Game Players by Anita Walker

Description from Goodreads:

"When a gang of six children playing in their den in the woods spot a man burying drugs nearby, it marks the beginning of the end of their childhoods.

Unsure what to do, the children dig up the drugs and take them away. But when the dealer, who they watched bury the stash, shows up dead, the youngsters are thrown into turmoil.

Scared of what might happen, the children tell the police about the body they have discovered.

Meanwhile, a group of gangsters start searching for their missing drugs.

Soon the children and their families become the target of the vicious criminals who will stop at nothing to retrieve their narcotics…"

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This is an intense and enthralling read with sharp contrasts between the innocence of youth and the dark underbelly of society.  It is unique in that it centres around a group of 6 young children enjoying the freedom of childhood until they naively become embroiled in something that will change their lives forever.

Well written, great pace, fantastic characters and a complex plot makes this book a must read.

Thanks to the publisher, Bloodhound Books, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

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Dark Return (Leine Basso #6) by D.V. Berkom

Description from Goodreads:

"A former assassin, battling her demons. A sinister enemy, determined to destroy her. A wily street kid, caught in the middle.

Former assassin and SHEN operative Leine Basso is fresh off an assignment rescuing an American teenager from a terrorist group in Libya when she thwarts the murder of a street kid in Tripoli. Leine agrees to help the girl find her family, but must first visit a refugee camp in the desert where there are disturbing reports of mysterious abductions.

Leaving the camp, Leine comes under a surprise attack–but only a handful of people knew her true mission. Who has betrayed her? The more she discovers about the abductions, the more of a target she becomes, forcing her to revisit a dark and violent past she thought she’d left behind. But it's easy--too easy to fall back to her old ways.

And it could get her killed.

Will she be able to survive a dark return?

If you like gritty, fast-paced, can’t-put-it-down thrillers with a strong female lead who won’t take no for an answer, then you’ll love Dark Return."

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Once again, D V Berkom writes a brilliant, fast-paced, thrilling read with a very strong female lead character in Leine Basso but she is not the star of the book in my humble opinion ... that would be Jinn, the little streetwise girl Leine saves from being murdered.  What a star she is and I was as much enthralled by her story as I was with Leine's.

This book has it all ... action, murder, double-crossing, human trafficking, terrorism, espionage, intrigue, surprises, tension ... you name it, it's got it and all wrapped up in a well-written, fast-paced story that is not beyond the realms of possibility.

This is part of a series but, I feel, holds up extremely well as a stand-alone.  There are recurring characters but the author has the ability to provide just enough information so you don't get lost but not so much that it detracts from the current story.

I received a copy of this book direct from the author which in no way influenced my review in any way shape or form and I would happily recommend this and any of D V Berkom's books especially if you are fed up with the usual male lead characters that most books of this genre seem to have ... you won't be disappointed.

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Connect with the author:

Website:  D. V. Berkom

Twitter:  @dvberkom

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Previous books I have read by D.V. Berkom

The Body Market

The Last Deception

The Good Sister by Chris Morgan Jones

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Morgan Jones' heart-stopping thriller, The Good Sister, sees one father go further than he ever knew possible, to rescue a daughter who doesn't want to be saved.

A missing daughter. A desperate father. A journey to save them both.

Sofia Mounir’s world is not her own. Her mother is sick, her father broken, the London they live in is dying of greed and self-obsession.

So she flees, to Raqqa: heart of the caliphate, foundation stone of a just world that she will help to build. From violence and sacrifice will grow something beautiful, and she will be part of it. Her faith will be equal to everything asked of her.

Until it isn’t. Until it becomes clear that not all her new brothers’ and sisters’ intentions are as pure as her own. Until even her faith becomes a liability.

Where do you turn, when the future you’ve longed for wants you dead?"

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A very thought-provoking, interesting and challenging read about a very real and current situation.

Written from the two perspectives of the father and daughter, Sofia and Abraham, makes this book flow extremely well with the pace being good.  Both Sofia and Abraham are believable and definitely grow on you as the book progresses; I do admit that I didn't particularly like them at the start but the more their inner-workings are explored, the greater the understanding of their motives which resulted in me becoming fully invested in their stories and completely engrossed in their respective journeys.

The book comes across as pretty authentic ... whether it is or not I would only know if I was in Sofia and Abraham's situation which is highly unlikely .... but I do wonder how and where the author got the information for the book from and how accurate it is because, as I said, it feels pretty authentic.

Thank you to Jellybooks for giving me the opportunity to read something a bit different.

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Jellybooks offers readers free advance reading copies and complimentary ebooks in exchange for their reading data

Website:  Chris Morgan Jones

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan

Twitter:  @panmacmillan

Your Closest Friend by Karen Perry

Description from Goodreads:

"Imagine sharing your darkest secret with a stranger - a girl who isn't what she seems, and who will do anything to keep you close . . .

On a hot humid night in London, Cara Jameson's busy, fulfilling life is interrupted with the sound of gunfire. Panic and terror grip the street as the air is filled with screaming and Cara is pulled roughly to safety by a stranger.

Taking refuge in a storeroom, Cara huddles with her savior - Amy - and in the darkness she shares more in those hours than ever has with even her husband. When she emerges hours later, a bond forged in the trauma of that night has formed between them.

Returning to work, Cara tries to put the experience behind her, but the incident has taken its toll and as cracks begin to show in her perfect life and marriage, Amy reappears, set on pursuing a friendship.

Cara wished she hadn't shared everything she did in those hours of darkness. But as her life skids towards deepening violence, there is only one person she can turn to: Amy, her closest friend."

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What a unique story and nothing like anything I've read before.  You are thrown into the middle of a terrorist attack at the beginning of the story and not knowing whether she is going to survive or not, Cara confides her deepest secrets to the young lady who plucked her to safety.  Secrets that should have stayed hidden as they are now used against her.

The writing style is easy to read and flows really well with each chapter written from the perspectives of the 2 main characters - Cara and Amy - which works extremely well for this book and the story.  I did feel there was a bit of a lull in the middle but it certainly makes up for it as we move towards the thrilling conclusion.

Never having read anything by these authors before (Paul Perry and Karen Gillece ), I will most certainly keep my eyes open in future and thank you to the Publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for once again introducing me to yet another great book that would likely have passed me by.

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Connect with the authors:

Twitter:  karenperrybooks 

Stalker by Lisa Stone

Description from Goodreads:

"Someone is always watching…

Derek Flint is a loner. He lives with his mother and spends his
evenings watching his clients on the CCTV cameras he has installed inside their homes. He likes their companionship – even if it’s through a screen.

When a series of crimes hits Derek’s neighbourhood, DC Beth Mayes begins to suspect he’s involved. How does he know so much about the victims’ lives? Why won’t he let anyone into his office? And what is his mother hiding in that strange, lonely house?

As the crimes become more violent, Beth must race against the clock to find out who is behind the attacks. Will she uncover the truth in time? And is Derek more dangerous than even she has guessed?

A spellbinding crime novel from the worldwide bestseller Cathy Glass, writing as Lisa Stone.

‘Once you start you won’t be able to stop!’ Katerina Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Teacher."

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A scarily plausible thriller that immediately made me change by router password!

Stalker is not what you would expect from the title.  According to the Cambridge Dictionary, in the UK a stalker is "a person who illegally follows and watches someone, especially a woman, over a period of time" and although this book certainly covers this definition, it does so slightly differently to what you would imagine it would.  For one, it isn't primarily about physically following someone around and for another, it's not primarily about a man stalking a woman.

It starts of a little slow but certainly builds to a very satisfying conclusion.  The main character, Flint, is a bit weird but, strangely, he grew on me as the story developed and I found myself feeling sorry for him despite the creepy way in which he lives his life watching over other people living theirs.

Once the book got going proper (that's good English!), it never stopped it became a very riveting read that I found difficult to stop ... you know the feeling ... just one more chapter and before you know it, it's way past your bed time!  There are twists that you can see coming and there are others that hit you right in the face!

Overall, a very entertaining and captivating read that I would highly recommend and my thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and genuine review.

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Connect with the Author:

Website:  Lisa Stone

Twitter:  LisaStoneBooks

Lisa Stone also writes as Cathy Glass - you can visit her website here

If you visit the Publisher website - Avon Books UK - and sign up to their newsletter, you will get a free e-Book from a choice of 3.