Game Players by Anita Walker

Description from Goodreads:

"When a gang of six children playing in their den in the woods spot a man burying drugs nearby, it marks the beginning of the end of their childhoods.

Unsure what to do, the children dig up the drugs and take them away. But when the dealer, who they watched bury the stash, shows up dead, the youngsters are thrown into turmoil.

Scared of what might happen, the children tell the police about the body they have discovered.

Meanwhile, a group of gangsters start searching for their missing drugs.

Soon the children and their families become the target of the vicious criminals who will stop at nothing to retrieve their narcotics…"

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This is an intense and enthralling read with sharp contrasts between the innocence of youth and the dark underbelly of society.  It is unique in that it centres around a group of 6 young children enjoying the freedom of childhood until they naively become embroiled in something that will change their lives forever.

Well written, great pace, fantastic characters and a complex plot makes this book a must read.

Thanks to the publisher, Bloodhound Books, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Dark Return (Leine Basso #6) by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"A former assassin, battling her demons. A sinister enemy, determined to destroy her. A wily street kid, caught in the middle.

Former assassin and SHEN operative Leine Basso is fresh off an assignment rescuing an American teenager from a terrorist group in Libya when she thwarts the murder of a street kid in Tripoli. Leine agrees to help the girl find her family, but must first visit a refugee camp in the desert where there are disturbing reports of mysterious abductions.

Leaving the camp, Leine comes under a surprise attack–but only a handful of people knew her true mission. Who has betrayed her? The more she discovers about the abductions, the more of a target she becomes, forcing her to revisit a dark and violent past she thought she’d left behind. But it's easy--too easy to fall back to her old ways.

And it could get her killed.

Will she be able to survive a dark return?

If you like gritty, fast-paced, can’t-put-it-down thrillers with a strong female lead who won’t take no for an answer, then you’ll love Dark Return."

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Once again, D V Berkom writes a brilliant, fast-paced, thrilling read with a very strong female lead character in Leine Basso but she is not the star of the book in my humble opinion ... that would be Jinn, the little streetwise girl Leine saves from being murdered.  What a star she is and I was as much enthralled by her story as I was with Leine's.

This book has it all ... action, murder, double-crossing, human trafficking, terrorism, espionage, intrigue, surprises, tension ... you name it, it's got it and all wrapped up in a well-written, fast-paced story that is not beyond the realms of possibility.

This is part of a series but, I feel, holds up extremely well as a stand-alone.  There are recurring characters but the author has the ability to provide just enough information so you don't get lost but not so much that it detracts from the current story.

I received a copy of this book direct from the author which in no way influenced my review in any way shape or form and I would happily recommend this and any of D V Berkom's books especially if you are fed up with the usual male lead characters that most books of this genre seem to have ... you won't be disappointed.

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Connect with the author:

Website:  D. V. Berkom

Twitter:  @dvberkom

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Previous books I have read by D.V. Berkom

The Body Market

The Last Deception

The Good Sister by Chris Morgan Jones

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Morgan Jones' heart-stopping thriller, The Good Sister, sees one father go further than he ever knew possible, to rescue a daughter who doesn't want to be saved.

A missing daughter. A desperate father. A journey to save them both.

Sofia Mounir’s world is not her own. Her mother is sick, her father broken, the London they live in is dying of greed and self-obsession.

So she flees, to Raqqa: heart of the caliphate, foundation stone of a just world that she will help to build. From violence and sacrifice will grow something beautiful, and she will be part of it. Her faith will be equal to everything asked of her.

Until it isn’t. Until it becomes clear that not all her new brothers’ and sisters’ intentions are as pure as her own. Until even her faith becomes a liability.

Where do you turn, when the future you’ve longed for wants you dead?"

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A very thought-provoking, interesting and challenging read about a very real and current situation.

Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good.  Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.

The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.

Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.

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Jellybooks offers readers free advance reading copies and complimentary ebooks in exchange for their reading data

Website:  Chris Morgan Jones

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan

Twitter:  @panmacmillan

Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry

Description from Goodreads:

"Imagine sharing your darkest secret with a stranger - a girl who isn't what she seems, and who will do anything to keep you close . . .

On a hot humid night in London, Cara Jameson's busy, fulfilling life is interrupted with the sound of gunfire. Panic and terror grip the street as the air is filled with screaming and Cara is pulled roughly to safety by a stranger.

Taking refuge in a storeroom, Cara huddles with her savior - Amy - and in the darkness she shares more in those hours than ever has with even her husband. When she emerges hours later, a bond forged in the trauma of that night has formed between them.

Returning to work, Cara tries to put the experience behind her, but the incident has taken its toll and as cracks begin to show in her perfect life and marriage, Amy reappears, set on pursuing a friendship.

Cara wished she hadn't shared everything she did in those hours of darkness. But as her life skids towards deepening violence, there is only one person she can turn to: Amy, her closest friend."

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What a unique story and nothing like anything I've read before.  You are thrown into the middle of a terrorist attack at the beginning of the story and not knowing whether she is going to survive or not, Cara confides her deepest secrets to the young lady who plucked her to safety.  Secrets that should have stayed hidden as they are now used against her.

The writing style is easy to read and flows really well with each chapter written from the perspectives of the 2 main characters - Cara and Amy - which works extremely well for this book and the story.  I did feel there was a bit of a lull in the middle but it certainly makes up for it as we move towards the thrilling conclusion.

Never having read anything by these authors before (Paul Perry and Karen Gillece ), I will most certainly keep my eyes open in future and thank you to the Publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for once again introducing me to yet another great book that would likely have passed me by.

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Connect with the authors:

Twitter:  karenperrybooks 

Stalker by Lisa Stone

Description from Goodreads:

"Someone is always watching…

Derek Flint is a loner. He lives with his mother and spends his
evenings watching his clients on the CCTV cameras he has installed inside their homes. He likes their companionship – even if it’s through a screen.

When a series of crimes hits Derek’s neighbourhood, DC Beth Mayes begins to suspect he’s involved. How does he know so much about the victims’ lives? Why won’t he let anyone into his office? And what is his mother hiding in that strange, lonely house?

As the crimes become more violent, Beth must race against the clock to find out who is behind the attacks. Will she uncover the truth in time? And is Derek more dangerous than even she has guessed?

A spellbinding crime novel from the worldwide bestseller Cathy Glass, writing as Lisa Stone.

‘Once you start you won’t be able to stop!’ Katerina Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Teacher."

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A scarily plausible thriller that immediately made me change by router password!

Stalker is not what you would expect from the title.  According to the Cambridge Dictionary, in the UK a stalker is "a person who illegally follows and watches someone, especially a woman, over a period of time" and although this book certainly covers this definition, it does so slightly differently to what you would imagine it would.  For one, it isn't primarily about physically following someone around and for another, it's not primarily about a man stalking a woman.

It starts of a little slow but certainly builds to a very satisfying conclusion.  The main character, Flint, is a bit weird but, strangely, he grew on me as the story developed and I found myself feeling sorry for him despite the creepy way in which he lives his life watching over other people living theirs.

Once the book got going proper (that's good English!), it never stopped it became a very riveting read that I found difficult to stop ... you know the feeling ... just one more chapter and before you know it, it's way past your bed time!  There are twists that you can see coming and there are others that hit you right in the face!

Overall, a very entertaining and captivating read that I would highly recommend and my thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and genuine review.

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Connect with the Author:

Website:  Lisa Stone

Twitter:  LisaStoneBooks

Lisa Stone also writes as Cathy Glass - you can visit her website here

If you visit the Publisher website - Avon Books UK - and sign up to their newsletter, you will get a free e-Book from a choice of 3.

Thirteen (Eddie Flynn #4) by Steve Cavanagh

Description from Goodreads:

"THE SERIAL KILLER ISN'T ON TRIAL.

HE'S ON THE JURY...

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'THIRTEEN is my favourite read of the year.' Sarah Pinborough

'Outstanding.' Lee Child

'Smart and original. This is a belter of a book.' Clare Mackintosh

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They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.

This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.

All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.

What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?

What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?"

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WOW, WOW, WOW 😮😮😮

I can't even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book ... it was so good, I didn't want it to end and I'm not one who normally reads courtroom books but I was drawn to this because of the serial killer angle .... I know, I know, I'm a little strange in my reading tastes!  Don't judge me 😉

Now, this is the first book I have read by this author containing Flynn and although it would have probably helped with background information to have read previous ones, I don't feel it is absolutely necessary but I will certainly be seeking them out after reading this.

Anyway, this book is basically about the murder of a starlet and her supposed lover - they were found by the husband who allegedly beat him to death with a baseball bat and stabbed her repeatedly.  In comes Flynn as part of the defence team who becomes 'the' defence team following a few revelations whereby the main lawyer (who is employed by the studio) is told to withdraw.  Meanwhile, someone is going to great lengths to be on the jury ... welcome to Joshua Kane, a very disturbed individual.

Flynn is a fantastic character; I adore him - so likeable and not 'up himself' like many lawyers seem to be portrayed ... he's "normal" ... well, if you can call a previous con-man with a shady history normal but it does give him a unique view of things which certainly comes in handy in his line of work.

Joshua Kane is far from normal but what a great character he is - such a good baddie!!

The supporting cast were equally as good and all had their part to play in this fantastic book.

The chapters are written alternatively between Flynn and Kane and whilst Flynn's are written in the first person, Kane's are written in the third; this was, I think, a stroke of genius as it gives different perspectives from Flynn who's trying his best for his client to Kane who is cleverly manipulating things from the jury box.  The pace of the book is perfect; there's plenty of action, thrills, twists and turns that had me hooked from page one.

This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read and one of the very few that I will read again.

Many thanks to the publisher, Orion Publishing Group, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review - thank you so much, I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Connect with the author:

Website:  Steve Cavanagh Books

Twitter:  SSCav

The Man on the Roof by Michael Stephenson

Blurb:

"Someone has been creeping in the dark while the others sleep, and they've done terrible, terrible things. 

“There was a man on your roof,” claims curmudgeonly lane-hermit Herbert McKinney. Then, he initiates an unprovoked fight with a local punk. Drama escalates when that punk's dead body is found hanging at mid-street one August morning—a boastful killer messaging their next prey. All fingers point to Herbert as the culprit. Soon, the five couples he calls neighbors come under suspicion, too. When detectives divine blackmail as the motive, eyes cross to find who hides the most shameful secret. Husband versus wife, friend versus friend, the shiny suburban veneer of innocence has been forever tarnished. As hidden deviousness boils from their pores, there lurks a thief, a pill addict and a sadist—secrets worth killing for. 

Now, as the man on the roof helps guide justice and watches devious neighbors slip in and out of sleepy houses, confusion and questions persist. Who dies next? What have they learned? Who is becoming a monster? Who already is one? And just how many secrets can a small group of multi-ethnic Ohioans have? Only one cemented truth exists: the killer will kill again. 

A taut domestic mystery-suspense thriller, The Man On The Roof propels the reader through a tangled, volatile and suspenseful thicket of deception, murder and friends, inviting the reader to discover the murderer and who hides which lie. First there was Gone Girl. Then there was The Girl on the Train. Now, there's The Man On The Roof."

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Hmmmm ... if I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be ... frustrating!  Now don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, it's just infuriatingly annoying.  Let me try and explain.

The story is basically about the murder of a young lad found suspended from a banner in a cul-de-sac of houses where we find the main suspects who, we learn, all have secrets that they don't want to come out.  In comes the police to investigate the crime and the various suspects that live in the cul-de-sac.  Sounds ok so far however, therein lies the problem.  There are so many suspects, none of which are particularly likeable, it was difficult to keep track of who was who and who was married to who and as the secrets were revealed, whose secret was it!  In addition, each of the chapters is written in different styles from different people and you don't always know who the people are ... I ended up being very confused.  There's lots of description and whilst some of it is good, e.g. people's gestures and behaviour, a lot of it is unnecessary and this makes it a very long book ... well it seemed long to me.

There are some inconsistencies as well which I found annoying.  For example, the names of the police officers change ... one minute they were Detective Cady Lambert and Detective Braidey Fitzsimmons and then they were Cady and Braidey and then they were Lambert and Fitzsimmons ... this may seem trivial but when you have so many characters, it's hard to keep track so changing their names throughout causes you to lose the thread of who is who.

Now don't get me wrong, as I said this isn't a bad book, it actually has the bones of being an excellent dark and gritty thriller but there's just too much going on that affects the flow of reading for me and I just think it needs tidying up.

I am grateful to the author for sending me a copy of his book after finding my blog.  I really appreciate the time and effort he has made in writing a complex story and putting it out there for people like me, who couldn't write a decent letter, to criticise and pick apart ... that is brave and I salute you Mr Stephenson and encourage you to keep going.

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Connect with the author:

Website:  Are You Not Entertained

Twitter:  @filmbooksbball