My Torturess by Bensalem Himmich

"Thought-provoking and difficult to read"

Description from Goodreads:

"In this harrowing novel, a young Moroccan bookseller is falsely accused of being involved in jihadist activities. Drugged and carried off the street, Hamuda is "extraordinarily rendered" to a prison camp in an unknown location where he is interrogated and subjected to various methods of torture.

Narrated through the voice of the young prisoner, the novel unfolds in Hamuda’s attempt to record his experience once he is finally released after six years in captivity. He paints an unforgettable portrait of his captors’ brutality and the terrifying methods of his primary interrogator, a French woman known as Mama Ghula. With a lucid style, Himmich delivers a visceral tale that explores the moral depths to which humanity is capable of descending and the limits of what the soul can endure."

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This was a difficult book to read - not only because of the subject matter but also because of the way it was written. I found it difficult to follow and unnatural in its prose but this could have been as a result of the process of translation rather than the way the author intended.

The story follows Hamuda, a bookseller from Morocco, after he is “arrested” and interred in an unknown place in horrific conditions. There he is held without trial whilst experiencing unspeakable and unthinkable acts of violence both physical and psychological.

Whilst this is a work of fiction, it does make you wonder and question how much is actually close to the truth of what really happens with “prisoners” who go through the practice of rendition and how far Governments will go to garner information. How those “prisoners” survive, even if they undergo only half of what Hamuda did, is beyond me.

As I said, a difficult book to read but one which is thought-provoking with a lot of talking points.

Thank you to the publisher, Syracuse University Press, for providing me with a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Line Unseen by Joe Hart - Free download

"A good quick read"

Description:

“From the author of LINEAGE, SINGULARITY, and EVERFALL comes this short story of supernatural horror.

A man, walked on his entire life by others, discovers his wife's infidelity, and decides to do something about it. After a deadly encounter in an alleyway he must look into the depths of himself to find the line unseen, and face the horror beyond.”

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This is a short story I picked up for free from Amazon and, to be honest, because it’s free I didn’t expect too much but was actually pleasantly surprised. Although it’s short - about 28 pages on my Kindle and around 9,000 words - it packs a lot into a short space of time.

The book is well written, the characters believable and well developed and the story is interesting with just the right amount of gore. There is tension and atmosphere with a twist at the end which leaves you wondering where your line is and where it will take you.

Overall, a good quick read and a good introduction to the works of this author which I would highly recommend especially as I have read one of his full length novels - The River is Dark - which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I would also like to mention how great I think the cover is - it’s really eye-catching and ominous - well done to the person who came up with that.

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Author website: http://www.joehartbooks.com/

Author twitter:  @AuthorJoeHart

You can still download a free copy of this short story from Amazon UK and US, Barnes & Noble, WHSmith and others … go get it and enjoy!

The Debt by Simon Kernick

"A short but enjoyable read"

Description from Amazon:

“‘A debt is a debt is a debt.’

It’s not your debt. It’s your cousin’s. And he’s done a runner.

So now the local gangland bosses have come to you for repayment. They aren’t taking 'no' for an answer, but they will take your fingers - one by one - if you don’t get hold of the money. Very soon.

You’ve got to think fast. You’ve got to act fast. And then you’ll have to get out of here – as fast as you can.”

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Simon is one of my all-time favorite authors so when I heard there was a free download available of one of his books, I jumped at the chance. Now, I have to admit that I've had this on my Kindle since 2013 only to be rediscovered when I was looking for something quick to read in between "longer" books.

The story was originally written for BMW to promote a new car but don’t let that put you off - although the car features and there are a few obvious “selling pitches”, it’s not the star and, for me, didn’t detract from the story that much - Simon had already been open and honest about why the story was written so I was actually expecting a bit more to be honest.

As I said, the story is a short one - around 29 pages on the Kindle - so can be read in no time at all - it will probably take you as long to find it, download it, open it and read the introduction as it will reading it but despite this, I was soon immersed in the story and the characters. I admit that it is too short to really get much feeling about it and it doesn’t really showcase Simon’s talent as a fantastic author but I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick read and there is also the bonus of a sneak preview of “Ultimatum” so if you haven’t yet read it … where have you been?

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Author website - http://www.simonkernick.com/

Author's Twitter - @simonkernick

You can download a free copy of this short story from Amazon UK and US, Barnes & Noble, WHSmith and many others.

The Drowned Boy (Inspector Konrad Sejer #11) by Karin Fossum

Good story but disappointing ending

Description from Goodreads:

“‘He'd just learnt to walk,’ she said. ‘He was sitting playing on his blanket, then all of a sudden he was gone.’

A 16-month-old boy is found drowned in a pond right by his home. Chief Inspector Sejer is called to the scene as there is something troubling about the mother’s story. As even her own family turns against her, Sejer is determined to get to the truth.”

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This is the 11th book in this particular series by this author and I have to admit that I have not read a single one before. Having said that, I’m not sure that I missed out not having read others which is a testament to the author’s ability to immerse you in the story and characters with ease.

The story is a sad and difficult one - the death of 16 month old Tommy who happens to have Down’s Syndrome - but one which the author does with respect and compassion with a writing style that is easy to read and flows well.

The characters are complex, interesting and well developed with the story being told from various points of view; this is particularly helpful as it enables the reader to get into the mind of the main characters. We feel the frustration as Inspector Sejer does - he has his doubts about the explanations around Tommy’s accident - he has a gut feeling that all is not what it seems and the author does a great job at putting this across to the reader. We feel the grief caused by such a tragic event and see how people react differently to it particularly the stark contrast between the parents. There is a character that I could quite happily have drowned myself - oh my word that person brought out the worst in me - but then another filled me with empathy and I just wanted to give them a hug.

I love it when a book brings out these feelings in me and I think The Drowned Boy did this really well but, and it’s a big BUT, I was so disappointed with the ending. I actually gasped and tutted and said “what?” out loud - I was astonished it was so ridiculous and after such a well thought out story.

Would I recommend this book to anyone else? Probably, but with a warning not to expect too much at the end. Would I read more from this author? Possibly but I think I would read some reviews first.

Thank to the publisher, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing, via NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

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Wake by Elizabeth Knox

Description from Goodreads:

"An invisible monster is what you can't see coming. With an invisible monster you never know when you're in danger and when you're safe—if you retreat to your fortress you can't be sure you haven't locked it in with you. The invisible monster is something on which no one is an expert. But everyone has the same relationship to it. It could just as well be peering over your shoulder as mine.

On a sunny spring morning the settlement of Kahukura in Tasman is suddenly overwhelmed by a mysterious mass insanity. A handful of survivors find themselves cut off from the world, and surrounded by the dead. As the group of try to take care of one another, and survive in ever more difficult circumstances, it becomes apparent that this isn't the first time that this has happened, and that they aren't all survivors and victims - two of them are something quite other. And, it seems, they are trapped with something. Something unseen is picking at the loose threads of their characters, corrupting, provoking, and haunting them.

Wake is book that asks: 'What are the last things left when the worst has happened?' It is a book about extreme events, ordinary people, heroic compassion—and invisible monsters."

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Once again, I am in the minority with this book. It has received so many good reviews of 4 and 5 stars that I am beginning to think there’s something wrong with me because I just didn’t get it.

It starts off brilliantly with all kinds of mayhem and unspeakable acts which are excellently described by Elizabeth Knox who really captures the fear and confusion well - this first bit is not for the feint-hearted. I thought this was the start of something that was going to keep me up and make me bleary eyed at work the next day but, alas, this did not last too long as once the initial madness was over, it became quite a monotonous story about the group of people who had survived.

The book is written from the point of view of the survivors and there are quite a few. Each of the survivors are well developed but there are a lot of them and the story changes from one person to the other which I felt was a little confusing and resulted in me not developing a connection or any particular feelings towards any of them and I wasn’t particularly bothered what happened to them either.

The premise of the story is great but it's just written in a way that neither captured nor engaged me but I would like to thank the publisher, Little Brown Book Group UK, via NetGalley for the copy in return for an honest review.

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Christmas Giveaway - 21 Killer Novels in Print

Thanks to author Nick Stephenson who has teamed up with 21 other authors:

Christmas Giveaway has now ended
fingers crossed :)

21 Killer Novels in Print

One winner will get the whole bundle of paperbacks. Everyone who enters will be sent some free ebooks once the contest is over. No purchase necessary but see below for the rules. 

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Swerve by Vicki Pettersson

"A little implausible but certainly entertaining"

Description from Goodreads:

“It’s high summer in the Mojave Desert, and Kristine Rush and her fiancé, Daniel, are en route from Las Vegas to Lake Arrowhead, California, for the July Fourth holiday weekend. But when Daniel is abducted from a desolate rest stop, Kristine is forced to choose: return home unharmed, but never to see her fiancé again, or plunge forward into the searing desert to find him…where a killer lies in wait.”

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What a great thriller this is from start to finish but it most definitely isn’t for the faint hearted. It all starts out so innocently with a happy couple making a road trip for the 4th July celebrations but who knew a spilt coffee could be the start of a nightmare that goes from bad to worse.

The story is told from the point of view of the main character, Kristine. Kristine is a single mum who has had a traumatic and difficult upbringing. Periods of Kristine’s life are dotted throughout the book and these provide an insight into her character and why she is a strong as she is and crikey, is she strong; she’s like an Amazonian! The trials and tribulations she is made to go through to rescue her fiancé, Daniel, within 24 hours are extreme and put her and those around her at great peril. The violence to which she is exposed to is severe and graphic so if you don’t like that sort of thing, I would steer clear.

The book is written with great pace and with tension oozing from the pages, it makes for a gripping read. There are surprising twists which change the whole feel of the story which make it more than your usual ‘cat and mouse’ fare and yes, it may be a little implausible but it certainly is entertaining.

How would I put this book into a genre …. absolutely no idea! It’s loads of genres mixed into one highly engaging and absorbing book which I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, horrors, suspense and stories about survival in extreme circumstances but, as I said before, it’s not for the faint-hearted so if you don’t like blood and gore, don’t even go there.

Thanks to the publisher, Gallery Books, via NetGalley for introducing me to another new author to look out for and for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website: http://www.vickipettersson.com - to keep up with the latest news, releases, signings and the occasional exclusive giveaways

Author twitter:  VickiPettersson

Publisher:  Gallery Books 

The Body Market by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

“A retired assassin is called in when a celebration south of the border turns into a nightmare.

Former assassin Leine Basso is hired by a wealthy Beverly Hills power couple to find their missing daughter, Elise, who was last seen partying with her boyfriend at a club in Tijuana. At first, police believe the two teenagers are the victims of a carjacking. But when Leine finds their missing vehicle with the boyfriend’s mutilated body inside, and the local cartel warns her away, she knows if Elise isn’t already dead, she will be soon, or worse.

In the lethal world of organized crime, there’s always a worse.

As Leine races the clock to uncover the reason behind Elise Bennett's disappearance, she must also battle the powerful interests fighting to keep her from the truth.”

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Oh my goodness, I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book from start to finish so before I try, I want to thank the author, publisher (Duct Tape Press) and NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

I have never read anything by D.V. Berkom before and therefore have not read the first 2 books in this series but I really didn’t feel I missed out at all. There is a back story to the main character, Leine Basso, which, although is touched upon in this book, I felt the author gave enough of it to give me a good insight into her motivations and strength. Leine is a very strong character but with a soft and caring side and you see all of these in this story. Now don’t get me wrong, she is not so perfect that she becomes unbelievable rather that she has flaws that make her more plausible.

The other main character in this story, Elise, is not your usual victim. Despite her going through some horrific experiences, she maintains a strength and fighting spirit throughout which was unexpected given where she comes from and although not the most likeable character at the beginning, I did start to warm to her as her plight deepened.

The secondary characters add other dimensions to the story with each one being expertly developed and none feeling superfluous or an afterthought.

The story is a difficult one to cover, that of kidnapping, murder, organ theft and trafficking but D.V. Berkom writes without sensationalising those subjects. The pace of the story is fast and it’s very difficult to stop reading even though you have to get up for work the next morning!

Overall, a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and now I’m off to get the first 2.

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Author website: http://www.dvberkom.com/

Twitter: @dvberkom

Fade to Black(Awake in the Dark Book 1) by Tim McBain and LT Vargus

Description from Goodreads:

"Live. Die. Repeat.

Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.

But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.

"Dude, please stop trying to kill me."

Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'

Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life."

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I really don't like writing bad reviews but I think honesty is the best policy and this book was not for me. I didn't connect with the characters at all and I just couldn't get into the story. It started off really well but went downhill soon after and I quickly became annoyed with the characters, particularly Jeff whom I found irritating. Jeff is supposed to be 27 but, to me, he comes across as a teenager - either that or he's just quite immature for his age.

As I have said, the story starts off well but then goes nowhere apart from all over the place and then stops with no conclusion.  I hate it when that happens.  Yes, I know it's book 1 in a series but, even so, I expect some insight which will make me buy the next book not just an ending which forces you to buy the other books just to get the rest of the story.  I would rather just read one large book than 3 smaller ones.

I can imagine this might appeal to teenagers/young adults but me, a slightly more mature lady (!), not so much but it has received quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews so what do I know? Give it a go and judge for yourself, you've nothing to lose at it's free on Amazon, I may well have missed something that is totally obvious to others.

Although I was directed by one of the authors to Amazon to download a free sample of 3 books in the series, I did actually have a full copy of this 1st book on my Kindle and so I didn't bother downloading the free sample and, given how I felt about this, I don't think I will be reading the other 2. 

Nowhere Girl by Ruth Dugdall

Description from Goodreads:

“A psychological crime novel from an author with 10 years experience as a probation officer in high security prisons

When Ellie goes missing on the first day of Schueberfouer, the police are dismissive, keen not to attract negative attention on one of Luxembourg’s most important events, its annual city fair. Probation officer Cate Austin has moved for a fresh start, along with her daughter Amelia, to live with her police detective boyfriend, Olivier Massard. But when she realizes just how casually he is taking the disappearance of Ellie, Cate decides to investigate matters for herself. She discovers Luxembourg has a dark heart. With its geographical position, could it be the center of a child trafficking ring? As Cate comes closer to discovering Ellie’s whereabouts she uncovers a hidden world, placing herself in danger, not just from traffickers, but from a source much closer to home.”

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I haven’t read anything by this particular author before but because I had read and reviewed Before It’s Too Late by Jane Isaac for the Publisher - Legend Press via NetGalley, I was invited to read this one by the same Publisher. Well, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I accepted but unfortunately I was left a little disappointed.

Although the book is well written and easy to read, it was also easy to put down and didn’t have that “just one more chapter before I go to sleep” moment which I found a little bit sad because I hate it when that happens. Unfortunately, I did not feel a connection to any of the characters which is a shame and, in addition, none of the characters seemed to have much of a connection with each other either particularly Cate and Olivier. Now I got the impression that Cate and Olivier are a fairly new couple and should still be in the stages of ‘dreamy-eyed love’ but I didn’t get that sense at all … don’t get me wrong, I’m not one for romance and gushing love but they just seemed to be on totally separate wavelengths to me … it’s really hard to explain but it felt unnatural.

The story itself is interesting and whilst parts are scarily believable and there were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, the way it played out felt a bit too contrived for me and how it was all wrapped up at the end felt rushed and a little far-fetched. I did however like how the story was told from different perspectives and I particularly liked Amina and found her the most interesting character in the book.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad read but rather I found it a bit frustrating and it just didn’t grab me as much a I would have liked. From reading other reviews, I get the feeling that to get the most out of this particular book, you need to have read the previous one which introduced Cate - “Humber Boy B” - so I would recommend to anyone thinking of buying this, to buy and read that one first.

Last Resort: A Novella by K R Griffiths

Description from Goodreads:

“For Shane Clifford, things can't possibly get any worse. What should have been an idyllic vacation - a week of snowboarding at one of Canada's most beautiful ski resorts - becomes toxic when his wife tearfully confesses her infidelity.

Overcome with grief, all Shane wants is to get away, but a freak storm has closed the roads, and it seems there will be no escape from his torment until the weather clears. Yet when Shane snaps and tries to leave the resort against all advice, he soon discovers that there is more on the mountain than just snow and trees.

And things can always get worse…”

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This is a short read (81 pages on my Kindle) but it packs a punch. It has everything you could want in a horror book - atmospheric and sinister, tension and thrills and imaginative “killers”. K R Griffiths is adept at drawing you in quickly by creating and developing characters that you care about which is just as well as this is a quick read. However, unlike many short horror stories I have read, it’s really well written and doesn’t just rely on gratuitous blood and gore - now don’t get me wrong there is blood and gore in there but it’s there for a purpose and not just for the sake of it.

The story grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last and the only complaint I have is that I didn’t want it to end. I loved the ending but it came too soon for me … I wanted more; I want a full size novel … am I greedy? You bet when it comes to a good read!

I have been a fan of Mr Griffiths since reading Survivor: A Horror Thriller, I then went on to read Adrift, followed by Adrift 2 and every one has been brilliant and I can safely say that I am a fan and would most definitely recommend him to anyone who likes a good scare or that feeling of trepidation when you are alone in the dark!

Thank you Mr Griffiths for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Author website: http://www.krgriffiths.org/ where you can subscribe to the newsletter for new releases and bonus content.

Twitter: KRGriffiths1

Written in the Scars by Mel Sherratt

Description from Goodreads:

“Welcome to The Estate - where even the darkest times have their lighter moments...

Scars.

Sometimes they’re visible. Sometimes they’re burdens that we carry around with us.

You can’t see Donna’s scars from a joke of a marriage.

You can’t see Lewis’s scars from his time in the army.

You can see Megan’s scars but she won’t let you.

And Mary can’t always remember how she got hers.

If the past could be erased to make a better future, we’d all want to do that, wouldn’t we? No matter how dangerous the consequences might be…

WRITTEN IN THE SCARS is the fourth book in The Estate Series but each one can be read as a standalone novel.”

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I really enjoy reading Mel’s books but this is the first one I have read from The Estate Series. Her other books from the DS Allie Shenton Series - Follow The Leader and Only The Brave are brilliant so I did not hesitate when Mel asked me to read and review her new book, Written in the Scars and I am so pleased I did because I really liked it even though it is slightly different to what I normally read.

Mel has a skill of drawing you into the lives of complete strangers, becoming attached to them and really caring about what happens to them even if some of them are far from perfect. The characters she creates are authentic and believable and Mel makes you feel that they could be you, a member of your family, a friend, neighbour or work colleague. The trials and tribulations she puts them through are more than plausible they are true-to-life and are probably happening in your street right now.

Donna is a 40-something, single parent working in a local shop; her son is walking a thin line to becoming a miscreant, her daughter working in a massage parlour and to top it all, her mum has dementia. Donna is the linchpin in the family but all she wants is a little fun herself and to get the spark back into her life. There is a saying that good things only happen to good people, well, this isn’t always true - I won’t elaborate further - no spoilers from me - you’ll just have to read the book.

Lewis is an ex-soldier who has brought back a lot of baggage from his tours in Afghanistan and as a result, has lost his family and is back living on The Estate with his mum who herself is mourning the death of her husband. All Lewis wants is to be back with his family however, he is on self-destruct and as a result, is pushing all those he holds dear and those who want to help further away. I found myself really feeling for Lewis and I desperately wanted to jump in the book and help him myself - that’s what Mel does, like I said, she makes you care.

There are many other characters of note including Megan - a young girl with a secret who is holding down two jobs as well as caring for her disabled mum; Josie - a housing officer with a heart and Owen - Donna’s love interest. There are some more minor characters as well and although I call them minor, they are pivotal to the realism of the book.

Mel’s writing style is easy to read and flows well. Her use of language during the dialogue, both internal and between characters, is natural and convincing.

Mel is a favourite author of mine and I would encourage anyone who enjoys a great character-driven story or, as Mel describes it herself, grit-lit (women’s fiction with a punch) to buy this book, you will not be disappointed and once you have, you will want to read everything else she has written.

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Author website: http://melsherratt.co.uk/ - where you can get a free book - Secrets on The Estates - the prequel to The Estates Series

Twitter: @writermels

Bite by Nick Louth

Description from Goodreads:

“Tomorrow should be the greatest day of Erica Stroud-Jones's life. In just 24 hours this brilliant young scientist will present her secret work to a conference in Amsterdam - research that promises to revolutionise the battle against a deadly tropical disease. Millions of lives could be saved; a Nobel Prize beckons.

Arriving to watch her are sceptics and rivals, admirers and enemies. Erica's own eyes will be on sculptor Max Carver, her American new love to whom she will dedicate her achievement.

Tomorrow never comes.

Erica vanishes during the night. Max, desperate, terrified, sets out to find her, descending into an underworld full of malice and cunning. But even he is shocked by the dark terror he finds in the heart of the woman he loves.

Discover the massive number one bestseller that thousands of readers have said is the most addictive, page-turning novel of the year. “

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I really quite enjoyed this book. I have never read anything by this author before so took a punt and requested a copy via the publisher, Sphere an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, and NetGalley. Now it does purport to be “the most addictive, page-turning novel of the year” and "the most gripping thriller you'll ever read" and although I would disagree with this as I have read a few books which are better, I was entertained by this novel and gripped from start to finish. I admit that it is a little OTT at times but books aren’t always supposed to be believable and sometimes it’s nice to just go along with it and enjoy the ride!

The storyline has a few threads to it and once you get your head around them, everything slots into place. The main themes are malaria and the hunt for Erica and in amongst all that is a glimpse into Erica’s past. I did particularly like the entries from Erica’s diary when she was in Africa and feel this could have made a pretty good novel in itself albeit rather disturbing. The pace is pretty relentless from start to finish with some twists, turns and surprises along the way.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people some more likeable than others but all are well described and believable … well mostly … that is where the OTT comes in as Max seems to go from a normal bloke to a superhero and what he does goes slightly beyond the realms of possibility but don’t let that put you off reading this, like I said … just shake your head and go along for the ride.

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Author website - http://www.nicklouth.com/

Twitter - @NickLouthAuthor 

The Crooked House by Christobel Kent

Description from Goodreads:

“Alison is as close to anonymous as she can get: with no ties, no home, a backroom job, hers is a life lived under the radar. She's a nobody; she has no-one and that's how she wants it.

But once Alison was someone else: once she was Esme Grace, a teenager whose bedroom sat at the top of a remote and dilapidated house on the edge of a bleak estuary. A girl whose family, if not happy, exactly, was no unhappier than anyone else's—or so she thought.

Then one night a terrible thing happened in the crooked house, a nightmare of violence out of which Alison emerged the only witness and sole survivor and from which she has been running ever since. Only when she meets academic Paul Bartlett does Alison realize that if she's to have any chance of happiness, she has to return to her old life and confront the darkness that worked its way inside her family and has pursued her ever since.”

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This is a difficult one for me to explain how I feel about it. On the one hand, I really enjoyed it but on the other, I found it a little confusing.

So, what did I like about it? Well, it’s a dark, psychological thriller about the murder of family 13 years ago with the lone survivor returning to the scene of crime to attend a wedding which brings the whole horrendous experience back to the fore. The setting, within a closed-knit coastal community, is dark and foreboding which lends itself to the story extremely well. The cast of characters is quite large but all are interesting and well developed with many being as dark and foreboding as the story and setting! The main character, Alison, is interesting and believable but I’m not sure she is particularly likeable as I didn’t seem to warm to her that much and I wasn’t convinced about her relationship with Paul - it came across as uncomfortable and lacking in any feeling or proper intimacy. The story is full of atmosphere and palpable tension and is an exploration of Alison’s memories of the night of the murder of her entire family and her quest to uncover the truth albeit with fear and trepidation. The way this is done throughout the book is commendable - the author provides clues and snippets of the truth which are drip fed throughout never quite giving enough information to enable to reader to piece them all together and I loved that about this book.

What didn’t I like about it? I found it a little confusing and all over the place in its writing style that took some getting used to as it kept jumping between times with no obvious separation between them. For me, this meant that I struggled to differentiate whether I was reading about something that happened years ago or 5 minutes ago. There were times when I felt this jumping around was totally unnecessary, for example, Alison and Paul were asleep in the hotel room, there was a fire alarm which forced them outside and then the author went on to tell us what happened in the hotel room before they fell asleep … why not just tell us before, it didn’t add anything to the story for me it just annoyed me and resulted in a “head shaking” moment.

Overall though, I found there was more to like than not. Yes, it’s a little annoying and confusing with the shifts in timelines but the story outweighed the frustration I felt about this. Would I recommend this book to someone else, yes I think I probably would but with a caveat to be prepared to have to use your brain to keep track of what’s going on.

I must thank the publisher, Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Man Made Murder: Book One of the Blood Road trilogy by Z Rider

Description from Goodreads:

“When guitarist Dean Thibodeaux tries to score weed the night before his band goes on tour, the deal ends in a brutal attack he wasn’t supposed to survive. Stiff, bloody, sore—but alive—he boards the bus with his band, determined to keep the one thing that’s important in his life on track.

Carl Delacroix failed his sister. And in the dead of night, with a gun in his waistband and nothing left to lose, he fails her again: his hesitation lets her killer get away. Short on sleep, short on cash, and determined not to make a trifecta out of his failure, he takes off after her attacker. And finds himself following a tour bus.

Dean Thibodeaux is sick. He’s changing. And the thing that caused it is coming after him, intent on fixing its mistake.

One man is hunting evil. The other is becoming it. Salvation lies in the crossing of their paths.

Man Made Murder, book 1 of the Blood Road trilogy, comes out October 13, 2015. Read an excerpt at www.manmademurder.com"

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This is the 3rd book I have read by this author; the 1st book I read is Suckers which is not only a pretty good horror novel but an excellently written story about friendship; the 2nd is Insylum which is much more than it first appears. All 3 I have enjoyed as once again, Z Rider writes a great story with interesting characters whose stories weave together with ease.

The 2 main characters, Dean and Carl, are so different they could be on the other side of the world to each other - Dean is a member of a semi-successful rock band and Carl is a young man struggling with mourning the loss of his sister - they both have very different stories which are well explored throughout but there is an inevitability that they will become entwined with each other sooner or later. In the beginning, I didn’t find Dean the most likeable character and Carl was a bit “whiny” but they grew on me as the story developed and I became more involved in the action. Z Rider has a skill in creating great characters that mess with your head!

The story is well written, moves on at a good pace, is told from the perspectives of Dean and Carl and although this is a vampire story and there is blood and gore, it’s not overdone just for the sake of it. The story is dark, gritty, full of suspense, surprises and plot twists and overall, is very entertaining.

I get the feeling that the main purpose of this book is to introduce the characters and their backstories which will be further developed in the subsequent books in this trilogy and I think Z Rider has done this very well with Man Made Murder and I for one can’t wait to see what happens. I will say that although this is the first book in a trilogy, I feel it can be read as a stand alone because it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger which forces you to read the next book, it does however leave you wanting to know what happens next and how the relationship between Dean and Carl progresses.

I am grateful to the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing, for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website - http://zriderwriter.com/

Twitter - @zriderhorror

Go to the publisher website here to sign up to receive digital review copies of Dark Ride Publishing books ahead of release.

The Orphan Uprising by James and Lance Morcan

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“In this explosive conclusion to The Orphan Trilogy, the ninth-born orphan’s dramatic story resumes five years after book one, The Ninth Orphan, ends.

Having eluded his former masters at the Omega Agency and escaped his past life as an operative, Nine has married his soul mate, Isabelle. They’ve carved out a new life for themselves, off the grid, in the remote islands of French Polynesia.

The contented couple have a five-year-old son, Francis, who is a chip off the old block and who has inherited his father’s unique DNA. Francis will soon have a sister as Isabelle is about to give birth to a baby girl.

Their idyllic lifestyle is shattered when Francis is abducted by operatives in the employ of the Omega Agency, the shadowy organization that brought Nine into the world and once controlled every aspect of his life. The terrified boy with the unique DNA is dispatched to one of Omega’s underground medical laboratories for scientific testing and experimentation.

Nine is desperate to find Francis before Omega can harm him. He soon finds he’s up against his fellow orphans – all elite operatives as he once was – who are under orders to kill him on sight. To overcome them, he must call on all his former training and skills. His search takes him around the world – from Tahiti to America, Germany, Greenland and the Congo.

To add to Nine’s worries, he has a serious heart condition that requires immediate surgery. The clock is ticking and he knows he’s on borrowed time. It’s a race against the clock to find his son before Omega can harm the boy – and before his heart gives out.”

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As the synopsis says, this is the final book in the trilogy and, I have to say that I am a little sad about that as I have grown to really like Nine and Seventeen and I will miss their exploits which have been expertly written about by James and Lance Morcan. I feel you really need to have read the first book - The Ninth Orphan and the second - The Orphan Factory - to really appreciate this one but you won’t be disappointed and I would highly recommend that you buy all three.

The description of this, the third book, says it all so I won’t go into the ins and outs of the story but will say “what’s not to like?” You’ve got brilliant characters, a fantastic story which is excellently written and is easy to read with flowing text that seamlessly changes from the different perspectives of the main characters. The locations are expertly described as are the various unsavoury characters that Nine utilises to help his cause in the search for his son which include a motorcycle gang from Greenland, African Militia and the American Mafia. These may be shady people but are nothing in comparison to the Omega Corporation that Nine is going up against who think that horrendous experiments against children are perfectly acceptable!

The entire book is just great and although it’s a traditional story of good against evil; hope against despair it's so well written that it feels fresh, new and exciting and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone and would encourage you, yes you who are reading this, to go and buy the trilogy right now … you won’t be disappointed and if you are, well you wouldn’t know a good book if it came up and hit you in the face!



Disclaimer: I was sent an eBook copy of this book direct from the authors in return for an unbiased and honest review - this in no way influenced my review whatsoever.

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Authors Website:  http://morcanbooksandfilms.com/

Twitter:  MorcanJames and sterlinggate

Adrift 2: Sundown by K R Griffiths

Description from Goodreads:

"1 night. 1 city. 8 million people. No warning. No safety...

Having survived the massacre aboard the doomed cruise ship Oceanus, all Dan Bellamy wants is peace; a chance to go home and attempt to put his life - and his mind - back together.

He's not going to get it.

Dragged back to the UK by the remaining members of the Rennick family, Dan finds himself once more pitched into a nightmare. Vampires are rising, gathering in force for an assault on London which could blow the secret of their existence wide open, and Dan's captors are convinced that he alone holds the key to defeating them.

Dan knows he has some strange connection with the creatures. Trouble is, as chaos erupts on the streets and the bodies begin to pile up around Dan, it looks like the vampires know it, too…"

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I am fast becoming a fan of Mr Griffiths’ work having read 2 of his previous novels - Survivor and the first in this series, Adrift. I highly recommend you read Adrift as it introduces the main players and background to the story; I wouldn’t say it was essential but you would lose out massively on a highly entertaining read.

As with Adrift, this is excellent from start to finish. The pace is flowing and it is very well written and easy to read. The characters are interesting and believable and the “monsters” are so well described, they could be in the room with you! Be warned however, there is a smattering of blood and gore throughout so if you don’t like that sort of thing, that’s a shame because you will be missing out on what is a fabulous book and I for one can’t wait to read the next installment - hint hint Mr Griffiths ;)

This and Adrift - need to be made into a film or series of films as I definitely feel that with good actors on board, they could be as good as the Alien franchise.

Disclaimer: I received a free eBook copy from the author in return for an unbiased review.

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Author website: http://www.krgriffiths.org/

Click here to join Mr Griffiths free mailing list and be the first to discover new releases, launch-day discounts and bonus content

Twitter: KRGriffiths1

The Dying Hours by Mark Billingham

Description from Goodreads:

"A fantastic, never-before-published Tom Thorne novel by England's crime king.

It's been twenty-five years since Tom Thorne last went to work wearing the "Queen's cloth" but now, having stepped out of line once too often, he's back in uniform. He's no longer a detective, and he hates it.

Still struggling to adjust, Thorne becomes convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in London are something more sinister. His concerns are dismissed by the Murder Squad he was once part of and he is forced to investigate alone.

Now, unable to trust anybody, Thorne risks losing those closest to him as well as endangering those being targeted by a killer unlike any he has hunted before. A man with nothing to lose and a growing list of victims. A man who appears to have the power to make people take their own lives."

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This is the 11th instalment in the saga that is Tom Thorne; a fantastic, interesting and unorthodox police officer wonderfully created by Mark Billingham and I want to thank my local library for lending me a copy at no cost :)

The synopsis pretty much explains the story of the book so I won't repeat it but what I will say is how much I enjoyed reading this.  Once again, Mark successfully manages to keep the Tom Thorne novels feeling new and refreshing and although you don't have to have read the previous 10 books, it does help and if you do, Tom will very quickly become an old friend.

The story flows well and is easy to read with a fantastic cast of characters.  The plot itself is, I feel, quite creative and it makes a change to have the "baddie" as a senior citizen; this brings a unique and different perspective to that of other books.

I felt that this particular story provided more insight into Tom's character especially his almost obsessive and selfish desire to prove his theory is correct that the apparent suicide victims are actually being murdered.  Tom is single-minded in his quest to prove that he is right despite the very real danger he has of losing his trusted colleagues and friends.  Having said that, it also shows a vulnerable side to the hard-nosed detective which is well explored throughout and brings a new and more human dimension to the character.

Overall, a great read ... probably not as enthralling as previous Tom Thorne stories ... but pretty damn good all the same and I would most definitely recommend it to others who enjoy this genre and also to people who don't ;)

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Author Website:  http://www.markbillingham.com/

Twitter:  @MarkBillingham

UK Publisher:  Little, Brown Book Group

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I was lucky enough to have been sent an eBook copy of Mark's latest Tom Thorne novel - Time of Death - which is the 13th instalment and it is captivating, thrilling, absorbing, exciting and all the other superlatives that you normally use to describe a brilliant read.  As you can see, you don't have to read these books in the correct order to enjoy them ... just buy or borrow them :)

Hunted: A DS Heckenburg Thriller by Paul Finch

Description from Goodreads:

"Brace yourself for another heart-stopping thriller from #1 bestseller Paul Finch.

Across the south of England, a series of bizarre but fatal accidents are taking place. A local businessman is burnt alive in his car, two car thieves are bitten to death by poisonous spiders and a driver is impaled through the chest with scaffolding.

Accidents do happen but as the body count rises Detective Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg suspects that there is something far more sinister at play.

Who is hunting these people down and can Heck stop the killer before they stage the grisliest ‘accident’ of all?"

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Paul Finch is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Having read and enjoyed the fourth book in the series - Dead Man Walking, I was well chuffed to be accepted to receive a copy of Hunted from the Publisher HarperCollins UK Avon via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

This is the fifth outing for DS Mark Heckenburg a.k.a. Heck but you don’t necessarily have to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one as a standalone as once again the author is proficient in creating characters so that you feel that you know them very quickly.

The story starts as it means to go on with a bizarre accident that is told in all its gruesome glory. The accidents get increasingly complex and shocking and Heck is tasked at convincing his new temporary colleagues that these are no accidents. That’s easier said than done and Heck has to use all his “charm” and investigative skills to get them on side, particularly DC Gail Honeyford who is less than pleased that Heck has appeared and is sticking his nose into her investigation. He soon wins her over however and what follows is a fast paced and excellently written book which is so easy to read that you find the pages just flying by as you get stuck in.

This book has it all - crime, thriller, police procedural, suspense, twists and turns with a good helping of grisly murders and scenes of peril all told in glorious 3D! I for one won’t forget the funnel and the jam jar in a hurry.

As I said at the beginning, Paul Finch is fast becoming a favourite author of mine and I can safely say that I am a fan and I would encourage all who enjoy a well written, fast paced, edgy book with brilliant characters and unique storyline should definitely give this a go.

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Author website: http://paulfinch-writer.blogspot.com/

Three Sisters by Helen Smith

Description from Goodreads:

"Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this entertaining new mystery series from best selling British author Helen Smith.

Emily receives an invitation to a party in a large house at the end of her street, hosted by a mysterious troupe of circus performers. She accepts, despite her misgivings, because her dog has died and she needs cheering up. But when she witnesses a murder in the midst of the surreal entertainment, no one will believe what she has seen. Is Emily befuddled with grief at the loss of her pet? Or has something wicked happened in plain sight of all the party-goers? Emily and her eccentric neighbours attempt to discover the truth in a charming story that will have you giggling at every funny line.

"Readers of M C Beaton or Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy discovering a new mystery author."

Chosen as a "Book of the Year" by Elizabeth at The Frugal Ereader.

This short mystery is a standalone story set in London. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order. "

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Thank you to the author for send me a copy of this book in return for an honest review - this in no way influenced my review as you will see.

I had absolutely no expectations with this book having never heard of the author or of the main character, Emily, but have to say that I was a little disappointed especially having seen the many 4 and 5 star reviews it has received.

Maybe it’s me but I just found too much wrong with it to enjoy it and I’m sorry about that. I found nothing redeeming about Emily, I didn’t warm to her at all nor did I find any of the other characters particularly likeable or interesting - they were just all a bit weird. I found the dialogue between the characters was stilted and unnatural. The “mystery” the story claimed to be was given away by the title [why would you do that?] and, in fact, the only mystery for me is what significance does the recently deceased dog have to the story [baffled].

I really don’t like leaving bad reviews for anyone as I know how much of themselves, blood, sweat and tears the authors put into their writing but I really can’t find anything positive about this book apart from that I was glad it was only a short story.

I realise that I am in the minority with my review so I may have missed something so I suggest you give it a go and make your own mind up.

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Sign up for Helen Smith's Book News and receive a FREE Kindle copy of one of Helen Smith's books: http://helensmithbooks.com/gr

Someone Out There by Catherine Hunt

Description from Goodreads:

“Top divorce lawyer, Laura Maxwell, appears to have it all – perfect career, perfect husband, perfect life. But how well do you really know the people around you? All it takes is one tiny crack to shatter the whole façade.

A series of accidents leads Laura to believe that someone out there is deliberately trying to harm her. The fear starts to pervade every part of her life, affecting her work and her marriage. Increasingly, she feels that no one believes her story, and she must face down her attacker alone. One woman, fighting to survive in a nightmare world.

“Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, and Into the Darkest Corner, by Elizabeth Haynes.” – Killer Reads, Harper Collins.”

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On first impression, Laura has the perfect job, the perfect husband and a perfect marriage but all is not what it seems and her life begins to unravel before her eyes following a series of “accidents” and “events” and those around her begin to question whether they have actually happened. At the same time you, the reader, start to question the other characters in the book as many seem to have a motive to make Laura’s life a misery.

I usually like to give a brief outline of the main characters in a book but won’t on this occasion as to do so would give away some of the storyline and I don’t want to ruin it for anyone but would just like to say that the author has outdone herself on the creation of interesting and complex players in this book.

The story is written at great pace from the start and flows from beginning to end interweaving the different points of view which, rather than being confusing, enhanced the story for me as it gave an insight into the motivations of each character. This also enabled clues from each person being dropped in but it’s only towards the end that they all come together in a thrilling climax.

Overall, Someone Out There is a really enjoyable début novel full of suspense, tension, drama and intrigue with interesting characters and a great storyline and I look forward to reading more from this new author.

Thank you to the Publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in return for an unbiased and honest review.

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Author Website - http://www.catherinehunt.com/

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/CHWrites

Publisher - https://www.killerreads.com/  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/ 

Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville

Description from Goodreads:

“When twelve-year-old Ciaran Devine confessed to killing his foster carer it sent shock waves through the nation. He said his older brother Thomas had tried to stop him, but the killing rage had burned too brightly. Seven years later, Ciaran’s release will set a new and even more deadly chain of events in motion.

DCI Serena Flanagan, then an ambitious Detective Sergeant, took the boy’s confession after days and weeks spent earning his trust. He hasn't forgotten the kindness she showed him – in fact, she hasn't left his thoughts in all the years he’s been locked away.

Probation officer Paula Cunningham, reluctantly tasked with helping Ciaran re-enter society, suspects there was more to this case than the police or the prosecutors uncovered. Soon she wonders if Ciaran really committed the murder at all. His confession saved his brother Thomas from a lengthier sentence, and Cunningham sees the unnatural hold Thomas has over Ciaran.

When she brings her concerns to DCI Flanagan, the years of lies begin to unravel, leading to a truth stranger than anyone could have imagined.”

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I haven’t read any of Stuart Neville’s books before but I have heard good things so was pleased when I was sent an ecopy of “Those We Left Behind” from NetGalley and the Publisher - Random House UK / Vintage Publishing, in return for an honest review and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

The story is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is a dark, psychological thriller as well as a police procedural. The main premise of the story is one I imagine to be difficult to write about - child murderers - but Mr Neville does so in a tactful way being careful not to sensationalise it or demonise the perpetrators.

All the main characters are complex, interesting and credible with each one being expertly developed. This is the first book which features the main protagonist, DCI Serena Flanagan. She is a very strong personality with many dimensions to be explored in future books.

The storyline is compelling and believable and despite it being set over two timelines, it does not become confusing but adds to the understanding of the characters and further enhances the reading experience. The story flows from the beginning to the end at a good pace with many a tense moment which will have you turning the pages at a rapid rate to find out the truth of what really happened.

Overall, a really good read which keeps you guessing until the end and one which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend to anyone who likes this genre.