A Death in Glasgow by Eva Macrae

🔥🔥🔥 Due to be published 08 January 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from the Goodreads:

"When Holly Campbell’s body is found on the train tracks at Glasgow Central, police quickly rule it a suicide.

She’d had a troubled past. She’d tried before.

But Sergeant May Mackay can’t let one detail go. If Holly never wanted to come home, why did she buy a return ticket?

Driven by her own haunting loss and a promise to Holly’s grieving mother, May is determined to solve the mystery.

But the deeper she digs, the more sinister the truth becomes.

Someone is hiding a terrible secret. And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it buried.

Even if it means silencing May for good…"

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I had never read anything by Eva Macrae before so I did not know what to expect with this one. It turned out to be a really atmospheric read and I liked the gritty Glasgow setting.

The story starts with a body on the tracks at Glasgow Central. The authorities are quick to call it suicide but Sergeant May Mackay is not so sure after she finds a return ticket in the victim's pocket. It is a simple detail that could easily have been missed but May is not your 'usual' copper.

May ends up working with an officer from the British Transport Police to get to the truth.   May and Dimple Sharma become even more determined to find out what actually happened to Holly Campbell since their respective bosses want to close the case.

I will admit it was a little slow at times partly, I think, because it's the first in a series and there is always a bit of background and story to provide context to the main characters and May is a strong lead whose personal grief definitely colours her perspective and makes her feel very human.

It is a solid police procedural and I would be happy to read more from her and am patiently waiting for the next instalment.

Many thanks to the author, RandomHouseUK, Cornerstone, Century and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts on this, a gritty start to a promising new Glasgow series.

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Born Bad (Manchester #1) by Marnie Riches

Description from Goodreads:

"The battle is on…

When gang leader Paddy O’Brien is stabbed in his brother’s famous nightclub, Manchester’s criminal underworld is shaken to the core. Tensions are running high, and as the body count begins to grow, the O’Brien family must face a tough decision – sell their side of the city to the infamous Boddlington gang or stick it out and risk losing their king.

But war comes easy to the bad boys, and they won’t go down without a fight. So begins a fierce battle for the South Side, with the leading Manchester gangsters taking the law into their own hands – but only the strongest will survive…"

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I seriously can’t believe this has been on my "to-be-read" pile since it came out in 2017! I should have dived into it ages ago.

Born Bad is a fast-paced thriller that kicks off after gang boss Paddy O’Brien is stabbed, sparking a brutal turf war in Manchester’s criminal underworld. Riches excels at showing the intense fallout - from the desperate choices of people like Leviticus Bell on the bottom rung, to the resilience of figures like Sheila O’Brien.

The book is raw, gripping and uses authentic dialogue with the necessary dark humour. If you like your crime fiction realistic and don’t mind the punches it pulls, pick this one up and don't leave it as long as I did!

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

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One of the Family by Jess Ryder [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Bronwen Price 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"My daughter’s boyfriend feels like one of the family. I couldn’t be happier to have him living with us. But now my daughter’s disappeared…

I never wanted to have an empty nest. So when my daughter, Liv, asks if she and her new boyfriend, Jensen, can move in, I’m thrilled.

Jensen is so helpful. He tells me how he loves being part of a close-knit family. He’s felt so alone since his parents died. And for me, his presence goes a little way towards replacing the son I lost.

Still, I can’t help but notice that Liv and Jensen are starting to argue. My daughter seems unhappy. Perhaps they just need some time alone together?

But when my husband and I return from our weekend away, Liv is missing. The relationship with Jensen appears to be over but he doesn’t want to leave. And then I discover exactly what he will do to stay in our family…"

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I haven't read or listened to any of Jess Ryder's books before but, despite my mixed feelings about this one, I will definitely be on the look out for more in the future.

Rachel welcomes her daughter, Liv, and her new boyfriend, Jensen, into their home. Jensen is the perfect, charming guest, until Liv vanishes and he stays put, turning the cosy family atmosphere creepy. 

I have to admit that I found the main character, Rachel, really annoying. I just wanted to jump into my speakers and give her a slap around the face and tell her to "wake up!" Her level of naivety became genuinely irritating.

Adding to this, Liv's disappearance is not the only "issue" the family is dealing with, which made the plot feel a bit over-the-top for me - it was far from believable that everything was happening to this one family all at once.

However, I was intrigued enough to continue listening - helped by the excellent narration - and I was pleased I did as whilst I had already worked out the major twist, it ended up being quite satisfying to see how it got there.

Overall, while this isn't the best audiobook I've listened to, it's far from the worst. If the many, many other reviews are anything to go by, I am in the minority, so give it a go if you enjoy domestic thrillers.

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts on this book.

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The Last Stage of Grief is Murder by Tam Barnett

🔥🔥🔥 Out 04 January 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Time won't heal his broken heart, but revenge might...💔💀

Ivor has never loved anyone the way he loves Becky.

Then his world collapses – Becky is found dead.

Consumed by grief, Ivor is determined to find out what happened.

What he discovers is darker than controlling lies, family secrets and a past that refused to stay buried.

But Ivor has his own demons. And as his obsession with the truth deepens, his heartache for Becky curdles into something far more dangerous. Murder."

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I've got to admit that while I found this book a bit of a slog to get through at times, the compelling story and quality of the writing were such that I HAD to finish it.

The book is uniquely laid out according to the stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance (or rather, murder in this case). It is written from two perspectives: Ivor's narrative and Becky's diary entries.

The writing style is really easy to read, but the story itself is heavy, though thankfully interspersed with moments of humour. Ivor is a seriously messed-up character, yet you still kind of root for him.

The suspense builds up slowly, contributing to the occasional slog, but the tension towards the end is on another level. I was left with a sense of sadness when I'd finished it - I won't give anything away, but you will understand what I mean when you read it.

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts on this thought-provoking book.

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All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"In the small, affluent town of Fairview, Connecticut everything seems picture perfect.

Until one night when young Jenny Kramer is attacked at a local party. In the hours immediately after, she is given a controversial drug to medically erase her memory of the violent assault. But, in the weeks and months that follow, as she heals from her physical wounds, and with no factual recall of the attack, Jenny struggles with her raging emotional memory. Her father, Tom, becomes obsessed with his inability to find her attacker and seek justice while her mother, Charlotte, prefers to pretend this horrific event did not touch her perfect country club world.

As they seek help for their daughter, the fault lines within their marriage and their close-knit community emerge from the shadows where they have been hidden for years, and the relentless quest to find the monster who invaded their town - or perhaps lives among them - drive this psychological thriller to a shocking and unexpected conclusion."

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Okay, so this one sat on my 'to-be-read' pile for literally years, gathering virtual dust and judging me silently from my virtual shelf on my Kindle®. I think I was waiting for the perfect moment or maybe just the moment I finished the other 37 books I bought last week!!

But never mind that - if you're looking for a  gripping psychological thriller, grab this one. All Is Not Forgotten kicks off with a thought-provoking idea: 15-year-old Jenny Kramer is assaulted and her parents decide to completely erase the memory of the attack using an experimental drug.

This is where things get messy. Even though Jenny can't consciously remember what happened, the emotional trauma is still there. The book essentially asks: Is it better to just forget a painful truth or should you face it? To amp up the tension, the whole story is filtered through the perspective of Jenny’s psychiatrist, Dr. Forrester, and trust me, you can't rely on a single thing he says. He’s super manipulative, which means you’re constantly questioning everyone’s motives.

Honestly, if you’re into thrillers that are more about psychological games than pure action, you need to read this but be prepared for a bit of a slog as I found the pacing a bit slow and heavy going. 

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

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Find Her (Detective D D Warren #9) by Lisa Gardner

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Seven years ago, carefree college student Flora Dane was kidnapped while on spring break. For 472 days, Flora learned just how much one person can endure.

Miraculously alive after her ordeal, Flora has spent the past five years reacquainting herself with the rhythms of normal life, working with her FBI victim advocate, Samuel Keynes. She has a mother who's never stopped loving her, a brother who is scared of the person she's become, and a bedroom wall covered with photos of other girls who've never made it home.

When Boston detective D. D. Warren is called to the scene of a crime--a dead man and the bound, naked woman who killed him--she learns that Flora has tangled with three other suspects since her return to society. Is Flora a victim or a vigilante? And with her firsthand knowledge of criminal behavior, could she hold the key to rescuing a missing college student whose abduction has rocked Boston? When Flora herself disappears, D.D. realizes a far more sinister predator is out there. One who's determined that this time, Flora Dane will never escape. And now it is all up to D. D. Warren to find her."

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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? Under a rock? She has written so many  bestsellers since then ... I really have no excuse for waiting this long!

While Find Her is the eighth book in the D.D. Warren series, I think it works well as a standalone.  It is an unputdownable, dark journey into the complex nature of survival. The core concept - a kidnapping victim who develops her own, dangerous code of justice - is brilliant. Flora Dane is an incredibly complex character, not just a victim, but a raw and intense survivor who refuses to be broken.

The addition of Detective D.D. Warren provides a sharp, procedural contrast to Flora's vigilante edge. The dual perspective works perfectly, keeping you guessing whether Flora is running from her past or towards a confrontation. 

This book is a fast-paced and highly addictive thriller and thanks to the author, Headline and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

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Burning State (James Ryker #14) by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"Can one man stop a nation from going up in flames?

James Ryker, former intelligence agent, is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that will test his limits, and his loyalty, to the max. Sent to Atlanta, Georgia, his mission to find a missing governor's daughter quickly spirals into a deadly pursuit of ex-special ops agent Caleb Marshall. A man presumed dead, but very much alive, and with a terrifying thirst for vengeance.

As Ryker navigates a treacherous landscape of radical right-wing factions, underground networks, and devastating terror attacks, he uncovers a plot of unimaginable scale. Marshall’s meticulous plan to plunge the USA into chaos is playing out before his eyes, and with just a handful of allies, Ryker finds himself in a desperate race against time to stop the world’s leading power combusting from within."

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I have read a few of Rob Sinclair's books which I have thoroughly enjoyed.  While this is the 14th book in the James Ryker series, I have only read a few of them and I think this one works well as a standalone especially if you like relentless, fast-paced action.

If you’re a fan of the James Ryker series, you’ll know what to expect but if not, he’s a brilliant, highly capable former intelligence agent who constantly gets pulled into world-ending plots. This time, his simple mission is to find a missing governor’s daughter however it quickly turns into something altogether different and deadly.

The book is packed full of intrigue, action and violence. It has that addictive, "just one more chapter" quality that makes it fly by. I really enjoyed the story; it's a classic thriller with a protagonist you can't help but root for.

Overall, if you like your thrillers gritty and explosive, this is one to pick up as are Rob Sinclair's other books.

Many thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, an excellent addition to this brilliant series.

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Perfect Wives by Lauren North [Audiobook]

Description from Goodreads:

"Three identical confessions to murder. Three perfect liars...

On a sunny Saturday morning, three women from the exclusive gated community of Magnolia Close walk into their local police station.

One by one, they all confess to the murder of their neighbour.

The officer takes statements from all three. From Tasha, the overwhelmed mother struggling under the weight of caring for her parents too. From Beth, the quiet one, desperate for another baby but unable to fall pregnant. From Georgie, the one whose life seems so dazzlingly glamorous ... on the surface.

Each woman has a life – a family – that they don't want to lose.

Each woman has a reason for wanting Johnny dead.

Each woman claims she killed him.

All of them are lying."

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I haven't read or listened to anything by Lauren North before but I was intrigued by the premise of this audiobook and I was looking for something to listen to whilst in the car and I wasn't disappointed.

The premise of this book is intriguing. We meet three women - Tasha, Beth and Georgie - who live in the exclusive, seemingly perfect gated community of Magnolia Close. Then, one sunny day, they all walk into the police station and separately confess to the murder of their terrible neighbour, Johnny. The catch? They are all lying.

Where do you even start?

Lauren North does a great job of peeling back the layers of these women's lives. The whole book is full of secrets, deception and the massive facade of their "perfect wives" status. It’s got that close-knit community vibe where you know everyone is hiding something big, which keeps the tension simmering. I found myself totally invested in figuring out what was going to be uncovered next and who the real killer actually was.

I really enjoyed the story but it does start of a bit slowly. However, it soon starts to move and the twists arrived with speed and a lot of satisfaction.

The narrator did a great job.  If I'm honest, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much had I been reading the physical book; Genevieve Swallow handled it so well that I was definitely more immersed in the lives of Tasha, Beth and Georgie.

Overall, this is a great book to listen to and if you like domestic thrillers about secrets coming out in the suburbs, I think you will enjoy this one but I highly recommend the audiobook version.

Many thanks to the author, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this compelling book.

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