Fatal by Jacqui Rose

Description from Goodreads:

"An eye for an eye.

Cabhan Morton wants to leave the Russo crime family for good and live in peace with his daughter, Alice Rose. But the Russos won’t let him walk away without a fight.

A tooth for a tooth.

Franny Doyle would do anything for Cabhan and Alice, but helping them escape the vindictive Russo brothers won’t be easy. The only place they’ll be safe is back in Essex with Alfie Jennings.

A daughter for a daughter…

Franny knows she won’t be welcomed by Alfie with open arms – but she doesn’t have a choice. The Russos are out for blood and they won’t stop until Alice is dead…"

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A gripping story of secrets and betrayal

I've finally ticked this one off my list after it's been sitting on my to-be-read pile since 2019! Fatal by Jacqui Rose is a gritty, fast-paced thriller that pulls you straight into a world of crime and complicated family ties. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I've heard good things and can't believe it's taken me so long to finally get around to it.

The story follows some really intense characters and I found myself caught up in the drama right from the start. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages late into the night. It's one of those books where the past always has a way of catching up with the present in the most explosive way possible.

If you're a fan of gangland fiction that doesn't pull its punches, you'll definitely want to give this a go. There was a tiny niggle with the pacing in the middle, but honestly, it didn't take away from the overall experience. The characters are well-developed and the dialogue feels very real and grounded. It's a solid, engaging read that fans of this genre will thoroughly enjoy and it won't be the last one I pick up by this author. 

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and eventually get around to sharing my thoughts of this book.

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Reich to Israel by Avi Strauss

Description:

"In Germany, Hans Weingart was more interested in philosophy and sports than politics. But when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis rose to power, everything changed. His Jewish friends, their community, and the woman he loved were stripped of their rights, arrested, and forced to flee. As the Third Reich tightened its grip across Nazi Germany and demanded loyalty, Hans made a choice he believed would keep him alive. It was a decision that would change him forever.

At Auschwitz, where he served as a guard surrounded by cruelty and death, Hans learned how easily decency could be silenced. With each order he followed, he drifted further from the man he once was and deeper into the Nazi war machine. Yet even in that place of darkness, brief moments of humanity broke through, reminding him of what he had lost and who he had betrayed.

When World War II ended, Hans vanished, evading justice under a false name aboard a Jewish refugee ship bound for British-controlled Palestine. Living among Holocaust survivors and those he once helped oppress, he began a new life, hoping that helping build their future homeland of Israel might atone for his past. But can anyone ever outrun the past and keep their secrets buried forever?

Reich to Israel is a sweeping work of Holocaust historical fiction about guilt, survival, moral compromise, and the weight of complicity in the aftermath of unimaginable evil. It explores identity, love, and the difficult search for redemption. For readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale, and We Were the Lucky Ones, this powerful World War II novel asks whether a man who became part of darkness can ever truly confront the harm he caused or whether the burden of his past can ever be escaped. A compelling choice for readers and book clubs drawn to moral conflict, reckoning, and the enduring consequences of history."

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A deeply moving and thought-provoking historical novel

This was an incredibly intense and difficult book to read, but I am so glad I picked it up. I recently read another historical fiction book and was looking for something that would really challenge me, and this one absolutely did. It's a sweeping story that follows Hans Weingart, a German man who is more interested in philosophy than politics, but everything changes fast when Hitler rises to power.

The story grapples with some massive, heavy themes around guilt, moral compromise, and whether redemption is actually possible after being complicit in unimaginable evil. Watching how the characters change as Nazi Germany shifts overnight is fascinating, especially when Hans sees his Jewish friends and the woman he loves stripped of their rights. It leaves you with so many difficult questions about identity and survival that I found myself pausing after chapters just to process it all.

The narrative feels deeply emotional and the historical details are very well researched. It's a slow-burn book that really forces you to think about human nature and the weight of actions during wartime. My only minor niggle is that the pacing can feel a bit uneven during some of the more reflective parts, but it honestly didn't take away from how powerful the overall journey is.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this thought-provoking book.

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One of the Family by Mark Edwards

Description from Goodreads:

"One of the family is dead.

One of the family is missing.

And one of the family might just be the killer...

Patrick couldn’t believe his luck when Holly fell for him. She’s wickedly funny, beautiful, and with an intimidatingly successful father, Charles.

So when she invites him to Charles’ mansion for a New Year’s break in Scotland, all he’s hoping is that they’ll accept him as one of the family.

But everything feels a little off. Whispers in hallways. Rumours of a body that got found nearby the previous year. And something very strange about Charles’ new girlfriend.

Every family has secrets, and Patrick tells himself all he needs to do is survive the next few days.

But then the first body is found, and Patrick realises that all he needs to do is survive the next few days…"

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A claustrophobic and twisty trip to the Scottish Highlands

Having only read one of Mark Edwards' books before, I was really looking forward to seeing what his latest thriller would be like. His writing style hooked me last time and I am pleased to say this one kept me just as glued to the pages.

The story follows Patrick, who is heading up to a remote mansion in Scotland for a New Year's break to meet his girlfriend Holly's family for the first time. As if meeting her intimidatingly successful dad wasn't stressful enough, the siblings are all on edge because their father has just introduced his new fiancée. To make things way creepier, she is the exact same age as them and looks just like their late mother. Throw in heavy snowstorms, isolated surroundings, whispers of a frozen body found nearby and a family full of unlikable snakes, and you have the perfect recipe for total paranoia.

The opening line sets the tone well and I loved how the atmosphere builds up, making you second-guess absolutely everyone. Patrick often feels like a bit of an observer while everyone else is sniping at each other, but watching the chaos unravel around him was genuinely addictive. 

The final section gets incredibly chaotic with so many different strings of the story coming together at once. It feels a bit rushed and frantic compared to the slow-burn tension of the rest of the book, which is a minor niggle because the twists at the end definitely delivered.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer

Description from Goodreads:

"Leningrad, Russia, 1968. 

From an early age it is clear that Alexander Karpenko is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, Alexander and his mother will have to escape Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they have an irreversible choice: board a container ship bound for America or one bound for Great Britain. Alexander leaves the choice to a toss of a coin . . .

In a single moment, a double twist decides Alexander’s future. During an epic tale, spanning two continents and thirty years, we follow Alexander through triumph and defeat as he sets out on parallel lives, as Alex in New York and Sasha in London. As this unique story unfolds, both come to realize that to find their destiny they must face the past they left behind as Alexander in Russia."

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Heads you win

I haven't picked up a Jeffrey Archer book since reading Kane and Abel years ago. I absolutely loved that one, so I'm not sure why this has been sat on my virtual shelf gathering digital dust since 2018! I'm really glad I finally got around to it though.

The story starts in 1960's Russia with Alexander Karpenko. After a family tragedy, he has to make a split-second decision at the docks: board a ship to America or one to the UK. Archer does something really clever by showing us both lives playing out in alternating chapters. We follow Alex in New York and Sasha in London. It could've been confusing, but it’s handled well enough that I always knew which version of the story I was in.

It’s a proper "what if" tale. Both versions of his life are full of the political and business drama you’d expect from this author. I found myself rooting for both characters, even though they’re technically the same person. It’s a bit of a chunky read, but the pace is good and I zipped through it quickly once I got into the rhythm.

The ending is definitely going to be a talking point. I won’t give anything away, but it’s one of those that makes you want to go back and look for clues you might've missed. While some parts felt a bit far-fetched, it didn't take away from the journey. It reminded me why I liked his writing in the first place - he really knows how to tell a story that keeps you turning pages. 

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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No Way Out (Josie Chapman #2) by Max Connor; Neil Lancaster

Description from Goodreads:

"For her latest mission, British Intelligence operative Josie Chapman lands in California. Beneath the sun-soaked boulevards and rolling hills lurks a sprawling network of organised crime.

Posing as a climbing instructor, Josie infiltrates the operation and uncovers the staggering extent of its power and corruption. At its core is Franco Tondino, ruthless crime boss known as ‘The Director’, whose influence snakes through every level of authority, from local police to high-ranking officials.

How much is Josie willing to sacrifice to outwit a criminal empire that stops at nothing to protect its secrets? While failure means certain ruin, success could come at a devastating cost…"

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An absolute cracker of a thriller

I absolutely love reading Neil Lancaster's Max Craigie series, so when I saw that this one was written under his pseudonym of Max Connor, there was no way I was going to miss out. Once again, he really doesn't disappoint.

I actually haven't read the first book in this Josie Chapman series – I'm really not sure how or why that managed to pass me by – but I don't think it affected my enjoyment or understanding of this one at all. It works perfectly well as a standalone, though it has definitely made me want to go back and grab the first one.

Josie is a brilliant main character and I took to her straight away. She's incredibly well-drawn, stubborn and easy to root for. She's brave but reckless meaning some of the decisions she makes are questionable but I like her.  The rest of the cast are just as good, with fantastic dynamics and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them all a bit more as the series progresses.

The plot itself is quite a disturbing story, dealing with some heavy themes, but unfortunately it's an all too familiar one in this day and age. It's handled really well, with loads action and tension. I was completely hooked from the start and couldn't put it down.

I loved it and I already can't wait for the next instalment. I can easily see this becoming just as good a series as the Max Craigie books. If you enjoy a gritty, fast-paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you'll definitely want to add this to your list. 

A huge thank you to the author, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book.

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