The Hanging Club by Tony Parsons (Max Wolfe #3

51rKq3naAZL._SY346_ Synopsis: A band of vigilante executioners roam London’s hot summer nights, abducting evil men and hanging them by the neck until dead.

As the bodies pile up and riots explode across the sweltering city, DC Max Wolfe hunts a gang of killers who many believe to be heroes.

And discovers that the lust for revenge starts very close to home …

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: So, it seems Tony Parsons has just made me do a full about turn on opinion. The first two books in this series I admit I struggled with. Sometimes with a new series I struggle to feel connected to the characters and small things seem to niggle. This series featuring DC Max Wolfe was no different and the first two books left me feeling a little indifferent. However, I recently read one of the short novellas and it was brilliant. I was actually looking forward to reading the next book, and I was right to look forward to it!

DC Max Wolfe just seemed to fit more this time around. Maybe enjoying the previous novella got me ready for the next instalment, who knows? Seeing the return of Max, his daughter Scout and their little dog Stan was wonderful. This time around a gang of people are hanging known criminals, and although they have the backing of some of the public, Max knows that they need to be caught. The hangings themselves are described in all their graphic glory and the feeling of disgust was very apparent to me when reading. I always take this as a good sign and ploughed on. I absolutely LOVED the addition of a friend Jackson from Max past and can only hope he makes a reappearance in future books.

The story keeps up a massively heart pounding pace and I found myself thrown into the case at the deep end along with Max colleagues and Boss Whitestone. There was an additional thread involving Whitestone which made me warm to the characters a whole lot more and by the end I felt like the MIT team was one big family. This book truly did have everything and kept me reading into the early hours. I read it in one sitting and felt that familiar disappointment that I didn’t have another to read. For me the surprise was that I loved this book SO much in comparison to feeling so mediocre about the other 2. This series just shot way up my increasingly long list of Must Reads. I literally cannot wait to see what comes next for Max and will be counting the days off until the next release!

Life Swap by Carol Wyer

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Synopsis: She wanted a new life and true love. But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side… 

All Polly has to her name is a string of failed relationships and a mountain of debt. She sees herself as a hopeless case and would do anything to change her luck. 

So when she’s given the opportunity to swap all she’s ever known for a life of luxury, Polly jumps at the chance. Soon, it’s all diamonds, spa days and celebrity parties. Now all that’s missing from her life is a bit of romance. Will hunky Matt be the man to heal her broken heart? 

But money can’t always buy you happiness. Can the life she’s always dreamed of get in the way of true love?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: First off it may seem like I am being a little unfair with my rating but in the end I just couldn’t justify any more. This book left me frustrated in so many ways it was almost annoying with each page I turned. Lets start off with the massive pluses! I loved the writing style, I loved the characters and Carol Wyer clearly has an easy flowing style of writing that is joyous to read. However, the one sticking point was the thought and eventual outcome behind the plot.

This may sound like a slightly warped review but to say any more would constitute a spoiler. Basically the main two characters are Polly and Simon. Both of them have very different lives and the ultimate thread is that they are miserable and unhappy and are at the end of their tether. Would somebody else’s life be more appealing? The general thought process when you are reading this is that you maybe question would you swap with somebody else’s life if you had the opportunity?

Both Polly and Simon are likeable and readable characters, although at times both could come across as whingers. But you can’t help but root for them and hope that their dreams come true. At some points in the story I felt like I had walked into the Twiglight Zone and had a constant feeling like I was going a little bit barmy. When the final ending was revealed it all fell into place but by that stage I was just irritated and that left me feeling SO frustrated. I can see where the author was going with the story line and it was certainly something different but grated on me quite quickly so felt a little bit let down.

The most annoying thing is that if the story line was slightly more normal and not as irritating I would have loved this book. It’s a sure sign that I like Carol Wyer’s way of writing so I will certainly be looking out for more of hers.

We’ll Always Have Paris by Sue Watson

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Synopsis: When she was almost seventeen, Rosie Draper locked eyes with a charismatic student called Peter during their first week at art college, changing the course of her life forever. Now, on the cusp of sixty-five and recently widowed, Rosie is slowly coming to terms with a new future. And after a chance encounter with Peter, forty-seven years later, they both begin to wonder ‘what if’ . . .

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have to confess when I read the synopsis I was a little worried. Sue Watson has been a favourite author of mine for some time and her writing style is peppered with humour which normally has me crying with laughter. The synopsis with this latest book seemed a little less like her normal style so I wondered whether I would enjoy it as much? Thankfully this latest release shows that Sue Watson seems able to turn her hand to any style without any problems. 

Rosie Draper is the lead character in this book and being in her sixties means she falls outside the normal twenty or thirty something woman. Rosie is an absolutely brilliant character, but sadly the opening sees her struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband after a long and happy marriage. Luckily she has her two adult children supporting her along with her granddaughters. Her two daughters run their flower shop and Rosie decides to return back to working with them in an effort to return her life to something approaching normalcy. 

She didn’t count on running into her first love Pete from when she was 17 whilst attending and preparing some wedding flowers. Peter and her slowly claw back their friendship as Rosie struggles to get the perfect balance between her family and her own personal happiness. This book was certainly a change from her normal work but a story that I just fell in love with. I adored the family, Peter and Rosie herself. The story is told with warmth and love and is a real hear string puller!

I can certainly say that this book was an absolute joy to read. Sue Watson has managed to create a wonderfully warm love story which focuses on a lady slightly older than most I read about. It pulls the heart strings, and feels like a big warm hug at the end of a hard working day. I can truly say I think this book will be hugely popular and I for one cannot wait to see what Sue comes up with next, it seems there isn’t a lot this lady can’t do!

Blood Sister by Dreda Say Mitchell (Flesh & Blood #1)

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Synopsis: There are two ways out of Essex Lane Estate, better known as The Devil. You make good, or you turn bad.

Jen Miller is determined not to make the same mistakes her mother did. She’s waiting to find herself a good job and a decent man.

Her younger sister Tiff is running errands for a gangster and looking for any opportunity for fun and profit. But she might just be in over her head…

The choices you make and the plans you have don’t always turn out like you expect. Especially if you live on The Devil’s Estate. When their paths cross with the unstoppable Dee – a woman with her own agenda – Jen and Tiff will learn that lesson the hard way.

At least they can rely on each other.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Blood Sister by Dreda Say Mitchell (Flesh & Blood #1)”

Scandalous Lies by Nigel May

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Synopsis: SUSPENSE: Georgia’s best friend, ballroom dancing sensation Mitzi, has vanished with boyfriend Foster while on holiday in California. Can Georgia get to the truth of their disappearance before it’s too late?

SECRETS: Reality TV star Nova could give the Kardashians a run for their money. But while she allows millions of viewers into her fabulous home, she’s unaware what her husband, celebrity mogul Jacob, is up to behind closed doors …

SEX: Tanya is filthy rich, married to a man who adores her but she is restless. And her sexual appetite is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

SCANDAL: Victoria, once the trophy-wife, has lost her mojo. Determined to get her life and marriage back on track, she’s desperate to inject some excitement in her life – but at what cost?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: If you’re a fan of Hollywood glamour, raunchy suspense and secrets then this book will be right up your street! I really love Nigel’s books and they are real Bonk Busters which means they are normally full of loads of sex, some normally underhand skulduggery and there is normally shed loads of celebrities or wealth floating about. This book has the whole shebang….and more! the ballroom dancing sensation MItzi has taken some time out to spend with her equally famous boyfriend Foster and they go missing at some stage during the trip. When the world moves on, Mitzi’s best friend Georgia is struggling to do the same. It seems like the world is quickly forgetting Mitzi and Georgia is determined to find the truth about what happened to her.

At first it seems like there is an overload of characters but by the time I was a quarter of the way through the book it started to all link together. Although there are too many characters to mention one of my favourites was Nova, the mother of Charlie (Georgia’s boyfriend) and a reality TV star. She is a larger than life character that I adored and to be frank the story just wouldn’t have been the same without her.

There are so many threads to the story and it seems that everybody involved has some sort of a secret. There are also some extremely naughty scenes featured heavily in the book, so beware for commuters that like to read over your shoulder, they may get more than they bargained for. By the time I had worked out who was sleeping with who, and who was jetting off to the next country I was pretty breathless. There was so much going on but I literally couldn’t stop reading. From LA to London to India, we see some amazing locations with some sensational characters and it’s all wrapped up in an entire life of glamour and lies. I LOVED this book, even more than previous Nigel May books I have read. One thing is for sure and that is that I will be reading every last book he currently has out as otherwise I fear I may be missing out. If you’re a fan of authors such as Jackie Collins, Tasmina Perry and the like then Nigel May needs to be your new ‘go-to’ author…I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

Good at Games by Jill Mansell

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Synopsis: Suzy fell for Harry the moment she showed him her husband’s sperm sample. It didn’t really belong to her husband, though, because she wasn’t married. It wasn’t a sperm sample either, it was a drinks carton containing the dregs of her milkshake. But when you’re trying to get off a speeding charge you just have to improvise, don’t you? And it wasn’t actually love at first sight. Still, it was undeniably a healthy attack of lust. And it might just be the beginning of something special..

 Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I have been reading Jill Mansell since my late teens and have always loved her books. Reading this certainly took me back a bit as it was first released nearly 7 years ago. However, with any Jill Mansell book as soon as I started reading I just fell into the story and characters without a problem. Suzy Curtis is a feisty character who makes for incredibly easy reading. She is the ex-wife (number 2) of Rock Star Jaz, and along with him we meet Leo and his brother Harry.

The opening of the book is very funny as we see Suzy get herself in a ridiculous situation that quickly spirals and ends up with her being in a situation she maybe shouldn’t be. As the book progresses we see a story line surround numerous characters and this just adds to the enjoyment of the book. Reading this book some 16 years after it was published certainly made me realise that Jill Mansell’s books have seemingly got better with each year that passes. I felt like this slightly failed to hit the marks if you compare it to her recent releases.

That aside, this really was a typically enjoyable read by Jill Mansell. Funny and lighthearted and very readable. I always find that her books are easy reads and normally a perfect book to take when you go on holiday. Although this wasn’t quite as good as her newer stuff, it was still great and I will as always look out for any new releases she has coming out.  

Dead Time by Tony Parsons (Max Wolfe Short Story)

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Synopsis: Not DC Max Wolfe. He is looking out of his loft apartment at the deserted streets below.

A van has just drawn up. Two men get out. Dressed in black and wearing ski-masks, they are dragging something. 

It’s a man. Half-naked. Half-dead. But still alive.

Not for much longer.

Soon Max Wolfe is hunting a gang of killers who decapitate their victims

And this time it’s personal …

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I only recently discovered Tony Parsons and although I enjoyed the first Max Wolfe book, I then went straight on and read the second and felt the same. They were good, but something was missing. Stupidly I didn’t realise that this was a short story which I should have read prior to book 2. Not letting that put me off I picked it up at lunchtime and lo and behold finished it by the time my lunch was over. What surprised me more was how much I enjoyed the short story (which I am not traditionally a fan of). I would probably go as far as to say I enjoyed this more that the full length novel!

What I loved about this book was that you get stuck straight in with no warning. With the book being a short story it seemed like Parsons was making the most of each page. Although Max is running the show in this latest book, the fact that it happened so close to his home means he can’t stop himself getting involved. Instead a DCI Flashman of New Scotland Yard has taken the lead, but there is no way Max will let that stand in his way.

This little gem was a fantastic read and full of pace, grit and murkiness. Although I read this in the wrong order, I’m glad I did as it gives me renewed hope for this series. I really am now looking forward to what comes in the next book.

Dead Lucky by Matt Brolly (DCI Lambert #2)

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Synopsis: When a woman is murdered, the twisted killer forcing her husband to watch her slow and painful death, DCI Michael Lambert knows that his next case might be his toughest yet.

And when a second set of killings are discovered, with exactly the same MO, the race is on the find the lethal sociopath before he strikes again.

But Lambert never expected to receive an anonymous call from the killer. This time, it’s personal: if Lambert doesn’t find the murderer soon, his own loved ones will be next…

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I’m disappointed I left it so long to read this series, and even more disappointed that I didn’t read the first book in the series. Luckily there is enough background at the introduction of the book to give the reader a feel for the previous books content. Michael Lambert has had a very horrible time of it and the opening of the book sees his trying to speak with his wife who he is separated from. in addition to his separation he is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his daughter. He is now back to work and it seems his first big case is one that is not so straightforward.

A woman is murdered, however her husband a seasoned Crime Journalist survived her having been made to watch her brutal murder. It’s not long before a second set of killings are discovered and Lambert and his team are trying to track down who is responsible. Having no previous knowledge of recurring characters I had no expectations but was pleased that Lambert’s colleague Kennedy and his boss Tillman made an impact and helped the story line along its way too.

The story is layered and you do get a glimpse of what I felt was ‘real’ police work which includes the drudgery of hunting down and chasing leads. I liked the fact that you get to see a glimpse of Lambert’s personal life including his strange sleep problems. Although I didn’t have the history with book 1, I really felt I understood where some of Lambert’s issues lay and I think there is so much scope there for his character to go either way.

I read this in just two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was great, well plotted and well paced. The characters were likeable and the crimes were intriguing yet absorbing. I was so pleased when I finished this. Yes, I know that sounds strange but I mean I am glad I feel like I am up to date with the characters and series and am really looking forward to book 3.

One Hot Summer by Kat French

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Synopsis: Being married to a celebrity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when that celebrity has a very public affair with his co-star…

Alice McBride is determined that the one thing she won’t lose in her marriage breakup is Borne Manor, her beloved home, but she gets more than she bargained for when she rents it out for the summer and a sexy cowboy comes to stay.

Country music star Robinson Duff has had his own share of heartbreak and needs somewhere quiet to hide out for the summer. Neither Alice nor Robinson are in any position for romance; the timing is terrible and they’re both rebounding like out of control frisbees.

Can a holiday romance help mend their broken hearts. Or will it just make things even worse when the long hot summer comes to its inevitable end?

Kat’s Rating: 6/5..oops sorry, I mean 5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay here’s a fact for you. I read a LOT of books, maybe not as much as some but certainly more than your average reader. Yes my preference is Crime, Thriller or Mystery but you need to break it up and I love nothing more than a good ol’ romantic fiction, especially if it’s funny. It’s why I’m a huge fan of people like Sue Watson. However, I admit when I started to read this and saw the cover I didn’t bother with the synopsis as I figured it would be ‘par for the course’ in this genre. Oh my, how wrong can one person be. Have you even been in a good old fashioned greasy spoon, and by the time you have finished your meal you are convinced it should be Michelin starred? Well, that’s kind of what happened to me with this book!

Alice McBride and her husband Brad start the opening chapters of this book and we see Alice sling Brad out of her beautiful marital home Borne Manor due to his wandering hands. So far so normal, except even at this point there was just something about the characters and the setting. It was so easy to read and Alice was just so normal and likeable. Seeing as her husband Brad is a reasonably well known Actor, her split is not easy and as she is recovering from it all she realises that she refuses to lose her home, so decides on a Summer Rental. 

Enter Robinson Duff, the country music star that’s had his own share of heartbreak and is getting away from it all. Now I know that so far it seems like your ordinary romantic comedy but believe me it is SO much more. The additional characters which make up the village cast had me howling at times. It contains naked painters, ex porn stars and practising witches are just the tip of the iceberg. Now don’t get me wrong it’s predictable to a point, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kat French has created the man of (I would have thought) every girl’s dream. I am convinced that if women created men and they were made like Robinson Duff, the world would be an easy place to live in!

If you want some fluffy, romantic, amazing writing and eye watering funny scenes then look no further. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much since I first discovered Sue Watson’s (in particular Love Lies and Lemon Cake). It is the perfect remedy to reading too much crime, a depressingly bleak British Summer and the drudge of every day life. Everything you could want and more in a book of this type and I think many will LOVE it. I know I certainly did and I will be eagerly scouring Amazon for when her next book is due. It’s official, I am now a Kat French Fan Girl!!!

The Caller by M A Comley and Tara Lyons

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Synopsis: The first gripping book in The Organised Crime Team series by NY Times bestselling author of the Justice series, M A Comley and co-author Tara Lyons, author of In The Shadows. 

When The Caller rings… what would you do? 

The Organised Crime Team is a newly-formed unit with one of the toughest tasks in London. Led by DI Angie North, their first investigation is a cold case that has foxed several officers in the Met for months.After Angie holds a TV appeal regarding the case, a number of similar aggressive attacks are brought to her attention. The team call on their contacts on the street for help. Their interest is sparked when several local names surface. 

To bring the criminals to justice a member of the Organised Crime Team is asked to risk their life in a dangerous covert operation.

Kat’s Rating: 3.5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay so I have read books by both Tara Lyons and Mel Comley and was looking forward to seeing what they produced as a team. The Organised Crime Team (OCT) is run by a really likeable character DI Angie North, her team are pretty likeable too. They are tasked with findng the people responsible for a cold case of robberies and attacks. We get a glimpse of the people behind it from early on in the book and I actually liked this element as there was something of a cat and mouse play going on between them and the OCT.

The pace is okay although in all honesty not the fastest pace but certainly enough to keep me hooked on reading it. What I really like in this book is the fact that as a reader you feel like you are really getting to know the team. Each member is explained and it gives you a fantastic base for the follow on books.The storyline makes it clear that the basis for these robberies is a very simple thing, which in real life wouldn’t be that difficult to imagine (scary). As the book continues Angie and the team have to find enough evidence to nail the people responsible but that means putting a member of the team deep in the heart of it all and potentially at great risk.

There were certain things in the book I felt were too easy for the team and I though weren’t plausible enough (hence the drop from a 4 star read). That said, the characters were really likeable and the writing flowed well and was so easy to become immersed in.Overall I think this a brilliant base to a series, and I could see myself quickly becoming attached to the characters and wanting to see where it goes