BLOG TOUR: The Weekenders (The Raskine House Trilogy Book 1) - David F. Ross

Glasgow, 1966: Stevie 'Minto' Milloy, former star footballer-turned-rookie reporter, finds himself trailing the story of a young Eastern European student whose body has been found on remote moorland outside the city. How did she get there from her hostel at the Sovereign Grace Mission, and why does Stevie find obstacles at every turn?

Italy, 1943: As the Allies fight Mussolini's troops, a group of young soldiers are separated from their platoon, and Glaswegian Jamesie Campbell, his newfound friend Michael McTavish at his side, finds himself free to make his own rules…

Glasgow, 1969: Courtroom sketch artist Donald 'Doodle' Malpas is shocked to discover that his new case involves the murder of a teenage Lithuanian girl he knows from the Sovereign Grace Mission. Why hasn't the girl's death been reported? And why is a young police constable suddenly so keen to join the mission?

No one seems willing to join the dots between the two cases, and how they link to Raskine House, the stately home in the Scottish countryside with a dark history and even darker present – the venue for the debauched parties held there by the rich and powerful of the city who call themselves 'The Weekenders'.

Painting a picture of a 1960s Glasgow in the throes of a permissive society, pulled apart by religion, corruption, and a murderous Bible John stalking the streets, The Weekenders is a snapshot of an era of turmoil – and a terrifying insight into the mind of a ruthless criminal…

 

What did I think?

The Weekenders is the first book in The Raskine House Trilogy and it's the first book by David F. Ross that I have read but I really enjoyed it.  It took me a while to get used to his unique writing style but I loved the colloquial Scottish prose that really brought the book to life.

The plot is razor sharp and I often grimaced at some of the darker scenes but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.  I was shocked so frequently that I might as well have been sitting in an electric chair and I don't mean in a prudish way, just the twists and turns that the story took.

You definitely have to have your wits about you when reading The Weekenders as it's very intricately plotted and feverishly fast-paced.  It does feel as if the characters are speaking to you in their broad Scottish accents making it very authentic and atmospheric.

Dark, gritty and highly original, The Weekenders is unlike anything I have ever read before and it's a great start to a new series.   

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

My rating:

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Swanna in Love - Jennifer Belle

It's the summer of 1982 and fourteen-year-old Swanna Swain is the only one left at camp.

The place is a ghost town by the time her mother Val finally shows up six hours late- stoned and radiant- in a Ford pickup driven by Borislav, her new young Russian lover.

Assuming she is headed home to her air-conditioned Upper West Side apartment, Swanna and her lovable younger brother Madding are instead dragged to Vermont: to an artist colony where kids are not welcome and they are forced to sleep in the back of the truck, while Val is cosy inside the house with the Russian.

Then Swanna meets Dennis, a handsome married father of two, at a bowling alley, and, knowing a thing or two about seduction from Judy Blume, her best friend at camp, and her own parents' many affairs - she sets out to convince Dennis to help her. But love seldom obeys rules, and even a tough, smart, city girl like Swanna might not be able to handle falling in love.

Best-selling novelist Jennifer Belle returns with her first novel in fifteen years with a kind of inverse Lolita that explores adolescent desire from the girl's point of view. In turns hilarious and wildly shocking, Swanna In Love is the most unmissable book of the summer.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  I am positively breathless after racing through Swanna in Love, the breathtaking new novel from Jennifer Belle.  I read it in one sitting and it may as well have been superglued to my hands as I simply couldn't put it down.  I have never read Lolita and I thought the book might have been a little outside my comfort zone but it's just fantastic.

With a mother so flightly she could virtually take off and a father who doesn't seem that bothered about his children, it's no wonder that Swanna looks for affection elsewhere.  Swanna not only looks older than her 14 years, she acts like it too so it's no wonder that she draws attention from men, who may or may not be horrified to find out how young she actually is.  

When Swanna begins a relationship with a married man (and oh he's so weak-willed), I got the feeling that Swanna knew exactly what she was doing.  Is Swanna a seductress or is Dennis a paedophile?  That's the question that was on my lips throughout the book; I thought I would have been enraged at Dennis but I didn't feel as angry as I expected.

Jennifer Belle has created such a funny, likeable and smart character in Swanna and her voice shouts out loud and clear throughout.  I laughed out loud so many times at things that Swanna said, thought or did; in fact, I don't think I've laughed out loud so much when reading a book that's doesn't claim to be in the comedy genre.

Addictive, enthralling, shocking and hilarious, Swanna in Love is easily one of the best books I've read this year.  I'm so pleased I requested a review copy, as I very nearly didn't.  I really can't recommend it highly enough; pick one up and let Swanna surprise you.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Attic at Wilton Place - CE Rose

The perfect life. The perfect home. But at what price?

Introspective Ruth Parker is desperate for love and attention. Overlooked as a child by her cold and critical mother, her pain manifests in loneliness and a crippling lack of self-esteem. When glamorous actress ‘Aunt’ Vanessa, her mother’s childhood friend, shows an interest in her, Ruth basks in the blinding light of her attention.

Once Ruth escapes to university in London, Aunt Vanessa invites her to Wilton Place, her stunning Belgravia residence. As she blossoms under Vanessa’s guidance, Ruth finds herself torn between student life and the hypnotic, luxurious confines of Wilton Place. Belgravia wins out, but when Ruth explores the gloomy attic of her new home and finds a hidden, locked door, she discovers that Vanessa is hiding the darkest of secrets from her childhood, secrets that threaten everything Ruth knew about her own mother.

How far will Ruth go to find the truth - and how much does she really want to know?

 

What did I think?

CE Rose weaves a dark and deceptive tale in gripping new novel, The Attic at Wilton Place and I really enjoyed it.  With a majestic and slightly creepy house at its core, it is hauntingly gothic and the house is bursting with secrets that will be revealed when the level of suspense reaches maximum.

I have mixed feelings about the main character Ruth.  On the whole, I felt sorry for her as she has been groomed and manipulated by her 'Aunt' Vanessa, something that Vanessa found easy to do as Ruth's mother (Joyless Joy, as I named her) shows her no affection whatsoever.  Ruth makes some questionable decisions but I had to remind myself how young she was and that she was being played like the cello she so loves.

This story has so many layers and CE Rose perfectly balances her build up of suspense with gradual revelations to keep the reader hooked.  I thought I had it all worked out but I was wrong on every single count and I was delighted to be wrong as I love to be shocked and surprised by such talented authors.

Filled with suspense and bursting with secrets, The Attic at Wilton Place is a twisty page-turning gothic thriller that thoroughly entertained me.  It's well worth a read if you like your books deliciously dark and creepy.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Last Wife - J. A. Baker

Welcome to Winters End...

Winters End should have been the perfect place for me and my husband Neil to start again. To leave the terrible secrets and guilt of our past far behind us.

But from the moment we arrived in the small, isolated community, it becomes clear to me that we are not welcome here. That someone wants us to leave…

I’m certain that everyone knows our secrets – knows who we really are. But how can that be?

Perhaps it’s my mind playing tricks on me. Just like before.

I know Neil thinks I'm paranoid. My thoughts spiralling. Again.

If only I had someone else to talk to. Another woman to confide in.

And that’s when I realise something far more terrifying.

I am the only wife at Winters End…and I could be the last…

 

What did I think?

Now that's what I call a psychological thriller!  I couldn't stop reading The Last Wife once I picked it up and I think it's one of J. A. Baker's best psychological thriller novels to date.

Fiona and Neil are heading off to the island of Winters End for a fresh start after leaving the mainland under a dark cloud of mistrust and scandal.  The close knit community isn't very welcoming and a growing sense of unease envelops the reader as the story progresses.  Something isn't right on this island and Fiona doesn't realise how much danger she is in...

I absolutely loved this book; it's so creepy and suspenseful.  It's also one of those 'just one more chapter' kind of books with little cliff-hangers at the end of many of the chapters that compelled me to keep reading.  The writing is so vivid that I could picture the fictional remote island of Winters End getting battered relentlessly by the North Sea

Hauntingly atmospheric, ominous and disturbing, The Last Wife is J.A. Baker at her very best and although it creeped me out from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  A highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

J. A. Baker is a successful psychological thriller writer of numerous books, previously published by Bloodhound. Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, she still lives in the North East, which inspires the settings for her books. Her first title for Boldwood will be published in December 2022.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewriterjude 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewriterjude 

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

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-baker-5878014f-43f0-4740-a2f0-622d4db0975e 

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BLOG TOUR: The Butcher and the Wren - Alaina Urquhart

WREN WAS NEVER AFRAID OF THE DARK. UNTIL SHE LEARNED THAT SOME MONSTERS ARE REAL . . .

In deep Louisiana, a serial killer with a taste for medical experimentation is completing his most ambitious project yet. The media call him 'The Butcher' - and, so far, he's proved impossible to catch.

With her encyclopaedic knowledge of humanity's darkest minds, and years of experience examining their victims, forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is the best there is. The longer the Butcher's killing spree continues, the more determined she is to bring him to justice.

And yet, he continues to elude her.

As body after body piles up on Wren's examination table, her obsession grows. Pressure to put an end to the slaughter mounts. And her enemy becomes more brazen.

How far is Wren willing to go to draw the Butcher into the light . . .?

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed The Butcher and the Wren and I read it in two sittings, although it is only 242 pages long.  I love the book title with 'The Butcher' being a serial killer and 'The Wren' being Dr Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist who is determined to end The Butcher's reign of terror.

The story is very fast-paced and incredibly intriguing, which kept me turning pages as fast as I possibly could.  There are plenty of shocks and surprises in store for the reader and several twists that I didn't see coming.  The writing is excellent and I found it really easy to visualise the often grisly scenes thanks to the fantastic descriptions.

Wren is a brilliant character and i hope there is more to come for her, especially as the ending gave the impression that there is unfinished business.  I definitely want to read more of Alaina Urquhart's writing anyway, whether Wren is included or not.

Chilling, gruesome and tense, The Butcher and the Wren is very well written and incredibly difficult to put down.  You can judge this book by the cover as the inside is as dark as the outside.  A very enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you're a fan of dark crime thrillers.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Dark Remains - William McIlvanney and Ian Rankin

In this scorching crime collaboration, bestselling author Ian Rankin and Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney join forces for the first ever case of DI Laidlaw, Glasgow's original gritty detective.

Lawyer Bobby Carter did a lot of work for the wrong type of people. Now he's dead and it was no accident. Besides a distraught family and a heap of powerful friends, Carter's left behind his share of enemies. So, who dealt the fatal blow?

DC Jack Laidlaw's reputation precedes him. He's not a team player, but he's got a sixth sense for what's happening on the streets. His boss chalks the violence up to the usual rivalries, but is it that simple? As two Glasgow gangs go to war, Laidlaw needs to find out who got Carter before the whole city explodes.

William McIlvanney's Laidlaw books changed the face of crime fiction. When he died in 2015, he left half a handwritten manuscript of Laidlaw's first case. Now, Ian Rankin is back to finish what McIlvanney started. In The Dark Remains, these two iconic authors bring to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow, and Laidlaw's relentless quest for truth.

What did I think?

I haven't read any William McIlvanney books before so when I saw this collaboration with Ian Rankin I just had to read it and what a gem it is.  It's dark, as the title suggests, but it's often humorous which makes it a well-balanced, highly entertaining novel.

The dark and dangerous streets of 1970s Glasgow are brought to life so vividly that I felt as if I was walking in DC Jack Laidlaw's shoes.  I absolutely loved Laidlaw - he really doesn't care what people think about him and he'll do whatever's necessary to get the job done.  

This is Laidlaw's first case and I am already chomping at the bit to read more.  I don't know how I haven't read any William McIlvanney novels before so thanks to Ian Rankin, McIlvanney will definitely pick up more new fans after reading The Dark Remains.

Flawless, gritty and gripping, The Dark Remains is a fantastic collaboration between two of Scotland's finest crime writers.  The writing is exceptional and completely seamless;  there's no way to tell where McIlvanney ends and Rankin begins.  I loved it - McIlvanney has a new fan here!

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

My rating:

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About the authors:

William McIlvanney is the author of the award-winning Laidlaw trilogy, featuring Glasgow’s original maverick detective. He died in December 2015.

Both Laidlaw and The Papers of Tony Veitch gained Silver Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association, while the third in the series, Strange Loyalties, won the Herald’s People’s Prize.

The McIlvanney Prize, named in his honour in 2016, is awarded annually for the best Scottish crime novel of the year.

Ian Rankin is the number one bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series. The Rebus books have been translated into thirty-six languages and are bestsellers worldwide.

He is the recipient of four Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, including the prestigious Diamond Dagger, and in 2002 he received an OBE for services to literature. He lives in Edinburgh.

@beathhigh  

ianrankin.net

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BLOG TOUR: Blood Lines (Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series Book 2) - Lin Le Versha

Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Suffolk, this gripping new crime series is a dark murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed. Lin Le Versha is not to be missed, the brilliant new talent on the British crime writing scene.

Eighteen year-old Darcy Woodard appears to have it all – intelligence, good looks and artistic gifts. His teachers adore him, as does former policewoman Steph Grant, who is now the receptionist at Darcy's college.

But beneath the surface - all is not as it seems.

Adopted and mixed race, Darcy is convinced he doesn't fit in. He tries to ignore the racial taunts.

There's Darcy’s dysfunctional mother Esther who is trapped in a literary time warp.

Then there's his sister Marianne, who Darcy desperately wants to protect from the dark forces that surround her.

Then tragedy rocks Darcy’s life when a drugs gang forces its way into his life and all the people he cares for.

What can Steph and her former boss DI Hale do to protect the local community? And can they really trust Darcy to help them defeat the county lines gang?

Blood Lines is the second thrilling book in the Steph Grant murder mystery series by the brilliant Lin Le Versha.

 

What did I think?

Blood Lines is the second Steph Grant Murder Mystery book and although I haven't read Blood Notes, the first book in the series, you can absolutely read this as a standalone as I really enjoyed it.

Set mainly on a college campus, it's pretty dark in places as Lin Le Versha takes her readers on a tour of the dark and dangerous drug underworld.  Drugs are rife in the college and the principal decides to take action, with the help of former policewoman and college receptionist Steph Grant and her partner DI Hale.

I love how the Woodard family are incorporated into the story.  Steph knows Darcy and Marianne from college, but she just happens to meet their mother Esther when they are both visiting the local cinema on their own.  Steph soon becomes a friend of this incredibly dysfunctional family but when Darcy seems to turn up at every strange event, Steph realises there's more to this family than meets the eye.

Dealing with drugs, the plotline is quite dark but Lin Le Versha injects (no pun intended) an element of lighthearted humour in the form of Steph's dog Derek.  I mean just him being called Derek made me smile and I loved him tagging along with Steph as she tries to bring down the leader of the drug gang.  I also really enjoyed the college setting with the inevitable power struggles as some tutors vie to show their authority.

Blood Lines is a gripping, fast-paced, dark and twisty murder mystery; it's entertaining and surprising and I definitely want to read more of Steph Grant's story.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Psychopath - A M Edwards

 

Meet Jez. Jez is adulterous husband to Maxine, devoted father to Jamie, promiscuous lover, university professor, pro-vice chancellor for research – and a serial killer aiming to get to the top by any means necessary.

His passion for murder parallels his love of music and he matches each kill with its own special theme song to enhance the experience as he works towards assembling his top forty greatest hits.

When the vice-chancellor of lowly ranked Francis Drake University begins to sexually pester Jez’s mistress Bella, it accelerates his plans for domination. But will he get there?

What did I think?

I really enjoyed this book.  A M Edwards has really got into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer and once I started reading I couldn't put it down.

Jez is not a character anyone will warm to because he's a psychopath, but his observations of people and situations are painfully honest and absolutely hilarious.  I laughed out loud so many times, especially when I read Jez's observations of the workplace - I'll not share any of it here as it will spoil it for others but it's so true!

You really don't want to get on the wrong side of Jez as he is very likely to kill you.  Jez is an academic with a wife and a son and it's surprising to find someone like him living an apparently normal life, although it just shows that appearances can be deceptive.  You never really know who you work with or live next door to, so be careful if you cross them as they might be a secret psychopath.

The story is written from the point of view of Jez and his uniquely strange voice comes across loud and clear.  Although I loved it, I think some people might struggle with this but if you want a warm, fuzzy read then you shouldn't pick up a book named The Psychopath.  It is exactly what it says on the cover!

Dark, disturbing and surprisingly funny, The Psychopath is a highly original novel - I don't think I have ever read anything quite like it.  If you have a dark sense of humour and you like watching shows such as Dexter, then you will love this book.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Key in the Lock - Beth Underdown

 

'I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire...'

By day, Ivy Boscawen mourns the loss of her son Tim in the Great War. But by night she mourns another boy - one whose death decades ago haunts her still.

For Ivy is sure that there is more to what happened all those years ago: the fire at the Great House, and the terrible events that came after. A truth she must uncover, if she is ever to be free.

From the award-winning author of The Witchfinder's Sister comes a captivating story of burning secrets and buried shame, and of the loyalty and love that rises from the ashes.

What did I think?

I've had my eyes peeled for her next novel since reading Beth Underdown's stunning debut, The Witchfinder's Sister, so I was delighted to be given an advance copy of The Key in the Lock to read and review for the blog tour.

The very first line ('I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire...') sets the dark, haunting scene and blows air on the smouldering ember that Ivy has buried for 30 years.  With a dual timeline the tragic events of 1888 are slowly revealed as Ivy grieves for her son in 1918.  Ivy is haunted by the deaths of two boys taken too soon and it reawakens her need to find out what really happened in 1888.

Part gothic mystery and part tragic love story, The Key in the Lock is a beautifully written slow-burner that smoulders with the tension of long buried secrets.  The writing is so evocative that it draws you into the story and I could almost feel curls of smoke gently caressing my skin as I found myself fully immersed in Ivy's story.  It's a book to be savoured rather than devoured and it's the perfect book to read by the fire on a cold winter's night.

My rating:

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The Last House on Needless Street - Catriona Ward

 

This is the story of a murderer. A stolen child. Revenge. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.

All these things are true. And yet some of them are lies.

You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you've read this story before. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, something lies buried. But it's not what you think...

What did I think?

When Stephen King started raving about Catriona Ward's new novel, The Last House on Needless Street, Book Twitter went absolutely crazy as everybody wanted to get their hands on a copy.  So I just have to give a huge thank you to Viper Books for approving my NetGalley request so that I could read this amazing book.

This is perhaps the most difficult book to review EVER.  Less really is more when it comes to talking about The Last House on Needless Street so I'm going to completely avoid mentioning the plot other than to say it's mind-blowing.  I can't even talk about the characters for fear of accidentally releasing a spoiler.

Just take my word for it, this book is absolutely brilliant.  I did think it was a little weird at first, but that's not a surprise as Stephen King loved it and he's the King of Weirdness, however, once I got used to the strange characters the story flowed beautifully and I couldn't read it fast enough.  

Beautifully written, quirky and haunting, I can't stop thinking about The Last House on Needless Street and without doubt this book is going to be huge when it's released on 18 March 2021.  I can totally see this being book of the year and we're not even in 2021 yet - it really is THAT good.  An absolute must-read, make sure you buy a copy and prepare to be amazed.

All opinions in this review are my own.

My rating:

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You Could Make a Killing: Short Story Collection Book 2 - Simon Bewick

 

You Could Make a Killing is a collection of 14 twist-in-the-tale mystery tales by Simon Bewick, author of Basement Tales.

Featuring all-new stories that will keep you guessing until the last line, delve into You Could Make a Killing for twisted tales about killers and victims, cops and robbers, the good and the bad and some things in between that might just blur the line…

Read the new collection from Simon Bewick, and find out why readers have called him, ‘reminiscent of M.R. James’, ‘the new voice in horror’ and ‘one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction’.

Look inside and discover:

•A man who won’t take any more when he’s pushed too far, only to discover that speed really can kill

•A teenage boy living in the aftermath of his best friend’s murder…who may be the next target in the killer’s sights

•A bedtime story that is anything that could just be your worst nightmare

•Two veteran killers who will do whatever it takes to train up their new apprentice

And much, much more…

What did I think?

I don't read many short stories as I find them a bit flat and unfulfilling but Simon Bewick has certainly changed my opinion after reading You Could Make a Killing.  I found his stories gripping, intriguing, intelligent and clever; they are certainly full of surprises.

Just putting the stories aside for a moment, I absolutely loved the section at the end of the book where Simon Bewick includes a note on each story; his inspiration behind the story, his research and his personal thoughts on the piece.  It's like getting into mind of an author and it really made me think how some mundane, everyday things can be turned into a gripping and intriguing story if you have the writing ability.

Now on to the stories and I would say they are quite varied but one thing they have in common is that they are most definitely on the dark side.  The writing has quite an American feel to it and feels heavily influenced by The Sopranos as there is more than one gangster-style tale but there's nothing wrong with that; it all fits the theme of the story perfectly.

I can't possibly review all 14 stories, but I can certainly pick out a few of note.  My absolute hands-down favourite is The Drive In which went in such an unexpected direction that I couldn't contain my gasp of surprise at the end.  Doctor Death could have been an episode in The Sopranos and I bet the writers are kicking themselves that they didn't think of it.  Another one of note is Bedtime Story which simultaneously horrified me and pulled at my heartstrings.  To be honest, there isn't one that I would say I didn't like.

You Could Make a Killing is an excellent collection of short stories that will shock, surprise and horrify the reader.  The quality of writing is excellent and the storytelling is punchy and intriguing; it's a cracking collection of dark and disturbing tales to read by the fireside on a cold, dark night.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Resident - David Jackson

THERE'S A SERIAL KILLER ON THE RUN

AND HE'S HIDING IN YOUR HOUSE

Thomas Brogan is a serial killer. With a trail of bodies in his wake and the police hot on his heels, it seems like Thomas has nowhere left to hide. That is until he breaks into an abandoned house at the end of a terrace on a quiet street. And when he climbs up into the loft, he realises that he can drop down into all the other houses through the shared attic space.

That's when the real fun begins. Because the one thing that Thomas enjoys even more than killing is playing games with his victims - the lonely old woman, the bickering couple, the tempting young newlyweds. And his new neighbours have more than enough dark secrets to make this game his best one yet...

Do you fear The Resident? Soon you'll be dying to meet him.

What did I think?

I have to say that I don't have a fear of attics but rather the ladders leading up to them, so there really could be someone living in my loft and I'd be none the wiser.  My first house was in a terrace and I could totally imagine builders cutting costs by not bricking all the way up between the houses.  This is what killer on the run, Thomas Brogan, finds when he hides in the loft of an abandoned house.  With access to three houses he can steal a little food from each one without anyone noticing and remain hidden from the police.

Brogan is at constant war with himself due to the other voice in his head and it's like he has whole conversations with himself.  You can see how this happened through flashbacks to his lonely childhood and it just shows you how certain events can inflict lasting damage.  Not that every lonely, bullied child becomes a serial killer, of course!  Seeing this side of Brogan makes him appear more human rather than a soulless serial killer and rather strangely I did grow to like him.

Once Brogan started to interact with the residents of the three houses, I was completely hooked.  After a close shave at one house he focuses his attention on deaf old lady Elsie and newlyweds Martyn and Colette.  After discovering that the young couple are hiding secrets from each other, Brogan soon realises that he can have some fun with Martyn and Colette whilst using Elsie for provisions.  It's just that niggling voice in his head crying out for more blood to be shed...

So very addictive, I couldn't put The Resident down and read it over the course of 24 hours.  Written with surprising elements of humour, The Resident is a darkly comic thriller that thoroughly entertained me from start to finish.  

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Hive - Jane Holland

It's a fabulous Rachel's Random Resources blog tour today!  You know what that means?  You not only get to read my review of an amazing book, but you also get the chance to enter a giveaway to win your very own paperback copy of the book!  So get clicking after you've read my review!

Scarred by fire from infancy, with a persistent stammer, Charlotte has always been in the shadow of her glamorous theatrical parents. So it's a shock when her mother commits suicide.

Left to care for her sick father in the dark maze of her childhood home, Charlotte begins to unravel. First, there's the mysterious arrival of a box of dead bees. Then buzzing noises in the attic. People are watching her. Listening to her.

Everyone thinks she's losing her mind. But an old photo suggests another, more sinister possibility ...

What did I think?

Anyone who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will know what I mean when I say that the magic of a book is so often in the quirkiness and originality of the character; a character who is not the most popular in real life but one who finds a special place in the heart of every single reader who picks up the book.  This is how I felt about Charlotte in The Hive, the likes of which I have only ever experienced before in Eleanor Oliphant.  Don't mistake The Hive as being similar to Eleanor Oliphant as quirkiness aside, Charlotte's life is about to get very bad indeed.  

Charlotte is a character who I understood immediately as we share many of the same anti-social traits.  Charlotte is definitely not a people person, although this is more due to her circumstances than an inbuilt character trait; she avoids people in an attempt to avoid attention being drawn to her facial scars caused by getting burnt in the fireplace as a young child.  She works as a data analyst and has an affinity for number patterns but she doesn't think she can progress in her job as she says: 'Numbers, I can handle. People, I can't.'  I'm right there with you, Charlotte!  Numbers and I...we go way back!

Charlotte returns from holiday with her boyfriend to discover that her mother has committed suicide.  Charlotte's father is suffering from Alzheimer's and thinks his wife is still alive, so he can't help Charlotte put together the missing pieces to find out what led up to her mother's death.  The key to the puzzle seems to lie in a mysterious parcel that was delivered on the day of Charlotte's return: a display case of dead bees.  As disturbing as this is, it becomes even more scary when Charlotte starts to hear the buzz buzz buzz.

Creepy right?  I'm not a huge fan of stripy flying insects so it had my skin crawling at not only the thought of the dead bees in the house but the buzzing noises.  I could imagine the house tumbling down around Charlotte and a million bees swarming out from the rubble.  She's a braver gal than I when she ventures into the loft with her boyfriend; of course I have a ladder phobia so I couldn't have gone up there anyway.  The mystery of the bees deepens when she finds an old photo of her father in a beekeeper's outfit with the name 'Bee Hive Cottage' on the back.  To find out what happened to her mother, she must go back to her father's past but what she finds there is more horrifying than a gigantic swarm of bees.

What an outstanding book!  It really kept me on my toes and kept me constantly guessing as it went in a completely surprising direction, making it a lot darker than I expected.  Jane Holland is a new author to me and one I definitely plan to read more from.  I don't know how I haven't come across her before now; I must have literally had my head in a book!

The Hive is as creepy, terrifying and dark as it is compelling, gripping and impossible to put down.  As scared as I was at times, I couldn't take my eyes off the page and found my eyes trying to sneakily jump ahead as my brain wasn't reading fast enough.  A bee-rilliant thriller (I had to get a pun in somewhere) that had me on the edge of my seat and scratching my crawling skin.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon UK
Buy it from Amazon US





About the author:

Jane Holland is a Gregory Award-winning poet and novelist. Her thriller GIRL NUMBER ONE hit #1 in the UK Kindle store in 2015, and again in 2018, catapulting her into a life of crime. She's published dozens of novels with major publishing houses under various pseudonyms, including: Beth Good, Victoria Lamb, Elizabeth Moss, Hannah Coates, and JJ Holland, and also self-publishes.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janeholland1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneHollandAuthor/

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