The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger

Description from Goodreads:

"It’s 1944 and sixteen-year-old ballerina and gymnast Edith Eger is sent to Auschwitz. Separated from her parents on arrival, she endures unimaginable experiences, including being made to dance for the infamous Josef Mengele. When the camp is finally liberated, she is pulled from a pile of bodies, barely alive.

The horrors of the Holocaust didn’t break Edith. In fact, they helped her learn to live again with a life-affirming strength and a truly remarkable resilience. The Choice is her unforgettable story."

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“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.”  ― Edith Eger,The Choice

Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is.  It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!

Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.

Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is.  It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well.  Highly recommended.

My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website:  Dr. Edith Eva Eger

Old Haunts: A Simon Serrailler Short Story by Susan Hill

Description from Goodreads:

"One hot summer’s day, an old flame turns up at Lafferton HQ and Simon Serrailler is catapulted back to his days as a fresh-faced PC in the Met.

That long febrile summer in the early 1990s, London was reeling from one IRA bomb warning after another. Sirens. Blue lights. Tyres screaming. People running. The army called in. And Simon in the thick of it. Until he’s pulled aside and put on a very different kind of job: his first undercover op awaits. Will the young Simon be able to hold his nerve? Or is he walking into a trap?"

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A very short story of a flashback to a point in time when the main character  Simon Serrailler reminisces about his first foray into undercover work.  It also includes an extract from the newest full length book The Comforts of Home.

Although it's just enough to wet your appetite, it's not enough to really get your teeth into but I would definitely recommend you read the full length stories and use this as an added extra.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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Connect with the author:

Website:  Susan Hill

Twitter:  susanhillwriter

Facebook:  Susanhillauthor

The Chosen Ones (DC Ian Bradshaw #4) by Howard Linskey

Description from Goodreads:

"Eva Dunbar wakes in a large metal box.

She has no idea who has taken her.

She has no way out.

 She isn't the first young woman to disappear.


And with no leads Detective Ian Bradshaw has precious little time.

When at last a body is found, the police hope the tragic discovery might at least provide a clue that will help them finally find the kidnapper.

But then they identify the body - and realise the case is more twisted than they ever imagined . . ."

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I have never read anything by Howard Linskey before but if this book is anything to go by, I won't be making that mistake again ... what a great read and even though this is book number 4 in the series, I don't think it's totally necessary to have read the previous ones.  Yes you may miss out on some of the back story and relationship building that has gone on before but I think there is enough provided to give you a good idea but not so much that it becomes tedious.

The writing flows well making it easy to read and with great characters, creepy and disturbing storyline and a great ending, I have no hesitation in recommending this to those who enjoy a good police procedural with a psychologically thrilling edge.

Thanks go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and for introducing me to another fantastic British author.

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Connect with the author:

Website: Howard Linskey

Twitter: @HowardLinskey

Greenwater by K. R. Griffiths

Description from Goodreads:

"Say ‘hello’ to charming Greenwater. Crossing our famous covered bridge into town, you’re sure to be met by warm smiles and a hearty Vermont greeting. While you’re here, why not take a trip out to Rum Cherry Ridge for some world class skiing, tour the site of our historic marble factory, or just kick back and relax with new friends in the town that’s easy to love, and impossible to leave! 

Oh, and don’t forget to bring a weapon. 

You’re going to need it. 

Derrick Aldridge isn’t planning on seeing the sights. He’s only in Greenwater, along with his wife Jasmine and teenage son Lee, to settle an ancient family dispute. He believes he will spend no more than a couple of hours in the tiny, isolated town. 

But Greenwater is gripped by an almost preternaturally powerful storm, and when the night sky is ripped apart by a sound that definitely isn’t thunder, Derrick begins to suspect that the place isn’t all that it appears to be. 

He's right. 

There’s something wrong with the residents of Greenwater. 

Something dangerous…"

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I am a massive fan of K R Griffiths having read several of his other books so when I heard Greenwater was being released, I didn't hesitate to pre-order it and eagerly awaited its release.  I was even sent an advance copy by the author, for which I am grateful, so now I have 2 copies ☺️

Mr Griffiths knows how to write a story and this one is no exception with the added bonus of an unexpected ending.  I do have a little gripe in that there is quite a lot of introspection by the characters which, although gave insight into their thought processes and circumstances, I found there was a bit too much which took me away from the action at times.  Having said that, Mr Griffiths has a knack of creating characters that get in your head whether you are either rooting for them or you are hoping for their demise to be quick and painful and there are both types in this book although I have to admit that there were more of the latter!

There is rather a lot of gratuitous violence, blood and gore so if you don't like that sort of thing, I wouldn't recommend you read it.

Overall, a pretty good read but not as good as some of Mr Griffiths' other works so I highly recommend you look at his back catalogue and give them a go.

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Other books by Mr Griffiths I have read and reviewed:

Adrift

Adrift 2: Sundown

Adrift 3: Rising

Survivor: A Horror Thriller

Last Resort: A Novella

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Connect with the author:

Website where you can sign up to the newsletter for new releases and bonus content.

Twitter:  KRGriffiths1

Facebook: The Dark World of K R Griffiths for monthly giveaways, competitions, exclusive short stories and novellas, and chat about all things horror and books!