The Killer's Mark (Washington Poe #8) M.W. Craven

Blurb:

"A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?

When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his – not inconsiderable – estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox – a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency’s history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity…

Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or – as the sign on their door says – ‘Gumshoes for Hire’. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl’s claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first…"

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Absolute masterclass in crime fiction! 

I have been following Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw for a while now somehow we've got to book eight in this series which you would think might start to become a little stale, but not so by a long way.

This time around Poe and Tilly have left the NCA behind to set up their own private detective gig – complete with a sign on the door declaring themselves "Gumshoes for Hire".  Poe's hoping for a quiet life but that all vanishes when a feisty fifteen year old girl, Esmerée, walks through the door.  She wants them to find her mother, someone she believed was dead until seeing her alive in a video online.  What starts as a straightforward missing persons inquiry quickly spirals into a dark, complex case involving Chinese triads, corruption and lethal secrets that threaten to pull everyone under.

The plot is brilliantly constructed with twists that hit when you least expect them.  Craven handles some heavy themes here but the trademark banter between Poe and Tilly provides that perfect, laugh out loud light in the darkness.  Seeing Tilly step up and take charge in certain parts of this investigation was fantastic, and the dynamic between the two of them is as brilliant as ever.

If you're looking for a fast paced thriller, trust me, you won't be able to put this down.

My thanks to M W Craven, Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another fantastic addition to a brilliant series.

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Fractured Dawn (Mackenzie Reynolds #2) by D.V. Berkom

✴✴✴ Expected publication 16 September 2026 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"Some conspiracies threaten governments. This one threatens everyone she loves.

When elite close protection operative Mackenzie "Mac" Reynolds learns her father didn't die in a Bangkok bombing three years ago, everything she thought she knew shatters.

A captured CIA asset delivers an impossible Chase Reynolds is alive and has gone to ground while he hunts a rogue intelligence network powerful enough to manipulate governments from the shadows.

Following a trail across Central Europe, Mac and her mentor, former Special Forces operator Jackson Jones, uncover Project Eclipse, a deadly conspiracy run by ruthless arms broker Victor Hale. With assassins closing in and allies becoming suspects, every move could be their last.

To stop a global catastrophe, Mac must decide who she can trust—including the CIA officer who also happens to be her mother.

Because if Hale succeeds, nations will fall.

And Mac may lose the last chance she has to save her father."

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An absolute belter of a second book

After reading False Dawn, I couldn't wait to see what D.V. Berkom had in store for Mackenzie Reynolds next, and this second instalment certainly didn't disappoint.

This time around, Mac finds out that her father might actually still be alive after a bomb blast in Bangkok three years ago. That revelation throws her straight into a deadly hunt across Central Europe alongside her trusted mentor, Jackson. Between rogue intelligence networks, relentless assassins and a shadowy plot called Project Eclipse, the stakes feel even higher than in the first book.

Mac is such a brilliantly written character – tough, smart and completely uncompromising, but still human enough that you're rooting for her on every single page. The dynamics between the characters are fantastic this time too. I loved the inclusion of Harry and also watching the relationship develop between Mac and Nick, which adds a really great personal dynamic amongst all the chaos. Plus, bringing her estranged CIA mother into the mix creates an extra layer of family drama that keeps you hooked.

The pacing is non-stop from the very beginning. The action sequences are gripping, the twists keep you on your toes and the European settings are so vividly described that you feel right in the middle of the chaos. If you love fast-paced, high-octane thrillers with a fierce female lead, you're going to love this. D.V. Berkom has delivered another absolute cracker, and I'm already desperate to see where Mac's journey goes 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 Fractured Dawn and my hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

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The Campervan Detectives: A Camper Van Detective Mystery Book 1 by Maeve Haran [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Fenella Fudge 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?"

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A charming cozy mystery with fantastic audio narration

I like reading a cozy mystery every now and then as a step away from what I normally read, so this was a lovely change of pace for me! The story follows Sadie Sutton, who, after her marriage implodes, buys a vintage orange VW campervan and heads off to the seaside town of Winching with her dog Sam Spade. Her fresh start takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles across the dead body of her old, sharp-tongued headmistress, Charlotte Woolf. Before long, Sadie teams up with three fellow van-lifers at the campsite – Rose, Amanda and Tina – to do a bit of amateur sleuthing. 

Listening to the audiobook was an absolute treat, especially thanks to the brilliant narrator, Fenella Fudge. She brought the characters to life so vividly, giving each person their own distinct personality and catching the warmth, wit and dry humour of the story perfectly. Her performance made it so easy to get swept up in the journey as Sadie and her new campsite friends set out to solve the crime.  

The plot itself is quite lighthearted and gentle, which made for a really relaxing listen. It does take a little while for the murder mystery to get properly moving as we spend time getting to know the lead characters, their backstories and campsite life, but once the investigation gets going, it is a thoroughly enjoyable ride.  

Overall, it's a great escapist listen. I will definitely be looking out for the next instalment in the series!  

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my honest thoughts. 

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The Children on the Train by Anna Stuart

Description from Goodreads:

"November 1938, Germany. Grete guides two small children onto the train. Placing her arms protectively around their shoulders, she prays the journey is uneventful because she must get six-year-old Adele and eight-year-old Rosa out of Germany…

Grete always longed to be a mother, but it never happened for her so, as the clouds of war gather over Europe, she’s devoting her time to helping Jewish children escape the Nazis. She remembers the face of every single child she’s taken on trains to freedom in the Netherlands. The danger increases with each trip, but, today, she has to get her best friend’s children to safety, because they are closest thing she has to family.

But at the border, the train screeches to a halt and she hears the shout of a Nazi guard. Then the sound of boots coming towards their carriage. When the door bursts open, she draws herself up tall, and prepares to face the interrogation she knows will come. With shaking hands, she passes over Rosa and Adele’s tattered papers and hopes they aren’t scrutinised too closely.

Grete is ready to do whatever it takes to keep her small charges safe…"

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An incredible story that blew me away  Having previously read and thoroughly enjoyed The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart, I couldn't wait to pick up her latest release. Safe to say, she has done it again! This was an emotional, gripping and moving story that pulled me in right from the very first page.  

What really stood out for me was the unbelievable bravery of Grete and Helena, and the constant danger they put themselves in every single day. Before reading this, I had never heard of Geertruida "Truus" Wijsmuller-Meijer (Grete), which I think is a total scandal. This lady should be just as famous as Sir Nicholas Winton, and someone needs to make a film about her! The sheer peril she put herself in to escort children across borders and stand up to Nazi officials took my breath away. She was such a practical, no-nonsense matriarch who used her sheer tenacity and gift of words to save lives.  

Helena was another absolutely amazing character who completely stole my heart. Facing growing persecution in Germany while trying to keep her family safe, her inner strength was unbelievable. It was so heartbreaking to see her accompany children on the train transports, knowing she had to keep returning to Nazi Germany time and again for fear of jeopardising the whole operation and putting her own family in increasing danger. 

It's a heavy subject, but Anna Stuart brings so much warmth and humanity to the story that you just can't put it down.  Although this is a work of fiction, Truus and many of the events and experiences depicted are based on real life, which makes the whole reading experience even more poignant. 

If you enjoy historical fiction that packs an emotional punch and highlights true unsung heroes, I can't recommend this enough. 

A huge thank you to Anna Stuart, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and share my honest thoughts. 

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You Never Said Goodbye by Luca Veste

Description from Goodreads:

"A DEVOTED MOTHER

Sam Cooper has a happy life: a good job, a blossoming relationship. Yet, there's something he can never forget - the image seared into his mind of his mother, Laurie, dying when he was a child. His father allowed his grief to tear them apart and Sam hasn't seen him in years.

A LOVING WIFE

Until an unexpected call from Firwood hospital, asking Sam to come home, puts in motion a chain of devastating events. On his deathbed, Sam's father makes a shocking confession.

A LIAR?

Who was Laurie Cooper? It's clear that everything Sam thought he knew about his mother was wrong. And now he's determined to find out exactly what she did and why - whatever the cost.

What happens if you discover you've been lied to by your own family for twenty-five years?

Sam Cooper is about to find out."

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A fast paced chase with an interesting premise but too many gaps

This is another book that has been sitting patiently on my to-be-read pile since 2022 and I have finally got round to reading it now! 

The story kicks off with Sam, whose life is completely upended when his wife is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. To make things even crazier, he discovers that his mother – who he thought died in a car crash when he was a child – might actually still be alive. He ends up going on the run across America to find out the truth while fleeing the police and some very dangerous people.

It starts off with a massive bang and the initial hook is fantastic. The pacing is incredibly fast and it genuinely feels like a frantic high-stakes chase movie. If you want something action-packed that keeps moving from city to city, the momentum here definitely delivers on that front.

However, as the chase went on, I struggled a bit with the plausibility of it all. Sam manages to pull off some unbelievable escapes, and a lot of the plot relies on huge coincidences that stretched my layout of belief a bit too far. Some of the twists toward the end felt quite convoluted and I was left with a few too many unanswered questions about how everything connected. It is a decent, fast-paced thriller if you can switch your brain off and just enjoy the ride, but it did not quite hit the mark for me.

A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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