Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

Description from Goodreads:

"Set in a dark, rainy northern town, Nesbo's Macbeth pits the ambitions of a corrupt policeman against loyal colleagues, a drug-depraved underworld and the pull of childhood friendships."

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A gritty take on a classic

I've had this book sitting on my to-be-read pile since 2018 and I'm slowly, slowly getting through it! This is part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series where modern authors re-imagine the classics, and Jo Nesbo’s choice of Macbeth felt like a perfect match for his usual dark, noir style.

The setting is a rain-soaked, crumbling industrial town in the 1970's which really works for the atmosphere. Instead of kings and thistles, we've got corrupt police forces, drug lords and SWAT teams. Macbeth himself is the head of a tactical unit and Lady is a casino owner. It's definitely a clever way to translate the original power struggles into a world of crime and addiction.

However, I found it a bit of a slog in places. At over 500 pages, it feels far too long for the story it's trying to tell. While I liked the gritty vibe, the pacing often dipped and I found myself losing interest during some of the more drawn-out descriptions. It captures the "darkness" well, but it doesn't quite have the emotional punch or tight suspense I was expecting.

It’s a decent enough read if you’re a fan of the author or if you're interested in Shakespearean re-tellings, but it didn't quite blow me away. It does what it says on the tin - a dark, rainy crime thriller - but it lacks that special something to make it truly memorable for me.

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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The Girl with Two Names by Imogen Matthews

Description from Goodreads:

"She smooths her light blue coat with trembling hands as a man approaches. ‘Felix?’ he says, and she nods. ‘We weren’t expecting a girl.’ He smiles, but panic grips her throat at what he says next. ‘Whoever you are, you’ve been betrayed…’

1943, Nazi-occupied Holland. Turning up her collar against the wind, Trix prepares for her rendezvous. Hidden in the bottom of her bag are coded instructions from the British Special Operations Executive and a silk handkerchief, secretly printed with a map of her next meeting point. She knows working for the Dutch resistance is dangerous, but she must put her past behind her and become someone new… someone brave.

Trix’s friends think she’s a secretary – they can never know the truth. Living a double life is desperately lonely, but the longer she goes under her alias, Felix, the more comfortable she becomes with this new version of one who will stand up for what is right, and fight for those who can’t. That is, until the warm brown eyes of a pilot from her past spark hope for a life after the war.

But when she’s ambushed and imprisoned by German soldiers posing as men from the Dutch resistance, Trix must lean on everything she’s learnt if she’s going to survive and grasp her chance at love. 

These soldiers see her as just a woman. But is that her greatest weapon? In war, often it’s those we underestimate the most who have the power to change everything…"

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An incredibly compelling story 

I've been a huge fan of Imogen Matthews for quite a while now, so I always look forward to diving into her historical fiction.  I knew I was in for something special and I wasn't disappointed.  This book is grounded heavily in facts and inspired by the remarkable true story of a real woman, which made the entire reading experience feel so much more poignant.

The story follows Trix, a former KLM flight attendant who decides she can't just sit back and accept the Nazi occupation. She joins the resistance as a courier and secretary before training in Britain with the Special Operations Executive, taking on the dangerous alias of Felix. It's an incredibly intense setup and knowing that Trix was a real person navigating these terrifying risks made it all the more gripping.  When she's ambushed by German soldiers posing as the resistance, the tension peaks and you genuinely feel the isolation and danger of her double life.

What really set this book apart for me was the sheer scope of Trix's journey and how much she had to endure. The second half of the book gets heavy as the story follows her through the horrors of Ravensbrück and Mauthausen concentration camps. It's a difficult read at times but the focus remains on the human spirit, showing how these women pulled together to survive. 

If you love well-researched World War Two fiction that shines a light on real-life bravery and the power of hope in the darkest places, you  need to add this to your list. It's a gripping, emotional and unforgettable tribute to an extraordinary woman.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this remarkable story.

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This Weekend Doesn't End Well For Anyone by Catherine Mack

Description from Goodreads:

"Eleanor Dash can never catch a break. Not only has she had to solve two real-life murder plots in the past year, but both times it was when she was meant to be on vacation. Now she’s finally got a ticket to a relaxing weekend—an all-inclusive resort at the Bahamas where she’s speaking at a conference for murder mystery writers—but she arrives to find a body on the floor of her hotel room. Because of course she does.

With plenty of familiar faces at the resort, any one of them could have been the intended target or the culprit behind it all. Was it Oliver Forrest, Eleanor’s dashing boyfriend who’s in danger of getting dropped by his publisher because his sales are dwindling? Or Connor Smith, Eleanor’s infuriating ex-lover-turned-bestselling-rom-com-author with a sordid past of his own? Or her sister Harper, whose own stilted writing career has been a sore point for years as Eleanor’s has soared? Perhaps it’s one of the other writers also in attendance, as friends, frenemies and foes from Eleanor’s past all seem to be invited to the island.

Surrounded by mystery writers who know all too well the many ways to craft the perfect crime, Eleanor is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and do whatever it takes to get out of this weekend alive."

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A resort mystery that didn't quite work for me in either format

After listening to the audio version of this book, I really hoped that sitting down with the physical copy would give me a different experience, but unfortunately it still didn't quite work for me.

The story takes place at an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas where Eleanor Dash, a mystery author, is attending a writers' conference. Things quickly go downhill when a dead body appears right on her hotel room floor. I usually love a good locked-island setup, but the execution here just felt a bit too chaotic.

There is a huge cast of characters to keep track of, and because this is the third book in a series, I felt like I was constantly playing catch-up with the history. On top of that, the plot got so convoluted towards the end with all the red herrings that it lost me a bit.

When I tried the audiobook, I found the constant, quirky footnotes where the main character talks directly to the reader quite disruptive to the flow. Having the physical book in front of me definitely made those footnotes easier to navigate on the page, but the formatting still broke up the tension of the actual investigation.

It is a light, snappy beach read if you enjoy a lot of drama and modern slang, but it just had a few too many niggles to be a standout for me. It does what it says on the tin, but it stays firmly in the neutral zone.

Thank you to the author, Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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False Dawn (Mackenzie Reynolds #1) by D.V. Berkom

✴✴✴ Expected publication 7 August 2026 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"She thought the mission was about protecting a defector.

She was wrong.

When a high-value defection goes violently wrong off the coast of Costa Rica, close protection operator Mackenzie “Mac” Reynolds is the only one left standing. Her client, a Chinese military colonel, vanishes. Her team is dead. Determined to uncover who betrayed them, Mac begins a global hunt for the truth."

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A cracking start to a new series

I've been a huge fan of DV Berkom for years – her Leine Basso books are always a must-read for me – so I was incredibly excited to hear she's starting a brand new series. 

This story introduces us to a brand new character, Mackenzie Reynolds, and she is an absolute powerhouse. Honestly, the whole way through reading I just kept thinking about how much I need Mackenzie and Leine to meet up at some point. They would either become instant friends or completely level whatever city they happened to be in together, and I would 100% pay to see that! 😜

The story kicks off quickly and doesn't really let up. Mackenzie proves she is more than capable of handling herself. She is tough, clever and has that perfectly gritty edge that this author writes so well.  The plot has plenty of twists to keep you guessing and the pacing is spot on. 

The settings themselves are atmospheric and vivid that they almost become characters in their own right, adding a layer of tension to the plot you can practically feel the sweat and dust on the page as things unfold.

If you like fast-paced thrillers with strong, no-nonsense female leads then you're going to love this one. It doesn't officially come out until August but it's definitely one to add to your pre-order list. I'm already impatient for the next book to see what Mackenzie gets up to next.

Once again, thank you to D.V for accepting me as a member her ARTeam and for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of False Dawn and my hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

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The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Brittany Pressley🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Twenty years ago, my twin sister and I were abducted. Only I survived. Or so I thought…

The night I escaped from our abductor was the last time I saw my sister. I’ve never forgiven myself for the fact that I made it out and she didn’t. By the time the police found where we were held, there was no sign of her. Or the man that took us.

I’ve spent decades trying to forget that I couldn’t save my own sister. But on the anniversary of our abduction, I find a black rose on my car. There’s no one in the parking lot, but I know it’s a warning. My stomach churns to think it could be from the monster who held us captive all those years ago, wanting to take back what he believes is his.

But as I stare at it, I wonder if someone else may have left my sister. I always thought she died in that room, but what if she escaped? And if it’s her, and the truth of what happened the night I got out comes to light, will it destroy everything?"

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A dark, disturbing and twisty thriller 

I have been a fan of psychological thrillers for years so when I saw this audiobook I jumped at the chance to listen to it. 

The story follows Megan who managed to escape a serial killer twenty years ago while her twin sister Allison was left behind. Now on the twentieth anniversary, a black rose appears on her car and other troubling events occur and suddenly all the secrets Megan has been hiding about that night are threatened to be exposed - could Allison have survived and what really happened on the night Megan escaped?

Before diving in further I think it is important to include a quick trigger warning for this one. The core of the plot revolves around two young girls being kidnapped and abused by their captor so please bear that in mind if those themes are difficult for you to read about.

The plot weaves back and forth between the terrifying past in captivity and the increasingly tense present day. It creates a really claustrophobic atmosphere that kept me entirely hooked. I thought I had guessed exactly where the plot was going but the final twist took me a bit by surprise.

Brittany Pressley narrated the audiobook and she was absolutely fantastic. She managed to capture all the raw emotion, anxiety and mounting panic perfectly and her voice for the abuser was perfectly creepy.

The pacing of the story was good for me as an audiobook particularly as I listen to it in the car.  There were even times, especially towards the end, when I wanted to come across a traffic jam just so I could carry on listening!

Overall it is a dark and unsettling story about trauma and survival guilt that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this quite gripping book.

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