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The Woman in Carriage 3 (Audiobook) – Alison James

An ordinary journey. A shocking secret. And the perfect murder…

Hattie travels on the 18.53 train home every night. She sits in the same seat, in the same carriage, and sees the same people. The unwritten rule is you don’t talk to your fellow passengers, but Hattie has been watching them all for months now to distract herself from her own troubles.

Then one night a commuter suddenly drops dead. And the terrible accident changes everything.

In the aftershock of the tragic death, the group of strangers huddled around the two tables in carriage 3 strike up a conversation. Boundaries are shattered, connections are made and Hattie becomes tangled up in the lives of her fellow passengers as they travel to and from London every day.

But Hattie has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. The ordinary people on her ordinary journey all have dangerous secrets. When another commuter is killed, Hattie suspects someone in carriage 3 is responsible. Who can she trust? And is the truth closer to home and more dangerous than she could have guessed?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up late into the night. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Perfect Couple, you’ll be gripped.

I recieved a review copy from the publishers through Netgalley

One evening on a busy commuter train a passenger takes ill. The train is forced to stop to allow medical treatment to be delivered and Hattie finds herself unexpectedly in dicussion with some of her fellow commuters. Drinks are bought, names exchanged and half a dozen mis-matched commuters form an unexpected friendship group. Over the following weeks some of them will travel together, they arrange to sit together and become a small part of each others lives. Except the reader is told one of their number is going to die – how can you not keep reading when you know someone’s days are numbered?

Hattie is the focus of the story. After her relationship broke down a year earlier she has been forced to move home to live in the suburbs with her parents. Hattie finds herself engaged in a number of temporary jobs which hold little appeal. She spends time on Tinder matching with potential partners and seems to enjoy many evenings in pubs with her latest date. Her focus on her jobs will wane, hangovers become more frequent and her parents disapproval at the lifestyle choices she is making are wearing her down.

One bonus of the unexpected new friendship group is that Hattie get to know the handsome Casper, movie star good looks and more than a little charming. Even better is that he seems to welcome Hattie’s attentions. A romance could flourish. The two start exchanging more and more messages and Hattie finds her days are increasingly distracted as she waits to hear from Casper.

Unfortunately Hattie drinks far too much for her own good. She doesn’t come across as a particularly likeable character and she is far too easily influenced and prone to making terrible choices. This makes following her story a frustraing experience at times – I found myself frustrated with Hattie and I just wanted her to grasp some of the good opportunities which were clearly within her reach. But she didn’t.

I did have some frustrations with The Woman in Carriage 3 – a total lack of concern around drink driving being the main one. After their initial meeting on the train the travelling companions will often share drinks on their journey home. One of their party will have join in the drinking and then drive home, often offering others a lift home. Maybe its down to Scotland having stricter drink driving regulations than are in place in the South of England but that made me really uncomfortable. When we find out a bit more of each character’s back story the drink driving seems even more unlikely but that’s spoiler territory.

There were points in the story where I thought about stopping the audiobook and moving on to a new story. It took longer than I had anticipated for the threads which the author was sewing into the story to start to come together. Once the pace started to pick up I was curious enough to stick with the book to see how things panned out. There were some unexpected developments and the narrative definately ended up in places I had not anticipated, however, a couple of the big “reveals” were fairly easy to spot well ahead of the revelation and the story felt more pedestrian than express train.

While some of my concerns make it sound like I didn’t enjoy the book that’s not true. I liked it just fine, didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. It felt like the perfect book for a commute, I could pick it up and put it down in short reading bursts (my 30 min train journey to work) and feel it helped pass the journey. Sometimes that is all I need from a book and The Woman in Carriage 3 did keep me reading to the end, just to find out what would happen to Hattie.

The narrator of The Woman in Carriage 3 deserves a special mention. This was the first time I have heard Jan Cramer on audiobook duties but I thought her performance was excellent. Jan Cramer gave this small cast a great voice and I was more than happy – no niggles, no awkward attempts at accents (sadly something that crops up all too often in audiobooks) and a pleasant narrative voice which I felt fitted perfectly to the setting and tone of the book.

The Woman in Carriage 3 is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BXM14TYY/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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November 3

The Silent Dead – Marnie Riches

She was lying as if asleep on the wooden kitchen floor, beneath the fridge covered with a child’s colourful crayon drawings. But her frozen expression showed she would never wake again…

When Detective Jackie Cooke is called out to the scene, she’s expecting a routine check. The bottle of pills on the kitchen table, next to the note with the single word SORRY written in a shaky hand, make it seem obvious what’s happened. But Jackie is shocked when she recognises her old schoolfriend Claire – and she is convinced Claire would never take her own life.

Determined to dig deeper, Jackie soon discovers evidence that proves her right: a roll of notes has been thrust down the victim’s throat. And when she finds another woman killed in the same way, she realises someone may be targeting lonely single mothers. As Jackie talks to Claire’s distraught children, one of them too young to understand his mummy is never coming home, she vows to find answers.

Both victims were in touch with someone calling himself Nice Guy – could he be the killer? Pursuing every clue, Jackie is sure she’s found a match in dead-eyed Tyler, part of a dark world of men intent on silencing women for daring to reject them. But just as she makes the arrest, another single mother is found dead – a woman who never dated at all.

Forced to re-evaluate every lead she has, with her boss pressuring her to make a case against the obvious suspect, Jackie knows she is running out of time before another innocent woman is murdered. And, as a single mother herself, she cannot help but wonder if she is in the killer’s sights. Can she uncover his true motivation and put an end to his deadly game… or will he find her first?

I received a review copy ahead of the blog tour but I read my own purchased copy. Thanks to Sarah Hardy and Bookouture for the opportunity to take part in the tour for The Silent Dead.

I’m going to cut to the chase – The Silent Dead is terrific. I raced through the story and got totally lost in Jackie Cooke’s life as she finds herself investigating the death of an old school friend.

Readers join the story as a mother drops her young son at nursery for the day. The teary parting from the boy and the heartwrench for his mum will be all too familiar for many parents and it’s an early indication of how Marnie Riches is going to play on our emotions over daily challenges and experiences. Grounding the backdrop to a murder story with elements of daily life, which we can all relate to, made everything seem more personal in The Silent Dead. After leaving her son in the care of his nursery teacher we follow Claire back to her house – it’s the last journey she will make as death awaits her.

When Detective Jackie Cooke responds to the call of a suicide she is shocked to see an old friend from her school days. She finds it hard to believe her friend would take her own life and Jackie has suspicions there may be more to Claire’s death than initially meets the eye. Jackie raises these concerns and finds her combatative boss is less than keen to read too much into matters. The evidence is a single parent with money worries who she left a note to say “sorry”. But Jackie isn’t convinced and wants to dig a little deeper. It turns out she had reason to be suspicious.

The Silent Dead takes Jackie and her colleagues deep into an investigation which will see them bashing heads with objectional ex-husbands, working girls, internet dating sites and facing the problem of the angry incels who live online and seek others who listen to their hateful rantings. Marnie Riches is very good at bringing disturbing and problematic people into her stories and showing the damage they can do when left unchecked. She shines a light on the worst of human nature and weaves compelling crime thrillers around the darker elements many of us choose to ignore (if we even know they are out there).

When not taking on the dark forces Jackie has her work more than cut out for her at home. She is a new mum who also has two older twins causing chaose at home. Returning to work early from her maternity leave, following the sudden breakdown in her marriage, Jackie is juggling work and family commitments. She is stressed, hormonal, frustrated and permanently exhausted – she felt one of the most realistic lead characters I have encountered for some time. Everyday problems ARE problems, not enough hours in the day, missing her kids, unable to get full parental support at parents night – all so relatable to many of us. This recognisable human dynamic of the day to day grind does add to the realism of the story and everyone wants to get behind Jackie and see her pull through and get some respite. If only it were that simple!

As I said at the start of this review – I really enjoyed The Silent Dead. I keep coming back to read more and more of the books Marnie Riches writes as I find them so readable. Pacing is fantastic, characters can be fun, serious and deadly dangerous and the story just flows. More of these will be very welcome.

The Silent Dead is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B3DQDSJ4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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April 10

Last Prophecy of Rome – Iain King

NEW YORK: A delivery van hurtling through Wall Street blows up, showering the sky with a chilling message: America is about to be brought down like the Roman Empire. And there’s only one man who can stop it.

ROME: Maverick military historian Myles Munro is on holiday with girlfriend and journalist Helen Bridle. He’s convinced a bomb is about to be detonated at the American Embassy.

When a US Senator is taken hostage, Myles is caught in a race against time to stop a terrorist from destroying America in the same way ancient Rome was thousands of years ago.

As Myles hurtles from New York to Iraq, Istanbul and Rome, he’s desperate to save the world’s superpower. But can he stop a terrifying threat from becoming reality before it’s too late?

I received a review copy from Bookouture through Netgalley

Last Prophecy of Rome is an action adventure which takes lead character, Myles Munro, across the globe. It’s a grand scale story and sees Munro thrust into the heart of another adventure but it’s not a situation he wants to be in.

America is under threat. A terrorist called Juma plans to bring America to its knees and see it crumble to dust in the way the mighty Roman empire once fell. Munro is an historian and can see parallels between past events and the current threat which America faces. The action commences with an explosion – a delivery van in Wall Street (the heart of New York’s financial might) blows up and causes instant chaos and fear.

Myles Munro is introduced and the quirky protagonist from Secrets of the Last Nazi is soon in the thick of the action once again. In a pacy action thriller it is difficult to review without straying too far into Spoiler Territory. What I can share is that Munro is on top form and that is entirely down to the detailed and informed research Iain King brings to the party. The whole backstory has the feel of “this could happen” the assertions of the terrorists are based upon past events. There are real incidents driving their actions and there are people who have put their faith in a rebalancing of the natural order who want to see America diminished. Munro knows these historical events and he patiently explains to the authorities why they are being targeted. It brings authenticity and tension to the unfolding action.

From high drama “Hollywood Blockbuster” set piece dramas to moments of contemplative reflection and consideration, Iain King keeps Munro front and centre throughout the story. If you enjoy action packed page turners with the endangered but bulletproof hero then this is the book you should be seeking out.

Last Prophecy of Rome is published by Bookouture and is available in digital, audio and paperback format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Prophecy-Rome-action-packed-conspiracy-ebook/dp/B018UWX8V2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534001439&sr=8-1&keywords=last+prophecy+of+Rome

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November 16

Cry For Mercy – Karen Long

The girl’s eyes were open, her gaze softened with a milky hue. Her perfect skin and halo of blonde hair made her look angelic. It was a brutal contrast to the rope suspending her from the high-vaulted ceiling, and the bruises that had blossomed on her arms. Eleanor reached forward then caught herself. This woman was past saving.

When a beautiful young woman is found murdered in a derelict power station, Detective Inspector Eleanor Raven hurries to the scene. The girl’s body has been ritualistically posed, with cherry-red lipstick painted across her mouth. And when she catches sight of the engagement ring crusted with blood on her delicate finger, Eleanor pushes back on the grief it provokes. Lydia Greystein had so much to live for. The only way Eleanor can help now is to find the killer responsible, and she and her team immediately set to work.

As Eleanor and the team work together to unpick the killer’s motivations, another woman is found, bound and posed in the same ceremonial stance. Suddenly, Eleanor’s case becomes more twisted and urgent than ever. Just when they think they’ve hit a dead end, Eleanor finds a link between the victims and a cold case—an unsolved death with a connection to her own hidden life outside work. To follow the clues now risks bringing her secrets into the open.

But as Eleanor begins to understand the killer, he starts to understand her too.

Eleanor must solve this case before more women are taken. Could the secrets she keeps from those closest to her be the final clue to break open this case… or will they ultimately cost Eleanor her life?

My thanks to the publishers Bookouture for my review copy, recieved through Netgalley

Cry For Mercy was originally published under the title The Safe Word. Although I had not read The Safe Word I have read the two books which followed so I had some knowledge of Eleanor Raven’s world before starting Cry For Mercy. This previous reading wasn’t really a spoiler – more an advert for Cry For Mercy as I knew before I started reading that I was in for a treat. Karen Long delivers tension packed thrills with the dark edge that I love in my books.

Cry For Mercy opens in a way you just wouldn’t expect – Karen Long revealing more about Raven than readers may have expected but it lets you understand how she is driven, prepared, cautious and (on some things) secretive. It also prepares readers for one of the background threads of the story…fulfilment of desires.

Raven is one of the best detectives in her division but she has just lost her long-standing partner who has been sidelined by health issues. We enter Raven’s world as a murder victim has been found in an abandoned building – strung up and wrapped in plastic sheeting. A grisly murder scene and one which does not seem to give the cops much to work on.

Raven gets to work the case but she is saddled with a new partner, one that is keen to learn but knows Raven will be a tough taskmaster. He also brings some baggage in the form of an unruly dog which has been dumped on him at short notice by his ex as she swans off on vacation with her new beau. The dog (Monster) brings some of the lighter moments in the story – always welcome in the darker takes – and he is a joyous addition to the cast.

Poor Raven; saddled with a rookie partner, his bombshell dog and coping with the absence of her trusted friend and colleague. On top of this chaotic mix is a brilliantly plotted murder story with a killer who has a plan they want to play out. His victims will be carefully selected and the reader can see him closing in on his prey. Tensions mount further when he realises that Raven is aware of his “work” and steps must be taken to ensure his plans can reach their climax. For Raven this will have more severe implications than she could have anticipated.

Cry For Mercy is a brilliant murder story but definitely not one for readers who favour a cozy crime read. This is the fantastic first book in the Eleanor Raven series and you need to get reading it immediately.

Cry For Mercy is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08HZ7NP8H/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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July 25

Catching Up – Quick Reviews

Some people consider blogging envy to be the state which exists when Blogger A sees Blogger B receiving an opportunity which Blogger A wanted but did not get. Not always. In my house blogging envy is when I see other bloggers keeping up to date with their reviews! Okay I jest (honest) but a combination of lockdown fatigue, no laptop for six weeks and my general scattyness does mean that I have missed sharing my thoughts on quite a few titles.

In a bid to get caught up I thought I would do some shorter reviews, just share the blurb and my thoughts – rather than provide my usual oversight on some of the themes and threads before capturing my overall thoughts on a book. Still with me? Great. Books I didn’t enjoy don’t appear on the blog so I don’t want you to presume I am doing shorter reviews because I was underwhelmed or unhappy…that’s not how we roll here.

Into The Fire (An Orphan X Thriller) – Gregg Hurwitz

Evan Smoak – former government assassin, ‘Orphan X’, turned white knight of last resort – is planning on hanging up his gun.

Then he gets one last call.

Max Merriweather has lost his wife, home and career. Now it looks like he’s going to lose his life. A murdered cousin has left him a package and a team of assassins on his trail . . .

Nothing Evan can’t handle.

If it weren’t for the fact he’s carrying a brutal concussion that’s made him vulnerable. Or that the simple job of keeping Max safe quickly escalated into a mission unlike anything he’s ever encountered.

But as Evan’s problems mount just one thing is clear: he is now in the most dangerous position of his life

I will start with a Five Star Read. When I was doing my 6-hour daily commute to work a few years back I hit the audiobooks pretty hard. One of the gems I discovered was the Orphan-X series by Gregg Hurwitz. I hung onto every word of that first book and quickly downloaded all the others available at the time – now I patiently wait for news of the next instalment.

Evan Smoak was an assassin for the US Government, part of the “Orphan” programme which recruited orphans who were trained as dispensible killers. Smoak left that world behind and went into hiding with a large bank balance to support his off the radar lifestyle. He tries to do some good and put his skills to use, he helps people in desperate situations and when he has solved their problem he asks them to find someone else who needs his help.

The books have all been terrific to read and Into The Fire may just be my favourite. Smoak is moving further away from the life he once knew and watching him try to adapt to a more mundane lifestyle (dating, residents association meetings, mentoring a young hacker etc) while also plotting to bump off some bad guys was wholly absorbing.

I am a huge fan of this series and encourage you to seek them out if action heroes are your thing.

Last Light – Helen Phifer

When a young woman’s body found hanging upside-down from a crucifix in an abandoned church, Detective Lucy Harwin is plunged into a case that will test her to her very limits.

Before Lucy even has time to get started, another body is found. And this time it’s someone Lucy and her team consider one of their own; the chief’s mother. Her body too is hanging upside-down, so Lucy fears there’s a serial killer stalking the streets of her small coastal town.

Lucy knows the chief is a good man. She trusts him, but can’t pin down his alibi. Just as she’s beginning to suspect the worst, she pushes for a test on some animal hairs, and uncovers a link to an old unsolved murder.

Lucy knows she’s getting close, and works around the clock to catch this killer before he strikes again. But then the trail leads her to the church where her teenage daughter volunteers. Can Lucy prevent a tragedy that will tear her world apart again?

After reading Last Light I discovered that Helen Phifer had penned several horror stories which explained why a police procedrual had some pretty brutal murder scenes. The story spends time with the investigating officer (Lucy Harwin) and we also get an insight into the killer as the narrative jumps back to the killer’s childhood and we get to see how they grow into the fully fledged murderer that Lucy needs to track down.

The most intruging element of Last Light was that I felt nobody was safe in this story. Possibly this is another consequnce of the author’s horror writing? I feel the best horror tales can make anyone a victim at any time. Lucy and her colleagues felt at risk during this story, too many police stories have untouchable heroes but Last Light didn’t give that feeling and the story benefits from the feeling of peril.

This was a pretty decent read, the payoff comes at the end when the various threads come together but I felt it took me a while to reach that point. Currently on Kindle for under £2 which makes it cheaper than a latte – buy the book not the coffee.

Golden in Death – J.D. Robb

‘Doctor Kent Abner began the day of his death comfortable and content’

When Kent Abner – baby doctor, model husband and father, good neighbour – is found dead in his town house in the West Village, Detective Eve Dallas and her team have a real mystery on their hands. Who would want to kill such a good man? They know how, where and when he was killed but why did someone want him dead?

Then a second victim is discovered and as Spring arrives in New York City, Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down a serial killer with a motive she can’t fathom and a weapon of choice which could wipe out half of Manhattan.

The 50th Eve Dallas thriller. FIFTY. By my reckoning I have read 47 of them and I have two of the missing books in my TBR pile. It is fair to say I am a big fan of this series. We have seen Eve Dallas grow from kickass socially awkward New York cop into a kickass socially awkward New York Cop who is surrounded by loads of great supporting characters. Watching Dallas grow and her character evolve has been an absolute joy for me. As a reader, finding a character you love is always special – when that character appears in 2 or 3 new books each year – well that’s icing on the cake.

For the 50th story in the series (Golden for 50) I was expecting some huge development in Eve’s personal life – a massive shift in the dyamic of the books – but it didn’t arrive. We began and ended book 50 in much the same position. Now that doesn’t mean J.D Robb may not come back to events in this book and spin them into something new (it has happened in the past with the infamous Icove case) but it didn’t have that feel. Instead we get a solid story with Dallas and Peabody trying to prevent deadly chemicals being released into the city.

There are a couple of deaths – witnessed by the reader so we know what is about to happen. It gives Dallas the opportunity to establish a link between victims, it seems a long shot when they begin to interview suspects, however, the arrogance of one of the suspects gives her cause to dig deeper. I always enjoy watching Dallas and Peabody working a case, turning their attention to characters that don’t behave as they would expect and digging deep into their lives to find the gaps in their alibi.

The humour, the thrills and the fun of the In Death series were very much present. As a fan of these stories I was delighted to have the opportunity to revisit my favourite characters. Trying to convert new readers to a series with 50 volumes may seem a daunting prospect, this isn’t the book which would draw in a new reader and have them hooked but it is a damned fine addition to a terrific collection.

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January 28

Her Secret Past – Kerry Watts

Jean Angus pours the last of the lukewarm tea into her chipped cup, shivering as she looks outside into the dark night. Her eyes are drawn to a slow movement not far from her cosy farmhouse. She’s not expecting visitors. And as the back door opens with a bang, she doesn’t even have time to shout for help.

On a dark winter night, the bodies of Malcolm and Jean Angus lie cold and still in a pool of blood in their kitchen. Detective Jessie Blake is called in to find out what happened to the reclusive pair.

Searching the couple’s property, Jessie learns about a vicious dispute with a nearby land owner, Rachel Ferguson, and when Jessie looks into Rachel further, she doesn’t expect what comes up. Rachel isn’t the person everyone thinks she is and a previous murder conviction just made her Jessie’s prime suspect.

The small Perthshire town begins to gossip about the double murder and Jessie’s own past comes back to haunt her, when her abusive ex-husband begins to interfere in her new life. As the town starts a witch hunt against Rachel, Jessie is under pressure to find out what really happened in the farmhouse that night. Because if it isn’t Rachel, then who is the murderer living among them, waiting to kill again?

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley.

Housekeeping first: this is not the first Jessie Blake story but it is the first I have read. Do you need to have read the earlier stoies? I didn’t think so – Her Secret Past stands well on its own and at no stage did I feel I was missing out on important information or was meant to know what had occurred previously.

Her Secret Past opens in pretty shocking style – a young teenage girl and her 19yo boyfriend have beaten her grandparents to death in a pre planned attack. We watch as things start to go wrong and their careful planning comes apart. Needless to say the pair are found out and prison awaits.

Spin forward to present day and we are at another murder scene and so too is Jessie Blake. Another unusual event – the grandson of one of the victims sitting at the table to eat a meal is also sitting beside the corpse of his grandfather – seemingly unperturbed by the brutal slaying which took place not long before. The boy is clearly on the spectrum but as the story develops it becomes apparent he is very focused on murderers and killers and this is a fascination which could cause some problems during the course of Jessie’s investigations.

The murder throws up a good number of suspects which kept me guessing and reassessing where I thought the story may go. The narrative switched nicely between Jessie’s current investigations and events from 20 years ago which followed that attention-grabbing opening scene. As readers may have guessed – the two stories entwined but not how I had anticipated and someone in the cast is playing a clever game.

The story is well paced and several chapters end on cliffhanger moments which are not immediately resolved on the next page. It keeps you reading but once or twice the effect felt forced and not really necessary.

All in, a good story, interesting cast of characters who mixed up the action well. I’d certainly look for more books in the series.

Her Secret Past is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0813N28BD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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January 14

Her Last Goodnight – Michael Scanlon

Eddie stands at his door anxiously waiting for her to arrive, touching the box in his pocket for luck. He doesn’t hear the footsteps behind him until it’s too late…

Detective Finnegan Beck is called to a violent crime scene – a remote house near the rural Irish town of Cross Beg – where a dog lies whimpering beside his beloved owner’s body.

At first it looks like a burglary gone wrong. But Beck spots something his colleagues didn’t. The victim, Eddie Kavanagh, was wearing his smartest clothes. He’d brushed his hair. And, on closer inspection, a small velvet box containing an engagement ring is discovered in his pocket, along with a letter to a nameless woman, which seems to suggest she’s in danger.

Those who knew Eddie have no idea about a female friend though – there’s been no one in his life since a girl who he’d loved and who’d broken his heart decades before.

So who was the woman Eddie was waiting for? And did his connection with her ultimately lead to his murder? When a beautiful young woman is then found beaten to death, murdered exactly as Eddie had been, Beck has to ask – is the danger over? Or is it just beginning?

I received a review copy from the publishers through Netgalley.

The third book to feature Detective Finnegan Beck but my introduction to the series. It’s always a bit of a worry to jump into a series and not be sure if you need to know the background of the characters to enjoy the newest title. Having not read the first two books I can honestly say I didn’t feel there were aspects of the stories where I had no idea what was going on. Important facts and characters were introduced in what felt a natural way so I didn’t feel detail was being shoe-horned into the plot to ensure newbies like me could keep up. Naturally I will expect there are some subtle or less critical details which will slip by unnoticed and I have no doubt a returning reader will pick up on them.

Her Last Goodnight opens with a violent killing of an elderly man. He is in his good clothes, has an engagement ring in a box in his pocket and police find a letter to a lady-friend which suggests the victim (Eddie) was hoping to save someone from a life he did not feel she should be leading. Eddie’s friends are bemused – they had no idea he had a companion and the manner of his death is deeply shocking to the whole community.

Beck is an experienced police officer but Eddie’s death leaves him deeply troubled and Beck isn’t going to be on top of his game during this investigation. The reasons for his discomfort are revealed through the story and as Beck turns to a bottle to help him cope with events the author handles his situation very well. I found Beck’s situation upsetting and the support his colleagues tried to offer was heartening.

While trying to find a murderer Beck uncovers a seedier side to his small town and I was highly amused by the revelation of how two local residents would supplement their income. Their information led to a peek behind the curtains of a quiet suburban house where all was not as it seems.

But for Beck the real mission was to track down a murderer. For the murderer the stakes have been raised and more proactive action is required to keep their secrets safe. The one thing you can count on in a crime thriller – secrets will out.

I read Her Last Goodnight over 2 days, thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to a new series and will be picking up the earlier books to catch up. That’s a sure sign this was a hit with me – I want more.

Her Last Goodnight is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B081576NZB/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

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December 6

The Silent Dead – Graham Smith

He’d found an angel for his collection. But one angel at a time was never enough…

Detective Beth Young has just joined the Cumbrian major crimes team when a body is found posed in a ritualistic manner – arms spread and graceful wings attached – at a crumbling castle in the hills of the Lake District.

The entire police force are on red alert. But Beth begins to feel she’s the only one who can follow the disturbing clues left by the twisted killer. Because she doesn’t think like everyone else. To Beth, crimes are puzzles she can solve. Even if real life is a little harder.

As more bodies are discovered in derelict stately homes across the Lake District, she knows she’s in a race against time.

But the killer is looking for another victim to add to his collection… Will Beth be able to save her? Or will he get there first?

My thanks to Bookouture for my review copy which I received through Netgalley

I always enjoy picking up a new thriller by Graham Smith as he writes books I love to read. The Silent Dead was no exception, a dark and engaging tale which introduces Detective Beth Young to the crime reading community.

Young is finding her feet in Cumbrias major crimes team. Eager, determined and keen to impress but hampered by a degree of naievity and she still needs to learn the politics of her new role. It makes Beth an endearing and entertaining character to follow.

She is cutting her teeth on a brutal murder case. A body has been discovered – the dead man was suspended upright and subjected to some extremely unpleasant reconstructive bodywork (no spoilers) before his killer abandoned the corpse.

We follow the investigation, a narrative I always love, but progress for Beth and her colleagues is slow so we share their frustrations too.

A second narrative is shared – that of a hunter. A predator looking to add to his “angels” and readers get to see him choose his next target. The cut-away from the investigation to this predator and his potential victims made the story seem more urgent and this kept me reading. You are urging the police to get cracking and stop the bad guys before anyone else is harmed!

The Silent Dead is highly recommended to all crime fiction lovers. Beth is a great lead character and Graham Smith can spin a cracking story.

The Silent Dead is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-Dead-gripping-thriller-stunning-ebook/dp/B07H2DG957/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1544052122&sr=8-3

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April 29

The Family At Number 13 – S.D. Monaghan

The most perfect lives can hide the darkest secrets…

Mary has everything. Beautiful and rich, she lives on an exclusive street in the heart of the city, in a house with gorgeous views and an immaculately maintained garden. Her life looks perfect.

But behind closed doors the truth is very different. Her husband Andrew barely speaks to her, spending his days down in the basement alone. Her teenage nephew is full of rage, lashing out with no warning. Her carefully constructed life is beginning to fall apart.

And then someone starts sending Mary anonymous notes, threatening her and her family…

Everyone has secrets. But is someone at number 13 hiding something that could put the whole family in danger?

My thanks to the Bookouture team for my review copy and the chance to join the blog blitz

This is a tricky wee review to write as the need to avoid spoilers is at a premium…such is the way with twisty and unpredictable stories. What also makes it tricky is that there are several characters in the book who get to take the lead narrative and I didn’t warm to any of them very much. But that’s not a complaint, it is what drives the story onward.

As the story begins to hit its stride we meet Connor. He is a psychiatrist and is not having the best of days, he has just tried to move on one of his patients having reached a point where he felt he could no longer offer the support the patient needed. Unfortunately the patient is not happy with Connor’s decision and the suggestion to end their sessions ends badly. The patient is a rich and influential man his threats to ruin Connor for abandoning him do not make Connor feel any better about his decision.

But things start to look up for Connor – an unexpected opportunity to relocate to a new property in a seemingly idyllic neighbourhood almost seems too good to be true. He can move his practice to one of the rooms in the large house and work from home – saving on office rent and making his workplace more appealing for prospective clients. It should possibly not come as too much of a surprise to learn that the move does not work out well for Connor and soon he finds he has made a terrible decision.

The interaction between the majority of characters in The Family At Number 13 will treat readers to a series of fractious encounters. Tensions run high throughout and if you enjoy the uncertainty of not knowing what the author will throw at us next then this is the perfect read for you. I was kept on my toes keeping up with some of the twists and turns in this story.

Not one for the cozy crime readers – lots of unpleasantness going on in The Family At Number 13. A dark thriller indeed.

The Family At Number 13 is published by Bookouture and is available in paperback and digital formats and can also be ordered as an audiobook. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Number-13-absolutely-psychological-ebook/dp/B07B6BPHLV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524949225&sr=8-1&keywords=the+family+at+no+13

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January 2

The Night Stalker & Dark Water

In January my day job changes and my mega commute of the last 5 months will cease. Between July and December I would spent around 5 hours each day driving the same road, home to office and home again. To pass the time I would listen to talking books, but as I was seldom awake while I was home I fell behind on reviewing those listens…catch-up time.

Today I have reviews for two Robert Bryndza books. Huge thanks to Noelle and Kim at Bookouture for the Audible review copies.

The Night Stalker

If the Night Stalker is watching, you’re already dead…

In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer’s night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.

A few days later, another victim is found dead, in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer – stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.

The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?

As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched… Erika’s own life could be on the line.

The second Erika Foster novel. A series which my fellow bloggers all seemed to love (and I thought had sounded fantastic) but I was late to the party. The good thing about playing catch-up is that there are several books waiting for me and I don’t need to wait months for the next installment!

The Night Stalker is a serial killer tale – one I really, really enjoyed. The victims are found in their homes, bound and suffocated; murdered in the place where they should have been safe from harm. As Foster considers the first victim, tied to his bed with a bag over his head, she cannot discount the possibility that the man died as a result of a sexual encounter gone wrong. The investigation will be complicated as she tries to uncover the man’s private life and unearth any secrets he may have tried to keep.

When a second victim is discovered the stakes are raised as is the pressure on Erika and her team. A prominent media personality is dead, the press are clamouring for information and her bosses are demanding significant progress in made on the investigations. Erika needs to find a possible connection between the two men but she cannot know if there is one – perhaps the victims were selected at random.

For the reader there is the chilling bonus of being able to follow part of the story from the viewpoint of the The Night Stalker. We see the killer watching the next target and follow them as they break into the victim’s home. When the Night Stalker becomes aware of Erika’s investigation the Stalker then focuses on her – unknown to Erika she is a target.

Robert Bryndza is great at pacing the action and there were some fabulous twists through the story. The Night Stalker is gripping reading (or listening in this instance) and it significantly builds on the character of Erika Foster and her colleagues – setting up the rest of the series nicely.

Dark Water

Beneath the water the body sank rapidly. She would lie still and undisturbed for many years but above her on dry land, the nightmare was just beginning.

When Detective Erika Foster receives a tip off that key evidence for a major narcotics case was stashed in a disused quarry on the outskirts of London, she orders for it to be searched. From the thick sludge the drugs are recovered, but so is the skeleton of a young child.

The remains are quickly identified as eleven-year-old Jessica Collins. The missing girl who made headline news when she vanished twenty-six years ago.

As Erika tries to piece together new evidence with the old, she discovers a family harbouring secrets, a detective plagued by her failure to find Jessica, and the mysterious death of a man living by the quarry.

Is the suspect someone close to home? Someone doesn’t want this case solved. And they’ll do anything to stop Erika from finding the truth.

Book 3 and a rather distressing cold case for Erika and her team to take on. Except her team are not her team any longer – she has been transferred to a new station and it seems we will be robbed of the company of Moss and Peterson. Fortunately resurrecting an old investigation (a missing girl who vanished from her street some 26 years earlier) merits extra staff numbers and the trio will soon be reunited.

Dark Water has a very different feel from the first two novels but not to the detriment of excellent storytelling.

Erika will need to wade through boxes of old investigative notes but she could always seek out the assistance of the original investigating officer. This may lead to problems as the officer she needs to consult left the force in disgrace and has drunk herself to oblivion in the intervening years.

When a girl has been missing for 26 years there will inevitably be someone who knows where she has been all this time, someone who may not wish the police to look too closely into the case again. Who can Erika trust to reveal the truth after all those years? Certainly not the alleged pedophile who was once the prime suspect but now holds the police over a barrel after someone (convinced of his guilt) took matters into their own hands.

Of the three Erika Foster books I listened to over the last 5 months I think Dark Water just edges it as my favourite, though that *may* be down to the ongoing development of the characters and my appreciation of the books growing!

Both the above books are narrated by Jan Cramer and she is absolutely marvellous. Having listened to the first three Erika Foster novels, and not actually reading any of the books first, my perception of all the characters has been defined by Jan Cramer’s depiction of them.

I have a dilemma now over whether to get book 4 on audio or pick up a Kindle copy – whatever I choose I already know I am looking forward to my next encounter with Erika Foster.

The Night Stalker and Dark Water are published by Bookouture and can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robert-Bryndza/e/B0089KJBVM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

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