The Girl in the Grave by Helen Phifer – Book Review

The Girl in The Grave by Helen Phifer is a great first book in a new series featuring Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams and DS Josh Walker.

I’m a massive Helen Phifer fan so I was super excited to read this one, thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher Bookouture for the ARC.

A bit of background. Beth used to be an emergency room doctor but after being attacked in her own home she lost all confidence and starting living her life in fear. She pretty much shut herself away from society and retrained as a forensic pathologist. Now she deals with the dead who can’t hurt her. Her only real friend that she lets get close is DS Josh Walker who saved her life on the awful night she was attacked. That’s all I’m going to say on that because I don’t want to give any spoilers away.

I loved this book, the characters were so likable straight away I wanted to know more about them. Helen has a way of writing that sucks you in on the first page and doesn’t let you go until the climatic end. The plot was fast paced and interesting, full of tension and suspense which kept me hanging on to every word. I truly had a hard time putting this book it was really good.

I totally recommend this book it was excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t hesitate in giving it 5 stars it deserves it.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten – Book Review

Wow I can’t believe this is the authors debut novel, it was awesome!

It took me a couple of chapters to truly get into it as there were quite a lot of characters but once I had got my head around who they were and where they all fitted I was well and truly hooked.

This book deals with domestic abuse so parts of it are pretty hard hitting but it’s very sensitively done. You see the view point of the abused and the abuser which is quite a novel and interesting approach. I found this book really emotional and sad in places for what the victims were going through.

The storyline was intense and fast paced, the punches kept coming keeping me interested. I found it hard to put this book down at the end of the evening, I kept wanting more reading late into the night. I enjoyed getting to know DC Maggie Jamieson and her new team in the DAHU, investigating Domestic Abuse and Homicide, I feel there will be some cracking stories coming out in this series.

I can’t wait for book two, I think Noelle has outdone herself with this one it’s a really good read. I am more than happy to give this a 5 star rating, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Here is the publisher’s blurb on the book:

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

Hunting Evil by Chris Carter – Book Review

I was thrilled to be approved to read this advance copy of Hunting Evil as I am a huge Chris Carter fan, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

It didn’t disappoint. All I can say is Wow, how does Chris come up with these ideas, what an imagination!

In this installment of the series Robert and Carlos are hunting the very evil Lucien who has escaped from a maximum security prison and is now running rampage across the country.

This book had my attention from the first page and didn’t let me go until the very last word. I was totally sucked in and couldn’t stop reading, I absolutely loved it. I love a good serial killer book and this gave me what I wanted in spades. It was horrific in parts, it made me hold my breath, it made me sad, it made me angry. The whole whirlwind of emotions that I got when reading this showed me what a great book it actually was. So many parts of the book got an emotional reaction out of me. It was punchy and hard hitting. Just when I had recovered from one shocking event the next one hit, and so it went on. I literally couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I think I must be a secret psychopath or a wannabe detective!

When I read a series of books and it gets up to number 10 or so I start to think that maybe the author is going to run out of ideas and the series will get stale, but not in this case, it was explosive and fresh and there is definitely plenty more mileage in this series.

I loved this book, it was utterly fantastic, well worth the 5 stars that I am giving it. It’s my favourite read so far of 2019. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would, It’s worth an 8.

I totally recommend this book, in fact I recommend the whole series. Every single book is fantastic, so start at book one and work your way through, you won’t regret it!

Her Final Confession by Lisa Regan- Book Review

Her Final Confession is book 4 in the Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan.

Absolutely outstanding! Just wow, this book was incredible, I loved it. The first three books were amazing but the series is getting better with every book, this literally had me sitting on the edge of my seat holding my breath.

The twists kept coming, all were a surprise I didn’t see coming. There were so many wow moments, I was totally engrossed and couldn’t put the book down. The main plot involved one of Josie’s team which made it even more thrilling because we know this person, she can’t be going through this, it’s not right!

I’m not going to go into the story line of the book there is a pretty good precis below from the publisher, this review is about my feelings on the book. I really enjoyed it, there is a lot to like about this book, it’s full of suspense and action, it will keep you guessing and will leave you breathless.

I loved this book, I’m giving it 5 stars, I can’t wait for the next instalment in the Josie Quinn series!

Here is the publishers blurb:

Watching her friend dragged away in handcuffs, Josie couldn’t believe for one second that Gretchen had killed that poor boy. Confession or not, someone else was involved. She would find out who…

When the body of a young student is found on the driveway of a local Denton home, a photograph pinned to his collar, Detective Josie Quinn is first on the scene. The house belongs to Gretchen Palmer, a dedicated member of Josie’s team, missing for the last twenty-four hours.

Working around the clock, Josie is stopped in her tracks when Gretchen hands herself in to the police. She knows that there’s no way Gretchen could ever be a killer, so why would she confess to a murder she didn’t commit?

Digging deep into Gretchen’s secretive life, Josie uncovers a link between the boy, the photograph and a devastating case in Gretchen’s past. But just when Josie thinks she has it all figured out, the bodies of a young couple surface on the other side of town. Can Josie get to the truth in time to save her friend from a life in prison or certain death?

Last Lullaby by Carol Wyer – Book Review

Last Lullaby is Book 2 in the Detective Natalie Ward Series. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

I am a massive Carol Wyer fan so was very excited to read this, especially after reading book 1 The Birthday which is my favourite book of 2018 so far. Last Lullaby had big shoes to fill and I had a massive sense of anticipation when I opened the book.

Wow it didn’t let me down this book had me hooked from the start, it reeled me in to this fantastic plot right from the first page. A mother being brutally murdered whilst her baby is in the room next door. I was totally hanging on to every word unable to put the kindle down.

Carol got the atmosphere just right in this book, it was tense, chilling and very creepy. At points I found myself holding my breath as the tension mounted. Natalie has got her work cut out with this one, is it the husband? a lover? an ex? a random nutter? can she stop the killer before they kill again? Not only has she got this to deal with she has got to deal with her husbands gambling habit, has he started gambling again? the stress it real and it’s taking it’s toll. The team are working all hours trying to find the killer, can they stop him before it’s too late!

I loved this book, it was fantastic. I am so happy that I have another great series with a strong female lead to read. I enjoy Carol’s style of writing and crime fiction set in the UK is my favourite so it’s a win win for me. This was a really well written piece of crime fiction that was a bloody good read and I don’t hesitate in giving it 5 stars and a place in my top 10 of my favourite books of 2018.

I highly recommend Last Lullaby it’s a cracking read and would make a great gift for a crime fiction lover for the upcoming festive season. Or why not just treat yourself, go on you know you want to!

Here is the publishers blurb:

Charlotte’s baby is safe. But is she?

When the body of mother Charlotte Brannon is discovered by her husband Adam, in their bedroom, Detective Natalie Ward is first on the scene. The killer has left a chilling calling card: The word ‘Why?’ written on the wall in blood.

As Natalie begins to delve deeper into the couple’s lives, she discovers that Adam has a dark past he’s been hiding and she’s sure that the Brannon’s teenage babysitter Inge has secrets of her own.

Then another mother is murdered on her doorstep in front of her young son, the word ‘why’scrawled on the wall next to her.

All the key suspects have alibis and with her own marriage hanging by a thread, Natalie is struggling to stay focused on cracking her toughest case yet.

When a young woman and her baby disappear, a member of Natalie’s own team is put in terrible danger. Can Natalie stop this twisted serial killer and save one of her own before more families are torn apart forever?

Stranger in the Woods by Anni Taylor – Book Review

Anni Taylor approached me and asked if I would like to read and review her book Stranger in the Woods, I was happy to as it looked great from the write up on Amazon. Thanks Anni for the opportunity to read Stranger in the Woods.

This book was totally captivating and had me hooked from the first page. The story is set in rural Scotland so I was imagining mist swirling over vast moors with slightly strange locals with very thick accents that you could hardly understand. Isla is a photographer who had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel from Sydney Australia to the wilds of Scotland on a photography job to work on a portfolio for a local architect and his family. She doesn’t realise at the time but she is walking into drama, grief, danger and turmoil after the fairly recent abduction and death of their young daughter. What is the secret of this small town? Can Isla unravel the mystery? Where does she fit in? There are so many questions and answers that will bring the small town to breaking point.

Wow, this book was brilliant I absolutely loved it, every character intrigued me they were all so interesting and the plot was so twisty it kept me on the edge of my seat trying to guess what was going to happen next. It was the kind of book that totally held my interest for every second it completely sucked me in and didn’t let me go until that massive explosive end which I didn’t see coming in a million years. OMG that ending!!! Wow, just Wow I did not see that coming, I’m still reeling from it. That ending quite frankly was a stroke of genius I would never have guessed that one it was a total shocker!

As you guys already know I don’t write big long winded reviews because of my eye issues I am short and to the point, I either like a book or I don’t, so as you can tell I really enjoyed Stranger in the Woods. I have read 82 books this year so far and this easily slips into my favourite top 10 of 2018. I highly recommend this book, if You haven’t read any of Anni Taylors books before give this one a go it was an excellent read I am going to give it a big fat 5 stars.

You can find out more about Anni’s books at her website here: http://annitaylor.me/books/

Here is the write up on the book from Amazon:

New From the Author of the Bestselling Novel, The Game You Played

A town harbouring dark secrets. People who’ll do anything to hide what they’ve done.

Photographer Isla Wilson is thrilled she’s landed her dream job, but the clients who hired her are getting stranger by the day.

It sounded so perfect – a month’s assignment at the misty, sprawling Scottish Highlands property of brilliant architect Alban McGregor, and his wife, Jessica.

But deep in the woods, there is a chilling playhouse.

Two years ago, the McGregors’ daughter, Elodie, died after being abducted and taken there. Alban refuses to knock the playhouse down, and he keeps a picture of it on his wall.

Isla senses that both Alban and Jessica are keeping terrible secrets. And it seems that others in the town are also veiling the truth.

The closer Isla comes to getting answers about Elodie, the more the danger mounts. And with a dense cover of snow now blanketing the town, all chance of escape might already be gone.

Deranged by T.R. Ragan – Book Review

Deranged is Book 3 in the PI Jessie Cole series and my favourite so far. I highly recommend that you read these books in series order because there is a lot of background history on the characters that you will miss if you read this as a stand alone. Their histories are quite detailed and in depth and I feel that you will enjoy the book more if you read from book 1.

This book is full of action from the get go, in this book Jessie is investigating her friend Ben’s past, is he a killer or a victim of an abusive dysfunctional family? Along the way a killer comes in to the mix to complicate matters. Ben is confused and conflicted, he has amnesia and doesn’t know where to go or who to turn to. Is he getting flashbacks or false memories? It’s tearing his family apart so he turns to his friend Jessie for help. Can she get to the bottom of this complicated case?

I really enjoyed this book, it was entertaining and kept me engaged and turning the pages late in to the night. I had a couple of OMG moments which I didn’t see coming and the action built up to a really explosive ending. This book certainly wasn’t boring, I liked the style of writing and the characters and I felt that T.R. Ragan did a good job of getting a sense of tension over, it was very suspenseful. Deranged was a great book and I look forward to the next one from T.R. Ragan.

I am going to give it a very well deserved 4 stars, I thoroughly enjoyed it, if you are fan of T.R. Ragan I think you will like it too.

Here is the publishers blurb on the book:

Family man or deranged killer? It’s for fearless PI Jessie Cole to find out. At any cost.

Ever since a car accident left reporter Ben Morrison with amnesia, he’s been trying to rebuild a future as he puts together the pieces of his past. With the help of PI Jessie Cole, he’s getting closer. But few who remember Ben’s troubled childhood want to talk. And those who do—including his father, imprisoned for a shocking crime—are stirring disturbing memories given up for dead.

Then Jessie is sidetracked by a surveillance request from a suspicious husband. An ordinary case, until the cheating wife and lover are found murdered. They bear the trademark wounds of an elusive serial killer who’s now leading Jessie down a chilling path—one that’s about to put a dangerous twist in the search for Ben’s identity.

To discover the truth, Jessie must put more at risk than she ever feared. Because there are more secrets to Ben’s past, than she—or even Ben—ever imagined.

The Stolen Boys by Joy Ellis – Book Review

I’m a big Joy Ellis fan so wanted to read The Stolen Boys but after reading the publishers blurb I kind of had some reservations. I mean how interesting can a book about stolen clothes be? Boy was I wrong, this book was great, there was a lot of different sides to it and lots of twists that kept me guessing. It’s a lot more than stolen clothes, it’s about greed, poverty and depravity and there was more than one storyline that kept me interested and engaged and reading for hours at a time.

Joy Ellis made this book come alive, she has the knack of being able to draw you in to the story, her way of describing the characters and situations are very realistic and I found myself holding my breath on more than one occasion as the tension in the book mounted.

There is absolutely no way I saw the ending of this book coming, it blew me away, I was hanging on to every word literally turning pages so quickly I could hardly keep up. It was so riveting I couldn’t put it down. Mind blowing!

I have read some fantastic books this year and this is up there with the best of them, easily in my top 10 of 2018. That’s pretty good going considering I have read almost 100 books so far this year. I highly recommend The Stolen Boys, this is Joy Ellis at her best, weaving a web of intrigue, pulling you in and not letting you go until you reach the end exhausted but thoroughly satisfied.

If you want to read one more book this year, or give a book for Christmas, make it The Stolen Boys you won’t be disappointed!

Here is the publishers blurb on the book:

From #1 best-selling author Joy Ellis, a totally absorbing mystery full of stunning twists and turns. Discover the author everyone’s talking about.

A MYSTERY WHICH WILL CAPTIVATE YOU TILL THE STUNNING ENDING

A crime wave has hit town. The target is a highly sought-after brand of streetwear called Hybird X, clothing that costs a fortune and resells for unbelievable prices. Houses are burgled, kids mugged on the streets . . . and finally a young man dies, all for the sake of his shoes.

Then another boy’s body is found in a pile of rubbish. Meanwhile illegal steroids are flooding the streets. And there are dark movements on the marshes.

CLOTHES THAT PEOPLE WILL KILL TO OWN

A shadowy figure called Darke and his teams of young criminals seem to be behind it all.

Detectives Jackman and Evans must take on a fiendish criminal, while still haunted by Alistair Ashcroft, the serial killer they never caught.

WHO IS DARKE AND WHAT DOES HE REALLY WANT?

Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Set in the atmospheric Lincolnshire Fens whose towns and isolated villages hide many dark secrets.

Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Sarah A. Denzil, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

THE DETECTIVES

DI Jackman leads the investigation. He is extremely smart and has a knack for bringing out the best in his diverse team. DS Marie Evans is haunted by the loss of her husband in a motorbike accident. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and colleagues.

Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons – Book Review

Fatal Promise is Book 9 in the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. I have been a big Angie Marsons fan since the beginning so I was super excited to read this. I think that each book in the series gets stronger, the characters develop, relationships grow that bit tighter and the storyline’s have a magnificent twist that you will not see coming.

This one did not disappoint, it was non stop action right from the start which kept me entertained and engaged. Still struggling with the death of a close colleague Kim’s team are having to deal with the transfer of new team member Penn. Emotions are running high as the bodies start to mount up, will Penn be granted entry into the elite team or is their grief still too raw? This one is a tough case, will they be able to crack it before the body count grows even higher?

I loved this book it was amazing, it was beautifully written, it had heaps of suspense and drama, it was emotional and had several wow moments where you really didn’t see it coming. I had a hard time putting this one down, my lunch break at work wasn’t long enough!

Angela Marsons really has the knack of sucking you in, keeping you absolutely mesmerised and left wanting more, I really cannot wait for the next book!

This book was fantastic, I have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars, in fact it’s going into my top 5 of 2018 favourite reads which is no mean feat because I have read some cracking books this year.

Again apologies for the short review, I am finding it difficult to sit for a long time and look at the screen after my cornea transplant surgery, it doesn’t help that I sit on one all day at work, but you get the gist I really loved this book!

Here is the publishers blurb:

Eeeny meeny, miney, moe. Who lives, who dies only I know.

When the body of a doctor is discovered brutally murdered in local woodland, Detective Kim Stone is shocked to discover the victim is Gordon Cordell – a man linked to a previous case she worked on involving the death of a young school girl. Gordon has a chequered past, but who would want him dead?

As the investigation gets underway, Gordon’s son is involved in a horrific car crash which leaves him fighting for his life. Kim’s sure this was no accident.

Then the body of a woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Kim makes a disturbing link between the victims and Russells Hall Hospital. The same hospital where Gordon worked.

With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim?

The killer is picking off his victims at a terrifying pace, and he’s not finished yet.

Last Light by Helen Phifer – Book Review

Last Light is book 3 in the Detective Lucy Harwin series.

I am a big Helen Phifer fan so was super excited to read this, and boy it didn’t disappoint. Explosive straight out of the gate it captured my attention and kept me engaged right the way through the book.

I loved everything about this book, the characters, the relationships Lucy has with her team, the well thought out and executed plot and the explosive finish. It was captivating and thrilling and the twists kept coming leaving me hanging onto every word rapidly turning pages hungry for more, reading late in to the night.

Lucy is faced with her toughest case to date, as the bodies start mounting up can she find the killer before it’s too late and someone else dies? This time it’s a little bit close to home as the killer is linked to the church where Lucy’s teenage daughter volunteers, will she be the next victim? You had better buy the book to find out!

This is a seriously good book, and a great series, I highly recommend it. I would suggest you read from book 1 so that you get the full background story on Lucy, however you could read this as a stand-alone is you really wanted to.

I don’t hesitate in giving this 5 stars, this is in my top 5 of my favourite books of 2018, I loved it, it was really good. If I could give it more stars I would. Go and buy this book when it’s released you won’t regret it!

Again, apologies for the short review, my eyes get super tired looking at the screen since my cornea transplant.

Here is the publishers blurb:

Lucy watches the doctor leave, then turns to the nameless victim on the table. ‘I promise I will catch whoever did this to you,’ she whispers.

In charge of a new team, Detective Lucy Harwin is called out to attend the discovery of a woman’s body in an abandoned, crumbling church, and is quickly plunged into a case that will test her leadership skills to the limit.

With no leads except the crudely-fashioned crucifix the victim was displayed on, Lucy is at a complete loss. That is, until another body turns up: an elderly woman who devoted her life to the church.

Faced with a killer stalking the streets of her small coastal town, while also throwing herself into work to forget the love of her life, Lucy’s first case is turning into a nightmare.

Linking the killer to the church where her own teenage daughter volunteers, it seems the threat is quickly drawing closer to Lucy and those she loves. Can she catch this monster and prevent a tragedy that will tear her world apart?