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Release date: October 31, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A serial killer is playing a terrifying game of life or death with his victims. After he captures them, a countdown begins. He marks the time by sending clues to the whereabouts of the women he has taken in three disturbing images: alive, tortured, dead. 

In a race against the clock, East London Detective Ruby Preston must play the twisted killer’s terrifying murder game and decipher the clues before more women die… 

But this isn’t the first time the police have seen such a sickening crime. The notorious Lonely Hearts Killer, Mason Gatley, was put behind bars ten years ago for murdering six women in exactly the same chilling way. Desperate for more information, Ruby persuades her boyfriend, Nathan Crosby, to use his criminal connections to set up a dangerous meeting. Because to catch this killer, she needs to think like one… 

But the closer Ruby grows to the dark and charming Mason Gatley, the more worried her team become. Is Mason really helping her catch the killer? Or is he lining Ruby up to be his next victim?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Peter James will be hooked by this dark and utterly disturbing thriller, packed with twists until the final page. 

I’m ecstatic to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Murder Game today!

Review:

This is the third and final book in the Ruby Preston series, I absolutely loved both Death Note and Sleep Tight and I highly recommend this series. Mitchell has the unique ability to create wholly believable characters and well plotted scenarios that are guaranteed to keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I love that this case follows a copycat killer and this forced Ruby to visit the original killer, Mason in prison to see if he could be of any help in the investigation. The scenes between these two were chilling and utterly creepy, very Silence of the Lambs and so well done. Mitchell crafts the best serial killers and as a reader with a sick fascination with them, she’s one of the best. 

Fast paced and relentless, this is totally a one sitting type of read. I won’t say much about the plot itself except it’s twisty and per usual I had no idea who the killer was, Mitchell always keeps me on my toes. If you like police procedurals and haven’t read this series you should, they have such an authenticity to them and they’re entertaining and exciting, what more could you want?! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Thriller Author.

Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family, parrot and two dogs in a pretty village on the coast of Essex. A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. Published by Bookouture and Thomas & Mercer, she now writes full time and all her books have become number 1 best sellers in their categories.

Her fast-paced DC Jennifer Knight thrillers carry a hint of the supernatural and are weaved from Caroline’s personal experiences in the police and paranormal.

Set in Shoreditch, London, her DS Ruby Preston series is described as “terrifying, addictive serial killer thrillers”. 

 

Caroline also writes psychological thrillers, the most recent, Witness, has been described as “thrilling, tense, exciting, dark and twisted in the best possible way”.

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Release date: April 9, 2017

Genre: Literary, Humor

Blurb: 

Nothing much ever happened on Horseshoe Lane – why should it? It was, after all, just a normal suburban backwater with the usual cross section of growing families, ageing pensioners, the occasional singleton and a brace of curtain twitchers. The arrival of celebrity couple, Heavenly and Travis, however, changes all that. This glamorous pair bring about a summer of competitive party throwing and ambitious home improvement projects that will have disastrous and completely unforeseen consequences.  

 

Neighbours who’ve got by for years with just the occasional chat over a garden fence about the unseasonable amount of rain or the state of next door’s garden are slowly united by suspicion as a husband goes missing, a much loved cat turns up dead on a doorstep and Enid from Number Seven is found badly injured at the foot of the cliff.   

 

Could one person be responsible for all of this? Could that person be the strange and unlikeable Hilary Jones from Number Nine? There was only going to be one way to find out and it was going to involve a lot of whiskey….

 

In this her wonderful follow up to ‘The Rock Star Known as Horse’, Owen’s riveting new story finds a murky side to the suburbs, a side where petty jealousies and neighbourly rivalries can escalate out of all control with calamitous results, all intricately observed with her usual dark humour firmly to the fore.  

I’m delighted to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Bitches of Suburbia today!

Review:

I know some people will probably be put off by the title of this one but it’s actually what first caught my attention and made me think, now that sounds like the type of book I would like to read! I figured an author who was bold enough to use the word bitches in the title would have the type of sarcastic sense of humor that I love and boy was I right. This book was darkly humorous, sassy and a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Right from the start I got a Desperate Housewives vibe, there’s that same feisty spirit and campy, gossipy fun on Horseshoe Lane that there was on Wisteria Lane. The neighborhood is full of unique characters, some are pretty average and boring and others are downright scandalous, there’s even a married couple that are swingers!! So this is a little bit sexy, but not gratuitous but there are plenty of outrageous moments and naughty behavior. Out of all the residents I think Gertrude was my favorite, she’s a ninety something whisky drinking bad girl, what’s not to love?!

While there is some death and murder this read more like a cozy mystery with bite, it’s definitely not as cutesy as a cozy, it’s sharper and more cunning. A totally fun  read written in an easy style, I would definitely read another one of Owen’s books.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey for my review copy. 

About the Author:

Jane’s first novel, Camden Girls, was published by Penguin twenty years ago and quickly became an international cult bestseller published in many languages including Japanese, Spanish,German, Hebrew, Italian and Dutch. She’d already spent many years working in the film business working alongside stars such as Christophe Lambert, Andi McDowell, Daryl Hannah and James Remar before switching to the music business and working for bands such as The Who, Robert Plant, ZZTop and many more. Eventually, even that got boring and that’s when she wrote Camden Girls.  

 

After publication, life became interrupted by an unfortunate traffic accident and Jane moved out of London to Sussex and slowly returned to writing. Her novels don’t fit into any specific category and, frustrated by endless rejections along the lines of ‘You write beautifully but we don’t know how to sell this book’ she started self publishing. Rave reviews gave her the confidence to keep going and believe in what she was writing.

 

She’s still in Sussex, sharing her life with her musician partner, three horses and a dog and divides her day between writing and riding.  

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Release date: October 27, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb:

They placed me in here and threw away the key. I look down at the gown they’ve put on me. I want my own clothes. I don’t know how long I’ve been here.

An elderly woman is found murdered in her own home, and Detective Lottie Parker and her partner Detective Boyd are called in to investigate. When they discover that the victim’s daughter is missing as well, they start to fear for the safety of the whole family…

Two days later as a nearby house is set on fire and with the body count rising, Lottie and her team begin to unpick a web of secrets and lies, as the murders seem to link back to a case investigated by Lottie’s father before he took his own life. 

With little knowledge of what really happened to her father, Lottie knows this is a case that could give her some answers. But how much does she want to know? And how far is Lottie prepared to dig to uncover the truth?

The Lost Child is a thrilling page-turner from the bestselling author of The Missing Ones and The Stolen Girls that will have you guessing right to the very last page. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Angela Marsons and Robert Dugoni.

I’m so thrilled to be helping to kick off the blog tour for The Lost Child today!

Review:

This is the third book in a series that follows Lottie Parker, I absolutely loved The Missing Ones and The Stolen Girls and was eagerly awaiting the latest installment. I don’t recommend jumping in at this point in the series because the character development is SO great and each book reveals a little bit more about Lottie and her other team members. Also, it’s an awesome series so if you’re a fan of police procedurals and haven’t read this you are definitely missing out!

Lottie is still a lovable mess, she constantly has way too many plates spinning but she just cannot help herself, she thrives on chaos. Her kids are doing a bit better after the events of the last book but their house is still crazy and Lottie is struggling to maintain a balance between work and family life. Speaking of work, her caseload is bigger than ever, true to form there is a lot going on in this book and several interesting sub plots/cases are being investigated, there is always action and excitement in a Gibney book. Boyd is still around, much to my relief and once again, his and Lottie’s chemistry is amazing. 

This is told mainly in the present but there are several chapters from The Child, a nameless person who appears to have been raised primarily in an asylum under horrific circumstances. I wondered so many times how this could possibly relate to any of the investigations and when things all came together I was definitely surprised. 

Gibney has certainly found her stride with this series, she does a fantastic job weaving together an intricate plot with red herrings galore and excitement and tension to boot. It’s dark, gritty and intense with shocking developments and well executed twists. This case turns deeply personal for Lottie and provided more questions than answers in the end and I really cannot wait to see what happens next! 

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.

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

Book 3, The Lost Child, is on pre-order and is published on October 27th, 2017.

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Release date: October 24, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Romantic Comedy 

Blurb: 

A dream family Christmas or a total nightmare? Katy and Ben are about to find out…

Katy’s been stuck in the office away from her family so she wants it all: snow (fake or real), the Michael Bublé Christmas album, whatever it takes. 

There’s only one thing missing as far as her husband Ben is concerned: another baby to complete their family. But Katy isn’t so sure she’s ready yet…

Ben may be playing the role of Master Elf in the pre-school nativity but he is struggling to master his own family life. With romantically-challenged friends, an ex who refuses to go away and Katy’s mum’s 64-year-old toy boy thrown into the mix, Christmas looks like it could be going off the rails… Never mind family planning, can Katy and Ben even plan to make it to the end of Christmas Day? 

From the no. 1 bestselling author of No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday, this book will make you cry with laughter, and then book your flights abroad for the festive season. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Milly Johnson. 

I’m absolutely delighted to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day today!

Review:

This was one of the funniest books I’ve read in awhile, there was some seriously hilarious moments that had me dying! Think slap happy in terms of style and over the top comedy and that’s the type of read this was. If you’re looking for a different kind of Christmas book, this would be absolutely perfect, while the humor was my favorite part there are still some heartwarming scenes and a little romance as well. 

This is the third book in a series but I started with this one and had absolutely no problem catching up quickly. It seems Katy and Ben have had their fair share of issues in the past but they’ve managed to stick together and are happily married with a daughter, Millie. After being introduced to their circle of friends and family I can see why they’ve found themselves in some awkward situations, but man do they make for some amazingly fun scenes. Katy’s mom really cracked me up as did Ben’s best friend, Braindead. Yes, Braindead but it is a nickname but one that everyone uses freely and if you’ve read any of these books you’ll understand why! This was full of an eccentric, quirky cast that just completely stole my heart. 

This had a sassy edge that I loved, tons of sarcasm and slightly inappropriate humor that really made me giggle. I know I’ve said this probably too many times already but this really was a hysterical read, I doubt anyone could read it and NOT find it funny! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks, to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote her romantic comedy, NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY. This debut novel went on to be successfully published internationally and became a #1 Best Seller.
Back in the UK she has continued her writing career and has just launched her sixth book.

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Release date: October 17, 2017

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Alexia Kennedy – interior decorator extraordinaire – has been tasked with giving the little village of Middledip the community café it’s always dreamed of.

After months of fundraising, the villagers can’t wait to see work get started – but disaster strikes when every last penny is stolen. With Middledip up in arms at how this could have happened, Alexia feels ready to admit defeat.

But help comes in an unlikely form when woodsman, Ben Hardaker and his rescue owl Barney, arrive on the scene. Another lost soul who’s hit rock bottom, Ben and Alexia make an unlikely partnership.

However, they soon realise that a little sprinkling of Christmas magic might just help to bring this village – and their lives – together again…

Settle down with a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine as you devour this irresistibly festive Christmas tale. The perfect read for fans of Carole Matthews and Trisha Ashley.

I’m so delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for The Little Village Christmas today!

Review: 

What an enchanting, heartwarming read this one was! I’ve heard so many great things about Sue Moorcroft’s books from many of my blogger buddies and when I heard she was not only releasing a new book, but a Christmas one I knew this would be the perfect opportunity to try one of her novels. Delightfully fun and touching, this is the perfect read for those days where you want to cuddle up and read something that’ll make you feel warm and fuzzy. 

Alexia and Ben were both the type of characters that you form an immediate connection with, they’re both extremely likable and realistic. Both of them are at a sort of crossroads in their lives, Ben has recently separated from his wife and there’s a mystery surrounding that whole situation that intrigued me right up until the end and Alexia has plans to move out of the village and start a new life in the city. Besides being realistic Ben was also adorably quirky, he has a soft spot for animals and is helping an injured owl, there’s some really swoon worthy moments with him and the romance was tender and sweet.

The location is fabulous, I adore a quaint little English village as a setting and Middledip surely provides that. There is a strong sense of community spirit when the residents rally around Alexia and Gabe after disaster strikes and they’re conned, it had some great feel good parts that made me sigh with happiness. The bulk of the story takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas so it’s not all mistletoe and carols, you could indulge in the one at any time of the year! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Award winning author Sue Moorcroft writes contemporary women’s fiction with occasionally unexpected themes. The Wedding Proposal, Dream a Little Dream and Is This Love? were all nominated for Readers’ Best Romantic Read Awards. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue’s a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner, a past vice chair of the RNA and editor of its two anthologies.

The Christmas Promise was a Kindle No.1 Best Seller and held the No.1 slot at Christmas!

Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a creative writing tutor.

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Release date: October 13, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

There are some secrets you can never tell.

The last thing to go through Dominique Thomas’s head was the image of her teenage daughter’s face and her heart lifted. Then the shot rang out.

They were the perfect family. Successful businessman Ben Thomas and his wife Dominique live an enviable life, along with their beautiful children; teenager Ruby and quirky younger daughter, Mouse. 

But on Christmas Day the police are called to their London home, only to discover a horrific scene; the entire family lying lifeless, victims of an unknown assailant. 

But when Ruby’s diary is discovered, revealing her rage at the world around her, police are forced to look closer to home for the key to this tragedy.

Each family member harboured their own dark truths – but has keeping their secrets pushed Ruby to the edge of sanity? Or are there darker forces at work?

This dark, gripping psychological thriller will have you holding your breath until the very last page. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Sometimes I Lie, and The Girl on the Train will be captivated. 

 I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Her Last Secret today!

Review:

Right from the start of this one you already know something horrific has happened, but you don’t know the details, just that the Thomas family is shattered, and on Christmas Day of all days. This is told mostly through flashbacks starting about a week before Christmas, then there are a handful of chapters told from a police officers point of view when he arrives at the families home after tragedy strikes. Every single family member gets to tell their version of events and while most of them were pretty unlikable, I was still highly invested in their lives, and I did have a huge soft spot for Mouse, the youngest member of the family. She was such a dear, quirky little girl and I really wanted to take her away from the craziness of her family and keep her safe. 

This seemingly picture perfect family is anything but and they all have secrets they’re desperate to keep which made me suspicious and unsure of what exactly was going on. All of the characters are really well drawn and I really liked that Copperthwaite took the time to not only make these people come to life, but she gave them various problems and issues that were believable and really relevant today. 

This was a not one of those action packed, tense psychological thrillers but rather one that was character driven and relied on a simmering, more subtle tension that increased as you get closer to the end. The conclusion was shocking especially since you’re already acutely aware that something awful happened but there were still plenty of surprises that were unpredictable and I really couldn’t have guessed what truly happened in the end. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 
About the Author:

What people say about Barbara’s books:

“Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed… Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact,” Sunday Mirror 

“Enthralling, tense and moving,” Real People magazine 

“Totally gripping, and scarily believable,” Bella magazine

Barbara is the author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE and FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD. Both have been Amazon best sellers. She is also the author of THE DARKEST LIES, and her latest book HER LAST SECRET is out on 13 October.

Much of her success is thanks to her twenty-odd years’ experience as a national newspaper and magazine journalist. She’s interviewed the real victims of crime – and also those who have carried those crimes out. Thanks to people sharing their stories with her, she knows a lot about the emotional impact of violence and wrong-doing. That’s why her novels are dark, realistic and tackle not just the crime but its repercussions.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs. 

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Release date: October 6, 2017

Publisher: HQ Digital

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

All she wants for Christmas…

When talented artist Nee Sutherland returns to Butterfly Cove for her sister’s wedding, it’s only a matter of time before she has to face her own bridegroom – Luke Spenser – the man she impulsively married, then left in the middle of the night.

Nee hasn’t picked up her paintbrushes in months, a part of her is broken. She knows Luke might never forgive her, leaving him was the biggest mistake of her life – but could coming home for Christmas be the best decision she’s ever made?

Maybe all she needs is a little Christmas miracle…

A delightfully feel-good festive romance, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

I’m absolutely delighted to be helping with the weekend blitz for Christmas at Butterfly Cove today!

Review:

This is the third and final book in a series, I read the second, Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove and found it to be such a fun, engaging and lighthearted read. This book focuses on Nee, the first two focused on her sisters, Mia and Kiki and I was eager to learn more about her this time around. She made a brief appearance alongside her estranged husband, Luke in the previous book and it was clear they had some unresolved issues to work through…

One of my favorite things about this series and Bennett’s style is the heavy focus on strong family bonds and overall sense of hope and there was much of that here as well. These characters are all so lovely and sweet, I found myself really drawn to each and every one of them and was wishing I could meet them for real. Nee and Luke were adorable together even when they weren’t actually together and I couldn’t wait for them to both get it together and find their way to each other again. Checking in on the other couples was also a treat, Kiki and Aaron and Mia and Daniel were also endearing and oh so cute, I can’t get enough of these wonderful characters and their lives! 

This was a hopelessly romantic read as all three sisters are in love and there’s the added bonus of this being a Christmas read which always warms my heart. The setting of Butterfly Cove is charming, quaint and utterly delightful making this one cozy and sweet read that will definitely make you smile! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and Neverland BT for my review copy. 

About the Author:

Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.

Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.

Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove trilogy, published by HQ Digital UK. You can also look forward to a new series coming in 2018, set in the beautiful seaside town of Lavender Bay.

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Release date: October 12, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Escape to the cosy little village of Appledore for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and a second chance at love. Will this Christmas prove that miracles really can happen?

A year after she separated from her husband, Gianni, on Christmas day, Chloe’s heart is finally on the mend as she unpacks the decorations for her first ever festive holiday alone. That is, until the phone rings…

It’s the manager of Gianni’s new seaside restaurant in Appledore, begging for Chloe’s help. Equally famous for his gold-leaf Christmas puddings and his explosive temper, Gianni has been really stirring up a sensation with the locals – and not in a good way! It’s the last thing she wants to do, but Chloe knows she is the only one that can help.

As pans fly and the temperature in the kitchen rises, Chloe’s calming influence and magic touch might just get critics back on side in time to save the restaurant from sinking like a sad soufflé. But as Chloe’s eyes meet Gianni’s as they tussle over a plate of turkey tartlets, could there also be a chance for new romance on the menu? 

A laugh-out-loud festive treat that will give you the tingle of freshly hung tinsel. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Abby Clements and Debbie Johnson.

I’m SO excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Snowflakes, Iced Cakes and Second Chances today!

Review: 

This is the third book in a series, I absolutely adored the first two, Ella’s Ice Cream Summer and Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice Cream and it felt so good to be back in Appledore! You definitely can read each book as a standalone, however there are reoccurring characters that are so fantastically funny you really should read each book. 

This is told solely from Chloe’s point of view and what a sweetheart she was. It’s been a year since her marriage broke up and she’s lonely and heartbroken but she’s really trying to move on. As she slowly revealed parts of her history with Gianni you find out they’ve dealt with some heartbreaking issues, I truly felt for her. While this still had Watson’s signature brand of wickedly fun humor there was a more melancholy feel to it, it was more emotional than her other books. 

I loved that Chloe crossed paths with some of my old favorites, especially Sue who was back with her inappropriately hilarious advice and god awful malapropisms. Gianni is from Italy and the way he mangled certain common expressions had me rolling with laughter. He’s very sweary and ass is one of his favorite words but he uses it in unusual ways, clown ass, holy ass for a few examples hahaha. He always pronounces beach like bitch leading to some very funny encounters.

This is full of Christmas magic and sparkly moments, all about second chances and starting fresh. Watson’s books never fail to leave me with a smile on my face and are the best way to spend a delightful afternoon. I do hope this isn’t the end of the series, I’ve come to love and adore Appledore and it’s residents.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author: 

Sue Watson was a journalist then a TV Producer at the BBC until she realised that instead of working, she could stay at home, make stuff up and sell it! 

So far Sue’s written ten books, and some have been translated into Italian and Portuguese (she’s big in Brazil!) Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire where her days are spent baking (and eating) lots of cake, while making big life decisions about whether to have Caramel Chew Chew or Salted Caramel ice cream while watching ‘The Biggest Loser USA,’ on TV. 

 

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Release date: September 12, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

After a messy divorce, attractive young mother Sonia is struggling to provide for herself and keep custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated when Sonia embarks on a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath of the Icelandic financial crash. Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a dark, fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction.

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

Review:

Snare is told via three separate points of view, that of Sonia, Bragi and Agla. All of their lives and stories merge at some point in really interesting ways and the cat and mouse game between Sonia and Bragi was unbelievably tense and exciting. My heart was in my throat for most of this book, as much as I shouldn’t have wanted Sonia to keep getting away with drug running I couldn’t help but sympathize with her and truly hoped she would find a safe way out. 

Sigurdardottir is a fantastic writer, the scenes where Sonia was in the airport were so well written I felt panicky and anxious myself. There was a dark desperation lingering throughout this one, a strong sense of urgency that worked so incredibly well alongside the chilly Icelandic setting. 

Snare was a highly original and tense read that I flew through, it gripped me immediately and caught me in its own unique snare, I read it in one breathless sitting. This was a different type of crime read, the type of book Orenda is known for, fresh, exhilarating and compelling. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading anything by them before you should definitely check out their catalog or if all else fails start with this one, it’s outstanding. 

Quick side note, I just saw it’ll be the start of a new series and I couldn’t be more excited! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author:

Lilja Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic crime-writer and playwright, born in 1972. She is the author of four crime novels, Steps (Spor), 2009, Forgiveness (Fyrirgefning), 2010, Snare (Gildran) 2015, Tangle (Netið) 2016 and Cage (Búrið) 2017.

Her debut stage-play Big Babies (Stóru Börnin) was staged in the winter of 2013-2014, became critically acclaimed and won the Icelandic Theatre Prize Gríman as “Best play of the year.”

Lilja´s latest book, Tangle, (Netið) was published in Iceland in October 2016 by Forlagid publishing. The rights to the novel have already been sold to France/Switzerland/Luxembourg/Canada (Éditions Métailié); World English (Orenda Books)