The Patient by Jane Shemilt

 

Description from Goodreads:

"She is his doctor. He will be her downfall.

The bestselling phenomenon returns…

When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant.

But she is a doctor, and he is her patient.

She gives him the drugs he needs – but in doing so, risks everything.

And when a secret is exposed, they’re both in the firing line.

Not all patients are telling the truth."

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From the description, I was expecting an exciting and fast-paced thriller but this is not what I experienced; it was more a slow-burn domestic suspense/mystery/love affair that although wasn't what I anticipated, it kept me engaged most of the time.

I found the characters weren't particularly likeable and whilst this doesn't usually bother me that much, they did start to grate on my nerves which affected how I felt about them and the story as it developed.

The story itself was an interesting mystery but nothing overly exciting or different.  The writing was a little over descriptive at times but it plodded on ok.

Overall, not the most exciting book I have ever read but not the worst either but, once again, there are many more positive reviews out there so give it a go if you enjoy romance books with a bit of mystery thrown in.

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

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The Echo Man by Sam Holland

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are on the case of a series of seemingly unconnected murders, each different in method, but each shocking and brutal. As the body count increases, they can’t ignore the details that echo famous cases of the past—Manson, Kemper, Dahmer, and more. As Elliott and Deakin get closer to unmasking the killer, the murders are moving closer to home.

Meanwhile, Jessica Ambrose is on the run. She’s been implicated as the arsonist who killed her neglectful husband and injured her young daughter. With the help of disgraced and suspended detective Nate Griffin, Jess discovers a shocking link between her case and that of the ultimate copycat killer working on his horrifying masterpiece."

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What can I say? I absolutely loved this and it is one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far.  I was hooked from the very first page to the last and completely and utterly devoured it!

With excellent characters, an engrossing story line and a plot with twists that at least one of which I didn't see coming, this is a great read however, be warned, there is a lot of violence and gore from the beginning but, to be honest, that's to be expected given it's about serial killers although it may be a bit much for some.

 

This is a great debut and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future and I have no hesitation recommending to lovers of this genre.

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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Nanny Needed [Audiobook] by Georgina Cross

 

Narrated by Emma Ashton

Description from Goodreads:

"Nanny needed.

Discretion is of the utmost importance.

Special conditions apply.

When Sarah Larsen finds the notice, posted on creamy card stock in her building's lobby, one glance at the exclusive address tells her she's found her ticket out of a dead-end job--and life.

At the interview, the job seems like a dream come true: a glamorous penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC; a salary that adds several zeroes to her current income; the beautiful, worldly mother of her charge, who feels more like a friend than a potential boss. She's overjoyed when they offer her the position and signs the NDA without a second thought.

In retrospect, the notice in her lobby was less an engraved invitation than a waving red flag. For there is something very strange about the Bird family. Why does the beautiful Mrs. Bird never leave the apartment alone? And what happened to the nanny before her? It soon becomes clear that the Birds' odd behaviors are more than the eccentricities of the wealthy.

But by then it's too late for Sarah to seek help. After all, discretion is of the utmost importance."

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This is a gripping story that had me eagerly listening at every opportunity.

Sarah is up to her eyes in debt and when she comes across an advert for a job as a nanny which could be the answer to her troubles, she jumps at the chance but if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!!!!

Sarah quickly discovers that the people she is working for a little bit odd and as secrets are revealed, she is in too deep to get out.

A very entertaining and engrossing story with a twist that I didn't see coming and with a narrator who does a great job. 

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

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First Born by Will Dean

 

Description from Goodreads:

"THE LAST THING A TWIN EXPECTS IS TO BE ALONE ...

Molly lives a quiet, contained life in London. Naturally risk averse, she gains comfort from security and structure. Every day the same.

Her identical twin Katie is her exact opposite: gregarious and spontaneous. They used to be inseparable, until Katie moved to New York a year ago. Molly still speaks to her daily without fail.

But when Molly learns that Katie has died suddenly in New York, she is thrown into unfamiliar territory. Katie is part of her DNA. As terrifying as it is, she must go there and find out what happened. As she tracks her twin's last movements, cracks begin to emerge. Nothing is what it seems. And a web of deceit is closing around her."

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Well, that was an interesting and head-bashing read and I don't even know where to start!  You are either going to love it or not like it so much!  If I'm honest, for most of the book, I was in the "not like it so much" camp but as the story unfolded, it grew on me more and more and by the end, I was totally invested.

I'm not going to go into any of the plot but will say that you need to be prepared to put aside reality at times, accept that the main character of Molly is not a particularly likeable character (for me anyway) and she does ramble on a bit, which became annoying at times, but if you can do that, you will enjoy this rollercoaster of a read.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by this author I have read and reviewed:

The Last Thing to Burn

214 Palmer Street [Audiobook] by Karen McQuestion

 

Description from Goodreads:

"A house with a secret. A woman with nothing to lose.

When Maggie sees the beautiful Venetian blinds moving in the Caldwells’ front window, she freezes. Her favorite neighbours Cady and Josh are away, so who is in their house?

The pretty young woman who answers the door tells a convincing story. She’s Sarah. The house-sitter. Just here for a month. An old friend of Cady’s who needed a place to stay. She’s pleasant and warm, and Maggie wanders back to her house thinking she might have made a new friend. Yet she can’t help but wonder why Cady never mentioned Sarah.

What Maggie doesn’t know is that on the other side of the door, Sarah is starting to panic. No one was meant to see her at 214 Palmer Street…"

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This is one of those books that I neither loved nor loathed ... I liken it to one of those films that's not brilliant but you have to watch it to see how it ends but you soon forget about it.

In summary, it's a story about lies and secrets and one woman's quest to find out the truth and the consequences of her doing so.  It starts off well, drops in the middle and gets going again towards the end.  There are twists but I found them quite predictable. The characters are an interesting bunch and not particularly likeable and I have to admit that I wasn't particularly upset when one of them met an untimely end!

The narrator did a good job but I just found this book not particularly memorable or 'thrilling' but many have so give it a go.

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

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Echo of the Dead (DSI William Lorimer #19) by Alex Gray

 

Description from Publisher:

"After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday.

Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it’s particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . .

With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer’s Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It’s clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again?"

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This is another entertaining outing for DSI Lorimer and whilst this is the 19th in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Echo of the Dead if set in the Scottish Highlands and Alex Gray does an excellent job of 'selling' the area to the reader despite the darkness of the story.

Lorimer is on a break with his friend, Daniel, when they stumble upon a body.  A short time later, another body is found and Lorimer returns with his Team to investigate.  Are these connected and could they be related to an historical massacre? 

With a great cast of characters, this is an intriguing mystery with twists and is a great edition to the series and one that I would recommend to lovers of this genre. 

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Alex Gray I have read and reviewed:

Before the Storm (DCI Lorimer #18)

The Killer's Family by Miranda Smith

 

Description from Goodreads:

"We should never have kept our father’s secret.

Before, my sisters and I were close. Now, a year after our father’s funeral, we barely speak to each other. Molly won’t accept the truth. Rachel can’t forgive him. And I spend all my time digging through his life, trying to understand.

Then we hear the news. A woman has been found by the docks, her wedding ring stolen. The reporter says it appears the local serial killer has returned…

But I know that can’t be right, because I know who the killer was.

Henry Martin. Our father.

Someone is sending us a message. Someone knows we lied.

Now my sisters and I must work together to find out who is targeting us. How do they know what we’ve hidden? What do they want? And what other secrets lie buried in the past, putting us all in danger?"

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What would you do if on the day of your beloved father's funeral, you find evidence to suggest he was the serial killer known as Gemini? A serial killer who was responsible for the horrendous and vicious deaths of numerous young women spanning a significant period of time. 

What would you do?  

In The Killer's Family we follow the story of the 3 sisters who discovered the devastating evidence and the impact this has on their lives and their relationships with each other and then everything is turned on its head when Gemini strikes again ... and again ...

Who really is Gemini?

This is a dark story with a number of twists that I found riveting and would recommend to lovers of this genre.

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

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