Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

SAY NO MORE BY KAREN ROSE (SACRAMENTO 2)

Say No More Synopsis: Mercy Callahan never thought she’d be able to talk about her past. When she arrives in Sacramento to make peace with her brother Gideon, and to help find the brutal cult that took away her childhood, she is finally ready to talk. But when Ephraim Burton – the man who made her life a living hell – follows her there, she realises she might never be safe.

Rafe Sokolov would do anything to have Mercy back in his life and would go to any length to protect her. But when it becomes apparent that Ephraim is more determined than ever to get Mercy back, even Rafe might not be able to stop the trail of destruction he leaves in his wake. As Ephraim draws near, it’s clear it’s not just Mercy who is in danger; those closest to her are firmly in his sights.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Karen Rose has this ability to draw you in to not only one book but a whole series. After reading book 1 I knew it was impossible to leave it alone until I had read all of the books. So on to book 2 I went with baited breath. I suppose in theory these books could be read as standalones but I have absolutely no idea why anybody would want to. My recommendation would be to read book 1 and go straight onto book 2 as I did.

Book 1 featured Gideon and all of the other characters one of which was his sister Mercy Callahan. Mercy is the central focus of book 2 and I was thrilled that we got to learn more about her. The basis of these stories is that both Gideon and Mercy were kept in a cult when they were younger and have spent many years both running and hiding. The Solokov family play an integral part in this series and Rafe Solokov features heavily in this second book.

The elders of the Eden Cult are chasing both Mercy and Gideon and Mercy is literally fighting life and death. Mercy knows that if she is captured she will never make it out of Eden alive again and this makes for a VERY high-octane read with lots of action and drama. You really don’t need a blow by blow account and the synopsis of these books gives you a taster to see if it fits the bill for your sort of book.

What I will say is that this is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable book which kept me reading at every opportunity. I read this in around 4 sittings over two days and am already eagerly well into book 3. Karen Rose as an author is absolutely brilliant and somebody that I would highly recommend.

SAY YOU’RE SORRY BY KAREN ROSE (SACRAMENTO 1)

Say Youre Sorry Synopsis: When a killer closes in, there’s only one way to stay alive. Say You’re Sorry is the gripping first book in a brand new series from Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Rose.

A serial killer is on the loose in California, leaving letters carved into the torsos of his victims.

When Daisy Dawson fights off a masked attacker one night, she grabs a necklace from around his neck. What she doesn’t know then is that she’s found the missing link to a cold case that Special Agent Gideon Reynolds has been tracking for seventeen years. With Daisy’s help, he finally has the opportunity to get closer to the truth than ever before.

But it soon becomes clear that Daisy’s attack was just the beginning. Now the bloodied bodies of young women are showing up all over the state. As Gideon tries to track down the killer, it’s clear he has a new target. Daisy is in more danger than they ever could have realised…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Oh. My. Goodness! I was a HUGE fan of the Cincinnati books and was a little sad when they ended. I decided on a whim to pick this book up and LOVED the fact that this is like an extension of the series by linking characters from the previous series to this one. This first book introduces us to Special Agent Gideon Reynolds. Gideon was a member of a cult named Eden but is trying to move on with his life with the help of his close friend who are like family the Sokolov’s.

When Daisy Dawson is attacked but manages to run free she enlists the help of her friend which in turn brings in the Solokov family and the meeting of both Daisy and Gideon. I absolutely fell in love with every character in this book and am very much hoping we get to see all of them feature somehow in the upcoming books to this series. There are. alot of threads running through this book and a lot of leads and avenues for everybody to follow up on. This is packed with action, drama, tears, romance and a splash of violence….there isn’t really much that isn’t covered to be fair.

Overall a thoroughly engaging book and I enjoyed it that much I moved straight onto book 2 (I can see me binge reading all three books in this series). Very much reccomended!

DANGEROUS BY JESSIE KEANE

Dangeroud Synopsis: Whatever the cost, she would pay it . . .

Fifteen-year-old Clara Dolan’s world is blown apart following the death of her mother. Battling to keep what remains of her family together, Clara vows to protect her younger siblings, Bernadette and Henry, from danger, whatever the cost.

With the arrival of the swinging Sixties, Clara finds herself swept up in London’s dark underworld where the glamour of Soho’s dazzling nightclubs sits in stark contrast to the terrifying gangland violence that threatens the new life she has worked so hard to build.

Sinking further into an existence defined by murder and betrayal, Clara soon realizes that success often comes at a very high price . . .

My Rating: 4/5

My Review:Well it seems that Jessie Keane can do no wrong, this latest book of hers I have read included! 15 year old Clara is left alone in the world with her two siblings and finds herself way out her depth as a teenager. However, she is determined to make things right and ensure the safety of her brother Henry and her sister Bernie. The book is set in London in the 50’s and 60’s and Keane has the ability to physically transport your mind back to that time.

In all honesty I can’t say I particularly liked Clara as a character but you can see her grit and determination and just kept on turning the pages to see how life pans out for all of them. The storyline is fast paced and there are. alot of things in store in Clara’s life that you couldn’t inamgine making the story all the more engaging. In a way I liked the slight departure from her usual character type and era and although this maybe wasn’t my favourite book by this author it was certainly a very enjoyable read!

HIDDEN SCARS BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE 17)

51G6PTfrWuL._SY346_ (1) SYNOPSIS: When a nineteen-year-old boy, Jamie Mills, is found hanging from a tree in a local park, his death is ruled a suicide. Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right. Why, when his mother is told, does she not break down in tears? And how could Jamie have climbed the tree with a recent injury?

Kim should be easing back into work gently after a harrowing case left her body and mind broken, but quickly taking charge of her team, Kim is shocked to learn that Jamie’s parents had sent him to a clinic to ‘cure’ him of his sexuality.

The clues to smashing open this disturbing case lie behind the old Victorian walls of the clinic, run by the Gardner family. They claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those who attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And where did the faded restraint marks on Jamie’s wrists come from?

Kim makes a further chilling discovery – the head of the clinic, Celia Gardner, was sent there for conversion therapy when she was sixteen.

Then the body of a young woman is found dead by suffocation, her death also staged to look like a suicide.

Scarred from a previous case that nearly took her life, can Kim unearth the dark secrets within the Gardner family and is she strong enough to stop a terrifying killer silencing the clinic’s previous patients one by one?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

My Review: I absolutely LOVED this latest book as we see Kim at her most vulnerable. Following the events of book 16, Kim is trying to get back to some form of normality and is clearly struggling. As she attempts to return to work the reader gets to see a very different side to Kim. As she returns to her team, we see her excuse of a replacement behaving like a complete moron and her team are completely demoralised.

When a supposed suicide is brought to the teams attention it is initially dismissed but once Kim gets her teeth into it, thankfully the team can start to investigate. This book delves into some very disturbing topics such as conversion therapy, and although you may believe this is fiction sadly it isn’t. It was extremely interesting to see this brough into a ficitonal story but was dealt with brilliantly.

Overall this latest book shows just how skilled an author Angie Marsons is. Not only are we on book 17 in a series, there is no sign of the series or its characters slowing down. Once again a hugely enoyable book by this author and if you haven’t read any in this series you are in for a treat!

SIX GRAVES BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE 16)

51cpCOFq2ML._SY346_ Synopsis: When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene of a house fire, she’s shocked to discover it’s claimed the lives of two teenage children and their parents. But this tragedy is not quite as it seems. Each body is marked by a gunshot wound and the mother, Helen Daynes, is holding the gun.

The case sparks painful childhood memories for Kim who suffered at the hands of her own abusive mother, but it just makes her more determined to uncover the truth. As Kim untangles Helen’s past, she finds a history of clinical depression. But did it drive Helen to murder her loved ones?

Then Kim uncovers a tiny, vital clue in Helen’s bedroom that throws the investigation wide open. Could someone else have killed the Daynes family?

Just as Kim feels she’s making progress, a deadly threat is made to her own life by a dangerous psychopath from her past. Biting back her fear, she keeps digging. And when Kim hits upon a shocking secret that changes everything she thought she knew about Helen, she realises that the remaining family members are in grave danger.

Kim is under pressure like never before, and the monster circling her is getting ever closer. Four bodies already. Four graves fresh in the ground. Who will be next? Can Kim find the killer and save herself before it’s too late?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Blimey….I am not even sure how to start this review! This book was an absoluter smasher and has left me feeling very odd about how things will be for the next book! The main storyline and the case the team are working on is what seems to be a murder suicide. Helen Daynes is a wife and mother however when the team arrive on scene all of them are dead and Helen Daynes is holding the gun!

Bryant, Stacey and Penn are all tasked with the various jobs involved when running a murder case because Kim is convinced this isn’t as straightforward as it looks. However, what Kim didn’t account for was the re-appearance of a man from her past that is literally going to push her to the very edge. I really don’t want to elaborate any more on the storyline because that really would ruin it, but what I will say is this is possibly my favorite book of the series (and that is going some!)

This book literally had me on the edge of my seat with every page and chapter that I read. Packed to the rafters with suspense, drama and nail biting scenes that had me anxious to the point of biting my nails! Cannot believe we are 16 books in to such a fabulous series and Angela just pulls out all the stops and is still producing such amazing storylines…….an absolute MUST READ and I don’t just mean this book. The whole series is absolutely brilliant!

STOLEN ONES BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE 15)

51HZRNcmkfL._SY346_ Synopsis: One August afternoon, eight-year-old Grace Lennard skips into the garden of the childcare centre she attends and vanishes into thin air. Rushing to the scene of Grace’s disappearance, Detective Kim Stone finds a chilling piece of evidence: the engraved heart bracelet belonging to Melody Jones – the little girl who was taken from a playground exactly twenty-five years ago.

Hours before, Steven Harte had walked into Halesowen police station and confessed to having information that would lead Kim to Melody. And he told Kim she’d have a more urgent problem to deal with first. Now Kim must play Steven’s twisted game if she’s to find Grace alive.

With only twenty-four hours to make every second of Steven’s interrogation count, and scan his behaviour for hidden clues, Kim and her team soon link Steven to the abduction of several vulnerable girls – two were kept for a year and then released, unharmed – but where are Melody and the others?

Then small bones are discovered in the grounds of a local park, and Kim fears the worst.

Kim may think she’s close to convicting a killer, but the case has got even more complex. A chilling figure from Kim’s past is about to reveal a shocking secret that will hit her where it hurts the most. Can Kim put aside her own demons, save Grace and the other missing girls before more innocent lives are lost?

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: Kim is back with the team and this latest instalment sees a little 8 year old girl vanish into thin air. When Kim arrives on the scene she finds the necklace of a little girl named Melody Jones that went missing 25 years earlier. Straight away the case turns into a frenzy looking for links between this latest disappearance and that of Melody. Add to the mix a man named Steven Harte who arrives at the station with ‘information’ this makes Kim even more determined to get to the bottom of both cases.

Like all of Marson’s books although there is a main thread of a story there is always something running alongside it which piques your interest and in this case it’s a whopper with the return of Alex Thorne. Alex is in prison and is the one person who can push all of Kim’s buttons which is exactly what she intends to do.

As with all of these books in this series there is plenty going all and with all members of the team entrenched they all feature heavily which always pleases me. This particular storyline was certainly interesting and it was good to see plenty of action but I didn’t rate it quite as highly as some of the books, but at this point I can honestly say Angela Marson’s hasn’t written a bad book…sadly she has just written so well that readers expect nothing short of miracles from her. Another great book in an amazing series! And on to book 16 I go…

TWISTED LIES BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE #14)

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Synopsis: Her stomach lurches as she sits in the windowless room. He throws her phone to the ground, grinds it against the floor with the heel of his shoe and brings his face closer to hers. There was no turning back now, her life as she knew it was gone.
 
When Detective Kim Stone is called to a local business, what she sees leaves her speechless. The photo on the driving licence bears little resemblance to the man laid out before her, and she knows she’s up against the most twisted killer she has ever encountered.
 
But as she breaks the devastating news to the victim’s wife, Diane Phipps, Kim can’t help feeling that something isn’t quite right about the woman’s reaction.
 
Twenty-four hours later, Diane and the rest of the victim’s family disappears into thin air.
 
Then a second body is found staked to the ground in a local nature reserve.
 
Desperate to crack the case open quickly, Kim and her team unravel a vital clue – a fiercely guarded secret that links both victims and could cost even more lives.
 
A secret that some police officers are also protecting.
 
Faced with deceit from those she should be able to trust, family members who won’t talk, and local reporter, Tracy Frost, opening a can of worms on the case of a woman murdered by her husband a year ago – Kim is in deep water like never before.
 
Kim must find the motive if she is to find the killer who is systematically targeting his victims. But can she unlock the shocking truth and stop him before he strikes again?
 
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
 
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
 
Kat’s Review: So after reading the last two books back to back I was worried I may get tired of Kim and the team and this may affect my judgement. I have no idea what I was thinking because that was just a ridiculous notion. This book was absolutely brilliant. Very dark and twisted (especially some of the horrific scene descriptions in this book) but a book that was just as good as the last. The team are working a murder case which then becomes more than one victim and the way these victims die is nothing short of horrific. If you are squeamish then maybe do a hard pass on this book but personally I think the authenticity is absolutely spot on.
 
Yes we see the return of the usual crew but thankfully we also see Tracy Frost, a local reporter, return and I am so glad she did. This woman deserves a place in the series as much as Bryant, Stacy and Penn. The storyline woven with Frost also sees a turn in the relationship between Kim and Tracy which made for interesting reading. Somehow, Angela Marson’s has that knack that other author such as Peter James has to still make a series seem fresh even though we are now well into book 14 of this series. I seriously cannot recommend this series enough. If I had my way I could just read these books back to back in one hit from the beginning. Another absolute belter from Marson’s, but now I will give my brain a break and maybe read a more light hearted book next and then straight back to Kim and the team for book 15!

DEADLY CRY BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE #13)

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Synopsis: You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
 
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
 
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
 
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
 
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
 
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists.
 
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
 
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
 
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
 
Kat’s Review: I am well and truly back into this series and frankly cannot see me taking a break until I am up to date! Book 13 was just as thrilling as book 12 and if anything slightly better in my humble opinion. I am not going to pretend I am not a fan of this series, but I can still be honest if I don’t enjoy a book as much (fan or no fan) but I am secretly thrilled that so far both books 12 and 13 have been absolute bangers! I know some people just pick up books and read them irrelevant of series order, but in my eyes that’s a shocking way to read these books featuring Kim Stone.
 
Kim herself and her absolute lack of social skills is what makes her SUCH a likeable character, her team that we see supporting her with Bryant, Stacey, Penn (my new favourite) along with her boss Woody. The latest murder case they are working on is nothing short of odd, it seems to be a murder without motive. There is something decidedly creepy with this book and to be fair even though I thought I had it figured out, turns out I didn’t have it all worked out!
 
I don’t want to rehash the actual plotline as that could be seen as a spoiler for some but what I will say is that this is a brilliant example of a police procedural with cracking characters that will draw you in to want to read more. I am thrilled I am back reading about Stone and the team and am now off to start book 14! Do yourself a favour and go back to the beginning of this series as this gives you a real insight into the characters and team along the way!

KILLING MIND BY ANGELA MARSONS (KIM STONE #12)

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Synopsis: It had seemed so simple. Get in, get the information, get out. But now they were getting inside her mind and she didn’t know how to stop them…
 
When Detective Kim Stone is called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide.
 
But a visit to Samantha’s parents rings alarm bells for Kim – there’s something they’re not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she’s made a huge mistake. Samantha didn’t take her own life, she was murdered.
 
Then a young man’s body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.
 
Beneath the retreat’s cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.
 
Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it’s Kim’s only hope if she is to catch a killer – someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted.
 
With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim’s neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?
 
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
 
Kat’s Review: DAMN!!! I forgot how much I loved Angela Marson’s series featuring Kim Stone. I can tell you now I see a long binge read to catch myself up in this series (you can see where the next 4 or 5 reviews will be headed!). Catching up with DI Kim Stone and her colleagues was like dropping back into your local. It took me no time at to reacquaint myself with all her colleagues such as Bryant, Stacey and Penn and within a few chapters it felt like I hadn’t been away! It starts with a bang as Kim is called to the death of Samantha Brown which is ruled as a suicide. However, it soon becomes apparent that it’s not a suicide and there is a lot more going on.
 
When another body turns up and then they link a supposed cult to the people it becomes a whole lot more interesting. With a place called Unity Farm supposedly being a wellness retread and not a cult, Kim and the team are determined to get answers so they send in their colleague Stacey. Oh god, this book was a great one to get back into the series as there was so much going on! Not only the story itself but an additional thread of a story featuring Bryant and an old case he worked on. All of the team members are interweaved into the story with us getting a glimpse into all of their personal lives. I read this is a record one day and absolutely loved it. Straight onto book 13 for me, and a series I would highly recommend with this book being a brilliant example!

DEADLY INTENT BY SHERYL BROWNE (MATTHEW ADAMS #3)

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Synopsis: Tormented to the edge of sanity …
Just when DI Matthew Adams thinks he’s left the past behind him, it comes back to haunt him once again; this time in the form of the Conner family.
 
Like Matthew, the Conner’s have lost a child in tragic circumstances – and they’ve also found themselves in the hands of one of the most depraved criminals to walk the streets: ‘Dead-eyed’ Charlie Roberts, a drug addicted low-life with a penchant for extreme violence.
 
Matthew’s greatest affinity lies with Daniel Conner, the brooding father who still blames himself for his youngest child’s death. But when Daniel’s wife and daughter are tortured and tormented by Roberts, can Matthew prevent him from completely ruining his own life for an act of revenge particularly when, once upon a time, that’s exactly what Matthew would have done too?
 
Kat’s Rating: 4/5
 
Kat’s Review: This third book in the series features more of the victim with Matthew Adams featuring more in the background, however it totally worked and I loved this book as much as the other two! Daniel and Joanne Connor are the focus of this book as they struggle to maintain their lives following the death of their daughter. Their eldest daughter Kayla is struggling with her parents and living in the shadow of their grief so starts acting out and that includes mixing with some unsavory characters.
 
Charlie Roberts comes onto the scene and he is well known as a drug dealer and Matthew has his eye on him. When Kayla then goes missing Daniel and Jo are brought together in a very dangerous situation but they are both determined to fight for survival. Although Matthew featured less in this book the main characters were interesting and the book kept me glued to it for hours. Although this wasn’t maybe as exciting as the last book it was still an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. An author I will certainly be reading more of in the future.