The Fear by C.L. Taylor

Description from Goodreads:

"‘Grabs you by the metaphorical throat right from the start and doesn’t let up until the end.’ Heat

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

The million copy Sunday Times bestseller returns with a taut, compelling psychological thriller that will have you glued to the edge of your seat."

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Excellent from start to finish!

A topical and relevant storyline told in a very sensitive but authentic way.  There are sections that I found difficult to read due to the subject matter but they were all necessary and although I don't have any experience in this area (thank goodness), it came across as being an accurate reflection on just how easy it can be for some despicable people to seek out, manipulate and take advantage of the most vulnerable children in our society.

There are characters that you'll love and characters that you'll love to hate but all believable; my personal favourite was Wendy which might seem a little strange given how she is introduced to us but give her time, she will definitely grow on you!  The setting felt right for the story and I was pleased that it didn't take place in a city; it helped to add an even more sinister feel as it felt more "normal" somehow.  

There are twists and turns that had me on edge and I went through all manner of emotions during the course of this book ... sadness, disgust, anger, frustration, anticipation ... that I didn't want to stop reading.  

Overall, a disturbing and chilling read but thrilling and gripping and although the subject matter is distasteful and difficult to stomach at times, this book certainly isn't and I highly recommend it to any psychological thriller fans.

My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, via NetGalley, for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website: C.L. Taylor where you can join the C.L. Taylor book club and receive her 9,000 word story "The Lodger" for free 😃

Author twitter:  @callytaylor

Author facebook:  Cally Taylor Author

Author instagram:  cltaylorauthor

Publisher website:  Avon Books UK where if you sign up to their newsletter, you can get a free e-book 😃

NetGalley helps readers of influence discover and recommend new books to their audiences. If you are a bookseller, librarian, educator, reviewer, blogger or in the media, get started right now by signing in or joining for free. 

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The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Description from Goodreads:

"What did she see?

It’s been ten long months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house like a ghost, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits day after day, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family of three, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a frenzied scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something no one was supposed to see. Now she must do everything she can to uncover the truth about what really happened. But even if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?"

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An interesting psychological thriller full of suspense that although I enjoyed, it took me quite a while in before I connected with the main character, Anna, for some reason; I've been wracking my brains trying to think why but I just can't come up with an explanation and because of this, I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I could have which is a shame because it's a great story and not like anything I have read before.

The story is told completely from Anna's perspective but because of her fragile mental health and the wine and medication concoction, you question whether what she is saying is actually what is happening ... as she herself ends up doing.

I found it quite a sad book overall and I felt a lot of empathy for Anna and her situation but it was also a story of triumph over adversity with a gradual build up to the explosive ending which I found very satisfying.

Overall, a pretty good debut that is not full of the usual blood and violence ... it's definitely a slow burner that builds and builds to a satisfying conclusion.

I think this book would transfer really well to the big screen and I am pleased to note that it is in development as a major motion picture from Fox - it's just a shame that Alfred Hitchcock isn't alive to direct it!

Thanks to the publisher, HarperCollins UK HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author twitter:  AJFinnBooks

Publisher website:  HarperFiction

Redemption Point (Crimson Lake #2) by Candice Fox

Description from Goodreads:

"In a dark roadside hovel called the Barking Fog Inn, the bodies of two young bartenders lie on a beer-sodden floor.  Only the night-time animals in the surrounding forest were close enough to hear their screams.

Crimson Lake's resident private detectives are hired to take on the case.  Disgraced former police detective Ted Conkaffey and convicted murderer Amanda Pharrell are uneasy allies working alongside DI Pip Sweeney on her first homicide investigation.

For Ted, a new case serves as a welcome distraction from his fight to clear his name over the abduction of a teenage girl.

For all three, the hunt for the truth will draw them into a violent dance with evil.  Redemption is certainly on the cards - but it may well cost them their lives ..."

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This is a sequel to Crimson Lake; a book I gave 4 stars; this one also gets 4 stars.  I really recommend you read Crimson Lake before reading this otherwise you will not get the really important background to the 2 main characters, Ted and Amanda and, I feel, that is essential to get everything out of this story and an understanding of these 2 very different and intriguing characters.

The story has 2 main facets.  The first being the murder of two young people and the second of Ted's attempts to clear his name of the violent attack on a young girl.  Both parts fit together really well as does the unlikely partnership of Ted and Amanda and the relationship between Ted and his geese!

Well written; funny and sad with a story that will make you shout at it at times and laugh out loud at others, Redemption Point and its predecessor are books I'm glad I didn't miss out on and I would highly recommend.

Thanks go to Ellie Gibbons, Marketing Manager at Cornerstone - Penguin Random House UK and the author, Candice Fox for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website:  Candice Fox

Author twitter:  @candicefoxbooks

Publisher website:  Cornerstone - Penguin Random House UK

A Map of the Dark (The Searchers #1) by Karen Ellis

Description from Goodreads:

"A girl, missing
A woman, searching
A killer, planning ...

A thrilling new FBI series for fans of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter.

FBI Agent Elsa Myers finds missing people.
She knows how it feels to be lost ...

Though her father lies dying in a hospital north of New York City, Elsa cannot refuse a call for help.  A teenage girl has gone missing from Forest Hills, Queens, and during the critical first hours of the case, a series of false leads hides the fact that she did not go willingly.

With each passing hour, as the hunt for Ruby deepens into a search for a man who may have been killing for years, the case starts to get underneath Elsa's skin.  Everything she has buried - her fraught relationship with her sister and niece, her self-destructive past, her mother's death - threatens to resurface, with devastating consequences.

In order to save the missing girl, she may have to lose herself ... and return to the darkness she's been hiding from for years."

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Hmm, this is a toughie for me.  I enjoy reading Karen Ellis' books and love her characters but I admit that I struggled to get into this one.  I can only think this is because there is a lot of background information on the main character Elsa and although very important as it explains the motivations pushing her and the daily struggle she has with her inner demons, it did interrupt the flow of the story for me.  Having said that, when another in the series comes out, I would give it a go as I think now we have the history out of the way, the story will come to the fore with the intrigue, twists and excitement Karen Ellis is adept at creating.

Thanks to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website:  Karen Ellis or Katia Lief

Author twitter:  @KatiaLief

Publisher website:  Hodder & Stoughton