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Batman: The Court of Owls – Greg Cox

An original novel pitting Batman against the Court of Owls, a secret society of wealthy families that’s controlled Gotham for centuries using murder and money.

For generations, an apocryphal cabal has controlled Gotham from the shadows, wielding fear and violence through its undead assassins, the Talons. THE COURT OF OWLS.

Dating back centuries, its leaders are men and women of wealth and influence who meet in secrecy, hiding their identities behind stark white masks. Employing science and alchemy, they sought to kill Bruce Wayne who, as Batman, dealt them their greatest defeats. Even then they faded back into the darkness, and he could not eliminate them entirely.

Now, Gotham City is plagued with a series of brutal murders in which mutilated bodies are burned almost beyond recognition. Batman and his allies—including Nightwing and Batgirl—quickly realize that the Talons have returned, yet the reason for the killings remains tauntingly unknown.

As the heroes seek answers, their path stretches back more than a century. Should the Owls obtain what they seek, it could grant them power that no one could counter. With each moment that passes, more victims appear.

Batman must stop the Talons before they kill again.

I received a review copy from Titan Books

Batman is 80 and he is going from strength to strength. The Dark Knight is an iconic character who has made the successful leap from the pages of comic books into film, television and is recognised around the world.

One potential drawback for new readers is how can they find an entire Batman adventure to enjoy when they don’t know which comics to read. There are several individual Batman comics released each month and a full story can unfold over a six or seven month period. It can be a bit off-putting.

The good news is that Titan Books are releasing a number of Batman titles as novels. Iconic stories adapted as an original novel by some of the best writers in the genre. To illustrate my point I give you Greg Cox (author of The Court of Owls), he has written original stories featuring Buffy, Star Trek, Xena, Alias, CSI and many more. I was enjoying this author’s work long before my blogging days began.

So I turn to The Court of Owls. I was aware of the “Owls” characters being added to the Gotham City legend but have not (yet) read any of the comics where they feature. They are a shadowy operation with a long reach. For generations The Owls have lurked behind the scenes manipulating and influencing events in Gotham. Recently they emerged from hiding in a bid to take down Batman – his quest to “save” Gotham was interfering with their plans.

The Owls have a number of highly trained killers at their disposal – they are the Talons. Batman and Nightwing will go toe-to-toe with these killers as both the good guys and their foes try to track down a missing student. Her investigations into the history of Gotham has led the Owls to believe she may hold vital information which solve a mystery which has perplexed the Owls for decades.

I have reviews coming shortly for other titles in the Batman novelization series but I can honestly say that The Court of Owls was my favourite in the collection to date. Greg Cox does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and as the story spans two time periods – modern day Gotham and events from around the time of World War 1 – he also gives each period a distinctive feel too.

Batman is racing against the Owls to trace the missing student and it makes for a cracking thriller which zips along at a fast pace. The Caped Crusader has history with the Owls and they are looking to exploit their knowledge of his weaknesses to gain an edge. Their ruthless Talons will provide stiff competition and there are some exciting set piece showdowns where the two sides face off against each other.

While I appreciate comic book stories are not to everyone’s liking I really did enjoy the novelisation of a Batman story. The Court of Owls brilliantly paced, the story had me gripped and I had a genuine sense of regret when the story ended. But that’s the best thing about being a fan of comic book heroes – they keep giving more. Batman has 80 years of stories to discover and enjoy. The Court of Owls is just one place where a new reader can jump in or a returning reader can experience a great adventure in a new format.

The Court of Owls is published by Titan Books and is available in Hardback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785658166?aaxitk=-Bm5EKx9p4rOxIfJvGb8tQ&pd_rd_i=1785658166&pf_rd_p=0e11f8c9-98e1-4a93-bd5e-367420b613ee&hsa_cr_id=8002699930802&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=DC%20Comics%20novels%20-%20Batman%3A%20The%20Court%20of%20Owls%3AAn%20Original%20Prose%20Novel%20by%20Greg%20Cox

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February 13

Beton Rouge – Simone Buchholz

On a warm September morning, an unconscious man is found in a cage at the entrance to the offices of one of Germany’s biggest magazines. He’s soon identified as a manager of the company, and he’s been tortured. Three days later, another manager appears in a similar way.

Chastity Riley and her new colleague Ivo Stepanovic are tasked with uncovering the truth behind the attacks, an investigation that goes far beyond the revenge they first suspect … to the dubious past shared by both victims. Travelling to the south of Germany, they step into the hothouse world of boarding schools, where secrets are currency, and monsters are bred … monsters who will stop at nothing to protect themselves.

A smart, dark, probing thriller, full of all the hard-boiled poetry and acerbic wit of the very best noir, Beton Rouge is both a classic whodunit and a scintillating expose of society, by one of the most exciting names in crime fiction.

My thanks to Orenda Books who provided a copy of the book for review

Beton Rouge is the second novel to feature Chastity Riley. As I have not yet read the first book in the series (Blue Night) I can categorically confirm that Beton Rouge is a story you can read and enjoy without knowing what occurred in Blue Night. I can also confirm that I shall be looking to pick up Blue Night very soon as I thoroughly enjoyed Beton Rouge.

Told in a sequence of short, punchy chapters we join Chastity Riley – prosecutor – in an investigation into a humiliating and violent attack. The victim was locked in a cage having been tortured and, after his ordeal, the cage is left in a public place to be found. A few short days later the same fate befalls one of the man’s colleagues.

Chastity, partnered up with Ivo Stepanovic, discovers the two men were school friends. They, along with a third friend, were an inseparable trio who grew up together and began their careers together. Their reputation precedes them and it is clear the three are not well liked – stories from their school days recall a time when a 4th person was placed into their proximity and suffered as a consequence.

With two of the three colleagues suffering a brutal experience it is imperative Chastity gets the third man protected – will she be too late or are there darker forces at play?

Away from the investigation the reader also gets a close look at Chastity’s social life. She is not the poster child for domestic bliss. Lonely drinking, hooking up with random strangers, texting friends as a veiled call for company. She is an engaging character who is determined and gives as good as she gets so it makes for fun reading.

Beton Rouge was translated to English by Rachel Ward who has done a terrific job. The language in the story is lyrical or poetic at times, very descriptive and often emotive and this shines through in the story telling which gives Beton Rouge a unique and distinctive feel.

Another terrific release from Orenda Books who seem to have a magical ability to find compelling stories.

Beton Rouge is published by Orenda Books and is available in digital and paperback format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Simone+Buchholz&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Simone+Buchholz&sort=relevancerank

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February 4

Video Killed The Radio Star – Duncan MacMaster

Money in the bank and his dream girl on his arm – life was looking pretty sweet for Kirby Baxter.

Of course it couldn’t last. Where would the fun be in that? This is a sequel after all.

After solving the murder of a movie starlet the previous year, Kirby is doing his best to live down his burgeoning reputation as part-time Interpol agent and amateur sleuth.

Then reality TV comes knocking next door.

Million Dollar Madhouse is a reality TV show where a bunch of washed up celebrities are thrown together in a dilapidated mansion while their attempts to renovate the building are broadcast 24/7 for the viewers delight.

Kirby’s quiet town is thrown into chaos by the arrival of camera crews, remote control video drones and a cast of characters including disgraced actress Victoria Gorham, political shock-jock Bert Wayne and reality TV royalty Kassandra Kassabian.

When one of the cast members turns up dead the local police turn to the only celebrity detective in town for help and draft an unwilling Kirby into their investigation.

The first body is only the beginning of another rip-roaring adventure for Kirby Baxter and with Gustav his loyal driver/valet/bodyguard/chef/ass-kicker at his side, our hero plunges into the fray with his usual stunning displays of deductive reasoning and sheer bloody luck.

I received a review copy from the publishers.

It is #Fahrenbruary which is the brainchild of one of my blogging chums @LaughingGravy71 aka The Beardy Book Blogger aka Mart. Fahrenbruary is a month long celebration of the many wonderful books published by indy publishing house Fahrenheit Press. I am a big fan of Fahrenheit and you will find quite a few of their titles reviewed in the archives of my blog.

Confession time from me…I have read quite a few books which have not yet been reviewed here on Grab This Book. I don’t always win the work/life/blogging juggle and some books are enjoyed but not immediately reviewed. Today’s review is for Video Killed The Radio Star – by coincidence it is published by Fahrenheit Press and happily it allows me to share some book love during #Fahrenbruary (even though I read Video Killed The Radio Star in November).

Did you notice that I want to share “book love”? It’s true – I really loved Video Killed The Radio Star and I was most vexed that I was not in a position to share my review when I first read it. By the way from now on I am going with “Video” or this review will take hours to finish writing.

Step forward Kirby Baxter – he first appeared in MacMaster’s A Mint Conditioned Corpse. No requirement to have read the first book to enjoy the second, just the usual caveat of getting better background info on the characters and their respective places in the world. Kirby is hugely enjoyable to read about. He has a personal assistant called Gustav who never seems to speak yet Kirby will recount lengthy chats they have. Kirby has previous form in assisting the authorities with a murder investigation so when a celebrity death occurs on the set of a reality tv show, which is being filmed near his home, Kirby is called to assist to ensure the show can go on.

I loved the premise of assembling a cast of D-list Celebs, locking them in a secure village (where it seems that almost every move they make is recorded for tv broadcast) then bumping off one of the more odious “stars” and make everyone else a suspect. It is a Big Brother murder story with a DIY reality show keeping the suspects assembled and distracted.

Keeping a cracking whodunnit murder story zipping along whilst also delivering on the gags and humour is no mean feat but major kudos to Duncan MacMaster who aces it in Video. I came for the murder but stayed for the jokes. Okay that sounds like an episode of Scooby Doo. No. No. No. That’s not right. Video Killed The Radio Star is a great murder mystery which does not take its-self too seriously and gives readers light-hearted moments to enjoy while the players in this reality tv murder fest try to stay alive.

Kirby will need to mingle with the “stars” and the production team. He needs to work out what made the victim a target, establish who had opportunity and confidence to commit murder in an area surrounded with video cameras and try to keep his girlfriend and her celeb-stalking cousin safe from harm. Their snooping will not be tolerated by those with secrets to hide and Celebs trying to get that one big breakthrough into mainstream awareness do not want any of their secrets revealed. It all makes for some engaging conversations.

I firmly believe that reading should be fun. I don’t get a kick from picking up a novel which other readers have said left them in tears. I want thrills, puzzles, good guys thwarting bad guys and exciting moments of tension which keeps pages turning long into the night. Video Killed The Radio Star delivered on all those fronts and I highly recommend it.

Video Killed The Radio Star is published by Fahrenheit Press and can be ordered in paperback or digital format from their website here: http://www.fahrenheit-press.com/books_video_killed_the_radio_star.html

Other online bookstores are available.

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February 4

The Lost Man – Jane Harper

He had started to remove his clothes as logic had deserted him, and his skin was cracked. Whatever had been going through Cameron’s mind when he was alive, he didn’t look peaceful in death.

Two brothers meet at the remote border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of the outback. In an isolated part of Australia, they are each other’s nearest neighbour, their homes hours apart.

They are at the stockman’s grave, a landmark so old that no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family’s quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish.

Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he choose to walk to his death? Because if he didn’t, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects…

My thanks to Caolinn at Little,Brown Group who provided me with a review copy through Netgalley so that I may join the blog tour.

If you pick up The Lost Man to read immediately after reading an action adventure thriller then you may feel that there is not too much going on in this book. Now, consider a painting. It may take the artist hours to pull together the features, the light and the subtle shades which will leave the end result as a beautifully depicted landscape, telling a story and capturing a moment in time. That is what Jane Harper does in The Lost Man. She builds up layers of story, shades of emotion and depth of characters – all set against a harsh backdrop of the Australian wilderness – and leaves the reader with a wonderfully told story where the lives of three brothers are laid out for inspection.

The Lost Man opens with a death. Cameron – the middle brother of three is found lying in the desert wilderness. It is Christmas time and the weather conditions are brutal hot sunshine – he has walked across a barren landscape and succumbed to the elements. However, when Cameron’s brothers trace his journey back to where he left his car they find it intact, fully operational and well stocked with survival provisions. So why has Cameron left the safety of his car and why did he not take any food or water?

It is a perplexing question and the surviving brothers can offer no immediate answers. However, the story unfolds and Jane Harper will peel back layers of the characters in her tale and secrets will out. The reader gets to understand the isolation these hardy souls have to endure as they farm the land and scratch out a living. Their lives have been closed books to other family members but the circumstances surrounding Cameron’s death will lead to conversations which would never have taken place being aired in front of unexpected audiences.

This is story telling of the highest order. I just wanted to keep reading as the author transported me to the other side of the world. The information you are craving is drip fed into the story and the pages begin to turn themselves. What a talent Jane Harper is – she will draw you into her world and you will not want to leave.

The Lost Man is available in Hardback, Digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Man-Jane-Harper-ebook/dp/B07DX23VP3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1549238946&sr=8-1

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January 27

Changeling – Matt Wesolowski

A missing child
A family in denial
Six witnesses
Six stories
Which one is true?

On Christmas Eve in 1988, seven-year-old Alfie Marsden vanished in the dark Wentshire Forest Pass, when his father, Sorrel, stopped the car to investigate a mysterious knocking sound. No trace of the child, nor his remains, have ever been found. Alfie Marsden was declared officially dead in 1995.

Elusive online journalist, Scott King, whose ‘Six Stories’ podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the disappearance, interviewing six witnesses, including Sorrel and his ex-partner, to try to find out what really happened that fateful night. Journeying through the trees of the Wentshire Forest – a place synonymous with strange sightings, and tales of hidden folk who dwell there, he talks to a company that tried and failed to build a development in the forest, and a psychic who claims to know what happened to the little boy…

Intensely dark, deeply chilling and searingly thought provoking, Changeling is an up-to-the-minute, startling thriller, taking you to places you will never, ever forget.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Karen at Orenda Books for the chance to join the blog tour. I have reviewed the Audible audiobook which I had pre-ordered for purchase before I knew I would be joining the blog tour.

Matt Wesolowski writes each of the Six Stories books as a series of podcast episodes. One novel takes the reader/listener through a sequence of six interviews each interview is designed to give a different viewpoint on a single incident. The incidents in questions are unsolved crimes, mysteries or puzzles to which there has not been a definitive answer or explanation and sometimes the incidents have a supernatural undertone. The podcast host asserts that he is not trying to solve these crimes or occurrences, simply letting his listeners have the opportunity to challenge the “truth”.

As Changeling is written as a sequence of podcasts I was determined to read the book in audiobook format. What better way to enjoy the podcasts than to have them play out in the format they are intended to be presented? The result – an astonishing and wholly immersive experience.

Changeling documents the disappearance of a young boy in 1988. Alfie Marsden was in a car with his father on Christmas Eve when, driving near Wentshire Forest, their car broke down after Alfie’s father (Sorrel) heard a strange tapping noise coming from the engine. Sorrel was looking under the bonnet trying to identify the source of the noise, Alfie was sleeping in the car. Yet when Sorrel gave up on his mechanical investigations and looked back into the car Alfie was gone.

The case generated a lot of publicity over 3o years ago and Wentshire Forest had a reputation for creepy and unexplained activity. Scott King explores the forest’s reputation, looks into the people around Alfie at the time he disappeared and challenges his listeners to consider if something came out Wentshire Forest and took Alfie back into the woods.

Tap, Tap, Tap.

The emotion and the drama surrounding the disappearance of a young child is brilliantly conveyed in the performances of the narrators on the audiobook. As was the terror surrounding the tap, tap, tap phenomenon in the interviews discussing the peculiarities of Wentshire Forest.

Tap, Tap, Tap.

A constant chilling undertone plays over a distressing family drama. Broken people tell their story and it can make for harrowing listening. Matt Wesolowski has delivered another majestic read.

I am blown away by the storytelling in the Six Stories books and I urge everyone to seek them out. If you listen to podcasts but don’t like to listen to talking books then I believe Changeling could be the book which may change your listening habits. There is nothing to rival the sheer reading pleasure of losing yourself in the brilliance of a well constructed audiobook. The Six Stories series is an essential addition to any audiobook library.

Changeling is available in digital, paperback and audiobook format. It can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Changeling-Six-Stories-Book-3-ebook/dp/B07F9JH5ZV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548587467&sr=8-1&keywords=changeling+matt+wesolowski

Follow the tour

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January 22

Catching Up: Hall/Tudor/Foley

I won’t bore you with the details but the last few weeks have been a bit manic Chez Grab and I fell behind with my reviews. I still managed to grab reading time but now I have a bit of catching up to do.

I have taken the executive decision to do some rapid reviews and aim for two or three titles per post. So without further ado here is a flavour of what I have been reading:

The Party – Lisa Hall

It was just a party. But it turned into a nightmare.

When Rachel wakes up in a strange room, the morning after a neighbour’s party, she has no memory of what happened the night before. Why did her husband leave her alone at the party? Did they row? Why are Rachel’s arms so bruised? And why are her neighbours and friends so vague about what really happened?

Little by little, Rachel pieces together the devastating events that took place in a friend’s house, at a party where she should have been safe. Everyone remembers what happened that night differently, and everyone has something to hide. But someone knows the truth about what happened to Rachel. And she’s determined to find them.

A story set at New Year but not a party that Rachel will ever forget. She awakes in her friends house with little memory of what occurred the previous night. However Rachel quickly realises that she was raped and cannot identify her attacker.

Lisa Hall builds a cracking, suspense-filled tale around this deeply upsetting incident. Rachel doesn’t know who she can trust and the lack of support she feels she is receiving really isolates her amongst her family and friends. When Rachel begins to fear she may still be in danger that isolation really hits home.

This was the first Lisa Hall novel I have read but I was well aware of her reputation for writing clever and engaging thrillers. The Party did not disappoint and I will add my voice to the ranks of bloggers who strongly recommend reading Lisa’s books.

Order The Party here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Party-gripping-psychological-thriller-bestseller-ebook/dp/B06W5RT7JD/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548189986&sr=1-1&keywords=the+party+lisa

The Chalk Man – C.J. Tudor

It was only meant to be a game . . .

None of us ever agreed on the exact beginning.

Was it when we started drawing the chalk figures, or when they started to appear on their own?

Was it the terrible accident?

Or when they found the first body?

A delightfully dark debut from CJ Tudor. I have had The Chalk Man in my “TBR” pile for longer than I intended (her second novel is just a few weeks away).

I enjoyed The Chalk Man – the story zipped along at cracking pace and happily I was totally wrong in my predictions as to how the story was going to pan out. Through a nice series of then/now narratives I felt that the reader got a comprehensive look at the key characters in the story from their formative years to present day.

The formative years are important as it is in the past that the seeds of horror are sewn. A tragic event at a funfair has lasting consequences for a young girl. A group of young friends are on the cusp of their teen years – they will face fears, family turmoil and experience tragedy before the book draws to a conclusion.

The key character is Ed. As an adult he is a 40-something single man and he has a few significant character flaws. As a child Ed was a troubled 12 year old, member of a gang of 5 pals from very different backgrounds. His parents were causing him embarrassment (and his mother’s job brought unwelcome attention). Also Ed is right on hand at the funfair incident – a day which may shape how Ed’s life will pan out.

The Chalk Man delivered surprises and twists and, as I indicated above, I enjoyed the story as it kept me reading to see how it would pan out. Well worth picking this one up.

Order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chalk-Man-Sunday-bestseller-chilling-ebook/dp/B06XXSVQ9T/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548189938&sr=1-1&keywords=the+chalk+man

The Hunting Party – Lucy Foley

In a remote hunting lodge, deep in the Scottish wilderness, old friends gather for New Year.

The beautiful one
The golden couple
The volatile one
The new parents
The quiet one
The city boy
The outsider

The victim.

Not an accident – a murder among friends.

A remote lodge in the Scottish Highlands is the setting for this unusual murder story.

Unusual because the reader learns very early that someone is dead but the identity of the victim (and of the killer) is not revealed until the endgame plays out. This is clever writing from the author as she has introduced a large cast of characters in which both victim and murderer will be hidden in plain sight for the duration of the story. Readers have to try and work out who will be vulnerable and also the potential aggressors.

Our likely suspects appear to be members of a party of friends who have left the city behind to celebrate New Year in the remotest cabin in The Highlands. A resident housekeeper and the Gameskeeper are virtually the only locals they will encounter. There are two other guests (who the friends will try to avoid) and just to keep readers in their toes there is a murder investigation being conducted by local police – have our friends placed themselves at the mercy of a murderous stranger?

Of all the books I read over Christmas this one caused me the most frustration. I enjoyed the story, it is a clever premise and the tension is maintained throughout the story. There are clues and red herrings as to the identity of murderer and victim so it should have been a joy to read. Sadly I found all the city friends to be extremely irritating – which I am sure is intentional as their flaws are clearly flagged and they behave in an abhorrent manner for much of the story.

At points I would have been happy for ALL the friends to have been bumped off and my irritation with most of the cast made me reluctant to keep reading. But perseverance was rewarded and the great premise and ongoing thrills won out in the end.

I have seen lots of praise heaped upon The Hunting Party so I have no doubt it will do well. It is cleverly done and I think would make a great book-group read.

Order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FK6L3T1?pf_rd_p=71cb17e9-f468-4d3f-94d5-a0de44c50a7e&pf_rd_r=HY9JYDZHZ9AJC10APTN1

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January 16

Evil Things – Katja Ivar

Hella Mauzer was the first ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit. But her superiors deemed her too ‘emotional’ for the job and had her reassigned. Now, two years later, she is working in Lapland for the Ivalo police department under Chief Inspector Järvi, a man more interested in criminal statistics and his social life than police work.

They receive a letter from Irja Waltari, a priest’s wife from the village of Käärmela on the Soviet border, informing them of the disappearance of Erno Jokinen, a local. Hella jumps at the chance to investigate. Järvi does not think that a crime is involved. After all, people disappear all the time in the snows of Finland.

When she arrives, Hella stays the village priest and his wife, who have taken in Erno’s grandson who refuses to tell anyone his grandfather’s secret. A body is then discovered in the forest and she realizes that she was right; a crime has been committed. A murder. But what Hella doesn’t know, is that the small village of Käärmela is harbouring another crime, a crime so evil, it is beyond anything any of them could have ever imagined.

My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things for the chance to join the Evil Things blog tour

First blog tour of the year for me and it is great to start with a book I enjoyed.

Evil Things took me into new territory as I cannot think of any other books set in 1950’s Finland. We are quickly introduced to Hella Mauzer and given an insight into her challenging life. Hella is a female police officer at a time where women were not expected to join the force. She appears driven and determined but as the story unfolds the reader also gets to see how Hella has left a role in a busy Helsinki station to a role at a more remote outpost.

Working under a boss who believes effective policing is keeping careful files and not taking on difficult unsolvable work (which would ruin his efficiency statistics) Hella wants to head into the deep woods to follow up a report of a missing man. Her boss is extremely reluctant to let Hella leave. The prospect of a change to the weather could mean Hella is stranded in the wilderness for weeks.

Fortunately Hella prevails and he heads to the village of Käärmela where she will stay with the local priest and his wife. They are also looking after the grandson of the missing man. The boy is too young to fend for himself and his missing grandfather was his only carer. Hella tries to question the boy and realises he has a secret but something is scaring him and he will not reveal anything useful.

By the time she arrives in Käärmela Erno Jokinen has been missing for several days. There are searches of the woods being conducted and before long human remains are found. Hella realises that there are secrets in Käärmela but she really could not have been prepared for what was to follow.

Evil Things played out very well. Hella is a complex character, she is no fan of herself and seems to be quick to focus on her own shortcomings. Her initial interactions with colleagues and strangers make her seem unapproachable or even hostile. Yet it is easy to like Hella too. I cringed at some of her behaviour but still empathised with her situation and became angry on her behalf over how her colleagues had treated her.

Location is another very important aspect of the story. The setting is the remote Finnish woods and the isolation is conveyed really well – couple this with the lack of technology (1950’s remember?) and the reader feels Hella is all alone and extremely vulnerable. Hella will feel that too.

Atmospheric reading which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Evil Things is published by Bitter Lemon Press and is available in audiobook, digital and paperback format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Things-Katja-Ivar-ebook/dp/B07GT7QDHD/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547668803&sr=8-1

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January 7

Red Snow – Will Dean

TWO BODIES

One suicide. One cold-blooded murder. Are they connected? And who’s really pulling the strings in the small Swedish town of Gavrik?

TWO COINS

Black Grimberg liquorice coins cover the murdered man’s eyes. The hashtag #Ferryman starts to trend as local people stock up on ammunition.

TWO WEEKS

Tuva Moodyson, deaf reporter at the local paper, has a fortnight to investigate the deaths before she starts her new job in the south. A blizzard moves in. Residents, already terrified, feel increasingly cut-off. Tuva must go deep inside the Grimberg factory to stop the killer before she leaves town for good. But who’s to say the Ferryman will let her go?

My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the chance to join the blog tour.

We first met Tuva Moodyson in Dark Pines – a book I included in my Top Ten Reads of 2018. Tuva’s debut appearance was a shining example of how to make your lead character instantly memorable and entirely likeable. I have been really looking forward to her return in Red Snow and I was not disappointed with Will Dean’s latest release.

Tuva is leaving town, she is counting down the days left at work, has agreed the end of the lease on her car and is saying her farewells to colleagues and friends. However, Tuva is not going to get the chance to slip away quietly. She finds herself outside the large liquorice factory (the business which employs most of the townsfolk) just as the factory owner leaps to his death from the highest chimney of his plant. He dies at Tuva’s feet.

Tuva will find herself drawn back to the Grimberg liquorice factory and while being taken on a tour of the facility she makes a shocking discovery.

To uncover the truth Tuva will need to get close to the owners of the factory, however, they are notoriously secretive and are not keen to have Tuva disrupting the workings of their factory…too many jobs rely upon business as usual.

I loved Red Snow. The small town in what w to be a perpetual ice block gives the story a cold, atmospheric feel which is perfect for the sinister tale Will Dean is spinning. Tuva is a delight to read about, her determination and focus delightfully balanced by wobbly nerves when she gets flustered by a new crush.

Will Dean is creating wonderful stories, you really should read them as I know you will enjoy them.

Red Snow is published on 10 January 2018 by Point Blank and will be available in hardback, digital and audiobook. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Snow-Tuva-Moodyson-Mystery/dp/1786074796/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1546790529&sr=8-1

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December 31

City Without Stars – Tim Baker

Mexico – Ciudad Real is in crisis: the economy is in meltdown, a new war between rival cartels is erupting, and a serial killer is murdering hundreds of female workers.

Fuentes, the detective in charge of the investigation, suspects that most of his colleagues are on the payroll of his chief suspect, narco kingpin, El Santo. If he’s going to stop the killings, he has to convince fiery union activist, Pilar, to ignore all her instincts and work with him. But in a city eclipsed by murder, madness and magic, can she really afford to trust him?

Dark Pines – Will Dean

SEE NO EVIL

Eyes missing, two bodies lie deep in the forest near a remote Swedish town.

HEAR NO EVIL

Tuva Moodyson, a deaf reporter on a small-time local paper, is looking for the story that could make her career.

SPEAK NO EVIL

A web of secrets. And an unsolved murder from twenty years ago.

Can Tuva outwit the killer before she becomes the final victim? She’d like to think so. But first she must face her demons and venture far into the deep, dark woods if she wants to stand any chance of getting the hell out of small-time Gavrik.

The Darkness – Ragnar Jonasson

A young woman is found dead on a remote Icelandic beach.

She came looking for safety, but instead she found a watery grave.

A hasty police investigation determines her death as suicide . . .

When Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir of the Reykjavik police is forced into early retirement, she is told she can investigate one last cold case of her choice – and she knows which one.

What she discovers is far darker than suicide . . . And no one is telling Hulda the whole story.

When her own colleagues try to put the brakes on her investigation, Hulda has just days to discover the truth. A truth she will risk her own life to find.

The Lost Village – Neil Spring

The remote village of Imber – remote, lost and abandoned. The outside world hasn’t been let in since soldiers forced the inhabitants out, much to their contempt.

But now, a dark secret threatens all who venture near. Everyone is in danger, and only Harry Price can help. Reluctantly reunited with his former assistant Sarah Grey, he must unlock the mystery of Imber, and unsurface the secrets someone thought were long buried. But will Sarah’s involvement be the undoing of them both?

Thirteen – Steve Cavanagh

THE SERIAL KILLER ISN’T ON TRIAL.

HE’S ON THE JURY…

‘To your knowledge, is there anything that would preclude you from serving on this jury?’

Murder wasn’t the hard part. It was just the start of the game.

Joshua Kane has been preparing for this moment his whole life. He’s done it before. But this is the big one.

This is the murder trial of the century. And Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house.

But there’s someone on his tail. Someone who suspects that the killer isn’t the man on trial.

Kane knows time is running out – he just needs to get to the conviction without being discovered.

The Lingering – SJI Holliday

Married couple Jack and Ali Gardiner move to a self-sufficient commune in the English Fens, desperate for fresh start. The local village is known for the witches who once resided there and Rosalind House, where the commune has been established, is a former psychiatric home, with a disturbing history

When Jack and Ali arrive, a chain of unexpected and unexplained events is set off, and it becomes clear that they are not all that they seem. As the residents become twitchy, and the villagers suspicious, events from the past come back to haunt them, and someone is seeking retribution…

The Hangman’s Hold – Michael Wood

There’s a killer in your house.
The Hangman waits in the darkness.

He knows your darkest secrets.
He’ll make you pay for all the crimes you have tried desperately to forget.

And he is closer than you think.
DCI Matilda Darke is running out of time. Fear is spreading throughout the city. As the body count rises, Matilda is targeted and her most trusted colleagues fall under suspicion. But can she keep those closest to her from harm? Or is it already too late?

The Janus Run – Douglas Skelton

When Coleman Lang finds his girlfriend Gina dead in his New York City apartment, he thinks nothing could be worse… until he becomes the prime suspect.

Desperate to uncover the truth and clear his name, Coleman hits the streets. But there’s a deranged Italian hitman, an intuitive cop, two US Marshals, and his ex-wife all on his tail. And trying to piece together Gina’s murky past without dredging up his own seems impossible. Worse, the closer he gets to Gina’s killer, the harder it is to evade the clutches of the mysterious organisation known only as Janus – from which he’d long since believed himself free.

Packed with plot twists, suspense and an explosive climax, The Janus Run is an edge-of-the-seat, breathtaking thriller – NYC noir at its finest.

The Puppet Show – M.W. Craven

A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of . . .

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant, but socially awkward, civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he’s ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive …

The Dali Deception – Adam Maxwell

Five criminals. Two forgeries. And one masterpiece of a heist.

Violet Winters—a professional thief born of a good, honest thief-and-con-artist stock— has been offered the heist of a lifetime. Steal a priceless Salvador Dali from the security-obsessed chairman of the Kilchester Bank and replace it with a forgery.

The fact that the “painting” is a signed, blank canvas doesn’t matter. It’s the challenge that gives Violet that familiar, addicting rush of adrenaline. Her quarry rests in a converted underground Cold War bunker. One way in, one way out. No margin for error.

But the reason Violet fled Kilchester is waiting right where she left him—an ex-lover with a murderous method for dumping a girlfriend. If her heist is to be a success, there will have to be a reckoning, or everything could go spinning out of control.

Her team of talented misfits assembled, Violet sets out to re-stake her claim on her reputation, exorcise some demons, and claim the prize. That is, if her masterpiece of a plan isn’t derailed by a pissed-off crime boss—or betrayal from within her own ranks.

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December 27

The Woman in the Window – A. J. Finn

What did she see?

It’s been ten months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something horrifying. Now she must uncover the truth about what really happened. But if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself?

My thanks to Rebecca at Harper Collins for my review copy.

This will be my last review of 2018 – glad I get to finish with a five star cracker of a read! The Woman in the Window is one of those stories you just want to finish in a single sitting. It is chilling, tragic, unsettling, funny and just plain perplexing at times and I loved it.

Anna Fox has not left her home for months. She suffers from agoraphobia and is terrified to step outside her front door. Anna connects to the world through an online chat forum where she helps fellow agoraphobics to face their fears and chat to a friendly and supportive fellow sufferer. Anna also plays chess, drinks far too much and spends a lot of time watching her neighbours.

Her new neighbours are causing her some frustration, she doesn’t know enough about them yet and so, with camera in hand, Anna is fact finding. She discusses the neighbours with her husband – he and Anna are separated at present and he lives elsewhere with their daughter. It is clear that Anna misses them terribly but their relationship hit a rocky patch and they are currently not together. This doesn’t prevent Anna from spilling the beans on the new neighbours when the couple have a catch-up chat.

The Russells have moved in over the road. Father, Mother and a teenage son. Anna first meets the son who pops around with a gift from his mother. A few days later Anna meets Mrs Russell (Jane) and the pair spend an entertaining afternoon together before Jane has to head off. The next time Anna sees Jane it is through the window of her home and Jane is being attacked.

Anna is convinced that Jane is dead and tries to report her suspicions to the police. The detectives that come to call upon her have some good news – Mrs Russell is very much alive and there was no attack in her home. But the irrefutable proof they offer Anna that no crime took place shock her to the core and leave her doubting everything she has seen or done in recent weeks. It also confounded the hell out of this reader.

The Woman in the Window is one of the books worthy of the “page turner” accolade. It is the physical embodiment of “one more chapter” and is a thumping good read. I will be recommending this to everyone for some time to come.

The Woman in the Window is now available in paperback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woman-Window-J-Finn/dp/0008234183/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1545940819&sr=8-1

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