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Tuesday, 21 June 2022

One Fatal Secret by Jane Isaac

 


Description from Goodreads:

"Sometimes your enemies are closer than you think…

Nicole Jameson has always been proud of her husband, Ethan. He’s built a successful career in finance, and his employers, the Harrisons, treat them like family. They’re a firm who look after their own, and even gave a loan to the company chauffeur, Conrad, to fund his pilot licence.

When the two men are returning from a business trip, the worst possible thing happens – their plane crashes into the sea. No survivors are expected to be found. Nicole is heartbroken, much like Conrad’s wife, Ania. She never warmed to Nicole, but now they share a bond of grief.

When evidence is found that Conrad took drugs shortly before the plane departed with him at the controls, the two women begin to wonder if all is not what it seems. But when they ask questions about events leading up to the crash, unsettling occurrences suggest it wasn’t a good idea. Sinister-looking men follow them, the Harrisons are increasingly cagey, and the women wonder if there is not more to this than a tragic accident.

But are the most dangerous people the ones they have already allowed to get too close…?"

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An enjoyable and easy read from an author I look forward to reading.

This was a good thriller that kept me engaged throughout.  The plot was intriguing and the pace was just right but the characters weren't particularly likeable and the excitement just wasn't there for me unfortunately.  The first half of the book was great but things waned a bit in the second half before increasing again towards the end.

Overall, a good easy-to-read thriller and thanks must go to Canelo and NetGalley for enabling me to read One Fatal Secret and share my thoughts.

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Other books by Jane Isaac I have read and reviewed:


Cat & Mouse (Helen Grace #11) by M.J. Arlidge

 


Description from the Publisher:

"When you think you’re safe,
When you think you’re all alone,
That’s when he’ll come for you

A silent killer stalks the city, targeting those home alone at night, playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the victims.

As panic spreads, Detective Inspector Helen Grace leads the investigation, but is herself a hunted woman, her every step shadowed by a ruthless psychopath bent on revenge.

As she tracks the murderer, Grace begins to suspect there is a truly shocking home truth that connects these brutal crimes. But what she will find is something more twisted than she could ever suspect…"

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Oh my goodness ... that was a good book ... had me absolutely hooked from the beginning to the end!

This is the 11th book in the Helen Grace series but if you haven't read any of the others, don't worry, it works quite well as a standalone but I think you will want to go back and read the others after finishing this one if only to put a bit more flesh onto the main characters.

This is an intense read where the short and punchy chapters add to that intensity and keeps the story rolling along very nicely.  The plot is engaging and intriguing and the characters are strong and well developed.

Full of action and heart-in-the-mouth scenes of peril, this is one for people who enjoy a great crime thriller/police procedural but, be warned, you will definitely be checking your windows and doors more than once each night!!

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for enabling me to read Cat & Mouse and to share my thoughts.

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Other books by M.J. Arlidge that I have read and reviewed:





Fatal Objective (Leine Basso #12) by D.V. Berkom

 



Description from author:

"A missing assassin. An unlikely betrayal. A secret cabal sowing chaos.

Leine Basso’s missing.

She’s not answering her calls. Or texts. Lou and Santa fear she’s been compromised. According to her contact on the op she’s fine, just busy.
When she finally responds it doesn’t sound like her.

The two men who know her best aren’t buying it. Something isn’t right.

Leine Basso’s missing.

And Lou and Santa are going to find out why."

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DV has, once again, surpassed herself with this latest outing for Leine Basso. I never thought I would still be enthralled by a series of books for this long but they just keep getting better.

This is another action packed thriller starring the irreplaceable Leine Basso who, once again, has found herself in a bit of a pickle and it will take all her guile and acumen to get herself out of it with a little help from some friends along the way.

With fantastic characters throughout and an intriguing plot, Fatal Objective is a compulsive read that will have your eyes whizzing across the pages (or screen) in a bid to find out what happens next.  I didn't want it to end but admit that I felt a little sad after finishing it and I really hope this isn't the last 'adventure' for Leine.

Highly recommended series but please be reassured that this can be read as a standalone although I would advise you to go back and read the others ... you won't be disappointed.  

I must thank D.V. Berkom for allowing me to be a member of her Advance Reader Team and for allowing me to read Leine's latest outing and share my thoughts.

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The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

 


Description from Goodreads:

"Auschwitz, 1943: As I held the tiny baby in my arms, my fingers traced the black tattoo etched across her little thigh. And I prayed that one day this set of numbers, identical to her mother’s, would have the power to reunite a family torn apart by war…

Inspired by an incredible true story, this poignant novel tells of one woman’s fight for love, life and hope during a time of unimaginable darkness.

Ana Kaminski is pushed through the iron gates of Auschwitz beside her frightened young friend Ester Pasternak. As they reach the front of the line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares herself a midwife – and Ester her assistant. Their arms are tattooed and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. Holding an innocent new-born baby, Ana knows the fate of so many are in her hands, and vows to do everything she can to save them.

When two guards in their chilling SS uniforms march in and snatch a blond-haired baby from its mother it’s almost too much for Ana to bear. Consoling the distraught woman, Ana realises amidst the terrible heartache there is a glimmer of hope. The guards are taking the healthiest babies and placing them with German families, so they will survive. And there are whispers the war is nearly over… Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo little ones with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.

Then, early one morning, Ana notices the small bump under Ester’s thin striped clothing…"

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This is one of those books that hits you and stays with you for a long time and although it is a work of fiction, the author has clearly done her research and there is a lot of this book that is based on fact.

As you can imagine, this is a hard book to read; it's a story filled with despair, death and unimaginable suffering but it's also a story filled with hope, the power of friendship and love.

Ana and Ester are the two main characters and oh what characters they are; strong and with a will to continue to do good whilst all around them descends into chaos and madness.

This book had my emotions in a constant state of flux; angry, sad, tearful, horrified but also hopeful and in awe and wonder of the people who went through such despicable crimes but continued to keep their humanity unlike the Nazis!

Like I said, this is a difficult read but, I think, an essential one and I must thank Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read it and share my thoughts.

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Do No Harm [Audiobook] by Jack Jordan

 


Narrated by Lucy Paterson; Sarah Feathers; Jane Collingwood


Description from Goodreads:

"My son has been taken. And I’ve been given a choice…
Kill a patient on the operating table. Or never see him again.

The man lies on the table in front of me.
As a surgeon, it’s my job to save him.
As a mother, I know I must kill him.
You might think that I’m a monster.
But there really is only one choice.
I must get away with murder.
Or I will never see my son again.

I’VE SAVED MANY LIVES.
WOULD YOU TRUST ME WITH YOURS?"

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For me, I find the measure of a book is how memorable it is and I can safely say that this is one that I can clearly remember even though I finished listening to it a number of weeks ago.

I found this rather gripping and was disappointed when I had to stop listening when work and family life got in the way!  

The story is intense and fast moving; the plot is engrossing with a number of twists and turns that had me taking a few sharp intakes of breath at times.

The three main characters of Anna, Margot and Rachel are all told by different narrators - this was genius and helped to differentiate between their 'parts' in the story.  The narrators did an excellent job and helped keep the tension going from start to finish. 

I haven't read or listened to anything by Jack Jordan before but I will certainly be keeping my eyes open in the future and I must thank Simon & Schuster UK Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to Do No Harm and share my thoughts.

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