Psychosis Diagnosis by Nikki Minty [Audiobook]

 🎙🎙🎙 Narrated byJodie Harris, Karen Chilton, James Fouhey,

Ari Maza Long and Tamblyn Lord🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Welcome to The Church of Salvation, where your soul checks in but never checks out.

Raised by his drug-addicted mother in the small town of Coraki, Australia, Monroe Morgan is determined to escape a life steeped in misery. With dreams of a better future, he has secured a job at his brother-in-law’s pub in Coffs Harbour and is set to start as soon as he turns eighteen.

However, a month before his departure, Monroe’s life takes a drastic turn when his neighbour, Indi, appears at his doorstep, battered and scared for her life. She reveals harrowing details about her upbringing in The Church of Salvation and declares that she is being forced to marry the church’s pastor against her will. Concerned for Indi’s safety, Monroe plans to take her with him when he leaves. But on the morning of their escape, he is jolted awake by blood-curdling screams coming from next door. A violent confrontation with Indi’s father ensues, resulting in Monroe’s arrest and a year-long stay in Rozelle Hospital for drug-induced psychosis. In a cruel twist of fate, Indi’s father denies her existence, and the doctors and authorities dismiss her as a figment of Monroe’s imagination.

After a year of treatment and recovery, Monroe returns to Coraki determined to find Indi and prove she is real. However, the visit to his old neighbourhood soon unearths a web of dark secrets, and he finds himself at the centre of a decades-old cult conspiracy. He’ll have to summon all his strength to discover not only where Indi went, but who he truly is, before more young women mysteriously wind-up dead."

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A good book that was really quite creepy to listen to.  

This is a mix of all sorts of genres including horror, supernatural, witchcraft, the occult and a cult all thrown in for good measure.  I think this is more geared towards the Young Adults so a bit off the mark for me however, I still quite enjoyed it as it was something different to read/listen to.

The narration was ok but not the best but I did like there were different voices which helped to distinguish between the characters and there were dual timelines which, I found, a bit confusing and difficult to keep up but overall, a decent creepy book and thank you to the author, BooksGoSocial Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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The Perfect Psychopath by Alice Hunter

 

Description from Goodreads:

"THE PERFECT PSYCHOPATH HIDES IN PLAIN SIGHT…

Dr. Eleanor Spencer is a respected forensic psychologist with a seemingly perfect life. But when a series of women start to vanish, she’s haunted by the memory of her sister’s disappearance and she finds herself drawn into the chilling investigation.​

​As the body count rises and her paranoia deepens, Ellie is forced to delve into the mind of a monster to uncover the truth. Her work leads her to Lucas Hayne, a notorious serial killer now behind bars. But when Lucas cryptically hints that the key to the killer’s identity lies buried in her past, Ellie’s world begins to unravel. ​

Because now she faces a terrifying the real monster might just be closer than she ever imagined.​

And with time running out, the price of uncovering the truth may be her own life…"

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I enjoy reading Alice Hunter's books; she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the inner workings of the mind and this book shows it really well.

I'm not going to go into the plot as the description summarises it perfectly but I will say that it is intriguing and kept me guessing how it was all going to play out.  The pace is steady, with the middle being a little slow but ramping up towards the end.  The characters are well developed and an eclectic bunch from Ellie herself to the serial killer she is interviewing.

It has some great twists and it definitely kept me reading towards the end.  I can quite happily recommend this to lovers of psychological thrillers and many thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for this intriguing book.

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Missing (Detective Bonnie Hunter #1) by Catherine Lee

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Eva Seymour 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Sydney, Australia.

Bonnie Hunter is done with creeps who treat their families like possessions. Sidelined and angry after a domestic violence call-out went horribly wrong, the detective finds herself seconded to a team tasked with finding a missing young woman.

According to her husband, Juliet Keller went to the grocery store and never returned. The husband demands action, but his violent outbursts and controlling behaviour have Bonnie’s family violence radar on high alert. Convinced he’s responsible for Juliet’s disappearance, Bonnie is single-minded in her mission to disprove his story.

Outsmarted at every turn, and questioning her worth to her new team, Bonnie finds herself in a cat-and-mouse chase to uncover the truth. Because whatever happened to Juliet Keller, it’s soon clear her life is not the only one on the line."

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I haven't read anything by Catherine Lee before but I certainly won't be making that mistake again if this book is anything to go by.  I listened to the audiobook and from the very beginning, I was absolutely hooked.  

Everything about this book is exceptional ... the story, the writing style, the dual timeline, the pace, the characters, the tension, the emotion, etc., etc., is second to none, especially given the difficult subject matter of domestic violence which I think the author captured accurately but without sensationalising it.  And lets not forget the narration which was one of the best I have listened to so far; Ms Seymour's voice drew me into the story with ease and kept me listening long after I should have stopped.

Like I said, this does cover the heinous crime of domestic violence so if that is a trigger for you, I would definitely pass this book by but otherwise, I would highly recommend it to others who enjoy gripping thrillers.

This is the first book in a new series and I very much look forward to reading or listening to more in the future and my thanks must go to the author, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this excellent book.

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One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter

Description from the Publisher:

"Ferrara, Italy. 1940. Lili Passigli is studying at the University of Ferrara when Mussolini’s Racial Laws deem her of ‘inferior’ Jewish descent, blindsiding her completely. As Hitler’s strength grows across Europe, Lili’s world begins to shrink around her, with the papers awash in Fascist propaganda and the city walls desecrated with anti-semitic slurs. When Germany invades northern Italy, Lili and her best friend Esti find themselves on their own in Nazi-occupied territory.

With the help of the Resistance, Lili and Esti flee with Esti’s two-year-old son Theo, in tow, facing a harrowing journey south toward the Allies and freedom. On this trek through war-torn Italy, they will face untold challenges and devastating decisions."

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I do read quite a few books, both fiction and non-fiction, that are set during World War II but I have read very few that are set in Italy so have little knowledge of what it was like during that time in that country and whilst I know this is a work of fiction, I have no doubt that a lot of what is written about closely matched what it was like during that horrendous time.

I am not going to go into the ins and outs of the book but will say that it grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until the very end; I read it in a few days such was my need to find out what happened to Esti, Lili, Theo and others.  I was so invested in their story that time just flew.

This book is compelling, riveting, heart-breaking and full of tension but also hopeful and full of courage, resilience and the importance of friendship and trust and one that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to the author, Allison & Busby and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book.

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Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

Description from Goodreads:

"What would you do if you thought your coworker was getting away with murder—literally?

Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold: strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field . . . including fields of unmarked graves.

The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.

Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn’t come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can’t help but wonder if, finally, he’s found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.

Until Dolores asks Jake’s help to dispose of a body . . ."

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This is a book that has left me saying "ok ... what the heck was that?" but in a mainly positive way and, ultimately, I enjoyed it although it was a tad confusing.  I also don't usually do romances but this is a romance with a massive difference!

I'm not going to go into any of the plot but will just say that you need to keep your mind and brain open and switched on at all times.  It's full of dark humour, tension and great characters; Jack and Dolores are only what I can describe as being odd, strange, eccentric but great; in fact, as I said, the book is full of great characters - some easier to like than others!  

Very cleverly written and with twists, turns and moments where you scratch your head; I applaud Jane Posey for a unique and well written debut and thanks to her, Atlantic Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this intriguing book.

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The Serial Killer Support Group (Secret Vigilante, Book #1) by D B Stephens

Description from the Publisher:

"Justice will be served…

Therapy just got deadly

When Jess Pendle agrees to attend a support group to meet other women who have lived similar experiences, she doesn’t expect much.

The group has been set up for like-minded women to come together, but when their therapist leaves, they close the blinds and find a new, and altogether more deadly way to support each other…"

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I love a good serial killer book and I wasn't disappointed with this one.  This book deals with domestic violence, control and coercion so if this is a trigger, I would probably stay away.   

Despite moments where it is a little slow in pace,  "The Serial Killer Support Group" is a gripping and thought-provoking story of a group of resilient women, domestic violence survivors let down by the police, who find solace and support in their shared experiences. The story takes a dark turn as the mysterious Caretaker intervenes, seeking revenge on their abusers in rather graphic ways.

This is a powerful exploration of social injustice and the desire for revenge which, whilst the subject matter was difficult to read (but sadly all to familiar for thousands of women), I enjoyed it and was rooting for the women and the Caretaker.  The major twist wasn't a surprise for me but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book and I am eager to find out where the next one takes us.

Many thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the first book in a new series.

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The Gardeners' Club by Marnie Riches

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Gardening is dirty work – but should it be deadly?

When Gill Swanley decides to take up gardening to fight a midlife malaise, she never expected it to become quite such a dangerous hobby.

Pushing herself to 'get out there', Gill picks herself up the secateurs and joins the Bromley Botanists. Here she finds a seven-strong group whose main agenda is how to win the coveted Golden Trowel for best community club of the year.

But when a dead body turns up in the community greenhouse, they suddenly have more serious matters to consider than victory. They must uncover whether their arch-rivals, Croydon, are taking things to another level or whether someone more dangerous is targeting their rag tag group.

Can they dig up the truth before someone else is left pushing up the daisies?"

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Oh my word ... I can't put into adequate words how much I absolutely loved this book!  I absolutely devoured it in quick time such was the quality of the story I was reading.

I'm not going to go into the story line as the blurb says it all but what I will say is that it's full of fantastic characters each of which are unique and 'special' in their own way but, equally, they could be your neighbour, work colleague or family member such is their relateability and how well they have been written and developed.

The story is much more than a cosy, murder-mystery; it's about life and everything that is thrown at us and gardening of course!  I cannot rate this book highly enough and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Many thanks to the author, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this excellent book.  This is the first in a new series and I can't wait for the next instalment to find out what is in store for The Bromley Botanists' Golden Trowel gardeners' club.

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The Great Decay by Steven Jenkins

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Like so many towns and cities, the giant walls around Camberwood stand as silent reminders of humanity's darkest hour—The Great Decay: a zombie invasion that nearly wiped-out mankind.

For seventeen-year-old Ruby and her friends, these walls are nothing more than relics of a history they're too young to remember, monuments to their parents' trauma.

Ruby dreams of a better life away from this small, soul-crushing town. Away from her alcoholic mother who still grieves the loss of her husband.

But boredom suddenly lifts when Ruby and her friends discover what seems impossible: a lone, emaciated zombie, perhaps the last of its kind, trapped in an abandoned coal mine. The creature appears docile, almost pitiful—a living artifact begging to be studied. Against all reason, they keep it secret, drawn to this rotting piece of forbidden history.

But their dangerous game of friendship with the undead is about to shatter their safe, uneventful world.

As a new wave of infection erupts within Camberwood's walls, Ruby faces a devastating realization: she and her friends haven't just unearthed a scientific curiosity—they've unleashed the very nightmare the last generation barely survived.

As the shadows of the past rise again, Ruby must fight to prevent a second Great Decay—or watch everything she loves crumble into ruin."

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I do love a good Zombie story and this is one of them and another hit from an author I enjoy reading.

The Great Decay is everything you would expect in a zombie story and more; great characters, great setting, horror, humour, action, suspense and all written at a great pace with a satisfying ending.

Another cracker from Steven Jenkins ... if you haven't read anything by him before, you won't be disappointed if this is the first book of his you read.

Many thanks to the author for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this great book.

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The Tenacious Nurse Nichols by Eileen Yanoviak

 

Description from Goodreads:

"There is only one known image of Lucy Higgs Nichols, a Civil War nurse who escaped slavery. In this captivating photograph dated to 1898, the elderly Lucy is the sole female and the only person of color. She stands stately in the middle of a large group of war veterans at a reunion that she diligently attended every year. Some of these soldiers were from the Indiana 23rd Regiment, the men who fiercely advocated for her Civil War nurse's pension in the 1890s. 

Her story is remarkable—a journey from enslavement in Tennessee, to freedom and service among the ranks of the Union Army, and finally to independence and national recognition from the press, the Grand Army of the Republic, and even Congress.

Despite considerable obstacles and unimaginable pain, Lucy achieved notoriety, nobility, and self-sufficiency in a post-Civil War era that often denied black Americans and women justice and opportunity."

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This is an inspirational and amazing story of a former slave and how she came to be a nurse during the Civil War and her fight to receive a pension and all whilst having to deal with prejudice and the hardships of life for a Black person in 1800's America.

This is a very informative book that has clearly been well researched.  It's easy to read and flows well and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the American Civil War, Black history or those who enjoy opening their minds and learning about history.

Thanks to the author, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc. and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this informative book.

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