Look For Me (Detective D.D. Warren #9) by Lisa Gardner

Description from Goodreads:

"The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me."

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I've just finished reading Look for Me which is the ninth book in the Detective D.D. Warren series and I have to admit this is another one that has been sitting on my "to-be-read" pile since 2018. I'm slowly making my way through the backlog and I'm glad I finally got around to this one as it didn't disappoint.

The plot involves a family of four murdered in their home but the sixteen year old daughter Roxy is missing. It's a race against time to figure out if she's a victim or a suspect. I really liked the dual perspective here with D.D. Warren doing the police work while Flora Dane from the previous book adds a much grittier layer to the investigation.

The story delves into the foster care system which made for some quite emotional and heavy reading. It's a dark mystery and while the middle section felt a bit drawn out the tension kept me guessing until the end. I'm really enjoying the connection between the characters and seeing how D.D. and Flora work together despite their different backgrounds.

Overall it is a solid and gripping thriller that kept me hooked throughout. It's definitely one of the stronger entries in the series so far and worth a look even if it takes you as long as it took me to get to it!

Many thanks to the author, Publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read and share my thoughts on this one.

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The Shadow Carver (Inspector Anjelica Henley #4) by Nadine Matheson

🔥🔥🔥 Publication date:  12 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"DI Henley faces her darkest challenge yet...

When a string of grisly murders begins painting the city in terror, DI Henley soon realise a vigilante killer is scalping their victims before leaving them for dead. Henley is thrust into a web of secrets, unravelling connections between the victims while battling demons from her own past. As the killer raises the stakes, the line between predator and prey begins to blur. With time slipping away and her own life in jeopardy, Henley must outwit a psychopath who views murder as an art form. Can she hunt them down before the final stroke of the scalpel closes the case forever?"

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Another dark and gripping addition to the series

I’ve been a massive fan of the Inspector Anjelica Henley series since the very beginning, so I honestly couldn’t wait to get my grubby little eyes on this latest instalment. After the intensity of the previous books, I had really high hopes for this one and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. It’s a dark, gritty and completely absorbing read that I ended up devouring in just a couple of sittings.

It would be ideal if you have read the previous books in the series before jumping into this one. Not only are you missing out on a brilliant series if you don't, but you'd also miss out on the vital back story of the characters - both the living and the dead!

This story brings us back to the Serial Crimes Unit and the atmosphere is just as tense as ever. Nadine Matheson has such a talent for creating these macabre, unsettling crime scenes that really get under your skin - it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted! The plot is fast-paced and kept me guessing throughout, with enough twists to keep the momentum going right until the very end.

One of the things I love most about these books is how we get to see the whole team navigating their personal lives alongside such horrific cases. It makes everyone feel so much more human and relatable.  We also meet a new addition to the team, Copeland. I’m not 100% sure about her just yet - she’s a bit of an unknown quantity - but I have a feeling she’ll grow on me as the series continues. The team dynamics in the SCU are always a highlight for me and it’s been brilliant to watch those relationships evolve over the course of the series.

If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, you’re going to love this. It’s got everything you’d expect: great writing, chilling villains and plenty of suspense. It’s a fantastic addition to the series and I’m already looking forward to seeing what’s next for the team.

A huge thanks to the author, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another absolute cracker in this excellent series.

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Underdogs by Stephen Leather

🔥🔥🔥 Out on 12 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Once a fearless SAS hero, Andy 'Deadman' Bird now battles the harsh streets of London after a catastrophic mission stripped him of his hearing, career, home and marriage. His only solace is Tyson, his fiercely loyal and battle-tested dog.

When fate thrusts them into the path of a chilling alleyway murder, Andy and Tyson become the next targets. Who are these relentless hunters, and what dangerous secrets are they willing to kill for?

Desperate and cornered, Andy reaches out to his former brothers–in–arms – a team who owe him their very lives. But as they unravel a sinister web of organised crime and deadly political plots, who will be saving who this time?"

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I have been a fan of Stephen Leather's work for a long time now and he never disappoints. This latest book is certainly no exception - it's an absolute peach of a story. If you're looking for something full of action, violence, suspense and intrigue, then this is definitely the one for you.

The story follows Andy "Deadman" Bird, a former SAS hero who has had a really tough time of it after a mission went wrong. He's lost his hearing, his career and his marriage, and he's living on the streets of London. I absolutely loved Bird as a main character, but I have to say that Tyson the dog completely stole the show for me. Tyson is Bird's fiercely loyal companion and seeing the relationship between the two of them was just wonderful.

One thing that really got to me was how they are both experiencing PTSD after that failed mission. It was so interesting to see that this isn't something that just affects humans - I didn't really know anything about dogs being affected in that way, so it was new to me although not a complete surprise. It made their bond feel even deeper because they're both struggling with the same demons.

When they witness a murder in an alleyway, they both end up as targets. It was great to see Bird reach out to his old SAS brothers-in-arms for help. The camaraderie between the characters felt so natural and authentic, and it really added to the grit of the story as they got tangled up in a mess of organised crime and political plots.

It's a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a proper, hard-hitting thriller. 🐾

Huge thanks to the author, Pan Macmillan, Macmillan and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, yet another cracker from Mr Leather.

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The Journey by Conrad Jones

Description from Goodreads:

"The gripping story of a young boy and his family, driven from their home by war and indiscriminate violence. Like millions of others, they attempt the treacherous journey across their war-torn continent, trying to reach the safety of Europe.

The truth is, Europe doesn't want them and thousands die every month at the hands of thieves and profiteering men to whom life is cheap. Kalu believes that he can lead his family to safety, he has planned for this. They have money, a plan and Kalu is, after all, the smartest man in Monguno."

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I've just finished reading The Journey by Conrad Jones and I've got to admit it has been sitting on my to-be-read pile since 2018. I'm actually quite ashamed it has taken me this long to finally get around to reading it but I'm glad I eventually did. This was the first time I've read anything by this author so I wasn't really expecting anything to be honest but it was certainly an intense experience. It’s a story that follows a doctor called Kalu and his family as they are forced to flee their home in Nigeria because of the violence from Boko Haram.

The subject matter is incredibly relevant given everything that's happening in the world today. It really highlights the desperate reality of things like illegal immigration and the boat crossings where so many lives are lost during their journey. At times it was a very hard read because of how graphic and harrowing the situations were. While the plot is fast paced it felt like it was trying to do a lot at once and some of the emotional beats felt a bit overshadowed by how quickly everything was moving.

I’ve given it 4 stars because while I found the characters like Kalu and his son Beb very well drawn and I was definitely rooting for them, I struggled with the tone in places. It’s marketed as a thriller but it feels more like a brutal family saga and I think that might catch some readers off guard if they’re expecting a standard crime novel. It’s definitely eye opening and it makes you think about what you’d do to save your own family but the sheer amount of trauma the characters go through made it a bit of a slog for me to get through.

Overall it’s a powerful book and I can’t deny it’s well written but it wasn't exactly an enjoyable read if that makes sense. It’s worth a look if you want something that tackles real world issues head on but just be prepared for it to be quite grim.

Many thanks to the author, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the chance to read and share my thoughts on this one.

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A Killer Guest List by Sarah Bonner

🔥🔥🔥 Due out 10 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from the Publisher:

"Sadie has attended ‘Murder on the Moors’, at a luxury country house hotel in Dartmoor, for the past fifty years. This time, she’s bringing her goddaughter. But what the girl doesn’t know is that the game is merely a cover for Sadie’s darker predilections…

Cassie’s weekend at the hotel is more of a work trip for her wife, though she’s looking forward to relaxing in the swanky surroundings, plus a little fun detective work. She doesn’t realise that the game is about to reveal some shocking truths…

Because this year, someone new has taken over the murder mystery event. Someone who knows exactly who Sadie is, and who has compiled a dossier of crimes committed by the other guests. Someone with a hit list.

The only chance of staying one step ahead – and not being murdered for real – is to slay together…"

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I've been a fan of Sarah Bonner since reading Her Perfect Twin a few years back, and more recently I read How to Slay at Christmas, so I was really looking forward to seeing what she'd do with a classic locked-room mystery setup. This time we’re at a luxury hotel on Dartmoor for a 50th anniversary murder mystery weekend, but of course, things get a lot more real than the guests bargained for.

The story follows Sadie, who has been attending these events for decades, and Cassie, who is there while her wife works. It’s got that dark and twisty vibe I’ve come to expect from this author. The plot moves along at a cracking pace and I really enjoyed how the "game" starts to unravel as someone with a hit list takes over.

I’ll be honest, it was all a bit over the top in places, but in a fun, popcorn-thriller sort of way. Some of the twists were definitely a bit out there and required a bit of a leap, but I had a good time following the breadcrumbs to the end. I wasn't quite on the edge of my seat and there was a bit of eye-rolling going on at times but it was still a solid, entertaining read that kept me guessing to see how it all ended. 

If you're looking for a murder/mystery/thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is a great shout. It’s definitely made me want to see what Sarah Bonner comes up with next.

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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