March 8

The Institution – Helen Fields

They’re locked up for your safety.
Now, you’re locked in with them.

Dr Connie Woolwine has five days to catch a killer.

On a locked ward in the world’s highest-security prison hospital, a scream shatters the night. The next morning, a nurse’s body is found and her daughter has been taken. A ransom must be paid, and the clock is ticking.

Forensic profiler Dr Connie Woolwine is renowned for her ability to get inside the mind of a murderer. Now, she must go deep undercover among the most deranged and dangerous men on earth and use her unique skills to find the girl – before it’s too late.

But as the walls close in around her, can Connie get the killer before The Institution gets her?

 

I recieved a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley

 

If you like a slick and cleverly plotted thriller with tension ramped up to the max and the darkness of the subject matter to be as dark as the bottom of the deepest coal mine…then it is time to get The Institution into your life. This is quite a read and I really, really enjoyed it but I’d forgotten Helen Fields doesn’t pull the punches when putting her characters through the wringer – proceed with caution.

The Institution is a prison for dangerous killers. Each inmate in the isloated, high-security ward has committed multiple murders, is considered to be dangerous and can hold no real expectation of ever being freed. They are closely guarded and under the medical care of a team who provide psychological care but also employ any type of restraint or chemical assistance to keep their charges docile and calm. It’s a thankless place to work and there’s a high level of frustration on show amongst the staff. One employee appears to have been more popular than others but my use of “was” in the previous sentence may give an indication as to her fate.

A murder in a locked ward where all the inmates are known killers. A kidnapping too. Into this maelstrom comes Dr Connie Woolwine. She is going undercover on the ward to try to use her profiling skills to work out which of the convicted killers was responsible for the murder of the poplular young nurse. But there’s a real time pressure as the woman’s kidnapped daughter isn’t expected to live unless she can be found and returned to her family quickly.

This is a story where I can’t really share much about the plot without slipping into dangerous “spoiler” territory. The crimes described are brutal and could be upsetting for some readers. The locked room mystery element of the book is wonderfully set up and really had me scratching my head. There are obviously unpleasant characters in the story as there is a secure wing full of violent killers. But the staff that Connie finds herself working beside are equally complex and unpleasant too.

There are only a few people that Connie can trust and the nature of her undercover role will mean she is often cut-off from their support. Watching Connie cope with the intensity of her situation made for utterly compelling reading and when cracks start to show, well that is when Helen Fields really gets into the tension groove. I hit a point in the story where I realised there was no way I’d stop reading The Institution until I actually finished the whole book.

Another terrific thriller from Helen Fields – she always delivers.

 

The Institution is available in hardback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B85RCGXM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

 

 

 

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March 11

The Blood Tide – Neil Lancaster

You get away with murder.
In a remote sea loch on the west coast of Scotland, a fisherman vanishes without trace. His remains are never found.

You make people disappear.
A young man jumps from a bridge in Glasgow and falls to his death in the water below. DS Max Craigie uncovers evidence that links both victims. But if he can’t find out what cost them their lives, it won’t be long before more bodies turn up at the morgue…

You come back for revenge.
Soon cracks start to appear in the investigation, and Max’s past hurtles back to haunt him. When his loved ones are threatened, he faces a terrifying choice: let the only man he ever feared walk free, or watch his closest friend die…

Max, Janie and Ross return in the second gripping novel in this explosive Scottish crime series.

 

I received a review copy from the publishers through Netgalley.

 

If you missed out on Dead Man’s Grave last year then the good news is that it recently released in paperback and is available in all your favourite book-buying places. The other good news is that Dead Man’s Grave is the first book in what I am calling “an unmissable new series” so you should grab a copy as soon as possible and catch up on the exploits of DS Max Cragie.

The Blood Tide, which is why we are here today, is the second Cragie book. It picks up after the events of Dead Man’s Grave and Craigie is about to get drawn into another tension packed adventure. While The Blood Tide can be read as a stand-alone title there are recurring characters across the two stories where knowing their background will help you understand why they undertake certain actions in the second book.

On the shores of western Scotland a small boat is coming ashore with a significant supply of class A drugs on board. There is a sole occupant in the boat but he knows he is meeting a friend when he reaches land and he will be well paid for the risks he is taking. What he had not anticipated was encountering two strangers on the shore and he was even more unprepared for what happens next. Perhaps the payment wasn’t quite enough or he underestimated the level of risk he was taking?

Next we head south to the Erskine Bridge. A cop on his way home at the end of a long shift spots a man on the edge of the bridge ready to jump. He stops and tries to talk down this desperate stranger but the man is terrified and after telling the cop there is nothing he nor anyone else can say or do to protect his family from the powerful, dangerous people he steps off the bridge.

The event leaves the cop badly shaken but he writes up the incident and realises the terrified man had implied there were police involved in the threat against his family. He calls his friend Max Craigie to tell him about the incident and Max agrees to meet him to discuss this further. But before the meeting can take place there is another death and Craigie believes there is a dangerous connection.

I really don’t want to get too much deeper into the events of The Blood Tide as I want to avoid too many spoiler possibilites. Suffice to say Lancaster’s recognisable patterns of tension, explosive drama and putting his lead characters through peril and trauma are very much present. It is exactly what you want from a crime thriller, think “one more chapter” and you’re there.

Drugs and corruption are powerful motivators and people will do anthing to protect their interests when both are involved. Craigie and his colleagues, Janie and Ross, will have their work cut out to identify where the risks lie and their lives will be in danger – even if they don’t know it. When you investigate the colleagues around you it is impossible to know who you can trust.

There are more than a few shocks and twists waiting within the pages of The Blood Tide. I had been in a bit of a reading slump before I picked this book up and it blew away those cobwebs. High stakes, fast paced and wonderfully realised characters, do not miss out on this series.

 

The Blood Tide is available in Hardback, Audio and Digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-blood-tide/neil-lancaster/9780008518462

 

 

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January 18

The Twyford Code – Janice Hallett

It’s time to solve the murder of the century…

Forty years ago, Steven Smith found a copy of a famous children’s book by disgraced author Edith Twyford, its margins full of strange markings and annotations. Wanting to know more, he took it to his English teacher Miss Iles, not realising the chain of events that he was setting in motion. Miss Iles became convinced that the book was the key to solving a puzzle, and that a message in secret code ran through all Twyford’s novels. Then Miss Iles disappeared on a class field trip, and Steven has no memory of what happened to her.

Now, out of prison after a long stretch, Steven decides to investigate the mystery that has haunted him for decades. Was Miss Iles murdered? Was she deluded? Or was she right about the code? And is it still in use today?

Desperate to recover his memories and find out what really happened to Miss Iles, Steven revisits the people and places of his childhood. But it soon becomes clear that Edith Twyford wasn’t just a writer of forgotten children’s stories. The Twyford Code has great power, and he isn’t the only one trying to solve it…

 

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for the opportunity to host this leg of the tour. I received a review copy of the book from the publishers through Netgalley.

 

It’s quite a thought to finish The Twyford Code in mid-January and wonder if ANY book this year will come close to matching the intricate planning and devious distractions which Janice Hallett delivers here.

As a child Steven Smith attended an inner city school where he did not shine. Unable to read, school was just a place he attended and it took him away from what seems a troublesome home life.

But one year he had a teacher (for RE) who really seemed to cut through and make a difference in Steven’s life – Miss Iles. Steven and a cluster of his friends seemed to get more from Miss Iles than any other class they attended. One memorable day Steven found a book on a bus, a children’s story by Edith Twyford. Miss Iles has an immediate reaction- it’s a banned book she tells him.

Twyford’s attitudes are very outdated and unpalatable for a modern readership. Of course for a group of adolescents a banned book is instantly more fascinating. But then the bombshell…Miss Iles tells them of a code hidden within the books.

She takes her small class on a trip to Twyford’s cottage down in the English South-West and on that trip Miss Iles disappeared. The kids got home (Steven cannot recall how) and Miss Iles was never seen again.

Years later Steven is newly out of prison (we discover why through the story) and he is looking to find out exactly what happened to Miss Iles on that trip and more importantly he wants to get to the bottom of The Twyford Code – it’s a puzzle which is the focus on dedicated Internet forums and the prize for solving it seems to vary from wealth, health cures and even secrets of extra-terrestrial life.

Steven has learned how to read while in prison and seems to have a natural aptitude for problem solving. Picking up a copy of one of Twyford’s books he sees messages in the words. A return to her cottage suggests a picture clue remains in her study. The hunt is on – who killed Miss Iles, what’s the treasure for solving the code and who are these mysterious strangers who seem to twart their progress at every turn?

The story is excellent. The codes and puzzles which the author uses through the book must have taken an eternity to properly thread into the narrative. I love clever stories and this is fiendishly well done. But this is a spoiler-free zone so I can’t get into the details of what shone through in terms of clever tricks.

One slight rain-cloud hung over The Twyford Code for me. Steven tells the story through audio recordings. That’s to say he turns on a recorder and we see the transcript of his conversation and the responses from others. It’s an interesting quirk and the software on the old iPhone he is using can sometimes make transcript errors – “Miss Iles” becomes “missiles” for the reader. And there are other instances.

Personally I found this narrative style quite tricky to read and it took some of the enjoyment out of the book.  My reading fun became an unusual effort of concentration. The story kept me going to the end though as I did want to see how matters resolved. I suspect many people will have no issue with the narrative style but I think I would have preferred to read this through audiobook.

In brief, a great puzzle adventure which will command your attention.

 

 

The Twyford Cods is available in hardback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0984VDLWF/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

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April 29

Prisoner – Ross Greenwood

A shocking thriller inspired by the true stories of a male prison officer in a women’s prison…

Prison Officer Jim Dalton works on the male side of HMP Peterborough. It’s a dangerous place, fuelled by testosterone-driven violence, but he has the prisoners’ respect. When Dalton is transferred to the female side of the prison, his next shift is so easy he can’t believe that the officers over there get paid the same wages. He sleeps well for the first time in years.

Billie hasn’t had it easy in life, and she has earned the nickname Damage because she has been known to cause some! Ending up in prison might have been inevitable, but Billie hasn’t given up on her dreams yet. If there’s a way to get out of prison faster, she’s going to find it.

When Dalton is assigned to the young offenders’ wing, dealing with female prisoners no longer seems so simple, and in Billie he fears he may have met his match. As Billie starts to turn the screw, Dalton faces losing everything…

 

My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to join the blog tour.

 

HMP Peterborough is unusual in that it has a male wing and a female wing.  Author Ross Greenwood has drawn on personal experiences when writing Prisoner – the story of Prison Officer Jim Dalton.   Dalton is an experienced Officer who has worked the male side of the prison for a number of years.  He works long, challenging shifts and takes all the overtime available as his family badly need the money.

At home Dalton’s personal life is a mess.  His wife is struggling badly to cope with their two young children and the constant financial pressures are making things difficult.  As Dalton is working as many hours as he can at the prison he is not able to give his wife the support she needs at home and this only serves to put further strain on their relationship.

Although his job at the prison is challenging Dalton understands how the place works and knows how to treat prisoners and read the moods and tensions.  But his familiarity with the role is about to change when a family member is sent to the prison and put under Dalton’s care.  This is far from the ideal situation so Dalton is offered the opportunity to work on the young offenders wing on the female side of the prison.  Now there are lots of new challenges to be faced and Dalton is going to find that the females may be more dangerous than the male prisoners.

Initially his new duties appear easy – a roar from him (a large angry man) was sufficient to quell a fight between two of the prisoners.  But he soon learns that the girls under his care have lacked or feared father figures and while he may intimidate some of them, others will be drawn to him and want to earn his good favour.

As with any group there are dominent personalities and Dalton finds the most dominant to be Billie. She has had a challenging background but seems smart, sassy and full of confidence.  Dalton is warned to be careful of getting too attached to Billie but these warnings may not be sufficient and any mistakes he makes could really create big problems, both inside the prison and outside.

I thoroughly enjoyed Prisoner and I put this entirely down to the detail brought by the author.  It was clear Ross Greenwood had experienced working in a prison through the detail he brings to scenes and the situations he descibes.  Interactions between the prisoners felt tense and edgy and as I reader I felt the wrong word at the wrong time by any of the characters could kick off a major incident.  Dalton doesn’t come across as a saint and you can see mistakes he makes as they happen and long before he reaslises himself that he is creating a problem.  This leaves you anticipating a crisis and you almost want to stop him and pull him back from digging a deeper hole for himself.

There is an excellent drama about Prisoner and reading about the various girls on the young offenders wing opens your eyes to a world many of us will not have known or want to experience first hand.

Not many books set in prisons so it was interesting to be reading something which felt new – I really enjoyed it.

 

Prisoner is published by Boldwood Books and is available in digital and audiobook format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R1FGTL1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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February 2

Going Rogue – Neil Lancaster

Tom Novak is back.

When a spate of deadly terrorist attacks hit the streets of London, Tom finds himself thrust into the middle of a fight for the survival of all he holds dear.

When the attackers hit closer to home than he could ever imagine, Tom is forced to make a choice between his duty or his conscience. In doing so, he enters a series of increasingly dangerous worlds, in the darkest corners of humanity.

Can Tom and his colleagues get to the bottom of a plot which threatens the very fabric of society?

Will they stop the terrorists before it’s too late?

When faced with the ultimate choice, which way will Tom go?

After all, as Cameron always says: “Always do right, boy…”

 

My thanks to Emma at Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to join the blog tour and for ensuring I received a review copy of the book.

 

Over the last few weeks I have been mainly reading police procedurals or books which tell “life stories” pulling plot threads together into a surprise reveal rewarding the reader for engaging with the lead character and their predicament. This is not a complaint as these are very much the type of stories I enjoy.  However, I also like a tale which gives a bit of high tempo/adrenaline filled action – one that keeps the pages turning themselves as the chapter flies by…one like Going Rogue!

The book opens with readers watching an act of domestic terrorism unfolding. We are with the instigator and we see him placing and priming the explosives which will target his victims.  A direct attack on Muslims as they went to prayer, targeted only because their religion was not that of their murderer.

The aftermath of the tragedy sees Tom Novak called into action, he is a member of the Covert Policing Advice Unit and a highly effective member of the team. Novak is skilled in armed and unarmed combat, has tactical knowledge, is fluent in several languages and is prepared to work undercover to bring down the bad guys.  In this case the bad guys he needs to speak with is in prison so Novak needs an alter-ego, a convincing back story and he also needs to get himself arrested.

I am reluctant to give too much detail about what happens in Gone Rogue as this is a brilliant action adventure which I’d strongly recommend you read. Novak manages to infiltrate the group which planned the bombing but he discovers this was just the first in a series of planned events.  Now the challenge is not just to bring down the perpetrators but ensure no further bombings can be allowed to take place – in this he will have mixed success and the increased pressure on all those involved becomes increasingly clear. There comes a tipping point in the investigation when Novak’s inclusion in the team becomes an issue – he hasn’t shared one vital piece of information which he should have disclosed (but in doing so he may have missed the chance to be involved in any form).  As a consequence of his failure to reveal key information Novak is removed from the investigation.

Novak will not accept being benched – particularly as he knows where to go to get to the head of the organization which planned the bombing.  Left with only one option Novak and his colleague, Buster, are Going Rogue and heading to Eastern Europe to take down the culprits themselves.  A move full of danger and one which will not go smoothly.

As I indicated at the start of my review, this is a full on action adventure and a terrific read.  If you have enjoyed the Scott Mariani (Ben Hope) thrillers or Matthew Reilly’s Scarecrow books then I know you would enjoy Neil Lancaster’s Tom Novak books.  Novak is more human and less bullet-proof than Reilly or Mariani’s heroes but his adventures are just as compelling.

 

 

Going Rogue is published in Digital and paperback format and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07YVLMKR2/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

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October 13

Come and Find Me – Sarah Hilary

On the surface, Lara Chorley and Ruth Hull have nothing in common, other than their infatuation with Michael Vokey. Each is writing to a sadistic inmate, sharing her secrets, whispering her worst fears, craving his attention.

DI Marnie Rome understands obsession. She’s finding it hard to give up her own addiction to a dangerous man: her foster brother, Stephen Keele. She wasn’t able to save her parents from Stephen. She lives with that guilt every day.

As the hunt for Vokey gathers pace, Marnie fears one of the women may have found him – and is about to pay the ultimate price.

 

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things for the chance to join the Come and Find Me blog tour.

 

I have read all the Marnie Rome novels and enjoyed each one immensely. Come and Find Me is my favourite. So far…

We join Marnie and her colleague DS Jake at a very difficult time. A prison riot saw several men brutally attacked, some prisoners died from their wounds. A fire took hold during the ensuing chaos and many prisoners suffered smoke inhalation. The man responsible has escaped confinement and the police are frantically hunting for him.

Marnie’s team are leading the manhunt but she has the added distraction that her adopted brother was in the prison but is currently unconscious in hospital after the incident in the prison. If he dies then Marnie may never learn why Stephen Keeps killed her parents.

DS Jake has his own personal problems. He has arrested his own brother to try and keep him away from the street gang which was threatening to take control of Saul’s life. While Jake feels he has done the best thing he could to protect his brother their mother is devastated and family tensions are high.

Personal drama aside the hunt to find prison escapee, Michael Vokey, makes for great reading. He was receiving letters from women who wanted to save him or who wanted to be with him. Will Vokey seek out these letter writers? Will they be safe? Vokey was in prison for entering the home of a single mum and terrorising her.

The investigation into Vokey’s escape is frustrating for the police and the women they are trying to protect are not minded to assist the police on finding Vokey.

Sarah Hilary has written a blinder. One interview Marnie conducted during this book made for one of the very best audio book chapters I have ever listened to. Masterful dialogue and amazingly narrated by Imogen Church who gave the scene so much more heart and feeling than I would have ascribed to it had I been reading it alone.

I do need to give special mention to the audio book as it was one of the best I have listened to this year.  Imogen Church narrates Come and Find Me wonderfully. The story had me hooked but the narration, hearing the characters every day for two weeks, made this feel more real and I got totally drawn into Marnie’s complicated world.

I cannot wait to see what comes next. If Sarah Hilary keeps true to past form then more compelling reading shall follow and we will be guaranteed more jaw-dropping moments.

 

Come and Find Me is published by Headline and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-Find-Marnie-Rome-Book-ebook/dp/B072M1ZZX1/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1539282536&sr=1-1

 

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April 15

The Fear – CL Taylor

 

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

 

My thanks to Sabah at Avon for the chance to join the blog tour

 

My first CL Taylor thriller and I had high expectations as I have been very aware of the praise my fellow bloggers shower upon her books. I was not disappointed, The Fear is a very readable, fast flowing story which takes on an unsettling subject matter and makes it a compulsive reading experience.

Fronting the story is Lou Wandsworth, when she was a schoolgirl she fell for one of her teachers – he made her feel special and understood the problems she faced when it seems nobody else was paying attention to her. The reader sees Lou’s infatuation with her teacher growing but we also see that the teacher has singled out Lou for his attentions and we know exactly what his intentions are. It makes for unsettling reading.

The relationship develops and Lou runs away to France with her teacher. Only when they reach the continent does Lou begin to realise that she may have made a terrible mistake.

Now, almost 20 years later Lou becomes aware that the first man she loved, who has cast a shadow over her life ever since that trip to France, may not have changed his ways and is still showing too much interest in young schoolgirls. But will she be able to make the police understand her concerns?  If not then is there anything which Lou can do to protect young Chloe Meadows from making all the same mistakes that Lou made?  Not if Chloe does not want to be helped.

As I was reading The Fear I was struck by the different perceptions I had about a number of the characters. It is hard to explain why without straying into “spoiler territory” but characters who have been victims in the past will take proactive action around new events and you wonder if their decisions are justified. I had thought that this would make a brilliant book for a reading group or book club – turns out I am not alone in that thought as there are discussion questions included at the end of the story…nice touch!

While the subject matter may be unsettling for some readers, I thoroughly enjoyed The Fear. It takes on a harrowing topic and CL Taylor delivers a twisty and unsettling story. However, it also contains that crucial and magical “one more chapter” element which ensures you want to keep reading – you will feel you must find out what happens to the characters.

 

The Fear is published by Avon Books and is available in digital, paperback and audiobook format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fear-sensational-thriller-Sunday-bestseller-ebook/dp/B07566QWH4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523783169&sr=8-1&keywords=the+fear+cl+taylor

Follow the tour:

 

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December 19

The Deathwatch Journal – Ian Rankin

A gripping original story for BBC Radio 4 by award-winning crime writer Ian Rankin, written for the landmark Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

Saughton Prison, Edinburgh, 1962.

Prison guard Thomas Scott watches over a condemned man sentenced to hang for the murder of his wife.

His prisoner is a guilty man, that’s for sure. William Telfer has done enough bad things in his life. And Scott has been in his job long enough to know that guilty men often proclaimed their innocence right up until the moment the noose was placed around their necks. But as they wait out the days until his execution, Scott begins to suspect that Telfer is innocent of this murder.

An innocent man could be hanged by the neck until dead. And his jailer doesn’t know what to do about it….

To find out the truth, Scott must explore Edinburgh’s darkest corners. And he is running out of time.

 

My thanks to Helena at Penguin Random House for a review copy of the audiobook.

 

The Deathwatch Journal was written for BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime and it is perfectly pitched – both for the audience and also for the intended hour of listening.

The story of a condemned man, William Telfer, who has been found guilty of murdering his wife and is sentenced to hang in 1960’s Edinburgh. The story is also that of his guard, Thomas Scott, who spends time with Telfer and begins to question whether his prisoner is really guilty of the crime for which he is due to hang.

Despite being a murder tale there is no graphic violence and not explosive set pieces. We follow Thomas Scott to his work where he will chat with Telfer (who tries to elicit information from Scott to learn more about his guard) and Scott records Telfer’s disposition, activities and diet in a Deathwatch Journal.

As the two men chat Scott becomes less inclined to believe Telfer may be guilty of murder. He starts a private investigation, looking into some elements of Telfer’s trial which left unanswered questions. His digging will cause ripples and it is not too long before awkward conversations will take place with individuals who are quite happy to see Telfer hang.

The story plays out in very enjoyable fashion and the 1.25 hour running time slipped away all too quickly. Away from the prison we get a look at Scott’s personal life and a nostalgic nod to the 1960’s lifesyles and the exciting prospect of a “new town” being built to the West of Edinburgh.

The Deathwatch Journal is narrated by Jimmy Chisholm and his voice lends its-self perfectly to the tale. The tough guys from Edinburgh’s harder days are suitably intimidating.  Thomas Scott comes across as an amiable likeable character and Mr Chisholm comfortably manages  (where other narrators have not fared so well) to give all the characters their own “voice”.

I listened to the Deathwatch Journal without reading the blurb beforehand and enjoyed the mystery of the tale – the afterward was also an unexpected surprise which made me appreciate the story even more (cryptic – but sorry…no spoilers).

Ideal late night listening and well worth setting aside a couple of evenings to enjoy The Deathwatch Journal.

 

The Deathwatch Journal is published by Penguin Random House and Licensed by BBC Worldwide Ltd.  It is available on CD or as an Audible download here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deathwatch-Journal-Original-Story-Radio/dp/B0759Z6L3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513640372&sr=8-1&keywords=deathwatch+journal

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October 14

The Angel -Katerina Diamond

THE TRUTH WON’T STAY LOCKED UP FOREVER

When a burned body is found in a disused signal box, suspicion falls on lonely teenager Gabriel Webb. There’s no doubt he was at the scene of the crime, but does he really deserve what awaits him in prison?

DS Imogen Grey is certain there’s more to the case than meets the eye. But while she struggles to convince those around her of the truth, her partner DS Adrian Miles is distracted by his own demons.

When a brutal double murder is reported, their investigation is stopped in its tracks. Is the body in the box even who they thought it was? The duo realise Gabriel might have been locked up for a crime he didn’t commit. But with enemies watching Gabriel’s every move, they may be too late.

 

My thanks to Sabah at Avon Books for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour.

Imogen Grey and Adrian Miles are back – they are called out to investigate a fire in an abandoned signal box but on arrival at the scene they find that their arson case has had a tragic outcome – the body of a homeless man (who must have been sheltering from the elements) is found under the main signal room where the fire started.

Grey and Miles manage to track down Gabriel Webb, he had been in the signal box with his girlfriend and a couple of other local kids.  Gabriel had started a small fire to keep them warm but had not wanted to be in the signal box and wanted nothing to do with the drugs which he was offered.

When confronted by Grey he confirms he started the fire (for warmth) but he had no idea that it had spread to ignite the whole signal box and he is devastated to learn that someone died.  His world shattered Gabriel finds himself in prison – pending trial.

The Angel keeps us updated on Gabriel’s story while in prison and I loved those scenes. We see how he moved from lonely and uncertain then started to accept his situation and adjust to his new life. What he had not anticipated was Asher – a fellow inmate who has his sights on Gabriel and more than a little power in their confined world.

Elsewhere a brutal murder of an elderly couple commands all the attention of the police. The seemingly unmotivated killings shock Grey and Miles but when they start their investigations they uncover some strange connections which suggest that this random incident may actually be part of something much more sinister.

Although they may not initially be aware – the double murder is going to have a huge impact upon both Miles and Grey. Katerina Diamond expertly spins a story and I was completely hooked on The Angel – Gabriel’s situation was compelling but the personal dramas which her cops encountered lifted this from a “great” book to a “fantastic” book.  I utterly loved it – reading late into the night as I did not want to stop.

The housekeeping bit – The Angel is the 3rd book and there are references to past events. But the good news for new readers or for those (like me) that have “goldfish” memories then The Angel can be enjoyed as a stand alone – really enjoyed, really, really enjoyed.

Katerina Diamond is now firmly established as a must read author, her books are all brilliantly written, paced to perfection and have that dark unpredictability which I always welcome.

The Angel is out in paperback and digital format now – treat yourself, I am going to be recommending this to everyone.

 

The Angel is published by Avon Books and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Angel-shocking-thriller-Imogen-Adrian-ebook/dp/B06XB3R3PV/ref=la_B01C0H1GOE_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507970935&sr=1-1

Follow the Blog Tour

 

Category: 5* Reviews, Blog Tours, From The Bookshelf | Comments Off on The Angel -Katerina Diamond
October 5

Quieter Than Killing – Sarah Hilary

It’s winter, the nights are dark and freezing, and a series of seemingly random assaults is pulling DI Marnie Rome and DS Noah Jake out onto streets of London. When Marnie’s family home is ransacked, there are signs that the burglary can have only been committed by someone who knows her. Then a child goes missing, yet no-one has reported it. Suddenly, events seem connected, and it’s personal.

Someone out there is playing games. It is time for both Marnie and Noah to face the truth about the creeping, chilling reaches of a troubled upbringing. Keeping quiet can be a means of survival, but the effects can be as terrible as killing.

 

My thanks to Katie at Headline for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour

 

Quieter Than Killing is the 4th book by Sarah Hilary to feature DI Marnie Rome. Each book can be read as a stand-alone novel but what you need to do is make sure you DO read all four books – they are all fantastic.

We readers are blessed with choice when it comes to police procedurals and crime thrillers, yet – for me – the Marnie Rome books stand head and shoulders above the others. Rome is a determined and focused detective who lives in the constant shadow of personal tragedy and it makes her own story utterly compelling.

In Quieter Than Killing, London is in the grip of a bitter winter and Marnie and DS Noah Jake are on the hunt for a violent offender. Someone has targeted three people for a vicious beating – disfiguring injuries have been inflicted and the only obvious link between the victims is that they have each (in the past) served time in prison for violent attacks of their own.  Are Marnie and Noah looking for a vigilante?  If so then how are they selecting their victims and what possible motive could they have?

Elsewhere the reader gets to see Finn.  He is 10 years old and has been plucked from the street and locked into a house from which there seems no escape.  His captor, dubbed Brady by Finn, has “rules” which Finn must obey…cooking and cleaning is expected and noise or disobedience are not tolerated. Finn is convinced Brady is a pervert who is planning to murder him, but Brady is keeping his distance and has been keeping Finn alive for several weeks. What does he need with the young boy and how much longer must Finn endure his captivity?

I got to enjoy Quieter Than Killing in audio and I need to give a massive thumbs-up to the narrator Imogen Church who voiced Marnie almost exactly how I had imagined her.

As with all of Sarah Hilary’s books the story is gripping, the clues well hidden and the entertainment is to the max. If you are not already reading these books you damn well should be.

 

Quieter Than Killing is published by Headline and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quieter-Than-Killing-D-I-Marnie-ebook/dp/B01INGSU68/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1507232613&sr=1-1&keywords=sarah+hilary

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