Blog Tour: After the Eclipse by Fran Dorricott @franwritesstuff @TitanBooks

Release date: March 5, 2019

Publisher: Titan

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Two solar eclipses. Two missing girls.

Sixteen years ago a little girl was abducted during the darkness of a solar eclipse while her older sister Cassie was supposed to be watching her. She was never seen again. When a local girl goes missing just before the next big eclipse, Cassie – who has returned to her home town to care for her ailing grandmother – suspects the disappearance is connected to her sister: that whoever took Olive is still out there. But she needs to find a way to prove it, and time is running out. 

Good morning everyone! As part of the blog tour for After the Eclipse I have a fabulous guest post from the author to share about powerful places!

Guest Post:

Powerful places

 

As part of my research for After the Eclipse, which is set in a small English town cobbled from some of my favourite Derbyshire villages (and which also has a strong preoccupation with the superstitious) I spent a lot of time reading about common superstitions people hold, and how they differ around the world. For instance, did you know that many 19th century Vermont farmhouses were built with slanted windows so witches couldn’t fly in? Or that in Egypt leaving scissors open is bad luck? And sleeping with them beneath your pillow is believed to prevent nightmares? Superstitions are a part of most cultures, and they vary from place to place.

 

Solar eclipses, it seems, are viewed differently from culture to culture but the consensus is generally negative. In Bishop’s Green they have become synonymous with loss and grief. But on a lighter note: below is a fun collection of what I like to call Powerful Places located around the world. These are places you’d definitely want to see for yourself if you were nearby.

 

1. The Charles Bridge – Prague, Czech Republic

The 14th-century bridge that connects Old Town and Mala Strana is lined with statues – an impressive sight to behold. Perhaps most interestingly, a travel superstition that endures is that rubbing the plaque below the statue of the martyred St. John of Nepomuk will bring you good luck and a safe return to the city. I visited Prague a few years ago and even I wasn’t immune. I’ll think myself very lucky if I get to go back!

 

 

(photo credit: https://www.amazingczechia.com/sights/charles-bridge/)

 

2. The Blarney Stone – Cork, Ireland

Here’s one for the introverts among us. An old superstition says that if you climb the steps of Blarney Castle, lean backwards and upside down, and kiss the Blarney stone (a rock that’s been in the castle since 1446) then you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. That is, the ability to flatter and speak with eloquence – perfect for salesmen, or booksellers, might I add! It used to be that visitors would risk life and limb to kiss the stone, hanging precariously over the edge with the aid of an assistant, but now there’s a very sensible guard rail. Clearly a research trip to Ireland is in order, though I don’t fancy the upside down part…

 

3. Carnac Stones – Brittany, France

In Brittany more than 3,000 stones have stood in careful rows since as early as 4500 BCE. One popular legend has it that when the Roman army was marching on Brittany the wizard Merlin appeared and turned them to stone. Or they could simply have existed to delineate a sacred space and lead people towards an area of worship, but where’s the fun in that? As with many of these megaliths, it’s the mystery that has always intrigued me.

 

 

(Image credit: https://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/06/the-carnac-stone-alignments.html)

 

4. Hagia Sophia – Istanbul, Turkey

Christian cathedral, Ottoman mosque, and now modern museum, the Hagia Sophia is renowned for its stunning mosaics and revolutionary dome. But perhaps what intrigues me most is the legend that if you stick your thumb in a small hole in the “Weeping Column” and it emerges damp then all of your illnesses and ailments will be cured! Mhmm maybe I won’t do that.

 

5. Stonehenge – Wiltshire, England

No list on Powerful Places would be complete without it! I went here one summer and it was stunning. The size of the stones is remarkable (each one is 7 feet high and weighs 25 tons!), and you do feel a little buzz, although whether that’s just the reverent atmosphere is hard to tell. Once again some legends credit that fabled wizard Merlin with its creation, but any which way you look at it, it’s something special. The Triplet Stones in After the Eclipse have nothing on this beauty but they’re certainly inspired by it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Image credit:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/06/20/stonehenge-builders-used-pythagoras-theorem-2000-years-greek/)

Review: Dead Memories by Angela Marsons @WriteAngie @Bookouture

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 22, 2019

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

She ruined their lives. Now they’re going to destroy hers. 

‘Someone is recreating every traumatic point in your life. They are doing this to make you suffer, to make you hurt and the only possible end game can be death. Your death.’ 

On the fourth floor of Chaucer House, two teenagers are found chained to a radiator. The boy is dead but the girl is alive. For Detective Kim Stone every detail of the scene mirrors her own terrifying experience with her brother Mikey, when they lived in the same tower block thirty years ago. 

When the bodies of a middle-aged couple are discovered in a burnt-out car, Kim can’t ignore the chilling similarity to the deaths of Erica and Keith – the only loving parents Kim had ever known. 

Faced with a killer who is recreating traumatic events from her past, Kim must face the brutal truth that someone wants to hurt her in the worst way possible. Desperate to stay on the case, she is forced to work with profiler Alison Lowe who has been called in to observe and monitor Kim’s behaviour. 

Kim has spent years catching dangerous criminals and protecting the innocent. But with a killer firmly fixed on destroying Kim, can she solve this complex case and save her own life or will she become the final victim? 

The heart-stopping and totally addictive new crime thriller from multi-million copy number one bestseller Angela Marsons will have you completely hooked.

I couldn’t be more thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for the latest installment in the Kim Stone series!!

Review:

Before I begin sharing my thoughts on this book I want to let you know that if you’re not caught up with this series yet, I may be unable to avoid spoilers in this review. Not for this particular book of course, but for the last couple of books, it’s kind of unavoidable and I would hate to ruin things for anyone. If you’re not caught up get cracking and if for some reason you haven’t even started this series then stop reading this now and go buy the first book in the series, I have a feeling you’ll be back to thank me later!

Alright, so the past few books in this series have been tough on Kim and team to say the least, you have the devastating loss of a team member, the usual scumbag murders to catch, but my friends, things couldn’t get any worse than the events of this book. Kim, Bryant, Stacey and Penn are trying to catch a killer who is recreating extremely traumatic events from Kim’s own life. We all know about some of the horrors she’s lived through at this point in the series but even more is revealed and it broke my heart in two. Can you have respect and admiration for a fictional character? Because I sure as hell do, this woman has been through hell and back and sure, she’s deeply flawed and has issues, but the fact that she’s a functioning member of society and a police officer nonetheless is so astonishing.

While Kim is a highly complex and incredibly well developed character by this point in the series, Marsons doesn’t skimp on the others characters whatsoever. Bryant, Stacey and Penn are all also multifaceted and interesting, and true to form, more is unveiled about each of them as well. The bond between the team is enviable, they truly care about each other and when one of their own is targeted, watch out!

Marsons is one of those rare authors who really takes each book to a whole new level, she ups the ante with every single aspect too. You are always guaranteed to get a book full of excitement when you dive into a KS book, but you’ll also get to spend time with characters that feel like old friends too. And the surprises?! They always leave me shocked, I swear no other author manages to continually blow my mind. I highly recommended not only this book, but also the whole series, and that’s not something I say lightly, I truly believe this one of THE best (if not the best) crime series available.

Dead Memories in three words: Thrilling, Intricate and Pacey.

Overall rating: 5/5 (quick side note, I’m almost positive this is the only series where I’ve easily rated every single book a 5!)

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides @AlexMichaelides @OrionBooks #TheSilentPatient

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 7, 2019

Publisher: Orion

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Only she knows what happened.
Only I can make her speak.

**************

I love him so totally, completely, sometimes it threatens to overwhelm me. 
Sometimes I think- 
No. I won’t write about that.

ALICIA
Alicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet – and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. She can’t bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain.

Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.

THEO
Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia’s silence goes far deeper than he first thought.

And if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth?

Review:

If you’re at all involved in the bookish community there is simply no way that this book has flown under your radar, it’s been talked about for months now, it’s been literally everywhere and rightly so. It has such a clever premise and was executed flawlessly, it truly is a must read for psychological thriller fans.

What can I really say about this one that hasn’t been said a hundred times already?! Probably nothing new, but I’m going to say it all anyway because it’s that good. The structure is fantastic, you have Theo a psychotherapist who is absolutely convinced he will be the one to gain Alicia’s trust and get her to speak and then Alicia’s POV is revealed through her journal entries before her husband’s death. Reading someone’s innermost secrets via their diary is always so interesting, it provides such an intimate glimpse into their psyche, and her whole persona fascinated me. Theo himself was also interesting, his personal history and how that played into his career was completely captivating.

I’m not going to go on and on about the big twist because sometimes I think that ruins a reading experience, so don’t even worry about that. Don’t try and figure it out or guess when reveals are coming, just sit back and enjoy the ride because it’s a wild one!

The Silent Patient in three words: Clever, Captivating and Cunning.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Q & A with William Myers, A Killer’s Alibi @williammyersjr

It’s publication day for one of my recent favorite reads, A Killer’s Alibi and I have a Q & A with the author himself to share. First, here’s some more information about the book, this one comes highly recommended by me!

Blurb:

For attorney Mick McFarland, the evidence is damning. And so are the family secrets in this twisty legal thriller from the Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Criminal Defense.

When crime lord Jimmy Nunzio is caught, knife in hand, over the body of his daughter’s lover and his own archenemy, he turns to Mick McFarland to take up his defense. Usually the courtroom puppeteer, McFarland quickly finds himself at the end of Nunzio’s strings. Struggling to find grounds for a not-guilty verdict on behalf of a well-known killer, Mick is hamstrung by Nunzio’s refusal to tell him what really happened.

On the other side of the law, Mick’s wife, Piper, is working to free Darlene Dowd, a young woman sentenced to life in prison for her abusive father’s violent death. But the jury that convicted Darlene heard only part of the truth, and Piper will do anything to reveal the rest and prove Darlene’s innocence.

As Mick finds himself in the middle of a mob war, Piper delves deeper into Darlene’s past. Both will discover dark secrets that link these fathers and daughters—some that protect, some that destroy, and some that can’t stay hidden forever. No matter the risk.

Q & A:

Share the first sentence of the book. How did you come up with it? What is its significance?
“Eight are with him at the table.” This is the first sentence of the Prologue and I wanted it to have some punch. I also wanted it to feel a little ominous; although the scene begins with jubilance and bonhomie, it ends very darkly. It is also a pivotal point in the life in one of the books antagonists, Philly crime lord Jimmy Nunzio.

How did you come up with characters’ names and/or the title of the book?
A good question. For main characters, like Mick McFarland, Piper McFarland (his wife) and Tommy McFarland (Mick’s brother), I played around with the names a lot and settled on the ones I chose once they “felt” right. With Mick and Tommy I wanted solid, traditional names. Piper has a little more whimsy to her, though, as a character, she becomes a stronger person with each new book. I chose “Christina” Nunzio’s name because I like irony (one you read the book, you’ll know what I mean).

Review: The Hiding Place by C. J. Tudor @cjtudor

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 5, 2019

Publisher: Crown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

The thrilling second novel from the author of The Chalk Man, about a teacher with a hidden agenda who returns to settle scores at a school he once attended, only to uncover a darker secret than he could have imagined.

Joe never wanted to come back to Arnhill. After the way things ended with his old gang–the betrayal, the suicide, the murder–and after what happened when his sister went missing, the last thing he wanted to do was return to his hometown. But Joe doesn’t have a choice. Because judging by what was done to that poor Morton kid, what happened all those years ago to Joe’s sister is happening again. And only Joe knows who is really at fault.

Lying his way into a teaching job at his former high school is the easy part. Facing off with former friends who are none too happy to have him back in town–while avoiding the enemies he’s made in the years since–is tougher. But the hardest part of all will be returning to that abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life changed forever, and finally confronting the shocking, horrifying truth about Arnhill, his sister, and himself. Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn’t the day his sister went missing.

It was the day she came back.

Review:

The Chalk Man was one of my favorite reads from last year so I was highly anticipating Tudor’s next book, but was also a little apprehensive because you never know if they can keep the momentum going and deliver another hit. I’m so happy to say that it’s an absolute yes from me, I liked this one just as much as TCM and believe Tudor is a serious force to be reckoned with!

This one was creepy with a capital C you guys, it blends a classic thriller with a supernatural twist and was a truly chilling read. Joe’s hometown used to be a mining town that’s long since been disused and the atmosphere of this was desolate, stark and incredibly scary. There was just a really strong sinister vibe that, coupled with some creepy characters made this one to read during the day!

This was one of those books that gives off an uneasy feeling the whole time, the sense that something isn’t quite right. It flips back and forth from present day and 1992 when Joe’s sister Annie goes missing and then suddenly returns, but something is off. These chapters gave me the chills and when everything came together not only was I stunned, I was also scared to death! Highly recommended, especially if you liked TCM but also if you just like mystery/thrillers.

The Hiding Place in three words: Sinister, Scary and Atmospheric.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Once A Liar by A. F. Brady

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 5, 2019

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Did he kill Charlie Doyle? And if he didn’t…who did?

Peter Caine, a cutthroat Manhattan defense attorney, worked ruthlessly to become the best at his job. On the surface, he is charming and handsome, but inside he is cold and heartless. He fights without remorse to acquit murderers, pedophiles and rapists.

When Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the Manhattan DA—and Peter’s former lover—is murdered, Peter’s world is quickly sent into a tailspin. He becomes the prime suspect as the DA, a professional enemy of Peter’s, embarks on a witch hunt to avenge his daughter’s death, stopping at nothing to ensure Peter is found guilty of the murder.

In the challenge of his career and his life, Peter races against the clock to prove his innocence. As the evidence mounts against him, he’s forced to begin unraveling his own dark web of lies and confront the sins of his past. But the truth of who killed Charlie Doyle is more twisted and sinister than anyone could have imagined…

Review:

This flips back and forth between Then and Now, then follows Peter as he begins his career and adult life and now is after Charlie is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. Sometimes I get annoyed when a book alternates timelines but this time I enjoyed it. Almost every chapter ended with some sort of revelation or small twist and this tactic only served to propel me forward faster to get back to what I had just left behind. Both timelines were equally engrossing and I really didn’t prefer one over the other, I was invested in both.

If you enjoy reading books with characters that you love to hate you have got to check this one out! There is something so fun about reading about a ruthlessly unapologetic person and Peter was absolutely despicable but SO entertaining. He reminded me a lot of Paul from Best Day Ever, there was a hint of that same dark humor which is a huge plus for me as well, so if you liked that book definitely add this one.

I did see one part of the big reveal coming slightly ahead of time but then there was another little twist that I hadn’t anticipated and that really made this one a solid read for me. The ending itself was satisfying as well, overall a very well executed mystery.

Once A Liar in three words: Duplicitous, Unexpected and Skillful.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Little Darlings by Melanie Golding @mk_golding @crookedlanebks #LittleDarlingsBook

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 30, 2019

Publisher: Crooked Lane

Blurb:

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things.

A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley―to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies.

Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Compulsive, creepy, and inspired by some our darkest fairy tales, Little Darlings will have you checking―and rechecking―your own little ones. Just to be sure. Just to be safe. 

Review:

I’m usually not big on fairy tale retellings or books with a supernatural twist but the premise of this one just sounded too good to pass up and I’m so glad I gave it a chance! This was a dark read with a super creepy tone and a spooky atmosphere that gave me the shivers.

Lauren is the ultimate unreliable narrator, I was never quite sure if she was just a new mom suffering from some sort of post partum psychosis or if she was truly living some kind of bizarre, scary fairytale. Even she questions her own thoughts and feelings so it was difficult to pinpoint what was actually going on and it was also very entertaining. Add in mounting suspense that just got more intense as the story progressed and I was hooked. Harper, the police officer working the case also offers a POV and I liked the police procedural vibe this aspect brought as well.

This was a truly unique read, a real page turner that got under my skin and scared the daylights out of me at times. Recommended if you want something different and don’t mind a hint of the supernatural.

Little Darlings in three words: Unsettling, Menacing and Dark.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Stalker by Lars Kepler #StalkerBook #LarsKepler

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 5, 2019

Publisher: Knopf

Genre: Crime Fiction

Blurb:

The Swedish National Crime Unit receives a video of a young woman in her home, clearly unaware that she’s being watched. Soon after the tape is received, the woman’s body is found horrifically mutilated. With the arrival of the next, similar video, the police understand that the killer is toying with them, warning of a new victim, knowing there’s nothing they can do. Detective Margot Silverman is put in charge of the investigation, and soon asks Detective Joona Linna for help. Linna, in turn, recruits Erik Maria Bark, the hypnotist and expert in trauma, with whom Linna’s worked before. Bark is leery of forcing people to give up their secrets. But this time, Bark is the one hiding things. 
Years before, he had put a man away for an eerily similar crime, and now he’s beginning to think that an innocent man may be behind bars–and a serial killer still on the loose. . .
 

I’m so excited to be helping to kick off the blog tour for Stalker today!

Review:

I jumped into this series last year and read the fourth book, The Sandman and was completely blown away by how fantastic it was, but also so happy that I was easily able to jump in at the point with absolutely no issues whatsoever. This one picks up shortly after The Sandman ends and if you’ve read that one, then you already know what an epic ending that had and I was so excited to catch up again. All of that to say, if you’re gonna jump into this series I highly recommend doing what I did and start with Sandman and then this one, they’re both must reads for Crime Fiction fans.

Stalking is a popular concept for many books, TV shows and movies, but I’ve never met a more creepy and calculated stalker than the one in this book. This guy makes Joe from You look like a harmless kid with his first crush who does some basic social media stalking, I’m not kidding. The videos the police receive as a taunt are just snapshots of women going about their ordinary daily lives and that’s what made this all the more chilling. Women getting dressed or undressed, eating doing any of the normal things we all do in our homes but someone is watching their every move. To find out why, and even more importantly, who Kepler leads you down a cleverly crafted road full of stunning revelations and shocking twists.

This installment introduced a few new characters (at least new to me, they may have first appeared in earlier books) and my favorite was Margot. She’s heavily pregnant and determined to close this case before she gives birth and I just loved her fierce determination and willingness to toe the boundaries of the law. Erik was also an interesting character, he uses hypnosis to aid people in recovering from trauma and that’s a concept that’s always piqued my interest. Add in Kepler’s crisp writing style and short, fast paced chapters and I seriously could not put this one down.

I could ramble on forever about how much I enjoyed this one, but I’ll spare you all and just once again urge you to read this if you like smart, sharp stories that are incredibly multilayered full of well drawn characters and a plot that seizes you from page one and ends in an epic finale that will leave you begging for the next book.

Stalker in three words: Intricate, Brilliant and Harrowing.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

January Wrap Up

First wrap up of the new year and in a way I can’t believe it, but January is also the longest month ever! I read a total of 27 books but only 18 books linked here. Why? Well because I’ve gotten a bit lazy and if it’s not an ARC I’ve only been reviewing on Goodreads because sometimes I just don’t want to write a full review. If we’re not already friends there you can find me here!

How was your month?!

Freefall: Entertaining, Dynamic and Fast

Her One Mistake: Compulsive, Secretive and Twisty.

Deadly Recall: Dark, Multilayered and Gripping

The Best of Us: Touching, Satisfying and Warm.

The Au Pair: no three words I had mixed feelings.

As Long As We Both Shall Live: Wicked, Addictive and Unpredictable.

The Liar’s Girl: Complex, Steady and Engrossing.

Wartime Sisters: Fluid, Insightful and Alluring.

The Woman Inside: Slick, Dramatic and Deceptive.

One Fatal Mistake: Relentless, Exhilarating and Fast.

Perfect Match: Charming, Sparkly and Fresh

Love Heart Lane: Cozy, Charming and Delightful.

The Girls in the Picture: Enthralling, Empowering and Smart.

Changeling: Menacing, Frightening and Original.

The Temp I really struggled with this one.

I Owe You One: Sweet, Uncomplicated and Engaging.

Deep Dirty Truth: Electrifying, Fierce and Compelling.

The Lost Man: Atmospheric, Mesmerizing and Cunning.

Review: Deep Dirty Truth by Steph Broadribb @crimethrillgirl @OrendaBooks #DeepDirtyTruth #TeamLori

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 5th, 2019

Publisher: Orenda

Genre: Thriller

Blurb:

A price on her head. A secret worth dying for. Just 48 hours to expose the truth…

Single-mother bounty hunter Lori Anderson has finally got her family back together, but her new-found happiness is shattered when she’s snatched by the Miami Mob – and they want her dead. Rather than a bullet, they offer her a job: find the Mob’s ‘numbers man’ – Carlton North – who’s in protective custody after being forced to turn federal witness against them. If Lori succeeds, they’ll wipe the slate clean and the price on her head – and those of her family – will be removed. If she fails, they die.
With North due in court in forty-eight hours, Lori sets off across Florida, racing against the clock to find him and save her family. Only in this race the prize is more deadly – and the secret she shares with JT more dangerous – than she ever could have imagined. In this race only the winner gets out alive…
Brimming with tension, high-stakes jeopardy and high-voltage action, and a deep, emotional core, Deep Dirty Truth is an unmissable thriller by one of the freshest and most exciting voices in crime fiction.

I couldn’t be more thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Deep Dirty Truth today!

Review:

I think my obsession with Lori Anderson is pretty well known by now, but in case you missed me raving about the first two books in this superb series, here’s my thoughts on Deep Down Dead and Deep Blue Trouble. I also need to remind you that reading this series in order is imperative AND it’s one of my favorite series of all time, total must reads.

As a female, I love nothing more than reading about a total badass character that’s multidimensional and so wholly developed and Lori Anderson is the epitome of a strong, sassy, sharp woman. Her mama bear instincts are so relatable to me, although I’m not near as tough as she is, but I can really understand her innate desire to protect her daughter no matter what. Besides Lori and her daughter the rest of the cast is just as deeply drawn, although JT may seem like a closed book, with each book in the series I feel like more layers to his personality are being peeled back. Red is also back, much to my delight and there’s a new addition with North and I’m super curious to see how he may or may not appear in the future.

This book was just as whip smart and lightning fast as the first two, there’s an intensity to Broadribb’s writing that makes you hold your breath for the entirety of the story. The action starts on page one and never stops, period, so when you start this one, settle in and get ready for one hell of a ride. Another must read for thriller fans, and again, I’ve gotta add that I NEED a Lori Anderson movie!

Deep Dirty Truth in three words: Electrifying, Fierce and Compelling.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.