The Dark Heart (DS Max Craigie #7) by Neil Lancaster

Description from Goodreads:

"A DEADLY BOMBING

When renowned author Dr. Daniel Solomon is killed in a devastating explosion in York, authorities quickly attribute the attack to Islamic extremists. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A DARK CONSPIRACY

DS Max Craigie uncovers a chilling connection between a series of brutal murders, each victim linked by a secret that someone is determined to protect.

A DANGEROUS GAME

With the number of victims growing and an elusive figure known as The Cashier operating in the shadows, Max must navigate a web of corruption and hatred. Can he unravel the truth before more lives are lost?"

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The best one yet in this brilliant series

It’s at times like these when I wish I didn't have to go to work. As soon as I started reading, I was totally hooked and invested. I know it's a bit of a cliché to say I couldn't put it down, but I only did so because I eventually needed to sleep and go to work.

What a book! I’ve read all the other stories in this series and every single one has been excellent, but this one has actually exceeded my expectations. I don't normally gush this much about a thriller, but this one just hit every spot for me. The plot is incredibly riveting and the tension is palpable throughout.

The characters are just fantastic. The camaraderie between Max, Janie, Ross and the rest of the team feels so natural and I absolutely love the banter they share. It makes the high-stakes investigation feel so much more real. I went from laughing out loud at their exchanges to having a genuine tear in my eye – it brought out a range of emotions that not many books manage to do.

You really have to read this one. While the mystery works as a standalone, you’ll definitely get so much more out of it if you’ve followed the characters from the start. You won't be disappointed by this addition to the DS Max Craigie world.

Huge thanks to the author, HQ, HQ Digital and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this brilliant addition to a fantastic series.

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Blind Pursuit by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"Callum Murphy thought he was happily married to a corporate consultant...

But when police show up at Callum’s work site, informing him of his wife Lea’s death – his world starts to crumble. And it turns out, her death was just the beginning…

Within a few hours, Callum is told that Lea was, in fact, an MI6 agent who was killed because of intelligence only she had, strangers with guns break into his home and he’s forced to run for his life. Thrust into a terrifying chase across Europe, Callum has to dodge British police and shadowy MI6 operatives who believe he knows more than he’s letting on. All the while trying to piece together the truth about his wife's final mission.

But the deeper he digs, the more dangerous his situation becomes, forcing him to ask the ultimate Who did he marry, and can he trust anything she ever said to him?"

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The truth behind the lies

I’ve been a fan of Rob Sinclair’s thrillers for a while now and having followed several of his other series, I was looking forward to seeing what he’d do with a fresh standalone story. This one introduces us to Callum Murphy, a regular guy whose life is turned upside down when he's told his wife, Lea, has died in an accident. But that's just the start of it – he soon finds out she wasn't the corporate consultant he thought she was but an MI6 agent with some very dangerous secrets.

The story is told using a dual timeline which I thought worked really well. We get to see Callum in the present day, desperately trying to piece together the truth while being hunted across Europe, mixed with flashbacks from Lea's perspective. It was fascinating to see the contrast between Callum’s "normal" life and the gritty, high-stakes world Lea was actually living in. It definitely makes you wonder how well you really know the people closest to you.

It's a very fast-paced read with plenty of tension and some great twists that I didn't see coming. Callum makes for a great lead because he's not a superhero – he’s just a grieving husband out of his depth, which makes the danger feel much more real. There were a couple of moments where the plot felt a little stretched, but that's pretty standard for these types of thrillers and it didn't take away from the enjoyment. It’s a gripping, intense read that kept me hooked until the very end.

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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Perfect Remains (DI Callanach #1) by Helen Fields

Description from Goodreads:

"On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing.

In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…

Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.

It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes … The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined."

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A dark and gritty start to a brilliant series

It's actually outrageous how long it’s taken me to get to this one! I’ve been sitting on this virtual pile of books since 2017, and even though I’ve already read and loved two later books in this series, I’ve only just now circled back to the beginning. I'm so pleased I finally did because Perfect Remains is such a strong start to the Callanach and Turner partnership.

Set in Edinburgh, the story kicks off with a really chilling premise - a lawyer is abducted and then her remains are found in the mountains. It's dark, gritty and definitely leans into the more gruesome side of crime fiction.  It certainly doesn't shy away from the details and it makes for a very intense atmosphere.

The highlight for me was seeing how Luc Callanach and Ava Turner first met. Having read books further along in the series, it was great to see the initial friction and the building of that respect between them. 

The only reason I haven’t given this a full five stars is that there's a lot of different plot threads to keep track of, but it all comes together in a very satisfying way. If you like your crime thrillers fast-paced and a little bit stomach-churning, this is a must-read as are other books in this series.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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I'll Be Watching You by Deborah Masson

Description from Goodreads:

"He watches you constantly.

He sees everything. As a CCTV operator, Casey can travel at speed through the streets of Aberdeen and keep people safe, all from the comfort of his chair.

He knows your secrets.

You are one of the people he likes to follow. He keeps an eye on you, notices every detail of your body language, even in your most private moments, when you think no one is watching.

But now he wants more.

There's a reason he knows your routine like the back of his hand. It's because he wants revenge. And when you know as much as he does, it’s easy to take advantage…"

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Watching from the shadows

I have been a fan of Deborah Masson’s DI Eve Hunter series for a while now, so I was really looking forward to picking up her latest book, I’ll Be Watching You. This one is a bit different as it’s a standalone thriller rather than a police procedural and I was keen to see how the author handled a shift in focus.

The story follows Casey, a CCTV operator in Aberdeen who spends his days watching the city through the lenses of his cameras. It’s an unsettling premise, especially because he doesn’t just watch to keep people safe – he’s obsessed with learning routines and harbouring a desire for revenge.

I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a slow burn for me. I didn’t find myself feeling quite as invested in the characters as I have with the Eve Hunter books in the past. That said, it definitely delivered on the twists and suspense that I was expecting. The idea of being watched when you think you’re alone is a really creepy thought, and it kept me turning the pages to see where it was all heading. While it didn’t quite capture me in the same way her previous books did, it was still a solid thriller that held my interest.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that make you look at your own surroundings a little differently, this might be one for you.

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

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The League of Lonely War Women by Andie Newton

Description from Goodreads:

"‘A woman can get more information about German supply lines and replacements than a man with a knife to a soldier’s throat…’ Germany, 1944

Best friends Vivien Allen and Junie Knight are part of the covert world of America’s Morale Operations branch. As members of The League of Lonely War Women, a dark propaganda campaign aimed to sow seeds of doubt in German soldiers’ minds, their first mission sends them deep into enemy territory.

But their mission isn’t exactly what was sold to them, and the tracking of a dangerous SS officer goes very wrong, their friendship is irreparably broken.

Now, ten years later, Viv is still paying the consequences, so when a chance at redemption lands in her lap she seizes it, determined to right past wrongs, reconcile with Junie, and complete her mission once and for all…"

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A different kind of war story

I’ve been a big fan of Andie Newton’s books for a while now. I really enjoyed A Child for the Reich and The Secret Pianist, so I was quite excited to dive into this one. It’s definitely a solid read and covers an interesting part of history, but if I’m being honest, it didn’t quite grab me in the same way her previous novels did.

The story itself is well put together and clearly well-researched, which is something I’ve come to expect from this author. There’s a lot to like here regarding the setting and the historical detail, but I struggled to fully connect with the main characters. At times I found them a bit grating or frustrating, which made it harder to stay as invested in their journey as I wanted to be. It’s not that the writing is poor at all, it just felt a little different from the emotional punch I got from her other books.

If you enjoy historical fiction set during this period you’ll probably find plenty to appreciate here. It’s still a good story and worth a look, even if it didn’t become a new favourite for me personally.

Many thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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