Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

Description:

"A loving husband. The perfect killer?

‘I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side. Most likely as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband.’

Paul Strom has spent years building his perfect life: glittering career, beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in the suburbs.

But he also has his secrets. That’s why Paul has promised his wife a romantic weekend getaway. He proclaims this day, a warm Friday in May, will be the best day ever.

Paul loves his wife, really, he does. But he also wants to get rid of her. And with every hour that passes, Paul ticks off another stage in his elaborately laid plan…"

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A disturbing but strangely compelling read!

The book is told from the perspective of Paul Strom who you quickly discover is a thoroughly vile and loathsome character who is so full of his own self-importance that you just want to jump in the book and wring his neck whilst giving him a good slap!!!!  I don't think I have ever disliked a character as much as Paul Strom .... I was desperate to see if/when he got what he deserved.

The book is not what I would call action filled but it is a slow burner and, I feel, this was deliberately done by the author to create tension and a sense of "something's going to happen here" and although it's not a massive surprise when it does, it is rather satisfying.

Overall, a pretty good book from an author I will keep my eyes open for in the future.

Thank you to the publisher, HQ, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Author website:   Kaira Rouda

Author twitter:  @KairaRouda

Publisher website: HQ Stories

Publisher twitter:  @HQstories

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Let The Dead Speak by Jane Casey

“When eighteen-year-old Chloe Emery returns to her West London home she finds her mother missing, the house covered in blood. Everything points to murder, except for one thing: there’s no sign of the body.

London detective Maeve Kerrigan and the homicide team turn their attention to the neighbours. The ultra-religious Norrises are acting suspiciously; their teenage daughter and Chloe Emery definitely have something to hide. Then there’s William Turner, once accused of stabbing a schoolmate and the neighborhood’s favorite criminal. Is he merely a scapegoat, or is there more behind the charismatic façade?

As a body fails to materialize, Maeve must piece together a patchwork of testimonies and accusations. Who is lying, and who is not? And soon Maeve starts to realize that not only will the answer lead to Kate Emery, but more lives may hang in the balance.

With Let the Dead Speak, Jane Casey returns with another taut, richly drawn novel that will grip readers from the opening pages to the stunning conclusion. “

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Once again, I have not been disappointed by Jane Casey; she has delivered and written an excellent book that I really enjoyed. Great story line that is full of suspense and keeps you enthralled. The characters are fantastic and believable; I particularly like the working relationship between Kerrigan and Derwent which comes across as being very genuine. Highly recommended read to anyone and you don't have to have read the previous books in the series as this holds up as a stand-alone however, I would suggest you do as you won't be disappointed.

A massive thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Publisher website: https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/

Author Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JaneCaseyAuthor

Missing: Presumed by Susie Steiner

Description from Goodreads:

“Mid-December, and Cambridgeshire is blanketed with snow. Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw tries to sleep after yet another soul-destroying Internet date – the low murmuring of her police radio her only solace.

Over the airwaves come reports of a missing woman – door ajar, keys and phone left behind, a spatter of blood on the kitchen floor. Manon knows the first 72 hours are critical: you find her, or you look for a body. And as soon as she sees a picture of Edith Hind, a Cambridge post-graduate from a well-connected family, she knows this case will be big.

Is Edith alive or dead? Was her ‘complex love life’ at the heart of her disappearance, as a senior officer tells the increasingly hungry press? And when a body is found, is it the end or only the beginning?”

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This is a pretty good book, not the best I’ve read, but pretty good. There are some great characters, especially the lead protagonist DS Manon Bradshaw with whom I felt able to connect with. The writing flowed well making it easy to read. The story kept my interest throughout and I felt the police investigation aspect was quite believable.

This is the first in a series of books featuring DS Bradshaw, I am tempted to read more.

Thanks go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

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Publisher website: HarperCollins UK

Publisher twitter: HarperCollinsUK

The Devil's Prayer by Luke Gacias

Description from Goodreads:

"A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago.

In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul.

As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors.

And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it.

Can Siobhan escape an order of extremist monks determined to get the Prayer back? Can she save the world from its own destruction?

Explicit Content Warning: "The Devil’s Prayer" is a historical horror thriller that contains brutality, rape, sex, drug abuse and murder. Readers may find its content offensive and confronting."

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First of all I want to say thank you to the author and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Secondly, I want to apologise to the author because I just didn’t like it. I found it boring, boring, boring with way too much information that didn’t add anything at all. It was hard to read, it felt awkward and didn’t flow. I can overlook this a little if the story is engaging but, for me, this just wasn’t and I ended up skipping large amounts of the historical information (I tried to get into it, really I did) and finished (yes, I did manage to) rolling my eyes. If it had been a real, physical book (I was reading an e-copy), there is no doubt in my mind that I would have thrown it across the room and then promptly into the bin.  Again, I apologise to the author because I know it must have taken ages to write this book and you will have put your heart and soul into it but you can't please everyone.

I don’t know what else to say to be honest, I don’t want to go into everything I didn’t like about it but let's just say it was the majority of it but once again, if other reviews are anything to go by, I am in the minority so please don't take my word for it - it was actually shortlisted for the Australian Shadow Award - Best Australian Horror Novel of 2016 - maybe I missed something????  Anyway, if you enjoy historical/religious/paranormal/horror books and you don't mind getting a bit confused by the writing style or enjoy being overloaded with information, then give this a go.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

"Deliciously addictive"

Description taken from HarperCollins UK website:

"Don’t Trust This Book

Don’t Trust These People

Don’t Trust Yourself

And whatever you do, DON’T give away that ending…

Behind Her Eyes has been called the new Girl on the Train and Gone Girl . This is one psychological thriller you will not want to miss.

Louise

Since her husband walked out, Louise has made her son her world, supporting them both with her part-time job. But all that changes when she meets

David

Young, successful and charming Louise cannot believe a man like him would look at her twice let alone be attracted to her. But that all comes to a grinding halt when she meets his wife

Adele

Beautiful, elegant and sweet Louise's new friend seems perfect in every way. As she becomes obsessed by this flawless couple, entangled in the intricate web of their marriage, they each, in turn, reach out to her.

But only when she gets to know them both does she begin to see the cracks Is David really is the man she thought she knew and is Adele as vulnerable as she appears?

Just what terrible secrets are they both hiding and how far will they go to keep them?

Fully realized characters, peerless writing, a tank of a plot that sustains the suspense right to the end, and a whammy of a finale. It takes a lot to catch me out, but this one did. It'll get you too’ Joanne Harris"

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Well … how the heck am I going to review this! The description does not even come close to describing what this book is about and I can’t say much without giving away any spoilers so you will just have to trust me when I say that you will either love it, hate it or just sit there scratching your head wondering what the flippin’ heck just happened there!?!

I finished reading this book quite some time ago (January 2017) and even now I can remember the story, the characters and the ending … I read a lot of books many of which I can’t recall the details with as much clarity as I can this one; that’s got to say something on it’s own hasn’t it?

This book is quite unique and like nothing I have read before. I found it deliciously addictive with the slow buildup of tension and suspense with an unbelievable ending that will have you sitting there with you mouth open either saying “wow, that was brilliant” or “wow, that was ridiculous” (whichever takes your fancy); I for one thought it was great and couldn’t wait to tell people about it the next day … and I still am months later.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Fiction via NetGalley for the copy I received in return for an unbiased review.

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Author Website - Sarah Pinborough

Author Twitter - sarahpinborough

Publisher Website - HarperCollinsUK

Publisher Twitter - HarperCollinsUK