Penalties by Stephen Leather

Description from Goodreads:

“Premier League footballer Gabe Savage is on the way to one of the most important matches of his life when he gets a phone call from his wife.

She has been kidnapped along with their young son. And the message from her captors is brutal: ‘If your team wins, your family dies.’

With the kick-off only hours away, there is only one person Gabe can turn to – his brother Ray, a vicious London gangster. But a dark family secret means that he hasn’t spoken to Ray for years. Can Ray help? And will he?”

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I admit to being a huge Stephen Leather fan so was extremely happy that I was chosen to receive a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review and although I don’t think it's as good as the Spider Shepherd series of books, it comes pretty close.

The story covers a day in the life of premiership footballer, Gabe Savage, however, it’s not an ordinary day and it’s not all about football so if, like me, you’re not a huge fan of the round ball game, don’t worry. Anyway, Gabe’s wife and child are kidnapped and Gabe calls on his brother Ray for help. Ray is not your typical brother; he’s a bit shifty to say the least but the perfect person to come to Gabe’s aid.

The action comes thick and fast with violence and scenes of peril a plenty; some of which is a pushing the boundaries of believability a little but if you can’t do it in a book, when can you? so just go with the flow and enjoy. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting and I particularly liked Ray … could this be the introduction to a new protagonist for a new series????? I hope so - I would certainly like to get to know him better.

The writing is excellent, as ever with Mr Leather’s books, it flows really well and you find yourself flipping through the pages with ease and before you know it, you’re at the end and herein lies the problem for me and why I don’t think it’s as good as the Spider Shepherd series, it was a little too easy, a little too predictable and not as developed but overall, an enjoyable read anyway but maybe for a younger audience than me.

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

Author twitter - stephenleather

Publisher website - Lawsome Books

Strangers by Paul Finch

Book description from NetGalley:

“Dark, gritty and always edge-of-your-seat: the #1 bestseller is back with a standout new heroine…

Unknown, alone, and fearing for your life.

As PC Lucy Clayburn is about to find out, going undercover is the most dangerous work there is.

But, on the trail of a prolific female serial killer, there's no other option – and these murders are as brutal as they come.

Lucy must step into the line of fire – a stranger in a criminal underworld that butchers anyone who crosses the line.

And, unknown to Lucy, she's already treading it…

Always gripping. Always gruesome. Paul Finch will leave fans of Rachel Abbott and MJ Arlidge gasping for more.”

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Paul Finch has done it again!

I have read “Dead Man Walking” and “Hunted” by Mr Finch which feature the excellent character of DS Mark Heckenburg a.k.a. Heck as the main protagonist. In “Strangers” we are introduced to PC Lucy Clayborn - an equally strong and interesting character who is keen to prove herself as an adept police officer following a ‘mishap’ whilst in CID. Lucy is tasked with going undercover to find a serial killer, nicknamed “Jill the Ripper”, who is murdering and mutilating men however, she uncovers more than she bargains for and we are taken along for the ride.

This book has everything you want - suspense, intrigue, twists, turns, shocks, etc., etc., plus a smattering of wit to provide lighter moments - all told at a fast, flowing pace with a fantastic cast of characters. I love the fact that it’s set in the Manchester area; many British crime books are set in and around London so it’s refreshing for an author to move north of Watford!

Paul Finch has become one of my favourite authors and I have no shame in saying that I am a fan so I want to thank the publisher, HarperCollins UK Avon, via NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website: Paul Finch

Publisher website: HarperCollins UK Avon 

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I would encourage you also to read:

Hunted

Dead Man Walking

Medea's Curse by Anne Buist

Description from Goodreads:

"Forensic psychiatrist Natalie King works with victims and perpetrators of violent crime. Women with a history of abuse, mainly. She rides a Ducati a size too big and wears a tank top a size too small. Likes men but doesn’t want to keep one. And really needs to stay on her medication.

Now she’s being stalked. Anonymous notes, threats, strangers loitering outside her house.

A hostile former patient? Or someone connected with a current case? Georgia Latimer — charged with killing her three children. Travis Hardy — deadbeat father of another murdered child, with a second daughter now missing. Maybe the harrassment has something to do with Crown Prosecutor Liam O’Shea — drop-dead sexy, married and trouble in all kinds of ways.

Natalie doesn’t know. Question is, will she find out before it’s too late?

Anne Buist, herself a leading perinatal psychiatrist, has created an edge-of-the-seat mystery with a hot new heroine — backed up by a lifetime of experience with troubled minds."

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I was really drawn to this book from the blurb and was grateful to Legend Press via the Legend 100 Club for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this a really difficult book to review because on the one hand, the story was captivating and interesting despite it being about some pretty despicable crimes (infanticide, child and domestic abuse, stalking and violence) but on the other, the writing style made it really, really hard to read which spoiled it for me in a big way. There are a lot of characters and the story jumps around a bit; I normally don’t mind this if there’s a thread which connects them all but in this novel, there were different threads that crossed but weren’t necessarily linked so this made it difficult for me to keep track. I also have an issue with the main character, Natalie King. Again, she’s difficult to critique. On the one hand she’s a very strong, independent woman but on the other, I found her to be extremely unlikeable and I wasn’t able to warm to her at all.

Having said all that, it’s very clear that the author knows her stuff and despite the difficulties I had in reading this particular book, I would be tempted to read another written by her.

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Publisher website:  Legend Press

Author Website:  Anne Buist

Holding by Graham Norton

"Surprisingly Good"

Blurb from Goodreads:

“Graham Norton's masterful debut is an intelligently crafted story of love, secrets and loss.

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of­ two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste.

So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former­ love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel. As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of loveable characters, and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human.”

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I don’t normally read books written by “celebrities” but I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this written by Graham Norton. What initially grabbed me was the fact that it is set in a remote Irish village and I was curious to see how it compared to my experiences of spending my summer holidays in a village in Northern Ireland and I have to say that I feel that Mr Norton captured the atmosphere, the people and the humour excellently but then I would expect that really with him being Irish ;)

Set in the fictional village of Duneen where nothing remarkable happens until builders unearth a body and so opens long hidden secrets and lies of various inhabitants. The book is written from the perspectives of those inhabitants and this is where Mr Norton excels; he has created some excellent, believable characters who continue to develop throughout the book.

The writing style makes this easy to read and it flows really well from character to character. The descriptions of the people and the village are vivid and you quickly become immersed in the story and the mystery contained therein. It could quite easily be a dark and brooding story which could have resulted in a bleak read but Mr Norton interjects some of his well-known wit and humour to lighten the mood whilst not overdoing it.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it isn’t full of “edge of the seat” moments but it is perfect for those cold, winter days when you just want something comfortable to read that is not over-taxing on the brain and I will look out for further books written by Mr Norton. Thank you to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Publisher website - Hodder & Stoughton

Twitter - Graham Norton

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About Graham Norton (copied from Hodder & Stoughton website)

Graham is one of the UK's most treasured comedians and presenters. Born in Clondalkin, a suburb of Dublin, Norton's first big TV appearance was as Father Noel Furlong on Channel 4's Father Ted in the early 1990s. He then secured a prime time slot on Channel 4 with his chat shows So Graham Norton and V Graham Norton.

Known for his quick wit and flamboyant style Graham began hosting a variety of talent shows on BBC One from Strictly Dance Fever and Andrew Lloyd Webber's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? to The Eurovision Song Contest and BAFTAs. Graham was soon approached by the BBC to front his own self-titled chat show The Graham Norton Show in 2007.

Graham Norton has won 7 BAFTAs for Best Entertainment Performance, and Best Entertainment Programme. He presents a show on BBC Radio 2 every Saturday and also writes, as Agony Aunt, weekly in a column for The Telegraph.

The Loving Husband by Christobel Kent

Blurb from Goodreads:


“A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK AND SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

'Wow. This one will keep your bedside light on until the small hours - it's unputdownable.'

Richard & Judy

For fans of Apple Tree Yard and The Silent Wife, The Loving Husband draws readers into a marriage where nothing is as it seems...

Fran Hall and her husband Nathan have moved with their two children to a farmhouse on the edge of the Fens - a chance to get away from London and have a fresh start.

But when Fran wakes one night to find Nathan gone, she makes a devastating discovery. As questions about her husband and her relationships start to mount, Fran's life begins to spiral out of control.

What is she hiding from the police about her marriage, and does she really know the man she shared her bed with?”

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I have previously read one of Christobel’s novels - The Crooked House - which although I enjoyed I found it a confusing read and I felt the same way about The Loving Husband although there was less enjoyment with this one.

The premise of the story is a familiar one - a seemingly happily married couple, one dies and so opens the floodgates of secrets and lies. The book starts off pretty well but, and herein lies the problem for me, it switches from past (years ago) to past (recent) to present and I found it difficult to keep track. I struggled to connect with any of the characters or muster up any sympathy for the main character, Fran who, for me, was a dull as dirty dish-water. The investigating Police Officers were, in my opinion, very unprofessional and lacking in any sympathy.

There was a positive however, I felt Christobel captured the isolation and desolation of the setting extremely well. Her description of the farmhouse and how she captures the cold was excellent but, unfortunately, this didn’t do much to make me enjoy the book any more and I just couldn’t get into it and it seemed to take an absolute age to finish it.

This book has been described as an “unputdownable” psychological thriller which is “utterly compulsive”, “eerily menacing” and “terrifyingly good” but for me it was too easy to put it down and not so easy to pick it back up.

My apologies to the author who has put blood, sweat and tears into this book but it just wasn’t for me but I would like to thank the publisher, Little Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Spider Shepherd: SAS The Sandpit by Stephen Leather

Blurb:

“Who was Dan 'Spider' Shepherd before he signed up as an undercover cop and began working for MI5? The Sandpitrewinds with an action-packed rollercoaster to his days in the SAS...

Dan Shepherd and his SAS team are sent into the badlands of Afghanistan to train the rebels who are battling Taliban fanatics.

But what starts as a training mission in The Sandpit turns into a life or death struggle with Shepherd and his team very much in the firing line.

Soon they are caught up in an international intrigue that threatens the stability of the whole Middle East.

‘Let Spider draw you into his web, you won't regret it.’ Sun

‘The sheer impetus of his storytelling is damned hard to resist.’Daily Express

‘A master of the thriller genre.’ Irish Times“

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Dan “Spider” Shepherd is one of my all-time favourite characters created by Stephen Leather and I have read all of the full-size novels featuring this complex and interesting character so to get a chance to find out a little bit about how he became the “person” I feel I know … well, I couldn’t pass that up could I so was happy when the publisher, Lawsome Books via NetGalley, approved me to read a copy in return for providing an unbiased review.

The story takes place in Afghanistan when Spider is still a serving soldier in the SAS. It also contains squad members Geordie, Jimbo and Jock - characters that also appear in the full length novels. Stephen catches the camaraderie and the complete trust between these elite soldiers extremely well.

The story follows the SAS squad on a mission into the Panjshir Valley to train rebels who are fighting the Taliban however, this seemingly straightforward task turns into something a little bit more! Now, it does appear a bit far-fetched at first but after watching a series on TV where real SAS men were interviewed about real-life missions, it doesn’t seem to be beyond the realms of reality at all.

There is action a plenty and the pace of the writing is perfect. There is a flow to the book that is natural and makes it easy to read as are all of Stephen’s books and I have no qualms in recommending any of them to readers who love great books that are not just action but are exciting reads full of fantastic characters.

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Stephen Leather is one of the UK's most successful thriller writers. He was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Before that, he was employed as a biochemist for ICI, shovelled limestone in a quarry, worked as a baker, a petrol pump attendant, a barman, and worked for the Inland Revenue. He began writing full time in 1992. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. Two of his books, The Stretch and The Bombmaker, were made into movies. You can find out more from his website - http://www.stephenleather.com/

Twitter - stephenleather

Publisher - Lawsome Books

Death Falls by Todd Ritter (a.k.a Bad Moon)

"5* book for me"

Description from Goodreads:


“When a young boy goes missing, it’s easier to believe the lies than to believe the truth… Perfect for fans of Gregg Hurwitz and P.J. Tracy.

On the same night that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, nine-year-old Charlie Olmstead jumped on his bike to see if he could get a better look. It was the last anyone ever saw of him.

After Perry Hollow Police Chief Jim Campbell found Charlie's bike caught up above a waterfall, he assumed the worse, and so did everyone else except Charlie's mother. Years later, Eric Olmstead – and famous author and Charlie's brother – has come back to bury his mother and fulfill her last request: find his brother.

To do so he goes to the current police chief and his former sweetheart Kat Campbell, and it isn't long before they discover that finding Charlie was his mother's secret obsession, and while she never found him she uncovered clues suggesting that he wasn't the only victim.”

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What an intense ride that was! I cannot even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book, I have a tick list in my head and each point I feel is essential for a 5* book is being ticked off the list as being achieved here:

Easy to read and flowing … tick

Interesting, believable and engaging characters … tick

Intriguing and captivating plot … tick

Complex but not confusing … tick

Plot twists and red herrings … tick

Full of suspense, secrets and lies … tick

An ending you don’t see coming (well I didn't) … tick

And finally, a good cover that draws you in and makes you pick the book up in the first place … tick

What more can I say? Mr Ritter has written a cracker here and although it’s a part of a series, it works very well as a standalone so please don’t let that put you off from picking this up and devouring in a very short space of time … not because it’s a short read but because once you start, it’s extremely hard to put down.

Thank you to HarperCollins Maze, Avon and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in return for an unbiased review and for introducing me, yet again, to a great author.

Please note - if you are looking to buy this book, it was originally published as “Bad Moon” in 2011.

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

Twitter - @ToddAlanRitter

Publisher website - http://corporate.harpercollins.co.uk/imprints/avon

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Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton

"A slow burner"

Description from Goodreads:

“Don't Look

At first, they struggle to escape. Then a torrent of blows rains down upon their bodies until their eyes cloud over in final agony. The killer shows no remorse--just a twisted need to witness each victim's last terrified moments.

Don't Speak

Public defender Rachel Wainwright is struggling to reopen a decades-old case, convinced that the wrong man is in prison. Homicide detective Deke Morgan doesn't want to agree. But if Rachel's hunch is correct, whoever fatally bludgeoned young, beautiful Annie Dawson thirty years ago could be the source of a new string of brutal slayings.

Just Prepare To Die

Rachel's investigation is about to reveal answers--but at a price she never thought to pay. Now she's become the target of a rage honed by years of jealousy and madness. And a murderer is ready to show her just how vicious the truth can be. . . “

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Not having read any of Mary Burton’s books before [where have I been living!!!!], I didn’t know what to expect but the description sounded like something I would enjoy and I did. I was a little worried that it was put in the genre of romance/mystery/thrillers … not being a particular lover of romance books but it wasn’t overdone at all and in fact, I don’t even think it should be classed as a romance to be honest - it’s definitely more of a thriller.

For me, this was a slow burner. It took a while for me to get into it but once I did (around half way), I was hooked and devoured the second half in no time at all. There are many interesting characters and the setting is perfectly described. I liked the writing style which was easy to read and flowed well. The plot is complex but not too complex that it becomes confusing and Mary Burton was very successful at not providing too many hints at “who-dun-it” so the reveal was a surprise.

Overall, I quite enjoyed it and thanks to the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley, for my copy in return for an honest review.

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

Author Twitter - @MaryBurtonBooks

Publisher website - http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/

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The Art Teacher by Paul Read

“A gritty, thrilling debut”

Description from the book:

“Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face.

Unknowingly drawn into a war against his own pupils, Patrick's patience finally snaps as he finds himself the number one target with the boy the school just can't seem to expel.

When one of his art students needs his help, she unwittingly pulls Patrick further into the line of fire, altering their lives forever.

With the media circling and rumors of his involvement reaching new highs, Patrick must escape the world he lives in, or face the consequences.”

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With an opening line of “Patrick Owen managed seven years at Highfields Secondary School without punching a pupil in the face” you just know this is going to be an “interesting” read and it doesn’t disappoint.

Paul Read captures magnificently Patrick’s disillusionment with teaching, the daily grime of teaching disinterested students in a tough part of the city, the difficulty he has in coming to terms with his failed marriage and separation from his young son and the struggle he has with just getting up in the morning but when he gets involved with someone he probably shouldn’t, things become a whole lot worse.

The story captured me from the very first line and didn’t let up until the very end. The style of writing is natural and easy flowing. The characters are interesting, well developed and believable, scarily so in some cases, with the setting of the school and its surroundings feeling authentic. The story is quite a dark and sombre one but the author pops in humour which made me laugh out loud several times and provided a little light relief from what is a gritty thriller.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely seek out further work by Paul Read in the future if this debut is anything to go by and I must thank the publisher, Legend Times Group via the Legend 100 Club, for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Author twitter - @paulreadauthor

Publisher website - Legend Times Group

Legend 100 Club

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Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan

"An enjoyable read"

Description from Goodreads:

"Margot Lewis is the agony aunt for The Cambridge Enquirer. Her advice column, Dear Amy, gets all kinds of letters - but none like the one she's just received:

Dear Amy,

I don't know where I am. I've been kidnapped and am being held prisoner by a strange man. I'm afraid he'll kill me.

Please help me soon,
Bethan Avery

Bethan Avery has been missing for years. This is surely some cruel hoax. But, as more letters arrive, they contain information that was never made public. How is this happening? Answering this question will cost Margot everything . . ."

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This is a really difficult book to review without giving away any of the story or dropping spoilers so I will have to keep it brief.

This is a well-written psychological thriller which, for the most part, is fast paced - the latter stages of the book being more so. The main character, Margot, is well developed and a complex but flawed person; a little paranoid and prone to bouts of whining (aren’t we all!) but it was a little tiresome at times and this reduced my ability to connect with her or really care that much about her and her plight. The plot is fairly enjoyable with parts of it being plausible but with some of it being a little over the top. I liked the writing style which was easy to read and flowing.

Overall, an enjoyable read but not one that I can be overly enthusiastic about but I would read more of Helen Callaghan’s books in the future and thanks to the publisher, Penguin UK Michael Joseph via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review and for introducing me to another new British author.

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Author website - click here

Twitter - hecallaghan

Publisher - Penguin UK Michael Joseph

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For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood

“A brilliant début”

Blurb from Goodreads:

“Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…

A darkly compelling debut crime novel. The start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, and James Oswald.

DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.

Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…”

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What a great book and, hopefully, the first of a series of many involving DCI Matilda Darke and the fantastic cast of excellent supporting characters. Well written at a great and unrelenting pace, the story follows the investigation of a cold case and the, possible, link to a recent murder.

As I am an avid reader of crime fiction, it takes something special to get me so enthused and Michael Wood has managed it with this one. Brilliant, interesting and complex characters from the main players to those fulfilling a bit-part role. The storyline is scarily believable and has you hooked from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until the very end. The mix between getting to know the characters, the police investigation and the action is just right.

What more can I say? One of the best books I’ve read this year and thanks go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction/Blue Door via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Now I’m off to buy the next in the series - Outside Looking In

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Author Twitter - MichaelHWood

Publisher website - HarperCollins UK

Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

"An enjoyable and entertaining read"

What’s it about?

“You've been held captive in one room, mentally and physically abused every day, since you were sixteen years old.

Then, one night, you realize your captor has left the door to your cell unlocked.

For the first time in eight years, you're free.

This is about what happens next ...

Lily knows that she must bring the man who nearly ruined her life - her good-looking high-school teacher - to justice. But she never imagined that reconnecting with her family would be just as difficult. Reclaiming her relationship with her twin sister, her mother, and her high school sweetheart who is in love with her sister may be Lily's greatest challenge. After all they've been through, can Lily and her family find their way back after this life-altering trauma?

Impossible not to read in one sitting, Baby Doll is a taut psychological thriller that focuses on family entanglements and the evil that can hide behind a benign facade.”

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Having read a number of scathing reviews of this book, I have to admit that I was a little worried - I really dislike having to give someone’s hard work a poor rating but, fear not, it was quite good although as many have said, it could have been better which just goes to show that us readers are fickle human beings and what one person dislikes, another will absolutely love … well, if we all liked the same things, it would be a pretty boring world!

Unlike many other reviewers, I haven’t read anything quite like this before so it was unique for me. What I thought was good was that the story started when Lily escaped from her prison rather than go into the disturbing details of what it would have been like for her all these years being a child held prisoner in a cellar being used and abused at her captor’s whim; there were snippets of course but these didn’t dominate as the focus of the book is what life was like for Lily outside her prison.

The story is told from four different perspectives - Lily, her twin sister Abby, her mum Eve and the perpetrator Rick. I was torn as to whether this was a good idea or not; on the one hand it was useful to see the situation from all of the perspectives but on the other, I think this diluted the impact of the story a little and weakened the characters. I would have preferred it to have been written just from Lily and Rick’s perspectives - this would have made it more powerful. However, having said that, the parts devoted to Abby and Eve gave some insight into the terrible impact on the family.

The book is easy to read; the pace is good and there are a few twists and unpredictable moments but there are also some annoying parts which had me almost flicking forward many of which involved Abby … my goodness, she’s one annoying character! Overall though, a classic it may not be but an enjoyable and entertaining read it most certainly was for me and I will look out for future books by Hollie Overton.

Thanks, again, go to the publisher RandomHouse UK, Cornerstone, via NetGalley for my e-copy in return for an honest review.

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Publisher website - click here

Author on twitter - click here 

Author website - click here 

For information about NetGalley - click here

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Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

"An enjoyable and entertaining read"

What’s it about?

“You've been held captive in one room, mentally and physically abused every day, since you were sixteen years old.

Then, one night, you realize your captor has left the door to your cell unlocked.

For the first time in eight years, you're free.

This is about what happens next ...

Lily knows that she must bring the man who nearly ruined her life - her good-looking high-school teacher - to justice. But she never imagined that reconnecting with her family would be just as difficult. Reclaiming her relationship with her twin sister, her mother, and her high school sweetheart who is in love with her sister may be Lily's greatest challenge. After all they've been through, can Lily and her family find their way back after this life-altering trauma?

Impossible not to read in one sitting, Baby Doll is a taut psychological thriller that focuses on family entanglements and the evil that can hide behind a benign facade.”

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Having read a number of scathing reviews of this book, I have to admit that I was a little worried - I really dislike having to give someone’s hard work a poor rating but, fear not, it was quite good although as many have said, it could have been better which just goes to show that us readers are fickle human beings and what one person dislikes, another will absolutely love … well, if we all liked the same things, it would be a pretty boring world!

Unlike many other reviewers, I haven’t read anything quite like this before so it was unique for me. What I thought was good was that the story started when Lily escaped from her prison rather than go into the disturbing details of what it would have been like for her all these years being a child held prisoner in a cellar being used and abused at her captor’s whim; there were snippets of course but these didn’t dominate as the focus of the book is what life was like for Lily outside her prison.

The story is told from four different perspectives - Lily, her twin sister Abby, her mum Eve and the perpetrator Rick. I was torn as to whether this was a good idea or not; on the one hand it was useful to see the situation from all of the perspectives but on the other, I think this diluted the impact of the story a little and weakened the characters. I would have preferred it to have been written just from Lily and Rick’s perspectives - this would have made it more powerful. However, having said that, the parts devoted to Abby and Eve gave some insight into the terrible impact on the family.

The book is easy to read; the pace is good and there are a few twists and unpredictable moments but there are also some annoying parts which had me almost flicking forward many of which involved Abby … my goodness, she’s one annoying character! Overall though, a classic it may not be but an enjoyable and entertaining read it most certainly was for me and I will look out for future books by Hollie Overton.

Thanks, again, go to the publisher RandomHouse UK, Cornerstone, via NetGalley for my e-copy in return for an honest review.

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Publisher website - click here

Author on twitter - click here 

Author website - click here 

For information about NetGalley - click here

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The Last Girl: Book One, The Dominion Trilogy by Joe Hart

"Pleasantly surprised"

Blurb:

“A mysterious worldwide epidemic reduces the birthrate of female infants from 50 percent to less than 1 percent. Medical science and governments around the world scramble in an effort to solve the problem, but twenty-five years later there is no cure, and an entire generation grows up with a population of fewer than a thousand women.

Zoey and some of the surviving young women are housed in a scientific research compound dedicated to determining the cause. For two decades, she’s been isolated from her family, treated as a test subject, and locked away—told only that the virus has wiped out the rest of the world’s population.

Captivity is the only life Zoey has ever known, and escaping her heavily armed captors is no easy task, but she’s determined to leave before she is subjected to the next round of tests…a program that no other woman has ever returned from. Even if she’s successful, Zoey has no idea what she’ll encounter in the strange new world beyond the facility’s walls. Winning her freedom will take brutality she never imagined she possessed, as well as all her strength and cunning—but Zoey is ready for war.”

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First off, I have to say that I am not a huge fan of post-apocalyptic books but I was drawn to this as I have read some of Mr Hart’s work before and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

The story, as the blurb describes, is set in the not too distant future where female births are as rare as rocking horse poo! The solution, thought to be the best idea by scientists, is to take girls from their families and house them in a highly fortified complex where they are kept until they turn 21 at which point they go through a door to a place where they are told they will be reunited with their family. One girl, Zoey, has her doubts and so begins her plan to escape and to find out just what is through the door and on the other side of the walls.

For me, I felt it took a bit too long to get to the real ‘page-turning’ stage and there were a few plot holes that I struggled to overlook with the major one being why are they treating these girls/women so poorly when they are a rare and important “commodity” that should be pampered and cared for; if they are the only potential future mothers of the world, they need to know how to be a mother.

Despite this, the way the book is written draws you in; the characters are interesting and complex especially Zoey - she is one tough cookie! There is tension and atmosphere aplenty with action and suspense.

Overall, a good read which I think is aimed at young adults and even though I’m far from one of them, I would be interested in seeing where the story goes in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with an e-copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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

Author twitter: @AuthorJoeHart

Other books I have read by Joe Hart:

The River is Dark

The Line Unseen 

The Teacher by Katerina Diamond

"Not particularly memorable"

Blurb:

“You think you know who to trust? You think you know the difference between good and evil?

You’re wrong …

A LESSON YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

The body of the head teacher of an exclusive Devon school is found hanging from the rafters in the assembly hall.

Hours earlier he’d received a package, and only he could understand the silent message it conveyed. It meant the end.

As Exeter suffers a rising count of gruesome deaths, troubled DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles must solve the case and make their city safe again.

But as they’re drawn into a network of corruption, lies and exploitation, every step brings them closer to grim secrets hidden at the heart of their community.

And once they learn what’s motivating this killer, will they truly want to stop him?

SMART. GRIPPING. GRUESOME.

This is a psychological crime thriller in a class of its own.

WARNING: Most definitely *not* for the faint-hearted!”

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Since reading this book, I have read about 5 more and, for the life of me, I can’t remember much about it which says a lot. I must have thought it was ok as I finished it but as I type this, I am struggling so it can’t have been particularly memorable which is a real shame as the blurb and “warning” are so enticing to me … which is a bit worrying!!

I have had to read other people’s reviews to remind myself what it was about and they helped me to recall that I had a modicum of sympathy for the killer and little for his victims who expired in rather gruesome ways and I remember telling my husband that it would be a great book if it wasn’t so confusing because of the constant switching of perspectives but that’s about it.

If someone asked me if they should read it … I would have to be totally honest and say “not a clue!”

Thanks to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, Avon via NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review and to whom I apologise for it being so poor … note to self … write the review as soon as you’ve finished the book!

The Hanging Club by Tony Parsons

"Once again, a great book"

Description from Goodreads:

“A band of vigilante executioners roam London's hot summer nights, abducting evil men and hanging them by the neck until dead.

SENTENCED TO DEATH

- The gang member who's abused vulnerable girls.

- The wealthy drunk driver who's mowed down a child.

- The hate preacher calling for the murder of British soldiers.

As the bodies pile up and riots explode across the sweltering city, DC Max Wolfe hunts a gang of killers who many believe to be heroes.

And discovers that the lust for revenge starts very close to home …”

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I admit to being a bit of a fan of Tony Parsons having previously read and enjoyed “The Slaughter Man” so I was more than pleased when I was accepted to review The Hanging Club by the publisher RandomHouse UK Cornerstone via NetGalley and for which I am grateful as, yet again, Mr Parsons has written a great book.

This is the third in the DC Max Wolfe series and although this is part of a series, I don’t feel you have to have read the others to enjoy this as a standalone. The story is gripping and scarily plausible. The writing style is such that it’s easy to pick up and very hard to put down. The characters are complex and interesting with Max being even more so given that he is a single father. The glimpses of his relationship with his young daughter are touching and a relief from the horrors he has to face investigating the brutal and very public vigilante murders.

The story is set in present day London but also has glimpses into the historical London. I found this fascinating and added to my overall enjoyment of the book.

This book is not only a compulsive read, it also makes you think about justice and your own personal ethics and morals. I’m sure a lot of us have been dismayed at a particular sentence for a heinous crime but would you take the law into your own hands? What must it be like for the Police, lawyers and judges being stuck in the middle? What of the families and friends of those on both sides? Yes, this book gets you asking those questions and gets you thinking a bit and I, for one, would definitely recommend it and Tony Parsons as a great British author.

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Author/publisher website - click here

Author twitter - TonyParsonsUK

I also found an interesting website devoted to the main character DC Max Wolfe - http://dcmaxwolfe.com/ - where you can explore a little bit more about Max.

Die of Shame by Mark Billingham

Synopsis from Goodreads:

“From British thriller master Mark Billingham, a recent finalist for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library, Die of Shame is a chilling story of addiction, subterfuge, and murder.

Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. A respected doctor, a well-heeled housewife, a young male prostitute . . . they could not be more different. All they have in common is a history of addiction. But when one of the group is murdered, it quickly becomes apparent that someone else in that circle is responsible. The investigation is hampered by the strict confidentiality that binds these individuals and their therapist together, which makes things difficult for Detective Inspector Nicola Tanner, a woman who can appreciate the desire to keep personal matters private. If she is to find the killer, she will need to use less obvious means. The question is: What could be shameful enough to cost someone their life? And how do you find the truth when secrets, lies, and denial are second nature to all of your suspects?”

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I am a huge Mark Billingham fan and am at the front of the queue when a new book comes out so it is with massive regret that I have to say that this one just didn’t grab me by the neck like his other books have - you have no idea how upset this makes me feel. It’s not that it is a bad book - it’s well written, has interesting characters and a good story line - but I found myself being rather indifferent about reading it and it took me a little longer than it normally does to read it when I compare it to others written by the same author.

The story, as the synopsis indicates, is set around a support group for people who have addictions and when one of the members is murdered, it becomes clear that another of the group is the culprit. The book is written in the “now” and “then” with the “now” covering the investigation of the murder and the “then” covering a period of time before the murder happened. At times I did find this a little confusing but I think it’s because I was reading it on a Kindle which made it a little harder to flick back and forth to double check which time period you were reading; had it been a physical book, I really don’t think I would have any problems with this.

The characters are interesting however not particularly likeable and this includes the lead investigating officer DI Nicola Tanner who has very few redeeming qualities and whom I found to be cold, rude and antisocial. I could not connect to anyone and found myself not caring about them, their stories or what happened to them.

The story itself is a little slow going with a lot of it covering the group sessions; this, together with tidbits of life outside the group for its members provided plenty of suspects to the murder which kept me guessing and re-evaluating who I thought did it and although I didn’t guess right, it did take quite a while to get there and there weren’t many twists or turns on the way.

Overall, although not a bad read, it just didn’t capture me in the way I would like but please, please don’t let this put you off from reading other Mark Billingham books.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

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

Twitter: @MarkBillingham

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My reviews of other books by Mark Billingham:

The Dying Hours

Time of Death

The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh

"A fantastic book"

Description from Goodreads:

“A woman disappears

One moment, Selena Cole is in the playground with her children and the next, she has vanished without a trace.

A woman returns

Twenty hours later, Selena is found safe and well, but with no memory of where she has been.

What took place in those missing hours, and are they linked to the discovery of a nearby murder?

‘Is it a forgetting or a deception?’”

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I have read “Hidden” by Emma previously and found it to be a riveting read so when “The Missing Hours” appeared on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it and am grateful to the publisher, Random House UK, Cornerstone, for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

What a fantastic book! I was completely absorbed from the start - a 7 year old girl has wandered off from her mum and younger sister only to return to find mum has disappeared and her sister left alone on a swing. This little girl is already trying to come to terms with the death of her father and her greatest fear has come true - her mum has gone now too. Meanwhile, a body of a local solicitor is found on a ledge off an isolated road in the mountains - could there be a link between the 2 cases?

The story is unique (for me anyway - I haven’t read anything quite like it before) and is told from different perspectives. I can safely say that the cast of characters is excellent - all of them are interesting, believable and add to the overall authenticity of the story. The pace is just right and flows really well and the snippets of case studies from the Kidnap and Ransom world were an interesting addition.

This is a great murder, mystery, crime novel - well written, great story, brilliant characters, excellent twist, etc., etc., and I will most definitely read more from Emma Kavanagh in the future.

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Author twitter: @EmmaLK

Armadillos by P K Lynch

"A good début"

Synopsis:

“Aggie is fifteen, a ‘sub’ from a ‘sub’ family, one of Texas’ downtrodden. Her father and brother enact that ‘sub’-ness on her, week in, week out. She has only the vaguest notion that there is something wrong with the abuse she endures and instead dreams of the outside world.

And then one day, Aggie walks out, and like the armadillos that flourish in Texas’ barren landscape, she is a survivor…

In her escape, she gravitates to those who are just as maltreated as her. They offer Aggie the sense of family, albeit a thoroughly dysfunctional one, that she’s been searching for. But when she gets embroiled in a crisis involving stolen money, Aggie soon realises there are some problems you can’t run away from.”

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Once again, I want to thank the Publisher, Legend Press, for sending me a copy of this book in order to provide an impartial review as part of the Legend 100 Club. It’s not a book I would normally pick up to read and therefore I had no expectations at all but overall, I was pleasantly surprised although it is not a “happy” story rather one that is quite dark and intense.

This is a “coming of age” story about 15 year old Aggie - a strong, young, female character who is brave and wise for her years. The book is told from her perspective both the present and flashbacks.

Aggie is a survivor born into a dysfunctional family which she suddenly decides to escape from one day to undertake a dangerous journey to find a better life. She starts off in the Texan desert going from one truck stop to another using her experiences to survive before arriving in the city where she befriends “Freak” and moves into a squat full of colourful characters. It is during this journey that you realise Aggie is one tough cookie and very intelligent despite her upbringing. Despite her best efforts though, Aggie is not able to leave her past behind and there is an inevitability that she will return home and confront what deep down she already knows but has yet to accept.

I thought the book was extremely well written and flows really well resulting in it being easy to read. The author has an excellent ability to tell a story and to describe locations, situations and characters - she makes them believable and come to life off the page.

On the negative side, the story was interesting enough to keep my attention but I was left feeling something was missing. It’s hard to explain but I was reading with anticipation that something “big” was going to happen, it never really did and I felt even the ending was a bit of a let down and anti-climax. However, as I've said, I didn’t know what I was expecting as it’s not my usual genre - I am used to twists and turns and things being thrown at you in surprise - this isn’t that type of book but what it is, is an exploration of a young woman’s need to live a normal life and her attempts to get there - Aggie is a memorable character and I for one will remember her.

Overall, this is a good début and an author I will look out for in the future.

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Publisher website: Legend Press

Author website: https://lynchpinpauline.wordpress.com/

Author twitter: @lynchpinpauline

When We Were Alive by C.J. Fisher

In the minority ... once again!

Blurb from Goodreads:

"When we first meet Bobby, he is a shy, twelve-year-old magician who falls in love with his best friend.

William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.

Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.

Three different people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix."

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First off, I want to thank Legend Press for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. Secondly, I want to apologise to Legend Press and the author for not actually finishing the book because, sadly, it just didn’t grab me in the way I think books should.

Now having said that I didn’t finish it, I will say that what I did read was well-written and the author definitely has a gift for description but, for me, it was a little too descriptive and long-winded and I found myself losing the thread part-way through a paragraph and having to go back and start again or skipping it totally. On reflection, I think this was part of the problem - doing this resulted in me losing interest and I had to force myself to read on and there were times when I would do anything other than pick it up. It was at this point, that I decided not to continue reading it - I hate doing that but life is too short and my “to-be-read” pile is massive!

I definitely think the fault is with me rather than the book - I just love getting lost in a book that excites me and gets my heart racing and my brain buzzing but, unfortunately, this book didn’t do that for me, then again, it isn’t being sold as such so this isn’t surprising.

After reading other reviews, it looks like I am in the minority (once again) so I would suggest that people who enjoy literary fiction and are tempted by the excellent cover and blurb, give it a go.

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Publisher website: http://www.legendtimesgroup.co.uk/legend-press

Author website: http://oldhotradio.com/

Tough Justice: Exposed (Part 1 of 8) by Carla Cassidy

"A great opener to a series"

Description from Goodreads:

“A new job. A new case. A new criminal...?

Special Agent Lara Grant will do anything to get her mark — until her last undercover case, infiltrating the notorious Moretti crime ring, forced her to get close to the top. Way. Too. Close…

Now starting a new job in New York City, all Lara wants is to leave the ghosts of her past behind. Until a dramatic sniper attack leaves Lara’s face — and real name — all over the media. In the blink of an eye, her cover is blown, her identity exposed.

Then a woman’s body is found, branded with the ritual Moretti tattoo. Someone knows who Lara is…and exactly how to make her pay…”

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This is Part 1 in an 8 part series of books following the character of FBI Agent Lara Grant and although it is fairly short and a quick read, it certainly packs a lot of information and action.

This first part (and the last one) is written by Carla Cassidy with subsequent parts being written by other authors. This is a novel way of writing a series of books and it remains to be seen how this works out but this first certainly sets the scene with excellent writing and a fast pace.

Lara has recently returned to active duty in the Crisis Management Team following an undercover operation putting a major crime boss behind bars which resulted in a year being spent in a safe house. Unfortunately, whilst trying to prevent a man from committing suicide, the media splash her face all over the news and her cover is blown and all clues to this death and others point to the crime syndicate she helped to put an end to and which open wounds Lara took a long time to bury.

As I said, this is really well written and is an excellent opener to a series. The characters are interesting and believable, the story intriguing and fast paced but don’t expect any answers to the many questions raised in this short book … be prepared to want - no need - to read the next installment as this one ends on a cliff-hanger.

I was kindly provided with a copy of this book by the publisher, Harlequin (UK) Ltd, via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review but you can currently download a free copy from Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, WHSmith and likely other websites so what are you waiting for! You’ve nothing to lose.

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Author website - http://carlacassidybooks.com/

Author twitter - CarlaCassidy2

For more information on Harlequin UK follow @Mira_BooksUK, @MillsandBoon and @MiraInk

Trust No One (Mike Lockyer #3) by Clare Donoghue

"No hesitation in recommending to anyone"

Description from Goodreads:

"A marriage is what you make it, isn't it? It's what you put into it. It's not just about love, it's about understanding another person's point of view. Sometimes there are things you find out about yourself and each other which means the marriage has to end. Sad, particularly when kids are involved - but all pretty normal. Normal that is, until there's a murder. DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer are called in to investigate one of the South London murder squad's most difficult and distressing cases yet - where family and friends come under scrutiny in the hardest of circumstances."

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I must admit to having finished reading this book some time ago but have only just got round to writing my review due to unforeseen circumstances but such is the excellent writing ability of this author, that I was able to recall how good this book was very quickly.

The main focus of the story is the death of Richard, a father of 2 young children. At first it is thought to be a tragic but unfortunate death but it soon becomes clear that all is not what it seems and DS Bennett and DI Lockyer are brought in to investigate. Soon everyone associated with Richard is under the spotlight and no one is beyond suspicion with the investigation uncovering lies and deception which opens the door to many suspects. The author has a knack of dropping red herrings in so just when you think you know who the culprit is, another twist appears that forces you to rethink.

The pace of the book is just right with a great mix of the investigation and the life of DS Bennett so that it is not overly procedural or personal. The characters are believable and complex as is the story but I still haven’t made up my mind about the ending although it was a complete surprise and not beyond the realms of possibility.

This is the 3rd book in the DI Lockyer series but can be read as a standalone quite easily but I think it’s best to read at least one of the previous books as it provides insight into the Lockyer and Bennett characters. If I'm totally honest, I'm not sure why this is called the Mike Lockyer series as it seems to focus more on Bennett's character but, having said that, I'm not complaining as she is a strong female character who has to juggle a very difficult job with a complicated personal life. I have read and reviewed number 2 in the series - No Place To Die - which, again, was a great read and I would have no hesitation in recommending Clare Donoghue’s work to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Pan Macmillan, for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Author Twitter - claredonoghue