Friday, July 28, 2017

The Mayfly - James Hazel



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Zaffre

Published: 04/05/17

Pages: 432

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

A mutilated body discovered in the woods. A murderous plan conceived in the past.
A reckoning seventy years in the making . . .

When lawyer Charlie Priest is attacked in his own home by a man searching for information he claims Priest has, he is drawn into a web of corruption that has its roots in the last desperate days of World War Two.

When his attacker is found murdered the next day, Priest becomes a suspect and the only way to clear his name is to find out about the mysterious House of Mayfly - a secret society that people will kill for.

As Priest races to uncover the truth, can he prevent history from repeating itself?

My Thoughts


June was a very poor month me reading wise I only managed one book. This month however I seem to have caught the reading bug again. Not only has my reading been more prolific this month but all the books, so far, have been outstanding. Mayfly continues that streak with aplomb.

Mayfly is James Hazels first book a fact that I find hard to believe such is the quality of the writing, characterisation and storytelling. From the first page until the last I was totally absorbed by the story and the characters, in the Protagonist Charlie Priest we have a Flippant, Socially inept rouge with his heart in the right place and a character that can be as well known as Jack Reacher in the future.
The story is told over 2 timelines , 1945 and present day it has obviously been well researched but at no time was it overkill or superfluous and unlike this review the ending wasn't a let down either.

A fast paced, humorous, thrilling read that drags you in and wont let you go until the last page. Highly recommended.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Last Seen Alive - Claire Douglas



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 13/07/17

Pages: 389

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

She can run
Libby Hall needs to hide, to escape from everything for a while. Which is why the house swap is a godsend. The chance for Libby and her husband Jamie to exchange their tiny Bath flat for a beautiful haven on the wild Cornish coast.

But she can't hide
But before they can begin to heal their fragile marriage, Libby makes some disturbing discoveries about the house. And soon the peace and isolation begin to feel threatening. How alone are they? Why does she feel watched?

Because someone knows her secret
What is Jamie hiding? Is Libby being paranoid? And why does the house bring back such terrible memories? Memories Libby's worked hard to bury. Memories of the night she last saw her best friend alive . . . and what she did.

My Thoughts


This is the third book from Claire Douglas and the second I have read. The first was Local Girl Missing which I loved and gave 5 stars. So I was more than eager to read Last Seen Alive.

I was expecting a compelling, well written story, what I wasnt expecting was a book that fooled me not once but 3 times. As an avid reader of Mystery/Thriller/Crime books I would like to think that I can pretty much guess the outcome of most or get pretty damn near, Not with Last Seen Alive. I got nowhere near.

Libby has had a tough time of it lately so when a letter is posted through the door enquiring about a possible house swap, Libby,her husband Jamie and Ziggy the Dog jump at the chance of a break in Cornwall. At this point Libby seems to be a little bit paranoid with a few trust issues and Jamie seems to hiding a secret or two of his own. Of course things are never what they seem. The book is split into 3 parts Cornwall,Thailand and Bath told by Libby and Beth what happens over the next 389 pages has more twist and turns than a ride on the Helter Skelter at the Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare but not as expensive.

A Psychological Thriller that hits the nail firmly on the head and then some. Exceptional reading.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Dead Souls - Angela Marsons



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 28/04/17

Pages: 408

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

The truth was dead and buried… until now.

When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone.

As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps.

Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies were found.

But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she’s ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy - and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger – before it’s too late?

My Thoughts


Dead Souls is the 6th instalment in the DI Kim Stone series and for my money is by far the best. I absolutely adored this book, everything about it was just right. The books are all must reads for crime fans but this one blew me away.
Kim is taken away from her comfort zone, in fact all of the team are and the results make for a superb story that had me gripped all the way through. There was not one superfluous word throughout the book, just full on brilliant story telling. The story revolves around Hate Crime and whilst the team are all working on separate cases they all come together to a fantastic crescendo of an ending.

If you have read Kim Stone before you will love this, If you havent I am envious of you because you have 6 books to catch up on whilst I have to kick my heals waiting for the 7th. So what are you waiting for? its a no brainer, £1.99 on Kindle is a steal. Buy it.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Secrets Of The Dead - Carol Wyer



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 30/05/17

Pages: 316

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?

A bottle of bubble bath and colourful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open.

When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognises the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can’t find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.

Just when her leads have dried up, Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case. But as she chases across the plush carpets and manicured lawns of the wealthy elite, honing in on the killer’s shocking motive, one of her own is put in terrible danger.

The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed and brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late?

When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?

My Thoughts


The second book in the DI Robyn Carter series and what a great read it was. The book is fast paced and kept me wanting to read just that little bit more every time I thought about putting it down. Took me 2 days to read, which for me is virtually unheard of. I honestly couldn't get the book out of my head I was totally engrossed in the world of DI Carter that Carol Wyer has created. The main characters are fantastic and develop from the last book without being repetitive. The killer is one hell of a nut job and although I did work out who they were and why they were doing it pretty early on in the book it didnt detract from my enjoyment.

One of my favourite book of 2017 so far and I cant wait to read the next.

A fantastic read and one I highly recommend.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Trust Me - Gemma Metcalfe



Kindle Edition

Publisher: HQ Digital

Published: 10/03/17

Pages: 209

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

One phone call. Two lives. Their darkest secrets.

Lana needs to sell a holiday, fast. Stuck in Tenerife, in a dead end job, she never expected a response quite like Liam’s.

Thousands of miles away a phone rings. Liam never intended to pick up, he’s too busy choosing the quickest way to die. But at least someone should know the truth before he goes, even if that someone is a stranger.

As time runs out both are drawn to the other, expressing thoughts they never imagined they would share. When you’re about to die will your secrets even matter?

My Thoughts

If this book is anything to go by Gemma Metcalfe is going to have a bright future in writing.

I really liked this book, two stories rolled into one with the two main characters telling each other their own story over the phone. Both stories are compelling and contain a good few twists that will keep you reading. I read this in 2 days which is pretty are for me. The story lines arent signposted for you and could have gone in many directions.

Both Liam and Lanas stories could have been real life true stories that you read in Womans Weekly or such like, the dialogue was well written and flowed well, no clunky stereotyped nonsense in sight.

The ending to both of their stories were great and the very end was surprising for all the right reasons.

Its an absolute bargain at 99p. This book is better than a lot of best sellers that are 10 times that cost.

Great book highly recommended.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Each Little Lie - Tom Bale



Kindle Edition

Publisher: Bookouture

Published: 29/06/17

Pages: 408

Amazon Uk Link: Here

GoodReads Link: Here

Given for an honest review via Netgalley


The Blurb

One split second can destroy your life forever

Single mother Jen Cornish is just trying to hold things together for the sake of her seven-year-old son Charlie. Until the day when she does an impulsive good deed to help a neighbour, setting off a terrifying chain of events that quickly spirals out of control…

When she is arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, Jen quickly starts to wonder if someone is playing a cruel game with her - or is she losing her mind?

Desperate to clear her name with the police, she must first untangle a chilling web of lies. But someone is watching her every move – and it isn’t just Jen who is in danger.

They’re watching her child as well.

My Thoughts


I have been extremely slack with my reading for the last few months and have a massive TBR pile, I am finding it hard to get out of bed let alone read a book. Whilst browsing Twitter not so long ago I came across a post that Tom Bale was publishing a new book so straight away this jumped to the top of my TBR Pile.
Tom Bale is one of my favourite writers, his books are consistently good and I really do enjoy them, in fact See How They Run is amongst one of my favourite books I have read. The writing instils in you the feelings the characters are going through on the page. I am constantly going through an emotional roller coaster of Panic, Fear and Relief.
Each Little Lie is no different. Yet again Tom Bale takes a "normal" everyday person and puts them into a brilliant adrenaline packed adventure.

As with all my reviews I wont go into details (thats what the blurb is for) of the story through fear of spoilers and laziness but this is a story full of characters of dubious nature that think they can do whatever they like regardless of the law to people who they deem beneath them, and get away with it. Bit like the Conservatives. The protagonist of the story is Jen Cornish who is a normal everyday person, a single person who lives for her son. She does one kind thing for a neighbour and her whole world changes

Great book, highly recommended.