Category: Crime, Thriller, Mystery

COLD HEART BY STEPHEN EDGER (KATE MATTHEWS#3)

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Synopsis: It has been a week since anyone last saw fifteen-year-old Daisy, after she left her best friend’s house and started her short walk home. Detective Kate Matthews and her team have been looking for her ever since.
 
When a tip-off leads Kate to a disused gymnasium at Daisy’s school, she is shocked to find evidence linking to the murder of a different girl.
 
Working the two cases side by side, Kate’s blood runs cold when a gift-wrapped box containing a human heart is delivered to her at the station. The heart belongs to yet another unknown victim, but the message is clear: there will be more, and Daisy could be one of them.
 
When activity on Daisy’s Facebook account indicates she is still alive, the race is on for Kate and her team. Will Daisy be the killer’s next victim? Is Kate prepared to risk everything to stop another innocent life from being taken?
 
Kat’s Rating: 3/5
 
Kat’s Review: This is the third book in this series that I have read and I enjoyed this one slightly more than the last, however it was still missing something! A young fifteen year old girl Daisy is missing and Kate and the team are trying to find out where she has gone. We see the return of her colleagues Patel, Olly and Laura and they receive a tip off leading them to a school gymnasium. The discovery sets them off on a whole new path and from the very early stages there are plenty of suspicious characters.
 
The story unravels slowly throwing crumbs of evidence or clues along the way. The writing was very good and I do actually really like these characters yet I cannot help but feel there is something missing. As somebody who reads a lot of this type of book I have come to the conclusion that these books are just not memorable enough. So as soon as you finish one they don’t linger like some others, or the characters just don’t make enough of an impression. It’s certainly a decent enough read and the writing is good, I just think I need to read a different series of books by this author as I think maybe these characters just aren’t grabbing my attention enough.
 

LYING BESIDE YOU BY MICHAEL ROBOTHAM (CYRUS HAVEN #3)

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Synopsis:Twenty years ago, Cyrus Haven’s family was murdered and only he and his brother survived. Cyrus because he hid. Elias because he was the killer.
 
Now Elias is being released from a secure psychiatric hospital and Cyrus, a forensic psychologist, must decide if he can forgive the man who destroyed his childhood.
 
As he prepares for the homecoming, Cyrus is called to a crime scene in Nottingham. A man is dead and his daughter, Maya, is missing. Then a second woman is abducted. The only witness is Evie Cormac, a troubled teenager with a gift for knowing when people are lying.
 
Both missing women have dark secrets that Cyrus must unravel to find them – and he and Evie know how the past can come back to haunt you . . .
 
Kat’s Rating: 5/5
 
Kat’s Review: I absolutely love this series and was looking forward to catching up with Cyrus and Evie. What I would say is that if you haven’t read the first two books I would advise you do. It certainly gives you the background on these two characters and explains a lot about their current situation. The story focuses on Cyrus brother Elias potentially being released from the secure hospital he is currently residing at. The other element of the story surrounds a dead man being found and the search for his missing daughter.
 
Evie is such a complex character but alongside Cyrus their strange and unorthodox relationship makes for compulsive reading. Evie is living with Cyrus as a lodger and decides to dip her toe into the world of work getting herself a job collecting glasses at a bar. What she doesn’t count on is being dragged into the case by being the last witness to see the missing woman alive.
 
I don’t want to expand on the storyline for fear of spoilers but the storyline as always is completely engaging from the first to the last page. I feel like we are getting to see Evie grow up and learn how to live like a normal person her age does. Alongside her Cyrus remains steadfastly single and dedicated to his job and looking after both his brother and Evie. I read this in two straight sittings and as soon as I was finished I wanted to read another. Disappointingly I have to probably wait the best part of a year for the next book. A brilliant book which I loved and would highly recommend.

LAST LIGHT BY HELEN PHIFER (DI LUCY HARWIN #3)

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Synopsis: Lucy watches the pathologist leave, then turns to the nameless victim on the table. ‘I promise I will catch whoever did this to you,’ she whispers.
 
In charge of a new team, Detective Lucy Harwin is called out to attend the discovery of a woman’s body in an abandoned, crumbling church, and is quickly plunged into a case that will test her leadership skills to the limit.
 
With no leads except the crudely-fashioned crucifix the victim was displayed on, Lucy is at a complete loss. That is, until another body turns up: an elderly woman who devoted her life to the church.
 
Faced with a killer stalking the streets of her small coastal town, while also throwing herself into work to forget the love of her life, Lucy’s first case is turning into a nightmare.
 
Linking the killer to the church where her own teenage daughter volunteers, it seems the threat is quickly drawing closer to Lucy and those she loves. Can she catch this monster and prevent a tragedy that will tear her world apart?
 
Kat’s Rating: 3/5
 
Kat’s Review: I recently read books one and two in this series so already had some background. When I started reading this I realised it was a prequel which is fine I just had to check I wasn’t going mad and had read them in order! It was nice to see Lucy in this earlier book and the reasoning behind her leave from work in book 1! Lucy is enjoyable to read as a character and I also like her coilleagues Browning and Mattie. In all honesty I felt like the first few chapters I was a little thrown as this was a prequel but it makes for easier reading for people who pick this up as a stand alone.
 
In terms of the plot I felt that it was pretty decent but for some reason it just didn’t have the same pace or flow as the other two books. In addition as much as the plot was decent I saw it coming a mile off and I think that combined with my close reading of the other two books this was leaning towards a more middle of the road book for me. Although this book maybe wasn’t as enjoyable as the other two I would be very keen on reading another book back in present day with Lucy as I would love to see what is next for her and the team. I feel like books one and two gave such good groundwork that I was expecting more from book 3 but in the present day. This is definitely a series I would like to continue!

THE WRONG SUSPECT BY LEIGH RUSSELL (LUCY HALL #3)

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Synopsis: In the eternal city of Rome, it’s easy to disappear. But finding someone is a different story…
 
After a year in Paris working as an investigative reporter, Lucy Hall is ready for her next big scoop. While researching a spate of missing persons, she learns of the mysterious disappearance of a young man, Dominique. The case is cold in the city of lights, but there’s another lead: in Rome.
 
When Lucy arrives, she realises that the eternal city is as dangerous as it is beautiful. She’s not the only one looking for Dominique: a criminal gang is hot on his trail, and Lucy’s investigation has put her squarely in their sights.
 
With her life in peril, Lucy will have to track down the missing man—before his pursuers catch up with her…
 
Kat’s Rating: 2/5
 
Kat’s Review:I am definitely somebody who enjoys Leigh Russell as an author and in particular her Geraldine Steel series. I have read the first two books in this series and although they weren’t terrible they weren’t books that left any impression on me and I was never in a rush to read another. I saw that book three was still on my kindle so decided to give it a go as sometimes the first few books in a series don’t give the right impression.
 
I think my main issue with this series is the character Lucy Hall. She is an okay character but not one I felt drawn to as a reader. After Lucy spent a year in Paris working as an investigative reporter, she starts researching a spate of missing people which leads her to her next story. In this case the mysterious disappearance of a man named Dominique in Rome. It soon becomes apparent she is not the only one looking for Dominique and this puts Lucy firmly in danger with a criminal gang.
 
This story trundled along and wasn’t one that I felt engaged in and in addition there was a fair bit of repetition which became pretty apparent and a little irritating. I managed to finish this book but it felt like an effort because I can’t leave a book unfinished it drives me mad. However, in this case it felt like a necessity and not an enjoyment. I think for now I will stick to the Geraldine Steel series by this author which I really enjoy.

DYING BREATH BY HELEN PHIFER (DI LUCY HARWIN #2)

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Synopsis: The woman’s face was pale and waxy. Her milky, partially open eyes stared into the distance. There were drag marks in the grass; she’d been placed here and posed. Who did this to you and why have they left you like this?
 
When a woman’s body is found on a lonely patch of scrubland, Detective Lucy Harwin is called to the scene. The victim’s clothes have been wrenched to expose her, and her feet are bare.
 
Lucy and her team have only just started investigating who could have wanted local mother Melanie Benson dead, when a young woman is discovered strangled in a dark alley. As more bodies appear in the run-down seaside town, the small community is gripped by fear, and the pressure to solve the case becomes unbearable. But with each victim dying in a different way, Lucy struggles to find a link between the murders. Are these random killings, or part of the same plan?
 
Just as she thinks she’s getting close, Lucy starts to suspect the killer is watching her. Can she find the murderer before they strike again, or will she be next?
 
Kat’s Rating: 4/5
 
Kat’s Review: I really enjoyed book one in this series and moved straight onto this one to see how Lucy and the team were getting on. The story begins with the brutal murder of a woman left in a patch of open land and it’s certainly not a pretty start to the story. Helen Phifer is very descriptive with the scenes making it very realistic and a little brutal in parts which makes (in my opinion) it all the more engaging as a story. Straight away you realise that Lucy and the team need to ensure the killer doesn’t do this again. Sadly another victim is found, followed by a family massacre. In terms of murders and danger there was no holding back in this book!
 
This book felt way more dark than the last installment and was more tense as the need to catch them ramps up with each murder. As always Mattie is back by Lucy’s side while they try to find the connection between the murders along with other colleagues such as Col and Tom, all of who play their own part in creating the world surrounding Lucy. Both the storyline and characters were again drawing me in and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although I have to confess I did work out who the killer was (annoyingly). I was pleased to be able to move onto book three in this series as I am certainly enjoying it and would definitely recommend it.

DARK HOUSE BY HELEN PHIFER (DI LUCY HARWIN #1)

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Synopsis: A shadowy figure in the dark was dragging something heavy behind them. Lizzy pulled the covers over her head, then realised what was being dragged…
 
For years, the Moore Asylum housed the forgotten children of Brooklyn Bay. But now, a man is found murdered in the derelict building, strapped to a steel trolley, launching a heart-racing investigation for Detective Lucy Harwin.
 
Lucy quickly discovers the victim was once a Moore Asylum doctor, and when a woman also linked to the home is killed on her doorstep, Lucy knows she must dig into its history. What dark secrets lie within the asylum’s walls – what was the scandal leading to its closure thirty years ago?
 
With her own demons to fight, Lucy starts to uncover the heartbreaking tale of the Moore Asylum children, and begins to wonder: who will be the next victim?
 
Kat’s Rating: 4/5
 
Kat’s Review: This author and book have been in my to read list for nearly 5 years I am ashamed to say. What I am glad about is that I finally picked this up and am well on my way with catching up with this series and author. Lucy Harwin is a Detective who is pretty fiery and is instantly likeable who works alongside her friend and colleague Mattie. This first installment starts with the murder of somebody within the old Moore Asylum which now stands as a derelict building. It doesn’t take them long to work out the identity of the victim as a Doctor who worked at the asylum many years before.
 
The story is split between now and the past but there is no interruption in the writing flow as you switch between the times. Plenty of suspects and lots of history unravels the further you travel into the book. It flowed well and certainly kept me interested and reading and I really enjoyed learning about Lucy as a character. We are introduced to elements of her personal life including her ex-husband and daughter. I particularly liked the past chapters which were told from the killers perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in this series. Like anything, I prefer to binge read and catch up on series I enjoy so was pleased that I could move swiftly onto book 2. A great first book in a series and another author to be added to my fast growing to read list.

ONLY CHILD BY CASEY KELLEHER

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Synopsis: The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it.
 
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.
 
Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.
 
As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?
 
Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter.
 
And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again…
 
Kat’s Rating: 4/5
 
Kat’s Review: Having finished this book I felt a little undecided about my rating for it. Ultimately it was a great read so I can still give it a 4/5…but…yes there is a but. If I had read this book not knowing the author I would have thought it was a very decent read. However, this book strangely felt very different from previous Kelleher books and I think that is what has thrown me. The main characters are a fifteen year old Kayla and her mother and father Sherrie and Richard on one side. On the other side we have Tessa a woman that seems like her world is ready to collapse at any moment and as the reader you aren’t quite sure why.
 
I liked the pace of this book and it kept me reasonably intrigued but I could see where it was going very early on and it turned out I was right (which I am sometimes but not often). Not only that, I guess I had a set idea of this kind of books I am using to seeing from this author and I devour each and every one. I think because this was huge departure in terms of style and characters I felt a little bit dis-jointed with it. That may seem like an incredibly negative thing to say but truly it isn’t. It was still a great read and one that I have no doubt her fans and readers will thoroughly enjoy. For me, as much as this was a great read it felt like it was by an entirely different author and for some reason I just felt a little set apart from it.

THE BONE FIELD BY SIMON KERNICK

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Synopsis: SOME CRIMES CAN TAKE A LIFETIME TO AVENGE…
1990
A young woman goes missing while backpacking in Thailand. She is never seen again.
 
2016
Her bones are discovered 6000 miles away in an English field and, within hours, the boyfriend who reported her disappearance all those years ago is dead.
 
So begins a hunt to solve her murder that will take DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd into a dark and terrifying world of corruption and deadly secrets, where murder is commonplace, and nothing and nobody is safe…
 
Kat’s Rating: 3/5
 
Kat’s Review: I have a bit of a strange feeling about Simon Kernick books, I seem to love them or just think they are pretty middle of the road. Sadly for me this book was just middle of the road and left me feeling unbothered about reading another in this series. It features both DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd (both featured in other books) and although I like Tina Boyd, I felt she took more of a backseat in this book than Ray did.
 
The synopsis explains the main storyline which is based around the murder of a young woman in Thailand in the 90s and the discovery of bones in England in 2016. The boyfriend of the victim who originally reported her missing then turns up dead. So it seems that Ray and Tina are the ones digging into the case.
 
Synopsis: felt a little forced and the writing didn’t flow as well as it does in some other books by the same author. I actually started this book once and then went back to it as I felt it was too slow. I persevered with it the second time around but in all honesty there was nothing too much that jept me hooked or interested enough to look at book 3.

DYING DAY BY STEPHEN EDGER (KATE MATTHEWS 2)

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Synopsis: When the body of a young woman is found in the boot of an abandoned car near the Southampton Docks, Detective Kate Matthews is ordered to stay well away from the scene.
 
Exactly a year ago, Amy, a junior detective on Kate’s team, was murdered when she was sent undercover to catch a serial killer targeting young girls. Kate never forgave herself for letting the killer slip through her fingers and her team are worried this coincidence might push her over the edge.
 
When another girl’s body is uncovered days later with similar bruising around the neck, Kate launches an investigation of her own, determined to connect new evidence to the old to catch this monster before more innocent lives are taken…
 
Mysterious sympathy cards left with the families of the victims finally lead Kate to the twisted individual from her past. But if she’s found the killer, why does the body count keep rising?
 
Kat’s Rating: 3/5
 
Kat’s Review: I am back for book 2 in this series to see how she has fared and I must say I enjoyed this but I felt this was a predictable move in terms of storyline and I felt it was a little bit too much of an easy fix to an element of Kate’s story in book 1. Detective Kate Matthews is desperate to get involved with the case that sees a young woman murdered in a very similar fashion to one of Kates undercover officers who was killed whilst under Kate’s command. The one thing that was a huge draw for me in this book was the switch between chapters where we go from seeing Kate and her current investigation, before switching to see a chapter from Amy’s storyline from the year before.
 
The plot was great and it was very readable in terms of the pace and characters. However, it just would have been a great move to do something outside of the most obvious choice from book 1. Kate is certainly unpredictable and that’s always pretty enjoyable as a reader, but to be honest she also seems very edgy with a dark side and weirdly that makes me like her even more! I will certainly move on to book 3 and think that Kate has made an excellent base for this series along with her colleague Laura.

THE RESORT BY SUE WATSON

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When a dream trip becomes your worst nightmare…
 
You’ve been excited about this getaway for months – at last, a chance to reconnect with your husband at a secluded island resort. But when he unexpectedly calls you from the beach, you hear the urgency in his voice. Something is very wrong.
 
The beautiful waitress from the restaurant last night has been found lying dead in the sand. And the police want to question your husband about it.
 
Sure, you saw him glance at her over dinner a few times, but you know he didn’t have anything to do with the poor girl’s death. So why is he asking you to lie to the police that he was with you all night? And where did he go in those missing hours?
 
When he returns to your beautiful sea-view suite, things get heated and he accuses you of being jealous, just like he always does. Yes, the waitress was overly flirtatious with your husband, but you didn’t actually wish her any harm. Not really.
 
Can you trust the man you married… or are you the one who can’t be trusted?
 
Kat’s Rating: 4/5
 
Kat’s Review: This latest book by Sue Watson is a weird one for me. There were elements of it I just didn’t like but it still kept me reading enough that I had to see what happened. The basis for this latest book is three couples that are on holiday on a remote island and somehow get embroiled in a murder investigation. Daisy and Tom are one of those couples and they have seen their share of tragedy having lost a child. This holiday is an attempt to get back to a better place for both of them. Becky and Josh are another couple who have spent many years together and have children. At first their reason for this holiday come across as sinister but within the book the reasoning behind it become clear. Lastly there are Sam and David and these characters were the ones I just loathed. They had dated for a very short while and they are there on their honeymoon.
 
When a waitress from the resort is found dead the three couples become heavily involved in all trying to work out who the killer is, after all they could still be on the island. David is a character that I loathed from the very beginning and in truth Sam wasn’t much better. The middle part of the book was probably the slowest but it was still interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. A reasonably solid read from an author that I absolutely love!