The Silent Man by David Fennell

💥💥💥 due to be published 31-Aug-2023 💥💥💥

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"A father is murdered in the dead of night in his London home, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. But the victim's only child is left alive and unharmed at the scene.

Met Police detectives Grace Archer and Harry Quinn have more immediate concerns. Notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer's back, and there's no one he won't harm to get to her.

Then a second family is murdered, leaving young Uma Whitmore as the only survivor. Once again the victim's face is found wrapped and inked.

With a serial killer at large, DI Archer and DS Quinn must stay alive long enough to find the connection between these seemingly random victims. Can they do it before another child is made an orphan?"

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I didn't realise this was the last book in a trilogy when I started reading it and whilst it is clear that I have missed the back story, it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book one little bit.  My only gripe is with myself, how did I miss the first 2 books in this series??

From the very first page, I was hooked and couldn't read it fast enough.  The characters are excellent and I loved the easy and natural relationship between Archer and Quinn.  The story is told from various points of view which give a rounded view of the two main plots and whilst this can sometimes cause confusion, not so here.  

Written at a fast pace with plenty of twists, turns and scenes of violence and peril, The Silent Man is a book that I can highly recommend to those of you who love a gritty and dark story with a serial killer who uses a unique way to both identify and despatch his victims.

I will definitely be looking out for more by David Fennell in the future and thanks must go to him, Bonnier Books, Zaffre and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Silent Man.

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I Did It For You by Jayne Cowie

💥💥💥 due for publication 31-August-2023 💥💥💥

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"If you could test your son for a gene that predicts violence, would you do it?

Antonia and Bea are sisters, and doting mothers to their sons. But that is where their similarities end.

Antonia had her son tested to make sure he didn't possess the "violent" M gene.

Bea refuses to let her son take the test. His life should not be determined by a positive or negative result.

These women will go to any length to protect their sons.

But one of them is hiding a monster.

And there will be fatal consequences for everybody...."

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I haven't read anything by Jayne Cowie before and after finishing this, I won't make that mistake again!!

I Did If For You is a gritty look at a world that has found a way to predict aggression and violence in men.  A negative test means the best schools, the best jobs ... the best of everything but a positive test means the complete opposite, and if you refuse, it's as if the result was positive ... what would you do?  Could you condemn your son to a life of barriers and hardship for a crime he hasn't committed or would you risk it to get the best that life can offer?

This is the dilemma facing two sisters, Antonia and Bea; they each make a choice which has far reaching and devastating consequences for them, their families and for those around them.

With a very different and intriguing plot, great characters and written at a good pace, this is a really good, thought-provoking read and although I guessed some of the twists, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this book.

Thank you to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of I Did It For You.

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The Family on Smith Street by Elisabeth Carpenter [Audiobook]

 

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Sarah Durham 🎙🎙🎙

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"A happy family. A picture-perfect street. A secret someone would kill for.

My husband James and I love living on Smith Street, with its neat houses and friendly family barbecues. Our daughter Scarlett grew up playing outside with the other local kids – it’s somewhere nothing bad could ever happen. Or so I thought…

Because when I wake terrified, head pounding, in a cramped windowless room, I realise I was entirely wrong. As my eyes adjust to the dark, I see creased pictures of missing local people I vaguely recognise from the news covering the walls. Then my skin turns ice-cold when I notice the newest pictures are of me, of James, of Scarlett…

A terrified sob catches in my throat. It seems there’s been a killer hiding in our neighbourhood for years. And I’m their next victim.

I stare at the photos in horror. Because if they’ve got me, they could also have James or, worst of all, my precious daughter Scarlett... In that moment, I know I’ll do anything, everything, to save my family. Especially because, deep down, I know this is all my fault…

A completely compelling and page-turning psychological thriller perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, The Serial Killer’s Wife and The Housemaid."

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I really quite enjoyed listening to this book which was enhanced by the excellent narration of Sarah Durham who really brought the story and the characters to life.  I haven't read or listened to anything by Elisabeth Carpenter before but if this is an example of her work, I won't be making that mistake again!

The story definitely kept me guessing and it was difficult to know who to trust; it's told from multiple points of view and from different timelines but once I was into the story, I found it quite easy to keep up.

I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue running throughout the book and the unravelling of secrets and lies until the very satisfying ending.

Overall, a really enjoyable audiobook and one I would recommend to lovers of domestic and/or psychological thrillers and my thanks goes to the Author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Family on Smith Street.

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The Body on Scafell Pike (Lake District Murder Mysteries #1) by S J Brooke

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"OUT ON THE HILLS, A KILLER IS WAITING.

The gripping, darkly atmospheric new crime series based in the iconic Cumbrian Lake District.

A renowned mountaineer and self-described 'fell runner' is found dead in a deep gully on one side of Scafell Pike within hours of announcing his intention of breaking the world record for the quickest continuous summit of every peak in the Lake District.

Only a month into the job, DI Jess Chambers had been hoping that Cumbria would offer a slower pace of policing than her native Belfast, but this first case already sees her out of her depth. A local mountain guide, Margot Voyce, proves to be her biggest asset as she begins her investigation into the mysterious death of this world-famous athlete in unfamiliar terrain.

But as legions of his online following descend on the Lakes to pay their respects, it becomes clear that this was no accident. Jess and Margot must solve the case before more blood is spilled - but in a community such as this, sometimes the truth is more dangerous than a killer."

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I'm a sucker for books that are set in my neck of the woods so when I heard of a new series set in the beautiful Lake District, I wasn't going to pass up the chance and I'm pleased I didn't because this is a great start to a new series and one I am looking forward to getting my teeth into.

There is plenty of atmosphere in this book and the excellent descriptions of the Lakes countryside only add to this.  I really liked the characters and am keen to find out more about DI Chambers' back story and watching the developing friendship between her and Margot and between Chambers and her small team.

The mystery of who the killer was kept me guessing and there were enough twists to keep me returning.  I liked the different points of view which helped to give a rounded picture from Chambers', Margot's and the killers point of view.

Overall, a really successful start to a series and one I am looking forward to reading the next.

Thanks go to the author, Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Body on Scafell Pike.

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Who She Was by Tony Parsons

Synopsis from the Publisher:

"A bonfire burns on a Cornish beach in the middle of the night.

Nearby, a young woman waits for morning, and for the estate agent to arrive with the keys to her new life in the peaceful fishing village.

She carries with her no trace of her previous life or the past she has left behind.

Quickly she becomes an object of fascination among the locals; one in particular finds that he is falling in love with her.

But can anyone really have a new life?

What happened to this woman's old life?

And what price did she pay to escape it?

When secrets long buried explode into the light, they will change the lives of everyone around her."

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I really enjoy Tony Parsons' books as they have always excited me, kept me on tenterhooks and had me reading long into the night.  Unfortunately, Who She Was, for me, is nowhere near on a par with his previous books which I am upset about. 

It pains me to say this but I found the story boring, the plot tedious, the characters totally unlikeable or memorable and the twists just meh!

Now, this is my opinion only and I have seen lots of reviews that rate this very highly so please don't take my word for it ... you can't please everyone all of the time!  I also won't let this blip put me off from reading more of Tony Parsons work in the future.

Thanks must go to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Who She Was.

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Other books by Tony Parsons I have read and reviewed:

Your Neighbour's Wife

The Slaughter Man

The Hanging Club

Die Last

Girl on Fire

#taken

The People Next Door

 

The Child Who Lived by Ellie Midwood

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Austria, 1942: In Mauthausen concentration camp, two prisoners dare to fall in love. When a baby is born – a miracle baby born behind the gates of hell – they vow to escape. Inspired by true events, this powerful World War Two novel tells the incredible and inspirational tale of two ordinary people who risk everything to achieve the impossible.

As Lore is pushed through the towering gates of Mauthausen concentration camp, she holds little hope of ever leaving, knowing that usually death is the only way out.

But soon, when Lore meets fellow prisoner Wolf , she commits the ultimate act of resistance against the brutal SS by falling desperately in love, finding solace and hope in this hell on earth. And when Lore falls pregnant, they know they have to fight to not only survive, but escape.

Together they must achieve the bringing new life into a death camp, and risking their own to ensure their child who wasn’t meant to survive, will become the child who lived…"

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Although a work of fiction, The Child Who Lived is based on true events and tells a little told story of female prisoners within Mauthausen.

The book starts in the divorce courts in 1946 where Lore's husband is filing for divorce due to her 'unacceptable behaviour'.  There, she tells the story of her remarkable life before and during the war.

Lore was a political prisoner initially interred in Ravensbrück but sent to Mauthausen with another group of women there to service the needs of the men.  Lore and the other women soon become like family; looking out for and supporting each other whilst trying to survive the brutal regime inflicted by the SS.  Against all the odds and rules, Lore finds love and unexpectedly becomes pregnant ... a death sentence for both mother and baby. How is she going to survive and save the life of her unborn child?

This is a story of bravery, strength, love and survival and although a work of fiction and therefore there is some 'artistic licence' and a suspension of reality at times, it is a story that hits all the emotions and the characters stay with you long after you finish.

Recommended to those who enjoy reading historical fiction from this era and thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Child Who Lived.

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The Bridge (Detective Louise Blackwell #6) by Matt Brolly

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Accident?

Dangerous game gone wrong?

Or murder?

DI Blackwell faces her toughest case yet.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a shipping container in Bristol, the police suspect she was an illegal immigrant whose death was a tragic accident. But their theory is shot down by two pieces of evidence: the container was due to ship out, not in; and, even more sinister, a video camera with a live feed was filming her from a hidden compartment.

Someone watched her die. Slowly.

DI Louise Blackwell is ten weeks pregnant, a fact she has largely kept to herself, and between bouts of morning sickness she now has a murder to investigate. While the docks offer few other clues, the discovery of more live feeds convinces Blackwell that there are other trapped women…and that some of them are still alive.

As she scours historic missing-persons cases looking for a pattern to the abductions, Blackwell finds herself in a race against time to uncover the voyeuristic killer’s motive and stop any more women becoming caught in the cruel and deadly game. But with every step being closely monitored, can she outwit a murderer whose method means staying hidden?"

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What a great book! Although this is number 6 in the series, I think it can be read as a standalone quite successfully.

The story starts with the discovery of a young woman's body in a shipping container.  Initial thoughts are this is a tragic case of human trafficking gone wrong but when a camera is discovered and the investigation delves deeper, the case turns into something else altogether and when more people start to go missing, Detective Blackwell and her team know they are running out of time.

Written at a good pace, with fantastic characters, a great storyline full of tension, this is a great addition to the series and I must thank the author, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Bridge.

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Check out my review of The Mark book 4 in the Louise Blackwell series:

The Brother by N.V. Peacock [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Charlotte Worthing and Jack Bennett🎙🎙🎙

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Is murder in her DNA?

My mother lied to me. My family is not my own. If it wasn’t for the genealogy test, I would never have known I was the child of another woman.

Now I’m learning that I have four brothers I have never met. And one of them is a serial killer.

My brother is taunting me to play his vicious game – solving his clues before he spills more blood.

Who can I trust? How can I find and stop him before it is too late? And what if it is me he really wants?"

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I haven't read or listened to anything by N.V. Peacock before but the synopsis sounded like something right up my street and whilst I wasn't blown away, I did enjoy listening to The Brother and will look out for more from this author in the future.

The book is written from the points of view of Fallon, a psychologist who has survived a traumatic event, and The Brother, a serial killer who uses a unique way of finding his victims.  

It's a twisty and compelling story that is told at a steady pace and I loved the intrigue surrounding who the brother was.

I really enjoyed listening to this book and whilst, at first, I found the male narrator talked a bit slow for my liking, I quickly realised, as the story progressed, that he was absolutely perfect and by the end I loved him as he added a lot of intensity and creepiness which added to the overall feel of this book.

Overall, a really enjoyable listen and my thanks go to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Brother.

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The Secret Midwife by Soraya M. Lane

Description from Goodreads:

"London, 1995: When on the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz a news broadcast runs an appeal for information on the identity of a midwife who saved hundreds of lives, Emilia knows it is time to finally tell her story.

Occupied Poland, 1942: Despite the constant presence of German soldiers in her village, Emilia is allowed certain freedoms as a midwife―the most precious is innocently cycling past Nazi checkpoints to the homes of expectant mothers on her rounds. But Emilia has a secret: for years she’s also been visiting the hidden Jewish mothers and working for the resistance…until she is betrayed.

Suddenly a prisoner of Auschwitz, Emilia is surrounded by horror and despair. When she is put to work as a midwife in the camp, she realises that she has a chance to bring a small glimmer of hope to the pregnant women of Auschwitz. Alongside a brave imprisoned doctor, Aleksy, and an innocent outcast, Lena, she comes up with a dangerous plan. A plan that if discovered could mean a fate far worse than death, but if they act undetected, they could save countless lives…"

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I find books about the Holocaust difficult to review and rate because anything that highlights and keeps the memory alive of all those who perished under that despicable regime is deserving of 5 stars from me and The Secret Midwife is no different.

Although a work of fiction, the author bases her characters on real people who went through the horrors of World War II some of whom miraculously survived when millions of others did not.

The Secret Midwife focuses on the stories of Emelia and Aleksy.  Emelia is a midwife who risks her life supporting ALL women regardless of race or religion to give birth safely.  Aleksy is a doctor who tries to save his town during occupation.  Unfortunately, both were discovered and transported to the hell-hole that was Auschwitz however, they continued to try and care and help their fellow prisoners despite having no resources or equipment and the ongoing risk of immediate selection and execution.

As you can imagine, this is an emotional, harrowing and heart-breaking story but it's also one of bravery and how, despite the ongoing threats, some people did everything they could to help ease the suffering of those around them and whilst Emelia, Aleksy and some of the other characters aren't real people, they and their story will stay with me for some time.

Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy reading historical fiction; this is a must read and I have to thank Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Secret Midwife.

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