Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 16, 2018

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Genre: Thriller

Blurb:

If you could discover the murderous truth of a past life and seek justice in this one, would you?

Teenager Lee Hunter doesn’t have a choice when he nearly drowns after spending the night at a derelict boathouse with his best friend, Charlie Finch. After leaving his body and meeting a mysterious light that lets him to go back to the past, Lee finds himself reliving the final days of another life. A life that ended tragically.

After recovering from his near death experience, Lee begins to realise that he is part of two lives linked by the despicable actions of one man.

Struggling against impossible odds, Lee and Charlie set out to bring this man to justice.

Will Lee be able to unlock the past and bring justice to the future?

The Key to Death’s Door is a story of sacrifice, friendship, loyalty and murder.

I’m thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Key to Death’s Door!

Review:

There is something wholly unique about Mark Tilbury’s writing, yes there’s always some supernatural elements that sets them apart from most thrillers, but it’s much more complex than that. Maybe it’s the concepts he comes up with for his premises, maybe it’s his dark, gritty writing style or maybe it’s his ability to examine the very evil depths of humanity in a way that’s both frightening and fascinating. Whatever it is doesn’t really matter in the end because the combination of it all makes for a gripping read every single time and I’ll always read any of his new books.

Reincarnation is explored here and while I don’t necessarily believe in it, it’s a very interesting topic. Lee is a young man who has a terrible experience with a near drowning and something happens during it that’s unexplainable. It’s like he’s transported to an entirely different life in a different place and time and while he’s scared witless, he’s also very curious as to what this all means and why it seems to be connected to his real life. I adored Lee and his best friend Charlie, they had a special relationship and the way they joked and teased each other made me laugh and lightened the heavy mood.

As always, Tilbury has crafted the ultimate villain, the type of character that chills you to the core. I hated this man with a passion, no one can evoke anger in me better than this author, and no one can keep me frantically flipping pages to see what happens next quite like he can either. The intensity was electrifying by the end and my heart was in my throat. If you don’t mind a supernatural twist in your thrillers, please check this one out, or really any of his other books.

The Key to Death’s Door in three words: Menacing, Horrifying and Gripping.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.

He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have his fifth novel, The Key to Death’s Door published along with The Liar’s Promise, The Abattoir of Dreams, and The Ben Whittle Investigations relaunched, by Bloodhound Books.

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.

Links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury/e/B00X7R10I4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1493895837&sr=8-2-ent

https://twitter.com/MTilburyAuthor

http://marktilbury.com/

https://www.facebook.com/marktilburyauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13926121.Mark_Tilbury

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 13, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

To commit the perfect murder, you need the perfect cover.

On an icy morning, a mother wakes to find her daughter’s blood-soaked body frozen to the road. Who would carry out such a killing on the victim’s doorstep?

Straight off her last harrowing case, Detective Erika Foster is feeling fragile but determined to lead the investigation. As she sets to work, she finds reports of assaults in the same quiet South London suburb where the woman was killed. One chilling detail links them to the murder victim – they were all attacked by a figure in black wearing a gas mask.

Erika is on the hunt for a killer with a terrifying calling card. The case gets more complicated when she uncovers a tangled web of secrets surrounding the death of the beautiful young woman.

Yet just as Erika begins to piece the clues together, she is forced to confront painful memories of her past. Erika must dig deep, stay focused and find the killer. Only this time, one of her own is in terrible danger…

From the global million-copy bestselling author comes a totally heart-racing, hold-your-breath read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

I’m so excited to be helping in the publication day blast for Deadly Secrets today!

Review:

I can’t believe this is already the sixth book in this outstanding series! If you haven’t started getting aquatinted with Erika Foster and the work of the amazing Robert Bryndza, what are you waiting for?! Seriously, start back at the first book and come and catch up with me, I don’t think you’ll regret it for a minute, it stands out amongst other books and is one of those rare series that gets better with each installment.

This has a super creepy premise, there’s a killer on the loose who wears a gas mask during the act, typing that out gave me the chills and there are plenty more to be found. There are no flashbacks here, only some personal ones from Erika as she remembers certain events from back when Mark was alive and staying solely in the present day made for a refreshing change of pace. The story is twisty but no overly so, just enough surprises to stay believable and plenty of action to keep things exciting.

Once again, Bryndza continues to peel back the layers and uncover more about Erika, just when I feel like I know everything there is to know about this complicated woman he reveals some new aspect that only serves to make me like her even more than I already do. The dynamics of the team are interesting as always, I’m so invested in their lives and relationships with each at this point that seeing what they’re up to is always a treat. If you’re a fan of this series, you’ll be delighted with some of the insights into Erika and team, ahem especially Peterson! 😱 🤐

Highly recommended by me, not only this book, but the whole series, it’s fantastic and Bryndza brings something new to the table with every single book.

Deadly Secrets in three words: Gripping, Pacey and Multifaceted.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

Robert Bryndza is the author of the international #1 bestseller The Girl in the Ice, which is the first in his Detective Erika Foster series.

The Night Stalker, Dark Water, Last Breath and Cold Blood are the second, third, fourth and fifth books in the series. The sixth book, Deadly Secrets is now available to purchase.

Robert’s books have sold over 2 million copies and have been translated into 27 languages.

In addition to writing crime fiction, Robert has published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels. He is British and lives in Slovakia.

Sign up to Robert Bryndza‘s New Release Mailing List here: http://eepurl.com/UITxz

 

 

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryndzarobert/?ref=br_rs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertBryndza

Website: https://robertbryndza.com/

Instagram: @RobertBryndza

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 10, 2018

Publisher: Titan

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Child psychiatrist Kate Wolfe’s world comes crashing down when one of her young patients commits suicide, so when a troubled girl is left at the hospital ward, she doubts her ability to help. But the girl knows things about Kate’s past, things she shouldn’t know, forcing Kate to face the murky evidence surrounding her own sister’s murder sixteen years before, bringing Kate face to face with her deepest fear.

I’m thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for A Breath After Drowning today!! I have my thoughts to share about the book, but first I have a fantastic guest post from the author to share.

BOOKS THAT OWN ME

by Alice Blanchard

I own a lot of books.  Hundreds.  Stacked on tables, crammed into bookshelves, packed away in boxes.  Usually, I read a book once and that’s it.  Occasionally I’ll find a book that I truly love and I will turn to it again and again.  These pages are dog-eared.  The jackets are missing.  I don’t really own these books—they own me.

Here’s a short list of favorites:

“Monkeys”

Susan Minot wrote a book called “Monkeys” about growing up with lots of brothers and sisters and having a father who slowly loses his mind.  The entire family dances around the elephant in the room, and the children try to fix the world for their parents but can’t.  I love this book, and I love this writer.  Minot’s young characters speak with the disturbing honesty of children stuck in hell.

“Silence of the Lambs”

Gorgeously written by Thomas Harris, “Silence of the Lambs” is a chilling look at the fine line between good and evil.  Clarice Starling grew up poor and struggling, but the one thing that kept her afloat was her father, a cop who believed in justice.  After he died Clarice got sent away to live with relatives, where she witnessed the slaughter of the spring lambs.  The death of the lambs drove Clarice to become the kind of person her dad would’ve been proud of.  But it’s just the kind of psychological weakness Hannibal Lector preys on.  Clarice needs his help to stop a psychotic creep from skinning more victims, and she allows Hannibal probe her psyche, but instead of manipulating and controlling her, Hannibal comes to admire this dauntless woman. Clarice is a hero who can’t be corrupted and she outwits both monsters in the end.

“The Ballard of the Sad Café”

In The Ballad of the Sad Café, Southern Gothic author Carson McCullers penned a love story about an awkward, tall woman who falls in love with a short, cagey stranger.  The stranger breaks her heart, makes her look like a fool, and leaves the small town she’s stuck in forever.  What’s not to love about a storyteller like that?  McCullers was a fearless woman writing crazy fables of tragic love at a time when women were supposed to behave like Doris Day.

“Rosemary’s Baby”

Rosemary Woodhouse is the face of all that is good in Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby, one of my favorite books.  She’s modern, optimistic, funny, vibrant.  She loves her husband, who turns on her in the most vicious way imaginable, forcing her to become the primal mother who wields a knife to protect her child.  Rosemary is everywoman, wanting life to be good for the people she loves, until she comes face to face with the reality of evil.  Instead of shrinking, she fights.

“Nine Stories”

The characters in J.D. Salinger’s Nine Stories can’t cope with the hypocrisy of the adult world—how we lie to each other, how we betray each other daily. My favorite story in this delicious collection is “A Perfect Day for Bananafish.”  In it, Seymour Glass is losing his mind.  He went to war, and now he’s back, married to Muriel, a shallow young woman who doesn’t understand him.  Seymour loves her, but that only makes his sense of isolation more painful.  While is wife is preoccupied with frivolous things, Seymour sits on the beach and talks to three-year-old Sybil, who calls him “See more glass.”  Seymour tells Sybil about bananafish, an allusion to his inner turmoil.  It’s the story of a man who can’t contain his pain any longer, and it’s the most hauntingly realistic thing I’ve ever read.

“The Exorcist”

William Peter Blatty’s crowning achievement is a superbly written shocker and the definitive horror novel.  Great thrillers are often about ordinary people confronting evil, and never has there been a more authentically ordinary character than Chris MacNeil.  Despite the fact that she’s a movie star (there’s nothing ordinary about that), she’s also a divorced mom and a compulsive worrier who lies awake at night fearing death and… what-the-heck-is-making-that-scraping-sound-in-the-attic?  When a demon possesses her daughter, Regan, Chris is forced to battle not only the supernatural, but the medical establishment who cannot help her little girl.  My vote for the ultimate movie Mom.

“Jesus’ Son”

Denis Johnson’s legendary collection of short stories is a harrowing masterwork—hypnotic snapshots of young men who use drugs to ward off the suffering they feel every day of their lives.  Each tale is carved from Johnson’s own vivid life experiences.  We are transported into a radiant world full of ravishing beauty and raw visions.  Johnson’s genius is that he has us willingly embracing the transformative power of human emotions—yearning, grief, and wonder.

I love these books with all my heart.

Bio:  Alice Blanchard’s new psychological thriller “A Breath After Drowning” (Titan Books) comes out on April 10, 2018.  Visit her website:  https://aliceblanchard.com/  Or follow her on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AliceBooks333.

Review:

It’s no secret that I love psychological thrillers, they’re one of my favorite sub genres and reading one that brings something new to the table is cause for celebration. This is told solely from Kate’s perspective and is laid out in a standard, linear manner with just one timeline to follow, although the past does play a huge role in the storyline. I know many of you are tired of books that jump from past to present with several narrators, so I wanted to make sure I shared that! Kate is a psychiatrist, with a special interest in children and I loved seeing things from such a fresh perspective.

Kate has a dark family history full of pain and tragedy, she’s a highly complex woman who fascinated me. This is a character driven story with an incredibly well thought out cast of characters, although as the book goes on the tension increases at a steady pace, drawing the reader in slowly. I kept thinking I had things all figured out ahead of time only to be proven wrong over and over again, I just love when a book keeps the surprises coming! This was very well constructed and really kept me on my toes, I never did actually guess anything correctly before it was revealed.

By the end of this book it took me a minute to realize that I had read the last twenty percent at a frantic pace, things were so intense and exciting I was racing to see what would happen next. Things ended in an ultimately satisfying conclusion and had me nodding my head in appreciation of the way Blanchard had fit all of the pieces of the puzzle together.

A Breath After Drowning in three words: Controlled, Fresh, and Intriguing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date:

Publisher: Orenda

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Whitechapel, 1888: London is bowed under Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror.

London 2015: actress Julianne Bell is abducted in a case similar to the terrible Tower Hamlets murders of some 10 years earlier, and harking back to the Ripper killings of a century before.

Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015: a woman’s body is found mutilated in a forest, her wounds identical to those of the Tower Hamlets victims. With the man arrested for the Tower Hamlets crimes already locked up, do the new killings mean he has a dangerous accomplice, or is a copy-cat serial killer on the loose?

Profiler Emily Roy and true-crime writer Alexis Castells again find themselves drawn into an intriguing case, with personal links that turn their world upside down.

I’m absolutely thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Keeper today!

Review:

You may remember that around this time last year I was raving about the first book in this series, Block 46 so to say Keeper was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018 is a massive understatement. Gustawsson is an incredibly talented author who has taken crime fiction to an entirely new and fascinating place and I loved Keeper just as much (maybe even a little bit more) than Block 46.

Many authors attempt dual timelines and some manage to pull it off but there is NO ONE around that does it so seamlessly as Gustawsson does. Within these different periods of time there were several different subplots that were all intense and intriguing and once again, I struggled to figure out exactly how they would merge together. They seem mostly unrelated, but oh no they’re actually meticulously detailed and connected in the most mind blowing ways, it is seriously impressive. I’m always in awe of good writers, but she takes things to a whole new level of genius.

There’s only so much I can say to try and covey just how amazing this book is so I’ll just finish up by saying if you’re looking for a fresh, bold crime fiction read, look no further. But read both book one and book two, it’s well worth it!

Keeper in three words: Unflinching, Intelligent and Dark.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 12, 2018

Publisher: Red Door

Genre: Mystery

Blurb:

Lionel Shriver meets Mark Haddon in this break-out debut.

Despite living in the same three-flat house in the suburbs of London, the residents are strangers to one another. The bottom floor is home to Tam, a recent ex-cop who spends his days drowning his sorrows in whisky. On the middle floor is Nick, a young man with Asperger’s who likes to stick to his schedules and routines. The top floor belongs to Karen, a doctor and researcher who has spent her life trying to understand the rising rates of autism. They have lived their lives separately, until now, when an unsolved murder and the man on the middle floor connect them all together. Told from three points of view, The Man on the Middle Floor is about disconnection in all its forms; sexual, physical, parental and emotional. It questions whether society is meeting the needs of the fast growing autistic section of society, or exacerbating it.

Thought-provoking and thrilling, The Man on the Middle Floor will leave readers talking.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Man on the Middle Floor!

Review:

What an unusual book this was, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it. I tried to think of a book to compare it to and am drawing a blank, so this is definitely a highly original read. I’m not even sure exactly what genre I would say it fits in to, it’s definitely mysterious but it also reads like contemporary fiction at times and there is a ton to dissect and discuss making it a great book club pick.

This follows three people who are neighbors and is told from each of their viewpoints. Tam is a police officer who is disenchanted with life in general and probably my favorite character. Nick is a young man with autism who struggles to live a “normal” life and then finally there is Karen, and quite frankly I loathed this woman. She’s self absorbed, rude and oblivious and I can’t really find any redeeming qualities about her. After a series of events happen in their home, these neighbors who have never really spoken to each other before find their lives entangled in unforeseen ways.

Not only was this an unusual read it was often hard to read, uncomfortable even. It really pushed me outside of my own personal comfort zone, but I do like that occasionally and was really interested in the characters lives and how their stories would end. There is some dark subject matter explored here, but it really isn’t a graphic or gritty read, instead it’s a deeper exploration of dark and sad issues that are sadly, all too common today. The author has an extremely strong and original voice and style of writing, if you’re looking for something different, give this a try.

The Man on the Middle Floor in three words: Unique, Thought-provoking and Discomfiting.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About The Other Mother

Paperback:352 pages
Publisher:William Morrow Paperbacks (March 27, 2018)

An atmospheric and harrowing tale, richly literary in complexity but ripe with all the crazed undertones, confusions, and forebodings inherent in the gothic genre. Recommend this riveting, du Maurier like novel to fans of Jennifer McMahon. Booklist (starred review)

From the author of the internationally bestselling The Lake of Dead Languages comes a gripping novel about madness, motherhood, love, and trust.

When Daphne Marist and her infant daughter, Chloe, pull up the gravel drive to the home of Daphne’s new employer, it feels like they’ve entered a whole new world. Tucked in the Catskills, the stone mansion looks like something out of a fairy tale, its lush landscaping hiding the view of the mental asylum just beyond its border. Daphne secured the live-in position using an assumed name and fake credentials, telling no one that she’s on the run from a controlling husband who has threatened to take her daughter away.

Daphne’s new life is a far cry from the one she had in Westchester where, just months before, she and her husband welcomed little Chloe. From the start, Daphne tries to be a good mother, but she’s plagued by dark moods and intrusive thoughts that convince her she’s capable of harming her own daughter. When Daphne is diagnosed with Post Partum Mood Disorder, her downward spiral feels unstoppable until she meets Laurel Hobbes.

Laurel, who also has a daughter named Chloe, is everything Daphne isn’t: charismatic, sophisticated, fearless. They immediately form an intense friendship, revealing secrets to one another they thought they’d d never share. Soon, they start to look alike, dress alike, and talk alike, their lives mirroring one another in strange and disturbing ways. But Daphne realizes only too late that being friends with Laurel will come at a very shocking price, one that will ultimately lead her to that towering mansion in the Catskills where terrifying, long-hidden truths will finally be revealed….

Review:

Man this was a confusing read but I truly mean that as a compliment, I enjoyed every single page of this compulsive read! The confusion was the interesting kind, you know when you’re reading a book and you know the narrator isn’t reliable? It was that type of read, you’re endlessly questioning the characters, their motivations and their integrity.

Let me elaborate more on the confusion for you guys, this is told mainly from Daphne’s point of view both in a straightforward narrative in the present day and through journal entries from a few months ago. Daphne is a new mom suffering from post partum depression and she joins a support group where she meets Laurel. Their friendship is odd, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why at first, but you know something is off. It only becomes clear later that there are so many issues and backstories. In the present day Daphne is starting a new job working for a writer and the bulk of the novel is set at the authors house which shares grounds with a mental institution. Talk about a creepy and unsettling atmosphere! Combine that with Daphne’s delusions and paranoia and you have the perfect recipe for a highly entertaining page turner.

This was incredibly twisty, therefore difficult to review, especially in terms of the plot, but it was meticulously plotted and extremely well written. This read like a psychological thriller with an edge, it was sophisticated and refined and just so well done. Highly recommended by me!

The Other Mother in three words: Unnerving, Atmospheric and Polished.

Overall rating: 5/5

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

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Photo by Franco Vogt

About Carol Goodman

Carol Goodman is the critically acclaimed author of fourteen novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages and The Seduction of Water, which won the 2003 Hammett Prize. Her books have been translated into sixteen languages. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family, and teaches writing and literature at the New School and SUNY New Paltz.

Find out more about Carol on her website, and connect with her on Facebook.

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK

(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.