To All the Men I've Killed Before (Kitty Collins #3) by Katy Brent

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Victoria Morrison and Imogen Front🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"If a man hurt your best friend – like, really hurt her – what would you do?

Key his car? Broadcast what a scumbag he is to everyone in his life? Hunt him down and chop him into little pieces? If you picked number 3, I think we could be friends. Because that is exactly what I intend to do.

I've tracked this lowlife to LA and brought my little sister Antoinette along for the ride. It's like a girls' trip, only with more knives.

It won't be the first time I've killed for revenge. But it will be the sweetest."

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A brilliant finale packed with dark humour 

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I have to say the narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Their performances captured all the sharp wit, chaotic energy, and underlying tension perfectly.

Kitty Collins is back, and this time she is taking her unique brand of vigilante justice across the Atlantic to sunny LA. The setting swap from rainy UK to chaotic Hollywood adds such a fun, glamorous backdrop to all the gory carnage. Escorting her on this trip is her younger sister Antoinette, who turns out to be quite the apprentice in murder, even if her messy tendencies leave Kitty doing plenty of cleanup. The dynamic and banter between the two sisters was easily one of my favourite parts of the entire story.

The plot moves at a relentless pace as Kitty sets out to avenge a friend, only to find herself mixed up in even more twisty chaos over in California. Katy Brent balances absolute bloodthirsty revenge with laugh out loud comedy so effortlessly. It is dark, unapologetic, and packed with that satisfying girl power energy where terrible men get exactly what is coming to them.

I am honestly quite sad that this is the final book in the series. I am going to miss Kitty terribly, as she has been such an iconic character from start to finish. Having said that, with Antoinette bringing so much chaotic potential to the table, it makes me wonder if we might get a new spin-off series featuring her in the future.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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The Killer's Mark (Washington Poe #8) M.W. Craven

Blurb:

"A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?

When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his – not inconsiderable – estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox – a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency’s history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity…

Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or – as the sign on their door says – ‘Gumshoes for Hire’. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl’s claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first…"

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Absolute masterclass in crime fiction! 

I have been following Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw for a while now somehow we've got to book eight in this series which you would think might start to become a little stale, but not so by a long way.

This time around Poe and Tilly have left the NCA behind to set up their own private detective gig – complete with a sign on the door declaring themselves "Gumshoes for Hire".  Poe's hoping for a quiet life but that all vanishes when a feisty fifteen year old girl, Esmerée, walks through the door.  She wants them to find her mother, someone she believed was dead until seeing her alive in a video online.  What starts as a straightforward missing persons inquiry quickly spirals into a dark, complex case involving Chinese triads, corruption and lethal secrets that threaten to pull everyone under.

The plot is brilliantly constructed with twists that hit when you least expect them.  Craven handles some heavy themes here but the trademark banter between Poe and Tilly provides that perfect, laugh out loud light in the darkness.  Seeing Tilly step up and take charge in certain parts of this investigation was fantastic, and the dynamic between the two of them is as brilliant as ever.

If you're looking for a fast paced thriller, trust me, you won't be able to put this down.

My thanks to M W Craven, Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another fantastic addition to a brilliant series.

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Fractured Dawn (Mackenzie Reynolds #2) by D.V. Berkom

✴✴✴ Expected publication 16 September 2026 ✴✴✴

Description from Goodreads:

"Some conspiracies threaten governments. This one threatens everyone she loves.

When elite close protection operative Mackenzie "Mac" Reynolds learns her father didn't die in a Bangkok bombing three years ago, everything she thought she knew shatters.

A captured CIA asset delivers an impossible Chase Reynolds is alive and has gone to ground while he hunts a rogue intelligence network powerful enough to manipulate governments from the shadows.

Following a trail across Central Europe, Mac and her mentor, former Special Forces operator Jackson Jones, uncover Project Eclipse, a deadly conspiracy run by ruthless arms broker Victor Hale. With assassins closing in and allies becoming suspects, every move could be their last.

To stop a global catastrophe, Mac must decide who she can trust—including the CIA officer who also happens to be her mother.

Because if Hale succeeds, nations will fall.

And Mac may lose the last chance she has to save her father."

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An absolute belter of a second book

After reading False Dawn, I couldn't wait to see what D.V. Berkom had in store for Mackenzie Reynolds next, and this second instalment certainly didn't disappoint.

This time around, Mac finds out that her father might actually still be alive after a bomb blast in Bangkok three years ago. That revelation throws her straight into a deadly hunt across Central Europe alongside her trusted mentor, Jackson. Between rogue intelligence networks, relentless assassins and a shadowy plot called Project Eclipse, the stakes feel even higher than in the first book.

Mac is such a brilliantly written character – tough, smart and completely uncompromising, but still human enough that you're rooting for her on every single page. The dynamics between the characters are fantastic this time too. I loved the inclusion of Harry and also watching the relationship develop between Mac and Nick, which adds a really great personal dynamic amongst all the chaos. Plus, bringing her estranged CIA mother into the mix creates an extra layer of family drama that keeps you hooked.

The pacing is non-stop from the very beginning. The action sequences are gripping, the twists keep you on your toes and the European settings are so vividly described that you feel right in the middle of the chaos. If you love fast-paced, high-octane thrillers with a fierce female lead, you're going to love this. D.V. Berkom has delivered another absolute cracker, and I'm already desperate to see where Mac's journey goes next.

Once again, thank you to D.V for accepting me as a member her ARTeam and for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Fractured Dawn and my hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

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The Campervan Detectives: A Camper Van Detective Mystery Book 1 by Maeve Haran [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Fenella Fudge 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?"

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A charming cozy mystery with fantastic audio narration

I like reading a cozy mystery every now and then as a step away from what I normally read, so this was a lovely change of pace for me! The story follows Sadie Sutton, who, after her marriage implodes, buys a vintage orange VW campervan and heads off to the seaside town of Winching with her dog Sam Spade. Her fresh start takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles across the dead body of her old, sharp-tongued headmistress, Charlotte Woolf. Before long, Sadie teams up with three fellow van-lifers at the campsite – Rose, Amanda and Tina – to do a bit of amateur sleuthing. 

Listening to the audiobook was an absolute treat, especially thanks to the brilliant narrator, Fenella Fudge. She brought the characters to life so vividly, giving each person their own distinct personality and catching the warmth, wit and dry humour of the story perfectly. Her performance made it so easy to get swept up in the journey as Sadie and her new campsite friends set out to solve the crime.  

The plot itself is quite lighthearted and gentle, which made for a really relaxing listen. It does take a little while for the murder mystery to get properly moving as we spend time getting to know the lead characters, their backstories and campsite life, but once the investigation gets going, it is a thoroughly enjoyable ride.  

Overall, it's a great escapist listen. I will definitely be looking out for the next instalment in the series!  

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my honest thoughts. 

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The Children on the Train by Anna Stuart

Description from Goodreads:

"November 1938, Germany. Grete guides two small children onto the train. Placing her arms protectively around their shoulders, she prays the journey is uneventful because she must get six-year-old Adele and eight-year-old Rosa out of Germany…

Grete always longed to be a mother, but it never happened for her so, as the clouds of war gather over Europe, she’s devoting her time to helping Jewish children escape the Nazis. She remembers the face of every single child she’s taken on trains to freedom in the Netherlands. The danger increases with each trip, but, today, she has to get her best friend’s children to safety, because they are closest thing she has to family.

But at the border, the train screeches to a halt and she hears the shout of a Nazi guard. Then the sound of boots coming towards their carriage. When the door bursts open, she draws herself up tall, and prepares to face the interrogation she knows will come. With shaking hands, she passes over Rosa and Adele’s tattered papers and hopes they aren’t scrutinised too closely.

Grete is ready to do whatever it takes to keep her small charges safe…"

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An incredible story that blew me away  Having previously read and thoroughly enjoyed The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart, I couldn't wait to pick up her latest release. Safe to say, she has done it again! This was an emotional, gripping and moving story that pulled me in right from the very first page.  

What really stood out for me was the unbelievable bravery of Grete and Helena, and the constant danger they put themselves in every single day. Before reading this, I had never heard of Geertruida "Truus" Wijsmuller-Meijer (Grete), which I think is a total scandal. This lady should be just as famous as Sir Nicholas Winton, and someone needs to make a film about her! The sheer peril she put herself in to escort children across borders and stand up to Nazi officials took my breath away. She was such a practical, no-nonsense matriarch who used her sheer tenacity and gift of words to save lives.  

Helena was another absolutely amazing character who completely stole my heart. Facing growing persecution in Germany while trying to keep her family safe, her inner strength was unbelievable. It was so heartbreaking to see her accompany children on the train transports, knowing she had to keep returning to Nazi Germany time and again for fear of jeopardising the whole operation and putting her own family in increasing danger. 

It's a heavy subject, but Anna Stuart brings so much warmth and humanity to the story that you just can't put it down.  Although this is a work of fiction, Truus and many of the events and experiences depicted are based on real life, which makes the whole reading experience even more poignant. 

If you enjoy historical fiction that packs an emotional punch and highlights true unsung heroes, I can't recommend this enough. 

A huge thank you to Anna Stuart, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and share my honest thoughts. 

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You Never Said Goodbye by Luca Veste

Description from Goodreads:

"A DEVOTED MOTHER

Sam Cooper has a happy life: a good job, a blossoming relationship. Yet, there's something he can never forget - the image seared into his mind of his mother, Laurie, dying when he was a child. His father allowed his grief to tear them apart and Sam hasn't seen him in years.

A LOVING WIFE

Until an unexpected call from Firwood hospital, asking Sam to come home, puts in motion a chain of devastating events. On his deathbed, Sam's father makes a shocking confession.

A LIAR?

Who was Laurie Cooper? It's clear that everything Sam thought he knew about his mother was wrong. And now he's determined to find out exactly what she did and why - whatever the cost.

What happens if you discover you've been lied to by your own family for twenty-five years?

Sam Cooper is about to find out."

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A fast paced chase with an interesting premise but too many gaps

This is another book that has been sitting patiently on my to-be-read pile since 2022 and I have finally got round to reading it now! 

The story kicks off with Sam, whose life is completely upended when his wife is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. To make things even crazier, he discovers that his mother – who he thought died in a car crash when he was a child – might actually still be alive. He ends up going on the run across America to find out the truth while fleeing the police and some very dangerous people.

It starts off with a massive bang and the initial hook is fantastic. The pacing is incredibly fast and it genuinely feels like a frantic high-stakes chase movie. If you want something action-packed that keeps moving from city to city, the momentum here definitely delivers on that front.

However, as the chase went on, I struggled a bit with the plausibility of it all. Sam manages to pull off some unbelievable escapes, and a lot of the plot relies on huge coincidences that stretched my layout of belief a bit too far. Some of the twists toward the end felt quite convoluted and I was left with a few too many unanswered questions about how everything connected. It is a decent, fast-paced thriller if you can switch your brain off and just enjoy the ride, but it did not quite hit the mark for me.

A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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One of Us is Guilty (Eddie Flynn #10) by Steve Cavanagh

🔥🔥🔥 On Sale: 30 July 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"A PERFECT COUPLE.

BUT ONE OF THEM IS A KILLER. WHICH ONE?

Patrick Vanderpool, son of a billionaire media mogul, is destined for power. But the affair he's having could ruin everything.

Vanessa Vanderpool, married to one of America's most influential men, has her own ambitions. But the affair he's having could ruin everything.

When the other woman is found brutally murdered, there are only two suspects...

One of them is guilty. But which one?

Conman turned defence lawyer Eddie Flynn must risk his life to find out..."

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Another absolute masterclass

Steve Cavanagh has done it again!

I have been following the Eddie Flynn series for a while, and reaching book ten in a series can sometimes feel like a risk, but this one completely delivers. If you have read any of the previous books, you will know Eddie is one of the most compelling protagonists around and his latest outing is right up there with his  best. If you haven't, give your head a wobble and put that right by getting one now! You don't have to start at the beginning as each one works well as a standalone – however, I would recommend it for the character history and development.

The setup for this one is brilliant and gets moving straight away. Patrick Vanderpool – the ambitious son of a (horrible) media mogul – is having an affair with a woman named Molly Green. His wife Vanessa follows him to Molly's apartment not best pleased as you can imagine. When Molly is brutally murdered inside, both husband and wife are left standing as the main suspects. They both had access, they both had a strong motive and they both have massive secrets to hide. Eddie Flynn is tasked with defending Vanessa but in doing so, he puts himself, his friends and his family in the firing line although, in truth, he doesn't have much of a choice.

What I love about Steve Cavanagh's writing is how seamlessly he blends legal courtroom maneuvering with fast, clever con-man tricks. The pacing is relentless from the start, with short chapters that make it far too easy to keep reading just one more. The Vanderpool family dynamic is brilliantly sinister, and Eddie's team are fantastic and brilliantly loyal.

If you enjoy high-octane legal thrillers or just an incredibly fun crime series, this is a must-read. Eddie and his team remain absolute favourites of mine and I cannot wait to see what comes next. 

A huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the latest in what is an excellent series.

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A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Description from Goodreads:

"When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, her own father had confessed to the crimes and was put away for life, leaving Chloe and the rest of her family to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Now twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. While she finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to achieve, she sometimes feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. So when a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, seeing parallels from her past that aren't actually there, or for the second time in her life, is Chloe about to unmask a killer?"

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A slow burning thriller that relies heavily on a familiar formula

This one has been sitting patiently on my to-be-read pile since 2022 and I have only just got round to reading it now!

The story introduces us to Chloe, whose father confessed to murdering several teenage girls when she was a child. Twenty years later, she is working as a psychologist when local girls start disappearing again, triggering all her old trauma and paranoia. It is a really interesting premise that hooks you early on, especially exploring the psychological impact of her past.

The atmosphere is quite thick and moody, which fits the Southern gothic setting well. Chloe is a deeply flawed and anxious narrator, which adds to the tension because you are never entirely sure if what she is seeing is real or just fueled by her past trauma and medication. The pacing does drag quite a bit in the middle section though. It felt like a lot of time was spent inside Chloe's head repeating the same doubts, which slowed down the momentum of the mystery.

My main issue was that the plot felt a bit predictable if you read a lot of psychological thrillers. A few of the twists were easy to spot ahead of time, and the final resolution wrapped up a bit too conveniently. It is a decent debut mystery that keeps you turning pages, but it just lacked that extra spark to make it stand out from the crowd.

A big thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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One Dark Summer by Sarah Hornsley [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Daphne Kouma 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Lily has spent her whole life not knowing the truth.

Now, one island will change everything.

When she was four years old, Lily's mother, Penny, walked out the family home and never returned. Growing up, Lily tried to block out the pain of betrayal. But years later, when Lily learns her mum's family used to own a holiday home on Osea Island, she can't resist booking a last-minute trip, hoping to finally find a connection to her mother.

But Osea is no ordinary place. Tidal and remote, it keeps its secrets close.

As Lily begins to peel back layers of the past, she uncovers a web of silence, betrayal, and pain stretching back twenty-five years. The island holds the truth of what really happened to Penny and why she never made it back home.

But some secrets aren't buried in the past. Nor are they still on the island. Some are closer than Lily ever imagined."

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An intriguing premise on Osea Island 

When I heard about the setup for this one, featuring a remote, tidal island and a cold case disappearance, I was definitely intrigued. The story centres on Lily, whose mother Penny vanished when Lily was only four years old. Years down the line, Lily finds out her mother's family owned a holiday home over on Osea Island, so she decides to go there to figure out what actually happened.

While the premise sets up an interesting family mystery, the plot itself did not fully hit the mark for me. There are plenty of twists, lies and family secrets dropped along the way, but a few of the developments felt a bit forced and I struggled to get invested in the characters. 

The real highlight here was the audiobook narrator. She was fantastic and brought so much life to the story, keeping the momentum going even through the parts where the plot slowed down and, to be honest, this felt quite often for me. Her delivery made the characters far more engaging, and I am really glad I chose to listen to this rather than reading a physical copy.

If you are looking for a light coastal thriller to pass the time, this is an okay listen, mainly thanks to the great performance by the narrator.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my honest thoughts.

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The Hunted by Gabriel Bergmoser

Description from Goodreads:

"Where does the adventure end . . .

and the nightmare begin?

Frank owns a service station on a little-used highway. His granddaughter, Allie, is sent to stay with him for the summer, but they don't talk a lot.

Simon is a dreamer and an idealist, in thrall to the romance of the open road and desperately in search of something.

Maggie is the woman who will bring them together, someone whose own personal journey will visit unimaginable terror on them all. . ."

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A brutal and breathless race for survival

If you’re looking for something that hits the ground running and doesn't let up, then this is definitely the book for you. I’ve had this sitting on a very dusty virtual to-be-read pile on my Kindle since 2020, but I’m so pleased I finally got around to reading it because it’s a proper adrenaline-fuelled ride.

The story starts with a woman named Maggie who arrives at a remote petrol station in the Australian outback, badly injured and clearly terrified. From that moment on, it’s a fight for survival as a group of hunters closes in. It’s incredibly fast-paced and quite cinematic - I could easily see this being turned into a gritty survival film.

It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted though. There’s a fair amount of graphic violence and it gets pretty brutal in places, which might be a bit much for some. I also felt that because it’s so short and action-heavy, we didn't get to go quite as deep into the characters' backgrounds as I would’ve liked. A bit more development there would’ve made it a full five stars for me, but it’s still a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat read.

If you enjoy survival thrillers that are lean, mean and keep you hooked until the very last page, I’d highly recommend giving this a go. It’s a real "one more chapter" kind of book that’ll leave you feeling pretty breathless. 

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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The Quiet Kill (Detective Jamie Day #1) by Robert Bryndza

Description from Goodreads:

"Winter, 1987. Detective Jamie Day arrives in London determined to prove himself. After years policing a quiet seaside town, his promotion to the Metropolitan Police feels like the opportunity he has been waiting for.

But the capital is a very different world.

On his first day in plain clothes, Jamie makes a grim discovery: the dismembered body of a young man, left in a dark corner of the city. What should have been a routine first shift quickly becomes the beginning of a major murder investigation.

Then another victim is found.

As winter deepens, young men are being killed late at night across London, their bodies discovered in eerily similar circumstances. The detectives soon realise they may be hunting a serial killer.

Working alongside a tough and experienced team, Jamie must prove he belongs while navigating the pressures of a high-profile investigation. But as the case grows darker, the killer’s pattern begins to emerge. And if they don’t stop him soon, another body will be waiting in the shadows."

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A great start to a gripping new crime series

I've been a huge fan of Robert Bryndza for ages so I was absolutely buzzing when I got hold of the first book in a brand new series. I loved Erika Foster and Kate Marshall so the bar was set incredibly high for Detective Jamie Day and let me tell you, he didn't disappoint. From the very first page, I was completely hooked and I ended up flying through it in just a couple of sittings.

Jamie is a brilliant new lead character with less of the flaws than a lot of fictional detectives. He feels quite innocent and 'wet behind the ears', having just moved to London and immediately being dropped straight into a gruesome murder case.

What really gave this book an extra edge for me was the setting. It is set back in the 80's, right at the height of the fear and misinformation surrounding the AIDS virus. Having been a teenager myself in the 80's, I vividly remember that time and Mr Bryndza captures that tense, uncertain atmosphere perfectly. It adds a really heavy, realistic layer to the whole investigation.

The pacing is absolutely spot on. Even though you know who the killer is from early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed seeing how everything unravelled.  The tension just keeps building up to a satisfying ending. However, the final wrap-up did feel a bit rushed in comparison to the rest of the book which builds beautifully.

The sharp dialogue, the realistic police work and those addictive short chapters that make you say "just one more" before bed are all present and correct and what I have come to expect from Mr Bryndza.

I am very much looking forward to seeing how the characters and relationships develop in subsequent books. If you're a fan of crime fiction or his previous books, you really need to add this one to your reading list. It's an excellent start to what I'm sure is going to be a brilliant series and I already can't wait for book two.

Many thanks to the author, Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, the start of an exciting new series.

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Senseless by Ed James

Description from Goodreads:

"THREE MISSING PEOPLE... ONE TWISTED PREDATOR.

DAY ONE

Six weeks after vanishing, Sarah Langton is suddenly found - delirious and starved close to death.

The police struggle to find any answers.

DAY TWO

When another missing person reappears, half-crazed and hysterical, a terrifying pattern a twisted predator is pushing his victims to insanity.

DS Corcoran, haunted by a previous case, and Dr Marie Palmer, a leading criminal psychiatrist, must try to establish a link between the survivors.

DAY THREE

As it becomes clear others are in grave danger, every second will be critical. But can Corcoran and Palmer unravel the deadliest of puzzles in time?"

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A chilling and incredibly dark start to a new crime series

This one has been sitting patiently in my dusty to-be-read pile since 2020 and I have finally got round to reading it! I haven't read anything by this author before so wasn't sure what to expect but I am so glad I finally picked it up. Starting a brand new crime series can always be a bit of a gamble, especially when you are being introduced to a new detective duo, but this grabbed me pretty quickly. The story follows DI Rob Marshall as he returns to his childhood home in the Scottish Borders and gets thrown straight into a deeply unsettling case involving a serial killer who removes the victims' senses.

It is a really dark and gritty read with an intense level of suspense that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The atmospheric Scottish setting really added to the tense mood, making the whole investigation feel isolated and urgent. Marshall is an interesting lead character with plenty of his own personal baggage and I liked watching him work alongside the local team to piece the clues together.

The plot moves along at a great pace with enough twists to keep you guessing about the killer's motives. My only minor niggle was that a couple of the procedural details felt slightly stretched but it really didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the mystery. It is a solid, gripping thriller that sets up the rest of the series well and I will definitely be seeking out for the next book to see where these characters go next.

Many thanks to the author, Headline and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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The Violent Hour (Inspector McLean #15) by James Oswald

Description from Goodreads:

"The victim of the murder cannot be identified; its brutal nature of the shocking both the public and the police. What could possibly have inflicted such gruesome injuries? Was it a wild animal on the loose, or the beginning of some horrific gang warfare?

Another body is found on Musselburgh naked, comatose, but this time still alive. DI Tony McLean can't shake the feeling that there is a connection to the killing - but there are few leads for him and the team to go by.

The police are at a loss, and the city is on edge - will the killer strike again?"

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A sweltering and gruesome addition to a fantastic series

I can't quite believe we're already at book fifteen in the Inspector McLean series but James Oswald has done it again. This time Edinburgh is absolutely baking in a summer heatwave right in the middle of the festival season which makes the city feel completely claustrophobic and chaotic. It's the perfect backdrop for a seriously grim murder where the injuries are so brutal that the police don't even know if they're looking for a person or a wild animal.

Tony McLean is as brilliant as ever trying to navigate the madness while balancing his usual down-to-earth policing with those eerie supernatural vibes that always seem to follow him around. When a second victim is found alive but comatose on Musselburgh Beach the team really have their work cut out for them.

The plot keeps you guessing all the way through and the pacing is spot on. My only tiny niggle is that it felt a bit slow in the middle sections but the build-up to the climax definitely makes up for it. If you're a fan of Scottish crime fiction with a dark twist you won't want to miss this one.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this, another excellent addition to this series.

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The Island (Hidden Iceland #2) by Ragnar Jónasson

Description from Goodreads:

"Elliðaey is an isolated island off the coast of Iceland. It is has a beautiful, unforgiving terrain and is an easy place to vanish.

The Island is the second thrilling book in Ragnar Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy. This time Hulda is at the peak of her career and is sent to investigate what happened on Elliðaey after a group of friends visited but one failed to return.

Could this have links to the disappearance of a couple ten years previously out on the Westfjords? Is there a killer stalking these barren outposts?"

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A slow burn mystery that didn't quite land for me

It’s always a bit of a relief to finally tick a book off the TBR pile, especially when it’s been sitting there since 2018! I’ve finally sat down with The Island by Ragnar Jónasson, which is the second book in the Hidden Iceland series.

The story starts off so well and the opening really grabbed my attention. It’s set across two different timelines, focusing on a cold case from the 1980s and then moving forward to a reunion on a remote island ten years later where things go wrong. It has all the ingredients for a classic locked-room mystery.

However, after that strong start, the middle sections just didn't grab me as I'd hoped they would. I found the pacing quite slow, and it felt like more of a police procedural or a slow-burn mystery than the gripping thriller I was expecting. I know many people love the atmosphere of Scandi-noir, but I think I've decided it's just not for me. I often feel like the tone or the flow gets a bit lost in translation, and having tried a few now without much success, I think I’ll be giving the genre a miss from now on.

If you enjoy a very methodical, atmospheric mystery where the setting is a character in itself, you might get more out of this than I did. For me, it was okay, but it didn't quite hit the mark. 

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and share my honest thoughts.

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The Shadow Step (Detective Miller #3) by Mark Billingham

🔥🔥🔥 Due to be published 2 July 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Detective Miller is back and investigating his most perplexing case yet

The Shadow One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards ("in the shadow")

A perfectly executed shadow step demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake.

DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but an innocent man confessing to the crime? That’s a first. Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn’t really a murder attracts the unwanted attention of a drug Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie, and a lovesick gangland enforcer. And when a real murder follows – and a student is kidnapped – all evidence points back to the same innocent man.

Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards, and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and Miller’s only option to save a young man’s life is to waltz all the way into the shadows."

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A brilliantly funny and gripping mystery that kept me completely glued to my sun lounger

As a fan of Mark Billingham, I was absolutely buzzing to get stuck into this third instalment of the Detective Miller series. I actually haven't read the first two books in this series yet – I must have been asleep or living on the moon to completely miss them! – but I am pleased to say that didn't affect my experience at all because it works brilliantly as a standalone. I recently took this on holiday with me and ended up reading the entire thing in just over a day. I was completely engrossed and totally ignored everything else going on around me.

DS Declan Miller finds himself landed with an incredibly bizarre puzzle. A man walks in and confesses to a murder, but it is totally obvious that he is completely innocent. Before long, everything spirals into pure chaos involving a gangland queenpin, a very eccentric mix of suspects and a kidnapping. Oh, and you can also expect appearances from a wonderfully wobbly dog and some rather memorable ceramic leopards!

Declan Miller is such a unique character. Honestly, I would absolutely hate to work with him in real life because he is a tad immature, constantly cracking jokes at the wrong moment and downright annoying to his colleagues. Yet, that is exactly what makes him such a joy to read. He brings so many genuine laugh out loud moments to the story, balancing out the gritty, dark nature of the actual crime investigation with his wit.

The plot moves at a fantastic pace and keeps you guessing as the tension ramps up. Mark Billingham is a master at weaving together a complex police procedural while keeping the tone incredibly entertaining and full of heart. It is a perfect five-star read for me.

Many thanks to the author, Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read and indulge myself in yet another cracker from Mr Billingham.

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The Collector (Eden Cross #1) by Bill Duncan and Catherine Lee [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Louise Giavas 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"Ten years ago, her best friend vanished. Now, she’s back to uncover the truth—and a killer is watching.

For FBI Special Agent Eden Cross, returning to Adamstown isn’t a homecoming—it’s a reckoning. Still haunted by the night Morgan disappeared without a trace, Eden has spent too many days chasing ghosts.

But now, human remains have surfaced in the abandoned Raven’s Lake Mine, and Eden is done waiting for answers.

Lurking in the shadows is a predator known as The Collector—meticulous, patient, and always watching. For years, he has hunted in silence, choosing his victims carefully. And now, Eden’s search has put her in his sights.

As she follows the trail of a killer who has remained hidden for too long, the past begins to unravel in ways she never expected. But in a town where everyone has secrets, the truth is more terrifying than she ever imagined—and someone will do anything to keep it buried."

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A gripping and atmospheric start to a new crime series

I am always on the hunt for a good new serial killer thriller to sink my teeth into and this first book in the Eden Cross series completely delivered on the tension. It is dark, fast-paced and kept me listening way longer than I should have done!

The story follows FBI Special Agent Eden Cross as she returns to her hometown of Adamstown – not for a happy reunion, but because human remains have been discovered in an abandoned mine. The discovery ties directly into the disappearance of her best friend a decade ago. At the same time, an incredibly meticulous and patient predator known as The Collector is lurking in the shadows, and Eden quickly finds herself right in his sights as the past begins to unravel.  

I listened to the audiobook version of this one and I am so glad I did because Louise Giavas was fantastic. She did the voices really well, bringing a distinct sense of personality to the characters and ramping up the atmospheric, creepy vibes of the town perfectly.

The plot itself is a brilliant slow-burn procedural that builds up a massive amount of suspense as Eden tries to piece everything together while dealing with a town full of secrets.

The only reason it didn't quite hit top marks for me is that some of the thriller tropes felt a bit familiar if you read a lot of crime fiction, and I would have liked just a touch more development on the secondary team members. It is a minor niggle though, because the central cat-and-mouse game between Eden and the killer is brilliantly executed and left me eager to see where the series goes next. 

If you enjoy tense, gritty investigative thrillers with an excellent narrator, this is definitely one to pick up.

Many thanks to the authors, Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts on this, the start of a new series.

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Fatal by Jacqui Rose

Description from Goodreads:

"An eye for an eye.

Cabhan Morton wants to leave the Russo crime family for good and live in peace with his daughter, Alice Rose. But the Russos won’t let him walk away without a fight.

A tooth for a tooth.

Franny Doyle would do anything for Cabhan and Alice, but helping them escape the vindictive Russo brothers won’t be easy. The only place they’ll be safe is back in Essex with Alfie Jennings.

A daughter for a daughter…

Franny knows she won’t be welcomed by Alfie with open arms – but she doesn’t have a choice. The Russos are out for blood and they won’t stop until Alice is dead…"

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A gripping story of secrets and betrayal

I've finally ticked this one off my list after it's been sitting on my to-be-read pile since 2019! Fatal by Jacqui Rose is a gritty, fast-paced thriller that pulls you straight into a world of crime and complicated family ties. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I've heard good things and can't believe it's taken me so long to finally get around to it.

The story follows some really intense characters and I found myself caught up in the drama right from the start. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages late into the night. It's one of those books where the past always has a way of catching up with the present in the most explosive way possible.

If you're a fan of gangland fiction that doesn't pull its punches, you'll definitely want to give this a go. There was a tiny niggle with the pacing in the middle, but honestly, it didn't take away from the overall experience. The characters are well-developed and the dialogue feels very real and grounded. It's a solid, engaging read that fans of this genre will thoroughly enjoy and it won't be the last one I pick up by this author. 

Huge thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read and eventually get around to sharing my thoughts of this book.

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Reich to Israel by Avi Strauss

Description:

"In Germany, Hans Weingart was more interested in philosophy and sports than politics. But when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis rose to power, everything changed. His Jewish friends, their community, and the woman he loved were stripped of their rights, arrested, and forced to flee. As the Third Reich tightened its grip across Nazi Germany and demanded loyalty, Hans made a choice he believed would keep him alive. It was a decision that would change him forever.

At Auschwitz, where he served as a guard surrounded by cruelty and death, Hans learned how easily decency could be silenced. With each order he followed, he drifted further from the man he once was and deeper into the Nazi war machine. Yet even in that place of darkness, brief moments of humanity broke through, reminding him of what he had lost and who he had betrayed.

When World War II ended, Hans vanished, evading justice under a false name aboard a Jewish refugee ship bound for British-controlled Palestine. Living among Holocaust survivors and those he once helped oppress, he began a new life, hoping that helping build their future homeland of Israel might atone for his past. But can anyone ever outrun the past and keep their secrets buried forever?

Reich to Israel is a sweeping work of Holocaust historical fiction about guilt, survival, moral compromise, and the weight of complicity in the aftermath of unimaginable evil. It explores identity, love, and the difficult search for redemption. For readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale, and We Were the Lucky Ones, this powerful World War II novel asks whether a man who became part of darkness can ever truly confront the harm he caused or whether the burden of his past can ever be escaped. A compelling choice for readers and book clubs drawn to moral conflict, reckoning, and the enduring consequences of history."

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A deeply moving and thought-provoking historical novel

This was an incredibly intense and difficult book to read, but I am so glad I picked it up. I recently read another historical fiction book and was looking for something that would really challenge me, and this one absolutely did. It's a sweeping story that follows Hans Weingart, a German man who is more interested in philosophy than politics, but everything changes fast when Hitler rises to power.

The story grapples with some massive, heavy themes around guilt, moral compromise, and whether redemption is actually possible after being complicit in unimaginable evil. Watching how the characters change as Nazi Germany shifts overnight is fascinating, especially when Hans sees his Jewish friends and the woman he loves stripped of their rights. It leaves you with so many difficult questions about identity and survival that I found myself pausing after chapters just to process it all.

The narrative feels deeply emotional and the historical details are very well researched. It's a slow-burn book that really forces you to think about human nature and the weight of actions during wartime. My only minor niggle is that the pacing can feel a bit uneven during some of the more reflective parts, but it honestly didn't take away from how powerful the overall journey is.

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

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One of the Family by Mark Edwards

Description from Goodreads:

"One of the family is dead.

One of the family is missing.

And one of the family might just be the killer...

Patrick couldn’t believe his luck when Holly fell for him. She’s wickedly funny, beautiful, and with an intimidatingly successful father, Charles.

So when she invites him to Charles’ mansion for a New Year’s break in Scotland, all he’s hoping is that they’ll accept him as one of the family.

But everything feels a little off. Whispers in hallways. Rumours of a body that got found nearby the previous year. And something very strange about Charles’ new girlfriend.

Every family has secrets, and Patrick tells himself all he needs to do is survive the next few days.

But then the first body is found, and Patrick realises that all he needs to do is survive the next few days…"

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A claustrophobic and twisty trip to the Scottish Highlands

Having only read one of Mark Edwards' books before, I was really looking forward to seeing what his latest thriller would be like. His writing style hooked me last time and I am pleased to say this one kept me just as glued to the pages.

The story follows Patrick, who is heading up to a remote mansion in Scotland for a New Year's break to meet his girlfriend Holly's family for the first time. As if meeting her intimidatingly successful dad wasn't stressful enough, the siblings are all on edge because their father has just introduced his new fiancée. To make things way creepier, she is the exact same age as them and looks just like their late mother. Throw in heavy snowstorms, isolated surroundings, whispers of a frozen body found nearby and a family full of unlikable snakes, and you have the perfect recipe for total paranoia.

The opening line sets the tone well and I loved how the atmosphere builds up, making you second-guess absolutely everyone. Patrick often feels like a bit of an observer while everyone else is sniping at each other, but watching the chaos unravel around him was genuinely addictive. 

The final section gets incredibly chaotic with so many different strings of the story coming together at once. It feels a bit rushed and frantic compared to the slow-burn tension of the rest of the book, which is a minor niggle because the twists at the end definitely delivered.

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

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