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."

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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?"

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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 😊

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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…"

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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.

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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."

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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.

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