In The Shadow of Death by Idris James Barwick

 

💥💥💥 Publication date 30-Dec-2021 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"Idris (Taff) James was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps and one of the thousands of young British soldiers taken prisoner by the Japanese in early 1942. He was ordered to become a medic by his Company Commander, who must have been a very shrewd judge of character. His account of the conditions and suffering endured by his fellow prisoners and himself makes for the most extraordinary and disturbing reading. Taff suffered from dysentery, malaria, beri beri and cholera but, unlike so many, he survived. His description of the courage of his fellow captives and, regrettably, the failings of some in authority, give grounds for serious thought. If you only read one book by a POW of the Japanese, this is the one."

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"Remember all the fine young men who died in far off lands and all the veterans who must live with their memories."

Ever since I found out my grandfather-in-law was a prisoner of war at the hands of the Japanese, I have had an interest in the subject. He would never speak about his experiences, bar a couple of stories, and having read this, I can understand why.

It is dreadful to think my grandfather-in-law was in a very similar situation as he was there at the fall of Singapore.  The author describes a massacre in a hospital in Singapore in which my grandfather-in-law was a patient after being admitted with shrapnel injuries.  He could quite easily have been a victim of that massacre and if he had, it's scary to think that my husband of 30 years wouldn't be here.

One thing that both surprised me and horrified me in equal measure was the conduct of the prisoner of war officers. I can't understand how many lived with their conscience after watching their comrades starving to death whilst they ate their fill or how they could inflict further punishments when they were already enduring so much.  I wonder if any were reprimanded for their despicable behaviour?

If I have one little gripe is that I wanted to know what happened to some of the other people after the war; there are some but it would have rounded things up for me if some of the main prisoners and Japanese stories were updated.

This book is heart-breaking, horrific and hard to read at times.  It is a real story of survival against the odds and a story of keeping your humanity and compassion in what was clearly pure hell.  Many times his compassion and descriptions brought me to tears and saying to myself "how did anyone survive that?"  The addition of pictures also helped bring Idris's words to life.

I defy anyone not to be moved by this book and it is one that I would recommend to anyone who has any interest in this part of the War.

My thanks must go to Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Note from the Publisher:

"Idris Barwick survived the War and went on to enjoy a long life in his native Wales. He died in 2000. His daughter Elizabeth Garland has been instrumental in bringing this book to our notice."

The Girl Upstairs [Audiobook] by Georgina Lees

 

[Narrated by Meg Travers]

Description from Goodreads:

"I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music.

I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox.

Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.

Because I know her best, and I heard everything.

The Girl Upstairs is a spine-tingling psychological thriller of grief and obsession that explores how lonely London can be and how sometimes it’s our neighbours who see us most, who know us best…"

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I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and whilst I personally wouldn't call it a psychological thriller, it's more of a mystery, it kept my attention and wanting to go back to listen to just one more chapter.

The two main characters of Emily and Suzie have quite sad stories to tell but for very different reasons.  The start of the book is told from Suzie's perspective and whilst it does start a little slow and you are wondering where this is going, once Emily's perspective comes in and it begins to switch between perspectives, it starts to get interesting and intriguing.  I admit that I didn't particularly warm to Suzie at first but she grew on me as the story developed and I got to know her better.

There is minimal violence, no blood or gore just a constant uneasiness and sense of menace sitting there waiting to creep up on you and whilst the reveal was a surprise, I did have a bit of an inkling so not the shock that I was expecting.

What I thought made this audiobook was the narrator; she kept my attention with her dulcet tones and whilst she used the same voice for all characters, there wasn't a second where I didn't know who was speaking.

Would I have enjoyed this book more if it was a physical one? Well after reading other reviews, it looks like possibly not so I would definitely recommend the audio version if you enjoy character-driven, mysteries told by an excellent narrator.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited copy.

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The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhall

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Mim’s husband is missing. No one knows where Ben is, but everyone wants to find him – especially The Department. And they should know, the all-seeing government body has fitted the entire population with a universal tracking chip to keep them ‘safe’.

But suddenly Ben can’t be tracked. And Mim is questioned, made to surrender her passport and threatened with the unthinkable – her two children being taken into care at the notorious BestLife.

Cornered, Mim risks everything to go on the run to find her husband – and a part of herself, long gone, that is brave enough to tackle the journey ahead.

From the stark backroads of the Australian outback to a terrifying sea voyage, Mim is forced to shuck off who she was – mother, daughter, wife, sister – and become the woman she needs to be to save her family and herself."

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A book that wasn't for me I'm sorry to say.

Set in a future where climate change is not just something that is likely to happen but is all too real and where everyone is micro-chipped and controlled by the Government, this is the story about Mim trying to find out about her missing husband but feeling she has no other option than to go on the run with her children.

Sounds good doesn't it, well for me it just fell short on excitement.  There was a lot of description, too much waffle and whilst the characters were well developed, I couldn't seem to get on with them.  The ending was also a disappointment; it seemed to take a while to get there and then it was over with many questions still to be answered - maybe I missed something somewhere?

So whilst this wasn't for me, there are plenty of positive reviews out there so don't take my word for it as I always say, if we all liked the same things, the world would be a very boring place indeed.

My thanks go to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Sins of Fathers by Michael Emmett

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Like many little boys, Michael Emmett idolised his father. Growing up, he knew he wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps and join the family business. At just 16 years old, Michael did just that – and entered the glamourous, dangerous world of organised crime.

Under the tutelage of his career criminal father – a contemporary of the infamous Kray twins – Michael’s criminal activities funded a reckless lifestyle marked by drugs, sex and violence. But the high couldn’t last forever. In 1993, Michael and his father were arrested in a dramatic confrontation with the police during a £13 million smuggling operation. Michael was sentenced to twelve years behind bars and would serve his time in the same prison as his father.

But behind the walls of HMP Exeter, Michael found something he never expected – answers. After joining an Alpha prayer group in prison, he had an experience that would shake the very foundations of his life.

Sins of Fathers is the story of Michael’s journey through chaos and trauma to the transformation he experienced in prison. It asks what it takes for a broken man to find redemption, and how he can learn to be the father he never had."

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I am so so disappointed with this book.  I was really looking forward to reading something a bit different to what I usually read but I don't think I have ever felt so deflated as I did with this.

I just couldn't get past the author's use of the word "naughty" to describe some pretty horrific and violent behaviour.  According to the Collins English Dictionary, naughty is defined as "(esp of children or their behaviour) mischievous or disobedient; bad" and/or "mildly indecent; titillating".  To me, that definition does not correlate with fatally stabbing someone and that is just one instance; the word "naughty" is used a lot and I mean, a lot.

Another thing that irked me somewhat was the glamorisation and glorification of a life of crime and violence and I felt the voice of the book was quite childish and there were times when I struggled to keep up with where I was in the timeline.

Having said all of the above, I realise this is Michael's story; it is his life he is writing about ... warts and all ... and therefore he should be forgiven for using the words and language that is the norm for him but, for me, I just couldn't get on with it and therefore struggled to read it.

In the end though, what I took from this book is that anyone can change; it might take a couple of tries but it can happen and those that do, should be applauded because it's easy just to keep doing what you have always known regardless of the hurt and pain it causes you, those you love and those you come into contact with.

My thanks must go to HarperCollins UK / HarperInspire via NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Hide by Nell Pattison

 

💥💥💥 Published 09-December-2021 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"Seven friends. One killer.

You can run, but you can’t hide…

The winter hike is meant to bring their nature group together.

Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.

Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.

Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.

Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.

Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.

Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.

And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.

As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.

One of the seven is dead.  And one of their number killed them…"

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This is what I would call a slow burn - it never really ignites fully and sometimes fizzles to the point it almost goes out but, generally, it just stays at a solid gas mark 3 for the most part.

Seven members of a nature group come together for a Boxing Day gathering to watch a murmuration within a nature reserve.  Seems like a fairly innocuous and harmless way to spend a day and evening usually spent eating leftovers and vegging in front of the television and it is, until a shot rings out and one of their party is dead.

Each of the remaining six have secrets they don't want made common knowledge and therefore each have a motive for murder.  None of the characters have many redeeming features if I'm honest and it wouldn't have made any difference to me who was the victim as I didn't particularly like any of them. 

What follows is infighting which results in the group splitting up (never a good idea - have they never watched a horror film!) and suspicions falling on one person, then another, then another ... well, you get the idea.  More shots are heard, people are separated further, injuries happen, more separation and more infighting and, all the while, the secrets they want to stay hidden gradually come to light.

What I enjoyed about this book was the sense of claustrophobia and isolation that was well captured and, as seems to be the norm with Nell's books, the inclusion of a character who is deaf added something a bit different.

What I didn't like about it was there was too much time spent describing stuff that didn't really seem to add to the story and this resulted in it dragging - hence the slow burn.

I have read a few of Nell's other books and this does seem to be a pattern with her stories but there have been plenty of people who have absolutely raved about this book so please, please don't judge it from my review alone.

Remember, if we all liked the same things, it would be a very, very boring world indeed!

Thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Nell Pattison I have read and reviewed:

The Silent House (Paige Northwood #1)

Silent Night (Paige Northwood #2)

The Silent Suspect (Paige Northwood #3)

The Couple on Maple Drive [Audiobook] by Sam Carrington

 

[Read by Georgia Maguire and Elliot Fitzpatrick]

💥💥💥 published 09-December-2021 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"Have you heard about the couple on Maple Drive?

Isla barely leaves the house after her brutal mugging.

Her boyfriend Zach moved in with her after the attack. To look after her.

But something else has happened now. Right on their doorstep.

I don’t want to say that someone’s out to get her…

I just hope they find out the truth before it’s too late."

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Only my second foray into the world of audiobooks and, once again, I have not been disappointed.

From the off, you are drawn into a situation being told via a live Podcast from Christie's Crime Addicts; something awful has happened on Maple Drive but the "what" isn't clear.  The story then presents the "whens" and "whys" leading up to the "situation" interspersed with more Podcasts.  This does sound like it's going to be a tad confusing but let me reassure you, it most certainly isn't; it flows really well and makes perfect sense.

The characters are an interesting bunch but not so many that you become confused.  Isla is, I admit, a little annoying and naïve; you want to shout and shake her and soothe and swaddle her in equal measure but considering what she has been through and what transpires, she can be forgiven and with friends like Nikki, you don't need enemies!

The story moves on at a good pace gradually ramping up the tension as it goes until the slightly unexpected ending; I say slightly as I had already guessed one of the twists but this was then turned on it's head when another came along ... I love it when that happens!

As this was an audiobook, I must mention the narrators which, I think, were excellent with the main narrator really drawing you in with her voice.  I also enjoyed the Podcasts being narrated by different voices of the Christie's Crime Addicts team, I don't think they would have had such an impact on the story if they had been by the same narrator so a stroke of genius there I feel.

Overall, The Couple on Maple Drive is an intriguing story that I thoroughly enjoyed and certainly made my car journeys much more enjoyable so much so that I didn't want to stop the book when I come to the end of my travels and there were a few times when I sat there, parked up with the engine off for just one more chapter!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Darkness Falls (Kate Marshall #3) by Robert Bryndza

 

💥💥💥 due to be published 07-December-2021 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"Kate Marshall’s investigation into a journalist’s disappearance sends her down an unexpectedly twisted path in a riveting thriller by the author of Shadow Sands.

Kate Marshall’s fledgling PI agency takes off when she and her partner, Tristan Harper, are hired for their first big case. It’s a cold one. Twelve years before, journalist Joanna Duncan disappeared after exposing a political scandal. Most people have moved on. Joanna’s mother refuses to let go.

When Kate and Tristan gain access to the original case files, they revisit the same suspects and follow the same leads―but not to the same dead ends. Among Joanna’s personal effects, Kate discovers the names of two young men who also vanished without a trace.

As she connects the last days of three missing persons, Kate realizes that Joanna may have been onto something far more sinister than anyone first believed: the identity of a serial killer hiding in plain sight. The closer Kate comes to finding him, the darker it’s going to get."

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I really didn't think that Mr Bryndza could better the first and second instalments in this excellent series but he has and yet again, I was totally engrossed from the first to the last word.  You don't have to have read either of the first two books but I would highly recommend you do.

The characters are strong and I am really getting attached to Kate and Tristan; they are a brilliant duo and work really well together.  The pace was spot on, the plot gripping and the tension spine-tinglingly good.  The chapters which are written from the point of view of the killer are goosebump-inducing; he is so cold it really gave me the creeps - it was perfect!  There is a great twist and the ending was so good I read way too late into the night and then was really disappointed that I had finished ... I didn't want it to end!

This series just keeps getting better and better and I can't wait for the next one.  In the "Author's Letter" at the end, Mr Bryndza says that "Kate and Tristan will return shortly for another gripping murder investigation!" and I for one am waiting with bated breath!

Highly recommended for readers who love dark, exciting, suspense-filled stories that despite making you feel ill at ease at times, you read on into the night.

Many, many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Robert Bryndza I have read and reviewed:

Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)

Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall #2)

Eyewitness to Wehrmacht Atrocities on the Eastern Front: A German Soldier’s Memoir of War and Captivity by Luis Raffeiner

 

Description from the Publisher:

"How can the truth about the devastating atrocities committed by the German army on the Eastern Front in the Second World War be reconciled with the propaganda of their heroism and their victories? And how did a simple soldier, caught up in the turmoil of a vast conflict, make sense of the actions he had taken and the ruthlessness he had seen? Luis Raffeiner’s plain and simple account of his direct experience of the Nazi war of annihilation in the Soviet Union records in graphic detail circumstances which made him a victim and perpetrator at the same time.

Raffeiner describes his family life in a remote village in the Tyrol in the 1930s, his military service in Italy, his transfer to the Wehrmacht and his training as a mechanic on assault guns, and then his march into the Soviet Union in 1941. There he experienced, as he himself says, ‘war in its brutal and cruel reality’. He was captured by the Red Army, barely survived as a prisoner of war and, many years later, he recounted his vividly remembered experiences in order to produce this insightful – and thought-provoking – book.

His recollections are dramatic, honest and concise. He shatters the myth of the clean conduct of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. He can testify to the vicious actions of his fellow soldiers, including some in which he himself was involved. His memoir is not a heroic tale – it shows how a man from an ordinary background can become acquainted with, and a participant in, the horrors of war."

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I haven't read anything before about World War II from the German perspective and therefore was very interested to see how this is portrayed from that angle and whilst I found this book definitely provided insight of what it was like from Raffeiner's eyes, from what I have read in other books and seen in documentary's, I'm not sure how much was "missed", "forgotten" or "locked away" as the memories are too painful or too awful to talk about.

This is however a valuable read if you want to get some idea of what it was like for a "simple" German soldier; the vivid descriptions of the hardships of being on the Eastern frontline and how luck played a huge part in his life are well documented and it also gives a really good account of Raffeiner's tough early years growing up and the choices he had to make.  

Whilst this isn't what I feel a comprehensive book on this subject, it is an important individual and personal story that is captivating and I need to thank Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for a copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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The Life She Wants by Mel Sherratt

 

 

🌟🌟🌟due out 29-November-2021🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"From behind the curtains, Sarah spotted the man coming out of the house, followed by the woman. It would be strange seeing people in the property. She wondered how much it would change their lives. For now, she would bide her time and hopefully get to know them better. She needed to gain their trust.

When I met Richard, I fell for him instantly. He was able to give me everything I had always wanted, the dream house, security and above all, love like I’d never known. We lived a quiet life in the middle of nowhere; we didn’t need anyone else.

So, when the empty house next door is sold, I am wary. Will our neighbours invade the perfect life Richard has built for us? As soon as I meet Juliette and Danny, I am reassured. Overwhelmed by grief after the death of their young daughter, they have moved in search of a quiet life and a chance to start again. Over dinner one evening, we hit it off instantly and I know they are just the neighbours we need.

All is well until Juliette spots a young girl in our garden. Richard convinces her that she is seeing things, that it’s the grief taking over. But Juliette won’t let it go. She is sure she saw a child. She believes that Richard is threatening her. She starts to think that I’m not safe.

I need to convince Juliette that she’s imagining it. I need to keep Richard happy. If I am to protect everything I have built for myself, she must never find out the truth.

That my perfect life is built on the deadliest lie."

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I am a fan of Mel Sherratt's work and always look forward to reading her books but, I have to say, never have I been so confused as I was with this one.

Now, whilst at first this might seem to be a negative, let me reassure you that if you stick with it, everything falls into place very nicely and the confusion was well worth it in the end.

Told from different perspectives over different timelines, this is a complex storyline which deals with various unsavoury but important and contemporary themes; coercive control, domestic abuse and loss.  These are hard-hitting subjects but Mel deals with them with respect.

There are a number of characters and all have a part to play but I found I didn't really focus on them that much as I was more interested in the story and how it was going to play out.  That's not to say they weren't great characters, far from it, it's just that the story was so engrossing that they felt secondary to me somehow.

Full of secrets, lies and manipulation, this is a book that makes you angry and sympathetic all at the same time.  It's definitely one that kept me totally engrossed and I couldn't read fast enough.

With atmosphere, suspense and tension aplenty, this is a book that I would definitely recommend to lovers of psychological thrillers and I have to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Mel Sherratt that I have read and reviewed:

Ten Days

Follow The Leader (DS Allie Shenton #2)

Only The Brave (DS Allie Shenton #3)

Written in the Scars

Liar Liar (DS Grace Allendale #3)

Good Girl (DS Grace Allendale #4)

Don't Speak by A.J. Park

 

🌟🌟🌟due to be published 25-November-2021🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"DS Amelie Davis is utterly devoted to her husband. After years of abuse at the hands of her father, she thought she would never trust another man. Then Edward came along and proved her wrong.

But one night Amelie receives a phone call from an unknown number. The voice on the other end asks:

Do you really think you know your husband?

Struggling with a difficult murder case at work, and watching her husband's every move with increasing paranoia, Amelie grapples with the fear that her husband is not the man she thought she knew at all. In fact, he might just be the man she's been hunting..."

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Well, I can safely say I enjoyed that!

This is a gripping read which has a great plot that had me guessing for the majority of the time, a fast pace and excellent characters which is what you want from a thriller.  There is unpredictability and suspense with an ending that was very satisfying.

I admit, there were moments that pushed the boundaries of reality, Amelie 'disappearing' during an ongoing serial killer case for example, but I am able to push those to one side because, overall, the story had me engaged from the very beginning.

I am hoping there is more to come from DS Amelie Davis; she is an interestingly flawed character and there is definitely more mileage there for further stories especially if her colleagues are brought into it a little more than they were in this one.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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The Road (The Spread #4) by Iain Rob Wright

 

Description:

"How do you go on, when there's nothing left?

The fungus has all but won. Only a few remain, surviving however they can.

Aaron and his companions escaped the nightmare of Choirikell, only to enter a brand new hell at an army encampment near Edinburgh named Culdrake. It has big fences and lots of guns, but Aaron can't help but wonder how long before it all comes crashing down. The people in camp aren't protected; they're sitting ducks."

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Well, once again, Iain has excelled with this the fourth in the series of The Spread.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into this gripping story and finding out what hazards are set to befall the survivors and who Iain is going to dispatch next and how!  It wasn't long before I was hooked.

The Road is absolutely teeming with heart-in-the-mouth moments; the fungus isn't the only enemy as our survivors find out to their cost.  The story moves on at pace and is full of tension and numerous scenes of peril that had me holding my breath at times.  The characters, both good and bad, are excellent and no one feels like they have been just dropped in to fill the story.

I can't wait for book 5 to see what comes next but I am sure it won't be plain sailing or all sweetness and light but I guess I will just have to wait ... impatiently!!

My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with a copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.  

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Other books by Iain Rob Wright that I have read and reviewed:

The Hill (The Spread #1)

The Village (The Spread #2)

The Stand (The Spread #3)

End Play (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #3)

Terminal (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #4)

Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts)

2389: A Space Horror Novel

The Room Upstairs

Sam (Damienverse #1)

The Housemates (Damienverse #4)

Sea Sick (Damienverse #5 / Ravaged World Trilogy #1)

Ravage (Damienverse #6 / Ravaged World Trilogy #2)

Savage (Damienverse #7 / Ravaged World Trilogy #3)

Dark Ride

Escape

The Stand (The Spread #3) by Iain Rob Wright

 

Description from Goodreads:

"What do you do when your rescuers can’t rescue you…

The fungus cannot be stopped. Not even by an army.

Ryan and Aaron finally reach ‘safety,’ but soon learn that there is far more at stake than just their own lives. Other people are in peril; people who will surely die without rescue. It’s time for Ryan to decide what kind of big brother he wants to be. The nightmare in Choirikell has only just begun."

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What another great sequel to the previous 2 in the series ... you really have to have read them in order to understand the characters and the story otherwise you will be totally lost.

Once again, we are treated to an alternative take to the usual zombie story and the impact of an "invasion" on humanity.  I was gripped and itching to find out how my favourite characters will fair - remember, with Iain's books, no one is safe and just when you think things are going to work out, once again, Iain throws a giant spanner in the works and everything goes to pot.  

With excellent characters, both old and new, tension, thrills and definitely spills, The Stand is a great addition to the story of The Spread and my thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with a copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Website where you can get 6, yes 6, books for free!!

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Other books by Iain Rob Wright that I have read and reviewed:

The Hill (The Spread #1)

The Village (The Spread #2)

End Play (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #3)

Terminal (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #4)

Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts)

2389: A Space Horror Novel

The Room Upstairs

Sam (Damienverse #1)

The Housemates (Damienverse #4)

Sea Sick (Damienverse #5 / Ravaged World Trilogy #1)

Ravage (Damienverse #6 / Ravaged World Trilogy #2)

Savage (Damienverse #7 / Ravaged World Trilogy #3)

Dark Ride

Escape

The Village (The Spread #2) by Iain Rob Wright

 

Description from Goodreads:

"The fungus is spreading and life is changing, becoming corrupted...

Continue Ryan and Aaron's story as they flee the cottage by the hill and finally make it to the village where they hope to find safety, but the threat of the quickly spreading fungus is only growing worse, and not everyone in the village welcomes strangers. It's time to meet the locals.."

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Following on from "The Hill", the first in this series and one which I do think you need to have read in order to get the full picture of just what the heck has gone on, this is another great book from Iain Rob Wright.

Here we have the survivors from "The Hill" making their way to "The Village" in the hope of safety and salvation.  What they get is quite the opposite.

Iain creates brilliant characters each with their own interesting back story and all with their part to play.  He also creates suspense, tension and the unexpected - one thing I have learned with Iain's books is not to get too comfortable with any of the characters no matter how big or small ... no one is safe!

This is an interesting take on the zombie theme and one which I am looking forward to seeing where it goes with subsequent books - I'm here for the ride and I know it's going to be bumpy!

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Other books by Iain Rob Wright that I have read and reviewed:

The Hill (The Spread #1)

End Play (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #3)

Terminal (Sarah Stone / Major Crimes Unit #4)

Witch: A Horror Novel (The Cursed Manuscripts)

2389: A Space Horror Novel

The Room Upstairs

Sam (Damienverse #1)

The Housemates (Damienverse #4)

Sea Sick (Damienverse #5 / Ravaged World Trilogy #1)

Ravage (Damienverse #6 / Ravaged World Trilogy #2)

Savage (Damienverse #7 / Ravaged World Trilogy #3)

Dark Ride

Escape

The Lost (Jonah Colley #1) by Simon Beckett

 

🌟🌟🌟 Planned publication date - 25-November-2021 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"A MISSING CHILD

Ten years ago, the disappearance of firearms police officer Jonah Colley's young son almost destroyed him.

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY

A plea for help from an old friend leads Jonah to Slaughter Quay, and the discovery of four bodies. Brutally attacked and left for dead, he is the only survivor.

A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Under suspicion himself, he uncovers a network of secrets and lies about the people he thought he knew - forcing him to question what really happened all those years ago..."

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Oh my goodness!!  This is one of my reads of 2021; it grabbed me round the neck from page 1 and didn't let go right to the very end.

This is one very, very clever and exceptionally good story that had me absolutely hooked from the beginning and devouring every page with a voracious appetite for more.

The characters are excellent, all of them have a part to play and all play it well.  Of particular note are the main character of Jonah, who I quickly became attached to, and the investigating officer, DI Fletcher, who I quickly disliked (there's got to be a story there for a future book ?!?); I didn't feel there was one character that was surplus to requirements.  

It's full of atmosphere, tension, suspense, anticipation and is totally gripping from the very start.  I was desperate to find out if there was any connection to Jonah's missing son and the carnage Jonah discovers at the bleak Slaughter Quay and was extremely satisfied with the outcome and how it was reached.

I can't wait for the next instalment in this new series and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this to lovers of crime thrillers but be warned, it is a difficult read in parts and there is violence and numerous scenes of peril so if you are of a nervous disposition, then this might not be the one for you but if not, go and buy it ... now!

Many, many thanks to Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Simon Beckett I have read and reviewed:

The Scent of Death (David Hunter #6)

Good Cop Bad Cop by Simon Kernick

 

🌟🌟🌟 Planned publication date - 11-November 2021 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"COURAGEOUS HERO OR COLD-BLOODED CRIMINAL?

 TONIGHT WE FIND OUT.

It's 14 years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.

Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar...and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop's dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth.

So, over one night, Sketty will share his brutal tale of betrayal, ruthlessness and corruption, finishing with a revelation so terrifying and unexpected that it will change everything. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?

With the suffocating suspense of LINE OF DUTY and gasping twists of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, this is a dizzying thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page."

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Simon Kernick never disappoints and here we have yet another nail-biting, tense and enthralling thriller from one of my favourite authors.

Just what did happen on that fateful day 14 years ago and what part did DC Chris Sketty have in it?  Is he the hero everyone thinks he is or is he the ultimate betrayer?

Written in flashbacks and in the present, this book goes behind the headlines into the murky world of cops investigating cops, gangs and terrorism and what really happened on that fateful day BUT who can you trust? Is Sketty spinning a yarn or is he just dreadfully unlucky?

With a great plot, fast paced and great characters, although not many are particularly likeable, this is a book that I devoured in quick time such was the pull of the story and my need to find out just what the heck happened and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

From start to finish, this is a winner for me and I must thank Headline via NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Books by Mr Kernick I have read and reviewed:

Kill A Stranger

The Bone Field

The Hanged Man (The Bone Field #2)

Die Alone (The Bone Field #3)

We Can See You

Flytrap

The Debt

One By One: Before, During and After

The Final Minute

Stay Alive

The Mark (Detective Louise Blackwell #4) by Matt Brolly

 

🌟🌟🌟 Due to be published 23-Nov-2021 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"Brutal attacks. A sinister conspiracy. Time is running out.

In the quiet seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, a man is found unconscious on the beach with a strange symbol carved into his skin. The victim―a local drug addict―has no recollection of who attacked him or how he got there.

The sleepy coastal community is sent into shock. And when another victim branded with the same vicious mark dies from his wounds, DI Louise Blackwell realises she is dealing with a sadistic serial killer.

But why is the twisted attacker targeting Weston’s most vulnerable people? And what is the meaning behind the mysterious symbol? Still struggling to overcome her own demons in the wake of her brother’s death, Blackwell must stay one step ahead of both the killer and corrupt DCI Finch, whose meddling in the investigation makes her more determined than ever to bring him down for good.

As the body count rises, and her feud with Finch puts her own life in danger, Blackwell faces a race against time to discover the dark crime that unites the victims and put an end to the carnage―before someone puts an end to her."

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Having not read any of the previous books in this series, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but what I got was a very engaging and enthralling story.

I don't think you have to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this but I recognise that there is a lot of history that is missing, particularly when it comes to the difficulties DI Blackwell has with her superior, however, I feel the author provides enough of the back-story to get you up to speed.

DI Blackwell is an interesting and complex character; she has her issues (who doesn't!) but her determination, strength and fortitude shines through in this multi-threaded story.  The cast of supporting characters are equally as good and all have their place and their own stories.  As I said, this is a multi-threaded story but the underlying plot is the branding attacks which ultimately turns into murder.  Told from both DI Blackwell's and the killer's point of view, this provides a comprehensive view of the case and into the mind and motivations of the killer.

With scenes of peril, descriptions of violence and body modification that some may find difficult, and brimming with suspense and a host of suspects, this is a book that's easy to get your teeth into and I need to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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