The Imposter (Dr Bloom #4) by Leona Deakin

Description from the Publisher:

"He doesn't just want your identity. He wants your life...

No one sees him coming.

A stock-market trader is pushed from a high-rise balcony and falls to his death on the street below. The only clue the police can find is a box of matches.

No one survives for long.

The decomposing body of a member of the Saudi Royal Family is discovered in a car. Evidence suggests the killer took the man's life, then stole his identity, wore his clothes and lived in his hotel room - before vanishing into thin air like smoke.

Nothing but matchsticks are left behind.

Dr Bloom realizes the only thing linking these murders is a trail of burnt matches and broken lives. Time is running out - and if she isn't careful, she might be the next to burn ..."

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This is the fourth in this series starring Dr Bloom but the first I have read and whilst I feel this worked pretty well as a standalone, I definitely feel I have missed significant backstory and character development which would likely have enhanced my reading experience.  Having said that, I found it easy to become engrossed in this engaging story.

There are dual aspects to this which are separate but with some crossover; the hunt for a serial killer and the story of high functioning psychopaths that is clearly the continuation from previous books. 

There are quite a lot of characters and this, along with the storylines, means you have to be on the ball and remain focused.  I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the parts relating to the serial killer and I loved the twist; the other parts which follow on from previous books, not as much but I think that is more my fault coming in late rather than the author.

Overall, a really engaging read that is well written and I must thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Imposter.

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The Cellar by John Nicholl

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Nurse. Protégé. Murderer.

Marcus Gove has been all these things. He’s reached the pinnacle of his art and now it’s time for him to take a protégé. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or she will be . . .

Artist. Teacher. Daughter.

Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She’s had some success as an artist, not so much success in love, but she’s getting by. But soon she’s going to have to become something else if she wants to be a survivor.

Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog.

Ray Lewis’s career isn’t heading anywhere. But he’s a solid detective and he’s determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him.

Three people. Nineteen days. Who will live and who will die?"

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This is a dark, disturbing and violent psychological thriller that pulls no punches and is highly descriptive which may be a bit much for some; I admit that I winced and drew breath a few times but kept going as I was gripped and already highly invested in the story.

The characters are excellent and feel real.  Marcus Gove is a despicable person; I can't even bring myself to call him a human being he is that bad, he is a sad, twisted and demented individual who has absolutely no moral compass or redeeming qualities whatsoever - an absolutely brilliant character and one you love to hate.

Lucy is a  young woman who is generally content apart from being in an unfulfilling relationship and her mum being diagnosed with cancer but things get a whole lot worse when she comes into the crosshairs of Marcus Gove and her world turns into the most horrendous nightmare.

Ray Lewis is the detective tasked with finding Lucy; not so easy when there are few clues and even less evidence and whilst he may be unfit, unhealthy and thought of as a dinosaur, he goes about his business in a methodical way with some much-needed humour.  

Told from the points of view of each of the main characters and at a really good pace, this is a book that has you wanting to put down at times due to the graphic nature of what is being written and not put it down due to the gripping nature of the story ... not put it down won out with me.

This is the first book by John Nicholl I have read before and it certainly won't be the last especially if they are as addictive and compelling as this has been and I therefore have no hesitation in recommending it to others who love a gritty and dark thriller who don't mind graphic and disturbing details that have you wincing as you read.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Cellar.

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The Midwife by Victoria Jenkins [Audiobook]

Narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza

Description from NetGalley:

"She’s there to keep your baby safe… Or is she?

I’ve always wanted a baby, more than anything. I never meant to do it alone, but it’ll be a fresh start. I can finally leave the past behind me.

I’m so lucky to have Jackie, my midwife, who understands how hard this is. She supports me more than anyone could have hoped or expected.

But as I sit in this cold white room, that was meant to be full of other mothers to be, a chill creeps up my spine. There’s only one other mother here, and she’s clutching her bump nervously. And as she squirms under Jackie's questions, Jackie can’t stop staring at me.

And then something clicks, and my blood freezes. She recognises me, doesn't she?"

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This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author and it will likely not be my last as I quite enjoyed this.  I do think it worked really well as an audiobook; would I have thought the same if I had actually read it?  I'm not sure as it was quite a slow burn but it was perfect to listen to whilst in the car.

The two main characters, Lauren and Jackie, are really interesting and well developed.  It is clear they both have secrets but quite what they are and how they link to each other doesn't become clear until the end.  

As I said, this is a slow burn with a growing sense of tension and unease from the beginning and this kept me listening desperate to find out what the twist was going to be and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.

The narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, did a good job with the narration and she was easy to listen to.

Overall, a satisfying audiobook and many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Midwife.

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The Survivor (Jude Lyon #3) by Simon Conway

Description from the Publisher:

"Jude Lyon of MI6 has narrowly foiled the traitor Fowle’s plot to level London, but the public are demanding answers.

Answers the government doesn’t have.

As the country reels, a new populist political figure carves a stratospheric trajectory – but is he all he seems?

In Moscow the President is furious. The world now knows the destructive power of the programme his people had been developing, and as the Russians scramble to understand how it got into Fowle’s hands, they start to worry that perhaps it could be used against them . . .

But Jude Lyon has just one question on his mind:

Guy Fowle is missing, with nothing left to lose,

So what is he planning next?"

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This is a book filled with action, tension, thrills and spills and follows on from the previous 2 in the series and whilst this can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading at least the 2nd in the series, The Sabateur, as it is easy to get a little lost on the characters and the story but you won't be disappointed.

Once again, we are treated to a tense plot, fast pace and excellent characters that, although I found it hard to get into for the first couple of chapters, once there I was absolutely riveted to the very end.  

Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy an excellent thriller and many, many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Survivor.

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Read my reviews for the first 2 books in the series:

The Stranger (Jude Lyon #1)

The Saboteur (Jude Lyon #2)

The Couple in the Cabin by Daniel Hurst [Audiobook]

Narrated by Eilidh Beaton and Matt Bates

Description from Goodreads:

"They’ll do anything to get out. She’ll do anything to keep them in.

When happily married Grace comes home early one night and catches her husband, Dominic, with another woman in the cabin at the bottom of their garden, she is shocked, angry, and most of all, hell-bent on revenge. That’s why she acts quickly, locking the pair in the cabin while she decides what she wants to do to them.

While Dominic and his mistress desperately try to get free, Grace makes a plan on the outside, but it’s a plan that is formed based on her previous experiences. That’s because this might not be the first time Grace has done something like this…

Who is the real villain? The cheating husband? Or the vengeful wife?"

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What would you do?  You return home unexpectedly from a work do to find your husband having sex with someone who isn't you in the cabin at the bottom of the garden.  You lock the door and leave them in there don't you?  Well that's what Grace's has done but what now?

This is a fast paced thriller told from the perspectives of Grace and her husband Dominic.  As the story moves on, we learn a bit more about Grace with glimpses from her past and there is definitely more to her than meets the eye.

With great characters, although not particularly likeable, an engrossing story with some unexpected twists and all told by the excellent narrators who really bring the characters and story to life, this was an enjoyable and easy listen and my thanks must go to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Couple in the Cabin.

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The Silent Dead (Detective Jackie Cooke #2) by Marnie Riches

 

Description from Goodreads:

"She was lying as if asleep on the wooden kitchen floor, beneath the fridge covered with a child’s colourful crayon drawings. But her frozen expression showed she would never wake again…

When Detective Jackie Cooke is called out to the scene, she’s expecting a routine check. The bottle of pills on the kitchen table, next to the note with the single word SORRY written in a shaky hand, make it seem obvious what’s happened. But Jackie is shocked when she recognises her old schoolfriend Claire – and she is convinced Claire would never take her own life.

Determined to dig deeper, Jackie soon discovers evidence that proves her right: a roll of notes has been thrust down the victim’s throat. And when she finds another woman killed in the same way, she realises someone may be targeting lonely single mothers. As Jackie talks to Claire’s distraught children, one of them too young to understand his mummy is never coming home, she vows to find answers.

Both victims were in touch with someone calling himself Nice Guy – could he be the killer? Pursuing every clue, Jackie is sure she’s found a match in dead-eyed Tyler, part of a dark world of men intent on silencing women for daring to reject them. But just as she makes the arrest, another single mother is found dead – a woman who never dated at all.

Forced to re-evaluate every lead she has, with her boss pressuring her to make a case against the obvious suspect, Jackie knows she is running out of time before another innocent woman is murdered. And, as a single mother herself, she cannot help but wonder if she is in the killer’s sights. Can she uncover his true motivation and put an end to his deadly game… or will he find her first?"

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A great addition to what is fast becoming a great series and whilst this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first so you get the most out of this and also because it's an excellent read.

Like the first in the series, there is a lot to like about The Silent Dead - the characters, the plot, the twists, the back-stories, the writing style, the pacing - pretty much everything really!

Jackie Cooke is an excellent character; battling with a boss who clearly doesn't like her very much and a soon-to-be ex-husband who's moved on to pastures younger and left her with a new baby and twin boys and having to rely on her mum more than either of them would like all whilst trying to find a heinous murderer who is targeting single mums.

From the very first to the very last word, this book had me hooked and thanks must go to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Silent Dead and I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

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Check out the other books by Marnie Riches I have read and reviewed:

The Lost Ones (Detective Jackie Cooke #1)