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(UK cover)

(US cover)

Release date: April 5, 2018

Publisher: River Run

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

TOO SOON TO SEE

Polished. Professional. Perfect. Dead. Respected scientist Dr Eleanor Costello is found hanging in her immaculate home: the scene the very picture of a suicide.

TOO LATE TO HIDE

DCS Frankie Sheehan is handed the case, and almost immediately spots foul play. Sheehan, a trained profiler, is seeking a murderer with a talent for death.

TOO CLOSE TO BREATHE

As Frankie strives to paint a picture of the killer, and their victim, she starts to sense they are part of a larger, darker canvas, on which the lines between the two blur.

Olivia Kiernan’s debut is a bold, brilliant thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Too Close to Breathe!

Review:

Is there anything better as an avid reader than reading an amazing debut?! Anyone that reads a lot of crime fiction, and police procedurals in particular knows that at times the genre can feel a bit repetitive, stale even, but I can honestly say that this one was far from boring, it was a fantastically strong debut, really impressive.

Frankie is the ultimate flawed lead character, I genuinely liked her and found her to be an interesting person AND her past was totally intriguing. The case she’s working seems to be a standard suicide but winds up being anything but, I always like cases where things are not as they seem at first glance and this has plenty of surprises. The involvement of the dark web was another aspect that fascinated me, it’s frightening but also extremely interesting and makes for a great addition to the plot.

Kiernan is a really strong writer, this book is being compared to Tana French and I can definitely see why. She’s one of my favorite authors and Kiernan has a similar style, so if you enjoy her books definitely add this to your TBR!

Too Close to Breathe in three words: Authentic, Dark and Solid.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon UK

Release date: April 5, 2018

Publisher: Headline

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Tony and Althea Wilde. Glamorous, argumentative … adulterous to the core.

They were my parents, actors known by everyone. They gave our lives love and colour in a house by the sea – the house that sheltered my orphaned father when he was a boy.

But the summer Mads arrived changed everything. She too had been abandoned and my father understood why. We Wildflowers took her in.

My father was my hero, he gave us a golden childhood, but the past was always going to catch up with him … it comes for us all, sooner or later.

This is my story. I am Cordelia Wilde. A singer without a voice. A daughter without a father. Let me take you inside.

I’m so pleased to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Wildflowers today!

Review:

It’s been way too long since I’ve read a really good family saga, so when the opportunity arose to read The Wildflowers I just had to take it. If you’re looking for a book to really sink your teeth into, look no further. This is a meaty read(over 500 pages), you really get the opportunity to know the characters as it follows the Wilde family throughout their entire lives and by the end I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to them.

This jumps back and forth in time from the 40’s, to 2014 and several places in between. Althea and Tony Wilde have two children, Ben and Cord and this beautiful story follows all four of them. Being on the longer side really allowed the author to craft highly complex characters with deep rooted issues that were able to be fully explored. The characterization was so well done that I could easily imagine any of the Wilde’s as real people, they were vividly drawn.

As with anyone’s life each member of the Wilde family experiences plenty of highs and lows, this was full of drama, secrets and betrayals. It’s mainly set in the family’s beach house which was such a lovely, idyllic backdrop for this sweeping storyline, a nice contrast to the turmoil they were dealing with. This book will truly sweep you away to a different time and place and make you invested in these characters complicated and fascinating lives.

The Wildflowers in three words: Dramatic, Grand and Eloquent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 25, 2018

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

This is a story about a city. As with all others, it’s a place of violence. There are murderers, and they live among us.

This is also a tale about a couple — sometimes friends, occasionally lovers, but always partners. Dan and Olivia are fighting modern battles; the ones parents have over a lack of money, time or peace.

An escalating serial killer terrifies the streets and homes. The body count rises as their relationship crumbles. Society reveals its dark side, and no one is safe. Dan and Olivia experience this first-hand as danger closes in.

I’m so pleased to be helping to close down the blog tour for Abel’s Revenge today!

Review:

This was such an unusual serial killer thriller, you almost have two completely separate storylines running side by side, the only thing they have in common is the location. Olivia and Dan are an unmarried couple with two kids living in London and then Abel is a serial killer that’s stalking the streets and wrecking havoc. Olivia and Dan’s chapters read like a domestic suspense and then the little we do hear from Abel feels more like a standard serial killer thriller. This may sound like it wouldn’t work together but it really does, it was a compulsive page turner that had me glued to my Kindle.

While the bulk of the novel focuses on Olivia and Dan’s relationship woes there is an undercurrent of apprehension running in the background as everyone in the city is on edge waiting for Abel to strike again, it’s not a question of him attacking again, but rather where and how. He doesn’t follow any sort of pattern or MO, his attacks are random and unpredictable, which to me makes it even more frightening. Greenwood did a fantastic job at creating this atmosphere full of frantic citizens who are fearful for their safety as well as a killer who’s inner thoughts were terrifying and left me chilled.

There was some excellent dark, black humor to bring levity to an ominous situation, I always love that and find that sarcasm brings an edge to an already dark plot. I wouldn’t describe this as full of twists and turns, though there are some surprises to be found, but I actually appreciated that more, it made Greenwood’s clever plotting and solid writing shine brighter. If you’re looking for a unique crime fiction read give this one a shot!

Abel’s Revenge in three words: Menacing, Different and Gritty.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

About the Author:

Ross Greenwood was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until he was 20, attending The King’s School in the city. He then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

Ross found himself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually, so he says “when things had gone wrong.” It was on one of these occasions that he met his partner about 100 metres from his back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. And, according to Ross, he is “still a little stunned by the pace of it now.”

Lazy Blood book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then four years as a prison officer got in the way. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave the author the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep he completed it in the early morning hours.

Ross Greenwood’s second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by Bloodhound Books, and in September 2017, Fifty Years of Fear was published. All his books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour.

Ross Greenwood hopes you enjoy reading them.

Please feel free to get in touch on http://www.rossgreenwoodauthor.com

About Worth Killing For

Hardcover:352 pages
Publisher:Kensington (March 27, 2018)

Detroit newspaper reporter Julia Gooden returns in new mystery, where a brutal murder and a father’s sudden return may provide the answers she’s spent decades searching for . . . or lead deep into a fatal trap.

The past never really leaves us. Crime reporter Julia Gooden sees proof of this every day in her stories. A dark childhood, a negligent parent, early abandonment–any one of them can seal a person’s fate as either a villain or victim. Julia, who experienced all three, seems to have beaten the odds, finding happiness raising her two sons and a blossoming relationship with detective Raymond Navarro.

But now, after three decades of absence, Julia’s conman father has resurfaced to throw her life into turmoil again. Julia was only seven when Duke Gooden abruptly left. Barely a month later, her nine-year-old brother, Ben, disappeared. Ben was her hero and protector, and though the case is cold, Julia has never given up hope of finding him. Duke’s return offers vital clues–but it also makes her a target of those who intend to see Duke punished for his many sins.

When Julia investigates the death of a city councilman’ s young nephew, she finds links to a string of other murders . . . and to a web of greed and kidnapping that stretches back decades. At long last, Julia may be able to discover what happened to Ben all those years ago, but only if she’s willing to risk everything in her present.

Praise for the Julia Gooden Mystery Novels

Worth Killing For

A first-rate thriller filled with several plot twists, heinous villains and an explosive ending. RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick

A complex, highly suspenseful tale of murder, revenge, and redemption. Kirkus Reviews

This exciting third installment in the series effectively mixes gritty crime and involving domestic drama. Booklist

An alluring mystery. Fans are certain to enjoy the complex plot and Julia and Ray’s evolving relationship. Publisher’s Weekly

Duplicity

Haseldine uses her experience as a crime reporter to bring authenticity to this exciting and gritty tale. Kirkus Reviews

Julia is ferociously bold and persistent in this action-packed, plot-driven mystery. Booklist

Haseldine has a gift for atmosphere, setting, and suspense, and the many twists and turns will keep readers guessing. Library Journal

The Last Time She Saw Him

A sharp, breathless thriller. From the opening scene to the last, The Last Time She Saw Him, kept me flipping the pages. I loved it! Jane Haseldine is one to watch!Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A ferocious thriller . . . no one will stop reading. Booklist

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble�| IndieBound

Review:

So I find my self once again jumping into a new series without reading the previous books, and honestly, I’m wondering why I didn’t do this years ago! I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things about the Julia Gooden series so I knew I had to take a chance and I’m really glad that I did because I loved this book!

Julia is a journalist which is always an angle that I like in crime fiction, it’s a unique viewpoint and provides a fresh perspective and usually the reporters are assertive and daring, which always keeps things exciting. Julia was a really interesting lead, her past is messy and this time the story she’s pursuing may have links to the disappearance of her brother, Ben. When a character has a personal connection to a case I’m all in, there’s something about the emotional component this stirs up that just speaks to me. I also really liked Julia and found her to be realistic, Haseldine herself is a former crime reporter so the authenticity is top notch making you feel like you’re reading about real people and not just fictional characters.

This was a twisty little read, more often than not I can see where a story is headed right before I actually get there but this time I really didn’t work anything out on my own, always a bonus! And though it definitely had twists and turns they were unrealistic or an easy cop out but they all actually made sense and added depth to the already strong storyline. I’ll be following this series closely now, there was enough left up in the air in the end that I’m definitely intrigued and eager to see what happens next.

Worth Killing For in three words: Assured, Unique and Strong.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About Jane Haseldine

Jane Haseldine writes the Julia Gooden Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. Jane is a journalist and former crime reporter who also previously worked in politics as a deputy director of communications for a governor. Jane graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons, but previously lived in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. You can find her at janehaseldine.com,Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook and on Instagram @janehaseldineauthor.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Dafina

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women…

She’s generous, kind, and compassionate–yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she’s come or how many she’s helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband’s mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets–and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.

Tracey won’t say where she’s from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was–and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah’s handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey’s worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore–and at last learn how to truly be free . . .

Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live.

Review:

This is one of those books that’s tricky to categorize, it doesn’t really fit neatly into any specific genre but rather it dips it’s toes into several. Parts are set in the sixties and parts in the current day so you get a historical fiction vibe and some of the writing is so beautifully poetic you think maybe it’s literary fiction. Then at times it reads like a straight up contemporary novel, but at the end of the day it all comes together and works really well regardless of the genre.

Delilah and Tracey are the main characters and while Tracey was likable enough, Delilah is the true star of the show. Her past is shrouded in mystery and in the present day she’s a spunky little firecracker, I just adored her. She has a habit of taking women into her home who are down on their luck and this is just one of her eccentricities that made me like her. Tracey’s children were also adorable and added some mischief and light to the tale.

This tackled racial issues in the sixties and unfortunately similar issues that are still happening today giving the reader much to reflect on and I can see it sparking discussion for a book club as well. Recommended for when you want a read but aren’t in the mood for anything specific, it has a little bit of everything and is extremely well written.

The House on Harbor Hill in three words: Eloquent, Moving and Character-driven.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About the Author:

Shelly Stratton is an award-winning journalist who earned her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Another Woman’s Man, her novel written under the pseudonym Shelly Ellis, was nominated for a 2014 NAACP Image Award. A film buff and amateur painter, she lives with her husband not far from Washington, D.C. Visit her online at http://www.shellyellisbooks.com.

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Connect with Shelly

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Fans of Jenny Oliver, Cathy Bramley and Debbie Johnson will love this hilarious and heart-warming romantic comedy! A storm is brewing on the stunning Cornish coast – but will sunshine follow the rain?

When Annie Trebarwith unexpectedly inherits Tregavara House, her much-loved family home atop the cliffs of Salt Bay, she begins to wonder: with all the good friends and warm memories she’s made in the village, could it be her forever home?

Luckily her gorgeous Poldark-lookalike boyfriend, Josh Pasco, has exactly the same idea. High on the Cornish cliffs he gets down on one knee, and Annie has everything she’s ever dreamed of.

But when a summer storm causes catastrophic damage to the beautiful but aging house, Annie and Josh are faced with tumbling tiles and a massive repair bill – and a roof that’s leaked straight onto her wedding gown…

Can the Salt Bay community save Annie’s house and her wedding – and give Annie the happy-ever-after she’s always wanted?

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Annie’s Summer by the Sea today!

Review:

Over the past year or so I’ve fallen in love with Liz Eeles writing and this adorable series that follows Annie as she relocates to the quaint little village of Salt Bay. As much as I was eager to read this final installment and see how Annie and Josh’s story would end it was bittersweet saying goodbye to these characters who feel like friends.

Annie’s transformation since the first book is amazing, Eeles took her on quite the personal journey. The supporting characters also went through many changes and I think this was the most emotional book in the series by far. There is still plenty of humor and lighthearted moments to be found, but there are several moving storylines as well that touched me.

I’m someone that appreciates a neat and tidy ending and the epilogue in this book was utter perfection! This is just such an ultimately satisfying series and one I highly recommended to anyone who wants a light, easy and funny read.

Annie’s Summer by the Sea in three words: Carefree, Sweet and Emotional.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

Liz began her writing career as a journalist and press officer before deciding that she’d rather have the freedom of making things up as a novelist.

Being short-listed in the Corvus ‘Love at First Write’ competition and the Novelicious search for a new women’s fiction star gave Liz the push she needed to keep putting pen to paper …. and ‘Annie’s Holiday by the Sea’ (her first published novel) is the result.

Liz lives on the South Coast with her family and, when she’s not writing, likes to spend time walking by the sea, and trying to meditate. Her ambition is to be serene one day …. she’s still got a long way to go.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizeelesauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizeelesauthor/

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A killer stole her voice. Now she’s ready to take it back. Don’t miss the chilling Shades of Death series from USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb.

Joanna Guthrie was free. She had been for eighteen years–or so she needed everyone to believe. What really happened during the longest fourteen days of her life, when she and two other women were held captive by the worst kind of serial killer, wasn’t something she could talk about. Not after what they had to do to survive.

But when more women go missing in an eerily similar manner, Jo knows her prolonged silence will only seal their fates. She’s finally ready to talk; she just needs someone to listen. FBI special agent Tony LeDoux can’t deny he finds Jo compelling–he’s just not sure he believes her story. But with the clock ticking, Jo will do anything to convince him, even if it means unearthing long-buried secrets that will land them squarely in the crosshairs of the killer…

I’m so pleased to be the stop on the blog tour for The Longest Silence today! Check out TLC Book Tours for the full schedule.

Review:

This is the fourth in a series but I jumped in here and had no problem reading this as a standalone. It wastes no time and jumps straight into the action, I found it to be a true page turner so I’m sure this made it easier for me to catch on rather quickly. Tony is an ex FBI agent who’s niece goes missing and Joanna is a woman who was abducted years ago and her case is freakishly similar to the current one. This was one of those reads with way more questions than answers and things are revealed slowly and steadily, a method which always reels me in.

I enjoyed both of the lead characters, Tony is a likable mess with good intentions and Jo is a broken woman with a seriously messed up past, I found her to be well drawn and unpredictable which always keeps me on my toes. The case itself was interesting, admittedly I did figure out the who on a few points, but not the why. Sometimes this frustrates me but this time I was so entertained that it honestly didn’t bother me at all. Webb is such a skilled storyteller that I was able to easily let my usual irritation go and just enjoy the story regardless.

This was a solid serial killer read, plenty of suspense and a really unique explanation behind the killers actions. I can see why Webb is such a popular author, she really has a way with words and I read this in one tense sitting which is always a fantastic sign for me!

The Longest Silence in three words: Compulsive, Dark and Intense.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About the Author:

DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 130 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama.

Connect with Debra

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

There’s nothing more dangerous than a familiar face…

As funeral mourners stand in silence at Ragmullin cemetery, a deafening cry cuts through the air. Lying crumpled at the bottom of an open grave is the bloodied body of a young woman, and Detective Lottie Parker is called in to investigate.

Knowing the body can’t have been there long, Lottie wonders if it could be Elizabeth Bryne, a young woman who vanished without trace just days earlier. And with a new boss who seems to have it in for her, Lottie is under pressure to solve both cases quickly.

As two more women go missing from Ragmullin, Lottie and her team fear there is a serial killer on the loose. And the disappearances are strikingly similar to a cold case from ten years earlier. Could history be repeating itself?

As journalists begin to interfere with Lottie’s investigation, she fears the killer is about to strike again. Lottie is in a race against time to find the missing women, but the killer is closer than she thinks. Could Lottie be his next target?

If you love Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love the latest pulse-pounding thriller from Patricia Gibney. No Safe Place will keep you guessing until the very last page.

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for No Safe Place today!

Review:

If you’re a regular reader of my little blog you’re probably well aware that I’m a huge fan of the Lottie Parker series and I can’t believe this is already book four! While technically you definitely could read this as a standalone I don’t recommend it as it’s such a great mix of police procedural and thriller with deeply drawn characters and you would truly be missing out on pertinent background information.

Lottie feels like an old friend at this point albeit one that’s a bit of a mess, but a lovable mess. Her personal life is as crazy as ever and her work life isn’t much better. This series has the perfect blend of personal and professional, I’m equally invested in both and I really feel like I know Lottie as a character. Her and Boyd are one of my favorite duos, they just have such a wonderful rapport that leans to the sarcastic side which is right up my alley.

This spans the course of five days as Lottie and team work relentlessly to find missing women and a killer. It all seems like it could be related to a cold case but per usual there are more questions than answers which always keeps things fresh and exciting. There’s a large cast of supporting characters and various interesting subplots that keep things intriguing and impossible to predict where things are headed.

Strong, sharp writing, highly complex plotting and characters that I truly care about combine together to make a recipe for success for me! I’m a firm fan of these books and the author, if you haven’t started them yet, get cracking!

No Safe Place in three words: Intricate, Sharp and Gritty.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

Patricia lives in the midlands of Ireland. She is an avid crime reader so naturally she found herself writing in the crime genre.

A life changing experience in 2009, with the death of her 49 year old husband, meant she had to give up her career, and over the following few years, she rekindled her love of art and writing.

Initially Patricia wrote and illustrated a children’s book, but her real ambition was to write a novel. And she did!

In January 2016, she joined with Ger Nichol of The Book Bureau Literary Agency. In July 2016, Patricia signed with Bookouture for four DI Lottie Parker crime novels.

The Missing Ones (Book 1) published in March 2017 and to date has reached a high of number 2 in Amazon UK Kindle charts and number 6 in the US. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories. It is a bestseller in UK, US, Canada and Australia and has sold over 600,000 copies and has now also been published by Hachette Ireland in paperback.

Book 2 in the series, The Stolen Girls, published on July 6th, 2017.

Book 3, The Lost Child, was published on October 27th, 2017.

www.patriciagibney.com 

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Avon Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

The million copy Sunday Times bestseller returns with a taut, compelling psychological thriller that will have you glued to the edge of your seat.

Happy publication day to C. L. Taylor, I’m thrilled to be helping to kick off her blog tour today! I have my thoughts about the book to share, but first I have an extract.

Extract:

I hate surprises. So much so that when Ben rang me at work on Monday and told me to keep the weekend free because he was going to surprise me, I almost ended the call. Instead I pretended to be thrilled.

‘You okay?’ he asks now. ‘You don’t get travel-sick do you?’

If I look pale it’s got nothing to do with the fact that we are rocketing down the A2 in Ben’s battered VW Golf.

‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘But I wish you’d tell me where we’re going.’

He taps a finger against the side of his nose and smiles. ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

Ben was never meant to be more than a one-night stand. I figured he’d be straight out of my bed, and my life, the moment our sweat-slicked bodies cooled. But he stuck around. He stayed all night and then insisted on taking me out for breakfast the next day. I said yes, partly because it was less awkward than saying no. Mostly because I was hungry and I didn’t have any food in the house. We ended up staying in the café for over two hours. I learnt that he was a self-employed graphic artist, he’d never been to a gig, and his dad was a massive hypochondriac. He learnt that I was an only child, a project manager for an eLearning company and that my dad had recently died. Ben immediately reached across the table, squeezed my hand and said how sorry he was. When he asked if we’d been close I changed the subject.

I need to go back there at some point, to my childhood home in the rolling green Worcestershire countryside, to clear and clean the farmhouse and put it on the market, but there’s a good reason why I haven’t been back in eighteen years.

Are you intrigued?! You should be, this was a fantastic read!

Review:

From the moment I started The Fear I was totally hooked, Taylor drew me into a dark and tangled web and didn’t let me go until the final chapter. Lou was groomed by a much older man when she was a young teenager and now it’s many years later and she’s still struggling to get past it. Grooming is one of those words that sends a chill down my spine as a parent to two girls, the manipulation and abuse associated with it put the fear into me, what an aptly titled book.

This is told from multiple perspectives, Lou both in 2007 and via her diary entries when she was fourteen, then you hear from Chloe, the teenager who Lou fears is being used in the same way that she was and finally, Wendy. You’re never quite sure exactly what Wendy’s angle is or how she fits into the story, but when it’s revealed I did one of those, oohhh I see what you did there moments, super clever! This is extremely fast paced and sharply written, it begs to be read in one sitting as there’s so much tension and anticipation about what will happen next, both in the flashbacks and the 2007 storyline.

I don’t want to discuss the plot much more, just know that if you’re a psychological thriller fan, this is a must read. The characterization is just as strong as the writing and the story is gripping, I really couldn’t ask for more!

The Fear in three words: Absorbing, Shocking and Thrilling.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.