Woman Down - Colleen Hoover

In this twisty thriller from New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations…and reality.

Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and fame-hungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since.

Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career―and herself.

Then he shows up.

Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.

Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.

When Saint starts taking his role in her career a little too seriously, Petra’s forced to confront the chaos she created. But doing so could cost her more than the reputation she’s been trying to salvage. The reputation the world wrote for her―the reputation only she can reclaim.

 

What did I think?

Woman Down is my first Colleen Hoover book and whilst I wasn't blown away I still quite enjoyed it.  I would say it's more of a romantic suspense than a thriller but it is very gripping.

Petra Rose was at the top of her game when her book was made into a film but, as we all know, the book is usually always better than the movie and her fans were not happy with the adaptation.  Being the chief income earner in her household adds an extra strain when Petra has writers block so she books a lakeside retreat to concentrate on her writing.  Inspiration is about to hit Petra right in the solar plexus and this bestseller could cost her more than it makes.

I really didn't know who Petra could trust in this riveting storyline.  It felt like she was a mouse in a trap being played with by several cats and I wasn't even sure if some of it was her own vivid imagination.  It gets very dark and disturbing as the story goes on and whilst I couldn't understand Petra's actions, I did feel for her.  I think she has lost so much of her confidence and it's a downward spiral that is difficult to escape from.

Dark, gripping and a bit steamy, Woman Down is an interesting glimpse into the life of an author and a sobering reminder of how much words can often hurt.  

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Attraction Abacus - Evelyn G. Foster

The Attraction Abacus. A dating agency with a difference.

Everything about you summarised as a single score.

Age, looks, intelligence, wealth — the Abacus counts it all.

When doom-dreaming author, Evelyn Foster, accepts an Attraction Abacus flyer from Luke, her world changes overnight. Could Luke be the right guy for Evelyn, and can she help the Abacus become the next global dating agency sensation?

The Abacus owner has a little secret of his own that might disrupt Evelyn's plans.

For fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope, a new, feel-good romantic comedy where love must triumph over adversity and total incompetence.

What’s your number?

 

What did I think?

I rather enjoyed reading The Attraction Abacus, although it wasn't quite what I was expecting (I wanted to know more about the actual attraction abacus) as it's more of a fun and entertaining love story.  I really loved the style of writing; it has a bit of a Bridget Jones feel as the author talks to the reader throughout the book.

I liked Evelyn and think she is very brave to leave a secure, albeit hated, job to join a start-up business.  Sometimes you just have to take a leap and I applauded Evelyn for taking a chance on the Attraction Abacus after Luke hands her a flyer in the street.  

The Attraction Abacus agency is something different in the world of dating where it gives everyone a score.  It's quite thought-provoking as we are so much more than a number but it's also really difficult to meet your other half these days.  I personally don't like the idea of being graded but that's easy for me to say, sitting here secure and happy in my long-term relationship.

The attraction between Evelyn and Luke is clear to see from the start but Luke has a girlfriend and she isn't going to give him up without a fight.  Let the battle commence!  I enjoyed the game playing and one-upmanship - it's entertaining and funny and I bet Luke secretly loved two women fighting over him.

Fun, flirty and very entertaining, The Attraction Abacus is a very enjoyable rom-com and well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Love Books Tours Instagram Tour ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Foyles

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Awful Truth About The Sushing Prize (The Awful Truth Book 2) - Marco Ocram

Should I tell him about Sushing or play dumb?

Sticking in my comfort zone, I played dumb.

Writer Marco Ocram has a secret superpower—whatever he writes actually happens, there and then. Hoping to win the million-dollar Sushing Prize, he uses his powers to write a true-crime thriller, quickly discovering a freakish murder. But Marco has a major problem—he's a total idiot who can't see beyond his next sentence. Losing control of his plot and his characters, and breaking all the rules of fiction, Marco writes himself into every kind of trouble, until only the world's most incredible ending can save his bacon.

Fast, funny, and utterly different, welcome to the weird world of The Awful Truth.

 

What did I think?

Well I can definitely say that I've never read a book quite like this before!  It's a story that is being written as if in real time so there are plot holes and dead ends that the author must find his way out of in often very amusing ways.  This is book two in The Awful Truth series and it works really well as a standalone but I do think I would have benefitted from reading book one beforehand.

The author (the real one, Denis Shaughnessy not the fictional Marco Ocram) is very astute and has highlighted several writing habits that I had never even noticed before.  Of course the next book I read after this one just had to mention that the vehicle had tinted windows and I nearly fell off my seat laughing.   

I think this is a book that deserves a second reading as I probably missed a lot of the more subtle nods at writing styles and crime fiction tropes.  I say 'nods' as although it might seem like a dig at first, it's not done nastily and it's all true anyway.  After the tinted windows thing, I'm sure to spot many more things that Marco Ocram has pointed out.

Sharp, witty and totally bonkers, The Awful Truth About the Sushing Prize is a unique and imaginative crime spoof that is incredibly entertaining and completely unforgettable.  It's well worth a read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/sushingprize-zbt

About the author:

Denis Shaughnessy is the author of the mold-breaking Awful Truth series, published under the name Marco Ocram. His books, which break all of the rules of fiction, have been described as ‘a dazzling tour de force', 'mind-bending’, 'wildly inventive', 'an entirely new type of narrative' and 'utterly unique’. He has won two CIBA first prizes for Humor and Satire and was shortlisted for the prestigious Thurber Prize. He has a PhD in quantum theory and lives on a small-holding in the New Forest. He is currently working on a middle-grade novel featuring a junior Marco Ocram.

Denis’ Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/denishaughnessy

Website: https://www.theawfulauthor.com/

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BLOG TOUR: Little Red Death - A. K. Benedict

ONCE UPON A TIME LIKE YOU'VE NEVER READ IT BEFORE . . .

 

DI Lyla Rondell is on the case of a lifetime. Tasked with investigating a series of perplexing deaths, the only lead she has is that each appears to be based on a different classic fairy tale. Far from the stuff of bedtime stories, the press is having a field day with what they have named the Grimm Ripper Murders.

 

But as the bodies stack up, Lyla’s whole world is about to flip on its head. Because the killer’s bloody trail stretches deep into her own origin story, and when she discovers the truth, nothing will ever be the same again.

 

Faced with the fact that everything she knows is fiction, Lyla will have to take a little creative license of her own if she’s going to turn the final page on the killings . . . 

 

What did I think?

Little Red Death is described as "A mind-bending murder mystery like nothing you've read before".  Well consider my mind well and truly bent - I didn't know whether I was coming or going!

I love fairy tale retellings so I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it and it's a clever idea, although it sometimes felt a bit too clever for me.  I didn't particularly like any of the characters, although there is a very good reason for that (no spoilers here through).  One of the characters is an author who is forced to write dark fairy tales for the Grimm Ripper to bring to life and I rather enjoyed the book within a book part of the story.

There are some dark and gory scenes to shock and delight the reader and they are very vividly described.  I sometimes struggled a little with the descriptive writing as I just didn't get some of the analogies but they were quite entertaining. 

Little Red Death is an entertaining read that is imaginative and very dark.  I think it might appeal more to fantasy readers than crime thriller fans but give it a read and make your own mind up.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

A. K. (ALEXANDRA) BENEDICT is a best-selling, award-winning writer of short stories, novels and scripts.  Educated at Cambridge, Sussex and Clown School, she has been an indie-rock singer, an actor, RLF Fellow,  and a composer for film and TV, as well as teaching and running the prestigious MA in Crime Thrillers at City University. She is now a full-time writer and creative coach. 

As A. K. Benedict, she writes acclaimed short stories, high-concept novels and award-winning audio drama  for Big Finish, Audible UK, Audible US and BBC Sounds, among others. She won the Scribe Award for her  Doctor Who radio drama, The Calendar Man, and was shortlisted for the eDunnit Novel Award for The Beauty of Murder and the BBC Audio Drama Podcast Award for Children of the Stones. As Alexandra Benedict she writes puzzle-filled Christmas mysteries, of which The Christmas Murder Game and Murder on the Christmas Express were both bestsellers and The Christmas Murder Game was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. Her most recent festive thriller, The Christmas Jigsaw Murders, was published in 2023. 

She lives on the south coast of England with writer Guy Adams, their daughter, Verity, and dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford. 

Follow her on X @ak_benedict and Instagram @a.k.benedict.

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BLOG TOUR: You Are Fatally Invited - Ande Pliego

Six thriller authors. One writing retreat.

You’d die to be on the guest list . . .

The Host

Legendary mystery author J. R. Alastor’s books are sold all over the world, but no one knows his real name. After years hiding in the shadows, he has sent out six invitations to an exclusive murder mystery retreat on his private island.

The Assistant

Mila del Angél has been hired to ensure the week runs smoothly. She has yearned for revenge on a ghost from her past for years – and this could be her chance to get it.

The Players

The six bestselling thriller writers accept their invitations without question – it’s an opportunity any author would kill for.

The Game

What should have been a week of trope-filled games takes a sinister turn when one guest is found dead, and the others find themselves in the midst of a nightmare drawn from Alastor’s dark imagination. They may have written thrillers – but now they and Mila must survive one...

 

What did I think?

This book is SO good; I absolutely LOVED it and I had to double check that it is actually a debut novel.  Wow!  Just wow!  Ande Pliego is certainly one to watch after leaving me stunned with her wonderful debut novel, You Are Fatally Invited.

With a mystery host, a group of authors and a handful of staff on a private island, it should be pretty easy to work out who the murder is when the body count starts rising...shouldn't it?  Nope!  I was completely blindsided and totally shocked so I have to say "well played, Ande Pliego!" 

The plot is pinsharp and the writing is so vividly descriptive it's lke watching a Netflix series and while I'm on the subject, I really wouldn't be surprised to see this one snapped up for TV, if it hasn't already.

It's grisly at times but constantly gripping and my eyes were on stalks as they raced down the page, devouring every single perfectly crafted word.  If I was a thriller author, THIS is the book I would wish I had written.  An easy five stars from me for this unmissable debut and the must-read thriller of the year.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

ANDE PLIEGO began writing stories when she discovered she could actually wield her overactive imagination for good. 

A lover of stories with teeth, she writes books involving mind games, dark humour, general murder and mayhem, characters pushed to the edge of themselves, and most importantly, finding the hope in the dark. 

When not reading or writing, she can usually be found dabbling in art, scheming up her next trip, or making constant expeditions to the library. 

Born in Florida, raised in France, and having left footprints all over the globe, Ande is settled in the Pacific Northwest, USA, with her craftsman husband and little son.

Ande’s Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/andepliegowrite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andepliegowrites/

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BLOG TOUR: Scandalous Women - Gill Paul

1966:In London, Jackie Collins's racy The World is Full of Married Men hits bookshops and launches her career. In New York, Jacqueline Susann's debut novel Valley of the Dolls is published, and she's desperate for it to be a bestseller. But both are about to discover the price they will pay for being women who dare to write about sex.

Meanwhile, college graduate Nancy White is excited to take up her dream job at a Manhattan publishing house. But Nancy could never be prepared for the rampant sexism she is about to encounter.

When Nancy introduces the two Jackies, she fears they will become rivals in their race to top the charts. As she strives to achieve her ambition of becoming an editor, can all three women succeed despite the men determined to hold them back?

 

What did I think?

Gill Paul has done it again!  Gill Paul's beautiful writing creates a vivid multidimensional picture of Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, bringing them to life on the page.  I was completely blown away by Scandalous Women and I loved every single perfectly written word.  

The story is told from three different points of view; that of Jacqueline Susann, Jackie Collins and Nancy White.  Nancy could be a talented editor in a publishing house if she was a man but this is the 1960s so she is passed over for promotion, despite being the best person for the job.  Author Jacqueline Susann is known for being difficult and demanding, so Nancy is given the job of looking after her and the pair become friends.

I love the way that Nancy is the link that connects the two Jackies as they are all women who are struggling to make their name in a man's world.  I am completely in awe of Gill Paul's ability to create character voices that are so individual and unique that I felt as if they were actually talking to me and telling me their story.

Of course I am aware of Jackie Collins but I am embarrassed to say that I had never heard of Jacqueline Susann before reading Scandalous Women, but she deserves full credit for paving the way for female authors to take the publishing world by storm.  I really want to read Valley of the Dolls and some Jackie Collins novels now.

This magnificent novel is absolutely breathtaking and completely unmissable.  Scandalous Women is an imaginative and entertaining glimpse into the lives of three talented women in the 1960s whose lights refuse to be hidden under a bushel.  A very highly recommended read and I can't wait to see whose life Gill Paul decides to recreate next.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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The Mystery Guest (A Molly the Maid mystery) - Nita Prose

A new mess.

A new mystery.

Molly the maid returns . . .

Molly Gray wears her Head Maid badge proudly for every shift at the Regency Grand Hotel, plumping pillows, sweeping up the guests’ secrets, silently restoring rooms to a state of perfection.

But when a renowned guest – a famous mystery writer – drops very dead in the grand tea room, Molly has an unusual clean-up on her hands.

As rumours and suspicion swirl in the hotel corridors, it’s clear there’s grime lurking beneath the gilt. And Molly knows that she alone holds the key to the mystery. But unlocking it means thinking about the past, about Gran, and everything else she’s kept tidied away in her memory for so long.

Because Molly knew the dead guest once upon a time – and he knew her . . .

 

What did I think?

After the success of The Maid, I'm absolutely delighted that Nita Prose decided to write another book starring my favourite maid, Molly Gray.  The Mystery Guest is one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2023 and I loved it.  Whilst The Mystery Guest can be read as a standalone, I would advise reading The Maid first as there are some returning characters and we also find out more about Molly's childhood.

We return to the Regency Grand Hotel in The Mystery Guest where Molly is now Head Maid and she's preparing for a big event as a bestselling author is hosting a press conference in the hotel.  This isn't the first time that Molly has met author J.D. Grimthorpe and this leads on to the wonderful flashbacks of Molly's past.

I adore the relationship between Molly and her Gran and even when Gran isn't with her, Molly  hears Gran's wise words in her head.  There are so many brilliant Gran quotes but my favourite is: "A tissue for your issue."  I'm definitely adopting that and using it whenever I can.  

Molly is such a delightfully quirky character and I feel that she has really grown up since I last encountered her in The Maid.  She's in a sweet relationship with Juan Manuel (who disappointingly doesn't make an appearance as he is away visiting his family) and she has been promoted at work.  Even this new encounter with Detective Stark sees Molly eventually being treated with more respect.

Cosy mysteries don't get much cosier than The Mystery Guest and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Once you have met Molly Gray you will never forget her; The Mystery Guest will delight fans of The Maid and introduce Molly into the lives of many more readers.  

I received an ARC to read and review for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Best Served Cold - Hilly Barmby

A mystery woman enters Lily's life

At the launch for her latest children's book, a member of the audience asks Lily for an strange inscription in her copy of the book. Why does this unnerve her?

Is Jack the answer to Lily's prayers?

Later, while celebrating in a local bar, Lily, and best friend Alice, spot the same woman. Her name is Rose. Putting aside earlier unease, a new friendship between the three is formed. Rose offers to help Lily re-enter the dating scene after a bad breakup and they come across Jack, Mr Perfect on Paper. Lily quickly falls for handsome Jack. Is he too good to be true?

The past is the past, or is it?

Soon after the pair start dating, bizarre things start to occur to Lily, things are moved or they go missing, and, what’s worse, her precious artwork is damaged. Who did this to her? Surely it can’t have been her new boyfriend, her new friend Rose, or even oldest friend Alice? They all have a motive. Perhaps Lily did this all herself. Who can she trust, in fact, can she trust herself? Or has a ghost from Lily's past come back to haunt her?

 

What did I think?

Oooooh this book gave me the chills and I absolutely loved it!  Hilly Barmby is a new author to me and I'll definitely be checking out her back catalogue (and future books) based on this fantastic read.

I loved Lily and Alice's friendship and it is a very strong friendship to have survived Lily's breakup with Alice's cousin, Harry.  Whether it will survive the addition of a suspicious new member to their group is the big question when Rose Briar (see what Hilly Barmby did there, fairy tale fans?) inveigles her way into their lives.  As soon as Rose said that line from Misery, Lily should have run for the hills! 

Lily's duo becomes a trio and Rose convinces Lily to try online dating.  Before Lily knows it, Jack Kelly enters her life and he really is too good to be true.  As the reader being treated to flashbacks to Lily's past, I could see what was happening to her I wanted to reach into the book to keep her safe.  It's like watching a car crash in slow motion as events unfold and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.

Incredibly gripping, addictive and chilling, Best Served Cold is a fantastic revenge thriller that had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read it fast enough.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Death at the Caravan Park - Susan Willis

Clive Thompson heads for Whitley Bay caravan park to finish writing his novel. He’s never had a caravan holiday before and is warmly greeted by the manager, Liz Mathews, who lives on the park. She is single and cares for her ninety year old mother who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Clive meets the people in neighbouring caravans and has an amazing view from his veranda over the sea to St. Mary’s Lighthouse. However, Audrey goes missing during the night and Liz is beside herself with worry.  The police are out looking for her, but disillusioned by their efforts, Clive begins his own investigations.  

 

What did I think?

I love books set in the North East and Whitley Bay is such an idyllic setting for a holiday...and a suspected murder.  Susan Willis paints a vivid picture of the area with her carefully crafted words and I think even if you've never been to Whitley Bay, you could quite easily imagine St. Mary's Lighthouse and causeway.

Clive is writing a book set in neighbouring Durham and he thinks that a holiday on his own will help him finish his book.  He ends up investigating a death in real life when one of the owners of the caravan park is found dead on the causeway.  This might make him sound like a bit of a busybody but I actually think he is just really helpful and kind.

The caravan park setting creates a wonderful mini-community and there are some colourful characters among Clive's temporary neighbours.  I loved delving into their backstories and I felt like I was peeking through their caravan windows.  One of the neighbours is hiding a huge secret but if anyone can get to the bottom of it, Clive can.

Death at the Caravan Park is a very entertaining cosy mystery in a fabulous setting.  It's like a soap opera in a book with lots of secrets, a mysterious death and a bucketful of drama.  A very enjoyable read and one to recommend to fans of cosy mysteries and North East based fiction.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Susan is a published author of eight novels and six novellas with short stories published in Women’s Weekly magazines. She is now retired from Food Technology and scribbles away in County Durham. Writing psychological suspense and cosy-crime novels with strong, lovable North East characters, is her passion. Last year, she brought us, Clive’s Christmas Crusades, set in York. Following the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, Susan wrote six Curious Casefiles which is now published by Northodox Press. She has incorporated up-to-date issues: poor mental health in a kidnap scene, the perils of social media, and an intruder on Skype.

Follow Susan Willis: www.susanwillis.co.uk 

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The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels - Janice Hallett

Open the safe deposit box.

Inside you will find research material for a true crime book.

You must read the documents, then make a decision.

Will you destroy them? Or will you take them to the police?

Everyone knows the sad story of the Alperton Angels: the cult who brainwashed a teenage girl and convinced her that her newborn baby was the anti-Christ. Believing they had a divine mission to kill the infant, they were only stopped when the girl came to her senses and called the police. The Angels committed suicide rather than stand trial, while mother and baby disappeared into the care system.

Nearly two decades later, true-crime author Amanda Bailey is writing a book on the Angels. The Alperton baby has turned eighteen and can finally be interviewed; if Amanda can find them, it will be the true-crime scoop of the year, and will save her flagging career. But rival author Oliver Menzies is just as smart, better connected, and is also on the baby's trail.

As Amanda and Oliver are forced to collaborate, they realise that what everyone thinks they know about the Angels is wrong. The truth is something much darker and stranger than they'd ever imagined. And the story of the Alperton Angels is far from over.

From the bestselling author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code comes a stunning new mystery for fans of Richard Osman and S.J. Bennett. The devil is in the detail... 

What did I think?

I absolutely loved Janice Hallett's debut novel, The Appeal, written in the epistolary format of letters, emails and texts so I already knew what to expect with her third novel, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels.  It's incredibly intriguing to be presented with all the evidence and to try to work it all out for yourself, although I didn't manage to predict anything that happened in this extraordinary novel.

The Alperton Angels story has remained a mystery for 18 years.  What really happened the night the 'angels' died?  Where is the baby that narrowly escaped being sacrificed?  That's what true-crime author Amanda Bailey intends to find out.

I didn't really like the main character of Amanda, but I think it's simply because I find journalist types to be ruthless and sneaky as they will do anything to get the story.  I really liked the competition between Amanda and Oliver, who have both been tasked with writing a book on the Alperton Angels.  There is clearly some history between them which adds another layer of intrigue to the story.

I loved Ellie who is transcribing all of Amanda's recordings, often recorded surreptitiously (see what I mean about journalists being sneaky?).  Ellie can't help adding her own comments and opinions to the transcription and it often made me laugh.

There is so much information to dig through in the form of letters, emails, texts, scripts and book excerpts that you really feel as if you're part of the case.  I am completely in awe of Janice Hallett; she is an incredibly talented writer to not only write a captivating and intriguing plot but to create several styles of writing as if many different people had written the material.  

Cunning, clever and compelling, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels is as impossible to predict as it is to put down; prepare to be up all night reading this one.  Five stars feel woefully inadequate to rate this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a gifted hardback copy for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Dark Objects - Simon Toyne

An Impossible Crime Scene

A wealthy woman is found brutally murdered in the locked fortress of her London mansion. Surrounding her are four mysterious objects, including a book on forensics by Dr Laughton Rees.

An Inescapable Past

As a teenager, Laughton’s life was destroyed after witnessing her mother’s brutal murder. Now a mother herself and forensic analyst, she is an expert on how to read crime scenes – but never works live cases.

An Uncatchable Killer

Pressured by the lead detective to help with the investigation, Laughton begins to realise that the objects left by the body are not just about the victim, they’re also about her. Her childhood was destroyed by one killer. Now she must catch another before her daughter’s is destroyed too.

 

What did I think?

Yowzers what a book!  Dark Objects is fantastic!  I've had Simon Toyne on my radar for quite some time but this is the first book of his that I have read and I couldn't put it down.  I absolutely loved it and it's one of the best books I've read this year.

The murder of Kate Miller in a wealthy part of London shocks her neighbours and sends their WhatsApp group into a frenzy, especially when they discover that Kate's husband is missing and becomes the prime suspect.  The police have no leads as the crime scene is forensically clean, thanks to a book left at the scene that was written by Laughton Rees, the police commissioner's daughter.  Someone wants to drag Laughton back into the spotlight and into danger.

There's so much going on in this book that it's gripping from start to finish.  Aside from the murder and the tantalizing link to Laughton, there's her broken relationship with her father and her fractured relationship with her daughter.  The murder is very intriguing as it seems to be impossible to solve and I loved how it draws Laughton into working with the overworked and underfed DCI Tannahill Khan.

Flawlessly written and intricately plotted, Dark Objects is as impossible to predict as it is to put down.  If I could only recommend one book this year, Dark Objects would be a very strong contender.  Very highly recommended and a well deserved five stars.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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The Nurse - J.A. Corrigan

 

When you hear her story, will you believe her?

Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer. Or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood.

Down-on-his-luck true crime author, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. His first surprise comes when Rose reveals that the victim was not a stranger to her.

As time goes on, it seems that Rose is letting Theo see behind her perfect mask. With each new visit, he learns terrible new things about her heart-breaking past. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he trying to free an innocent woman, or falling prey to a calculating murderer?

A gripping and unputdownable thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient, Shari Lapena and JP Delaney.

What did I think?

The Nurse is so good I've read it twice!  I don't often have the time to read books more than once, despite having a 'to be read again pile' but I was an early reader of The Nurse and also read a finished copy.  So despite knowing the story, I still thought it was absolutely brilliant.

It's quite unusual to start a novel with a protagonist who has already admitted to the crime and is serving time in prison.  You might be wondering where the hook is but it's the character of Rose herself that draws the reader into the story.  An author decides to write a book on Rose's case and as the story unfolds you can't help but question whether Rose actually did the crime for which she is being punished.  

With such well-developed characters that virtually leap out of the page, J.A. Corrigan has written a clever and unforgettable thriller that gripped me from start to finish.  I felt like I was on a see-saw as I constantly flipped back and forth between 'she did it' and 'she didn't do it' as the history and motivation behind the story was gradually revealed.  Everything about The Nurse is great from the accomplished and polished writing to the cunning and clever plot.

Captivating, intriguing and haunting, The Nurse is a stunning thriller that I wholeheartedly recommend.

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

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