mystery – Page 3 – Grab This Book

All The Little Lies – Chris Curran

After a lifetime of secrets how far would you go for the truth?

An unputdownable new psychological thriller, full of twists you won’t see coming, from Chris Curran.

Your whole life has been a lie…

One email is all it takes to turn Eve’s world upside down. It contains a picture of her true birth mother, Stella, and proves that Eve’s entire life with her adoptive parents has been a lie.

Now she must unravel the mystery of Stella’s dark past. But what Eve finds will force her to take enormous risks, which put her – and her new-born baby – in immediate danger…

I purchased this book with the intention of providing a review.

Eve is an expectant mum-to-be when a friend emails her an article about a young artist who created a brief stir in the art-world several years ago. The artist in question was on the cusp of greatness when she met a tragic end and died under mysterious circumstances.

Eve had never heard of the artist but when she looked at the photograph which accompanied the article there could be no doubt that this was Eve’s mother. She immediately wants answers – why did her adoptive parents not tell her about her real mother? What happened that her mother died so young? Why are the circumstances of her death considered to be mysterious?

This is a terrific family drama story from Chris Curran. Working with a small cast of characters we follow Eve as she starts trying to find out what happened to her birth mother – a stranger to Eve but surprisingly well known to her foster parents.

As you may expect there are consequences to raking up long forgotten stories and the more that Eve discovers the more she realises that her family have kept secrets from her. But additional dangers lurk…

Eve’s mother, Stella, died under mysterious circumstances and the reader gets to spend time with Stella seeing how the last days and weeks of her life played out. Will someone who knew Stella now look to prevent Eve from digging into the circumstances surrounding Stella’s death? It is a very real possibility and Eve and her family are in more danger than they may realise.

I do enjoy domestic dramas when they are as well told as All The Little Lies. You know everyone is keeping secrets, you know some are deliberately telling lies. Can you work out where the truth is to be found? I’d strongly urge you to read All The Little Lies to find out!

All The Little Lies is published by Killer Reads and is available in paperback and digital format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Little-Lies-unputdownable-psychological-ebook/dp/B07K23KH3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550530059&sr=8-1&keywords=all+the+little+lies

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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 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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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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November 24

The Lingering – SJI Holliday (Audiobook)

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…

At once an unnerving locked-room mystery, a chilling thriller and a dark and superbly wrought ghost story, The Lingering is an exceptionally plotted, terrifying and tantalisingly twisted novel by one of the most exciting authors in the genre.

My thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for the opportunity to review the audiobook of The Lingering for the blog tour.

I was lucky to receive an early review copy of The Lingering and my review of the book is reproduced below. Spoiler…I loved it. But when I was invited to join the blog tour I asked if I could review the audiobook of The Lingering.

Over the last 12 months I have become an audiobook convert. While the reading pace is frustratingly slow I am finding I get so much more from my books when every word is carefully articulated by an array of excellent actors. The Lingering really emphasised the difference between two reading experiences and the audio Book is incredible.

Knowing the story made no difference to my enjoyment, the dual voice narrative was a treat and, while I did not think it possible, it is was a more eerie and chilling experience to have the story told to me.

The Lingering has been one of my favourite stories if the year. Outstanding and capitvating in equal measure – to listen to the audiobook rubberstamped that opinion. Whether you elect to read or listen to this book you need to make sure it is one you grab as soon as you can.

My original review:

I spent most of my teen years pouring over all the ghost stories and horror books I could get my hands on but I do feel that there is currently a lack of good new ghostly tales for readers to enjoy. This is why, when I first heard that Susi Holliday was writing a spooky thriller, I was beyond excited and The Lingering instantly became my “most anticipated” book.

The wait was entirely worth it as there was no Lingering over this story. I was flicking pages so fast I am surprised the pages didn’t burst into flame.

The setting for The Lingering is a large creepy house which was once used as a psychiatric hospital. Within the house is a commune, the residents are odd collection of characters who live a seemingly simple and self-sufficient life. Into this mix come Ali and Jack Gardiner – they bring secrets and their past is a mystery but it is clear to the reader that the couple are trying to escape a troubled past and get a fresh start.

Jack and Ali discover that their new home is rumoured to be haunted and it is not long before Susi Holliday starts to unsettle the reader with odd occurrences and strange sightings. The constant ghostly undertone to the story is a joy and when chilling incidents arose I found myself drawing deeper back into my chair and scanning the dark corners of the room to ensure I really was alone.

As with all her previous books the characters in The Lingering are wonderfully defined so you will get drawn into the lives of Ali and Jack and also that of “Fairy” Angela (the resident self-appointed ghost hunter) and Smeaton, the commune leader. Strong characters give me much more of a personal investment into a story and this meant when unpleasant things started to happen I felt an anger/outrage and upset that I don’t normally expect to get from books.

The joy of The Lingering is that Susi Holiday sets up many mysteries throughout the story and it is the desire to uncover the truth which will keep you reading. Make no mistake this is a dark, dark story and there are some deeply unpleasant events to be uncovered but discovering these secrets is an absolute joy.

I am reluctant to share too much about what happens within Rosalind House and its occupants past and present. Suffice to say that The Lingering is a brilliantly chilling tale and that Susi Holliday is on top, top form delivering a story which feels like an instant classic

The Lingering is published by Orenda Books and is available in digital, paperback and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lingering-S-J-I-Holliday-ebook/dp/B07DFVXVDX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543010848&sr=8-1&keywords=the+lingering

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November 1

The Mystery of Three Quarters (New Hercule Poirot Mystery) – Sophie Hannah

The world’s most beloved detective, Hercule Poirot – the legendary star of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and most recently The Monogram Murders and Closed Casket—returns in a stylish, diabolically clever mystery set in 1930’s London.

Returning home after lunch one day, Hercule Poirot finds an angry woman waiting outside his front door. She demands to know why Poirot has sent her a letter accusing her of the murder of Barnabas Pandy, a man she has neither heard of nor ever met.

Poirot has also never heard of a Barnabas Pandy, and has accused nobody of murder. Shaken, he goes inside, only to find that he has a visitor waiting for him — a man who also claims also to have received a letter from Poirot that morning, accusing him of the murder of Barnabas Pandy.

Poirot wonders how many more letters of this sort have been sent in his name. Who sent them, and why? More importantly, who is Barnabas Pandy, is he dead, and, if so, was he murdered? And can Poirot find out the answers without putting more lives in danger?

My thanks to the publishers for my review copy which I received through Netgalley.

Happy oh happy day. Hercule Poirot is back for a third outing under the care of Sophie Hannah.

Over 20 years ago I read, what I had assumed to be, the last Poirot novel. I had worked my way through all the Poirot novels and short story collections and knew that when I finally finished Dead Man’s Folly I would be done. Sadly I found I had left one of my least favourite Poirot stories to the end and this only increased my disappointment.

Spin forward to 2014 and Sophie Hannah brings Poirot back in a whole new adventure – The Monogram Murders. I had to read it. I did read it. I loved having a whole new Hercule Poirot murder story to enjoy…would there be more books to follow?

Yes!

2016 saw Sophie Hannah release Closed Casket and 2018 brings us The Mystery of Three Quarters (by far the most intriguing title to date). Poirot is accused of writing to a number of people and suggesting that one Barnabas Pandy was murdered. Furthermore the recipient of these letters are accused of murdering Pandy.

When first confronted with one of the letters he sent Poirot is perplexed – he has never heard of Barnabus Pandy. Has no idea who the recipient of the letter is either and most certainly does not know if Barnabus Pandy was murdered. But of course Poirot must now find out!

Who would dare bring the attention of the world’s greatest detective to an accidental death? Who would presume they could send out letters in Poirot’s name and not expect him to uncover the truth behind the death of poor Mr Pandy? And why is M. Poirot being force-fed cake every time he visits a local tearoom?

Sophie Hannah takes on all these questions and breathes new life into the much loved Belgian detective. She captures Poirot magnificently and fans of the series can delight in the knowledge that our favourite character is being well cared for in his new adventures.

The mystery is nicely played out and there are plenty of clues and red herrings to keep readers on their toes. A cast of quirky, eccentric supporting characters give us plenty of options to ponder when we try to work out if there is a killer in their midst. Poirot manipulates and questions everyone as he digs to uncover secrets and possible motives and it is remarkably easy to become engrossed back into his world.

More Poirot would be very welcome but, for now, The Mystery of Three Quarters is a very pleasing addition to the collection.

The Mystery of Three Quarters is published by Harper Collins and is available in Hardback, digital and audiobook.

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October 10

The Killer You Know – with S R Masters: Day Three

This week five bloggers have teamed up with The Crime Vault to challenge you to identify a killer. We are not just picking random names to play with, this challenge comes courtesy of The Killer You Know by S.R. Masters.

Each day this week you can learn a little more about the characters in the mix and at the end of the week share your guess with the hashtag #TheKillerYouKnow for a chance to win a copy of the book.

Monday’s clue was with Dave at espresso coco : here

Tuesday is brought to you by Liz at Liz Loves Books: here

I have clue three below

Thursday you need to visit Steph at StephBookBlog – she will also help you find the final clue for Friday.

First the blurb from The Killer You Know.

I’ll murder three strangers. And you’ll know it was me. That way we’ll all be connected. Always.

When Will jokes about becoming a serial killer, his friends just laugh it off. But Adeline can’t help but feel there’s something more sinister lurking behind his words.

Fifteen years later, Adeline returns to Blythe for a reunion of the old gang – except Will doesn’t show up. Reminiscing about old times, they look up the details of his supposed murder spree. But the mood soon changes when they discover two recent deaths that match.

As the group attempt to track Will down, they realise that he is playing a sinister game that harks back to one they used to play as kids. Only this time there are lives at stake…

The clue for Day Three:

Rupesh

A tragic childhood bloomed into a dysfunctional adulthood of divorce and drink—yet at his core Rupesh always keeps himself together. When they were kids, he was the voice of reason, the counterpoint to the crazy schemes the gang would devise to pass the time in the endless fields around Blythe. And as an adult, he has to play the same role for his patients in his surgery day in, day out. Why then, is he back for something as frivolous as a reunion? He doesn’t see the past through rose-tinted glasses like the others; he remembers being the outcast, the butt of the jokes. Does he have a little unfinished business then? A score to settle with his old friends…

Ponder on that until tomorrow

The Killer You Know can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Killer-You-Know-Original-gripping-ebook/dp/B07BK98C5R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539031211&sr=8-1&keywords=the+killer+you+know

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August 13

Pieces of Her – Karin Slaughter

You’ve known her your whole life…
Andrea Oliver knows everything about her mother Laura. She knows she’s always lived in the small town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life.

but she’s hiding something…
Then one day, a trip to the mall explodes into a shocking act of violence and Andy suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura.

and it could destroy you both…
Hours later, Laura is in hospital, her face splashed over the newspapers. But the danger has only just begun. Now, Andy must go on a desperate race to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past. Unless she can, there may be no future for either of them…

My thanks to Heidi Bland for the chance to join the blog tour, I received a review copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

Pieces of Her is a dual timeline thriller. Our focus is mainly on Andy who finds herself thrust into danger when she is caught up in a shooting incident. Andy and Laura, her mother, come face to face with the gunman – they are the last two standing but Laura steps in front of her daughter to confront the shooter.

She tries to persuade him to shoot her in order that Andy may go free. As she speaks to the gunman Laura is also urging Andy to run for freedom. There is a flurry of activity and before Andy can know what is happening the shooter is dead and her mother stands over his body. Self defense she claims yet the incident has been caught on film and any suggestion that Laura may have been a vulnerable victim is gone – it looks like she has used combat skills to eliminate a threat.

This all takes place very early in the story but Andy finds herself querying if she even knows who her mother is. There are clearly secrets which Laura has buried deep and of which Andy has no knowledge. Andy’s story is uncovering the pieces of the puzzle as to who her mother really is.

I mentioned this was a dual timeline story. Alongside Andy’s flight from a crime scene on a quest to understand Laura better there is also a story thread running which introduces new characters – this part of the tale is set in 1986.

Readers will know that the two story threads will eventually intertwine and that there will be some overlap to explain why an industrial accident in the 80’s has an impact on a random shooting in the present day.

While you read it can be perplexing to randomly spring to a different story and you have to trust in the skill of the author to know that everything shall make sense in the end. But when the author is Karin Slaughter you know that the author has all the skills to weave a deft tale which rewards the reader.

Pieces of Her was often surprising and a highly enjoyable reading experience.

Pieces of Her is published by Harper Collins and is available in Hardback, digital and audiobook. You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-Her-stunning-thriller-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0796VNPPX/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534101709&sr=8-1&keywords=pieces+of+her

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July 30

The Death of Mrs Westaway – Ruth Ware

When Harriet Westaway receives an unexpected letter telling her she’s inherited a substantial bequest from her Cornish grandmother, it seems like the answer to her prayers. She owes money to a loan shark and the threats are getting increasingly aggressive: she needs to get her hands on some cash fast.

There’s just one problem – Hal’s real grandparents died more than twenty years ago. The letter has been sent to the wrong person. But Hal knows that the cold-reading techniques she’s honed as a seaside fortune teller could help her con her way to getting the money. If anyone has the skills to turn up at a stranger’s funeral and claim a bequest they’re not entitled to, it’s her.

Hal makes a choice that will change her life for ever. But once she embarks on her deception, there is no going back. She must keep going or risk losing everything, even her life…

My thanks to the publishers for my review copy which I received through Netgalley.

The Death of Mrs Westaway is one of those reading gems where you can just give yourself over to the story. Ruth Ware will take you into the life of Harriet (Hal) Westaway and you will want to follow her and learn her fate.

Hal is living on a breadline. She is telling fortunes, reading tarot on the seaside pier and living in a small flat which she can ill afford. She has borrowed money from a local lone-shark and the interest is ramping up, so much soat someone has been sent to meet Hal to “encourage” her to pay up.

With things looking grim a ray of salvation lands on her doorstep. Hal has been identified as the beneficiary of her grandmother’s estate, she needs to go go Cornwall to claim her inheritance. Only problem…the deceased woman cannot be Hal’s grandmother so Hal should not be claiming any bequeathment.

Readers can follow Hal’s predicament and if you feel that the choices she makes are not appropriate then it creates a moral dilemma for the reader. As we see Hal’s choices start to generate problems she could not have foreseen will you find any empathy for her predicament?

A great story is guaranteed with Ruth Ware and The Death of Mrs Westaway is no exception. Definitely a book to seek out and I enjoyed it a lot.

The Death of Mrs Westaway is published by Vintage and is available in hardback, digital and audio format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Mrs-Westaway-Ruth-Ware-ebook/dp/B075MTRJ9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530549713&sr=8-1&keywords=the+death+of+mrs+westaway

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July 22

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…

My thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy.

The wait was entirely worth it as there was no Lingering over this story. I was flicking pages so fast I am surprised the pages didn’t burst into flame.

Get your copy ordered early for this one – dark as the blackest night and wonderfully disturbing. Captivating reading and a 5 star shoe-in.

The Lingering releases on digital format on 15 September 2018 with the paperback to follow in November (making it a perfect spooky Christmas gift idea). You can order copies here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lingering-SJI-Holliday-ebook/dp/B07DFVXVDX/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1532205577&sr=1-1&keywords=the+lingering

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