September 1

Blood Ribbon – Roger Bray

When Brooke Adams is found battered, bleeding, and barely conscious, the police are at a loss as to who her attacker is or why she was targeted. Then, PI Rod Morgan turns up convinced that Brooke’s attack is the latest in a string of unsolved disappearances dating back thirty-five years. The police, however, aren’t convinced, leaving Brooke and Rod to investigate the cases themselves.

As secrets from the past start unravelling it becomes a maze, deeper, darker, and far more sinister than either of them could have imagined. Will they find Brooke’s attacker before he strikes again, or will that one secret stay buried forever?

 

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour

After spending a short time away from reading crime thrillers it was very gratifying to settle down with Blood Ribbon and be able to get my teeth into a cracking serial killer tale.

I loved the lead character, Brooke, as Roger Bray takes time to properly introduce her and develop a strong backstory for Brooke before placing her into a perilous situation. Our killer also gets an early introduction so we know there is a bad guy lurking out there waiting to be brought back to the fore.

As the intro blurb explains, Brooke is attacked and left for dead – only just escaping a grim end on a quiet beach. While recovering from her incident she is approached by an investigator who believes that Brooke was meant to be the next victim of a Serial Killer who had been preying on women over a long number of years.

Brooke and Morgan (the investigator) start their own hunt for a killer – as you may expect uncovering dangerous secrets is a hazardous business and Brooke will be in danger again.

Two sittings was all it took to read Blood Ribbon. Not that it is a short book, it is very readable and Brooke’s story made me want to keep reading. Roger Gray has spun a great tale which readers are sure to enjoy and I am keen to read more of his work.

Blood Ribbon is exactly the kind of crime story I enjoy and I really enjoyed curling up with this book at the end of a long, busy day – perfect escapism.

 

Blood Ribbon is available in digital and paperback format and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Ribbon-theres-secrets-digging/dp/0995351198/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1535793940&sr=8-1

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August 29

Keep Her Silent – Theresa Talbot

Oonagh O’Neil is back with another dark and chilling investigation.

‘Do that which is good and no evil shall touch you‘

That was the note the so-called Raphael killer left on each of his victims. Everyone in Glasgow – investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neil included – remember the murder of three women in Glasgow which sent a wave of terror through the city. They also remember that he is still at large…

When the police investigation into the Raphael killings reopens, Oonagh is given a tip off that leads her straight to the heart of a complex and deadly cover-up. When history starts to repeat itself, it seems the killer is closer than she thinks. Could Oonagh be the next target…?

My thanks to the publisher for my review copy and the opportunity to join the Blog Tour.

 

I am very excited to join the blog tour for Keep Her Silent as I loved the first Oonagh O’Neil thriller and have been dying to see what Theresa Talbot had in store for us this time.

Housekeeping: Oonagh first appeared in The Lost Children which was originally entitled Penance. You can order a copy of The Lost Children by clicking on the title and I highly recommend that purchase.  Reading the first novel is not essential to reading and enjoying Keep Her Silent but there are one or two references early in the book to past events so just remember that Oonagh had a life before the events in Keep Her Silent began.

Oonagh is an investigative reporter and as such there are a number of interesting and upsetting cases brought to her attention. Readers get some background detail on the two cases which will dominate the story – Theresa Talbot makes good use of flashback sequences to show crimes being committed then spins back to Oonagh and the investigations she is conducting. A very efficient and satisfying way of keeping events ticking along at a high pace.

Blood contamination and the impact upon innocent hospital patients is very much in the spotlight in Keep Her Silent. Oonagh is made aware of the corrupt nature in which blood was aquired and the lack of regard paid towards the risk of contamination. It makes for chilling reading and the lengths which officials and governments went to in covering up the practice will have your alarm bells ringing.

Closer to home and Oonagh is also looking into the conviction of a Glasgow wife and mother who was institutionalised years earlier for killing her husband and young son. The Glasgow police are also reviewing this double killing as it connects to a cold case which the Powers At Be want closed.

The underlying reasons and practices behind both these investigations are complex. As a reader I felt my perceptions of many incidents being challenged and Theresa Talbot does a fantastic job of showing how unfortunate victims continue to be undermined by those in positions of power or authority. Those they should have been able to trust or to rely upon for help.

Keep Her Silent is a brilliant read. Oonagh is a great lead character who really could do with cutting a break – her personal life also makes for tricky reading and you just want her to do well and confront some of her inner demons.

I have no hesitation in recommending Keep Her Silent – it is a five star read.

 

Keep Her Silent is published by Aria and is currently available in digital format. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keep-Her-Silent-gripping-thriller-ebook/dp/B07DWXW76X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535493303&sr=8-3&keywords=theresa+talbot

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August 23

The Aladdin Trial – Abi Silver

An elderly local artist plunges 100 feet to her death at an overstretched London hospital and the police immediately sense foul play. The hospital cleaner, a Syrian refugee and loner, is arrested for her murder. He protests his innocence, but why has he given her the story of Aladdin to read, and why does he shake uncontrollably in times of stress?

Judith Burton and Constance Lamb reunite to defend a man the media has already convicted. Together they uncover not only the cleaner’s secrets, but also those of the artist’s family, her lawyer and the hospital.

A new Burton and Lamb legal thriller from the author of the acclaimed The Pinocchio Brief.

My thanks to Lightning Books for my review copy

 

This review is long overdue. Now that summer holidays are over, my kids have returned to school and “normal” is slowly returning I can try to catch up on writing reviews of my summer reads.  I wanted to start with a good one so The Aladdin Trial was an easy choice in that regard.

The lead characters, Judith Burton and Constance Lamb, first appeared in Abi Silver’s The Pinocchio Brief. While reading the first book will give you a little extra detail on their background (and give you a great story to enjoy) you will not be disadvantaged in coming “cold” to The Aladdin Trial which can easily be read as a stand alone thriller.

In this story we have a distressing tale of an elderly artist taking a tumble from a hospital balcony and falling to her death. Suspicions are raised that this may not have been an accident and the police turn their attention to a hospital cleaner, a refugee from Syria, who had befriended the woman during her stay.

Judith and Constance will represent the cleaner in court but evidence is mounting up against their client and he is not providing his legal team with any reliable information with which they can defend him.

Away from the legal fact-finding and court preparations the reader also gets to see the children of the artist coping with the fallout of her death (and I assure you that no pun was intended there).  Unbeknown to her children the artist had accumulated some personal wealth down the years and has drafted a will which requires certain conditions to be met before her children will inherit. Those conditions, while not unreasonable, show that the woman expected certain duties or responsibilities to be met by her offspring before they can  inherit. Watching two adults (and their partners) trying to change their ways made for fascinating and frequently awkward reading.

Lots of twists and turns through the story made The Aladdin Trial a great story to spend time with over my holiday. If you like a courtroom drama then add Abi Silver to your reading lists – two goodun’s…and counting!

 

The Aladdin Trial is available in paperback and digital format and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aladdin-Trial-thriller-acclaimed-Pinocchio-ebook/dp/B07C8BB466/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534798231&sr=8-1&keywords=the+aladdin+trial

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August 19

Stitch Up – William McIntyre

Everything is coming up roses for Robbie Munro, newly married and living in the country with wife and child. That is until his wife takes up employment abroad just as old flame, Jill Green, asks him to investigate the unexplained death of her partner.

Suspecting foul play, Jill insists Robbie turns poacher to gamekeeper and does whatever it takes to find the killer – with no expense spared. Another killer on the loose is child-murderer Ricky Hertz, whose twenty-year-old conviction is under scrutiny.

Was the evidence at his trial fabricated? Suspicion falls on Robbie’s father who now faces a criminal prosecution. The only way to prove ex-Police Sergeant Alex Munro’s innocence is for Robbie to show there was no miscarriage of justice.

 

My thanks to Ceris at Sandstone Press for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour

 

Any time spent reading the Robbie Munro (Best Defence) books by William McIntyre is time very well spent.

Robbie is a criminal lawyer who will usually find himself in opposition to the police as he defends the people they are trying to have convicted for crimes committed. This doesn’t make Robbie a bad guy but he is good at his job and we know he has past form of highlighting the police may have made an error when his clients are concerned.

Away from work Robbie is newly married and his family ties remain strong. His young daughter, Tina, is highly entertaining and she features quite frequently in Stitch Up as Robbie is technically on a short holiday and looking after his 6yo. “From the mouths of babes” is an old saying which Robbie would do well to remember as Tina shares her opinion and makes indiscreet observations with amusing frequency.

Stitch Up concentrates on an old crime which rocked Robbie’s hometown of Linlithgow some 17 years ago. A child killer has been released early from his custodial sentence when a doubt was cast upon the original conviction. The arresting policeman was Robbie’s father and he is now in the spotlight as questions are being asked about the legality of the arrest and evidence obtained. Robbie needs to stand by his father to ensure justice prevails and ensure his dad does not become a scapegoat.

Stitch Up is a cracking read, cleverly plotted, engaging characters, humorous and it is clear William McIntyre knows his subject matter well. The authenticity makes the book much easier to get into and enjoyable.

The Best Defence books are a fabulous series and are fast becoming one of my favourites. Stitch Up can easily be read as a jumping-on point – you will want to go back and read the others though!

 

Stitch Up is published by Sandstone Press and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stitch-Best-Defence-William-McIntyre-ebook/dp/B07D7K4Q92/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1534637409&sr=8-1&keywords=stitch+up

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August 11

Nothing Bad Happens Here – Nikki Crutchley

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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June 25

Only The Dead Know – C.J. Dunford

After a traumatic military tour in the Middle East, Daniel “Uneasy” Truce returns home with PTSD. Something happened there. Something he never wants to come out.

A few hand shakes later, Truce lands a new job in a ragtag investigations unit. He may be emotionally awkward, but he’s got a knack for reading body language. Problem is, his boss hates him. Calls him mentally unsound. She gives Truce the dirty work. That’s how he ends up with “the crazy old bat” case.

At 11 a.m. every morning, June drops by her local police station to report a murder she witnessed. Initially the cops took her seriously. They visit the alleged victim’s home to find him very much alive. But June won’t give up, and her daily appearances become a nuisance. Truce is tasked to investigate. To shut her up. Soon June winds up dead-hit by a car. Was it really an accident? Truce thinks there’s more to the case. That maybe someone just doesn’t want the truth to come out …

 

I received a digital review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Daniel “Uneasy” Truce is a former soldier who now works for the police in Scotland.  He leaves his days in the army behind him yet the memory of the experiences are still very much with him and Truce is a PTSD sufferer.

His boss is no fan of Truce and does not value his contribution to the squad so when a serial complainer visits her local police station each day to report the same crime Truce is sent to meet her.  The complainant is June, a feisty widow who manages to convince Truce that she has indeed witnessed a murder.   The only problem is that the alleged victim is still very much alive.

Truce is an expert on body language and firmly believes that June is telling the truth – or what she understands to be the truth. So how can he persuade his grumpy boss that the old “time waster” may have witnessed a crime?  His problem intensifies when June is the victim of a road traffic accident – is this a tragic coincidence or was June murdered?

Only the Dead Know was really enjoyable reading. CJ Dunford tells a great story and this was nicely paced – I just wanted to keep reading.  Truce was an engaging lead character and his personal life looks like it is going to keep us entertained when he returns in future outings as the book is billed as ‘the first book in the Daniel ‘Uneasy’ Truce Mystery series’.

This is exactly the type of story I enjoy.  A police procedural, a nicely plotted mystery to try and solve, realistic characters (June’s pals were perfectly depicted) and a twist I had not expected – makes for a happy reader.

 

Only The Dead Know is available in digital format and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Dead-Know-Daniel-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07B6752H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529931954&sr=8-1&keywords=only+the+dead+know

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June 13

A Dead American in Paris – Seth Lynch

Arty Homebrook lived and died in a world of sleaze which stretched from Chicago to Paris but never beyond the gutter. He’d been sleeping with Madame Fulton, which is why Harry Fulton promised to kill him. So far as the Paris Police are concerned it’s an open and shut case.

Harry’s father has other ideas and hires Salazar to investigate. As Salazar gets to grips with the case he’s dragged reluctantly into an unpleasant underworld of infidelity, blackmail, backstreet abortions and murder. Salazar is far too inquisitive to walk away and far too stubborn to know what’s for the best. So he wakes up each hungover morning, blinks into the sunlight, and presses on until it’s his life on the line. Then he presses on some more, just for the hell of it.

 

My thanks to Emma from Damppebbles.com for the chance to join the blog tour

 

A murder tale taking the reader into the dark heart of 1930’s

 

Paris. A tight reading schedule meant I had to read A Dead American in Paris in just a couple of sittings. If I am honest I think I would have read it in the same short space of time even if I had allowed myself all the time in the world – I was drawn right into the world of Salazar and his chain-smoking companions and could not get enough of this story!

From early in the book we have the very dead American (as advertised in the title).  The police believe the killer is quite obviously Harry Fulton, a jealous husband who threatened to kill the dead man after he slept with Harry’s wife.   But Harry’s father is convinced of his son’s innocence and hires Salazar to investigate and prove Harry is not guilty.

So begins an extremely entertaining murder story which took more dark twists than I had originally anticipated. The reason for my surprise at those dark twists was due to the highly engaging characters of Salazar and his delightful companion Megan.  When these two are in a scene together I rather enjoyed some of the best written dialogue I have read for some time – they are brilliant together. Their verbal sparring (affectionate) lulled me into believing the story would be leaning to the cozy – how wrong was I??? Full on “noirish” goodness – as this was a Fahrenheit Press publication I should have realised this much sooner.

Seth Lynch captures the location wonderfully and the feeling of being in post WW1 Paris comes oozing out of the pages. The scenes feel claustrophobic, rooms are chilly, damp and dingy and even the descriptions of poorly furnished apartments make the whole reading experience seem more authentic as it draws you back to harder times.

It becomes clear that our dead American may not have been the nicest of chaps and Salazar will have his work cut out in narrowing down the suspect pool – but it bodes well for Harry Fulton as his standing as prime suspect starts to look too straightforward. Lots of people wanted Arty Homebrook dead and if Salazar gets too close to uncovering secrets then there is every chance he will be a target too.

A Dead American in Paris was hugely entertaining. Plenty of surprises and twists to keep this reader happy and the location and time-setting of the story made this story stand out (in no small part down to the wonderful descriptive writing by Seth Lynch).

Read this – it’s a good’un.

 

A Dead American in Paris is published by Fahrenheit Press and you can order a copy (paperback or digital) here: http://www.fahrenheit-press.com/books_a_dead_american_in_paris.html

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June 1

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.

 

My thanks to Lauren at Orion for my review copy and the chance to join the blog tour.

 

I love a serial killer story. I love a courtroom drama.  Thirteen was love squared, it was outstanding – the page turner you hope that every book will be but few actually achieve.

Thirteen is Eddie Flynn book 4.  For me it was Eddie Flynn book 1 (though books 1, 2, 3 and the 0.5 novella are all on my Kindle screaming at me to read them). I can categorically state that you do not have to have read the earlier books to enjoy Thirteen.

Eddie Flynn is a former conman turned lawyer – he is headhunted by a large law firm to join the team defending a high profile Hollywood star who stands accused of murdering his wife and her lover. The actor maintains his innocence but the evidence seems beyond dispute.

The reader knows that the real killer is not on trial, he is devising a way to get onto the jury. From this position of power the killer believes he can influence how the other jurors will view the evidence and that he can ensure an innocent man is found guilty of a crime he committed.  The twist is delicious and Steve Cavanagh has worked some serious magic to make this story astonishingly good.

To give away too much of the plot of Thirteen would be criminal – readers should discover the joy of this book for themselves.  Eddie Flynn is a hugely likeable character and I loved the principled drive he brought to this case. The killer made for fascinating reading too – we spend quite a lot of time in their company and the lengths with are gone to for him to secure his position of control are astonishing (and kept me turning pages).

I can also add a little extra detail to my reading experience of Thirteen as before I knew I was joining the blog tour I had already started to listen to the audiobook.  The book is narrated by Adam Sims who has the perfect voice for this story – a slightly gravelly American accent which I could listen to for hours (and did as it happens).  As an audiobook can live or die by the skill of the narrator I was very happy to hear this wonderful tale enhanced by a skilled storyteller.

I tend not to score the books I read but Thirteen is a guaranteed five star read – one of the reading highs of the year.

 

Thirteen is published by Orion and can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thirteen-serial-killer-isnt-trial-ebook/dp/B076PKVQJV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527806735&sr=8-1&keywords=thirteen+steve+cavanagh

 

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May 22

The TV Detective – Simon Hall

Dan Groves is a television reporter newly assigned to the crime beat and not at all happy about it.

Dan knows next nothing about police work or how to report on it, so when he persuades Detective Chief Inspector Adam Breen to allow him to shadow a high-profile murder inquiry it seems like the perfect solution. Sadly for Dan it soon becomes clear some members of the police force have no intention of playing nice with the new boy.

With his first case Dan is dropped in at the deep-end. A man is killed in a lay-by with a blast through the heart from a shotgun. The victim is notorious local businessman Edward Bray, a man with so many enemies there are almost too many suspects for the police to eliminate.

As tensions rise Dan comes close to being thrown off the case until the detectives realise that far from being a liability, Dan might actually be the key to tempting the murderer into a trap.

 

My thanks to Emma Welton for the chance to join the blog blitz and to Fahrenheit Press for my review copy.

The newsroom is meeting the squadroom in Simon Hall’s The TV Detective.  Dan Groves is the environment reporter for his local TV news channel. He loves his role and has developed a great reputation for reporting on contentious issues with a sympathetic understanding.

Dan finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time to avoid a new assignment from his demanding boss.  A man has been attacking prostitutes in the Plymouth area – Dan is sent out to see if he can secure an interview with someone who knew the latest attack victim.  A rash decision to secure the story sees Dan landing in hot water – the only way to avoid the wrath of the powers that be is to accept an immediate move to the Crime Beat (something Dan knows nothing about).

With no time to find his feet Dan finds himself dispatched to cover the latest hot news story.  Local businessman and all round bad-fellow has been shot in his car by person unknown.  Dan is to cover the police conference, see if he can establish any story leads from the scene of the crime and put out the best story which will ensure his network has the best coverage of the shooting.  Easy.  Or not so much.

Further shocks lie ahead for Dan when he learns that agreement has been reached for him to work alongside the chief investigating officer on the case, DCI Adam Breen.

Splitting his time between police station and tv studio we get to see Dan finding his feet in his new role. Shadowing the police and being allowed to contribute to discussions on suspects, motives and other case sensitive information.  As the story unfolds Dan begins to show his value to the police both as a sounding-board for suggestions and as a helpful (friendly) media voice.

The TV Detective is a very accessible and entertaining read.  Dan and Breen have good verbal sparring throughout the story as each man comes to understand the other and boundaries are established.  Away from the investigation we are also treated to Dan’s first attempts at online dating, some light relief from the murder tale and a fun way for the reader to understand the main character a bit better too.

The TV Detective is made by the characters, a small(ish) cast are all really well presented. Dan and Breen hold centre stage and the story is built around them but the supporting cast are also well defined and the author makes you want to know more about his cast – it keeps you reading.

 

The TV Detective is published by Fahrenheit Press and is available in digital and paperback editions.  You can order a copy here: http://www.fahrenheit-press.com/books_the_tv_detective.html

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May 9

Don’t You Dare – A.J. Waines

What if your daughter becomes your enemy?

When barmaid, Rachel, discovers her soon-to-be-married daughter, Beth, pinned down by a stranger in the pub cellar, Rachel lashes out in panic and the intruder ends up dead. In desperation, Rachel convinces Beth they should cover up the crime and go ahead with the planned wedding in one month’s time.

Rachel, however, has her own reasons for not involving the police.

Hiding their dreadful secret is harder than they both imagined and as the big day approaches and the lies multiply, Beth becomes a liability. Rachel looks on in dismay at the hen party when, after too many drinks, Beth declares she’s about to make a special announcement. But before Beth can say a word she disappears…

When two people share a chilling secret can both hold their nerve?

 

My thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my review copy and the chance to join the Blitz

Having previously read a few books by A.J. Waines I picked up Don’t You Dare knowing (without even opening the first page) that I was holding a book with guaranteed thrills and an engaging story. Some quality reading time proved me right.

Rachel is alone in the pub when she spots light coming from a room in the cellar where nobody should be.  She is startled to find her daughter, Beth, cowering under a strange man – Beth is clearly terrified and Rachel rushes to protect her daughter. A scuffle ensues and when it abruptly ends the man lies dead with the mother and daughter standing aghast over his body.

Urgent action is needed and the pair decide they can hide the body and escape detection. Nobody knows they were in the pub at the time the incident occurred and the man was not meant to be there either – if they can keep their cool and plan carefully then they can keep this terrible secret and get on with their lives.

Of course it is never as easy as it sounds and Beth starts to feel the burden of guilt hanging over her.  Rachel is stronger but readers are given some insight into the fact that Rachel may well have experience of keeping secrets – perhaps this was why she was not keen to involve the police from the outset and elected to keep their crime secret?

Don’t You Dare splits narration duties between Rachel and Beth. It gives readers insight into how each woman is coping with the events following their ill-fated evening. The need to keep the secret becomes overwhelming and it is not long before lies and more lies are needed to cover Beth’s increasingly erratic behaviour and to try to throw the police off the track of a missing person investigation.

Tension from first page to last as lies are spun and trust is shattered, I highly recommend Don’t You Dare.

 

Don’t You Dare is published by Bloodhound Books and is available in paperback and digital format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-You-Dare-heart-stopping-psychological-ebook/dp/B07CLKBQQ9/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

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