Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Book Of The Month - November

My book of the month for November is the fantastic Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

I have no doubt this award is the highlight of Mrs Douglas writing career and why wouldn't it be?



My original review is here.

Book Of The Month - November

My book of the month for November is the fantastic Local Girl Missing by Claire Douglas

I have no doubt this award is the highlight of Mrs Douglas writing career and why wouldn't it be?



My original review is here.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Hide and Seek - M.J Arlidge



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 08/09/16

Pages: 373

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has spent her whole life running.

From the past. From herself. From everyone who's ever tried to get close to her.

She's spent her whole life hiding.

Behind the badge. Behind her reputation as one of the country's best detectives. Until - framed for murder - she became one of its most high-profile prisoners. Now there is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Because HMP Holloway is a place of dark days and long nights with dangers at every turn. Despised by the inmates and reviled by the guards, Helen must face her nightmare alone.

And then a carefully mutilated body is found in a locked cell.

Now Helen must find a ruthless serial killer. Before the killer finds her.

My Thoughts


A welcome return for DI Helen Grace and like The A Team she has been sent to Prison for a crime she didnt commmit; but unlike The A Team she cant turn an old Ford Fiesta and a few drain pipes into a make shift Cabbage shooting Tank to make her escape.

This book has a different feel to the rest of the series and unlike some series that stay within the same safe narrative we see Helen Grace in a tension filled, constrained, dangerous and alien surroundings. She no longer has the backing and safety net of her team and still she finds herself having to, unofficially, investigate the odd murder or two.

As with the rest of the series it is fast paced, easy to read and will keep you guessing right until the end.

Certainly a different Helen Grace Novel but still a sure fire winner that will keep old and new fans happy. Highly recommended.

Hide and Seek - M.J Arlidge



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 08/09/16

Pages: 373

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has spent her whole life running.

From the past. From herself. From everyone who's ever tried to get close to her.

She's spent her whole life hiding.

Behind the badge. Behind her reputation as one of the country's best detectives. Until - framed for murder - she became one of its most high-profile prisoners. Now there is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

Because HMP Holloway is a place of dark days and long nights with dangers at every turn. Despised by the inmates and reviled by the guards, Helen must face her nightmare alone.

And then a carefully mutilated body is found in a locked cell.

Now Helen must find a ruthless serial killer. Before the killer finds her.

My Thoughts


A welcome return for DI Helen Grace and like The A Team she has been sent to Prison for a crime she didnt commmit; but unlike The A Team she cant turn an old Ford Fiesta and a few drain pipes into a make shift Cabbage shooting Tank to make her escape.

This book has a different feel to the rest of the series and unlike some series that stay within the same safe narrative we see Helen Grace in a tension filled, constrained, dangerous and alien surroundings. She no longer has the backing and safety net of her team and still she finds herself having to, unofficially, investigate the odd murder or two.

As with the rest of the series it is fast paced, easy to read and will keep you guessing right until the end.

Certainly a different Helen Grace Novel but still a sure fire winner that will keep old and new fans happy. Highly recommended.

The Girls Next Door - Mel Sherratt



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 27/10/16

Pages: 318

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

One warm spring evening, five teenagers meet in a local park. Only four will come out alive.

Six months after the stabbing of fifteen-year-old Deanna Barker, someone is coming after the teenagers of Stockleigh, as a spate of vicious assaults rocks this small community. Revenge for Deanna? Or something more?

Detective Eden Berrisford is locked into a race against time to catch the twisted individual behind the attacks – but when her own niece, Jess Mountford, goes missing, the case gets personal.

With the kidnapper threatening Jess’ life, can Eden bring back her niece to safety? Or will the people of Stockleigh be forced to mourn another daughter…?

My Thoughts


At last a Detective who is in a happy relationship, doesn't have a habit, gets on with people and doesn't have a passion for rare cars or motorbikes. It was nice to see a detective with less personal baggage than an easyjet cabin allowance.

Unfortunately that was the only positive I took from the book. Thats not 100% true, the prologue was a good read. I just wish the rest of the book had lived up to it. From the first chapter there was name after name thrown at me and I couldn't keep up with who was who and what they meant to each other. I started to take notes so I could reference who was who but this didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience. Judging from the 5 star reviews I have read I appear to be in the minority. I found no mystery or suspense and I was certainly nowhere near the edge of my seat.

I did finish the book but didn't enjoy it. I cant imagine myself reading anymore in the series. I really dont like writing reviews like this and If I had bought the book I wouldn't have written anything, just put it down to a bad choice. I could have given a gushing 5 star review but I promised to give an honest review in return for a chance to read it, so I have to be honest.

The Girls Next Door - Mel Sherratt



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 27/10/16

Pages: 318

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

One warm spring evening, five teenagers meet in a local park. Only four will come out alive.

Six months after the stabbing of fifteen-year-old Deanna Barker, someone is coming after the teenagers of Stockleigh, as a spate of vicious assaults rocks this small community. Revenge for Deanna? Or something more?

Detective Eden Berrisford is locked into a race against time to catch the twisted individual behind the attacks – but when her own niece, Jess Mountford, goes missing, the case gets personal.

With the kidnapper threatening Jess’ life, can Eden bring back her niece to safety? Or will the people of Stockleigh be forced to mourn another daughter…?

My Thoughts


At last a Detective who is in a happy relationship, doesn't have a habit, gets on with people and doesn't have a passion for rare cars or motorbikes. It was nice to see a detective with less personal baggage than an easyjet cabin allowance.

Unfortunately that was the only positive I took from the book. Thats not 100% true, the prologue was a good read. I just wish the rest of the book had lived up to it. From the first chapter there was name after name thrown at me and I couldn't keep up with who was who and what they meant to each other. I started to take notes so I could reference who was who but this didn't make for an enjoyable reading experience. Judging from the 5 star reviews I have read I appear to be in the minority. I found no mystery or suspense and I was certainly nowhere near the edge of my seat.

I did finish the book but didn't enjoy it. I cant imagine myself reading anymore in the series. I really dont like writing reviews like this and If I had bought the book I wouldn't have written anything, just put it down to a bad choice. I could have given a gushing 5 star review but I promised to give an honest review in return for a chance to read it, so I have to be honest.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Blood Lines - Angela Marsons



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 04/11/16

Pages: 388

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up.

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother.

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

My Thoughts


I love the Kim Stone series and believe that in a few years Angela Marsons can be a big name in the crime genre. As much as I was looking forward to the 5th installment of Kim Stones story, unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to the previous 4.

The main story suffered form a lack of depth which culminated in a rushed ending with Google doing the work for Kim to piece the puzzle together. I was utterly frustrated reading this book and skip read big chunks of it because of its repetitive nature. If you have read Evil Games then you would be familiar with the returning Dr Alex Thorne. Her thread in this book, apart from being way beyond my ability to suspend belief, had nearly a whole chapter devoted to her back story from Evil Games this along with Kims back story being picked apart and retold made for a repetitive read and one that didn't hold my attention as I felt I had read it many times before.

Blood Lines - Angela Marsons



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 04/11/16

Pages: 388

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up.

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother.

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

My Thoughts


I love the Kim Stone series and believe that in a few years Angela Marsons can be a big name in the crime genre. As much as I was looking forward to the 5th installment of Kim Stones story, unfortunately, I didn't think it lived up to the previous 4.

The main story suffered form a lack of depth which culminated in a rushed ending with Google doing the work for Kim to piece the puzzle together. I was utterly frustrated reading this book and skip read big chunks of it because of its repetitive nature. If you have read Evil Games then you would be familiar with the returning Dr Alex Thorne. Her thread in this book, apart from being way beyond my ability to suspend belief, had nearly a whole chapter devoted to her back story from Evil Games this along with Kims back story being picked apart and retold made for a repetitive read and one that didn't hold my attention as I felt I had read it many times before.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

The Keeper - Alastair Gunn



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 06/10/16

Pages: 432

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Let the games begin.

A man is found buried in a secluded wood on the outskirts of London. Naked, beaten and bruised; forensics also show that he hasn't eaten in the 24 hours before his murder. To DCI Antonia Hawkins it looks like a vicious, targeted attack.

The hunt is on.

But as more bodies are unearthed in the same state, Hawkins struggles to find a pattern in the seemingly random killings as the body count continues to climb.

But who is the hunter?

unique kind of serial killer. One that is playing a twisted game. And so far the killer is one winning . . .

My Thoughts


Oh Look its another brilliant messed up Detective with a love of cars at loggerheads with their superiors about something that happened in their past, trying to hunt a serial killer whilst balancing their work, family, love life and past problems.

I adore reading Crime/Thriller novels. I have read hundreds of them and unfortunately this is one that I have read many times before. Its not a bad book by a long shot and I can imagine loads of people will adore it, just not me.

If you read a lot of this genre then the plot is quickly worked out and becomes a drawn out wait to confirm your theory was right. The twists were sign posted and totally expected for me and lets be honest, there wasn't much detecting to catch the Killer. It was given to them on a plate really.

I would much rather have read about the relationship between Rupert and Ash than Antonias sisters failing marriage. It lent nothing to the plot.

Not my cup of tea at all.

The Keeper - Alastair Gunn



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 06/10/16

Pages: 432

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Let the games begin.

A man is found buried in a secluded wood on the outskirts of London. Naked, beaten and bruised; forensics also show that he hasn't eaten in the 24 hours before his murder. To DCI Antonia Hawkins it looks like a vicious, targeted attack.

The hunt is on.

But as more bodies are unearthed in the same state, Hawkins struggles to find a pattern in the seemingly random killings as the body count continues to climb.

But who is the hunter?

unique kind of serial killer. One that is playing a twisted game. And so far the killer is one winning . . .

My Thoughts


Oh Look its another brilliant messed up Detective with a love of cars at loggerheads with their superiors about something that happened in their past, trying to hunt a serial killer whilst balancing their work, family, love life and past problems.

I adore reading Crime/Thriller novels. I have read hundreds of them and unfortunately this is one that I have read many times before. Its not a bad book by a long shot and I can imagine loads of people will adore it, just not me.

If you read a lot of this genre then the plot is quickly worked out and becomes a drawn out wait to confirm your theory was right. The twists were sign posted and totally expected for me and lets be honest, there wasn't much detecting to catch the Killer. It was given to them on a plate really.

I would much rather have read about the relationship between Rupert and Ash than Antonias sisters failing marriage. It lent nothing to the plot.

Not my cup of tea at all.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

While You Were Sleeping - Kathryn Croft



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 16/10/16

Pages: 286

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour, Lee Jacobs’ bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood. But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth?

My Thoughts


So you wake up in your neighbours bed with no memory of how you got there and he cant tell you as he is stone cold dead after being stabbed in the bed. What would you do? Well, if you are Tara Logan, you get dressed sneek back home and hope for the best. That is until her daughter is made a suspect.

From here the story takes us on a thrilling page turning, head mashing journey until the quite fantastic ending. I changed my mind time and time again as to who the guilty party was and you wont be let down when you discover the Killer.It builds tension perfectly and you never know who to trust. Rosie was a great character, one who you could never trust whatever came out of her mouth.

My only negative point was the relationship between Tara and Holden. I didnt feel it had a place in the book and was a bit distracting. But then I suppose thats the point.

While You Were Sleeping - Kathryn Croft



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 16/10/16

Pages: 286

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour, Lee Jacobs’ bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood. But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth?

My Thoughts


So you wake up in your neighbours bed with no memory of how you got there and he cant tell you as he is stone cold dead after being stabbed in the bed. What would you do? Well, if you are Tara Logan, you get dressed sneek back home and hope for the best. That is until her daughter is made a suspect.

From here the story takes us on a thrilling page turning, head mashing journey until the quite fantastic ending. I changed my mind time and time again as to who the guilty party was and you wont be let down when you discover the Killer.It builds tension perfectly and you never know who to trust. Rosie was a great character, one who you could never trust whatever came out of her mouth.

My only negative point was the relationship between Tara and Holden. I didnt feel it had a place in the book and was a bit distracting. But then I suppose thats the point.

Local Girl Missing - Claire Douglas



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 18 July 2016

Pages: 368

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Twenty years ago 21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night. She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier - and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now A body's been found. And Francesca's drawn back to the seaside town she's tried to forget. Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out. Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn't returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past. The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth. But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now's the time to find out - isn't it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear - your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

My Thoughts


It may be because this Book reminded me of my youth, without the killing and weird stuff, but I really enjoyed reading this. I couldnt help but substitute the word Weston Super Mare for Oddcliffe everytime I read it and the characters I pictured in my head were all old friends. Not sure if thats weird or not, but I enjoyed it.

The story kept my interest all the way thorough and the secrets and twists were great. Not really sure how I felt about many of the characters really. I didn't take to them but it didn't really make that much of a difference to reading it as the story was strong enough. Could of done with out the romance between Daniel and Francesca though it felt a bit like reading a letter from Jackie of Just 17.

The ending was either a work of genius or a work of a A level English Student. Im leaning towards genius. Totally unexpected and it will hit you like a fly hits a windscreen on the M5.

A great and highly recommended read.

Local Girl Missing - Claire Douglas



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 18 July 2016

Pages: 368

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Twenty years ago 21-year-old Sophie Collier vanishes one night. She leaves nothing behind but a trainer on the old pier - and a hole in the heart of her best friend Francesca.

Now A body's been found. And Francesca's drawn back to the seaside town she's tried to forget. Perhaps the truth of what happened to Sophie will finally come out. Yet Francesca is beginning to wish she hadn't returned.

Everywhere she turns are ghosts from her past. The same old faces and familiar haunts of her youth. But if someone knows what really happened to Sophie that night then now's the time to find out - isn't it?

Except sometimes discovering the truth can cost you everything you hold dear - your family, your sanity and even your life . . .

My Thoughts


It may be because this Book reminded me of my youth, without the killing and weird stuff, but I really enjoyed reading this. I couldnt help but substitute the word Weston Super Mare for Oddcliffe everytime I read it and the characters I pictured in my head were all old friends. Not sure if thats weird or not, but I enjoyed it.

The story kept my interest all the way thorough and the secrets and twists were great. Not really sure how I felt about many of the characters really. I didn't take to them but it didn't really make that much of a difference to reading it as the story was strong enough. Could of done with out the romance between Daniel and Francesca though it felt a bit like reading a letter from Jackie of Just 17.

The ending was either a work of genius or a work of a A level English Student. Im leaning towards genius. Totally unexpected and it will hit you like a fly hits a windscreen on the M5.

A great and highly recommended read.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

The Silence Between Breaths - Cath Staincliffe



Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.

Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .




Kindle Edition

Cost: Netgalley

Publisher: Constable

Published: 22/09/16

Pages: 272

Amazon Uk link: Here

Goodreads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.



We see the pictures on the news of attacks and whilst we are horrified and sickened our lives carry on as normal. This story takes us into the lives of people involved in a terrorist attack and their struggle with the aftermath.

The book is told in alternating chapters from the view point of the passengers and their families. We also learn the fate of the family the bomber leaves behind. The characters are so well written and every one of them is believable, I loved some characters and equally disliked others.

Tell Me No Lies - Lisa Hall



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Carina

Published: 20/10/16

Pages: 183

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Don’t. Trust. Anyone.
It was supposed to be a fresh start.

A chance to forget the past and embrace the future. But can you ever really start again?

Or does the past follow you wherever you go?

Steph and Mark have just moved house, trying to find a way forward after all the secrets, lies and betrayal.

But starting over isn’t always easy. Especially when someone will go to any lengths to make sure you never forget…

My Thoughts


I used to work on the Bins in the 70s, there were 5 of us roaming the streets of Worcestershire, bit like the Wombles. One of the lads was a great lad called Jamie Lawson and as he kept saying then, way before he started playing his Banjo and singing, "I wasnt expecting that"and I really wasn't expecting that.

Steph and Mark have had a few issues over the years. They decide they need a fresh start. So a Pregnant Steph, Mark and their young child Henry move into a new home. Before they are unpacked they are welcomed by a knock on the door by the new neighbors and nothing from that moment is what it seems.

When I was a trainee Doctor at Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, My mentor, Dr Gregory House used to tell me that "Everybody Lies" and this book personifies his words.

Stephs descent into deep Anxiety is brilliantly written and it was a real "just one more chapter" of a read. I couldn't get enough of it, I was desperate to find out what was going on. I dont want to use any spoilers so I cant go into much detail but the ending was a real mouth dropper.Highly recommended and definitely in my top 10 books of this year.

Tell Me No Lies - Lisa Hall



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Carina

Published: 20/10/16

Pages: 183

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Don’t. Trust. Anyone.
It was supposed to be a fresh start.

A chance to forget the past and embrace the future. But can you ever really start again?

Or does the past follow you wherever you go?

Steph and Mark have just moved house, trying to find a way forward after all the secrets, lies and betrayal.

But starting over isn’t always easy. Especially when someone will go to any lengths to make sure you never forget…

My Thoughts


I used to work on the Bins in the 70s, there were 5 of us roaming the streets of Worcestershire, bit like the Wombles. One of the lads was a great lad called Jamie Lawson and as he kept saying then, way before he started playing his Banjo and singing, "I wasnt expecting that"and I really wasn't expecting that.

Steph and Mark have had a few issues over the years. They decide they need a fresh start. So a Pregnant Steph, Mark and their young child Henry move into a new home. Before they are unpacked they are welcomed by a knock on the door by the new neighbors and nothing from that moment is what it seems.

When I was a trainee Doctor at Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey, My mentor, Dr Gregory House used to tell me that "Everybody Lies" and this book personifies his words.

Stephs descent into deep Anxiety is brilliantly written and it was a real "just one more chapter" of a read. I couldn't get enough of it, I was desperate to find out what was going on. I dont want to use any spoilers so I cant go into much detail but the ending was a real mouth dropper.Highly recommended and definitely in my top 10 books of this year.

The Silence Between Breaths - Cath Staincliffe



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Constable

Published: 22/09/16

Pages: 272

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Book given in exchange for an
honest review via Netgalley.



The Blurb

Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.

Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .



My Thoughts


We see the pictures on the news of attacks and whilst we are horrified and sickened our lives carry on as normal. This story takes us into the lives of people involved in a terrorist attack and their struggle with the aftermath.

The book is told in alternating chapters from the view point of the passengers and their families. We also learn the fate of the family the bomber leaves behind. The characters are so well written and every one of them is believable, I loved some characters and equally disliked others.

The Silence Between Breaths is a thought provoking, upsetting and rewarding story that will stay with me for a long time.