Little Witness (DI Tessa Burns Book 1) by S.A.Dunphy [Audiobook]

 

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Melanie MacHugh 🎙🎙🎙

💥💥💥 Due to be published 12-February-2024 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"They came in the dark. They took her parents. And now she is the only one who can save them.

Hidden away in an isolated cabin on the edge of her farm, seven-year-old Aisling Connolly shivers as the cold night air whistles through her thin jacket. It’s been two days since the men came, since her mammy told her to run like she’d never run before, to not look back. She hasn’t seen her parents since. And she’s terrified.

But when Aisling is finally found by the police, she knows instinctively she can trust Detective Tessa Burns. A former child-witness herself, Tessa understands what Aisling has been through, and that Aisling must remember everything she can about that terrible, dark night if she’s to save her parents. Something Tessa was unable to do for her own parents all those years ago.

As the little girl slowly starts to open up, Tessa uncovers much more than she’d bargained for – another murder, clearly a horrific warning to Aisling not to speak. But time is running out, and any hope of finding Aisling’s parents alive is rapidly fading. And Tessa must do everything in her power to ensure the little girl isn’t next…"

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After having listened to another of S.A. Dunphy's books previously and thoroughly enjoying it, I didn't hesitate to grab the first book in a new series and I wasn't disappointed - it had me gripped from the very start.

The story is absorbing, the pacing is perfect and moved along at a good rate and there is plenty of action.  What I think did it for me are the characters - Tessa and her new team of Danny, Maggie and Pavlov are exceptional.  They all have their own unique personalities and skills that they use to good effect in the story and it was a refreshing change to have someone with cerebral palsy being a huge and essential part of the story.

The narration was excellent and was perfect for the story; the narrator didn't try to change her voice too much when voicing male parts but relied on a slight change in tone which I felt made for a better listening experience.

Overall, this is an excellent book to listen to and, I expect, to read as well and I would definitely recommend it to others who enjoy this genre and I must thank the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this great start to a new series.

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Read my review of Lost Graves also by S.A. Dunphy:

 

The Fallen Girls (Detective Hollie Turner #1) by Paul J. Teague

Description from Goodreads:

"The baby stirred in his blanket as the girl held him tightly to her chest; goosebumps covered her arms. Her bare feet were frozen by the icy stone beneath them, and as she inched slowly along the roof’s balcony, her body shook with fear. She wouldn’t let them take her precious boy.

When the broken body of a seventy-one-year-old woman is found beneath the Humber Bridge, a sign around her neck with the words ‘Pure Evil’ spray-painted in red, Detective Hollie Turner can’t help but wonder – who would want this frail elderly woman dead?

As she starts to delve into the victim’s personal life, Hollie discovers that the woman, Sister Brennan, ran a local mother and baby home at the Church of St Mary and the Angels. The unit may have shut down years ago, but the pain and anguish of those who were forced to give up their babies remains.

The case hits an emotional nerve for Hollie, who was barely twenty when she became a mother and is currently picking up the pieces of her broken marriage and shattered home life.

Determined to uncover the secrets in the home’s dark past, Hollie finds an old photograph of four girls who were there at the same time. Each has their babies taken from them; each have their own harrowing story to tell.

But just as Hollie is beginning to crack the case and link vital clues to Sister Brennan’s murder, an elderly priest is attacked and left for dead in his home. Facing her most complex investigation yet – one steeped in decades of betrayal – can Hollie find the killer before they strike again?"

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This is a great start to a new series.  It's told from two timelines and two points of view; Detective Hollie Turner in the present and Mandy in 1970's Britain.

Detective Turner has just transferred to a new job in Hull but before she is able to get her feet under the table, the body of a nun is found; it's a horrendous scene but who would want to murder a nun?  It's a complex and difficult investigation not helped by her own personal troubles and a bumpy relationship with some of her colleagues.

Mandy is a teenage girl who doesn't have the best home life however, this gets worse when she falls pregnant and ends up in a home run by the Catholic Church which "looks after" pregnant mothers thereby removing the "shame" from the parents and community.  

When a Priest who has connections to the nun and the home is also attacked, Hollie has to delve into the disturbing past to try and prevent further deaths.

This is a great story that, unfortunately, holds a strong element of truth in the way that unmarried and teenage mothers were dealt with in the past.  It deals with the subject matter via Mandy's voice with compassion but not holding back which is difficult and painful to read at times.

With great characters that are developing very nicely, this is a gripping and enthralling read which ends on a massive cliff hanger which continues to Book 2.

Many thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this first book in a new series.

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A Brilliant Life by Rachelle Unreich

Description from Goodreads:

"The powerful true story of a Holocaust survivor told by her daughter—a tale that reminds us of the resilience of the soul and power of the heart to heal that is as uplifting and astonishing as it is heart wrenching. 

With six months left to live and their time together running out, Mira Unreich sat down for a series of interviews with her daughter, Rachelle. Rachelle was expecting to hear tales of the past she knew by heart. But to her astonishment, Mira instead revealed a whole other side to her story.

While imprisoned in four different concentration camps during World War II, Mira witnessed unbelievable horror and unforgettable acts of cruelty, from her mother being shot at Krakau-Plaszow to Red Army soldiers raping a mother and daughter on the day of liberation. 

Despite enduring such trauma, Mira pursued a life filled with passion and joyous purpose, living in Paris, learning seven languages, and creating a family of her own whom she cherished, protected, and guided. 

A Brilliant Life is a conversation, a biography, and a tribute to family—a story of incredible resilience, the indestructible bond between mother and daughter–a connection that not even death can destroy–and the role that fate, chance and destiny play in one’s life. It is an unforgettable and life-affirming story of love, loss, and the deepest kind of faith, and a daughter’s love letter to her mother."

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I can't give this anything other than 5 stars!

This is a remarkable story of one woman's survival of the Holocaust, it's aftermath and her search to find safety and security for her and her family.

As you can imagine, it's quite heavy reading in parts but the overriding sense of the book, for me, was hope, resilience and love and amongst the horrors, kindness still existed.

This is a book that is a must-read and I must thank the author, Black and White Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this remarkable book.

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Daughters of Warsaw by Maria Frances

💥💥💥 due to be published 18-January-2024 💥💥💥

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"An emotional World War Two time-slip of one woman’s inspiring, dangerous and courageous undertaking in the Warsaw ghetto. In a world torn apart by war, she’ll risk her life to save them.

1942, Warsaw

Young Zofia finds herself leading a double life when she is enlisted to help the fearless Irena Sendler save hundreds of Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Every night, Zofia risks her life to shepherd the children to safety. But when the worst happens, she is forced to make her riskiest journey yet to keep Irena’s mission alive.

Now, Seattle

After yet another miscarriage, heartbroken Lizzie returns to the comfort of her childhood home, where she stumbles upon a hidden photograph of her great-grandmother among a mysterious group of people. On a quest to discover more, Lizzie uncovers a buried past darker and more dangerous than she could ever have imagined…"

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This cannot be anything other than 5 stars for me.  

It's emotional and heart breaking but, at the same time, full of bravery and hope.  It's beautifully written with the author painting the pictures of the characters and their situations so well that it felt I was watching it on a screen. 

Although this is historical fiction, some of the characters are real people which makes it all the more powerful.  

A must-read for historical fiction lovers and those who are interested in the resistance during this horrendous period.

Many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this powerful and emotional book.

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The Doctor's Mistress (The Doctor's Wife #3) by Daniel Hurst [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Sarah Durham and Luke R. Francis 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"The wife. The mistress. Who will get their revenge?

I was the other woman. The mistress. Everyone blamed Doctor Drew Devlin’s death on me. And I’ve paid the price for loving the wrong man.

Now, I have dark circles under my eyes because I can’t sleep at night. I lost everything – friends, family, my home and even my freedom. Drew’s devious wife Fern tore my whole world apart. And she thinks she’s got away with murder.

But she’s wrong. It’s time for revenge. For myself… and for my baby.

Her new life on the windswept Cornish coast is about to come crashing down around her. I’m determined for everyone to find out the true story. Because now it’s not just my life in danger, I’ve got to protect the doctor’s daughter too.

I know Fern will expect me to come after her – I’m certain she will have her own plan in place to stop me. After all, she’s duped so many people before.

But then again, Fern always did underestimate me. And by the time she realises, it’ll be far too late for the doctor’s wife…"

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I have read and listened to a number of Mr Hurst's books however, I haven't read any others in this series but I don't feel my listening experience suffered as a result as I quickly became captivated by Fern,  Alice and Tomlin's stories.

With great characters, a steady pace and intriguing plot, this was an enjoyable listen for me with the narrators doing an excellent job of drawing me into the lives and stories of the main characters.

There are some good twists and moments of tension and whilst the ending was unexpected, it was surprising because it was nice!! 

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this intriguing book.

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Check out my reviews of other books by Daniel Hurst:

The Holiday Home

The Couple in the Cabin

Her Husband's Mistake

My Daughter's Husband

The Couple's Revenge

Little Horrors Vol. 1 by Steven Jenkins

 

Description from Goodreads:

"“How do we know you’re the real Santa?”

Young Dexter and Millie are spending Christmas Eve at their grandparents' farm. Something is stuck up the chimney. Is it Santa Claus? Or something else entirely?

Scarlet is dead, cursed, and trapped behind the mirror, desperately searching for her true love.

Courtney was born when the dead started walking, infecting the living, taking over the world. This is her life. This is all she knows.

Max has been granted one wish. One wish to change his worthless life, or change a broken world. Will he make his choice before it's too late?

Chloe has been an activist all her life. She wants to save the planet. Save humanity from its own extinction. But at what cost?"

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I have read a few of Mr Jenkins' work before and have enjoyed it so thought I would give this a go and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.

This is a collection of 12 (very) short stories that are all very different and with some being better than others as is usually the case with collections of short stories.  My favourite was "The Death and Life of Edward Crowe" and I only wish it had been a bit longer.

The writing is good and, as I said, each of stories are very different some of which make you think and some of which make you wonder why you bothered reading them as they didn't grab me in the slightest.  However, for a collection of short stories, it kept me entertained for a short while and that's all you can ask.

Thank you to the author for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of his collection of dark thoughts!

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Read my reviews of other books by Steven Jenkins:

A Cure for Everything

Mould (Liam Tate #1)

Devil (Liam Tate #2)