Tag: RATED 3/5

Killer Smile by R C Bridgestock (Jack Dylan#6)

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Synopsis: A killer with a macabre passion for human teeth stalks the residents of Harrowfield.

Three linked murders means Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Smythe is brought in to take ultimate charge of the serial murder investigation, and she is adamant on managing the task akin to a drama. Dylan has to dig deep to remain professional.

Chilling, ultimate and full of menace. There is dark suspicion that nobody is safe until the perpetrator is apprehended. Will the ring of steel wrapped around Harrowfield bring the psychopath to justice?

Coupled with the fact Dylan and Jen’s daughter Maisy is hospitalised with an undiagnosed serious illness; Jack is under pressure on all fronts.

On a happier note Jen’s dad Ralph, introduces the pair to his new lady friend but all is not as rosy as it seems three hundred miles away on the Isle of Wight, when her son brings the police to their door.

Dylan shares intelligence with The National Crime Agency which brings back a deep seated anguish of fallen colleague DS Larry Banks. Can he help them capture the boss of an international drugs cartel, and if so will it bring Dylan closure?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: Well if you ever fancied being a copper and never got the chance, read this book. I loved it, as it was like your very own 2 weeks work experience with a Murder Squad. I was a little disappointed to realise this was the 6th book in the series. My followers know I love to read a series but like to start at the beginning and play catch up. I recently realised it isn’t humanly possible for me to always do this so took the plunge with this RC Bridgestock book. Luckily it didn’t seem to make too much difference that I hadn’t read the previous 5 in the series, although certain parts of me wish I had.

There is a real authenticity to this and it’s very clear that the two writers (husband and wife) both have the knowledge and experience of working within this sort of world. There are no revelations, visions, or lucky breaks…just pure police work. I liked the fact you got a decent balance between Dylan’s personal and work life, it was just enough to be 100% believable.

Dylan and his team are chasing a murdered who has an obsession with teeth. The descriptive police work and blow by blow accounts of the Post-mortem’s are refreshingly different (if that makes sense). The only criticism for me is that sometimes I felt it was lacking that extra oomph; however there was something original and refreshing about the real life approach (hence the ‘not quite’ 4 stars).

By the end, as much as I enjoyed reading this I (as usual) felt a bit disappointed I hadn’t read the previous 5. Don’t get me wrong you can certainly come in at this stage of the game and not miss anything, but I feel like following a series gives you time to connect with your characters. This is certainly a series I will be looking out for in the future. I actually think this would be a fantastic book for True Crime fans who maybe want to read something not too far fetched!

The Murder Bag by Tony Parsons (Max Wolfe #1)

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Synopsis: Twenty years ago seven rich, privileged students became friends at their exclusive private school, Potter’s Field. Now they have started dying in the most violent way imaginable.

Detective Max Wolfe has recently arrived in the Homicide division of London’s West End Central, 27 Savile Row.

Soon he is following the bloody trail from the backstreets and bright lights of the city, to the darkest corners of the internet and all the way to the corridors of power. As the bodies pile up, Max finds the killer’s reach getting closer to everything – and everyone – he loves. Soon he is fighting not only for justice, but for his own life …

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: Okay, I have to admit I found this a little tough going. There was nothing wrong with the story, and I certainly liked the main character but there were things that just didn’t work for me in this debut crime novel by Tony Parsons’. It’s clear that Tony Parsons has a fabulous career as a writer, but for me there were parts of this book that felt disjointed. This book centres on a group of privileged school boys who are now grown men, and it seems being killed one at a time. This had all the ingredients to be a cracking read, but it seems there were parts that just weren’t right to make it the perfect dish.

I didn’t dislike the main character Max Wolfe, but with the crime genre, I prefer to gain snippets of their private lives with the sole focus being on the murder or crime that has been committed. In this book it seems the balance is largely on Wolfe’s private life. There is also one particular point regarding Wolfe’s ex-wife which grated on me. I don’t want to add spoilers but you are led to believe one thing and then it becomes apparent it’s another, and this didn’t sit right with me. There also seems to be a large emphasis on Max Wolfe’s daughter. I have nothing against family being involved in the story, but this seemed like overkill.

I also felt like there were elements to the writing where you were getting into the flow of one thing, and then it abruptly stops and moves on to something different. I think this is the reason it feels so dis-jointed. Aside from those negatives, I liked the story and they crime side of it was good, it was just overshadowed for me by too much of his personal life. Having said that, many authors like to give you a solid starting point for a character in book 1, hence the reason we get so much information on Wolfe’s personal life.

I will certainly be looking to read book 2, and hope that the latter is the reason for the heavy sway on Wolfe’s life rather than his job. Overall this wasn’t a bad book, just too unmemorable. Fingers crossed book 2 is a better read.

THE TIME OF OUR LIVES BY JANE COSTELLO

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: Imogen and her friends Meredith and Nicola have had their fill of budget holidays, cattle-class flights and 6 a.m. offensives for a space by the pool. So when Meredith wins a VIP holiday at Barcelona’s hippest new hotel, they plan to sip champagne with the jet set, party with the glitterati and switch off in unapologetic luxury. But when the worst crisis of her working life erupts back home, Imogen has to juggle her BlackBerry with a Manhattan, while soothing a hysterical boss and hunting down an AWOL assistant. Between a robbery, a run-in with hotel security staff and an encounter on a nudist beach that they’d all rather forget, the friends stumble from one disaster to the next. At least Imogen has a distraction in the form of the gorgeous guy who’s always in the right place at the very worst time. Until, that is, his motives start to arouse a few suspicions.

Kat’s Review: For some reason this Jane Costello book slipped through the net, so realising that I made a prompt start on this book. Imogen, Meredith and Nicola are three friends that have won themselves a VIP trip to Barcelona. In their minds they are well on their way to sipping champagne and cocktails amongst the jet setters. Sadly, from the very moment they get to the airport things are destined to go wrong. Now I am quite a Costello fan but found myself struggling to get into the first few chapters. I persevered but for some unknown reason the book felt like it was hard work.

I quite liked the characters but sometimes they grated on me, normally with a JC book I love the characters that she creates but just found I couldn’t gel with these three. Harry was a prominent male character and he was instantly likeable and easy to read about. I think overall Imogen irritated me the most and unfortunately for me if I don’t like the character there is less chance I will enjoy the book. Maybe this was just my mood, who know, but I just wanted to slap her round the head and destroy her phone! Meredith and Nicola were slightly easier to read, but with constant interruptions from Meredith it just lost its appeal.

It sounds like I am being un-necessarily harsh and I really am not. Jane Costello has a great writing style and her books are always so enjoyable. For some reason this one and I just didn’t quite gel. There were elements about it I loved, but as the characters were so annoying it lowered my enjoyment. This certainly isn’t a bad book, just one that wasn’t for me.

Lifeless by Mark Billingham (Tom Thorne #5)

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Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Availability: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Nook and Kobo

*Please note if you plan on reading the series in order, then do not continue reading this review as it will inevitably contain spoilers*

Synopsis: To his friends, his foes and even to himself it looks as though Tom Thorne’s career is on the skids. On his last case he had seriously over-stepped the mark, and now gardening leave has been suggested and all he has to tend is a window box. So when it appears someone is targeting London’s homeless community it seems perfectly natural for Thorne to take a step nearer to the gutter and go undercover amongst them. He blends into the sometimes invisible community easily – too easily perhaps – but the information he gleans quickly proves that this is no random killer, it is someone with a very distinct purpose and a very specific list of victims and only the team supporting Thorne from the outside don’t have the key to motive or identity. Then somehow the fact that a policeman is working undercover becomes public.

My Review: I like Tom Thorne, really I do…but for some reason this latest instalment was slow going. The premise sounded pretty good, but with the recent loss of his Dad, it seems Tom is somewhat on the edge. He is on Gardening leave, but when the opportunity comes up to go undercover within the London homeless community he can’t resist. The writing is fabulous and to be honest this book made me realise just how bad the homeless situation in this country really is. From that perspective Billingham has done a stellar job, however when it comes to Thorne, by the end all I wanted to do was slap him around the chops and tell him to get a grip.

The crux of this latest book is that it seems a killer is targeting homeless people. With the homeless community closing ranks Tom Thorne elects to become ‘homeless’ and befriend some of the people on the street with the hope of getting clues on what people know and have seen. I really like recurring characters and Tom’s colleague Dave Holland is no exception. It seems that even Holland is becoming tired of Thorne’s transformation. The story rumbled along and there were moments that the suspense ratcheted up, but then it seemed to die off and I didn’t feel the same oomph that I did when I read his first book Sleepyhead.

Overall, this latest instalment was a decent read, but certainly not enough to grab me by the short and curlies! I love the characters and MB’s writing is great, I just felt like this book lacked its normal magic, so I will hope that the next book recaptures that by the bucketload.

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.

Behind Closed Doors by Susan Lewis

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My Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night it looks at first as though she’s run away from home. Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she’s taken a bag full of clothes. As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide. For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie’s disappearance than teenage rebellion. But is the past clouding her judgment, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie’s family, would ever want to face?

Kat’s Review: I am a fan if Susan Lewis and am rarely disappointed. This latest book didn’t disappoint me, but it felt like there was something missing. The one thing I really loved was the Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence. She had her own experience with missing persons and it makes her such an interesting character as her past inevitably affects her future. The story becomes quite involved quite quickly as the 14 year old Sophie Monroe goes missing. The parents are distraught and the police move quickly to try and establish if she has run away of her own choice.

The storyline was certainly engaging and like I say the lead character was great, but the whole time I was reading it I felt like there was something I just couldn’t connect with. Having said that, it was still an incredibly good read, I guess I just have high expectations from this long time and reassuringly good author. There were parts where I felt like things were dragging and I wasn’t as engaged as I normally would be. 

Overall, an interesting and enjoyable read but not one of Susan Lewis best. I think when you buy an SL book you know you are in for a great story, but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea. 

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.

The Two by Will Carver (January David #2)

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My Rating: 3/5

Availability: Paperback, Kindle, Audio, Nook and Kobo

Synopsis: They Kill Without Mercy. Disappear Without Trace. They are The Two.

And now the stakes are raised once more for Detective January David. 5 lie dead, brutally murdered – the first taken on the night of Halloween and as autumn bleeds into winter more ritualistic murders are discovered. January must battle his demons, for in his mind lies the clue to stopping a ruthless murderer.

But his worst nightmares have literally come true when he discovers there’s not one but two twisted killers on the loose …

My Review: Okay firstly I need to point out that if you aren’t into the supernatural element then this book may not be for you. But having said that, it’s still clear that Will Carver is a great author and one that I want to carry on reading, despite the fact this wasn’t maybe my favourite type of book. If you plan on reading book one first (which I would recommend) then don’t read on as the review will inevitably contain spoilers. 

January David is the lead character and in the first book in the series and we meet him once again following his harrowing case from book one. In this second book, its clear he is still battling demons and coming to terms with the things his mind portrays to him. The synopsis makes it clear that January is chasing two killers, however the leading few chapters can be a little bewildering. If you go with the flow, eventually the reader sees the distinction between the two but its certainly not easy.

The writing, as with the first, is fantastic and I really like the unusual style Carver uses. As the reader we get to see the chapters written from the first person whether that be the killer, January himself or the victims. There is something very refreshing about this style of writing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The parts I didn’t enjoy so much were the sometimes muddled descriptions of January’s visions and the supernatural element is certainly clear to see in book 2.

Because of this, and the fact that this isn’t my favourite type of story, it maybe lessened the enjoyment for me. That aside, I really like reading about January and you feel like he is trying to find his way. Jan’s two colleagues Murphy and Paulson return as well adding to the continuity of the series. The book certainly had talent and pace, but it felt like the story jumped around too much and if I’m honest I didn’t feel that it was anywhere near as good as the first story. I will certainly go on reading Will Carver and this series, with the hope that book 3 is a little less frenzied. Of course like I said in the beginning, if you are a fan of the supernatural, maybe this will be more to your taste.

What Might Have Been by Matt Dunn

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My Rating: 3/5

Synopsis: A year ago, Evan and Sarah shared one incredible night. Then Evan’s music—the thing that brought them together—suddenly tore them apart.

Since then, Evan’s not been able to forget about her. And try as she might, Sarah can’t seem to get over him either.

With time running out, Evan’s got one last chance to convince her that the two of them were meant to be. But is one night enough for Sarah to make a decision about the rest of her life—even if it was the best night of her life? And if she doesn’t believe in love at first sight, how can Evan persuade her that what they had will last?

My Review: I have liked some of Matt Dunn’s previous books but for some reason this book just left me feeling really impartial (I HATE that!). Evan and Sarah are the lead characters in this book and Evan is a pretty decent guy. He’s a musician who plays the saxophone and had his 10 minutes of fame back in the day. Sarah is an American who happens to stop by a jazz club and sees Evan play. It takes her back to her childhood when her father used to play the sax in clubs. What results is a reckless night together. However events after that one night mean they go their separate ways for a year.

Sarah in the beginning was a reasonably likeable character, however as the book progressed she just irritated me. Whilst Evan goes off to another country Sarah is left behind and her life inevitably changes. When Evan returns he just can’t stop thinking about Sarah and is determined to make Sarah see they are meant to be together. The writing was good as usual, and there is certainly nothing lacking in Matt Dunns ability to write a cracking story. For me though, the character Sarah got worse as the book progressed to the point where I couldn’t have cared less about her.

There are additional characters that make appearances such as Mel (didn’t get enough time in the book in my opinion) and David (who I also couldn’t stand). I read this to the end and it was certainly an easy read. But sadly, it just wasn’t as good as other books he has written. Maybe the character thing was just my issue, because normally I can really take to characters. However, this being one of the major factors for me made me mark it down. Sarah’s incessant whining and to-ing and fro-ing quite frankly gave me a headache. I will still look forward to Matt’s future work in the hope I will love the next set of characters he creates.

Poppy Does Paris by Nicola Doherty (Short Story)

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My Rating: 3/5

Availability: Kindle, Nook and Kobo

Synopsis: The first instalment in this hilarious, romantic and un-putdownable five-part series. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart… novels.

Paris. City of love, city of romance. The last place you want to go to on a work trip when you’re in the middle of an epic dry spell. But that’s where Poppy is headed, along with her colleague Charlie, who’s shallow and annoying but very, very good-looking. During a white-wine-fuelled session with her friend Alice, Poppy concocts the perfect plan: work by day, and have some no-strings fun with Charlie by night. Of course, it might prove a little more complicated than that, but it’s nothing Poppy can’t handle – or is it?

Girls on Tour is an irresistible series of interlinked stories about four friends, ordinary girls who have extraordinary fun in faraway places. Expect the unexpected, the utterly hilarious and unforgettable, on this rollercoaster ride of love, laughs, surprises and sparks. You have a VIP pass to join each girl’s adventure, so pack your bags and buckle your seatbelts, because just about anything is possible…

My Review: The first thing I need to mention is that this is a short story. AT only 66 pages long, it’s a VERY short story. When you look at the title and details on Amazon it isn’t very clear that it’s a short story (which is a little bit annoying). That aside we meet Poppy, the Editor who is on her way to Paris with her colleague Charlie to try and wow an author into signing with them. Poppy is likeable, as is Charlie and Nicola Doherty does a great job of describing Paris. 

However, at 66 pages you don’t get a lot of story, and if I’m being 100% honest this is the reason I am not a lover of short stories. Just as you are beginning to get to know the characters they leave you. I suppose if you like short stories this will be very enjoyable and I can certainly see how she is compared to the likes of Lindsey Kelk. I think I liked this enough to maybe read the rest of the Girls on Tour but my preference would definitely be a full length , especially  as I really enjoyed Nicola Doherty’s debut so much.

This particular series has a number of books, all featuring friends from the same group, and all short stories, and they are as follows:-

Poppy Does Paris – Girls on Tour 1 (June 2014) 

Lily Does LA – Girls on Tour 2 (Sept 2014)

Maggie does Meribel Girls on Tour 3 (Dec 2014)

Rachel Does Rome – Girls on Tour 4 (Feb 2015)