RATED 4/5 – Page 7 – Best Crime Books and More

The Lost Child by Patricia Gibney (Lottie Parker 3)

The Lost Child Synopsis: ‘Let me out! Please…’ My tiny fists pound the door, but my voice reverberates off the stone walls and hangs in the air as if suspended by spider’s webs. No one comes…

Years later, a woman is found face-down in a pool of blood. Detective Lottie Parker is called to the remote farmhouse in the bleak Irish countryside. Inside, she finds a scene that speaks of uncontrollable rage: glasses smashed, chairs ripped apart, the woman’s body broken.

A black rain jacket makes Lottie think she knows the killer’s identity, but then she finds a disturbing clue: is the murder linked to an old case at St Declan’s asylum? A case investigated by her own father, just before he took his life.

When another victim is left without her tongue on the hospital steps, and a young girl goes missing, Lottie knows she has to act fast. Can she face her own demons and uncover the truth before another life is taken?

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: I have recently started this series and was pleased to move onto book 3. Lottie Parker is a character that I really enjoy reading about even though she has serious issues and isn’t actually a pretty selfish and screwed up woman (but in a likeable way if you know what I mean). Her colleague Boyd is back alongside her other colleagues Kirby and Lynch and they are as usual assigned to the newest murder. In this case its the death of an elderly woman who is found in her daughters house.

I have to say I enjoyed the actual murder case storyline less than the last two in this book, however the personal elements of the story mad up for that in my opinion. In addition to the murder enquiry we see Lottie’s friend Annabelle in her own crisis of a situation. IN addition we see Lottie’s relationship and more development of this in terms of her Mother, three kids and grandchild.

The murder case they are working made the story at times a little muddled as there was so much going on, but eventually it gained traction. Boyd her colleague is as usual taking the abuse that Lottie dishes out, but by the end of the book he was the best person to be there for her. The ending was a corker and made me want to just go straight through to book 4, but I’m trying to pace myself. I think this read was a little more middle of the road but the series is definitely one I am keen to continue.

Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

Synopsis: Nell and Van meet as children when their parents fall in love, but soon they are forced worlds apart.

Five years later, they find each other. Their bond is rekindled and new feelings take hold, but once again they must separate.

For the next two decades, fate brings Nell and Van together every five years, as life and circumstance continue to divide them. Will they ever find true happiness? And will it be together?

‘One day, maybe five years from now, you’ll look back and understand why this happened…’

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: I have always enjoyed Paige Toon books and decided to start going through my long list of unread books and selected this one. I didn’t read the synopsis so was going in with no idea of the story line but I was very pleased I selected this book. Nell and Van are the stars of the show and the book slowly unfolds in increments of five years starting from when they met as children. Nell’s Dad was in a relationship with Van’s Mum and as such they met as young children and their friendship blossomed.

As the story progresses so do Nell and Vans life and it was an absolute joy to go along for the ride. It was glorious tale of friendship, love and loss and frankly although it is very different from her other books it was a brilliant read. I was surprised at the ending but though it was fitting and not too contrived. Although a departure from her normal type of book it was very enjoyable and one I would recommend.

The Stolen Girls by Patricia Gibney (Lottie Parker 2)

The Stolen Girls Synopsis: One Monday morning, the body of a young pregnant woman is found. The same day, a mother and her son visit the house of Detective Lottie Parker, begging for help to find a lost friend.

Could this be the same girl?

When a second victim is discovered by the same man, with the murder bearing all the same hallmarks as the first, Lottie needs to work fast to discover how else the two were linked. Then two more girls go missing.

Detective Lottie Parker is a woman on the edge, haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her family together through difficult times. Can she fight her own demons and catch the killer before he claims another victim?

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: I really enjoyed the first book in this series so decided to go straight into book 2. The story kicks off with the discovery of the body of a young pregnant woman, followed by another body only this time it is found by the same man that found the first body. The storyline itself was certainly interesting, yet for some reason I found myself more drawn to the development of the characters.

Lottie as the main character isn’t actually that likeable but that just makes her so much more readable in this case. It sounds weird I know but having a character with SO many flaws actually makes this more of a hook for me. Seeing how badly she manages her personal life make me more and more intrigued. I also love her colleague Boyd.

You can probably read this as a standalone but I love seeing the characters lives unfold like this series seems to be doing. Lottie seems to be a car crash of a character, but it’s obvious she has her demons she is battling and it also seems to make her more determined to get each case right. I found this book flowed a lot easier than the first and it took me very little time to plough through it.

Although when finished I had to read a different genre, I am already well over halfway with book 3. I think this is a series I will quickly become very involved with and cannot wait to see what happens with Lottie and her friends and family.

The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney (Lottie Parker #1)

Synopsis: The hole they dug was not deep. A white flour bag encased the little body. Three small faces watched from the window, eyes black with terror.

The child in the middle spoke without turning his head. ‘I wonder which one of us will be next?’

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.
Continue reading “The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney (Lottie Parker #1)”

Hard Target by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #8)

41go4J3e0YL Synopsis: When hacker Trevelle Williams discovers documents that threaten national security and put his life in jeopardy, there’s only one person he can turn to—Jon Reznick. Williams has learned that Rosalind Dyer, a key congressional witness, is about to be killed in order to stop her testimony. She has stumbled into the middle of a cover-up that goes deep into the United States government. Dyer knows her days are numbered, but that won’t stop her from doing what she has to do.

Trevelle Williams has helped Jon out of many a scrape in the past. Now, Jon is the only person he can turn to for help saving Rosalind’s life, as well as his own, and protecting national security in the process. Continue reading “Hard Target by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #8)”

A Christmas Crime by Tara Lyons (Short Story)

SYNOPSIS: With snow falling in a quaint Surrey Village, it’s the perfect setting for Holly and Christopher’s dream Christmas wedding. But instead of enjoying mince pies and mistletoe, their happiness is threatened by old secrets and someone harbouring a grudge. When the truth is finally revealed, can the couple enjoy the festivities with their family, or is their marriage doomed from the start?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

My Review: This is a perfect short story to read even for me as I am not a huge fan of short stories. I am LOVING Tara’s series featuring DI Hamilton and also enjoyed her last standalone. This is like a little glimmer of a treat and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can only hope we get another fix of Hamilton soon or another standalone…can’t wait!

Coming Home To Winter Island by Jo Thomas

Synopsis: Do you need to find out where you’ve come from before you can know what the future holds?

Ruby’s singing career is on the verge of hitting the big time, when her voice breaks. Fearing her career is over, she signs up for a retreat in Tenerife to recover.

But an unexpected call from a stranger on a remote Scottish island takes her on a short trip to sort out some family business. It’s time to go and see the grandfather she’s never met. Continue reading “Coming Home To Winter Island by Jo Thomas”

The Empty Nest by Sue Watson

48118701._SY475_ Synopsis: ‘Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with…’

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn’t leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat’s legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone – to university in a town several hours away. Kat’s house – which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy – is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy. Continue reading “The Empty Nest by Sue Watson”

Child’s Play by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #11)

Synopsis: Late one summer evening, Detective Kim Stone arrives at Haden Hill Park to the scene of a horrific crime: a woman in her sixties tied to a swing with barbed wire and an X carved into the back of her neck.

The victim, Belinda Evans, was a retired college Professor of Child Psychology. As Kim and her team search her home, they find an overnight bag packed and begin to unravel a complex relationship between Belinda and her sister Veronica.

Then two more bodies are found bearing the same distinctive markings, and Kim knows she is on the hunt for a ritualistic serial killer. Linking the victims, Kim discovers they were involved in annual tournaments for gifted children and were on their way to the next event. Continue reading “Child’s Play by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #11)”

Hattie’s Home For Broken Hearts by Tilly Tennant

Synopsis: Escape to the daisy-strewn windswept Dorset cliffs, to the donkey sanctuary at Sweet Briar Farm, where Hattie Rose is about to find, that in this world, the most unlikely opposites can sometimes attract …

Hattie was once thrilled to call the beautiful city of Paris her home. But when her heart is broken by her boyfriend and she loses her dream job, she bids farewell to the city of love and hurries home to Gillypuddle, a sleepy village on the Dorset coast. But as she returns home she finds her parents struggling to cope with a terrible family tragedy. Continue reading “Hattie’s Home For Broken Hearts by Tilly Tennant”