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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The First Thread (FBI Agent Daisy Adams #1) by Nadija Mujagic [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Matt Godfrey and Jennifer Pickens 🎙🎙🎙

 

Description from Goodreads:

"The 1980 a decade when thousands of children vanished—and most were never found.

When six-year-old Charlotte Mercer disappears from her front yard in Silver Spring, Maryland, rookie FBI Agent Daisy Adams is thrust into a case that feels more like a haunting. There are no witnesses. No clues.

Daisy has seen horror before—but nothing like this. As the investigation deepens, so does her fear. Because every missing child reminds her of her own daughter, Lila. And the more she digs into Charlotte's disappearance, the more she's forced to confront the question she's spent years

What if one day, it's Lila who vanishes?"

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This was such a gripping book, but I have to be honest - it was also incredibly disturbing and upsetting in places. It deals with child abuse, which is a really difficult subject to listen to, but the story is so well told that I couldn't stop listening. It's actually inspired by real events, which makes the whole thing feel even more chilling and heartbreaking because you know these things really happened.

The story follows Daisy Adams, a rookie FBI agent and single mum in the 1980s. She's thrown into a case involving a missing girl, and the way her own fears as a parent bleed into her work feels so raw and real. I felt her panic in every chapter. The writing is fast and sharp, which kept me completely hooked even when the content was hard to stomach.

As I opted for the audiobook, I have to mention the narrators, Matt Godfrey and Jennifer Pickens. It actually took me a little while to get used to Jennifer's voice at first, but once I settled in, I thought they both did a great job of bringing the characters to life. They really captured the intensity and the emotional weight of the investigation.

The book ends on a massive cliffhanger! Despite how heavy the themes are, I honestly didn't want it to stop because I need to know what happens to Daisy and the case next. It’s definitely a "just one more chapter" kind of listen, but do check the triggers before you dive in as it doesn't hold back.

A huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this good but disturbing book.

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The Good Girl by Michelle Dunne

🔥🔥🔥 Published 09 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Grace Murphy doesn’t seem like the type of woman who’d have a man cable-tied to a chair, slowly dying in her house. She keeps to herself and goes through life relatively unnoticed, working as a barista and caring for her sister, providing her with wholesome meals and a clean home - things they never had as children . . .

Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes knows about Grace’s brutal and troubled childhood; his own life was profoundly affected by it after all... so when men start going missing in the city - men who seem to have nothing in common aside from a physical resemblance to someone from Grace Murphy’s past - Inspector Hughes must dive back into the past to face a terrible truth playing out before him..."

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I’ve just finished The Good Girl by Michelle Dunne and oh my goodness, it completely pulled me in. It isn't a typical "whodunnit" since we know who the culprit is right from the start. Instead, it’s a "how" and "why" story that is honestly one of the most unsettling things I’ve read in a long time.

The story follows Grace Murphy, who seems like your average barista in Cork, looking after her sister and keeping her head down. But the opening scene is absolutely brutal - she has a man tied to a chair in her spare room and she's basically watching him die. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted and it comes with some very heavy triggers, especially around child abuse and violence. If you're in a sensitive headspace, you might want to skip this one, but if you can handle the darkness, it’s a brilliant look at how trauma can ripple through generations.

I absolutely loved Grace as a lead character. Even with her predilection for murder, I couldn't help but feel for her. She's a deeply troubled individual, though that isn't exactly surprising once you learn what she's been through. It's a testament to the writing that I felt so much empathy for someone doing such horrific things.

I haven't read anything by this author before but I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more from her in the future. Her writing style is so engaging and the pacing was absolutely spot on. I found myself flying through it - I actually managed to read it in just two sittings because I couldn't put it down. It’s rare to find a crime thriller that manages to be this graphic while still having so much heart and honesty about mental illness and guilt.

I also really liked Detective Inspector Jerry Hughes; he’s a good man who’s haunted by his own connection to Grace’s past, and you can really feel his internal struggle as the bodies start turning up. 

The ending was clever, disturbing and left me thinking about it long after I finished the last chapter. It’s a 5-star read for me, though it definitely left me feeling a bit shaken.

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

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The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"What would you do if you learned that the life you lived was a lie?

Nina McCarrick lives the perfect life, until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life."

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After reading The Idea of You, I liked Amanda Prowse's writing enough to give her another try. I finally fished this out from my dusty, virtual shelf on my Kindle® which had been patiently waiting since 2017 🤯 on my ever-expanding 'to-be-read' pile

This story starts with a bang! Nina McCarrick thinks she's got the perfect life until her husband, Finn, dies unexpectedly. Turns out, he left her with massive hidden debt. She's forced to drag her two sons back to the old working-class estate she spent years trying to escape. The book is Nina trying to figure out who she is now and rebuilding things with her estranged sister, Tiggy.

Prowse's writing is definitely compelling and she moves this plot along at a good pace, covering themes like grief, financial shock and finding inner strength. But, just like with the last book, I had trouble getting fully invested in Nina's characters.

It's  clear that Amanda Prowse can write powerful, emotional stories. But with two books down, unfortunately, her style is just not for me, however, there are thousands of people who disagree so definitely don't let my personal preference stop you from diving in.

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

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