Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

The Treatment by Mo Hayder (Jack Caffrey #2)

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Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Available: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Kobo

Synopsis: A quiet residential street in south London. A husband and wife are discovered, imprisoned in their own home. Badly dehydrated, they’ve been bound and beaten. He is close to death. But worse is to come: their young son is missing. When Detective Inspector Jack Caffery is called in to investigate, the similarities with events in his own past make it impossible for him to view this new crime dispassionately. And as he digs deeper – as he attempts to hold his own life together in the face of ever more disturbing revelations about both his past and his present – the real nightmare begins

My Review: I have literally <insert shocked expression here, I know> started reading Mo Hayder. Why? Hell, I have no idea! As soon as I had finished book 1 I just knew I had to go on to book 2. There is however, something I feel I should point out about this book. It is DARK, and I mean dark. It covers subjects (such as child abuse and paedophilia) so if you haven’t the stomach for that sort of story please don’t read it, as it will no doubt disappoint and upset. Although the subject matter is awful, Hayder has a certain flair for making you, frankly scared witless! She has a rather dark manner about her books but they also show huge flair and skill which makes for a shockingly gripping book.

Jack Caffrey as the lead is a great character, but I tend to swing between loving him, and wanting to smack the shit out of him! Following on from book 1, I wanted to know more about his dark past and his gripping addiction with finding out what happened to his brother many years before. Thankfully this part of the storyline is dealt with and makes for a huge chunk in working out just how screwed up Jack has become. That aside, the book starts us off with a shocking and disturbing scene in South London. It’s always a bonus when a book is set in an area you know as you find yourself naturally gravitating there in your imagination. Jack and his colleague Danni (who I really liked) investigate a missing child. His parents are found bound and beaten in their own home with no sign of their young son.

What follows is a disturbing but weaving and layered plot that will keep you guessing about who is involved and why. This was another Mo Hayder book that I really didn’t want to put down. She has a very descriptive way about scenes which can have you coming out in goose bumps, to the point where I wondered how far over the line this had to go to become a horror! I found myself turning the pages with rapid speed and as dinner went unchecked, and the bath left on I continued right to the end. When I had finished I realised although I loved it, the first book slightly edges over the second, but all the same I HAD to have book 3 ready. Luckliy I have the rest of the series ready to catch up on, which I fully intend to do ASAP!

Disobey by Jacqui Rose

My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Bad things are going down in Soho. Someone’s going to have to pay the price…Alfie Jenkins breaks a lot of rules. When he sets up an illegal casino in Soho there’s bad will all round and soon Alfie and those closest to him become embroiled in an all-out war with a dangerous gang. Unfortunately this gang is a deadly enemy to have. When Alfie’s teenage niece Chloe is kidnapped and there are rumours she’s been enslaved in a sex gang it becomes a terrifying race against time to save her. Will Alfie be able to right wrongs, build bridges and protect his family, whatever the cost?

My Review: I have continually enjoyed Jacqui Rose books and have not yet been disappointed. My favourite however was Dishonour which was her best to date in my opinion. With this latest release featuring characters from previous books I was really looking forward to it. Alfie Jennings is a character that I didn’t like all that much at the beginning but eventually he grew on me. What I was chuffed about was the return of some fantastic characters from previous books such as Franny Doyle, Vaughn Sadler and Del Williams.

The book starts off really well and you are thrown straight into the dire situation it seems Soho is now in. With some of the well-known faces having all returned to London they have no idea that the Triads who they are up against are ready for an all-out war. Alfie seems to be at the middle of everything and when his niece Chloe-Jane rocks up it seems that things rapidly go from bad to worse.

There is plenty to keep the reader entertained pretty much from the get-go and there wasn’t a moment where there wasn’t something going on. As the book gets towards the halfway point it seems to ratchet up in terms of fear factor and when Chloe-Jane gets involved without realising it, you just know that the outcome cannot be good.

I found myself turning the pages quickly and totally immersing myself in this latest tale. I had a couple of minor niggles, but nothing much to write home about and thoroughly enjoyed this latest book. I must say though that I think this book should be where it ends for certain characters that are reaching a point where they don’t need to return. Although this wasn’t a 5 star read for me (that was most definitely Dishonour!) this was another cracking read and I will as always look forward to the next one.

The Jackdaw by Luke Delaney (Sean Corrigan #4)

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: 12 March 2015 – Hardcover, Kindle, Nook, Kobo,

24 Sept 2015 – Paperback

Synopsis: Guilty or not guilty? A lone vigilante is abducting wealthy Londoners and putting their fate in the hands of the public. Within hours of disappearing, the victims appear on the internet, bound to a chair in a white room. Revenge or mercy? Their crimes of greed and incompetence are broadcast to the watching thousands who make up the jury. Once the verdict is cast, the man who calls himself ‘The Jackdaw’ will be judge and executioner.

Live or die? DI Sean Corrigan and his Special Investigations Unit are under pressure to solve this case fast. But as The Jackdaw’s popularity grows, Corrigan realizes he’s hunting a dangerously clever and elusive adversary – one who won’t stop until his mission is complete.

My Review: Luke Delaney is something of a new kid around town. His debut novel Cold Killing was released in 2013. It took me some time to get around to reading and once I had I didn’t want to stop. The first two books in the series were amazing and I really do think Delaney is a very quick rising star who will soon become as well read as the likes of Patterson and Lee Child. The one thing that for me is a winner is the lead character Sean Corrigan. He walks the tightrope to a point where you wonder whether he will fall into the worlds of the psychologically damaged and become just like the killers he hunts.

The fourth book from Luke Delaney brings Corrigan back into the fold with the latest case along with his colleagues Donnelly and Sally. It seems that there is a lone vigilante kidnapping Londoners and then putting them in front of a live audience via the web and asking them to vote so that the killer can become both judge and executioner. I only had one problem with this initial story and that was that I very recently read a book with a similarly themed plot. With that small issue aside, the story launches straight back in and I felt like I hadn’t been away from Sean and his work colleagues.

This latest book not only brings a fast paced plot to it, it also highlights Sean’s somewhat dangerous state of mind. I wasn’t a fan of the psychologist Anna appearing again and it felt like this added to Sean’s misery somewhat and it made me dislike her. The plot was well paced and there was so much going on that at times I could sympathise with the varying degrees of stress the characters were under. It also felt like we are uncovering more and more of Sean and his personal life with each case that he works. It certainly makes me question (and want to know) what will happen next. The Jackdaw made for a great killer and it was done cleverly with me thinking I had it worked out and realising I didn’t.

As ever this is a solid read and one that I think his fans will love. If you haven’t read this series I would highly recommend you do, but from book one. The first two books still remain my favourites but Luke Delaney is fast becoming one of my must read authors.

No Name Lane by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #1)

My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Released 12th March 2015 on Kindle, paperback, Nook and Kobo

Synopsis: Young girls are being abducted and murdered in the North-East. Out of favour Detective Constable Ian Bradshaw struggles to find any leads – and fears that the only thing this investigation will unravel is himself. Journalist Tom Carney is suspended by his London tabloid and returns to his home village in County Durham. Helen Norton is the reporter who replaced Tom on the local newspaper. Together, they are drawn into a case that will change their lives forever. When a body is found, it’s not the latest victim but a decades-old corpse. Secrets buried for years are waiting to be found, while in the present-day an unstoppable killer continues to evade justice… Continue reading “No Name Lane by Howard Linskey (DI Bradshaw #1)”

The Doll’s House by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #3)

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Synopsis: A young woman wakes up in a cold, dark cellar, with no idea how she got there or who her kidnapper is. So begins her terrible nightmare. Nearby, the body of another young woman is discovered buried on a remote beach. But the dead girl was never reported missing – her estranged family having received regular texts from her over the years. Someone has been keeping her alive from beyond the grave. For Detective Inspector Helen Grace it’s chilling evidence that she’s searching for a monster who is not just twisted but also clever and resourceful – a predator who’s killed before. And as Helen struggles to understand the hiller’s motivation, she begins to realize that she’s in a desperate race against time . . .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

My Review:  I’ve only recently discovered M J Arlidge and Helen Grace and must say I am certainly a fan now that’s for sure. Helen Grace is a fabulous character and one that you root for because you know she doesn’t care about superiors or the rules, she works on gut instinct. However, I had some reservations with this latest release as I knew that following the last book it appeared her colleague Charlie was no longer working with her. Thankfully though, Charlie appears and I am hoping it’s not the last we see of her. We also see her new boss Ceri Harwood who I instantly disliked and just knew she was there to cause trouble.

The case for Helen involves missing girls, and it seems another girl has now become a victim. The victim gets to tell her story too and we see her go though some harrowing times as she faces her killer on a regular basis. In a weird way, I liked the killer and how he was portrayed. It seemed much more realistic for some reason and I really believed that the guy was a complete nut job. It seems like Helen has her hands full and we see the full extent of the problems she faces with both work and her personal life,

The writing flows well and as with the other MJA books I read they are so easy to get absorbed into that before you know it you are nearly done. There was plenty to keep me entertained in this book and I am so pleased that Charlie appears alongside Helen at times, maybe we get to see her in future books? Who knows? I couldn’t get along with some of the newer characters that now work with Helen but I’m hoping that won’t matter by book 4!

This was certainly another cracking read and it makes me look forward to reading book 4 in the series which is due out in a matter of months (September 2015).

Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner (Tessa Leoni #3)

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Availability: Released 3rd Feb 2015 on Kindle, Hardcover, Audio Nook & Kobo, Paperback available 16th July 2015

Rated: 3/5

Synopsis: My name is Nicky Frank. I’m in hospital after crashing my car. I am afraid. The only thing that I can think about is Vero. I know I have to save her but why couldn’t I find her? She’s just a little girl. The man standing in my hospital room tells me we are married but there is no Vero. That six months ago I suffered a traumatic brain injury which caused changes to my personality. I have dramatic mood swings, an inability to concentrate and large gaps in my memory. I’m much easier to anger these days. And I drink. All of which he says explains the car accident and my confusion. Now a Sergeant Wyatt Foster is investigating. He has questions about the car accident. He has concerns about my husband. And he’s worried about a missing girl. He would like to know what happened to me. So would I. My name is Nicky Frank. This is my life. Watch me crash and burn.

My Review: I was pretty torn about how to rate this but have to stay true to what I thought and stick with the middle of the road. It’s certainly a good read and solid writing but there were a number of things that just didn’t sit right with me. Nicky Frank has woken in hospital and her memory is not what it should be. She recalls a little girl Vero yet the man standing beside that she is told is her husband claims they don’t have children. The story certainly starts off well with a very descriptive and tense car crash but for me it then becomes somewhat disjointed.

Nicky’s husband Thomas certainly makes for an interesting read, and he certainly piques my interest from the very beginning. Wyatt Foster, the sergeant looking after the case is also a good character and seeing him chase down leads is the usual engaging ‘Gardner’ style. Nicky Frank is a character I just couldn’t get along with and I found the constant switch between her lucidness and strange visions regarding Vero quite annoying after a while.

It sounds like I am being un-necessarily harsh and that’s certainly not my intention. I always try to explain to people why I didn’t like something and I think for me this was one of the things I struggled with in the book. In addition, I actually read a book (less than 2 weeks ago) about somebody who awoke from a car crash with no memory. Maybe the similarities were too much in such a short space of time. I think this is quite a departure in style fro Lisa Gardner and I think people will really enjoy the book. There are certainly a lot of twists and turns and I was surprised at the outcome. I just think that maybe this one wasn’t for me. I will eagerly await the next DD novel and look forward to what comes next.

Follow The Leader by Mel Sherratt (Allie Shenton #2)

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My Rating: 4/5

Availability: Paperback, Audio, Kindle, Nook and Kobo (Released 10.02.15)

Synopsis: A man’s body is found on a canal towpath. In his pocket, a magnetic letter in the shape of an E. Days later, a second victim is found, this time with the letter V tucked into her clothing. As the body count rises, the eerie, childlike clues point to a pattern that sends DS Allie Shenton and her colleagues into full alert. The race is on. Allie and the team must work quickly to determine where the killer will strike next. The rules are simple but deadly—to catch the killer, they must follow the leader.

Kat’s Review: Allie Shenton is back in the follow up from ‘Taunting the Dead’. I have to say I was rather pleased that I could get stuck in as the last book ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger. A man’s body is found on a canal path and in his pocket is a magnetic letter. Allie Shenton and her colleagues start the investigation and before long the body count rises. The killer is front and centre and immediately gave me the creeps.

Allie and her team quickly spot a pattern and it seems to be a bit of a race against time to get to the victims before the killer does. Allie seems a little bit more in control of her life in this second outing, and for that I was glad. It was also nice to see the references to Terry Ryder (from book 1) pop up again, albeit in a subtle way.

Because we get to see the killer in action we also get to see his reasoning behind the murders. This makes it more intriguing because you wonder how long it will take for the police to catch up. In addition we see flashbacks in time which features both the killers and victims and the layers begin to unpeel.

I once again thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that it has a slight edge over the Estate Books (although that maybe isn’t fair as I have only read one!). I like Allie, and am dying to see what happens to her, and her family in the next book. I think my only disappointment was that once again, a certain element of the story was carried over. In one sense it’s great because the reader then wants to go on and read the next book, but for me…well I’m just an impatient one! I certainly should have started catching up with Mel Sherratt’s books sooner as they are a pleasure to read.

Silent Scream by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #1)

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My Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country. But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. As the body count rises,

Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

My Review: Another new author bringing us another copper, and yep this one is a woman. Angela Marsons brings us her debut novel featuring DI Kim Stone. Kim is A Typical for a female lead, she has a chequered past and a somewhat limited ear to authority. However, although there is nothing new to the mix I liked her from the off. Her colleague Bryant is also a great character and to be honest having finished the book, it’s like chalk and cheese…they just work together. In addition to Kim and Bryant their team is finished off with the additions of Stace and Dawson, all who played their part.

They have a tough case to crack and in one respect they are working against the clock as they try to distinguish the suspects from the potential victims. The case surrounds the discovery of human remains at the site of an old children’s home. Kim is forceful in her manner to the point of being rude, but it made me like her even more and we see her bulldoze her way through the case to catch the people responsible.

There were plenty of things going on and people to accuse in your own mind and the story kept me interested right through to the end. I was debating the rating of this as there were a couple of things that grated on me, such as the way the author uses literal words to show an accent, but that’s just a personal opinion and figured that shouldn’t make a difference. Because of that decision this is a solid 4 star read and for a debut is a great read. It could certainly be a cracking series with the author whetting your appetite and I am genuinely looking forward to the next one (hopefully with a lack of literal ‘accent’ wordings).

Taunting The Dead by Mel Sherratt (Allie Shenton #1)

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Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: How far would you go to protect the ones you love? And how much further would you go to betray them?

Nine out of ten murders are committed by someone the victim knows. So when Steph Ryder has her head bashed in within earshot of her family and friends, DS Allie Shenton begins her investigation close to home.

Soon the lies, backtracking, and secrets multiply as each of the suspects tries to cover up their actions on that fateful night. Before long, Allie homes in on Steph’s ambitious and powerful husband, Terry. Convinced he’s hiding something, she interviews him again and again—only to find that she is falling, despite herself, for his smooth charms.

As the trail grows hotter, along with Allie’s feelings, the web of deceit pulls tighter and more bodies begin to pile up. Allie must race against time to uncover the shocking truth before she becomes the killer’s next victim.

Kat’s Review: I have read one of Mel’s Estate Series books as well as Watching Over You. With her imminent release of book 2 featuring DS Allie Shenton I figured I should read book 1 to familiarise myself. I am pretty glad that I did now as I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I also find it’s an added bonus that I have the next book as the ending was brilliant, albeit a cliff-hanger! Allie Shenton is a good character and easily likeable. She’s a copper who is working in Stoke, the place she was born and bred. The story itself was a bit of a slow burner, but by the second third I was well and truly gripped and read it right through to the end.

Steph Ryder and her dodgy husband Terry are the main focus of this book. Steph was frankly a rather despicable character. A virtual alcoholic we get to know exactly what are whop are relevant in her life. Terry Ryder, although an obvious gangster with a legit front, had a rather endearing character! We also meet additional characters that are all added to the mix such as Phil Kennedy who works for Terry, Steph’s friend Carole and her husband Shaun as well as Terry and Steph’s daughter.

The layers of the story are put there, and at times I thought they were maybe too much but I realised by the end that there is a method to Mel’s madness, namely the next book. As well as all the colourful characters, we get to know a bit about Allie, we meet her husband, her boss and her sister. All of this becomes a lot more relevant as the story continues. When Steph is murdered, nobody (including me) could work out what on earth was going on. It certainly added another layer of intrigue as each time I thought both they and I had figured it out, I was wrong!

This book certainly had me well and truly gripped, especially the last quarter of the book, and frankly the last chapter had me screaming in frustration. Luckily, the new book is already on my Kindle (due for release 10th Feb 2015) so I could get stuck straight back in. I think Mel Sherratt is definitely an underated author and I for one am starting straight on book 2. I think if you haven’t read Mel Sherratt before this book (or one of the Estate Books) is a fantastic place to start. Now if you don’t mind…I have another Allie Shenton book to read!

Burn by James Patterson (Michael Bennett #7)

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: Detective Michael Bennett finally returns to New York City – and to the most unsettling, horrific case of his career. At last, Detective Michael Bennett and his family are coming home to New York City. Thanks to Bennett, the ruthless crime lord whose vengeful mission forced the Bennett family into hiding has been brought down for good. Back in the city that never sleeps, Bennett takes over a chaotic Outreach Squad in Harlem, where he receives an unusual call: a man claims to have seen a group of well-dressed men holding a bizarre party in a condemned building. With no clear crime or evidence, Bennett dismisses the report. But when a charred body is found in that very same building, he is forced to take the caller seriously – and is drawn into an underground criminal world of terrifying depravity.

Kat’s Review: Mmmmm, I’m feeling a bit weird about this one. On the one hand the return of Michael Bennett and his clan was brilliant and fast-paced and all the usual descriptions. However, on the other hand there is a part of me that is a little bit disappointed in this latest release. Michael Bennett is fast becoming my favoured Patterson lead, and when he and his 10 kids and the nanny return to New York it seems like life is finally returning to normal. However as is always the case (especially in a Patterson book), normal is when you are managing a murder case or multiple killers!!! What threw me initially was Bennett’s re-assignment to a chaotic ‘outreach squad’ in Harlem. 

The outreach squad consists of coppers that aren’t wanted anywhere else. What happened though was the story and the characters were heating up nicely and I really started getting into the book. The initial storyline consisted of a bizarre complaint they had received from a man claiming to have seen a very bizarre party involving some well-dressed men. What at first seems like a complete waste of time, turns into the closest thing to a nightmare you could imagine. Now so far, so good right? Er, yes…but that is where it ends.

To my surprise, Patterson and Ledwidge then decide to throw in another case back on the Major Organised Crime desk involving some robberies that are rapidly getting bigger by the day. Add in some lovely romance between Bennett and Mary Catherine and finally a sick grandfather, and Bob’s your Uncle…your book is too crowded! Well, at least that how it seemed which is why I only rated it middle of the road. Lose the robberies, and the sick and ageing grandparent and the book would have been another belter? Instead it seemed like they had to cram in as much as humanly possible and then wrap it all up neatly with a bow on top.

 Unfortunately this latest Bennett just didn’t hit the spot. This is too busy, but with essentially a fantastic main storyline (Such a shame). I will as always look forward to the next one and just hope it’s not as disjointed as this one.