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Sunday, 28 May 2023

The Doctor by Annie Payne


Description from Goodreads:

"Care giver, life saver… or cold-blooded killer?

Running away from a past she’d rather forget, Doctor Alison Wilson has moved to a new town to take up the role of Medical Officer at failing hospital Saint Margaret’s.

Tasked with shaking things up, she quickly learns that things are worse than they initially seem: patient records are in disarray, staff morale is low, and there’s something afoot that she can’t quite put her finger on…

As Alison starts to dig into the hospital’s past, she gradually discovers a trail of lies that runs deeper and darker than she could have ever imagined.

There’s a cold-blooded killer in the hospital. And they’re hiding in plain sight"

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An enjoyable and quick read but nothing that blew my mind.

Strange things start happening when Dr Alison Wilson starts her new job as Medical Director in a new hospital in a new town.  It quickly becomes obvious that someone doesn't want her to be there and is doing all they can to undermine her in any way they can.

Whilst I found this quite predictable and had pegged the protagonist early on, I did quite enjoy how it got to the end.  I quite liked the character of Dr Wilson and the way the dynamics between the various staff members was portrayed which I found felt authentic.  

Maybe not the thriller I was expecting but enjoyable nonetheless and my thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Doctor.

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Sunday, 21 May 2023

Sing, Memory by Makana Eyre


 
The Remarkable Story of the Man Who Saved the Music of the Nazi Camps

Description from Goodreads:

"A Polish musician, a Jewish conductor, a secret choir, and the rescue of a trove of music from the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

On a cold October night in 1942, SS guards at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp violently disbanded a rehearsal of a secret Jewish choir led by conductor Rosebery d’Arguto. Many in the group did not live to see morning, and those who survived the guards’ reprisal were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau just a few weeks later. Only one of its members survived the Holocaust. Yet their story survives, thanks to Aleksander Kulisiewicz. An amateur musician, he was not Jewish, but struck up an unlikely friendship with d’Arguto in Sachsenhausen. D’Arguto tasked him with a mission: to save the musical heritage of the victims of the Nazi camps.

In Sing, Memory, Makana Eyre recounts Kulisiewicz’s extraordinary transformation from a Polish nationalist into a guardian of music and culture from the Nazi camps. Aided by an eidetic memory, Kulisiewicz was able to preserve for posterity not only his own songs about life at the camp, but the music and poetry of prisoners from a range of national and cultural backgrounds. They composed symphonies, organized clandestine choirs, arranged great pieces of music by illustrious composers, and gathered regularly over the course of the war to perform for one another. For many, music enabled them to resist, bear witness, and maintain their humanity in some of the most brutal conditions imaginable.

After the war, Kulisiewicz returned to Poland and assembled an archive of camp music, which he went on to perform in more than a dozen countries. He dedicated the remainder of his life to the memory of the Nazi camps. Drawing on oral history and testimony, as well as extensive archival research, Eyre tells this rich and affecting human story of musical resistance to the Nazi regime in full for the first time."

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I have read a few books about the Holocaust but Sing, Memory is something quite different.

Focussing on the life of Aleksander Kulisiewicz, a non-Jewish Pole, this tells the story of his life before, during and after World War 2.  He was imprisoned in the notorious concentration camp Sachsenhausen and paints a disturbing and vivid picture of the horrors he and other prisoners had to endure from being forced to take part in 'sport', to back-breaking work and endless hours of roll call.  

In Sachsenhausen, music and singing were forbidden unless used as a form of punishment however, this didn't stop a secret choir being formed and led by conductor Rosebery d’Arguto, a Polish Jew.  Aleksander became friends with Rosebery and as a result of Aleksander's amazing ability to memorise songs, Rosebery asked him to memorise his songs and ensure they are shared with the world after the war.

This became Aleksander's mission - to meticulously memorise songs from all the camp inmates and ensure that he survived so they would not be forgotten.  After 6 long years of captivity, Aleksander was free however, his promise to those that did not survive was to become his life's work but also an obsession which, along with the horrendous experiences he endured, affected him and those around him deeply.

Sing, Memory is a detailed story written from meticulous research undertaken by the author with the help of a lot of other people and is a remarkable story of one man's mission to ensure a part of history is told and not forgotten.

Thank you to W.W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Sing, Memory.

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The Midwife's Child (WW2 Resistance Series #3) by Amanda Lees


Description from Goodreads:

"‘Save her,’ she begs, drawing her last, quavering breaths. ‘Save my baby. Find her father. And reunite them.’ 

Both of our tears fall on the tiny creature in my arms, only minutes old and already in terrible danger. There’s never any doubt – of course I’ll do all I can. But will it be enough?

Auschwitz, January 1945: forced on a terrifying death march from the notorious concentration camp, midwife and former secret agent Maggie must find the strength to protect the tiny baby girl her dying friend left to her care. Only days old, little Leah is in terrible danger – from the Nazis, from the freezing weather, from starvation.

So when a company of Scottish soldiers led by brave Major Jamie Maclean rescues the marching women, Maggie’s relief knows no bounds. But it’s on making herself known to Jamie that she has the biggest shock of her life – they fall in love at first sight, a lightning bolt of joy in the darkest of times. Jamie vows to do whatever he can to help Maggie recover, and to assist in her mission to find Leah’s father and reunite them.

But first Jamie must set off on an operation of his own, deep in Nazi-controlled territory, so after a tender farewell and a promise to see each other soon, he and Maggie part. And then, only days later, she hears the news every sweetheart dreads: he’s missing, presumed killed in action.

Grief-stricken and unable to believe Jamie’s fate, she swears to do everything in her power to find him. But her first duty is to little Leah, who looks up at her with such trusting eyes. Can Maggie find out what happened to Jamie, while keeping the tiny infant safe? Just how far can love, courage and a stubborn need to know the truth get her? And is Maggie really willing to risk everything for a man she may not even find alive…?"

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The Midwife's Child is an emotional rollercoaster that although is work of fiction, it's based on things that actually happened and real people with the love story element between Maggie and Jamie being based on the true story of a Scottish Commando who met a young woman in a displaced persons camp who had survived the death march.

This is the third in this series but I think it works successfully as a standalone because whilst there are recurring characters, each book is a separate story which focusses on one of those recurring characters.

The Midwife's Child centres around Maggie, a former SOE Special Operations Executive) but now incarcerated in Auschwitz following her capture.  There she finds herself working in the camp hospital where the devil incarnate, Joseph Mengele, practised his infamous experiments and where Maggie is determined to save the life of her friend Eva and new born, Leah.  The end of the war is fast approaching and the Russians are getting close, Eva is too unwell to go on the forced march so she begs Maggie to save her child and reunite her with her father.  A seemingly impossible task but one which Maggie vows to complete.

Told from two timelines, from her time as a doctor working in the 'hospital' at Auschwitz towards the end of the war and the period afterwards, The Midwife's Child is a story of exceptional courage, duty, love, friendship and hope and a story that I highly recommended to those of you who enjoy this genre and I have to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Midwife's Child.

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Read my review of the audiobook of the first in the series:




Sunday, 14 May 2023

Don't Look Back by Jo Spain


Description from Goodreads:

"For one week, everything in Luke Miller's life is perfect. Surprised with a belated honeymoon by his wife, Rose, he's had seven days with her in a Caribbean paradise. It's more than he ever thought he'd deserve.

But as they pack their bags, Rose breaks down, confessing that on the day they left London, a violent man from her past tracked her down and broke into their home. He wasn't expecting her to fight back. And, in her terror, Rose killed him. Now there's a dead body in Luke's apartment, and only one person he can think to turn to.

Mickey Sheils never expected to hear from Luke again, not after he disappeared the first time. Luke knows Mickey can't deny a woman who needs help, so she promises she'll deal with things - she'll make sure Rose doesn't have to keep running.

But it turns out, some lies are too big to run from."

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I haven't read anything by Jo Spain before but after reading Don't Look Back, I will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future as I enjoyed this.

Don't Look Back is a twisty thriller with great characters, not all of whom are likeable, and an intriguing plot with some great twists.  Be warned, it deals with domestic violence so if this is a trigger, I would steer clear.

Travelling from London to the Caribbean and to Ireland, this is one twisty book that is told at a good pace, from multiple points of view and with some flashbacks.  The plot is complicated but it all comes to a satisfying conclusion in the end.

All in all, an enjoyable thriller that kept me reading into the night and I must thank Quercus Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Don't Look Back.

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Good Samaritans by Will Carver [Audiobook]

 


🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Ciaran Saward 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"One crossed wire, three dead bodies and six bottles of bleach.

Seth Beauman can’t sleep. He stays up late, calling strangers from his phonebook, hoping to make a connection, while his wife, Maeve, sleeps upstairs. A crossed wire finds a suicidal Hadley Serf on the phone to Seth, thinking she is talking to The Samaritans.

But a seemingly harmless, late-night hobby turns into something more for Seth and for Hadley, and soon their late-night talks are turning into day-time meet-ups. And then this dysfunctional love story turns into something altogether darker, when Seth brings Hadley home…

And someone is watching…"

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Oh my word ... what a book ... absolutely brilliant and the best audiobook I have listened to this year so far and, I think, it will take something remarkable to beat it!

This is a very dark, disturbing and extremely gripping story that will draw you in, shake you around and spit you out the other side and all the while you're thinking, what the heck and why am I enjoying this so much?!?

It's all kinds of wrong but so right and deliciously wicked and addictive.

I'm not even going to go into the story - you'll just have to buy it - but what I will say is that the characters are scarily normal which makes them ultra creepy, the story is riveting and there's some great twists that I didn't see coming and the build up of tension is palpable. 

There are graphic descriptions of murder, a lot about suicide, mental health and a number of sex scenes (maybe too many if I'm honest and this is my only negative) so if any of these are triggers for you, I would steer clear.

Would I have enjoyed it as much had I read the physical book?  I'm not sure if I'm honest because the narrator made all the difference and was absolutely perfect and brilliant.  I fell in love with his voice from the beginning ... it was so contradictory to the content of what he was reading that it made the story all the more creepy and disturbing.

I haven't read or listened to any of Will Carver's work before and after listening to Good Samaritans, I won't make that mistake again and I must thank Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Good Samaritans and introducing me to another excellent author.

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The Serial Killer's Sister (The Serial Killer's Family #3) by Alice Hunter


Description from Goodreads:

"She thought she’d left her past behind.
She was wrong…

Despite a childhood in the care system, Anna Price has beaten the odds and built for herself the perfect life, complete with beautiful seaside home, devoted husband and a job she loves.

Then a policeman appears at Anna’s door: her estranged brother Henry is a wanted serial killer. For the past three years, a woman has been murdered on two specific dates – one of which is Anna’s birthday. The second is now only four days away, and the police need Anna’s help to catch Henry before he strikes again.

Then an envelope turns up on her doorstep and suddenly Anna finds herself caught in a sick game, one that she remembers all too well from childhood – one that, this time, she must win at all costs…"

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This might be the third in the series but can definitely be read as a standalone; they are not linked and you can read them in any order.

Once again, Alice Hunter has created an intriguing story.  Anna hasn't had the best start in life but she has managed to shake that off and build a good life with her husband and all is looking good until the police turn up on her doorstep to tell her that her brother is a serial killer and she may hold the key to catching him or could she be the next victim?

Written over two timelines and mostly from Anna's perspective, the short chapters make this feel fast paced and despite there not being a lot of the usual gruesome descriptions that are the norm with serial killer books, Alice Hunter uses the growing sense of tension to put you on tenterhooks and racing to find out what's going to happen.  This is a great story with unexpected twists and just when you think you've got it, another one happens that turns the story on it's head.

I don't think I actually liked any of the main characters but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book and I would recommend to those who enjoy a  good serial killer book without a plethora of violence and gore and my thanks must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Serial Killer's Sister.

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Other books by Alice Hunter I have read/listened to and reviewed:




 

Sunday, 7 May 2023

The Twenty (Major Crimes, book 2) by Sam Holland


Description from Goodreads:

"The countdown has begun. Who will die next?

A shocking crime scene
DCI Adam Bishop has never seen anything like it. Five murder victims – all with numbers written above. And the spray-painted daubs reveal a horrific truth: the killer is counting down…

A case that twists and turns
When Dr Romilly Cole learns of the murders, they trigger memories of a traumatic past she has tried hard to forget. But getting involved with the case is a bad idea. She and Bishop have history – and working together could never end well.

A race against time to stop a killer
Adam and Romilly soon realise the truth lies in a decades-old case, and only Romilly holds the key. But they must act quickly, because with every passing day, there are more victims. And as the numbers edge toward zero, the murders get closer to home…"

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A definite 5 star read for me and one of my books of 2023 so far ... an absolute cracker!!

I read a lot of crime and psychological thrillers and the odd horror book and it takes a lot to get me going but Sam Holland most definitely got me going with The Twenty.  Oh my word!! Why? I hear you ask.

Excellent and interesting characters ... check.
Excellent serial killer ... check.
Gripping story line ... check.
Fast pace ... check.
Twists and turns ... check.
Gruesome scenes that give you the chills ... check.
Tension and suspense in spades ... check.

What more is there to be said?  Oh yes, this might be book 2 but don't let that put you off, it can easily be read as a standalone but I would strongly suggest you read book 1, The Echo Man, it's also a cracker!!

Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy a dark, gritty and grisly crime thriller ... you won't go far wrong with Sam Holland and I must thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant The Twenty.

I can't wait to see what comes next.

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Check out my review of The Echo Man also by Sam Holland:



El Chapo by Terry Burrows [Audiobook]


🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Mack Gordon 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:
 
"Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is one of the highest-profile narco-terrorists the world has ever seen. Beginning work aged nine as a farmhand harvesting opium, El Chapo rose to the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2009, he made the Forbes annual billionaires list and by 2013 he was named Public Enemy Number One.

This gripping account retells the story of his life crimes, imprisonments and multiple prison escapes. It tells the remarkable tale of El Chapo's arrest in Guatemala in 1993, how he continued to run his cartel from his cell in a Mexican jail and his subsequent escape in a prison laundry cart, along with his recapture and ultimate extradition to the US for the Trial of the Century.

Featuring chilling photographs of El Chapo and his associates, this book gives you the inside track on the dog-eat-dog world of international drugs trafficking."

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An interesting look at the life of El Chapo and the Mexican drug cartels including the politics and widespread corruption surrounding the drug trade.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job to put some 'life' into what could have been a bland story that could easily come across as a text book.  The author has clearly done his research and there is a lot of information to digest.

Overall, a very interesting overview of the seedy and dangerous world of the drug trade and my thanks go to Arcturus Digital Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of El Chapo.

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