BLOG TOUR: Hamilton's Deepcatch (The Catch Series Book 3) - Douglas Roberts

A raging Atlantic storm batters a deep-sea oil rig – the perfect place to murder enemies, smuggle contraband, and bribe officials without leaving a trace. Beneath the surface lies a network of corruption as vast and dark as the ocean itself.

At the heart of this nefarious conglomerate are two piratical masterminds, operating with near impunity. Their ambitions know no limits: sinking ships, destroying oil rigs, and eliminating anyone who threatens their pursuit of unimaginable wealth. But this time, their greed and violence have triggered a deadly investigation.

As Detective Inspector Patricia Eyethorne OBE and her partner Justin hunt for the truth, their investigation explodes into a life-or-death chase across violent seas. With corrupt politicians like Maurice ‘Bloody’ Hamilton MP entwined in the conspiracy, the question remains – will justice finally catch up with them, or will these masterminds escape into the shadows once more?

 

What did I think?

Hamilton's Deepcatch is book three in The Catch Series and, whilst you could read it as a standalone as the main story is self-contained, it is much better when you've read the earlier two books, simply because you know more of the background of the characters. 

If there's anything dodgy going on, you can bet your bottom dollar that Maurice ‘Bloody’ Hamilton MP will be up to his neck in it.  The plot is very clever and intriguing so the security services have called on DI Patricia Eyethorne OBE to help them uncover the conspiracy.  It's a very dangerous mission as people have already been killed in their search for the truth.

I love the character of Patricia; it's so good to have a strong female protagonist who is more than a match for any man.  Maurice Hamilton knows that only too well and he is as obnoxious as ever in this instalment but his past deeds are about to catch up with him.  It was great to see some familiar faces, to the reader at least, and I couldn't read fast enough to see if Hamilton would finally get his comeuppance.

Hamilton's Deepcatch is a fast-paced, gripping and intriguing novel that is filled with adventure and danger.  The whole series is well worth a read and I think it would be brilliant if it was made into a TV series.

I received a gifted paperback for the Literally PR Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Disturbing the Bones - Andrew Davis and Jeff Biggers

Chicago detective Randall Jenkins has not been back home to the historic Civil Rights hotspot of Cairo, Illinois since the disappearance of his mother, a well-known journalist, several decades ago.

That all changes the day Dr. Molly Moore, an ambitious young archaeologist in the national spotlight for her groundbreaking high-tech discoveries, uncovers a set of strange bones at a huge 12,000-year-old site at a highway construction project.  With retired military general and contractor William Alexander breathing down her neck to cover up the dig, Molly and Randall soon find themselves in the middle of a wild military conspiracy.

The detective and archaeologist’s entwined family mysteries suddenly thrust them into the central position as the only people who can ensure the safety of the ongoing Chicago global peace summit. They must take on the rogue general who views any disarmament agreement as a clear and present danger to the United States. The fate of global peace and the lives of Molly and Randall hang in the balance.

Disturbing the Bones is a rip-roaring techno-thriller in the grand tradition of Michael Crichton, Scott Turow and Frederick Forsyth - a perfect Autumn blockbuster for those cosy nights in.

 

What did I think?

I was drawn to Disturbing the Bones because I have a keen interest in archaeology so I loved the setting; it's not Cairo, Egypt but Cairo, Illinois.  Finding bones at such a site is to be expected, but these bones are not ancient...

I loved Molly and her passion for archaeology, along with her protectiveness about the site, even when it places herself and her team in danger.  Veteran Chicago detective has a vested interest in Molly's find as he thinks the bones are those of his mother.  While all this is going on, America has a new president and she has plans to amend the constitution to which lots of people are opposed.

The plot is more political than I expected but it adds some extra spice to a gripping thriller.  I was incensed when certain things happened at the dig and I couldn't read fast enough to see how it would all play out.  The pacing certainly ramps up in the final third of the book and I couldn't put it down.

Fast-paced and action-packed, Disturbing the Bones is an entertaining and thought-provoking thriller.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the big screen at some point, especially as Andrew Davis is a renowned film director.  I enjoyed the book and would definitely be interested in seeing it on the big screen.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Mother - T.M. Logan

Framed for murder. Now she's free . . .

A woman attends a funeral, standing in the shadows and watching in agony as her sons grieve. But she is unable to comfort them - or reveal her secret.

A decade earlier, Heather gets her children ready for bed and awaits the return of her husband Liam, little realising that this is the last night they will spend together as a family. Because tomorrow she will be accused of Liam's murder.

Ten years ago Heather lost everything. Now she will stop at nothing to clear her name - and to get her children back . . .

 

What did I think?

You're always guaranteed a good read with a T.M. Logan book and The Mother is no exception - I simply couldn't put it down!  Clear your diary for a few hours when you pick this one up as it will be stuck to your hands until you've devoured every single word.

Talk about hooked from the start: reading about Heather attending her own funeral ensured that I put on my virtual running shoes and raced through this book.  In a double whammy of mystery and intrigue, I just had to know why and how Heather faked her own death and whether or not she had murdered her husband.

I really liked Heather, even though I wasn't sure whether or not she was a murderer.  Although I don't have children, I felt her pain at being separated from her two boys.  Even when she was released on licence she was prevented from being in contact with them and I could have cried for her.  It gives her motivation to fight for her freedom though and she claims she didn't kill her husband so she needs to find out who did in order to clear her name.

With plenty of shocks and surprises in store for the reader, The Mother is fast-paced, gripping and very addictive.  T.M. Logan isn't referred to as the master of the up-all-night thriller for no reason - once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down.  If The Mother isn't picked up for TV, I will eat my hat.  Very highly recommended.

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

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Absolute Proof - Peter James

Investigative reporter Ross Hunter nearly didn’t answer the phone call that would change his life – and possibly the world – for ever.

‘I’d just like to assure you I’m not a nutcase, Mr Hunter. My name is Dr Harry F. Cook. I know this is going to sound strange, but I’ve recently been given absolute proof of God’s existence – and I’ve been advised there is a writer, a respected journalist called Ross Hunter, who could help me to get taken seriously.’

What would it take to prove the existence of God? And what would be the consequences?

This question and its answer lie at the heart of Absolute Proof, an international thriller from bestselling author Peter James.

The false faith of a billionaire evangelist, the life’s work of a famous atheist, and the credibility of each of the world’s major religions are all under threat. If Ross Hunter can survive long enough to present the evidence . . .

What did I think?

As a lover of Egyptian history and mythology, I was immediately drawn to this book by the eye-catching hieroglyphs on the cover and I've also read a few of Peter James' Roy Grace series so I know that he is an excellent writer.  At over 500 pages, it's quite a chunky book with a complex plot and a lot of characters so it did take me longer than I expected to read it.

The whole premise of this book intrigued me: what would happen if proof of God's existence came to light and what lengths would some people  or organisations go to prevent this happening?  This is the question that Peter James explores in Absolute Proof which injects the thriller element into the story at just the right time to keep me interested.  As reporter Ross Hunter gathers the evidence to prove God's existence, it really did feel like there were lots of people out to stop him and I had no idea who he could trust.

I think I was a little guilty of my own hype as I expected to love this book but found it a little hard going in places, so I ended up liking but not loving it.  I'm glad I've read it but it's not a book I'd recommend and I think I'd rather stick with the amazing Roy Grace series.

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

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Beneath the Surface - Sibel Hodge

Dean Hudson didn’t look evil…so what could drive an ordinary boy to kill?

When the teenage son of Holly Gold’s school friend brutally murders his parents before killing himself, her sleepy home town is rocked by the sudden tragedy.

Appalled, Holly investigates. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky boy she remembers to commit such a heinous crime? When another teen commits suicide, she uncovers a horrifying link between the recent deaths and a dark conspiracy to hide the truth.

But someone doesn’t want Holly asking questions and, as she hunts for evidence to prove her theory, she’s dragged into a nightmare that threatens her life and her sanity. Then tragedy strikes again—and this time it’s closer to home…

What did I think?

I can often be found browsing the 3 for £10 on Amazon, so when I saw a few bloggers reading Beneath the Surface it miraculously found its way into my basket.  Feeling a bit guilty about buying yet more books, I wrapped it up and gave it as a gift to my Mam ensuring that I would get it to read it too - RESULT!  There was method in my madness: my Mam has a medical background, having worked in various parts of the health service for all of her working life, so I knew she would appreciate this book.  She didn't just appreciate it, she LOVED it and plans to pass it on to family and friends.

Holly lost touch with her good friend, Jess, when Holly went to London to pursue her career in journalism.  When Holly finds herself back in her hometown, she thinks she has all the time in the world to reconnect with Jess, but then Jess and her husband are found murdered by their own son, Dean.  Nobody can understand what drove Dean to commit such an act, it seems so out of character for him.  So Holly starts to investigate but she doesn't realise how far this web reaches and that some people will do ANYTHING to stop the truth getting out.

Beneath the Surface is my first Sibel Hodge book but I will definitely be looking at her back catalogue.  I love books with even a grain of truth in them, and knowing a bit about pharmaceutical companies, I'm sure that Beneath the Surface has a whole bushel of truth in it.  We know there is big money in pharmaceuticals, and I'm not for one minute suggesting that companies would go to the extremes in Beneath the Surface, but when the board is pressurised into making profit, when do morals outweigh money?  

Beneath the Surface is a very clever thriller that leaves you with so much food for thought.  How many of us walk out of the doctors' surgery with that magical green slip in our hand?  It promises to make us feel better and we put 100% trust in the doctor who gave it to us, but we need to remember that our slip of green turns into another slip of green with the Queen's head on it once we 'cash it in'.  What many people don't realise is that incentives are offered for doctors to prescribe certain drugs.  What I didn't realise is that doctors could prescribe 'off-label' so that if a drug hasn't been recommended for a particular age group, they can legally prescribe it to this untested age group.

This book isn't necessarily about Prozac but I have heard about the effects of Prozac and find it amazing that a common side effect of anti-depressant drugs is suicidal thoughts.  Surely then, it is the wrong drug to administer to a person already depressed and considering suicide?  Then again, if the doctor gets an all-expenses trip to Barbados for prescribing the drug, why wouldn't they prescribe it to all and sundry?  I remember a few years ago when everyone seemed to come away from the doctors with a prescription for codeine.  Now we see news articles about the addictive nature of codeine and I wonder who should be held accountable.  The doctors for prescribing it or the pharmaceutical reps for 'pushing' it?

I've digressed from the book slightly, but you can see how thought-provoking I found Beneath the Surface to be.  It's a cracking thriller with that little bit extra that makes it a book I will definitely remember and continually recommend.

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A Deep Purple Hue - Mark Hudson

In A Deep Purple Hue, a worldwide conspiracy that will change the balance of power and bring down America is in motion. Will former Army ranger and current CIA agent Gordan Hudde be able to unravel the mystery and stop the plan or will the world be forever changed? Ripped from todays and tomorrows headlines, a fast paced thriller with a hero you hope is really out there, protecting your country.

What did I think?

The fast pace of this novella is set from the very first page with Gordan Hudde in Syria on a mission to rescue Navy Seal Jim Foster. On their way back home, Foster tells Hudde that he saw the president's chief of staff, Crewbon,  and a CIA agent, Kinkade, meeting with Number 2 on the Most Wanted list.  This information puts Foster in grave danger and Hudde, now with a target on his back, must try to uncover a conspiracy that goes deep into the heart of the White House.

I absolutely whipped through this book at lightning speed.  As each strand of the conspiracy was untangled my reading pace, along with my heartbeat, quickened.  My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I learned just how far Crewbon would go to get the result he wanted.  

With an extraordinary conspiracy story, this book is perfect for fans of 24 as Hudde reminds me of a bearded Bauer - he doesn't always play by the rules and never bows to authority.  I was so engrossed in the story that I guiltily pumped my fist in the air as the baddies got their comeuppance.  It's a fast paced thriller with an explosive ending that left me thirsty for more.  I'm sure it won't be long before I pick up the next book in the Hudde series: An Angry Orange Sky.

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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