An Eye for an Eye is the first book in a brand new crime series featuring DI Kate Young. There’s nothing I find more exciting than finding a new crimeAn Eye for an Eye is the first book in a brand new crime series featuring DI Kate Young. There’s nothing I find more exciting than finding a new crime series that’s full of promise. The market for police procedurals is a crowded one, so if I’m going to invest in a new series, it has to have a couple of “must haves”, an engaging protagonist, and a tantalising story line. Does An Eye for an Eye meet my “must have”rules? It’s a “hell yes” with bells on! The plot follows two threads, Kate’s past and an investigation into the torture and murder of prominent men.
From the start you know something BIG has happened to Kate, as the plot progresses you learn precisely what. Told through flashbacks you realise the impact it’s had on Kate’s life and how fragile she is. As she struggles with her demons, her own competence, and her grip on reality are called into question by the powers that be. I immediately felt drawn to Kate. There are some emotionally charged scenes that add depth to her character, something that can sometimes lack in a crime thriller. As Kate works to uncover the truth, the suspense mounts tenfold as she unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide.
The two plots are different as chalk and cheese which I found really disconcerting to begin with. It was futile to determine how the two connected apart from Kate being the common denominator. But when Carol Wyer untangles the complicated web, she has created and everything becomes clear I had one of those ‘OMFG’ moments! It’s the best type of crime thriller, you’re never sure who to trust, and every suspect has something to hide. The perpetrator and motive are well hidden within red herrings, subtle clues, and misdirection. I always enjoy whodunnit so much more when everything isn’t laid out for the reader. After finishing An Eye for an Eye I’m left eager to read the next book in the series which is due out later this year. ...more
I thought the first two books in the DCI Kett series were good, but Three Little Pigs blew me away, it’s unnerving, explosive and psychologically min I thought the first two books in the DCI Kett series were good, but Three Little Pigs blew me away, it’s unnerving, explosive and psychologically mind blowing. DCI Kett (Robbie) is still struggling with the disappearance of his wife, snatched off the streets in broad daylight, and finally we get to see what happened her. The plot is hard hitting, gritty and not one for those of a nervous disposition! I can’t praise this book or this series highly enough. It is well-written, superbly plotted, and completely engaging.
I really enjoyed this fast paced story, and have now bought the rest of the books in series. I normally like my crime thrillers to veer to the dark siI really enjoyed this fast paced story, and have now bought the rest of the books in series. I normally like my crime thrillers to veer to the dark side, with plenty of gore! Paper Girls lacks the gore but I really enjoyed this book never the less. Although I did have to suspend belief on a couple of occasions regarding police procedures and DCI Robert Kett’s child attending an investigation/crime scene. But it was scenes like this with an injection of humour from the author that stopped this book turning into a depressing read, especially as the plot centres around that of missing children. Kett’s and his three young children are the stars of the books and I’m intrigued to learn more about his wife’s disappearance, especially when Paper Girls ends with a teaser! ...more
Deity is the 5th book on the #SixStories series and like the other books in the series it features modern day themes, combined with the darkest myths.Deity is the 5th book on the #SixStories series and like the other books in the series it features modern day themes, combined with the darkest myths. Like each book in this much loved series, Deity makes for a disturbing, haunting, bone chilling read. Zach Crystal’s story is one that we have all sadly heard or read at some point. A pop mega star adored by the public, known for their charity work, but behind the public persona he’s plagued by controversy, speculation and allegations of abuse of young, vulnerable girls. The megastar is dead, and yet there are a plethora of questions left unanswered, and that’s the very reason investigating journalist Paul King creates a Six Stories based on Crystal’s life. Each podcast is told from the perspective of six witnesses, whose lives are intertwined with Crystal’s. Matt Wesolowski takes the reader on a unsettling journey that grows darker at every flip of the page.
There’s a tangled web of stories, accusations and claims to explore in the convoluted story of Zack Crystal, Paul King like any good interviewer slowly but deftly scratches away, digging deeper into the rabbit warren that is Crystal’s life. As we learn more about the pop star’s life, the book takes on an ominous, chilling tone. Was Zach an eccentric, “Peter pan”, shy, misunderstood individual, whose aim in life was to help underprivileged children? Or was he a typical predator, manipulative, devious, someone who committed the most hideous crimes, using his superstar status to his own advantage? It’s only as you reach the final podcast that the truth is revealed.
Matt Wesolowski always creates the perfect location and atmosphere for his books, in Deity it’s Crystal’s remote home set against the backdrop of the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands. It’s a forest where an ancient evil spirit roams, it’s a forest that’s shrouded in folklore and malevolence. If there’s one thing I that makes this series a ‘must read’, it’s the author’s astonishing ability to write a book that doesn’t fit one particular genre, it has elements of many genres, horror, crime thriller with a modern day twist, which blend together to make an all-consuming read. Each book Matt Wesolowski writes is imaginative, unique, captivating, and devilishly plotted. Six Stories is a series that takes you by surprise, as each book is so different to the last. Once again, the author has written the epitome of a page-turner. Highly recommended to those looking for a unique and memorising read that’s not without its fair share of chills and thrills.
The Whole Truth by Cara Hunter, is the 5th book in the DI Adam Fawley series and it’s one of my favourite police procedure/crime thriller series. TheThe Whole Truth by Cara Hunter, is the 5th book in the DI Adam Fawley series and it’s one of my favourite police procedure/crime thriller series. The author has a unique way of presenting her story (more about that in a while) which makes her books such a heart pounding read. Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, I would urge you to start at the beginning because this is undoubtedly a cracking crime series, and you will have a better understanding of the history of the characters. Although the author has thoughtfully added a summary of the key characters which I think is a fabulous ideal.
The book description doesn’t give much away, so I will not spend time rehashing or expanding on the plot details. One of the strengths of this series is that as the series evolves, so have the characters. Fawley and his team are a diverse bunch, each member brings different strengths to the team, and weaknesses. We are privy to their personal lives which make them more credible as individuals, especially as the reader learns more about their personal and professional dilemmas they face in this book.
Like every book in the series so far, the plot is packed full of twists, which made it impossible to predict what will happen next. Cara Hunter does a marvellous job in keeping the reader engrossed until the last chapter. Red herrings are perfectly placed, tension increases tenfold, and remains that way, right up to the jaw dropping conclusion. Cara Hunter has away of writing that immediately draws you in, plus her books always feel unique with a modern twist due to the skillfully placed media snippets such as podcasts, tweets, texts and emails. Another fantastic read and a worthy addition to the series highly recommended.
Whoopee The queen of crime is back, can you believe Death Score is the thirteenth book in the “Kim Stone” series? No me neither! 13 is an unlucky numbWhoopee The queen of crime is back, can you believe Death Score is the thirteenth book in the “Kim Stone” series? No me neither! 13 is an unlucky number for some but not for the awesome and exceptionally talented Angela Marsons. I think if anything this book is a reminder to all her fans what a brilliant crime series this is, and it’s obvious she puts her heart and soul into every book she writes. Unlike some long running crimes series, each book always brings something new to the table, whether it be its characters, the plot, or jaw dropping moments that take the reader by surprise.
In Death Score Kim and her team have a lot going on, but as usual they take it all in their stride, a murdered mother, a missing child, a cold case, personal issues for some members of the team, the list goes on but there are so many sinister threads that make Death Score such an exciting book to read. I like the fact this book doesn’t just concentrate on solving a Murder, there are smaller but just as important puzzles to be solved, that give credibility to the work of a police force. The pace of this book is spot on, It’s not frantic, you are given time to digest and process the plot, and it gives the reader time to become the “amateur sleuth” sifting through the red herrings and misdirection.
When I read a book in this series I always feel like I’m meeting up with old friends, one of the things I love about this crime series is the way the author has worked her magic and created living, breathing characters, I love the camaraderie between the members of Kim’s team, the dark humour, the way they irritate the hell out of each other, it’s the small details that make them a very credible team. The insight into Kim’s teams private life enhances rather than distracts from the plot lines, and like old friends you feel their pain, their struggles and rejoice when something good happens to one of them, it’s only a talented author who is able to add emotional depth to a crime read, and it’s one of the reasons this series stands out from the rest.
Death Score also features sporadic chapters told from the perspective of the killer, there’s nothing more disturbing or chilling than being in the head of a serial killer. I could rave about this book all day, but I won’t! instead I will leave you with this, Angela Marsons has once again delivered a riveting read, from the first page to the last: it’s one that will keep the reader on their edge of their seat. Death Score (in fact the entire series) is one that ticks all the boxes for crime read junkies, with an original plot, all to human characters and a style of writing that immerses the reader from the start. I cannot wait for the next book in this epic crime series. Highly recommended by me. ...more
Twinkle Twinkle Little Lies is the second instalment in the Detective Superintendent Malice series, and fans of Rob Ashman will be pleased to know it’Twinkle Twinkle Little Lies is the second instalment in the Detective Superintendent Malice series, and fans of Rob Ashman will be pleased to know it’s just as twisted as the first book. The authors latest heart thumping crime thriller has all the elements I enjoy, a protagonist who is beyond evil, gory crime scenes, a tense plot, and a style of writing that is sharp and to the point. I’m not sure how the author does it but somehow he always manages to some how or other get me to feel a tiny bit of empathy for his antagonist how ever evil they maybe on the outside.
I liked the fact the author created a female antagonist, unusual in a crime thriller, but personally I always find them far more chilling and calculating. Twinkle is no exception she’s seen as a pillar of the community with all her “church work”, but beneath the veneer is a cold blooded killer, I was intrigued to find out what events turned her into a killer.
Once again Rob Ashman show cases his very twisted and dare I say? Disturbing imagination Twinkle Twinkle Little Lies is deliciously disturbing, it’s shocking with endless suspense, and oodles of tension. No one can ever say his books are ‘boring’ that’s for sure! If you aren’t averse to a crime thriller with blood and guts, and you enjoy a dark, twisted read then it’s one I will highly recommended. ...more
Nine Elms the first book in the Kate Marshall series was one of my top reads of 2020 so I have been impatiently waiting for the second book in the serNine Elms the first book in the Kate Marshall series was one of my top reads of 2020 so I have been impatiently waiting for the second book in the series Shadow Sands. This book isn’t as dark as Nine Elms, and it lacks the gruesome crime scenes that I love from this author, but the thing I find fascinating about this authors style of writing is the way he draws you into his books, you can’t just read one chapter and put one of his books down, it’s literally impossible! and Shadow Sands is no different and makes a fantastic addition to the series.
Kate Marshall finds a body in the Shadow Sands reservoir when diving with her son (this scene is spine chilling) The Police quickly brush off Simon Kendall’s death as an accident, Kate and her assistant, Tristan Harper, realise there is more to these events than meets the eye, and when she is approached by the boy’s mother to investigate, she jumps at the chance. At they pursue their own investigation, Kate and Tristan discover that similar deaths have occurred in Shadow Sands, the stretch of land near the dam where the bodies were discovered.
One thing I find exciting about a new series is getting to know the characters. Will I love them? Will I hate them? I’m growing fond of Kate, as we learn more about her, she has more than her fair of personal problems, she’s a recovering alcoholic, her son is the product of a relationship that ended badly, as in her ex is a serial killer! It doesn’t help that she was also the one that caught him! So as you can imagine Kate has numerous issues, that make her all that more complex. Tristan, Kate’s partner in crime so to speak complements Kate perfectly. We learn more about him and his own personal struggles and difficult family relationships in this book.
In Robert Bryndza’s hands what starts out as a rather ordinary plot, turns into an extraordinary one, as the story follows multiple perspectives, Kate’s, Tristan’s, and that of a missing woman, the plot takes on a darker more chilling tone. Full of mysterious local legends, missing people, and dead bodies, each revelation keeps you eagerly turning the pages until the final chapter. Robert Bryndza’s writing goes from strength to strength, I love how he’s able to take an imaginative plot and turn it in to the most exciting, twisted read. After finishing Shadows Sands I was left feeling deflated, not because I didn’t enjoy it, in fact it’s quite the opposite it means I now have a long wait for the next book in the series...more
OMFG! Michael Wood opens Stolen Children with a hell of a prologue, I’m sure my heart literally stopped! finally a mystery that has run throughout thOMFG! Michael Wood opens Stolen Children with a hell of a prologue, I’m sure my heart literally stopped! finally a mystery that has run throughout the Matilda Darke series is revealed (but it’s been so worth the wait). I have loved every one of Michael Wood’s Matilda Darke books but I have to say ‘this is the best one yet’......well maybe until the next one!
Matilda is one of my favourite fictional Detectives I love the way her character is evolving, she’s strong, feisty and determined and yet she has an air of vulnerability, which comes from a cold case that haunts her every waking moment, that of Carl Meagan, a young boy who was kidnapped. Unfortunately Matilda screwed up the ransom drop which led to the kidnappers disappearing along with Carl. Stolen Children opens with the disappearance of nine-year-old Keeley Armitage, who on her way home from a supermarket vanishes without trace. With similarities to the case of Missing Carl, Matilda is more determined than ever to bring Keeley home, and if she doesn’t? well let’s just say it’s the case that could finally break her.
The case is a disturbing one and one which has a big impact on Matilda and her team, you feel their frustration, their feelings of helplessness as the hours tick by and the likelihood of finding Keeley alive diminish. One of the strengths of this series are the regular characters in Matilda’s team, these are characters with feelings, genuine emotions, and depth which you can find sometimes lacking in a crime thriller. Despite the dark plot, there are moments of humour between Matilda and her team which serve to balance the darkness of the plot.
At times I found Stolen Children to be a disturbing read, due to the nature of the crimes, this book felt much darker and more shocking than previous books in the series, although this may sound wrong I felt it made the book all that more intriguing. There are so many clever twists and turns in this sorrowful tale, Michael Wood is a brilliant story teller, he manages to build on the tension and suspense whilst delivering a plot that’s shocking but incredibly gripping. This series is going from strength to strength, the only downside of reading Stolen Children i can see is I now have a long wait until the next book in the series. Highly recommended....more
I absolutely adore this family saga and The Sun Sister is now definitely my favourite book in the series so far. Lucinda Riley takes you on a breathtaI absolutely adore this family saga and The Sun Sister is now definitely my favourite book in the series so far. Lucinda Riley takes you on a breathtaking adventure that follows the youngest sister Electra, a famous model, whose hedonistic life style is leading her to dark places. Electra’s story is a complicated one and far more grittier than any of the previous books in the series. Electra’s story was I think the most sweeping and diverse of all the sisters so far, from the heady Kenya Colonial days of white rich inhabitants,to the crack dens of Harlem. At times I found Electra’s story very emotional to read, and that’s testament to the authors incredible knack of bringing her characters to life, you live and breathe their stories.
At over 800 pages I thought this book may have taken me 3 days to read at the least! But I actually finished it within 24 hours, so yes I really enjoyed this book, the depth of the characters, the pace of the story and the great writing. The mystery remains as to the existence and whereabouts of the seventh sister, and personally I can’t wait for the next book in the series....more
The Silent Wife is the tenth book in this bestselling series featuring special agent Will Trent, and the 20th book written by the queen of crime, KarThe Silent Wife is the tenth book in this bestselling series featuring special agent Will Trent, and the 20th book written by the queen of crime, Karin Slaughter. I have read every book in the series and I believe this is the author’s darkest book yet! And probably my favourite book in the series so far. Be warned The Silent Wife isn’t a book I would recommend to those of a nervous disposition. Slaughters descriptions of the crimes committed are detailed and brutally honest. On more than one occasion I had to put the book down and take a break as some of the crimes scenes and descriptions made for a very disturbing and horrifying read.
The book shifts between the original and the present day investigation, theres not many authors who can move between so seamlessly but slaughter manages it with aplomb. As you would expect with a long-running series, the characters are fully developed, some you will love others you will hate with a passion. The crime scenes are disturbing to read as they are brutally realistic and make for a grim read, but at the same time you realise they are fitting to the heinous plot. On the other hand the author depicts the women beyond the victim showing a great deal of sympathy. She explores the trials, physical and mental trauma, and the far-reaching consequences of being a woman of violent crime.
I normally love a read that features a serial killer, but in this case I found the killer freaked me out, which doesn’t happen often. Their one twisted mother F****r! The Silent Wife is a dark and disturbing read it’s hard-hitting, grim, terrifying, with one of the most extraordinary, twisted plots I’ve read in ages. Highly recommended to all crime thrillers lovers.
What a brilliant read, loved Raven the third book in the Georgina Garrett series. If you are a fan of grit lit, or gangland thrillers here’s a new autWhat a brilliant read, loved Raven the third book in the Georgina Garrett series. If you are a fan of grit lit, or gangland thrillers here’s a new author for you. Gritty, full of drama, with fully fleshed characters who you either love or hate. The plots are engaging and move along at a rapid pace. At the time of writing you can buy all three books for under £5 which is a bargain for the hours of entertainment they will give you. I read the whole series in under a week. Highly recommended ...more
Woohoo Poe and Tilly are back in one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, The Curator. This has to be one of my favourite British crime series EVER! Woohoo Poe and Tilly are back in one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, The Curator. This has to be one of my favourite British crime series EVER! The Curator opens with a macabre murder scene, it’s gruesome and shocking, but the perfect opening to what I think is the best book in the series so far. Don’t get me wrong each book has been a fantastic read, but the authors writing goes from strength to strength. The plot lines are a work of a genius, they lure you in and keep you gripped until the very last sentence of this compelling series.
Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency’s Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with their most challenging case yet, it’s one that throws up more questions than answers, more suspects than victims. Why is a serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria? Why were some victims anaesthetised, while others died in appalling agony? The investigation is such a complex one, that it tests Poe and Tilly investigation skills to the limit. I could rattle on all day about the plot, but in doing so I would giveaway spoilers, so all I will say it’s a cracking plot, modern and fast paced, and seriously twisted!
The Curator like every other book in this series is as much about the characters as the plot. The relationship between the dynamic duo Poe and Tilly is stronger than ever, their unique personalities compliment each other perfectly. Poe is complex, charismatic, whereas the wonderful Tilly is naïve, painfully honest and just as complex. The dialogue between the couple is endearing, charming and funny, but it’s these moments that add light to the darkness of the plot. They are both such fabulous depicted, compelling characters they are one of the reasons this series is a must read for me.
M. W. Craven has written another fabulous addition to this series, throughout The Curator the plot is complex, clever and engrossing, just as you think the dynamic duo have the serial killer in their grips, the author throws in a twist that propels the story in a very different direction. One of the things I enjoy the most in a crime thriller is when the author can write a story that not only keeps you engrossed but one that also keeps you constantly guessing, never revealing too much in one go to spoil the read. For me this crime series has it all brilliant characters, exceptional writing, twisted plots, gory crime scenes, and the most evil killers. The Curator is now firmly my favourite book in the series until the next book anyway! Highly Recommend....more
Woohoo Angela Marsons is back with yet another cracking read! It’s a rare author who makes the twelfth book as exciting and compelling as the first boWoohoo Angela Marsons is back with yet another cracking read! It’s a rare author who makes the twelfth book as exciting and compelling as the first book in a series. I’m not certain how Angela Marsons manages it but Killing Mind the latest book in the Kim Stone set, is just as impressive, riveting, and exciting as every other book in this much-loved series. Another thing that’s worth a mention is the fact the author never fails to deliver a gripping storyline for each and every one of her books, they’re always original and well researched .
Kim Stone is called to what appears to be a routine suicide, but something doesn’t entirely add up. It soon becomes evident to Kim and her team that the suicide was staged to cover up a murder, and that at every turn leads back to Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life. As Kim digs deeper into the Farm, she realises she is looking into a Cult, a subject she knows very little about. Cults are something that have always fascinated me, especially the psychology behind what attracts people to cults. Angela Marsons gives the reader a realistic, spine chilling insight into the world of Cults, the members who prey on peoples’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities and how they manipulate, compliment and flatter victims to reel them in. The author has the extraordinary ability to turn a crime thriller into something more, she’s able to give her victims and their families a voice, she highlights the effects a cult can have on Family members, loved ones and friends, when they lose someone to a cult.
It’s great that the author has brought Tiffany (AKA Tink) back, I love her character, she has a certain innocence about her, that makes her very likeable, as more of her backstory is revealed, I really felt for her. Team member Bryant has a side story of his own in Killing Mind, which adds another yet another layer of intrigue to the story. Kim is as difficult as always, but underneath that cold, brittle exterior is the Kim fans of this series have come to love.
The cult gives the plot a dark and sinister tone that continues to thread its way through the plot, and when one of Kim’s team whose working under cover is placed in danger, a palatable sense of dread fills the pages. There are moments in this book I found gut wrenching, not something you would expect in a crime thriller, but that’s the beauty of the authors writing she never fails to surprise the reader. Once again Angela Marsons has written a taut, fast-paced crime thriller, it’s a cliche but I really ‘couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ as the body count rises and the investigation intensifies. If you consider yourself a crime thriller lover then this book, hell the whole series is unmissable....more
The Dark Corners Of The Night by Meg Gardiner is the third book in the UNSUB series, if you are a fan of gritty crime thrillers that veer towards the The Dark Corners Of The Night by Meg Gardiner is the third book in the UNSUB series, if you are a fan of gritty crime thrillers that veer towards the dark side, that explore the mindset of a serial killer, and aren’t averse to gory, gritty crime scenes then this is a ‘must read’ for you crime book junkies. Although this book could easily be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend you read the whole series,
In this book behavioural analyst Caitlin Hendrix is back and chasing her most deadly adversary yet ‘the Midnight Man’. Picture the scene, you and your children are sound asleep, safe in the knowledge that you are secure in your home, but then out of the shadows steps a serial killer, they kill you, but leave your children alive, witnesses to unspeakable horrors. Just writing this sentence sends shivers down my spine! But that’s the premise for this blood chilling thriller, it’s a read that will make you check the windows, the doors, hell you may even have to sleep with a light on!
Caitlin is a character that is growing more likeable as the series progresses, as you would expect like many protagonists in crime thrillers, she comes with her own set of baggage. You get a strong sense of who Caitlin is as a person, and despite her flaws, she’s one determined lady. The strength of Meg Gardiner UNSUB books are her attention to the details of the profiling process, these facts that are presented in straightforward way, grabbing the reader’s attention, rather. I found on a couple of occasions that the subject of profiling slowed the pace of the overall plot, but on the other hand I found these sections an interesting read.
This is one author who doesn’t shy away from writing scenes which might make readers feel uncomfortable, but that said neither does she sensationalise scenes for the shock factor. As the attacks escalate, the communities of Los Angeles are gripped with fear, the tension ramps up a notch. The Dark Corners Of The Night definitely lives up to its predecessors, and if you’re looking for a new crime thriller series to read, it’s one I would happily recommend....more
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