In a Place of Darkness by Stuart MacBride

Description from Goodreads:

"THE CLOCK IS TICKING...

Detective Constable Angus MacVicar has just landed his dream job – transferred out of uniform and assigned to Oldcastle’s biggest ongoing murder Operation Telegram, hunting the 'Fortnight Killer'.

Every two weeks another couple is targeted. One victim is left at the scene, their corpse used as a twisted message board. The second body is never seen again.

This should be the perfect chance for Angus to prove himself, but instead of working on the investigation’s front line, he’s lumbered with the forensic psychologist from hell. A sarcastic know-it-all American, on loan from the FBI, who seems determined to alienate everyone while dragging Angus into a shadowy world of conspiracies, lies, and violence.

It’s been twelve days since the Fortnight Killer last struck, and the investigation’s running out of time. Angus's shiny new job might just be the death of him…"

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I think I can safely say that I am a fan of Mr MacBride's work; I have read a number of his books before and loved them all but this has got to be one of his best!  

I really enjoyed his writing style with the perfect mix of violence, brutal murders, humour, twisty plots and fabulous characters.  I really warmed to Angus very quickly and despite Dr Fife being a bit of an *******, their relationship was just brilliant and I actually grew to like him by the end of the book.

The plot was intriguing and had me hooked from the very start and I raced through it to find out which way it would go and I certainly wasn't disappointed.  I loved every second of this book and didn't want it to end and despite the dark nature of the story and brutal murders, there were plenty of laugh out loud moments that I had to stifle so as not to wake the house up!!

My recommendation?  Go and buy it now but make sure you have space in your day as you won't want to put it down.

Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this brilliant book and I really, really hope there is more to come from Angus and Dr Fife.

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Other books by Stuart MacBride I have read and reviewed:

The Dead of Winter

No Less the Devil

The Coffin Maker's Garden (Ash Henderson #3)

Cold Granite (Logan McRae #1)

All That's Dead (Logan McRae #12)

A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder by Gay Marris

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Set in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER'S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.

"Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they'll answer 'well'. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...".

For the best, because Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.

With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting and an utterly unique voice, Gay Marris' first book is remarkably accomplished. If you've been longing for a fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction, your wait is over."

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I was unsure about this at the start as I wasn't sure where it was going; I initially wondered whether this was going to be a book full of separate chapters dealing with the residents of Atbara Avenue as short stories and individual events but as you keep reading, it becomes clear that they are all linked in some way and it definitely becomes a novel.

Full of absolutely excellent and interesting characters; each of the stories is engaging with a great mix of the dark and humour which works really well; they cover a raft of human emotions - jealousy, love and hate, loss and grief, murder and violence - and from different perspectives - male and female, young and old - making this a not-so-typical murder mystery book with some surprising twists along the way.   Many of the stories resonate with current affairs despite this being set in the 1960's which makes it feel up to date.

This is an engaging and enthralling book that is quite different from what I usually read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from this author although they have a lot to live up to now and I must thank the author, Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for enabling me to read this debut novel.

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The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Imogen Wilde 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Once secrets catch… they spread…

Deadly fires are lighting up Brighton, and the latest case is alarmingly close to home for DC Eve Starling. The blaze was deliberately set, and a mother and daughter didn’t make it out of the smoke.

Eve’s investigation takes her deep into her own uncomfortable past. When her key witness disappears, and with the killer always one step ahead, Eve is desperate to solve the case – whatever the cost.

But Eve has no idea how close she is to the flames, and playing with fire can get you burned…"

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This is a solid debut from yet another good British author that I am looking forward to reading more of.

The story-line is told from different perspectives and in past and present timelines which I found a little confusing as I was listening to the book rather than reading it; I definitely think it would have been easier to follow had I been reading an actual book.  The plot was engaging and the characters were well developed, especially Eve, and they are pretty likeable and relatable.  The pace was a little slow to begin with but it ramps up as the story moves on when the tension and suspense increases.

Overall, a decent police procedural with a good narrator who kept me engaged even in the slower parts and I must thank the author, HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Deadly Spark.

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The Chamber by Will Dean

 Description from Goodreads:

"Six experienced saturation divers are locked inside a hyperbaric chamber. Calm and professional, they know that rapid decompression would be fatal and so they work in shifts, breathing helium, and surviving in hot, close quarters.

Then one of them is found dead in his bunk.

With four days of decompression to go before the locked hatch to the chamber can be safely opened, the group must watch one another’s backs at all times. And when another diver is discovered unresponsive, everyone is on edge. What…or who…is taking them out one by one? And will any of them still be alive by the time the four days is up or will paranoia, exhaustion, suspicion, and pressure destroy them all?"

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I have read a couple of Will Dean's previous books and have enjoyed them and this was no exception.

The Chamber is a take on the 'locked-room' genre but with a difference; six divers are locked in a hyperbaric chamber ready to start their four week shift working on oil lines in the depths of the Atlantic.  All seems to be going to plan until one of the divers is found dead ... then another - what is going on?  Are they being picked off one by one?  Who is doing it?  One of the divers or someone from the outside?  So many questions!

Written from the perspective of Ellen Brooke, one of the very few female deep sea divers; this book is full of atmosphere and tension and whilst it has quite a bit of "technical-speak" at the beginning, it's necessary for the story and clearly Will Dean has done an awful lot of research as it felt authentic to me.

With great characters, oodles of tension and a real sense of claustrophobia, this is a great thriller that kept me guessing right until the end and afterwards and many thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Chamber.

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Other books by this author I have read and reviewed:

The Last Thing to Burn

First Born

Rogue Hero by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"When a mystery bystander stops an assassination attempt on a prominent politician, it sparks a captivating national search.

Curtis Delaney watches the news footage and immediately recognises the unidentified hero. He hasn’t seen his brother Finn in six years. He doesn’t know where he’s been or what he’s been doing, but there’s one thing he does know: Finn is no hero.

Curtis is determined to find his brother, but equally, Curtis is no detective. A husband and lawyer (and not the 'good' kind), with a mortgage and responsibilities, Curtis isn’t cut out for delving into whatever seedy business Finn has gotten involved with. But when armed men turn up on his doorstep, claiming to be FBI, he quickly realises he's been left with no choice.

The hunt for the truth will take them from the Capitol in Washington to the sun-kissed beaches of Mexico to the cold streets of London, uncovering secrets of fraud, blackmail, and murder. Can the brothers reunite before the wrong people discover the true hero?"

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I have read a number of Rob's previous books and have thoroughly enjoyed them and this one was no exception; it kept me engaged from start to finish.

A US Senator is saved from assassination by an unknown hero who disappears.  Curtis Delaney, a lawyer, recognises the hero as his estranged brother, Finn and so begins his search to find him.  Curtis comes into contact with plenty of nefarious characters in several countries which puts not only his but others lives in danger.

Rob really knows how to write a thriller with fantastic characters, a thrilling plot, great pace and twists and turns and I would recommend this and his other books.  Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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Other books by this author I have read and reviewed:

Dance with the Enemy (The Enemy #1)

Rise of the Enemy (The Enemy #2)

Hunt for the Enemy (The Enemy #3)

The Bonds of Blood (DI Dani Stephens #4)

The Wrong Child by M.J. Arlidge and Julia Crouch

 Description from Goodreads:

"A MOTHER WITH A DARK SECRET.

A DAUGHTER DYING TO TELL . . .

When 3-month-old Max is abducted, his parents are plunged into their worst nightmare. Devastated mum Sarah only took her eyes off him for a second, but that doesn't stop her guilt. Even husband, Jake, whom until now has been her rock, can't conceal his anger that their little boy went missing on her watch.

By contrast, it's all smiles and celebration at a caravan park in Lincolnshire, as baby Ronnie is introduced to his new family. Jenna and Gary are delighted with the new addition to the family. He is their fourth child and a real object of delight to their eldest - fifteen year old Becky - who once again it seems will take on the lion's share of raising the child, having dropped out of school several years ago.

But as desperate TV appeals by the Miller family make clear, trouble is brewing. Baby Max has neonatal diabetes and without regular dialysis will die. Teenager Becky is deeply troubled by the appeals that play incessantly on TV and radio, the Miller's rich relatives throwing everything at trying to smoke out the kidnappers. As her anxiety rises, as baby "Ronnie" becomes increasingly ill, a sickening realisation steals over Becky. What is the truth about her family? And how far will they go to hide their deadly secret?"

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I am a fan of M.J. Arlidge and have read a number of his books and enjoyed them all; I have only listened to one of Julia Crouch's books but I liked that also so it seemed a no-brainer to read something that they have both collaborated on and I wasn't disappointed.

This is a tense and twisty thriller that had me hooked from the start.  It contains a mix of hard-hitting themes including child abduction, postnatal depression, neglect, drug use and violence.  This may sound a bit heavy and bleak however, the authors have done such a good job, that it doesn't come across as such.

This book had everything that I like in a thriller - human interest, strong female characters, varied pace, loads of tension and an engaging and riveting plot; in summary, this book is an excellent mix of emotion and suspense and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a gripping, thought-provoking read.

Thank you to the authors, The Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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Other books by M.J. Arlidge that I have read and reviewed:

Cat and Mouse (Helen Grace #11)

Down to the Woods (Helen Grace #8)

All Fall Down (Helen Grace #9)

The Doll's House

Audiobook by Julia Crouch I have listened to and reviewed:

The Perfect Date