Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

Liar, Liar by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #4)

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Synopsis: In the dead of night, three raging fires light up the city skies. It’s more than a tragic coincidence. For DI Helen Grace the flames announce the arrival of an evil she has never encountered before.

Because this is no Firestarter seeking sick thrills, but something more chilling: a series of careful, calculating acts of murder.

But why were the victims chosen? What’s driving the killer? And who will be next? A powder keg of fear, suspicion and dread has been laid. Now all it needs is a spark to set it off…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Having only recently (from Nov 14) starting to read M J Arlidge books this series is brilliant and fast becoming a firm favourite. This is book 4 in the series and features DI Helen Grace who is a fantastic character and one that I have been looking forward to reading about again. Alongside Helen is her colleague Charlie who is also another favourite of mine and I think the series works well with both of them in it.

Charlie is back at work following the birth of her daughter and we see her juggling both career and Motherhood. In addition Helen is working alongside a new boss who I really like and think he makes a good fit it the series. When they are called to the scene of a fire, it’s clear pretty quickly that this was no accident. The reader sees glimpses of the killer and their rambled thoughts by way of a Blog, and these small snippets actually worked really well.

I must say that I am a little squeamish when it comes to fire and MJA does a cracking job of being extremely descriptive when writing the scenes of the victims in the moments when they realise what they are faced with. The story seemed to pick up extreme pace for the last quarter and I had no idea what was going on or who was responsible. The one thing I will say is that I had a shock when it was revealed who it was but in a good way as I love that surprise element.

However there are two loose threads that have been left wide open meaning the next book is bound to be explosive. My absolute favourite thing happened with this book. Just when you think it’s all sorted out that very last sentence that makes you shout out “Nooooo”. Yep, that! M J Arlidge you have seriously raised the bar with this latest instalment and I am literally on tenterhooks waiting to see what the next book will bring. Thankfully we don’t have too long to wait as ‘Little Boy Blue’ is due out in March 2016. This was a tense and heart stopping read that got better with each page!

The Girl Who Broke The Rules by Marnie Riches (George McKenzie #2)

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Synopsis: When the mutilated bodies of two sex-workers are found in Amsterdam, Chief Inspector van den Bergen must find a brutal murderer before the red-light-district erupts into panic.

Georgina McKenzie is conducting research into pornography among the UK’s most violent sex-offenders but once van den Bergen calls on her criminology expertise, she is only too happy to come running.

The rising death toll forces George and van den Bergen to navigate the labyrinthine worlds of Soho strip-club sleaze and trans-national human trafficking. And with the case growing ever more complicated, George must walk the halls of Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, seeking advice from the brilliant serial murderer, Dr. Silas Holm…

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: George McKenzie is back, and this time she is flitting between London and Amsterdam. We also see the return of Chief Inspector Paul van den Bergen. The actual storyline was very engaging and I found myself falling into the storyline very quickly. As usual George is being pulled in different directions and its clear from the outset that her current personal set up isn’t all that great.

With the request from Van den Berg for her to help him with his current case everything else get moved down the list of importance. Paul starts a murder investigation which quickly escalates into so much more. In addition to this we see George interviewing convicted sex offender as research for her studies. Her conversations with the offender for some reason gave me the heeby jeebies. I think that’s always a sign that the writer is ‘getting it right’. The pace picks up as the book moves on keeps at a steady pace inching up as the ending nears.

There is plenty of action, drama along with moments where I thought I knew who was doing what, but no I was wrong. The book certainly touches on issues involving the sex industry and at times is unsettling. There is a gritty realism to her books which I love and I was absorbed right up until the end. The only thing for me that was lacking was my ability to like  George more than I do. Paul is a great character and although not without his issues is incredibly likeable. It’s just a shame that I don’t feel like that about George, however this may be because she is written as such a brash character due to her tendency to self-protect.

I really enjoyed this book and am certainly looking forward to reading what happens next. Luckily there isn’t too long to wait with the third part being released in October 2015 entitled ‘The Girl Who Walked in The Shadows’. I would certainly recommend this although it’s probably an idea to read the books in order. 

Snatched by Dreda Say Mitchell

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Synopsis: Mac is back in this thrilling novella following Vendetta, available exclusively as a digital ebook. You’ll find the same characters in Death Trap, the compulsive new novel from Dreda Say Mitchell, coming in October 2015.

In a respectable Victorian terraced house, a young child is discovered behind a panelled wall in a bathroom. He has been hidden there by dangerous criminals.

For DI John ‘Mac’ MacDonagh, the case opens up a raw wound from his past. The child’s mother is the woman who seduced him and then double-crossed him. There’s more: DNA tests reveal that the child’s father is none other than Mac himself.

This is Mac’s chance to rescue his son and have the family he’s so longed for. But will his desire for revenge blind him to the terrible danger surrounding them both?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: First up, there is absolutely NO point in reading this if you haven’t read Vendetta! I read Vendetta and loved it, although had no idea that Dreda would give us this amazing short story featuring the very same character Mac.

Now seeing as this is only an 87 page novella, I truly cannot talk at all about the story other than what you can read in the synopsis. All I will say is that I certainly didn’t see this coming for Mac, and I had no idea of what the outcome would be.

I’m not really a fan of short stories or novellas, but this one I read with a cup of tea and frankly was a little bit gutted when it finished. Although short, this was packed with action, intrigue and cerainly loads of drama! It reminded me why I loved DSM as a writer so much. Captures your attention and demands you to finish reading…fantastic!

Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes by Karin Slaughter (Short Story)

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Synopsis: A missing girl in the news reminds Julia Carroll of herself: nineteen, beautiful, blonde hair, blue eyes.

Julia begins to dig deeper and plans an article for her college paper. She becomes gradually more obsessed with the case, never imagining how close she herself is to danger.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: First off the best advice I can give is to read Pretty Girls, which gives the basis for this short story featuring Julia Caroll, a 19 year old girl. It certainly was a short story and the 8- pages flew by, however I absolutely loved Pretty Girls and this was a fantastic short story to tie in with that book.

Julia is absent in the book Pretty Girls but this gives you a real insight into the character of Julia and how that ties in with the previous full length book. It certainly turned the pages for me but can only give it 4 stars as I am really not a fan of short stories, and felt this could have been built into the original book somehow. Still a typical ‘Slaughter’ style book and I would highly recommend the reading of Pretty Girls

Blood Axe by Leigh Russell (Ian Peterson #3)

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Synopsis: ‘Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared, swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night.’ DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian’s ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: There is a warrior lurking around York and within the first few chapters we have the most grisly crime scene played out in all its gory glory. The first few chapters are pretty absorbing and I would imagine quite a draw for a reader who maybe hasn’t read any of Leigh Russell’s books in the Ian Peterson series. Clues are lacking at the beginning although the only thing that seems to make sense is that the murder is somehow linked to a Viking Museum.

I like Ian Peterson and his spin off series has in my eyes been a total success. I sometimes feel like I want Ian to return to the Geraldine Steel, which is the series in which we meet him originally. We do see very brief glimpses of Geraldine as Ian and his former boss have stayed in contact. One of my most irritating issues within this series actually revolves around Ian’s wife Bev. Although this certainly isn’t a predominant feature in the series it still forms part of Ian’s life. Thank god Leigh Russell decided to deal with this issue in this current book and I am thrilled at the way the book was left.

The murderer seems to elude Ian and his colleagues and as bodies pile up, there seems to be less and less evidence and clues for them to work from. I liked Ian’s colleague Ted, but was less keen on Naomi. Having said that, the team plod on and work the case to the best of their ability. I was certainly engrossed and read this in two sittings. It still doesn’t quite pull me in like the Geraldine Steel series, but after this latest book I have a feeling that might all be about to change. Another solid read in the Peterson series.  Can’t wait for book 4 now!

A Twist of The Knife by Peter James (Short Story)

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Synopsis: With each twist of the knife, a chilling new journey begins . . . From a woman intent on bizarre revenge, to a restaurant critic with a morbid fear of the number thirteen; and from a man arranging a life-changing assignation, to a couple heading for a disaster-filled vacation . . .

In multi-million-copy bestselling author Peter James’ collection of short stories we first come to meet Brighton’s finest detective, Roy Grace, and read the tale that went on to inspire James’ hugely successful novel, Dead Simple. James exposes the Achilles heel of each of his characters, and makes us question how well we can trust ourselves, and one another. Each tale carries a twist that will haunt readers for days after they turn the final page . . .

Combining every twisted tale from the ebook bestsellers Short Shockers One and Short Shockers Two, with a never-seen-before collection of new material, A Twist of the Knife shows Peter James as the undisputed grand master of storytellers with this sometimes funny, often haunting, but always shocking collection.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I’m certainly, like many others, a fan of Peter James and his infamous Roy Grace Series. I’m not however a fan of short stories. Thankfully this was a great collection and I was actually impressed by how much I enjoyed them. I just re-read that and don’t mean it to sound condescending, it’s just in terms of how much I dislike short stories…that’s what I meant!

This series of stories totals thirty and there are 2 featuring Roy Grace. IN addition to the fictional short stories there are some which are factual accounts just told by Peter James. I wouldn’t want to go into the details of all the stories, there seems little point. What I would say is that this is a nice way to read many stories by the man himself and get a feel for his style of writing.

Although I still am not a fan of short stories and collections, this was pretty good. It was an added bonus that a couple featured Roy Grace, but even those without show the skill and talent that have kept Peter James up there as a Bestselling British Author.

The Skeleton Road by Val McDermid

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Synopsis: When a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a crumbling, gothic building in Edinburgh, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is faced with the unenviable task of identifying the bones. As Karen’s investigation gathers momentum, she is drawn deeper into a dark world of intrigue and betrayal.

Meanwhile, someone is taking the law into their own hands in the name of justice and revenge — but when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined . . .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kats’ Review: For some reason I have only read one other Val McDermid book, so I made sure to put this on my to read list. I actually picked this up a couple of months ago but after the first couple of chapters put it back down. Sometimes, I know I’m not in the mood for a book so I go back to it and in this case I’m glad that I did. The story features an introduction where a skeleton is found hidden iside an Edinburgh building. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is called to the scene and takes the case hoping to draw some sort of a conclusion.

Karen and her colleague Detective Constable Jason Murray were quite likeable and although at times Murray seemed somewhat unpredictable. In addition to this discovery there are a couple of story threads that at first glance are just additional parts to the story that garner no links. IN all honesty I wondered in the early stages of the book why these were here . However, the latter part of the book certainly made up for the slow start because the plot threads start to make a little more sense and all seemingly come together.

I certainly like McDermid’s writing style and I was certainly immersed in the story. For me this particular book was a little bit slow to start with but the second half of the book more than made up for it and it is certainly worth a read. I have heard so many good things about Val’s series featuring Carol Jordan and Tony Hill I really must make a start on catching up on this series.

The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die by Marnie Riches (George McKenzie #1)

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Synopsis: HE’S WATCHING HER. SHE DOESN’T KNOW IT…YET

When a bomb explodes at the University of Amsterdam, aspiring criminologist Georgina McKenzie is asked by the police to help flush out the killer.

But the bomb is part of a much bigger, more sinister plot that will have the entire city quaking in fear. And the killer has a very special part for George to play…

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: This book has had rave reviews and seeing as I had an early copy of book 2 I figured I had better get an idea of book 1. This was certainly a slow burner for me and about a quarter of the way in I was wondering what was going on. The main character George is certainly readable as is the Detective Van den Bergen, but in the beginning I was struggling to keep up with all the unconnected characters, let alone the Dutch pronunciations. The main scope of the story involves a bomb that explodes in Amsterdam, drawing George into the investigation.

However, as the story progressed I became more engrossed and wanted to know what part the additional character Ella in London played. The story was a bit of a slow burner for me but as time went on it became more thrilling and I found myself absorbed in wanting to know what had happened. In addition there is another plot thread concerning George but I found myself not as concerned by this thread until later on.

For me the book was good, but still not as good as it could have been. Because of that I felt like I should rate it somewhere in the middle. I am certainly with the minority of people on this book, but maybe it was just me. I know that character names shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes for me they make a book that it harder to read if they aren’t that memorable or are particularly difficult to pronounce. Having said that, I am actually really looking forward to book 2 and now feel like I know George and Van de Bergen that bit better. Hopefully, I will be absorbed from page 1 with the next book.

Fifty Shades of Roxie Brown by Lynda Renham

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Synopsis: Roxie Brown loves erotica and her friend, Sylvie, loves crime … novels of course. On a girls’ night out they meet The Great Zehilda, the tea leaf reader, and suddenly Roxie’s Fifty Shades fantasies about her millionaire boss, Ark Morgan, look about to become a reality. But then she looks through the telescope and her life is turned upside down. Roxie and Sylvie, with help from Sylvie’s flatmate, Felix, set out to crack the case. Can Ark Morgan save her or is he the man she should be running from? Then enter Sam Lockwood and her heart is shot with another arrow. Come with Roxie Brown on her hilarious crime-busting romantic adventure and discover if the love of her life is the man of her dreams or if the man she loves is her worst nightmare.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: First off, if you want some serious reading with a hidden meaning and some serious fiction to make to evaluate things (why would you but each to their own) then this book won’t be for you. If you want something funny, ridiculous, entertaining and downright pleasurable then this may tick the boxes. It is pure escapism with a big fat capital E!

Roxie Brown is absolutely wonderful. She’s a normal girl, doing a mundane job as a Chambermaid but it pays the bills. Her layabout boyfriend Darren is a complete waste of space but her friends Sylvie and Felix are enough to keep her happy. Roxie is obsessed with a certain erotica type fictional book, so much so that much of her working day is spent fantasising over her boss Ark Morgan. Her friend Sylvie on the other hand is obsessed with fictional Crime and reckons she could be the next Jane Tennison.

Things take a bit of a strange turn when she is home one night following some shocking news and happens to peer through Darren’s telescope and witnesses a murder. This is the start of a hilarious and outlandish story involving every one. In addition to Ark Morgan, we meet Sam Lockstone who happens to be a rival of Ark Morgan’s. At this point Roxie does the only thing she knows…turns to her friends. Cue a hilarious tale while the three of them become determined to solve the crime.

Nope this book is not serious one little bit, and yes don’t get me wrong there are parts that are farfetched…but that’s what makes it so funny. Sylvie and Felix make an absolutely brilliant addition to Roxie and the situations they get themselves in to had me belly laughing on more than one occasion. I came to the end of the book and decided that I need a couple of friends like these; my life would certainly be a lot more interesting. A feel good and funny book that is perfect for cheering yourself up!

The Mistake I Made by Paula Daly

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Synopsis: We all think we know who we are. What we’re capable of.

Roz is a single mother, a physiotherapist, a sister, a friend. She’s also desperate. Her business has gone under, she’s crippled by debt and she’s just had to explain to her son why someone’s taken all their furniture away. But now a stranger has made her an offer. For one night with her, he’ll pay enough to bring her back from the edge.  Roz has a choice to make.

Kat’s rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: This latest release by Paula Daly although not a crime or thriller, is certainly one that delves into the dark and seedy world some people find themselves involved in. Roz is a single Mum and by all accounts the first few chapters introduce her and she is a very likeable character. What I liked about this was that she was ordinary, by that I don’t mean boring, just that lots of people know a woman just like Roz. She works hard to make ends meet, but in the end there is always something that crops up meaning she is left to make decisions that people wouldn’t like ot make such as feeding her son or paying her rent.

As a physiotherapist, she meets all sorts of characters and it was easy to fall into the routine of her life where she does the mundane and boring day to day thing, all the while her situation getting that little bit more precarious. As the chapters progress we also learn a little more about the last few years for Roz and why she finds herself in this current dilemma. What she didn’t bank on was her sister being the catalyst for her meeting a man that wants to make her an offer. Cue the Indecent Proposal moment where he offers her an easy way out.

It’s all well and good reading a book and passing judgement, but do you ever really know what you are capable of until you are faced with that exact situation. This is how the book is written and it’s portrayed incredibly well. Not only did I find myself sympathising with Roz, I was questioning what I would do if I was in the same situation.

As Roz makes a seemingly simple choice, she starts to see the knock on effect this has to her life. It also sets off a number of other events which make the book becoming even darker. Although this book may not be the most fast paced thriller I have read, it kept me gripped with the sheer ordinariness of Roz’s situation. I finished the book quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. This book is certainly one to watch out for.