Find Her (Detective D D Warren #9) by Lisa Gardner

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Seven years ago, carefree college student Flora Dane was kidnapped while on spring break. For 472 days, Flora learned just how much one person can endure.

Miraculously alive after her ordeal, Flora has spent the past five years reacquainting herself with the rhythms of normal life, working with her FBI victim advocate, Samuel Keynes. She has a mother who's never stopped loving her, a brother who is scared of the person she's become, and a bedroom wall covered with photos of other girls who've never made it home.

When Boston detective D. D. Warren is called to the scene of a crime--a dead man and the bound, naked woman who killed him--she learns that Flora has tangled with three other suspects since her return to society. Is Flora a victim or a vigilante? And with her firsthand knowledge of criminal behavior, could she hold the key to rescuing a missing college student whose abduction has rocked Boston? When Flora herself disappears, D.D. realizes a far more sinister predator is out there. One who's determined that this time, Flora Dane will never escape. And now it is all up to D. D. Warren to find her."

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I can't believe I have had this book on my "to-be-read" pile for years! This was published back in 2016! Where have I been living? Under a rock? She has written so many  bestsellers since then ... I really have no excuse for waiting this long!

While Find Her is the eighth book in the D.D. Warren series, I think it works well as a standalone.  It is an unputdownable, dark journey into the complex nature of survival. The core concept - a kidnapping victim who develops her own, dangerous code of justice - is brilliant. Flora Dane is an incredibly complex character, not just a victim, but a raw and intense survivor who refuses to be broken.

The addition of Detective D.D. Warren provides a sharp, procedural contrast to Flora's vigilante edge. The dual perspective works perfectly, keeping you guessing whether Flora is running from her past or towards a confrontation. 

This book is a fast-paced and highly addictive thriller and thanks to the author, Headline and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

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Burning State (James Ryker #14) by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"Can one man stop a nation from going up in flames?

James Ryker, former intelligence agent, is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that will test his limits, and his loyalty, to the max. Sent to Atlanta, Georgia, his mission to find a missing governor's daughter quickly spirals into a deadly pursuit of ex-special ops agent Caleb Marshall. A man presumed dead, but very much alive, and with a terrifying thirst for vengeance.

As Ryker navigates a treacherous landscape of radical right-wing factions, underground networks, and devastating terror attacks, he uncovers a plot of unimaginable scale. Marshall’s meticulous plan to plunge the USA into chaos is playing out before his eyes, and with just a handful of allies, Ryker finds himself in a desperate race against time to stop the world’s leading power combusting from within."

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I have read a few of Rob Sinclair's books which I have thoroughly enjoyed.  While this is the 14th book in the James Ryker series, I have only read a few of them and I think this one works well as a standalone especially if you like relentless, fast-paced action.

If you’re a fan of the James Ryker series, you’ll know what to expect but if not, he’s a brilliant, highly capable former intelligence agent who constantly gets pulled into world-ending plots. This time, his simple mission is to find a missing governor’s daughter however it quickly turns into something altogether different and deadly.

The book is packed full of intrigue, action and violence. It has that addictive, "just one more chapter" quality that makes it fly by. I really enjoyed the story; it's a classic thriller with a protagonist you can't help but root for.

Overall, if you like your thrillers gritty and explosive, this is one to pick up as are Rob Sinclair's other books.

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

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Perfect Wives by Lauren North [Audiobook]

Description from Goodreads:

"Three identical confessions to murder. Three perfect liars...

On a sunny Saturday morning, three women from the exclusive gated community of Magnolia Close walk into their local police station.

One by one, they all confess to the murder of their neighbour.

The officer takes statements from all three. From Tasha, the overwhelmed mother struggling under the weight of caring for her parents too. From Beth, the quiet one, desperate for another baby but unable to fall pregnant. From Georgie, the one whose life seems so dazzlingly glamorous ... on the surface.

Each woman has a life – a family – that they don't want to lose.

Each woman has a reason for wanting Johnny dead.

Each woman claims she killed him.

All of them are lying."

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I haven't read or listened to anything by Lauren North before but I was intrigued by the premise of this audiobook and I was looking for something to listen to whilst in the car and I wasn't disappointed.

The premise of this book is intriguing. We meet three women - Tasha, Beth and Georgie - who live in the exclusive, seemingly perfect gated community of Magnolia Close. Then, one sunny day, they all walk into the police station and separately confess to the murder of their terrible neighbour, Johnny. The catch? They are all lying.

Where do you even start?

Lauren North does a great job of peeling back the layers of these women's lives. The whole book is full of secrets, deception and the massive facade of their "perfect wives" status. It’s got that close-knit community vibe where you know everyone is hiding something big, which keeps the tension simmering. I found myself totally invested in figuring out what was going to be uncovered next and who the real killer actually was.

I really enjoyed the story but it does start of a bit slowly. However, it soon starts to move and the twists arrived with speed and a lot of satisfaction.

The narrator did a great job.  If I'm honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much had I been reading the physical book; Genevieve Swallow handled it so well that I was definitely more immersed in the lives of Tasha, Beth and Georgie.

Overall, this is a great book to listen to and if you like domestic thrillers about secrets coming out in the suburbs, I think you will enjoy this one but I highly recommend the audiobook version.

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

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Vulnerable (Morgans of Nashville #4) by Mary Burton

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Years ago, three Nashville teenagers went into the woods for a hike—and only one came out. 

While her two friends disappeared without a trace, Amber Ryder was discovered at the bottom of a ravine with a broken arm, head trauma, and zero memory of the horror that put her there. 

With no leads, the investigation hit a dead end. Now another woman’s body is found it the woods. When the trail leads to the missing teens’ remains, the cold case becomes a fresh hell for forensic technician Georgia Morgan. But while Georgia works with Amber to try and reawaken her memories, her gut tells her the worst is yet to come.

Homicide Detective Jake Bishop can’t be sure whether Amber is an expert manipulator or the killer’s next target. Either way, he’s determined to protect Georgia. Because the more she digs into the past, the more deadly secrets emerge. And a nightmare years in the making is about to come to a bloody, terrifying end."

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I can't believe I have had this book on my "to-be-read" pile for years! This was published back in 2016! Where have I been living? On a desert island? She has written so many bestsellers since ... I really have no excuse for waiting this long!

Vulnerable is a fast-paced procedural thriller that blends forensic detail with intense emotion. The concept of Medical Examiner Faith Cooper investigating a killer whose crimes mirror her own sister's cold case is incredibly compelling. That , combined with the professional perspective of FBI agent Deacon Hendrix, makes for a sharp, enthralling investigation.

If you love a thriller with sharp forensic details and high emotional stakes, this book is definitely one to pick up.

Overall, this is a dark, gripping, and highly addictive read and thanks to the author, Kensington Books, Pinnacle and NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts on this exceptional book.

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In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Description from Goodreads:

"Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.

When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods."

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I can't believe I have had this book on my "to-be-read" pile for years!  This was Ruth Ware's debut novel way back in 2015!  Where have I been living?  Under a rock?  She has written nearly ten massive bestsellers since then—including The Woman in Cabin 10 which I have recently watched on NetFlix® and reminded me I had In a Dark, Dark Wood waiting to dive into.

If you love a psychological thriller that uses atmosphere and isolation to build  tension, In a Dark, Dark Wood, is a triumph. The isolated glass house in the Northumbrian woods acts like a character itself, maximising the sense of dread as a forced reunion of old friends brings resentment to the surface.

The novel's brilliance lies in its use of Lee as an amnesiac narrator. We are forced to piece together the disastrous hen party alongside her, which quickly ramps the suspense to a fever pitch. Every dangerous flashback increases the tension, leading to a genuinely shocking conclusion.

Overall, this atmospheric, sharp and addictive book is a great debut (albeit I am late to the party!) and the perfect thriller for a dark evening.

Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

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