Unit 731: The Japanese Auschwitz by James and Lance Morcan

Blurb from Amazon:

"In the aftermath of World War Two, and indeed all wars before and since, few names evoke as much horror as Unit 731, a Japanese deathcamp located in Northeast China.

Unit 731: The Japanese Auschwitz exposes one of the darkest and least acknowledged chapters of the 20th century—a secret biological warfare program whose atrocities rival those of Nazi Germany’s most infamous death camps.

In this meticulously researched volume, Book 9 in The Underground Knowledge Series, the veil is lifted on the origins, operations, and enduring legacy of Unit 731, the covert Japanese military complex where science, ambition, and cruelty fused into industrialized murder.

From the rise of General Shirō Ishii – an ambitious microbiologist whose obsession with pathogens shaped Japan’s biological warfare strategy – to the establishment of vast experimental facilities in Manchuria, this book traces how a modern empire rationalized the systematic torture and killing of thousands. Inside the walls of the Pingfang Complex, prisoners were frozen, infected, dissected alive, and used as expendable test subjects in the pursuit of military supremacy.

Drawing chilling parallels with Auschwitz, the narrative reveals how ordinary professionals – doctors, scientists, clerks – became cogs in a machine of dehumanization, where killing was routine and paperwork masked genocide.

The collapse of Unit 731, the frantic cover‑up that followed, and the postwar silence – fueled in part by geopolitical deals that shielded perpetrators – underscore a moral failure that still reverberates today.

Comparisons between Unit 731 and Auschwitz remind us that brutality on such a grand scale is not confined to one nation or one ideology. It materializes when science and medicine are divorced from ethics, when human beings are considered expendable, and when political expediency overrides morality and justice. Unit 731 and Auschwitz are stark reminders of just how low humanity can sink.

Both a historical exposé and a warning for the future, Unit 731: The Japanese Auschwitz confronts the reader with the uncomfortable truth of what happens when ethics are abandoned and human beings become data points in the machinery of war.

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A shocking eye-opener

I've read several books by James and Lance Morcan previously – they've got quite a collection on their blog – but I haven't actually dipped into this particular series before. Even though I've read a fair bit about World War II, I have to admit I'd never even heard of Unit 731 until I picked this up.

I've spent a lot of time reading about Japan's involvement in the war because my husband's granddad was taken as a prisoner of war during the fall of Singapore. He was very, very lucky to survive and eventually make it back home, so this is a subject that feels quite close to my heart. It makes me wonder why I've never come across this specific unit before. What is it that the powers that be don't want us to know? You have to wonder if they're just embarrassed and ashamed that proper justice for the victims was never really done.

It's a very quick read, so it couldn't go into massive amounts of detail, but it served as a really good introduction for me. It's definitely sparked an interest and I've finished it wanting to learn much more about what happened. If you're looking for a starting point on a dark part of history that doesn't always get the attention it should, this is well worth a look.

Huge thanks to the authors for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this shocking book.

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How To Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson

Description from Goodreads:

"If you picked up this book because you truly want to get away with murder, you will not be disappointed. Simply turn the page and we’ll get started…

Denver Brady claims to be the most successful serial killer of our time – and that’s precisely why you’ve never heard of him.

But with the publication of How to Get Away With Murder, his manual for aspiring serial killers, that’s about to change.

When a copy of Denver's book is found at a crime scene, DI Samantha Hansen is given the job of tracking down the elusive author.

As Denver and Sam’s stories unfold and converge, it becomes clear that there’s more to both than meets the eye.

And once Denver’s book goes viral, the pressure to find and bring him to justice brings Sam to breaking point.

But in this dark and twisted tale, who is hunting whom?"

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A dark and clever debut

I’ve just finished this one and I'm still trying to process those final chapters. How to Get Away with Murder is the debut from Rebecca Philipson and it’s a properly clever take on the serial killer genre. The premise hooked me right away – a manual for aspiring serial killers written by someone called Denver Brady is found at a crime scene. It's essentially a book within a book, which I thought was a really fresh way to structure a thriller.

We follow DI Samantha Hansen as she returns to work at Scotland Yard in London after a six-month break. She’s a complicated lead character who’s dealing with her own trauma and PTSD, which made her feel very human and relatable. She isn't your typical "super-cop" and I really rooted for her as she tried to find the elusive Denver Brady while investigating the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl.

The narrative flips between Sam’s investigation and excerpts from Denver’s "how-to" guide. I found the parallels between the two really chilling. It’s pacy and dark, but there's a bit of dry British humour in there too that lightens the mood just when you need it. Even though it's quite a gritty story, it moves along quickly and kept me guessing about how the two threads would eventually collide.

There were a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief, and one particular plot thread felt a bit loose toward the end, but the overall execution is brilliant for a debut. If you’re a fan of twisty thrillers that don't always play by the rules, I’d definitely recommend giving this a go.

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

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The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Madeline Pell, Amelia Sciandra and Katie Beudert 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"She seemed to be the perfect wife, the perfect mom. But she had a secret she would kill to keep…

When I move to a remote spot in rural Kansas, I don’t know a soul. I’m delighted when I realise that the family next door has five children—perfect company for my baby boy. As I look at the smiling faces around the pine-scrubbed table in the sunshine-filled kitchen I feel a sense of hope. They’re all so loud. So alive. But then I take a close look at their mom, SarahBeth. She’s strange, unfriendly, her face pinched. Almost as if she doesn’t want me there…

I’ve met plenty of unfriendly people in my own dark past. Usually, they’re hiding something. But when SarahBeth’s daughter tells me her mother’s secret ice slides down my spine. I’m beginning to love these kids like my own. I’ll do anything to help them.

I’m not family. I don’t really belong. But SarahBeth would be wrong to think I’m just a young single mother trying to make friends. I’ve done terrible things to protect those I care about. I’d hate her to learn the hard way what I’m capable of… I know how to protect the ones I care about. I’ve had to bury a few bodies to do so…"

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Something was missing for me

I picked this up because the plot sounded like something I'd find really interesting. It follows Meg, a single mother who moves to a quiet spot in rural Kansas for a fresh start. She meets her neighbours, the Godfreys, who seem to have the perfect, busy family life with five children. However, Meg quickly senses that something is off with the mother, SarahBeth, and soon discovers that this "perfect" family is hiding some pretty dark secrets.

I've got to be honest though, I wasn't that bothered about keep going back to listen to it. Even though Meg has her own dark past and is capable of doing whatever it takes to protect those she cares about, the story just didn't have that spark to keep me hooked. While the narrators – Madeline Pell, Amelia Sciandra and Katie Beudert – all did a good job of bringing the different perspectives to life, the plot itself felt a bit thin.

I eventually finished it but a few days later I couldn't really tell you what happened which is never a good sign for a thriller! It just didn't do it for me and lacked the twists or the depth I was looking for but it's a decent enough listen if you're after something light to have on in the background, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me unfortunately.

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

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Six Strikes by Antonia Grave

Description from Goodreads:

"There's no smoke without fire…As someone who has suffered abuse at the hands of men, Maddie protects women by murdering those who attack them – men she calls ‘fleas’. Fleas are men who follow women home. Abusive husbands who refuse to walk away. And then there’s the Manchester a serial killer stalking the streets, determined to murder people like her.

But Maddie can’t get away with it forever. Years later, in the interview room of her prison, she comes face-to-face with a very important visitor. Someone she’s going to tell all to, about how she caught one of the UK’s most prolific serial killers, and how she got caught as one herself…"

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Started off well but fizzled out

I picked up Six Strikes by Antonia Grave because the premise sounded like it was going to be right up my street. It's a dark thriller about Maddie Reid, who survived a terrible childhood in captivity and now spends her time as a vigilante. She hunts down men she calls "fleas" while also trying to find a serial killer known as the Manchester Maniac. The story jumps between her past and the present day, where she's being interviewed in prison.

It definitely started off strong and I was hooked by the opening. The idea of a killer hunting another killer is such a good setup and I found the early chapters quite tense. Maddie is a really complicated character and it was interesting to see how her past turned her into someone who takes the law into her own hands to protect others.

However, I'm afraid it didn't hold my interest all the way through. About halfway in, the pace seemed to slow down and the plot felt like it was dragging. It became a bit of a struggle to keep going and I actually ended up skimming quite a bit towards the end just to see how it all wrapped up.

It's a decent enough debut with a unique concept, but the execution didn't quite maintain the initial intrigue for me. It wasn't a bad read – it just didn't live up to the hopes I had at the start.

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

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The Forbidden Place by Susanne Jansson

Description from Goodreads:

"In peat bogs across Northern Europe, people of the Iron Age buried their sacrifices to the Gods. Even human sacrifices. The unique ecology of the wetlands slows the decomposition process, ensuring that bodies become preserved as eerie time capsules. Folklore has it that souls buried in a mire never come to rest, but rather haunt the living and hunger after new victims. But this is only superstition, ghost stories of ancient lore. Or is it?

A young scientist named Nathalie comes to a mire in rural Sweden to conduct field experiments for her doctoral thesis in biology. But soon it becomes clear that her reasons for being there are deeply personal. Nathalie grew up in the area and left when a horrible tragedy befell her family. She is afraid of the mire but also drawn to it by some invisible force, and what she knows of the secrets it harbors goes far beyond science. One night, when an autumn storm blows in, Nathalie’s misgivings drive her out to the mire where she finds a man unconscious, his pockets filled with coins. Nearby, she discovers a makeshift grave.

Internationally recognized photo artist Maya Linde moonlights as a police photographer and is sent to photograph the scene where the young man was found. Back in her studio, she notices a figure in the background of the photos, someone who appears to be trying to hide from her lens. Who was watching her out on the mire? Maya isn’t the type to get scared off by threats. Instead, under the guise of a new art project, she begins a rogue investigation that brings her close to the haunted history of the bog and the oddballs who populate the area.

When Maya discovers a body buried in the mire dating back to much more recent times, a hunt begins for what turns out to be a sly serial killer who has buried victims underfoot for over a decade. The small community around the mire closes in on itself and its secrets while the police race to solve a series of crimes far beyond their small-town experience.

As Maya becomes more and more entrenched in the strange things happening out in the bog, Nathalie gathers courage to confront the buried horrors of her past. Both women are propelled through memory and the watery depth of the mire toward shocking discoveries. Past and present, lore and reality converge in this atmospheric mystery about to what dark ends grief can drive people.

Set in a world reminiscent of cult television series True Detective, and told with a narrative style reminiscent of both Tana French’s In the Woods and Johan Theorin’s Öland Quartet, debut author Susanne Jansson weaves a tale that is as much about the stories we tell ourselves to survive, as it is about what may drive ordinary people to kill."

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A misty marsh and a long-overdue read

I'm finally getting around to writing this review after the book has been hiding away in the depths of my to-be-read pile since 2018! I don't know why it took me six years to pick it up, but the atmospheric cover always suggested it needed a specific moody evening to dive into.

The story follows Nathalie, a biologist who returns to her childhood home in the Swedish wetlands to study peat bogs. The setting is wonderfully creepy - the kind of place where you can almost feel the dampness. Things kick off when she finds an unconscious man in the marsh with his pockets full of gold coins, mirroring ancient human sacrifices found in the mire.

I really liked the atmosphere Susanne Jansson created. The marsh feels like its own character - dark, soggy and full of secrets. If you enjoy Scandi-noir with a touch of the supernatural or eerie nature vibes, you'll definitely appreciate the descriptions.

However, I found the pacing a bit hit-and-miss. There were sections that felt quite slow and the plot didn't always have that driving tension I'd hoped for. The ending felt a little rushed compared to the slow build-up and some of the character motivations felt a bit thin. It's a solid enough debut, but it didn't quite reach that "must-read" level for me.

I'm glad I finally cleared it from my 2018 backlog. It’s a good choice if you want something moody to read on a rainy afternoon, even if the mystery itself doesn't quite knock your socks off.

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

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Grace by A.M. Shine [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Deirdre O'Connell 🎙🎙🎙

Description from Goodreads:

"TO LEARN THE TRUTH

WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?

Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn’t been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.

They are mistaken.

Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.

As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path."

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Something about that island

I found Grace to be an okay listen. It had an interesting premise that kept me going until the end, but I did find the pacing a bit slow for my liking. Regarding the horror aspect, it didn't quite hit the mark for me—though there were a few moments that were surprisingly graphic, which certainly added a bit of a sting to the story.

The narrator was brilliant, though. They had a strangely soothing voice, which felt a bit unusual given the nature of the book, but I really enjoyed it. I have a lot of Irish relatives and have spent plenty of time there over the years, so that Irish accent was just lovely and soothing to listen to, even when things got a bit dark on the island.

To be fair, it’s not sold as a fast-paced thriller, so perhaps my expectations for the genre were a bit off. Even so, I just found myself wanting a bit more intensity from the plot by the time I reached the final chapter. It’s an atmospheric listen if you enjoy a slower burn, but it didn't quite leave a lasting impression on me.

Thanks to the author, Head of Zeus and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts.

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The Dark Heart (DS Max Craigie #7) by Neil Lancaster

Description from Goodreads:

"A DEADLY BOMBING

When renowned author Dr. Daniel Solomon is killed in a devastating explosion in York, authorities quickly attribute the attack to Islamic extremists. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A DARK CONSPIRACY

DS Max Craigie uncovers a chilling connection between a series of brutal murders, each victim linked by a secret that someone is determined to protect.

A DANGEROUS GAME

With the number of victims growing and an elusive figure known as The Cashier operating in the shadows, Max must navigate a web of corruption and hatred. Can he unravel the truth before more lives are lost?"

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The best one yet in this brilliant series

It’s at times like these when I wish I didn't have to go to work. As soon as I started reading, I was totally hooked and invested. I know it's a bit of a cliché to say I couldn't put it down, but I only did so because I eventually needed to sleep and go to work.

What a book! I’ve read all the other stories in this series and every single one has been excellent, but this one has actually exceeded my expectations. I don't normally gush this much about a thriller, but this one just hit every spot for me. The plot is incredibly riveting and the tension is palpable throughout.

The characters are just fantastic. The camaraderie between Max, Janie, Ross and the rest of the team feels so natural and I absolutely love the banter they share. It makes the high-stakes investigation feel so much more real. I went from laughing out loud at their exchanges to having a genuine tear in my eye – it brought out a range of emotions that not many books manage to do.

You really have to read this one. While the mystery works as a standalone, you’ll definitely get so much more out of it if you’ve followed the characters from the start. You won't be disappointed by this addition to the DS Max Craigie world.

Huge thanks to the author, HQ, HQ Digital and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this brilliant addition to a fantastic series.

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Blind Pursuit by Rob Sinclair

Description from Goodreads:

"Callum Murphy thought he was happily married to a corporate consultant...

But when police show up at Callum’s work site, informing him of his wife Lea’s death – his world starts to crumble. And it turns out, her death was just the beginning…

Within a few hours, Callum is told that Lea was, in fact, an MI6 agent who was killed because of intelligence only she had, strangers with guns break into his home and he’s forced to run for his life. Thrust into a terrifying chase across Europe, Callum has to dodge British police and shadowy MI6 operatives who believe he knows more than he’s letting on. All the while trying to piece together the truth about his wife's final mission.

But the deeper he digs, the more dangerous his situation becomes, forcing him to ask the ultimate Who did he marry, and can he trust anything she ever said to him?"

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The truth behind the lies

I’ve been a fan of Rob Sinclair’s thrillers for a while now and having followed several of his other series, I was looking forward to seeing what he’d do with a fresh standalone story. This one introduces us to Callum Murphy, a regular guy whose life is turned upside down when he's told his wife, Lea, has died in an accident. But that's just the start of it – he soon finds out she wasn't the corporate consultant he thought she was but an MI6 agent with some very dangerous secrets.

The story is told using a dual timeline which I thought worked really well. We get to see Callum in the present day, desperately trying to piece together the truth while being hunted across Europe, mixed with flashbacks from Lea's perspective. It was fascinating to see the contrast between Callum’s "normal" life and the gritty, high-stakes world Lea was actually living in. It definitely makes you wonder how well you really know the people closest to you.

It's a very fast-paced read with plenty of tension and some great twists that I didn't see coming. Callum makes for a great lead because he's not a superhero – he’s just a grieving husband out of his depth, which makes the danger feel much more real. There were a couple of moments where the plot felt a little stretched, but that's pretty standard for these types of thrillers and it didn't take away from the enjoyment. It’s a gripping, intense read that kept me hooked until the very end.

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

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Perfect Remains (DI Callanach #1) by Helen Fields

Description from Goodreads:

"On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing.

In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…

Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.

It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes … The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined."

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A dark and gritty start to a brilliant series

It's actually outrageous how long it’s taken me to get to this one! I’ve been sitting on this virtual pile of books since 2017, and even though I’ve already read and loved two later books in this series, I’ve only just now circled back to the beginning. I'm so pleased I finally did because Perfect Remains is such a strong start to the Callanach and Turner partnership.

Set in Edinburgh, the story kicks off with a really chilling premise - a lawyer is abducted and then her remains are found in the mountains. It's dark, gritty and definitely leans into the more gruesome side of crime fiction.  It certainly doesn't shy away from the details and it makes for a very intense atmosphere.

The highlight for me was seeing how Luc Callanach and Ava Turner first met. Having read books further along in the series, it was great to see the initial friction and the building of that respect between them. 

The only reason I haven’t given this a full five stars is that there's a lot of different plot threads to keep track of, but it all comes together in a very satisfying way. If you like your crime thrillers fast-paced and a little bit stomach-churning, this is a must-read as are other books in this series.

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

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I'll Be Watching You by Deborah Masson

Description from Goodreads:

"He watches you constantly.

He sees everything. As a CCTV operator, Casey can travel at speed through the streets of Aberdeen and keep people safe, all from the comfort of his chair.

He knows your secrets.

You are one of the people he likes to follow. He keeps an eye on you, notices every detail of your body language, even in your most private moments, when you think no one is watching.

But now he wants more.

There's a reason he knows your routine like the back of his hand. It's because he wants revenge. And when you know as much as he does, it’s easy to take advantage…"

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Watching from the shadows

I have been a fan of Deborah Masson’s DI Eve Hunter series for a while now, so I was really looking forward to picking up her latest book, I’ll Be Watching You. This one is a bit different as it’s a standalone thriller rather than a police procedural and I was keen to see how the author handled a shift in focus.

The story follows Casey, a CCTV operator in Aberdeen who spends his days watching the city through the lenses of his cameras. It’s an unsettling premise, especially because he doesn’t just watch to keep people safe – he’s obsessed with learning routines and harbouring a desire for revenge.

I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a slow burn for me. I didn’t find myself feeling quite as invested in the characters as I have with the Eve Hunter books in the past. That said, it definitely delivered on the twists and suspense that I was expecting. The idea of being watched when you think you’re alone is a really creepy thought, and it kept me turning the pages to see where it was all heading. While it didn’t quite capture me in the same way her previous books did, it was still a solid thriller that held my interest.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that make you look at your own surroundings a little differently, this might be one for you.

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

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The League of Lonely War Women by Andie Newton

Description from Goodreads:

"‘A woman can get more information about German supply lines and replacements than a man with a knife to a soldier’s throat…’ Germany, 1944

Best friends Vivien Allen and Junie Knight are part of the covert world of America’s Morale Operations branch. As members of The League of Lonely War Women, a dark propaganda campaign aimed to sow seeds of doubt in German soldiers’ minds, their first mission sends them deep into enemy territory.

But their mission isn’t exactly what was sold to them, and the tracking of a dangerous SS officer goes very wrong, their friendship is irreparably broken.

Now, ten years later, Viv is still paying the consequences, so when a chance at redemption lands in her lap she seizes it, determined to right past wrongs, reconcile with Junie, and complete her mission once and for all…"

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A different kind of war story

I’ve been a big fan of Andie Newton’s books for a while now. I really enjoyed A Child for the Reich and The Secret Pianist, so I was quite excited to dive into this one. It’s definitely a solid read and covers an interesting part of history, but if I’m being honest, it didn’t quite grab me in the same way her previous novels did.

The story itself is well put together and clearly well-researched, which is something I’ve come to expect from this author. There’s a lot to like here regarding the setting and the historical detail, but I struggled to fully connect with the main characters. At times I found them a bit grating or frustrating, which made it harder to stay as invested in their journey as I wanted to be. It’s not that the writing is poor at all, it just felt a little different from the emotional punch I got from her other books.

If you enjoy historical fiction set during this period you’ll probably find plenty to appreciate here. It’s still a good story and worth a look, even if it didn’t become a new favourite for me personally.

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

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