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Release date: January 26, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

One boy is dead. A killer is free. Who is next?

Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel is first on the scene as a stolen car crashes on a misty, wet Manchester morning. The driver is dead, but the biggest shock awaits her when she discovers the body of a child wrapped in plastic in the boot of the car.

As Jessica struggles to discover the identity of the driver, a thin trail leads her first to a set of clothes buried in the woods and then to a list of children’s names abandoned in an allotment shed.

With the winter chill setting in and parents looking for answers, Jessica must find out who has been watching local children, and how this connects to a case that has been unsolved for 14 years.

Review: 

This is the fourth book in Wilkinson’s Jessica Daniel series and though you don’t have to read them in order, I would recommend that you do. There is quite a bit of character development and backstory by this point and I think that will have a richer experience if you start with book one. 

When the book begins, Jess witnesses a car crash and is the first officer on the scene. One of the drivers is dead, and when she does a cursory search of his car, she discovers the body of a young boy. He’s been missing for a few weeks and she instantly recognizes him. Unfortunately she doesn’t have any idea who the driver is, and then when there are possible links to a historical similar case, she struggles to find a solid connection.

By this point, reading about Jess and crew is like catching up with old friends. Jess is still hot headed and temperamental, and she’s still working alongside Dave. She’s gotten even more daring and takes some series risks in this book in order to find answers, I love how gutsy she is. All the previous cast of characters make appearances here and all show signs of personal growth and depth that I loved. This was my favorite aspect of the book as I wasn’t quite as engaged with the plot as I would’ve liked.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a different type of case for Jess and team because usually they have a ton of leads to chase up, but this time there is virtually nothing. She’s constantly grasping at the most tenuous straws to try and figure out what’s going on, and honestly the lack of action left me slightly bored and wanting more. 

Overall, this was an average read for me, as much as I loved checking in with Jess, if it was the first book I had picked up in the series I doubt I would’ve been impressed. I’m still a fan of Wilkinson’s writing style, the city of Manchester was experiencing a huge amount of rain and that added something dark and sinister to the novel. I’ll definitely be continuing on with this series, I’m just hoping for some more action and excitement in book five. 

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: January 26, 2017

Publisher: Michael Joseph Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

FIRST CLASS PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE FROM A MAJOR NEW VOICE IN FICTION

Margot Lewis is the agony aunt for The Cambridge Enquirer. Her advice column, Dear Amy, gets all kinds of letters – but none like the one she’s just received:

Dear Amy, 

I don’t know where I am. I’ve been kidnapped and am being held prisoner by a strange man. I’m afraid he’ll kill me. 

Please help me soon, 

Bethan Avery

Bethan Avery has been missing for years. This is surely some cruel hoax. But, as more letters arrive, they contain information that was never made public. How is this happening? Answering this question will cost Margot everything . . .

Review: 

I loved the idea behind Dear Amy, a girl that’s been missing for almost twenty years suddenly resurfaces? I’m all over that premise, and while there were aspects that I liked, overall I wasn’t as impressed as I would’ve hoped to be by this one. 

Margot Lewis writes an advice column for the newspaper, Dear Amy. Most of the letters are run of the mill, then she begins receiving correspondence from Bethan Avery who was last seen seventeen years ago. Is Bethan really alive? And if so, how is managing to get letters mailed if she’s in danger? Simultaneously, Katie who is a student at the school where Margot teaches has also vanished. Plenty going on here, but unfortunately it mostly feel flat for me.

I liked the general idea and this was a quick read for me, I finished the whole thing in just two settings. Clearly it’s a page turner and it had some elements I need in a good psychological thriller. The tension was always climbing higher and mounting and Callaghan’s writing style was fluid. That’s about where the good stuff ends for me.

The biggest letdown for me was that I could see the big twist coming a mile away. That’s always a disappointment, yet there was something that made me keep reading so I have to give some credit where it’s due. The pacing was on the slow side for me, though the tension gradually amped up, it took awhile to get there and the chapters were pretty long. I prefer shorter, snappier chapters in thrillers, just a personal preference. I’m all for things being far fetched, but for some reason it went too far for me here. I can’t really elaborate more in order to remain spoiler free. 

Overall this was a mediocre read for me, I can’t say I really liked or disliked it. Maybe with the sheer amount of psychological thrillers I read it’s just getting harder and harder to shock me. I would read something by the author in the future as I did enjoy her style and feel that she’s a talented writer, I just wanted a sharper and tighter plot.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: January 24, 2017

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

A psychological thriller that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity, death, and deception—and the hottest title at the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair.

A damaged young woman gets the unique opportunity to rent a one-of-a-kind house. When she falls in love with the sexy, enigmatic architect who designed it, she has no idea she is following in the footsteps of the girl who came before: the house’s former tenant.

The eerie parallels in the two girls’ lives lay bare an enthralling story…and make this novel the must-read thriller of the season. 

Review: 

I try really hard to stay away from reading  Goodreads reviews until after I’ve read a book as I don’t want to be influenced beforehand and have preconceived notions. I love reading reviews from my fellow book bloggers because I trust their opinions and know they won’t spoil anything for me, but on Goodreads/Amazon you just never know. All that being said, I had heard that The Girl Before was getting mixed reactions so I checked things out for myself and it seems people either love this book or they hate it. I happened to love it, but just know that it seems like it’s not for everyone. 

You have dual perspectives here, Emma is Then, Jane is Now. This style never fails to reel me in and by ten percent I was totally hooked. Emma and her boyfriend Simon move into One Folgate Street together, then two years later Jane moves in alone to start fresh after a tragedy. As the chapters flip back and forth, the similarities between the two women are frighteningly uncanny. 

One of the biggest complaints that I’ve seen about this book is that no one finds the premise believable. One Folgate Street is owned by an architect named Edward who is a rigid perfectionist to put it mildly. He’s created a sterile, modern home with new technology that’s amazing but also creepy. No house keys are needed, the shower remembers what temperature you prefer, etc. The application prospective tenants must fill out in order to be considered has two hundred questions. That’s right, TWO hundred and they are anything but typical. They require the applicant to answer moral dilemmas and they’re just very odd. He also requires a picture which is just bizarre. Would I ever want to live in a place with a tyrannical control freak as a landlord? No thank you. But as a premise for a book I thought it was fabulous and it didn’t bother me that it wasn’t exactly believable.

Beyond what I’ve already discussed I won’t say more about the plot. This was a highly addictive and provocative read for me, a real page turner about the quest for perfection and the obsession that goes hand in hand with it. I was blindsided by one of the major twists and the smaller ones threw me for a loop as well. I can’t wait to see this play out on the big screen as Ron Howard is directing, I think it’ll be fantastic! Again, this seems to be a really polarizing read, you’ll either love it or hate it. If you’ve read it I would love to see which side of the fence you fall on! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Ballantine Books for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb:

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors–accessible only via a small mountain tunnel.

Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik–with a past that he’s unable to leave behind.

When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theater, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness–blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.

Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent.

Review: 

Ari Thor accepts his first job with a police force in a remote Iceland town leaving behind the big city and his girlfriend, Kristin. Almost immediately he second guesses his decision to relocate as Siglufjörður is a small town and he is made to feel like an outsider. As a rookie officer and the new face in town, he has many obstacles to overcome and when one resident dies and another is found badly injured he begins to realize that though the residents seem to know everything about each other, there are still many secrets being kept.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a more poetically written crime novel before. The descriptive prose Jonasson uses is gorgeous and even the actual crime scenes themselves are oddly beautiful sounding. There is a mature elegance to his writing style that really captivates the reader and makes you appreciate the rather slow pacing of the book. Even though things start off slow, by the latter half of the book it amps up and provides some fulfilling plot turns. 

I can’t review Snowblind without discussing the stunning atmosphere of Iceland. Jonasson’s imagery is just beautiful and the atmosphere plays such a large role here. Set in the winter months during very heavy snowfall, there is a constant sense of claustrophobia that affects not only the reader, but protagonist Ari Thor as well. You can absolutely feel the bone numbing chill in the air and the oppressive sense of dread it conjures. As the snow continues to pile up and the case unfolds I found myself feeling slightly suffocated and anxious for the season to change. 

This is not a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller but rather a classic murder mystery. It’s perfect for people that want a true, old school mystery with very little gory details and more focus on the characters and setting. But make no mistake, even if it doesn’t follow the newer trend of frantic pacing and twist after turn it still very much delivers on all levels and packs a powerful punch in the end.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Minotaur Books for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: January 19, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

A perfect family hiding disturbing secrets. A killer who wants the truth to be told. 

A teacher goes missing under suspicious circumstances. 

A millionaire is murdered at a local reservoir. 

For Detective Robyn Carter, there’s no obvious link between the men. But as she starts to delve into the cases, her investigations lead her to Abigail, perfect wife and mother to beautiful little Izzy. What was Abigail’s connection to the victims? And why is she receiving threatening messages from an anonymous number? 

But as Robyn starts to inch closer to finding the killer, Izzy is abducted. 

Unless Robyn gets to the twisted individual in time, a little girl will die … 

Gripping, fast paced and nailbitingly tense, this serial killer thriller will chill you to the bone. Perfect for fans of MJ Arlidge and Angela Marsons. Discover Carol Wyer’s new series today – at a special launch price. 

Review: 

I’ve read Wyer’s romantic comedies in the past and really enjoyed them so when I heard she was delving into the world of thrillers I was totally interested. Would the same author who wrote such heartwarming and fun books deliver a chilling and compelling thriller? Yes, yes she would. I was blown away by Little Girl Lost and am now in complete awe of the talented Carol Wyer. 

Robyn Carter used to be a detective and now works as a PI with her cousin, Ross. She’s suffered some devastating losses so she takes a break from being a police officer to heal. Right as she’s preparing to head back to work, she starts investigating the disappearance of a teacher, Lucas Matthews. When she really starts to dig into the case, things begin to get seriously complicated and twisted. Bodies are cropping up everywhere and seemingly unrelated people are connected, but how? 

I’m not going to lie, during the beginning quarter of this book I was slightly confused. It wasn’t the writing style or that weird plotting was going on, it was that there were so many viewpoints to keep track of. There was Abigail, a new mother to baby Izzy, Detective Carter as she tried to unravel an intricate web of details, and then there are chapters labeled Then from a girl with a tragically sad life. I was making myself crazy trying to figure out how all of this would tie together and then eventually things clicked into place and I was floored. I’m still amazed by how meticulously this was plotted, there were so many details to keep track of and Wyer tied it all together beautifully. 

Most of the time it seems like there is one massive twist in a mystery novel but here there were several turns that were all shockers. Between the gripping plot line and the seamless writing, you’re introduced to Carter who was such a great character, I’m thrilled that this is the start of a new series based on her. She’s had a difficult past and has walked away damaged, but she’s a good cop and she has a killer instinct and doesn’t always follow the rules. She’s not afraid to take a risk and I admire her strength and perseverance. What a talented thriller writer Wyer is, if this is what she has to offer first, I can’t wait to see what she has in store next!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: April 1, 2016

Publisher: Orenda Books 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

A perfect life … until she discovered it wasn’t her own.

A tragic family event reveals devastating news that rips apart Bella’s comfortable existence. Embarking on a personal journey to uncover the truth, she faces a series of traumatic discoveries that take her to the ruggedly beautiful Cornish coast, where hidden truths, past betrayals and a 25-year-old mystery threaten not just her identity, but also her life.

Chilling, complex and profoundly moving, In Her Wake is a gripping psychological thriller that questions the nature of family – and reminds us that sometimes the most shocking crimes are committed closest to home.

Review: 

At this point I think I just need to go ahead and purchase the entire backlog of Orenda’s catalog as every single book I’ve read from them is stunning in some unique way. I am extremely confident about reading any of their books by this point and if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading anything published by them, you need to remedy that, stat. 

Upon a tragedy in her family, Bella is forced to face some hard truths about things she never dreamed of. She must untangle a very complicated past fraught with secrets and devastating turns. She’s lived a rather sedate life thus far, she’s a librarian and is married to David. Her childhood was claustrophobic, but she was mostly happy and her parents loved her deeply. But every thing she thought she knew was built on a tower of lies, how is she supposed to know who she is if she doesn’t even know who she was? The truth is heartbreaking and painful and totally unexpected. 

Jennings is a beautiful storyteller, there is a quiet intensity from the very first page that never changes throughout the book. The majority is set in Cornwall and her prose is beautiful, haunting and rich. It’s one of those books that sucks you in slowly, pulling you in deeper the further you get. As Bella embarks on this journey of self discovery I felt like I was being gently prodded along with her, it was a really spellbinding experience. 

It’s not your typical psychological thriller, I’m hesitant to even label it that way as it’s full of depth and doesn’t have that frenetic pacing that many psychological thrillers do. Part of what adds so much to this story is the tremendous growth of not only Bella, but another few characters we meet along the way, namely Dawn and Alice. These women all must overcome so many things, but at it’s core In Her Wake is a story of grief and healing and finding oneself no matter what the cost. It was a truly beautiful thing. 

I really would love to discuss this one in depth but I believe that it’s such a fantastic reading experience if you go in blind, so I’ll finish up here and leave you with this; if you want a uniquely haunting, seamlessly plotted, touching and compelling read, look no further. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy, you are THE best! 

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: January 17, 2017

Publisher: Hachette Books

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction 

Blurb: 

It’s 1965 in a tight-knit working-class neighborhood in Queens, New York, and Ruth Malone–a single mother who works long hours as a cocktail waitress–wakes to discover her two small children, Frankie Jr. and Cindy, have gone missing. Later that day, Cindy’s body is found in a derelict lot a half mile from her home, strangled. Ten days later, Frankie Jr.’s decomposing body is found. Immediately, all fingers point to Ruth. 

As police investigate the murders, the detritus of Ruth’s life is exposed. Seen through the eyes of the cops, the empty bourbon bottles and provocative clothing which litter her apartment, the piles of letters from countless men and Ruth’s little black book of phone numbers, make her a drunk, a loose woman–and therefore a bad mother. The lead detective, a strict Catholic who believes women belong in the home, leaps to the obvious conclusion: facing divorce and a custody battle, Malone took her children’s lives.

Pete Wonicke is a rookie tabloid reporter who finagles an assignment to cover the murders. Determined to make his name in the paper, he begins digging into the case. Pete’s interest in the story develops into an obsession with Ruth, and he comes to believe there’s something more to the woman whom prosecutors, the press, and the public have painted as a promiscuous femme fatale. Did Ruth Malone violently kill her own children, is she a victim of circumstance–or is there something more sinister at play? 

Inspired by a true story, Little Deaths, like celebrated novels by Sarah Waters and Megan Abbott, is compelling literary crime fiction that explores the capacity for good and evil in us all.

Review: 

This book caught my eye immediately for several reasons. First, the cover is so striking in its simplicity, then the blurb is intriguing, I love that it takes place in the sixties, it’s one of my favorite eras. After I received my copy I discovered that the author was inspired by a real case and that was just the icing on the cake for me. I haven’t read a true crime novel for quite some time, but the idea of reading a book with truthful elements was so interesting to me. 

Ruth Malone is living her worst nightmare, both of her young children went missing and then were discovered days later murdered. Unfortunately for her, she’s the easy target for the police and her community as she’s different from her neighbors. She’s a party girl, she drinks more than is considered to be acceptable, is promiscuous and is estranged from her husband, Frank. She dresses provocatively and takes pride in her appearance and the worst part is that she doesn’t behave the way people assume a grieving mother would. Devlin is the cop working the case and he presumes she is guilty on the very night Frankie and Cindy go missing. Everything about Ruth and the person she is was frowned upon in the sixties and it was interesting to think that not much has changed as far as how many women are still judged based on the way they look today. 

Pete Woinecke is a rookie reporter who manages to nab this story and though he has very little direct interaction with Ruth he falls under her spell and develops an obsession with her. He believes she is guilty in the beginning but as he continues to search for answers, he wavers and wonders if she may be innocent after all. I had a similar experience as one minute I would be sure she was innocent, then the next things would flip as she said or did something that made me shake my head. 

The ending of this one was dramatic and unexpected and you do find out what really happened to the Malone children, but there is no real sense of justice being served. This made it all the more honest and true to life as in reality, things are often left messy and unfinished. 

This isn’t your traditional mystery/thriller type novel, it’s deeper than that, it has the vibe of literary fiction and I was reminded of Tana French minus the density of her work. Every word that Flint wrote serves a purpose and the result is a powerful and profound read, she’s a genuinely talented writer and storyteller. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Hachette Books for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website

Release date: January 20, 2017

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

They say you can always trust a copper. They’re lying.

They lied thirty years ago and they’re still lying today.

A booby-trapped body in a long-abandoned chapel. A scene examination that goes horribly wrong. CSI Eddie Collins and DI Benson are injured and one of the team killed. Eddie is heartbroken and guilt-ridden. And angry. 

If you like fast-paced crime thrillers with a forensic slant, raw emotions, and characters that reach out of the book and grab you by the throat, you’ll love Andrew Barrett’s Eddie Collins series.

Review: 

I’m so pleased to be the stop for the Ledston Luck blog tour today! Don’t miss the other stops either. 

This was my first introduction to Barrett’s work though it’s the fourth book in his Eddie Collins series. I wasn’t bothered by this and never felt like I was missing out on any pertinent information, but I have added the first three books to my ever growing TBR. 

Eddie Collins is not a detective like the protagonist in most crime novels, he’s a CSI. I loved this, it made for a really unique and fresh point of view to see things from that perspective instead of a cops perspective. That type of stuff has always been interesting to me and couple that with a character like Collins? Well you’ve got quite a set up. He’s a cheeky guy and very sarcastic, which I adore because sarcasm is my first language. I didn’t always agree with him but I always found him highly entertaining and I especially liked any scenes between him and his father Charles.

The case Collins is working is a series of historical murders which is one of my favorite storylines in crime fiction. I always think the killer must be pretty smug after thirty years have passed and they’re still flying under the radar, until something or someone unearths their darkerst secret. 

The pacing was pretty mild to start (but never boring) but the tension was slowly mounting and by the last quarter of the book things really ramped up.Eddie being a CSI means that the reader gets a graphic look at how this profession works and there is also abuse and some violence, but as most of you know by now that doesn’t bother me. Barrett uses some great dark humor that balances out the heavy stuff which I always appreciate and wonderfully lightens the mood just when you need it the most. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: December 15, 2016

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.

But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…

Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget-the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.

Phantom Limb is a character-driven mystery that begs to be read in a single setting. The shocking and shattering conclusion will make you go back and read it again.

Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors, and The Girl With No Past.

Review: 

I read another book by Berry a few months back, Missing Parts and while I enjoyed that one, I liked this one even more. From the blurb alone I was hooked, I always like reading about the relationship between twins and combine that with holes in one of the characters memories and a dark past and I’m jumping in feet first. 

I will be saying very little about the plot with this one, but there were some killer twists that jarred me. Elizabeth wakes up in a hospital and the last thing she remembers is finding Emily dead and soon enough she’s a patient in a psychiatric hospital. But she knows she’s not crazy, she has worked really hard to overcome her past demons and make something of herself. But she’s confused and unsure about several things her family and team of doctors have been telling her and she has no idea who to believe. 

I loved the pacing here, it was fast and furious and kept me glued to my Kindle. It’s relatively short and with so many crazy things happening, it’s one of those books that just begs you to read it as fast as possible. This was one of those reads where you’re constantly trying to figure out exactly what’s going on and a few times I wondered if I was going a little bit crazy.

As much as I was into the storyline, I really liked the deep look into the human psyche. Berry is a clinical psychologist and it’s very apparent that’s she knowledgeable while reading this, her insight and attention to detail was impeccable. Psychology has always fascinated me and seeing how a high security mental hospital runs was so interesting. 

I do want to mention that this is very dark and disturbing and there is a lot of difficult subject matter from child abuse, eating disorders, sexual abuse and more. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.