Posted in Avon, Blog Tour, crime fiction, HarperCollins, thriller, Uncategorized, tagged DI Callanach, Helen Fields, Perfect Remains on January 31, 2017|
I am delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Helen Fields fantastic thriller “Perfect Remains” which was published 26th January 2017 by Avon Books.
Posted in book review, HarperCollins, HarperCollins UK, psychological thriller, suspense, Uncategorized, tagged #WTFThatEnding, Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough on November 30, 2016| 3 Comments »
Description:
Don’t trust this book.
Don’t trust this story.
Don’t trust yourself.
David and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He’s a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?
As Louise, David’s new secretary, is drawn into their world, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can’t guess how wrong – and how far someone might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.
My Thoughts & Review:
When I first saw this book mentioned on social media I was instantly intrigued, how could I not be when I saw those three short sentences that describe the book? That coupled with the clever hashtag #WTFThatEnding, meant I really wanted to read this to see what the hype was about.
This book is a psychological thriller and then some, it’s clever, sinister, gripping and utterly spectacular! I won’t insult you by saying anything about the plot, this is one you will have to discover for yourself. Suffice to say that when you see tweets with #WTFThatEnding you really know that there’s something downright gob smacking lurking in the shadows.
I was so exceptionally pleased that other bloggers had been sent a copy of this beauty so that I could “aaaargh where are you in the book?!” and bounce ideas off of them. I admit, at about half way through I was completely on the wrong track, but a fellow blogger was happy to allow me to put the ideas out there, and we chatted about what we thought might happen……then when I finished the book….you’ve guessed it, the next message I sent was “WTFThatEnding?!” I sat, utterly rooted to the spot, completely and utterly stumped. Not believing what I’d read, I did re-read the ending a couple of times to make certain.
This is a creepy thriller, masterfully plotted with an ending that shoots for maximum impact. throws her readers down the rabbit hole into a frenzied world of the unexpected and keeps them captive whilst weaving a twisted and mesmerising tale.
Too often you see “X is the thriller of the year” or “Y is the new Z” but in this case, really has earned the accolade that Behind Her Eyes could well be the thriller of 2017.
Preorder your copy of Behind Her Eyes here (this is one book you will definitely want to get a copy of asap!)
About the Author:
Sarah was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and has several original television projects in development.
Her next novel, Behind Her Eyes, coming for HarperFiction in the UK and Flatiron in the US (January 2017) has sold in nearly 20 territories worldwide and is a dark thriller about relationships with a kicker of a twist.
You can follow her on Twitter @sarahpinborough
Posted in crime fiction, HarperCollins, suspense, Uncategorized, tagged Jack King, Luke Delaney, PTSD on August 24, 2016|
Description:
The new novel by Luke Delaney, ex-Met detective and author of the terrifyingly authentic DI Sean Corrigan series. Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Stuart MacBride.
Sergeant Jack King is back on active duty after months off following a violent encounter. On the Met’s promotional fast-track scheme, King is headed straight for the top, but policing the streets is where his heart truly lies.
Tasked with cleaning up the notorious Grove Wood estate, King is determined to rise to the challenge. But it’s not just drug dealers and petty thugs his team have to worry about. Someone on the estate is preying on children, and they need to find the culprit, fast.
Soon King finds himself over his head: the local residents won’t play ball, his superiors want results yesterday, and he’s refusing to admit that he’s suffering from PTSD. As the pressures combine, the line between right and wrong starts to blur and King finds himself in a downward spiral. Only he can save himself – but is it already too late?
My Thoughts & Review:
The Rule of Fear is a standalone novel about Jack King, a complete departure from the much loved Corrigan novels penned by the same author. Being a fan of Stuart MacBride’s writing I was intrigued by the claim that this book would be perfect for his fans.
Jack King is an interesting character, returning to work perhaps earlier than he should leads him to make choices that are arguably controversial at times. This theme is explored by the author by showing the protagonist navigating between what is right and wrong and how it’s not as black and white as many people see it.
The plot itself is superb, the pace begins slowly, pulling the reader in gently before it takes hold and drags you under the surface. The subject matter may not be easy reading for some and I would urge caution if you are uncomfortable with the idea of children being targets for abusers. The hard hitting style of writing works well for this novel, the subject matter never strays towards anything remotely comfortable and so to write accordingly takes skill which I believe the author has done here.
This was not an easy book to read, there are definitely aspects of it that cause deep disturbance and discomfort. The detail and care that went in to writing about the PTSD suffered in this book shows, meaning the impression it left me with was how utterly uncompromising and so powerful it is. I would definitely say this is a book that makes the reader stop and sit back to think about what goes on in the world, how unpredictable things can be, but most of all how it can all be taken apart in an instant.
Powerful, emotive, dark and dangerous – but not for everyone.
You can buy a copy of The Rule of Fear here.
Posted in @KillerReads, addictive, betrayal, book blog, book review, emotional rollercoaster, Friendship, gripping, HarperCollins, Killer Reads, Lies, obsession, speechless, Unsettling on June 27, 2016|
BEFORE
Edie is the friend that Heather has always craved. But one night, it goes terrifyingly wrong. And what started as an innocent friendship ends in two lives being destroyed.
AFTER
Sixteen years later, Edie is still rebuilding her life. But Heather isn’t ready to let her forget so easily. It’s no coincidence that she shows up when Edie needs her most.
NOW
Edie or Heather?
Heather or Edie?
Someone has to pay for what happened, but who will it be?
Complex and multi layered, this is a gripping, and all consuming read. Almost like falling down the rabbit hole with Alice into the dark depths.
I cannot wait to see what Camilla Way writes next, I really loved her style of writing in this book. The way she revealed more about the two protagonists had me reeling at times, I found my judgements were rocked by what I learned each time and at one point I was speechless.
I cannot recommend this book enough, it was brilliant. Everything a psychological thriller should be and then some!
Posted in @KillerReads, book blog, book review, HarperCollins, Lies, Murder, mystery, Redemption, Religion, secrets, Simon Toyne, Solomon Creed, supernatural, thriller on June 6, 2016|
When Solomon Creed emerges from the wreckage he remembers just one thing: that he must save a man in danger.
A DEATH THAT CAN’T BE EXPLAINED.
In the nearby town of Redemption, Holly Coronado buries her young husband. A terrible accident, or something more sinister?
ONLY ONE MAN CAN EXPOSE THE TRUTH.
When Solomon finds Holly, his search becomes a quest for the truth – and a race to expose a terrifying secret, hidden for generations, that could silence a town forever.
Solomon Creed is an interesting character, for a start he emerges unscathed from a plan crash in the middle of rural America, but even more intriguing is that he has no idea who he is or why he is there.
As the narration develops and other characters are introduced, we discover that Creed is also fascinating in his physical appearance, he is an albino, something that is never seen in the town of Redemption.
With the ability to speak numerous different languages, a wealth of knowledge and skills that surprise even himself, Creed is definitely an enigma. But little by little, snippets of his memory clear so that by the end he has a good idea of why he ended up in Redemption, what his purpose here was and who he is. The most mind blowing answer definitely has to be the latter – once that’s revealed….wow!
Redemption is a small town in Arizona, built around the church, and instead of the inhabitants being friendly and helpful as you might expect, they are suspicious of newcomers and locals alike. Worse still, Creed can feel there’s something going on in the town, secrets are being buried and he is sure this is linked to why he is there.
The links to a Mexican Crime Boss, despicable Sheriffs and desperate town mayor add a sinister edge to the goings on in this town.
With narration in the form of historical journal entries by the town founder as well as present day narration by several characters, this really does add something “extra” to the plot.
The religious angles meld well with the almost supernatural elements of the book – indeed it helps it to stand out from other books in this genre. The super natural aspect of the story does feel like something out of an episode of the X Files, not entirely plausible but at the same time not entirely indisputable.
Action packed chapters ensure that the reader is kept entertained and intrigued, who is fighting for whom? Who are the good guys? What are they all after? The pace of this book is also kept brisk with this style of writing, the murder mystery element makes for a thrilling read and with characters that are multi dimensional, well fleshed out and in some cases downright villainous, you’ve got a great read on your hands.
Despite some more complicated ideas in this book, it is still an enjoyable read. Some of the religious passages may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it’s definitely worth sticking with it and seeing it through to the end, in this book I would definitely say they work and go as far as to add depth to the tale.
After finding out Solomon Creed’s identity, I cannot wait to see where the author takes this character next, a brilliant stepping stone for the next book!
Posted in Ava McCarthy, book review, Dead Secret, fiction, HarperCollins, Murder, mystery, secrets, suspense, thriller on January 22, 2016|
Read more at: http://www.london24.com/entertainment/book_review_what_milo_saw_by_virginia_macgregor_1_3750981
Copyright © LONDON24
In Part 1 of this book Jodie has lost everything that ever mattered to her, her daughter, her will to go on, and her love for her husband. Now she plans to break free from it all, she’s loaded a gun and plans to shoot her husband Ethan and then herself.
To the casual observer, Ethan is a suave, sophisticated lawyer, but to those that know him like Jodie, he‘s a clever tyrant, a cruel manipulator and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. So when Jodie asks for a divorce and tells him she wants to leave, Ethan tortures Jodie with the ultimate punishment, he takes her daughter away from her by murder.
Part 2 opens with Jodie in prison, her murder/suicide plan failed, she‘s still alive, but Ethan is dead, and her daughter is still dead. Struggling to cope without her daughter, Jodie makes plans to end her sufferance, but fate has other plans, suicide watch and caring cellmates thwart her plans all too often. Then along comes Novak,a reporter, he hounds her for an interview and finally she gives in. The information that he has for her shakes her to her very core, did she really know so little about her husband?!
As always, I don’t want to say much more about the plot and risk ruining anything for readers, but suffice to say, this book will have you turning pages so fast you’ll think it was an exercise in speed reading!
Jodie begins as quite a “wishy washy” character, understandable when you consider the trauma she has gone through, the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her husband, and the fact that her life before him was all about searching for where she came from. She turns into a strong willed, feisty heroine determined to right the wrongs of her situation, a character you feel compelled to cheer on, and hope there’s a happy ending for.
There are themes in this book that some readers might find a little distressing to read, historic abuse of children is a key theme in the plot of this book and it is handled well. Each character that encountered it tells their story from their own pained experiences, but doing so in a way that makes you understand why they became who they are.
This is a well written thriller, the pace was slow at times but when it picked up it really just took off, the physical descriptions of characters and settings were excellent, it was very easy to imagine the haunted look to Jodie from Part 2 onwards in the book, the blizzard settings and the opulent hotel detailed in the book.
Plenty of twists and turns ensure you will struggle to put this book down, some are predictable, but I’m happy to say that the ending is not something you want to guess ahead, it’s almost impossible to have guessed that’s where McCarthy would take it, but they way it’s written is fantastic, I didn’t see it coming and I’m certain most people wouldn’t.
I’d be more than happy to recommend this book to fans of thriller, mystery, suspense genres, but would remind them that if they are likely to be disturbed by the abuse element then this book might not be for them.
Posted in Alone with the Dead, book review, crime, demons, Donal Lynch, fiction, Ghosts, HarperCollins, insomnia, James Nally, Murder, mystery, thriller on January 2, 2016|
Read more at: http://www.london24.com/entertainment/book_review_what_milo_saw_by_virginia_macgregor_1_3750981
Copyright © LONDON24
Meet PC Donal Lynch.
Irish runaway. Insomniac. Functioning alcoholic.
Donal is new to working the beat in London, trying his
best to forget that night. After all, there aren’t many police
officers who can say they have a convicted murderer
for an ex-girlfriend.
So when a woman is murdered on his patch, Donal throws
himself into the case. As the first person on the scene,
Donal can’t forget the horrific sight that faced him – and
he knows this case can’t go unsolved. But how do you
solve a case with no lead suspect and no evidence?
As his past catches up with him, Donal is forced to confront
his demons and the girl he left behind. But what will crack
first, the case or Donal?
As a PC on the beat in London, Donal is called to a crime scene that affects him more than he could imagine. A young woman has been found murdered, it’s a gory scene and the panicking witnesses make it all the more desperate and desolate.
Knowing that as one of the first on the scene he will have to provide a witness statement once he’s back on duty the next day, Donal heads home to think over what he saw, the witnesses he spoke to and try to block out the scene of the body of murder victim Marion Ryan. At least that was his plan until Marion appears to him in his sleep, determined to tell him something.
Brushing off Marion’s appearance as a dream brought on by too much Shiraz, he gets back on duty, but is soon called to disturbance. Donal is determined to protect this victim, doing anything he can think of to ensure her safety, he advises her to call for the Police if her threatening ex-boyfriend returns to menace her, gives her his number and mentions he lives not far away so could check in on her from time to time to make sure she’s ok.
They eventually strike up a friendship, and Donal mentions about his insomnia and the feeling that he’s being haunted by Marion, feels she’s trying to tell him something, and is convinced to go see psychiatrist (who happens to be her friend).
Donal is promoted to acting DC and is brought in on the investigation into Marion’s murder, keen to impress is superiors he sets about working hard, but his efforts are somewhat hampered by his older brother being a crime journalist. Fintan Lynch reporting on certain things throws into question Donal’s loyalty and integrity, but he can’t do anything about it, not until unless he has proof where the actual leak is.
The appearance of Donal’s ex-girlfriend Eve further exacerbates the chaotic situation. Does he want her back in his life? Why has she come back after telling him not to wait for her? Should he just tell her to leave as his career is more important?
Donal needs to focus, he needs to work out what Marion is trying to tell him, he needs to solve her case, and he wants to know what the psychiatrist might be able to tell him about his insomnia/seeing “ghosts” is all about.
This is a gripping first novel, Donal Lynch is fantastic character, a tortured soul that I really liked, his dry sense of humour appealed to me, the “paranormal” element to the story worked for me. I was a little sceptical when I heard about it and wanted to see how it would be portrayed, but I was pleasantly surprised. Nally uses it as a form of “old fashioned gut instinct” and it really does add something to the story – I certainly will admit I wondered what Marion was trying to get across with her antics.
The writing is good, setting this in a time of hostility in Ireland and England, the political ties make this atmospheric as well as intriguing. The characters making comments about stereotypes prevalent at the time give an authenticity to the book. The characters are believable, incorporating many from the police procedural set – the overzealous detective, lazy constables, guns blazing superiors, and sneaky journalists but, in this book they all have a place and work so well.
Many reviews I’ve seen have commented that there’s too back story or mention of Donal’s past and sleep problems, but for me these really explain certain things. They add to the story and make the back story come to life. I think it’s vital for that level of detail to make this book work and I applaud James Nally for his attention to detail and excellent writing skills.
This is definitely a series I will be following, I can’t wait to see what Donal gets up to next and really look forward to reading more by this author.
I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, Avon for the copy of this book in return for an honest review and if you would like to buy a copy, this book was published on 8th October 2015, a copy can be purchased here Alone with the Dead (UK Kindle Version)
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