Vulnerable (Morgans of Nashville #4) by Mary Burton

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Years ago, three Nashville teenagers went into the woods for a hike—and only one came out. 

While her two friends disappeared without a trace, Amber Ryder was discovered at the bottom of a ravine with a broken arm, head trauma, and zero memory of the horror that put her there. 

With no leads, the investigation hit a dead end. Now another woman’s body is found it the woods. When the trail leads to the missing teens’ remains, the cold case becomes a fresh hell for forensic technician Georgia Morgan. But while Georgia works with Amber to try and reawaken her memories, her gut tells her the worst is yet to come.

Homicide Detective Jake Bishop can’t be sure whether Amber is an expert manipulator or the killer’s next target. Either way, he’s determined to protect Georgia. Because the more she digs into the past, the more deadly secrets emerge. And a nightmare years in the making is about to come to a bloody, terrifying end."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I can't believe I have had this book on my "to-be-read" pile for years! This was published back in 2016! Where have I been living? On a desert island? She has written so many bestsellers since ... I really have no excuse for waiting this long!

Vulnerable is a fast-paced procedural thriller that blends forensic detail with intense emotion. The concept of Medical Examiner Faith Cooper investigating a killer whose crimes mirror her own sister's cold case is incredibly compelling. That , combined with the professional perspective of FBI agent Deacon Hendrix, makes for a sharp, enthralling investigation.

If you love a thriller with sharp forensic details and high emotional stakes, this book is definitely one to pick up.

Overall, this is a dark, gripping, and highly addictive read and thanks to the author, Kensington Books, Pinnacle and NetGalley for allowing me to read and share my thoughts on this exceptional book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Description from Goodreads:

"Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.

When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I can't believe I have had this book on my "to-be-read" pile for years!  This was Ruth Ware's debut novel way back in 2015!  Where have I been living?  Under a rock?  She has written nearly ten massive bestsellers since then—including The Woman in Cabin 10 which I have recently watched on NetFlix® and reminded me I had In a Dark, Dark Wood waiting to dive into.

If you love a psychological thriller that uses atmosphere and isolation to build  tension, In a Dark, Dark Wood, is a triumph. The isolated glass house in the Northumbrian woods acts like a character itself, maximising the sense of dread as a forced reunion of old friends brings resentment to the surface.

The novel's brilliance lies in its use of Lee as an amnesiac narrator. We are forced to piece together the disastrous hen party alongside her, which quickly ramps the suspense to a fever pitch. Every dangerous flashback increases the tension, leading to a genuinely shocking conclusion.

Overall, this atmospheric, sharp and addictive book is a great debut (albeit I am late to the party!) and the perfect thriller for a dark evening.

Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

The Last Orphan by Carly Schabowski

✴✴✴ Publication date: 01-December-2025 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"Would you save a child in a warzone? Marcin is just hoping to keep himself safe during the Nazi invasion. But once he befriends his Jewish neighbors, his fate is sealed, and when their building is raided by the Nazis, Marcin finds himself hiding their son, Adam.

Marcin vows to keep Adam safe at all costs. But as he starts an impossible journey across the borders of wartorn Europe towards safety, he begins to realize Adam isn’t the only child who needs his help. And when they encounter more orphaned children in hiding, Marcin becomes determined to save as many as possible. Even if that will put his own life—and Adam’s—at terrible risk.

What Adam and the other orphans don’t know, is that Marcin has a secret. He did something terrible in Poland. Something he can never forgive himself for. Until many years later, where he’s living his life peacefully in rural Washington, USA, and he answers a call from another mother in distress. Marcin is needed again. But this time, it’s Adam’s daughter who needs him...

An impossible journey, a secret that spans generations, and a story about loss, bravery and healing that you’ll never forget!"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

If you're looking for a World War II historical fiction novel that doesn't just focus on the horrors of the war but the long, devastating aftermath on those who survived it, this one is for you. 

The dual timeline (1942 Poland/Hungary and 1982 rural Washington) works brilliantly to explore the repercussions of trauma. We follow Marcin as he makes impossible choices to save Adam, his young Jewish neighbour, joining a resistance network to save orphans. The suspense is palpable, particularly with the heartbreaking scenes of children having to jump from trains.

Marcin is a fascinating character, weighed down by crippling guilt over a secret. This makes the 1982 story line compelling when he connects with Clara, Adam's daughter, who is struggling with her own trauma. It’s a dark story of generational suffering but also by hope and self-forgiveness.

Overall, this is a compelling story with rich characters and a strong sense of place. If you appreciate historical fiction that focuses on the emotional consequences of survival, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this powerful read that had me hooked from the very first page.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

People Don't Just Disappear by Claire Allan

✴✴✴ Publication day - 29-November-2025 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"‘Is he your little boy?'

‘No. No. He is not my boy. He’s your boy.’

When Bronagh opens her front door to find a child on her doorstep, crying for his mother, she follows him without question.

Twenty-four hours later, Bronagh’s boyfriend Mal returns to their home in Derry to discover the house empty. Bronagh has vanished.

At first, the police don’t take Mal seriously, but as the hours since Bronagh’s disappearance tick past, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a case of extreme ghosting. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

Because people don’t just vanish, and Bronagh may be in more danger than Mal could ever imagine.

Just where is Bronagh? And can they find her before it’s too late?"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of Claire Allan's previous books so didn't want to give up a chance to read her next outing and I wasn't disappointed.

Whilst this was a difficult book to read due to the subject matter of violence against women and controlling, coercive behaviour, it was still a riveting read that I was totally invested in.  The characters are great and it's told from the perspective of Bronagh, Mal and Ingrid Devlin, a journalist; I found the sections detailing Bronagh's experiences were particularly difficult to read but I had to keep reading to find out what happens.

Claire Allan creates so much atmosphere and the tension is palpable so much so that I found myself holding my breath at times not wanting to read on but wanting to read on!!  

Although this is a challenging read at times, it's perfect for those who enjoy their thrillers a little darker and it's perfect to dive into on these dark, winter nights when there is little on the TV!  

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this difficult but riveting book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

 

Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies by Julie Lancaster

Description from Goodreads:

 "What happens when a serial killer forgets that he’s a serial killer?

When Gilbert Williams, a resident at Sunset House Care Home, claims to have once killed someone, care assistant Will Cavanagh initially dismisses his claims – he’s frail and vulnerable, he can’t imagine him ever killing someone – but he can’t seem to let his comments go. What if it’s true? What if he really did kill someone and he’s forgotten that he isn’t supposed to tell anybody…"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

The premise of this book looked really promising - I mean, what's not to like when a book is about serial killers? But, alas, this one didn't deliver as I'd hoped it would.

It was certainly intriguing and I was compelled to read to the end to find out what happened, but ultimately, it fell a bit flat. There were too many characters, some of which felt superfluous to the main story line and caused unnecessary confusion. Furthermore, there was very little of what I would describe as being dark humour, which was disappointing.

The overwhelming feeling I had after finishing this book was that I wanted more, but with less of the unnecessary characters and back stories but thank you to the author, One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Blood Like Ours (Blood Trilogy #2) by Stuart Neville

Description from Goodreads:

 "In this chilling follow-up to Blood Like Mine, one mother faces the ultimate supernatural horror: the monster she must become to protect her child.

El Paso, Texas: Rebecca Carter awoke on a morgue table with only two desires: to find her daughter, Moonflower; and to sate her gnawing hunger. Rebecca sets out on a desperate quest, fighting her murderous craving for blood, and pursued by a vengeful FBI agent.

Alone in the wild, Monica Carter survives on whatever small prey she can hunt down. But she needs more. One night, a young man lures her through the mountain scrub with the scent of human blood, promising he and his little brother will feed her and keep her safe. Somehow these brothers know her nickname—Moonflower—and the truth of what she is. She needs them—but can she trust them?

When FBI Special Agent Sarah McGrath learns that Rebecca Carter’s body has disappeared from the morgue, she’s on the next plane to El Paso. Rebecca is responsible for the death of her partner, and McGrath wants answers, but she never expected them to come from a shadowy figure within the Bureau . . .

In this breathtaking follow-up to Blood Like Mine, Stuart Neville, “Stephen King’s rightful heir” (Will Dean), brings to life the ultimate horror: a mother who has been separated from her daughter, and who can stop at nothing to be reunited."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

This is the second in this series and, in my opinion, you must read the first, Blood Like Mine, before reading this one.  I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this is even better which is quite unusual for a sequel.

If you don’t like blood and gore, then you need to give this a miss as it contains a lot! 

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the fantastic and intriguing characters.  It’s full of suspense and oodles of tension that just keeps on building, this is a story that had me intrigued and totally invested; it has everything I enjoy ... crime, thrills, serial killers, action, suspense, tension and a bit of the supernatural and horror thrown in for good measure ... what's not to like?!?

Recommended to those of you who enjoy reading something a bit different than the usual crime stories and I must thank Stuart Neville, Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

My Husband Next Door by K.L. Slater

🌟🌟🌟 Publication date:  28-October-2025 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"The perfect way for us to live. The perfect way for him to hide…

My husband Matt and I are an ordinary married couple in every way but one. At the end of each day, we return to our own homes and our own spaces. Some people think this arrangement is odd, but for us it’s perfect.

But beyond the fairy lights I string at my window, darkness is pressing in. Two local women have gone missing, and I don’t want to be alone. With Matt away for work, I find comfort in chatting to my new neighbour Brenda, who drops in regularly with casseroles and groceries.

Sipping our coffees, looking out of my kitchen window, I soon notice how observant Brenda is. So when she tells me that perhaps my husband isn’t simply working late, something cold takes root. I think of Matt’s recent vague tone, the way he brushes off my questions. Brenda thinks I should pop by when Matt’s not at home. Just to check everything’s as it should be.

I should be able to trust the man I married. But when I do go through my husband’s things, I discover that our perfect living arrangement is hiding a shocking secret…"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I have read quite a few of K.L. Slater's books and have not been disappointed yet and I wasn't with this one.

Sylvie and Matt appear to have the perfect marriage but that facade quickly unravels with the arrival of a new neighbour, Brenda, the disappearance of a local young woman and a subsequent murder which make it clear that secrets, lies and long held grudges abound where everything is not as it seems and you can't trust anyone.

Engaging, easy to follow and compelling, this book was written at a good pace with short, punchy chapters and plenty of tension.  The mystery was intriguing with some excellent but unexpected twists and turns and with a cast of interesting characters, not all of them being particularly likeable.

This is a great domestic psychological thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it and many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another cracker from K.L. Slater.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Cold Bloodied Killer (DI James Walker #6) by Alex Pine

Description from Goodreads:

"Journalist Gordon Carver receives news that sends a chill down his spine. Rushing home from the pub, he frantically calls his police contact, DCI James Walker to share his discovery, only to be struck from behind, plunging him into darkness.

James misses the call, and by the time he arrives at the crime scene, Gordon is dead. With his name as the last entry in Gordon's phone, James is thrust into a chilling investigation. What vital information was Gordon about to reveal, and who silenced him?

With no witnesses and scant evidence, James races against time to uncover the truth. Can he uncover the mystery before the killer slips away?"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

This is another cracker from Alex Pine and a great addition to what is fast becoming my favourite 'festive' series.  Whilst this is the sixth in the series, it does read ok as a standalone as the main characters are introduced at the beginning but I would suggest you go back and read the others to ensure you get the most out of this series and you won't be disappointed.

In Cold Blooded Killer we have another Christmas murder for DI Walker and his team to solve and this is not going to be an easy one.  With fantastic characters, a great plot, tension and a murderer I certainly didn't see coming, this is a book that I was totally invested in from the start and with the perfect setting - well I would say that as it's my neck of the woods - Mr Pine captures the weather, scenery and location completely.

A great read that I would recommend and not just for Christmas!

My thanks must go to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another great addition to this excellent series.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

12 Ways to Kill Your Family at Christmas by Natasha Bache

Blurb from Goodreads:

"All Olivia wanted was one last miserable Christmas with her husband’s awful family before moving to Australia. She didn’t expect a murder.

Now the snow has cut them off and she’s stuck in a stately country house, with her increasingly deranged relatives and the rising suspicion that someone is picking them off one by one.

As the bodies pile up and the festive façade starts to crack, Olivia must survive the season, or, at the very least, get through lunch without anyone else choking on a sprout."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I really enjoyed this Christmas tale of murder.  It had the right amount of tension, intrigue and mystery wrapped up in a good plot and great, although thoroughly unlikeable, characters.

It's written at a good pace and I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions and I enjoyed trying to work out who the murderer was, who the next victim would be and how they would meet their end.

If you enjoy a good murder mystery and dark humour, this is the book for you and my thanks go to the author, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this enjoyable festive read.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

 

The Traitors Circle by Jonathan Friedland

Description from Goodreads:

"The Traitors Circle tells the true, but scarcely known, story of a group of secret rebels against Hitler. Drawn from Berlin high society, they include army officers, government officials, two countesses, an ambassador's widow and a former model - meeting in the shadows, whether hiding and rescuing Jews or plotting for a Germany freed from Nazi rule. One day in September 1943 they gather for a tea party - unaware that one among them is about to betray them all to the Gestapo. But who is the betrayer of a circle themselves branded 'traitors' by the cruellest regime in history?

In another page-turning work of nonfiction that reads like a thriller, Jonathan Freedland, acclaimed author of The Escape Artist, sheds light on one of the most dramatic episodes of the second world war, telling a story of courage, resistance and ultimate betrayal that has deep moral resonance for our own time, and asks what kind of person it takes to risk everything and stand up to tyranny."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

This is a heart-wrenching and compelling biography about a little-known Anti-Nazi group made up of ordinary citizens. The book details how their quiet discussions about a better Germany were enough to sign their death warrant and the fallout is devastating.

This is a non-fiction book but unlike many in this genre, it reads like a thriller and is one that I can recommend especially if, like me, you have little knowledge of German civilian resistance to the horrific regime during a very dark period in history and is a reminder not to tar everyone with the same brush.

Many thanks to the author, John Murray Press and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts on this important book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Deadly Mistake (simon Peake #2) by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"A knock on the door in the middle of the night catches ex-Special Forces Simon Peake off guard. He only recognizes the face of one of the three men standing on the other side, and the ‘help’ they need is to dispose of a dead body crumpled in the trunk of their car.  

The problem is - the woman in the trunk isn’t dead at all. In a matter of moments, Peake makes a call to help and protect this stranger, but it’s a decision that will drag him back into the dark and dangerous world of drug cartels, mob bosses, and rogue CIA operatives who will stop at nothing to use Peake as a pawn in their games.  

Having spent the last few months living in near seclusion in small town Georgia, Peake is once again faced with his past. He knows why these men have chosen to come to his door in their hour of need, but unfortunately for them, they didn’t realise what a deadly mistake that would be…"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

This, the second book in the Simon Peake series, is as explosive and action-packed as the first from the very beginning.

Simon Peake is trying to lay low after the shenanigans that happened in the previous book however, trouble seems to find him no matter how hard he tries to avoid it and he is not one to let anything lie.  Unfortunately, this only brings further strife to his door resulting in violent confrontations with plenty of nefarious characters.

This book is not for the faint-hearted; it’s full of action, graphic violence and multiple scenes of peril.  It’s written at a fast pace with oodles of tension and is recommended to those of you who enjoy reading action/thrillers and I am looking forward to continuing to follow Simon Peake's trials and tribulations in the future.  

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the second in this explosive series.

📚📚📚📚📚📚 

Short hiatus

I am having to take a break from reviewing as I've broken my arm and can only type one handed and it's taking forever!  So only doing short reviews on Goodreads and NetGalley for now but I will return.

The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater

Description from Goodreads:

"You’ve won the house of your dreams. It’s about to become a nightmare…

When Merri and Dev buy a ticket on the last day of a national draw to win the house of their dreams, they never, in a million years, expect to win.

Less than a week later, they’re receiving the keys to their new Lake District mansion.

For Dev, it’s a dream come true – no more stressful rent negotiations, or waiting for the landlord to finally fix the damp. Of course he’s delighted to be interviewed about their good luck.

But Merri feels a little uneasy. Dev doesn’t realise there’s a reason she’s never wanted to put down roots, always trying to run away from the memories of what happened the day her little sister died.

At first it’s easy to think she’s imagining the shadowy figures in the lakefront garden. It’s silly to think that someone is watching her through the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

And then a body is found in the lake. And Merri’s new perfect life is about to come crashing down…"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

As a long-time reader of K.L. Slater, I've yet to be let down by one of her thrillers and this one was no exception. 

The plot focuses on Merri and Dev, a couple struggling to make ends meet in their rented semi in Nottingham. A lottery ticket changes everything, landing them their dream house and a huge bank balance. They quit their jobs and move into their new home but soon find that their luck may have run out. As things start to go wrong, they are forced to wonder how lucky they really are.

With well-developed characters (some more likeable than others!), short, punchy chapters and plenty of tension, this is a great thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this great thriller.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

The Final Vow (Washington Poe #7) by M.W. Craven

Description from Goodreads:

"An invisible killer with a 100% success rate. No one is safe. Not even those closest to Washington Poe . . .

A shooting at Gretna Green. A bride is murdered on her wedding day, seconds after she slips on her new ring. It's brutal and bloody but she isn't the first victim and she won't be the last. With the body count now at 17, people are terrified, not knowing where the sniper will strike next.

With the nation in a state of panic, the police are at a loss and turn to Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw - the only team who just might be able to track down a serial killer following no discernible pattern and with the whole country as his personal hunting ground. Can Poe and Tilly stop an unstoppable assassin, who never misses his mark and never makes a mistake? Or will he find them before they find him..."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Mr Craven certainly knows how to pull you in and keep you there until the end; that has got to be the best start to a book I have read and I would have read this in one sitting had it not been for work getting in the way!  What a book!

Yes, this is the seventh in the series and yes, they keep getting better and better and yes, this works as a standalone but the impact is likely to be less if you haven't read any of the others so I would urge you to seek them out and get reading however, make sure you don't have a life for a few weeks as you won't want to put them down!

There are going to be no spoilers from me about the plot or any of the events that happen in the book but what I will say is that it's just brilliant 😊  The pace is fast, the tension is palpable, there's humour (some of it black) that made me laugh out loud, it's emotional and, at times, I found myself holding my breath and reading so fast my brain couldn't keep up with my eyes.  The cast of characters is just excellent; Washington is a breath of fresh air, he is a bit grumpy but likeable nonetheless and someone you definitely want to be on your side.  I absolutely adore Tilly; she's sweet and innocent but tells it like it is with no holds barred - I need her in my life and would love her to spend just one day in my office - oh the carnage! 

Well you've probably already guessed that I enjoyed this book but just in case I haven't been clear ... it is absolutely brilliant and is one of those books/series that you tell people to read because it's that good.

Thank you so much to the author, Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this brilliant (have I already said that once or twice?!?) book and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Washington and Poe.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Kill Code (Wolf Six #2) by Alex Shaw

Description from Goodreads:

"Taking a life isn't hard, when you've already given your own.

Ruslan Akulov, the legendary Ukrainian assassin known as Wolf Six, wakes to find the plane he’s on plummeting, and with no real memory of how he got there…

Surviving the crash, only to be detained by a small-town sheriff and accused of two murders, that for once he didn’t commit, Akulov must piece together the fragments of his concussed memory to understand how his last mission in Canada as a black asset for the CIA went so catastrophically wrong.

Yet far darker forces are hunting him. A growing number of relentless adversaries including Triads baying for his blood, and the mysterious organisation known only as the ‘Syndicate’, determined to keep the truth buried.

With danger closing in, Akulov is alone on a sea of deceit and betrayal, and when Martin Basson, Akulov’s former colleague turned nemesis, enters the fray, Wolf Six is forced to fight his darkest fears, and the trained French assassin hell bent on destroying him."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I haven't read anything by Alex Shaw before and am disappointed that I didn't read the first in this series, Wolf Six, but that in no way affected how much I enjoyed this, the second in the series which I loved.

I admit to struggling to get into it at first due to the chopping and changing of time lines however, once I overcame that and got used to the writing style, I was on the edge of my seat ... it's engaging, exciting, thrilling, fast-paced and totally entertaining.  Ruslan Akulov (aka Wolf Six) is a brilliant character and I was completely drawn into his story and can't wait to read the next instalment.

If you like Jason Bourne, you will love this and with plenty of action, violence and scenes of peril; this is a book that didn't disappoint.

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this action-packed book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver [Audiobook]

Description from Goodreads:

"The threat of nuclear war is no longer scary. This is much worse. It's invisible. It works quickly. And it's coming.

The scourge has already infected and killed half the population in China and it is heading towards the UK. There is no time to escape. The British government sees no way out other than to distribute 'Dignity Pills' to its citizens – one last night with family or loved ones before going to sleep forever … together.

Dr Haruto Ikeda, a Japanese scientist working at a Chinese research facility, wants to save the world. He has discovered a way to mutate a virus. Instead of making people sick, instead of causing death, it's going to make them ... nice. Instead of attacking the lungs, it will work into the brain and increase the host's ability to feel and show compassion. It will make people kind.

But governments don't want a population in agreement. They want conflict and outrage and fear. Reasonable people are harder to control.

Ikeda's quest is thoughtful and noble, and it just might work. Maybe humanity can be saved. Maybe it doesn't have to be the end."

🎧📚🎧📚🎧📚🎧

I have listened to one of Mr Carver's previous audiobooks, Good Samaritans, and absolutely loved it, in fact it was one of the best audiobooks I had listened to in 2023 so when the chance came up to listen to another of his books, I jumped at the chance.  Alas, this just didn't do it for me this time.

The narration was ok but I just found the story very dry which came across in the narration unfortunately.  There seemed to be too many facts that made it feel more like a non-fiction book that was about a pandemic; conspiracy theories and all.  The chapters were short but the characters just didn't resonate with me in any way, shape or form.  

It's a shame because I like Mr Carver's work however, this one just didn't grab me at all and whilst I think I will be in the minority with this one, it will appeal to some.

I am disappointed I didn't enjoy this but it certainly won't put off looking out for more of Mr Carver's work and I must thank him, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this book.

🎧📚🎧📚🎧📚🎧

How to Slay at Christmas by Sarah Bonner

✴✴✴ Publication date 07-August-2025 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"Jessica Williams loves the food, the drink, the fairy lights, the opportunities to take out all the miserable people who ruin the festive season for others. And what better cover for her murderous intentions than taking a job as Mrs Claus at the Ellsbury Christmas Market grotto? After all, who would possibly think Mrs Claus could stab a man through the eye with a Phillips-head screwdriver?

Fearne Dixon hates Christmas. As the long-suffering wife of the Ellsbury Christmas Market’s manager, she’s sick to the back teeth of it and it’s still only November. But then the bodies start piling up, an old rival arrives back in her life, and Fearne reaches breaking point.

When the lives of the two women collide, who will end up on the Naughty List?"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I absolutely loved this book; yes it might be a little implausible but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless and it's a great, deliciously dark and really quite amusing story.

It's got everything you could want ... murder, serial killer, strong female characters, cute animals, friendship, a bit of romance, drama, tension, dark humour and, of course, Christmas with all the trimmings.

It's well written, fast paced and a perfect quick read and, as I said, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys something a little different.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this festive book that's not just for Christmas 😊

📚📚📚📚📚📚

The Singer Behind the Wire by Shari J. Ryan [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Emma Powell 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Auschwitz, 1943. Ella tries to ignore the coughs and crying, the whispered prayers. Her eyelids grow heavier, but then a melody floats though the block as if on a breeze. Her lips open on a gasp, joy making her heart sing even as it shatters. She would know that voice anywhere…

Sitting bolt upright, Ella rubs at her eyes and concentrates on the music. Is she dreaming? She’d fallen for Luka’s voice the first time she heard him singing on the street corner near her house, with his kind smile and joyous laugh. He was her first love, and the pain of being torn apart still slices at her.

He’s alive. But even as hope swells in Ella’s heart, terror threatens to swallow it. Luka is Jewish. If he’s here, he’s in grave danger—even more than Ella faces for sneaking into the ghetto to see him back in Warsaw… But she will never regret it. They had fought every day for their love, even knowing where it might lead…

Despair tears at Ella as she battles to find the strength to keep going, to search for Luka even on the days when the bitter cold whips through the camp—the days when her body feels weaker than ever and her friends are lost to the cruel regime. At night, she listens desperately for the sound of Luka’s voice as he’s forced to perform. Knowing he’s still alive even if she can’t see him is the one thing that brings her peace.

Until one night when, as his first haunting notes reach her bunk, an angry shout splits the night sky, the music stops, and there is only resounding, terrifying silence…"

🎧📚🎧📚🎧📚🎧

This is another great book from an author I enjoy reading and listening to and the narration only makes it better.  

Set in Poland during World War 2, Luka is Jewish and a talented singer but social gatherings have been banned so when a group of soldiers try to break up and arrest those listening to him sing, Ella, whose Polish, goes out of her way and risks her own life to rescue Luka from inevitable arrest and so begins their remarkable story.

Emotional, heart-breaking, heart-warming, tense, horrifying, gripping and totally engaging and enthralling ... these are just a few of the superlatives I can use to describe this book.

The characters feel authentic and believable and I was completely transported into their lives and was totally invested in them and whilst this is a work of fiction, I have read many non-fiction books relating to similar subject matter and a lot of the experiences that Luka and Ella endured, are a good representation of what  'real people' went through during that horrific time.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book and many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this emotional story.

🎧📚🎧📚🎧📚🎧

No Safe Place (Detective Liz Field #1) by Hannah Brennan

Description from Goodreads:

"There’s no one more deadly than the killer you know.

A man is found brutally stabbed and left for dead.

A young woman is killed in a frenzied attack in the middle of the night on a quiet residential road.

Detective Liz Field is brought in to lead the investigation. The first victim was a well-respected child psychologist. The second victim was once his patient. But that was fifteen years ago. Why is someone targeting them now?

Field is under pressure not just from the top. There are those who would happily see her fail if it means they can take her place. Something about this case feels too close to home.

And the killer is escalating.

Field is in a race against time to solve the case and confront her own buried past – before the they strike again."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

What a great debut and with this being the first in a series, there is more to come.

A child psychologist is murdered and the first page from a study he did 15 years ago was found with his body.  Why?  When the body of one of his patients from that study is found with another page from the original study also being found at the scene, Detective Field has an intriguing case on her hands and one that she must solve before there's another victim but is the murderer one of the study subjects or is it someone unconnected but he is a respected psychologist so why?

Full of great characters, twists and turns and all written at a good pace, this is a really good thriller but what makes this stand out for me is the way the author incorporated the mental health condition of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).   I have some knowledge of this condition from my work and I felt the author dealt with it with compassion and whilst she revealed her own diagnosis at the end, there has clearly been a lot of research undertaken.  This added another layer to the story.

No Safe Place is a great start to a new series and I am very much looking forward to the next in the series and many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read this excellent debut.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

✴✴✴ Publication date 31-July-2025 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"Summer 1999. Will joins five other idealistic graduates working for an eccentric psychology professor. They’re going to launch a website to change online dating forever.

No-one expects it to end in tragedy.

Twenty-five years later, Will gets an invitation: a dinner party. A chance to see the old gang again.

But as soon as he arrives, something doesn’t seem right.

There’s an unexpected guest. The hosts are clearly keeping a secret. And on the way in, Will is sure he heard crying.

Everyone has something to hide about what really happened that summer.

But only one of them is willing to kill to find the truth…"

📚📚📚📚📚📚

This intriguing story is set now and in 1999.  In 1999, six graduates were working with an eccentric professor on a project for a new dating website. Fast forward 25 years and the professor has passed away.  To commemorate this, two of the graduates decide to reunite the six at a dinner party.

From the start, there is definitely an unsettling vibe. One guest hears what sounds like crying upon arrival, then catches glimpses and sounds of someone moving around just out of sight and who is the stranger that says they are connected to the professor but his story just doesn't add up. The hosts are noticeably cagey, which only adds to the tension. Things escalate, turning violent, and suddenly, everyone's fighting for their lives. It all points back to a secret from 1999 when the project was shut down suddenly but what is it and who holds it?

Whilst I enjoyed it by the end, it was a slow burn for me and it took a while for me to get into it.  I liked the twists, the characters were interesting and well developed and the story was complex and intriguing and whilst it pushed the boundaries of plausibility at times, I still enjoyed it.

I haven't read anything by Mark Edwards before but I enjoyed his writing style and the complex story he created so will look out for more from him in the future.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this intriguing book.

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9) by Steve Cavanagh

🌟🌟🌟 Publication date 31-July-2025 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"SHE HELPED A PERFECT A STRANGER. SHE DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS THE PERFECT KILLER...

Ellie Parker had everything.

Perfect husband. Perfect apartment. Perfect friends and the perfect job.

As an internet celebrity - famed for her random acts of kindness - everyone knew it.

So when a betrayal causes her to lose it all, millions of people are watching.

But even at her lowest, Ellie will always help someone in need.

Which makes her the perfect target for a sadistic game.

Because as she soon learns, you can never trust a stranger - and a seemingly random encounter plunges her into a nightmare worse than she ever imagined.

The only person she can turn to is conman turned trial lawyer Eddie Flynn, who must take on a case where nothing is what it seems. With the most cruelly ingenious mind manipulating events from the shadows, everyone is in danger - including Eddie and his family."

📚📚📚📚📚📚

Wow ... just wow!!!  One of the best books I've read this year and one I can't recommend highly enough and even though this is number 9 in the series, don't let that put you off because you can absolutely read and enjoy this delight as a standalone but I would recommend you go back and read the rest, you won't be disappointed.

I am a fan of Mr Cavanagh's incarnation of Eddie Flynn having read a few of his previous outings but, I have to say, this is the best one I have read so far - an absolute peach of a story that had me on tenterhooks and devouring the pages as quick as my little eyes could manage.

With excellent characters, fantastic story and side story, perfect pace, the right amount of twists and thrills, I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone who loves a great thriller.

What are you waiting for?  Go get it!

Thanks to the author, Headline and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, a fantastic addition to this brilliant series.

📚📚📚📚📚📚