocence and find redemption.

My Review: This second book in the trilogy follows the book Integration which I just finished reading. In my previous review I stated that the book is somewhat bordering on the ‘over the top’ line, but somehow I think it works and doesn’t cross the line. IT puts me more in mind of fast paced Kernick book. Mark Baines got himself in all sorts of bother in the last book and at the start of this one we see him serving a rather lengthy sentence courtesy of Her Majesty. I wasn’t sure where this book would take us, especially as Mark is currently detained. It seems that makes no difference to the sort of people Mark Baines is involved with (albeit involuntarily).

The beginning also re-introduces us to copper Ali Jacobs who is working undercover trying to get deeper within the ranks of the Russian Mafia. Meanwhile Mark has not even had a chance to settle in prison he is forcibly removed and isn’t quite sure what is going on. It’s pretty clear early on that here are loads of unanswered questions which now arise from the first book, and as more and more things get uncovered it becomes clear that Mark is well and truly knackered.

The people that forcibly remove him from prison are convinced that he is the key top finding something they need which just happens to be buried deep within a bank vault in Canary Wharf. It seems the common theme for these books is huge amounts of drama and adrenaline, neither of which is short in this book. The middle section was slightly slower than the end, but overall I once again loved this tale of Mark Baines. I was slightly shocked by one particular element of the story towards the end but to say anymore would be a spoiler. I have managed to restrain myself from going straight to book 3, but it’s inevitable that I will end up finishing the trilogy in the not too distant future. These books are pure entertainment and if you’re a fan of the high octane kind of books such as the Kernick’s of this world, this may well be right up your street.

Little Boy Blue by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #5)

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Synopsis: Detective Inspector Helen Grace is no stranger to tragedy. But when a body is found in a Southampton nightclub, the death cuts too close to the bone.

Hiding her personal connection to the victim – and a double-life which must remain secret at all costs – Helen becomes a woman possessed, working her team around the clock to chase down every lead.

As the killer strikes again, the investigation takes its toll not only on Helen but also her senior officers. Tempers flare, friendships fray and Helen faces an impossible choice.

Confess her sins and lose control of the case? Or keep living a lie, protecting her darkest secrets, and risk getting trapped in this tangled web?

But whatever she does, this killer will not stop until the truth is revealed: there are some fates worse than death . . .

KAT’S RATING: 5/5

KAT’S REVIEW: I have been reading the Helen Grace Series from the beginning and was so looking forward to the next installment. As soon as I started I was straight back into Helen’s world and was absorbed within a matter of a few chapters. One thing I will point out is that although you may well be able to read this as a standalone book, it is made so much better by the fact that I have been following the series. You have a real sense of the characters and their history and how each path has been crossed with other people. Helen is an outstanding character and as many readers will know she has her own secrets which will put her firmly in the firing line in this latest book.

A body is found to start us off, only this time it’s found at a Southampton nightclub which was hosting a fetish ball and as soon as Helen arrives she realises that she has her own personal connection to the murder. This alone makes for an outstanding read, but add in all the other factors such as the return of favourite characters and I knew this would be a full5 star read and I wasn’t even halfway.

Helen’s superior Gardam made for such a good thread to the story I had no idea where the story would go with it until it smacked me around the face (I didn’t see that coming). We also see Helen’s juniors Sanderson and Brooks fighting for their position as Helen’s right hand woman. The murders continue to increase and every plot thread added to the tension and ratcheted up the nerve endings. By the time the last quarter of the book was upon me, all thoughts of dinner, washing and anything else remotely house related went straight out the window. The real kicker was the ending. It was a real OMG moment and I was FURIOUS that Arlidge has left us hanging. It was so good it was bad (if you know what I mean). All I can say is I am literally on tenterhooks waiting for the next book which is due for release on 8 September 2016. An absolutely brilliant book which I think is Arlidge’s best yet and I cannot recommend this series highly enough.

BLOG TOUR: Play Dead by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #4)

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Synopsis: The girl’s smashed-in face stared unseeing up to the blue sky, soil spilling out of her mouth. A hundred flies hovered above the bloodied mess.

Westerley research facility is not for the faint-hearted. A ‘body farm’ investigating human decomposition, its inhabitants are corpses in various states of decay. But when Detective Kim Stone and her team discover the fresh body of a young woman, it seems a killer has discovered the perfect cover to bury their crime.

Then a second girl is attacked and left for dead, her body drugged and mouth filled with soil. It’s clear to Stone and the team that a serial killer is at work – but just how many bodies will they uncover? And who is next?

 As local reporter, Tracy Frost, disappears, the stakes are raised. The past seems to hold the key to the killer’s secrets – but can Kim uncover the truth before a twisted, damaged mind claims another victim …? Continue reading “BLOG TOUR: Play Dead by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #4)”

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.