November 23

The Pain Tourist – Paul Cleave

A young man wakes from a coma to find himself targeted by the men who killed his parents, while someone is impersonating a notorious New Zealand serial killer … the latest chilling, nerve-shredding, twisty thriller from the author of The Quiet People

How do you catch a killer…When the only evidence is a dream?

James Garrett was critically injured when he was shot following his parents’ execution, and no one expected him to waken from a deep, traumatic coma. When he does, nine years later, Detective Inspector Rebecca Kent is tasked with closing the case that her now retired colleague, Theodore Tate, failed to solve all those years ago.

But between that, and hunting for Copy Joe – a murderer on a spree, who’s imitating Christchurch’s most notorious serial killer – she’s going to need Tate’s help. Especially when they learn that James has lived out another life in his nine-year coma, and there are things he couldn’t possibly know, including the fact that Copy Joe isn’t the only serial killer in town…

 

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for the opportunity to host this leg of the blog tour for The Pain Tourist. I was provided with a review copy by the publishers, Orenda Books, but I am reviewing a copy I purchased through Kobo.

 

I picked up The Pain Tourist and read the blurb. A coma patient who has a dream-world from the time he was seemingly oblivious to events which were unfolding around him. Pain, Coma, Medical Bracelet on the cover and I am strapping myself in for a medical thriller. Reader I was totally wrong with my first assumption (which became a theme when I started trying to second=guess where Paul Cleave was taking the story) this is a dark crime story with killers, liars, cheats and ne’er-do-wells. Everything you want from a good crime thriller really – oh and there is actually a doctor too so a little bit of the medical thriller I had expected.

Central to all the events is James Garrett. He wakes one night as masked men have entered his family home and are holding his parents at gunpoint. James scrambles to alert his older sister and she manages to get out a window to try and summon help. Sadly for the other family members the gunmen aren’t happy at the prospect of leaving the Garrett home with nothing to show for their energies. James and his parents are all shot before the men leave the house – only James will survive but it takes extensive medical intervention to keep him alive and his small body goes into a coma for nine years.

Paul Cleave opens The Pain Tourist with the gripping account of the Garrett family plight. We then spin forward nine years to the point James starts coming out the coma. Many things have changed, the police officer investigating the original attach on the Garrett home has retired from active service. Younger colleagues need to pick up the threads of the investigation but the killers are still out there and it doesn’t take long for them to learn James is awake and he could be considered a threat if he can help police to identify his attackers.

Another seemingly dormant investigation is about to cause police a headache though. Initallly it looks like a notorious serial killer who escaped the police may have started killing again. However, a copycat murderer seems more likely and this creates a whole new problem. If someone wants to imitate a killer how far will they go to get the thrill or satisfaction they seek? Detective Inspector Rebecca Kent is caught up in both cases and her attention will be stretched as she is run ragged by both cases.

With two big cases to juggle Paul Cleave keeps the reader hooked with a canny use of short, punchy chapters. There’s always a new drama or trigger point arising in one of the cases and as we get deeper into the stories new layers of intrigue are unpeeled which draws the reader deeper into events. It is a difficult book to put down – each chapter seems to end with a need to keep you reading and with over one hundred and forty chapters there is a lot of story to be told.

As with all good stories it is the characters which will determine if you lose yourself to events. James Garrett is a fascinating one. He spent nine years in a coma and during this time he seems to have constructed a new world (coma world) where his family follow a very different path than the tragedy they faced in our world. But when James comes out of his coma his doctor realises the two worlds may overlap and where they do a murderer hides.

This may seem a fantastical construct but the author grounds the premise with some scientific explanation.  Now these explanations may, or may not, be true science facts – but in a crime story I am more than happy to roll with what I am reading. It sounded legit! It also let me buy into the contribution that James makes to the investigations which are central to the story.

The Pain Tourist is a novel I will find easy to recommend, engaging multi-layered story and strong characters you want to read about. Plus finding out what The Pain Tourist from the title actually refers to was a real mind-blown moment. Dark.

 

The Pain Tourist is published by Orenda Books and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-pain-tourist/paul-cleave/9781914585487

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October 4

The Quiet People – Paul Cleave

Cameron and Lisa Murdoch are successful New Zealand crime writers, happily married and topping bestseller lists worldwide. They have been on the promotional circuit for years, joking that no one knows how to get away with crime like they do. After all, they write about it for a living.

So when their challenging seven-year-old son Zach disappears, the police and the public naturally wonder if they have finally decided to prove what they have been saying all this time…

Are they trying to show how they can commit the perfect crime?

Electrifying, taut and immaculately plotted, The Quiet People is a chilling, tantalisingly twisty thriller that will keep you gripped and guessing to the last explosive page.

 

My thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy

 

This book comes at you with unrelenting pace and by the end every emotion had been wrung from my body. Suffice to say I bloody loved The Quiet People but it’s going to be a nightmare to review without letting any spoilers slip.

Cameron Murdoch is having a day. He has taken his young son, Zach, to a local fair but in a moment when he is distracted his son manages to leave the bouncy castle without Cameron noticing. Cameron panics and jumps onto the castle to see if Zach is perhaps just out of his line of vison, kids get upset, Cameron gets frustrated nobody will help him and the matter escalates. There are threats against Cameron, his own fierce temper soars too as he gets angry at people’s reaction. A punch is thrown, pictures are taken, kids are upset and meanwhile. Zach is spotted queuing for another ride.

Zach is a “challenging” child and is prone to doing his own thing in his own way. He knows he has annoyed Cameron and tries to work out what he has done wrong but he becomes upset as he thinks he acted properly. Cameron tries to calm him but Zach becomes enraged, screaming and screaming in frustration. Cameron bundles him home but that night as Cameron puts Zach to bed, Zach threatens to run away.

In the morning Zach’s room is empty – it looks like he has made good on his threat to run away.

The police are called. Cameron and his wife Lisa are calling everyone they can think of, they are driving to locations where Zach may be. All to no avail – Zach cannot be found.

Lisa and Cameron are famous crime writers. The police are aware the couple have repeatedly joked during interviews about crime authors being able to get away with murder – some of the investigative team harbour a suspicion that Lisa and Cameron may have decided to remove a problematic child from their lives. This seed of doubt spreads and after a disasterous press conference which was intended to appeal for Zach’s safe return it appears the public also have their doubts about Lisa and Cameron’s innocence.

Things get even worse when one journalist discovers the events which had ocurred at the park the day before – images of an upset Zach, an angry Cameron and the boy being bundled into his dad’s car do not present a good look for a couple pleading for their son to be returned home.

I honestly cannot begin to tell you the problems Cameron and Lisa will face – far, far too many spoilers. At one stage I thought the story had reached a conclusion only for a whole new predicament to raise its head and the story to take an extremely unexpected new direction. Emotional journey doesn’t even come close to describing how Cameron fares in this story.

It’s two frightened and desperate parents, it’s a missing child, it’s a police force facing a difficult time sensitve investigation which the celebrity factor has thrust into a media spotlight. It’s #YeahNoir – New Zealand crime writing at its very best. Honestly I could not put this one down.

 

 

The Quiet People is published by Orenda Books on 25 November in paperback and is available now in digital format.  You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B097PRKM64/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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December 1

The Sound of Her Voice – Nathan Blackwell

Detective Buchanan remembers every victim. But this one he can’t forget.

The body of a woman has been found on a pristine New Zealand beach – over a decade after she was murdered.

Detective Matt Buchanan of the Auckland Police is certain it carries all the hallmarks of an unsolved crime he investigated 12 years ago: when Samantha Coates walked out one day and never came home.

Re-opening the case, Buchanan begins to piece the terrible crimes together, setting into motion a chain of events that will force him to the darkest corners of society – and back into his deepest obsession…

 

My thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for the chance to join the blog tour. I received a review copy from the publishers.

 

Over the last couple of years I have been invited to read some really great New Zealand based thrillers and it has opened my eyes to a wave of crime writing talent perviously not on my radar.  Add the name Nathan Blackwell to that list – The Sound of Her Voice was a terrific read.

The story is led by Matt Buchanan, he is a cop in Auckland and he is called to investigate when human remains are found. The body (as is) has been in place for over 10 years and to investigate Matt will be required to revisit many incidents from the past.

As the blurb aludes to, every cop has a case which they will not let go. For Matt that is the unexplained disappearance of a young girl who simply vanished with no trace and has haunted Matt since. He keeps in touch with her family and refuses to accept he will never find the missing girl. However the discovery of the murder victim will bring that cold case back to focus and a sequence of disturbing revelations will follow.

Nathan Blackwell makes very effective use of multiple timeline narratives. We will be in present day, back to significant events in Matt’s early days of being a member of the police force and we touch into several key elements of his developing career. It allows the reader to understand what drives Matt and to watch him find his place. The action flows well and characters are likeable (if appropriate), plausible and I wanted to read more about them.

The Sound of Her Voice was another #yeahnoir treat – to find more great New Zealand crime thrillers I highly recommend searching #yeahnoir online – so many gems to discover.

 

The Sound of Her Voice is published by Orion and is available in digital, paperback and audiobook format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sound-Her-Voice-addictive-thriller-ebook/dp/B07JX57RBG/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1575196261&refinements=p_27%3ANathan+Blackwell&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Nathan+Blackwell

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September 9

Overkill – Vanda Symon

When the body of a young mother is found washed up on the banks of the Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide. But all is not what it seems.

Sam Shephard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the wife of her former lover. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects and suspended from duty, she must cast aside her personal feelings and take matters into her own hands.

To find the murderer … and clear her name.

 

My thanks to Orenda Books for my review copy and the chance to join the Overkill blog tour.

 

I read a lot of crime thrillers and this means I read many death scenes of incidental characters . Then I wait for the main protagonist to arrive and puzzle out who killed these incidental characters. The murder in the opening chapter of Overkill was one of the most distressing and upsetting I can recall.

I had no previous knowledge of the characters and didn’t know why the murder was happening but it troubled me. When a book opens with such a dynamic impact I know I will enjoy the next few hours I shall spend with it. And so it turned out to be the case.

Overkill is a terrific read. Lead character is Sam Shephard, local cop to a small New Zealand town. Everyone  knows everyone else, nobody can believe a murderer could be in their midst but everyone will be suspicious of Sam if the victim is the wife of Sam’s ex.

Working to clear her name, find a killer and totally not to build bridges with a grieving widower who she may still be attracted to…Sam will face constant challenges to prevent the seemingly motiveless murder being investigated.

First Vanda Symon book I have read – on the strength of Overkill I sincerely hope it us not the last.

 

Overkill is published by Orenda Books and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Overkill-Sam-Shephard-Vanda-Symon-ebook/dp/B079YY122L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536448567&sr=8-1&keywords=vanda+symon+overkill

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August 11

Nothing Bad Happens Here – Nikki Crutchley

“She looked away from his face and took in the clear spring night, full of stars. Her last thoughts were of her mother. Would she finally care, when one day they found her body, and a policeman came knocking at her door?”

The body of missing tourist Bethany Haliwell is found in the small Coromandel town of Castle Bay, where nothing bad ever happens. News crews and journalists from all over the country descend on the small seaside town as old secrets are dragged up and gossip is taken as gospel.

Among them is Miller Hatcher, a journalist battling her own demons, who arrives intent on gaining a promotion by covering the grisly murder.
Following an anonymous tip, Miller begins to unravel the mystery of the small town. And when another woman goes missing, Miller finds herself getting closer to the truth. But at what cost?

 

My thanks to Craig Sisterson at the Ngaio Marsh Awards Team for my review copy and a chance to join the celebration of #YeahNoir for 2018

Nothing Bad Happens Here. But what if something bad *did* happen here? Well in the first pages of Nikki Crutchley’s debut thriller something bad does happen and it turns out not to be an isolated incident. When journalist Miller Hatcher starts digging for a story someone will have to take steps to keep their secrets.

The town where “nothing bad happens” is Castle Bay in New Zealand. It appears a sleepy, idyllic place where all the residents know each other, the town mayor also doubles as a real estate agent and gossip is currency for the residents.  As with all small towns there are a few bad eggs who people know to avoid but overall life seems uncomplicated and peaceful.

Until an English backpacker, traveling alone, goes missing – last seen in Castle Bay. The small police force conduct searches but to no avail.  The reader, however, does know what happened as Nothing Bad Happens Here opens with a sequence which outlines exactly what happened to the backpacker on the night she disappeared.  The main story then picks up events several weeks later when her body is found.

Sent to Castle Bay to report on the resulting investigation, Miller takes up residence in a home which acts as a retreat for women who need space, understanding and the opportunity to speak freely to discuss concerns.  Run by Delta, described as an American Hippy, Miller finds that the other guests all have stories to tell (although not all want to).

In her debut novel Nikki Crutchley focuses on Miller’s pursuit of her story and it makes for engaging reading. The characters in the town display the best and worst of people and Miller tries to establish confidences whilst simultaneously abhorring the gossipy nature of some of the residents.  As Miller gets closer to understanding what happened the night the backpacker disappeared another girl vanishes from the town.  The author builds tension more and more and Miller finds herself in jeopardy when she realises how close she is coming to uncovering the truth.

A fun debut read which captures the claustrophobia of a small town suddenly confronting the discovery that their safe haven is not as safe as they had believed. A strong cast of well established characters makes this an engaging and enjoyable read.

 

Nothing Bad Happens Here is published by Oak House Press and is available in digital and paperback editions and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nothing-Happens-Here-Nikki-Crutchley-ebook/dp/B074V4HTSL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533939383&sr=8-1&keywords=nothing+bad+happens+here

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September 21

The Ice Shroud – Gordon Ell

When a woman’s body is discovered frozen in the ice of a river near the alpine resort of Queenstown, Detective Sergeant Malcolm Buchan faces both a mystery and a moral dilemma. The identity of the nude woman is critical to the motives and manner of her murder, and Buchan is personally involved. So are a number of locals, from ski bums to multi-millionaire businessman.

Newly appointed to head CIB in the Southern Lakes district, Buchan hunts the killer through the entanglements of corruption and abuse that lie barely below the surface of the tourist towns.

The assistance of a woman traffic sergeant is critical to the hunt but she brings her own dilemmas. The community is practised at keeping its secrets, and finding the truth comes at a price

 

The Ice Shroud has been named on the Best First Novel shortlist for the first ever Ngaio Marsh Awards. I have been invited to join the blog tour for the Awards and I was thrilled to have the chance to read Gordon Ell’s debut novel. My heartfelt thanks to Craig Sisterson for inviting me to join this international blog tour.

 

Wikipedia tells me that Dunedin is the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand – its name comes from the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh (capital city of Scotland) MY capital city.  I knew the origins of the name Dunedin before I read The Ice Shroud so every time Dunedin received a name check in the book I had a happy smile – wee things like this make me absurdly happy!

What also makes me happy is when I have the chance to read a cleverly written and engaging murder mystery and I found The Ice Shroud to be exactly that, I found it utterly compelling. A whodunnit tale set in a small New Zealand town where the police are not prepared to investigate a mysterious death and yet they have to cobble a team together when a badly mutilated corpse is discovered.

Leading the investigation is DS Malcolm Buchan he has completed tours in Afghanistan but returned to New Zealand and now works for the police. He is assisted in his investigations by Magda Hansen – a traffic cop who just happened to be first on scene when a woman’s body was found deep in a ravine and partially submerged in an icy river.

We follow Buchan and Magda as they first meet then try to work out how they can recover the body from its incredibly inaccessible resting place. Once the corpse is finally recovered Buchan will find himself facing a personal dilemma which could have significant implications over how the investigation will proceed.

The victim lived and worked in a Southern resort region on the South Island. There is a high turnover of tourists to the town but the locals have a strong support network and will close ranks against the police who come knocking at their doors.  As Buchan uncovers more details of the life that the victim lived he only uncovers more questions, how could her specialist boutique sustain such heavy losses? Why did  her Bank Manager and her Accountant both offer her personal loans on a loss making business but not seek any security on her borrowing?  Why does the local barman deny knowing the victim, despite her being a frequent visitor at his establishment?

Buchan will have to break down the suspicious defences of the residents, pick out the half-truths and work out why nobody is keen to admit to knowing his victim – despite all indications that they knew her well.  To this end Gordon Ell has penned a wonderfully crafted small town murder mystery. With a relatively small cast of potential suspects, all confined in a small area and all seemingly knowing of each other’s interests The Ice Shroud is also a fascinating study of characters and what may drive them.

Having read a few Ngaio Marsh novels in my younger days I can remember them being cleverly crafted tales which always kept me guessing. The Ice Shroud therefore sits very well on the shortlist for a Ngaio Marsh award, the clever plotting by the author reflects the dogged determination of DS Buchan to find a killer and I could not turn the pages fast enough. Highly recommended, if you are a fan of police procedurals then The Ice Shroud is not a book to miss.

 

The Ice Shroud is published by Bush Press.

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