Monday 30 September 2019

The Introvert Confounds Innocence - Michael Paul Michaud


THE INTROVERT CONFOUNDS INNOCENCE continues the story of the eponymous anti-hero introduced in THE INTROVERT.

With his life disrupted by an unscrupulous work colleague and a bully at his son Toby’s school, things go from bad to worse when his neighbor’s abusive boyfriend goes missing, plunging the introvert into the center of a murder investigation.

Increasingly hounded by a meddlesome detective, and with his thoughts continually urging him to make people “red and open” and to “achieve it” with his girlfriend Donna, what follows is a sometimes brutal, oftentimes hilarious, and absurdist account of the life of one very anti-social and unexpected anti-hero.


What did I think?

When reading The Introvert one rainy Saturday afternoon, I really didn't want it to end and my wish was granted with The Introvert Confounds Innocence being next in my reading queue - hurrah!  You could read this book as a standalone but I think it definitely works better as a series, after all, the introvert himself is a serial killer.  He's not your traditional serial killer by any means; he doesn't go out looking for people to kill, it's more like they present themselves to him as people who deserve to become 'red and open'.  As a literal thinking killer with feelings, I think of our nameless anti-hero as a cross between Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory and Dexter Morgan from Dexter.

I love the simple but clever covers of these books and The Introvert Confounds Innocence shows a new addition to our anti-hero's life.  I think his partner, Donna, not standing along with the family says a great deal about how anti-social our anti-hero really is.  Does he actually love her or is she simply a means to his 'achieving it'?

There is a lot going on in the 226 pages of this book: the introvert's son is being bullied, he has a new competitive colleague at work and his next door neighbour is the victim of domestic abuse.  With many contenders for the next person to become 'red and open', I couldn't read fast enough to see how this story would play out.  Some of the interactions with his new colleague at work had me guiltily laughing out loud as our introvert smashes several of the equality and diversity protected characteristics to smithereens in one fell swoop.  You really can't be offended by it as he doesn't mean it in a derogatory way, he is just being literal and there's nothing wrong with that when that's the way you are made.

Although not a criticism by any means, there was only one thing I personally didn't like in the book and that was the way the weird English detective spoke, however, the repetitive, often lyrical nature of prose did fit well with the book.  He just annoyed the hell out of me as it felt like he was talking to a dog most of the time but I think that was part of his character as he came across as a bumbling friendly guy but he was like a bloodhound that has the scent of blood.

Leading on very nicely indeed to Book 3: The Introvert Bears Filthy Witness, The Introvert Confounds Innocence is a wonderfully quirky instalment in this awesome series.  I can't wait to see what happens next to the introvert and I have to confess that I am most definitely addicted to this highly original series; so just try and stop me reading the books again while I wait (im)patiently for Book 3.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


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Sunday 29 September 2019

The Introvert - Michael Paul Michaud


A vacuum salesman by day, the introvert lives a quiet life alone with his dog until a work relationship and a dark secret from his past team up to create an uncomfortable imbalance in his otherwise ordered life, one that soon finds him squarely at the center of a murder investigation. With his thoughts continually urging him to make people “red and open” and to “achieve it” with his girlfriend Donna, what follows is a sometimes brutal, oftentimes hilarious, and absurdist account of the life of one very anti-social and unexpected anti-hero.


What did I think?

What a totally awesome book!  I love something a bit different and boy, was this different!  As a self-confessed introvert, I was attracted to this book by its simple cover as I've never been afraid to stand apart from the crowd, in fact I much prefer it!  Thankfully, I don't share any of the dark traits of our nameless anti-hero but, rather like my favourite serial killer, Dexter, he only makes people 'red and open' who deserve it.

I knew from the start that I was going to enjoy this book as the introvert comes up against bureaucratic red tape when he attempts to renew his drivers licence.  After queuing for 40 minutes he leaves empty handed but with dark thoughts of stabbing the clerk with her own letter-opener.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't a horror story; it's definitely more of a black comedy as I found myself giggling at the situations the introvert finds himself in, especially when he attracts the attention of his colleague, Donna.  He finds that although he can 'achieve it' on his own, it's much better when Donna helps him.

I suppose seeing the more human side of him as his relationship with Donna progresses made it easier to take his side when things go spectacularly wrong.  I actually found him a little naïve with almost a childlike innocence when the reasons behind his actions become apparent.  He does have a good heart but he can't control his impulses for making people who deserve it 'red and open'.

As a very literal person, which my family and colleagues will attest to, I found it quite hilarious to see how the introvert interprets things.  I don't think I'm quite as bad as him but there are some scenes with a police officer and police inspector that had me both sniggering at the audacity and silently applauding the literal brain of our anti-hero.

With an anti-hero you can't help rooting for and an intriguing storyline of a strange life and a murder investigation, The Introvert is impossible to put down once you pick it up.  At only 160 pages long, it's so easy to read this original and quirky book in one sitting, which is what I did, but I really didn't want the story to end.  Thankfully, it doesn't end there with Book 2: The Introvert Confounds Innocence already published and Book 3: The Introvert Bears Filthy Witness in the pipeline.  

The Introvert may very well be my new guilty pleasure and it's definitely a book I'd read again as I'm sure I have missed some of the nuances of this wonderful and darkly charming anti-hero.  It's the perfect book to pick up if you're at a loose end on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  Highly recommended for fans of Dexter and black comedy.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon

Saturday 28 September 2019

BLOG BLITZ: Dying To Tell - Keri Beevis


As the only survivor of a horrific car crash, Lila Amberson believes she is on the road to recovery after she is released from the hospital. Her memories of the accident are blurred though and a series of unsettling incidents leave her fearing for her safety. Does she have survivor's guilt or is something more sinister at play?

Jack Foley is reeling from the shock of losing his sister in the crash and when he first meets Lila, he lashes out, blaming her for Stephanie's death. But when Lila gives him a locket that she believes belonged to his sister, it presents more questions than answers.

As Lila and Jack work together to find out what really happened on the night of the accident, they are unaware that someone is watching them closely. Someone who has much to lose if the truth comes out, and someone who is prepared to do everything necessary to ensure all loose ends are taken care of.


What did I think?

Woah!  My creep-o-meter went into total overdrive whilst reading Dying To Tell by Keri Beevis.  There are one or two characters who literally made my skin crawl and it's not that they were particularly unpleasant, but rather that they seemed to have a touch of menace and deeply buried secrets about them.  To get this feeling from an author's writing is one of the magical things I love about reading!  Keri Beevis has written a number of books but this is the first one I have read; it definitely won't be my last!

Lila is a brilliant character with an intriguing story.  We've all been on bad dates but Lila's must be the worst when she is involved in a fatal two car collision.  Lila can't remember exactly what happened in the crash but she is drawn to the funeral of the driver of the other car, Stephanie.  Sparks fly when she meets Stephanie's half-brother, Jack; sparks of anger at first but most definitely sparks of electricity as the pair are helplessly attracted to each other.  I loved this part of the story as Lila is very vulnerable and opens her heart to Jack but suffers the same insecurities as we all do in a new relationship.

There's definitely more to the crash than meets the eye and I thought I had it all worked out but I was only a teeny tiny bit right.  Bravo Keri Beevis!  I gave Keri a virtual standing ovation when I was proved mostly-wrong and my eyes raced ahead of my brain in an attempt to devour every word on the page at record speed.

Reading Dying To Tell has definitely piqued my interest in other books written by Keri Beevis.  Whereas Dying To Tell is set in Norwich, her previous books are set in America but judging by the 5 star reviews they are just as brilliant.  Keri Beevis is a new author to add to my favourites list and Dying To Tell is a book I'll be raving about for quite some time.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon




About the author:
Keri Beevis wrote her first novel at age twenty, but it was a further twenty years before she was published after entering the Rethink Press New Novels Competition 2012. Her entry, Dead Letter Day, was a winner, earning her a publishing contract, and the book proved to be a minor hit, leading to a sequel, Dead Write. However it was Keri's third novel, standalone mystery thriller The Darkness Beneath that gained her the most success, along with many new fans, both in the UK and the USA.

Born in the village of Old Catton, less than a mile from where Anna Sewell was living when she wrote Black Beauty, Keri had a passion for reading and writing from a young age, though her tastes veered more to the macabre. 

Today she still lives in Norwich, along with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel), where she writes a comedic lifestyle column for a local magazine. She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

Keri’s previous books have all been US based and she is looking forward to the release of her first UK based novel, which is set in her beautiful home county of Norfolk.




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Thursday 26 September 2019

The Guardian of Lies - Kate Furnivall


1953, the South of France. The fragile peace between the West and Soviet Russia hangs on a knife edge. And one family has been torn apart by secrets and conflicting allegiances.

Eloïse Caussade is a courageous young Frenchwoman, raised on a bull farm near Arles in the Camargue. She idolises her older brother, André, and when he leaves to become an Intelligence Officer working for the CIA in Paris to help protect France, she soon follows him. Having exchanged the strict confines of her father's farm for a life of freedom in Paris, her world comes alive. 

But everything changes when André is injured - a direct result of Eloise's actions. Unable to work, André returns to his father’s farm, but Eloïse’s sense of guilt and responsibility for his injuries sets her on the trail of the person who attempted to kill him.

Eloïse finds her hometown in a state of unrest and conflict. Those who are angry at the construction of the American airbase nearby, with its lethal nuclear armaments, confront those who support it, and anger flares into violence, stirred up by Soviet agents. Throughout all this unrest, Eloïse is still relentlessly hunting down the man who betrayed her brother and his country, and she is learning to look at those she loves and at herself with different eyes. She no longer knows who she can trust. Who is working for Soviet Intelligence and who is not? And what side do her own family lie on?


What did I think?

I discovered Kate Furnivall through TBC on Facebook so joining that group is the best thing I ever did as I absolutely adore her books.  As a keen reader of historical fiction, I know how difficult it can be to bring an era to life but Kate Furnivall does this impeccably.  What an amazing talent to be able to transport the reader to miscellaneous locations and time periods; whether it's early 20th Century Egypt in Shadows on the Nile, war torn Italy in The Liberation or post-war France in The Guardian of Lies I feel as if I'm travelling the world through Kate Furnivall's wonderful books.

In The Guardian of Lies we launch straight into the action with Eloïse acting as a getaway driver for her brother André.  With a car chase that would rival James Bond, I had my heart in my mouth and was left breathless as the action unfolds.  The pacing doesn't give up there, even when Eloïse and André return to their father's farm in Arles; in fact it felt more dangerous in the idyllic countryside of The Camargue with civil unrest over an American airbase being built on their farmland.  With such a great opportunity to spy on the American airforce, Eloïse can't tell which side her family, friends and neighbours are on.  The question on my lips throughout the whole book was: who can she trust?

Oh my word, this is another outstanding novel by Kate Furnivall.  I almost managed to read it in one sitting, if only I didn't have to eat and sleep!  I really couldn't put it down and it's unusual for this to happen to me when reading historical fiction as sometimes it's quite fact-heavy and dry so I need to take regular breaks.  Kate Furnivall's writing is so multi-faceted that it awakens the senses as you see, hear and smell every sight, sound and action along with the characters.

I was a little concerned that the story might be confusing, as is often the case with Russian espionage, but I needn't have worried as the story is easy to follow and we aren't overrun with characters.  This proves yet again that Kate Furnivall is an exceptional storyteller.  I think of Kate Furnivall is a literary knitter; she spins such a good yarn.

The Guardian of Lies is an exceptional novel by one of the finest historical fiction authors I've ever come across; so grab your passport and pick up a copy to be transported to post-war France from the comfort of your armchair.  A highly recommended read and one I shall definitely be recommending for a long time to come.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon

Tuesday 24 September 2019

BLOG BLITZ: Cold Echo - CJ Carver


Should you trust your best friend with your life?

When they were children, Harry, Lucas and Guy were best friends. But then they made a mistake that shattered their friendship and forced them to cut all ties.

Years later a man’s head is discovered in the woods, skinned and with the tongue cut out. The police call on Harry, a psychotherapist, to help with the case, and when it transpires the victim is his old friend Guy, old skeletons begin to surface.

Then one of Harry’s clients goes missing.

Forced into a desperate hunt to save the boy, Harry finds himself closing in in on a terrible secret, a secret someone will do anything to keep buried…


What did I think?

This is my second CJ Carver book and although it didn't quite knock Over Your Shoulder off the top spot, it was still an excellent read.  CJ Carver writes a might fine thriller with so many strands woven through the story, giving it a multi-layered effect.  The pacing is fast and the pages turn effortlessly as the story unravels.

I love books with secrets in them and Cold Echo starts with Harry, Guy and Lucas as young boys sharing a secret that will haunt them all their lives, with some lives proving to be shorter than others.  The intrigue was certainly ramped up to full when, many years later, a head is found that belongs to Guy.  As if that wasn't intriguing enough, Harry is a psychotherapist who is called in to help the police in this case, a case that sees one of his clients go missing and brings him back into contact with Lucas and another face from their past.

Cold Echo is rather like a supermarket trolley; it goes in unexpected directions.  Although I didn't fully engage with the characters, I was completely riveted by the story and found it very hard to put down as there are so many strands of intrigue to unravel, it's like a ball of wool that has been in the paws of a kitten.  I really enjoy CJ Carver's writing; it's so intriguing, gripping and filled with eye-opening surprises.  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon



About the author:
Winner of the CWA Debut Dagger for her first novel Blood Junction, CJ Carver has written a further ten critically acclaimed novels. Spare Me The Truth, the first in the Dan Forrester series, was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award 2017.

Half-English, half-Kiwi, CJ lived in Australia for 10 years before taking up long-distance rallies, driving London to Saigon, London to Cape Town and covering 14,000 miles on the Inca Trail in South America.

CJ began her writing career by writing about her adventures, eventually becoming a travel writer for various national publications including The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, Autocar. She is co-founder for the Women’s World Car of the Year Award.

CJ has been a judge for the Thriller Awards in the USA. Her books have been published in the UK, USA and translated into several languages. She lives just outside Bath.




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Sunday 22 September 2019

Morecambe & Vice Blog tour: Blanket of Blood - Eileen Wharton


Morecambe & Vice, the North-West's crime-writing festival, is in its third year and this year Books on the Bright Side Publicity have organised an epic blog tour to showcase all of the brilliant authors taking part.  I am delighted to be partnered with Eileen Wharton, a fellow North-Easterner, and I am releasing my review of Blanket of Blood as part of the tour. 

Find out more about the festival and buy tickets from https://www.morecambecrimefest.co.uk/ 


The body of a baby is found in the woods but all is not as it seems.

A twisted serial killer is targeting pregnant teenage girls.

DI Blood races against the clock to stop the most chilling murderer he’s ever hunted. His private life meanwhile threatens to distract him and derail his investigation.

Any mistake, any hesitation on his side, could cost another innocent life...


What did I think?

I have been raving about Eileen Wharton since reading her extremely funny book, The M Word, last year; I love Eileen's sense of humour and if you ever get the chance to go to an author event where she's appearing (Morecambe & Vice, perhaps?) you don't want to miss it.  I put on my serious head as I picked up her pre-The M Word book, Blanket of Blood, but really should have known that there would be some tea-spluttering laugh out loud moments in a thriller written by Eileen Wharton.

The prologue is pretty chilling as a young girl is abducted as she contemplates buying something literally 'off the back of lorry'.  I was plunged deeper into darkness in chapter one with the discovery of a baby's body in the woods and the introduction to DI Gary Blood.  I went from goosebumpy chills of the crime to choking laughter at Blood's circumstances on waking.  There it is!  Eileen Wharton's trademark humour; you just can't keep it down and I love it.  

What makes this book different from run-of-the-mill thrillers is, not just the humour, but the depth of character Eileen Wharton has created in Gary Blood.  DI Blood is one thing but family man Gary Blood is a whole different beast when emotions are added to the mix.  Gary has his own demons with his health, an ex-wife who doesn't want to leave, inappropriate feelings for his sister-in-law and his struggle to accept the lifestyle of his daughter.  With so much going on in his life, along with a stressful job, I'm surprised he wasn't found preparing to jump off the Tyne Bridge!

The story about the abduction of pregnant girls is chilly, scary and very clever as we get to see inside the mind of a killer and the scars that have been left there.  It's sobering to be reminded how our actions can affect others, especially impressionable children.  I'm not condoning the crime, but by showing the reader the reason behind it is very refreshing and clever of Eileen Wharton as it is rare to see the full picture in a book.

Blanket of Blood is superbly written with a cunning criminal, a seriously flawed detective, a dark, original murder method and lashings of dry humour to keep the reader grounded.  It's fast-paced, gripping, unique, amusing and very very highly recommended; I can guarantee that you won't have read anything like this before.  I do hope to see the return of DI Blood in the future.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon




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Saturday 21 September 2019

BLOG TOUR: Lake Child - Isabel Ashdown


You trust your family. They love you. Don't they?

When 17-year-old Eva Olsen awakes after a horrific accident that has left her bedbound, her parents are right by her side. Devoted, they watch over her night and day in the attic room of their family home in the forests of Norway.

But the accident has left Eva without her most recent memories, and not everything is as it seems. As secrets from the night of the accident begin to surface, Eva realises - she has to escape her parents' house and discover the truth. But what if someone doesn't want her to find it?


An edge-of-your-seat, atmospheric psychological thriller for fans of Lucy Clarke and Erin Kelly.


What did I think?

What an outstanding book!  Atmospheric doesn't even begin to describe it; Isabel Ashdown perfectly conjured the landscape in Norway, so much so that I felt as if I should have been wearing snow boots and a padded jacket whilst reading Lake Child.

Eva's whole story is massively intriguing from the start; she's recovering from a mysterious accident and her parents have her locked in the attic.  I couldn't read fast enough to find out why she was locked in the attic and to discover the mystery surrounding the night she was involved in a crash.  Then just as the story reaches fever pitch, we are distracted by the interview of a grandmother of a missing baby in England that threw my mind into turmoil and made me put on my virtual running shoes to see how the two stories were linked.  I thought I saw it coming but, with an abundance of family secrets stashed in the closet, I could only see the tip of the iceberg. 

Isabel Ashdown must be part-Viking to have embraced the scandi-noir genre so expertly.  I say scandi-noir but maybe this is scandi-psych as it twisted my brain into knots with the shots of intrigue and surprise being fired at me relentlessly.  As chilly as the landscape is, the warmth of family and friendship shines through, excluding the dysfunctional family in England of course; they wouldn't have looked out of place on the Jeremy Kyle show, that's for sure.  The contrast between the two families is portrayed excellently; they really are like chalk and cheese.

Gripping from the start, Lake Child is filled with mystery, intrigue and dark family secrets.  Set against the backdrop of a cold and beautiful Norwegian landscape, it's a real ice-gripper.  A highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon




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Thursday 19 September 2019

BLOG TOUR: The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix E. Harrow


EVERY STORY OPENS A DOOR

In a sprawling mansion filled with exotic treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artefacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors and danger, of love and adventure. With each page she reads, January learns impossible truths about the world and discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own,


Open a door to another world and discover the most spellbinding debut of 2019, perfect for readers of THE NIGHT CIRCUS, THE THIRTEENTH TALE and THE BINDING


What did I think?

The Ten Thousand Doors of January has to have one of the most striking covers I have ever seen; the door handle and keys give it a definite hint of Wonderland, so I prepared myself to expect the unexpected.  The pacing is quite slow to start with so I wasn't grasped immediately by the story but soon found that January Scaller had slowly burrowed under my skin as I joined her on her fascinating journey.

This is like a book within a book as January reads from a book she finds; I do wish she could have found this book in chapter one though, as chapter one of 'The Ten Thousand Doors' is included in chapter two of the book, chapter two in chapter three and so on and so forth.  I have a bit of OCD about numbers so I did struggle with this at first but this minor annoyance was quickly forgotten as I became immersed in the story.

Alix E. Harrow clearly loves letters and words as much as I love numbers.  She has such an affinity for seeing the magical in the mundane; who would have noticed the letter 'H' in the word 'House' as being like a roof with two chimneys?  There are sublime descriptions of other letters, that I'll not mention for fear of spoiling for others, that made me want to give a standing ovation to Alix E. Harrow.  As a numbers gal, I would never have seen such beauty in letters without her guidance.

I feel completely honoured to have accompanied January on her journey as she discovers her past and her ability to open magical doors into other worlds.  Isn't that what we readers do every time we open a book?  I didn't realise how affected I was by her story until near to the end when I found myself swallowing a lump in my throat.  

For readers who loved falling down the rabbit hole with Alice, follow January through her magical doors and discover worlds built of words.  This magical, imaginative and captivating debut is like a love letter to the English language; Alix E. Harrow has opened my eyes to the magic in every word and I will never look at letters in the same way again.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon




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Wednesday 11 September 2019

BLOG TOUR: Endgame (Detective William Fawkes #3) - Daniel Cole


A locked room. A dead body. A secret that went to the grave.

When retired police officer Finlay Shaw is found dead in a locked room, everyone thinks it's suicide. But disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes isn't so sure.

Together with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds, Wolf's team begin to dig into Shaw's early days on the beat. Was Shaw as innocent as he seemed? Or is there more to his past than he'd ever let on?

But not everyone wants Wolf back - and as his investigation draws him ever deeper into police corruption, it will not only be his career on the line - but the lives of those he holds closest as well...


What did I think?

Oh I can't even begin to tell you how much I've been looking forward to this book and I'm delighted to say that it did not disappoint.  Endgame is the third in the Detective William Fawkes (Wolf) series, following on from Ragdoll and Hangman.  I don't know how Daniel Cole does it but each book seems do outdo the previous one, despite them all being brilliant in their own right.  

Endgame grips the reader by the throat right from the start with a double whammy: an apparent suicide and the arrest of Wolf.  Wolf is convinced his old mentor, Finlay, wouldn't have killed himself and he does a deal with the police commissioner, who happens to be Finlay's old friend Christian, to allow him to investigate what everyone thinks is an open and shut case.  Bringing the gang back together, Wolf teams up with old pals Baxter and Edmunds and what a trio they make.  The sexual tension between Wolf and Baxter is palpable, reminiscent of Ross and Rachel in a will they/won't they scenario.  To complete the Friends analogy, I really like Edmunds who is a bit of a Monica in his dogged determination and organisation skills. 

As Wolf investigates Finlay's death, he takes a closer look at Finlay's life.  Roll back to 1979 with Finlay and Christian hailed as heroes in a drugs bust, but not everything is as it seems.  Buried secrets don't stay buried for long, especially not when Wolf is on the case.  It's like a game of chess and just when one player thinks they are about to call checkmate, the game is turned on its head.  I loved all these twists and turns that kept my heart racing in my chest and my eyes racing down the page.

I think you could possibly read Endgame as a standalone but I really would recommend you read Ragdoll and Hangman first as it does have links to the previous books; so anyone picking up Endgame as their first Daniel Cole book will undoubtedly want to read the previous two books right away to see the full picture.  The whole series is amazing, but Endgame is the cherry on top.  

Daniel Cole writes so vividly and energetically that his words seem to fizzle and crackle on the page; it's so visual that I really wouldn't be surprised to see this series on tv in the future.  Endgame is a blistering conclusion to the Ragdoll trilogy but I'm hoping it's not the last we've seen of Wolf and Baxter.  As gripping as a vice, Endgame is an electrifying heart-in-your-mouth thriller; it has more thrills and stomach clenching moments than a rollercoaster and a waltzer merged together.  Absolutely superb and definitely unmissable!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon



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Tuesday 10 September 2019

BLOG BLITZ: Bloodline - Pamela Murray


When a young boy discovers a man’s body lying in a doorway, DI Burton and DS Fielding are called to the scene.

Believing the man was homeless, the police are shocked to discover the true identity of the victim; a Detective Constable from London who was working undercover.

But when the DNA from the victim is linked to a cold case Burton and Fielding find themselves looking into another unsolved murder.

And as the case unfolds, the detectives are faced with unpicking through a web of lies and deceit. But can they solve the murders before any more blood is spilt?  


What did I think?

I came across Pamela Murray as she is a local North East author and although I haven't yet read her debut, Murderland, I was eager to read the second book in the Burton and Fielding series, Bloodline.  So it is without any doubt that I can say that Bloodline can be read as a standalone as I found it gripping, intriguing and a mighty-fine page turner.  It has definitely made me want to read Murderland as soon as possible to get to know Burton and Fielding a little better; there's definitely a lot more to come from this pair.

The prologue is an amazing double ended hook, set in 1986 with a murder and present day with a man spying on his girlfriend as she meets with another man.  How these stories weave together and become clear later on is simply brilliant, but these threads are left tantalisingly dangling when the body of an undercover cop is discovered.  Then there's a double whammy of tasty storyline as the undercover case is picked up and the victim's DNA brings up a match in the database linking him to a cold case.

I loved the DNA storyline, both the links to the victims and the DNA kits that you see for sale these days.  I must admit, I am slightly sceptical as to what their purpose is as it seems an easy (and sneaky) way to collect and record DNA of unsuspecting people rather than just give them clues as to their ancestry.  I didn't realise that the DNA kits also match your results with others who have taken the test, although they do warn people in advance that they can discover illegitimacy, adoption or donor-conception.  It may seem like a bit of fun buying such a gift for the person who has everything but imagine the repercussions if they found out that their whole life was a lie.  I love books that have thought-provoking discussion points like this, so I have found myself thinking about this long after finishing Bloodline.

With strands of intrigue woven through the storyline like a double helix, Bloodline is a fast-paced gritty and compelling thriller.   You can't fail to be hooked by the amazing prologue and it's impossible to put the book down after that.  A highly recommended read from an outstanding local talent.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


Buy it from Amazon



About the author:

Pamela Murray is from the North East of England, and has spent most of her life living in Boldon. She began writing at an early age when she and her school friend used to write stories for one another. The writing continued on and off over the years, but was only recently reignited when the same school friend introduced her to the local writers group she was in.

Pamela had intended to enter Journalism after leaving school but found herself going to work in a Public Library instead, and has always had more than a passing interest in books and literature.

When not writing, Pamela is passionate about Cinema and her three grandchildren. She has also appeared as a Supporting Artiste in two episodes of the hit TV crime series "Vera".





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Saturday 7 September 2019

BLOG TOUR: A Shadow on the Lens - Sam Hurcom


The Postmaster looked over my shoulder. As I turned to look I saw a flicker of movement from across the street. I felt unseen eyes peer at me. 

He walked away without another word. I watched as he climbed onto his bicycle and sped away down the street. I turned back and looked over my shoulder. 

Someone had been watching us.

1904. Thomas Bexley, one of the first forensic photographers, is called to the sleepy and remote Welsh village of Dinas Powys, several miles down the coast from the thriving port of Cardiff. A young girl by the name of Betsan Tilny has been found murdered in the woodland - her body bound and horribly burnt. But the crime scene appears to have been staged, and worse still: the locals are reluctant to help.

As the strange case unfolds, Thomas senses a growing presence watching him, and try as he may, the villagers seem intent on keeping their secret. Then one night, in the grip of a fever, he develops the photographic plates from the crime scene in a makeshift darkroom in the cellar of his lodgings. There, he finds a face dimly visible in the photographs; a face hovering around the body of the dead girl - the face of Betsan Tilny.


What did I think?

I enjoy reading both historical fiction and crime thrillers so my interest was already piqued when I read the blurb of A Shadow on the Lens.  Then when I read that the book is set in the small Welsh village of Dinas Powys, which is where my maternal great great great grandfather was born in 1827, I just had to read it.  My ancestor had moved to the North East by 1904 (which is when this story is set), maybe leaving brothers and sisters in Dinas Powys, so I was very excited to read a book set in the village he left behind; although no Norris's featured in the story.

It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of the book but the murder of Betsan Tilny is so very intriguing that it keeps the pages turning nicely.  A forensic photographer is summoned to the village to investigate the crime and this was the first oddity to intrigue me - why a photographer and not a police inspector?  It soon becomes clear that the locals want Thomas Bexley to simply take his photos and leave their village without discovering who or what has committed the crime.  Everyone in the village appears to be hiding something so the sooner Thomas is gone the better.  

We take it for granted these days that we take a photo and see it instantly but there's something so very mystical and magical about developing photographs and back in 1904 (only a few years after the Kodak Brownie was introduced) photos were developed on plates in a dark room.  When Thomas develops his photographs he can't believe his eyes as the murder victim appears as a ghostly apparition.  When Thomas is suddenly struck down with a fever and his negatives disappear, he wonders if he imagined it all but he remembers clues from the photographs that he couldn't possibly have known about beforehand.  This puts him in more danger than he could ever have imagined.

I loved the spooky supernatural element to the story which really makes A Shadow on the Lens something different.  Encompassing so many genres means that it will appeal to crime, historical and fantasy readers, which is not something that many books can claim to do.  A Shadow on the Lens is a spooky, goosebumpy, gothic-style historical crime thriller and a fantastic debut from Sam Hurcom.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:


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About the author:

Sam Hurcom was born in Dinas Powys, South Wales in 1991. He studied Philosophy at Cardiff University, attaining both an undergraduate and master's degree. He has since had several short stories published and has written and illustrated a number of children's books. Sam currently lives in the village he was raised in, close to the woodlands that have always inspired his writing.


A SHADOW ON THE LENS is Sam's debut novel.




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