Death, Adjourned (Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers Book 9) - Simon Michael

A gritty urban legal thriller you don’t want to miss! Perfect for fans of John Grisham, Robert Bailey, Michael Connelly and Robert Dugoni.

Has Charles picked the wrong side…?

London, 1969

The Kray twins, the nemeses of Charles Holborne, barrister, are finally convicted of multiple murders and sent away for the longest prison terms ever imposed by a British court.

But with London in the grip of a housing crisis and unscrupulous landlords hiking rents, there are new ruthless enforcers terrorising destitute East Enders.

When a tenant dies during a violent altercation with bailiffs, Charles is instructed to represent the businessmen charged with conspiracy to murder. There is motive, an eyewitness and a confession – seemingly an open and shut case.

But Charles suspects his clients are pawns in a much more dangerous game being played by shadowy Establishment figures.

But are his instincts wrong this time? Is he being manipulated into defending a guilty man?

And as dark secrets are revealed, will he have to choose between moral integrity and professional success?

DEATH, ADJOURNED is the ninth crime novel in an exciting historical series, the Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers — gritty, hard-boiled mysteries set in 1960s London.

 

What did I think?

I am delighted that Simon Michael has decided to continue his fantastic Charles Holborne series after Charlie's final showdown with the Kray twins in book 8, Nothing But The Truth.  The Krays may be behind bars but crime is continuing in London and Charles has a new defendant to represent and it's one who might be guilty this time.

As with all of the Charles Holborne books we are whisked away to court as the trial plays out and I did actually feel as if I was sitting in the public gallery, especially when one particularly jawdropping, gasp-out-loud scene plays out.  I almost dropped my Kindle!

The writing as always is flawless, vivid and immersive and the plotting is perfect.  I couldn't have put money on the outcome of the trial as I flipped between guilty and not guilty so often.  The subject matter of council built housing is actually very thought-provoking and I've always worried about companies tendering for jobs at a price that is too good to be true as they will inevitably cut corners in order to cut costs.  The historical note at the end is very sobering (and scary) to read.

As riveting as Charles' legal cases always are, I also enjoy reading about what's going on in his personal life as it really brings the character to life and I feel like I am catching up with an old friend.  My heart always goes out to Charles when he visits his parents in the residential home as his mother's vicious tongue may be silent now but Charles still loves her unconditionally, despite her never having done the same for him.

Gripping, immersive and thought-provoking, Death, Adjourned is another riveting instalment in the fabulous Charles Holborne Legal Thrillers series and long may it continue.  Keep ‘em coming, Simon!

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Flower House (The Valley Park Series) - Nicky Black

THE THIRD STAND-ALONE STORY IN THE GRITTY VALLEY PARK SERIES

When Vivien Young wins the contract to redevelop the Valley Park estate in Newcastle, she is faced with a fierce adversary: a woman who would rather die than leave her crumbling home on the estate. With her company in trouble, Vivien must find a way to persuade the woman to sell up. If she doesn’t, she could not only lose her business, but also the beloved home she shares with her die-hard, hippy father: the Flower House.

The Flower House stands in the shadow of the Valley Park estate. It was passed to Vivien’s father Jeff after his parents’ death in the 1960s, and now he has entrusted it to Vivien.

But within its walls lie painful memories for the father Vivien adores, and a past full of secrets. Secrets that could destroy everything Vivien Young holds dear.

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS FOR THE MOST GRIPPING STORY IN THE VALLEY PARK SERIES YET

 

What did I think?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!  It's SO good I just had to shout about how much I loved it.  I have loved every book in The Valley Park Series so far but I think The Flower House is the best one yet.

Set in Newcastle upon Tyne, there's a completely gripping dual timeline in The Flower House but there's also a sharp contrast between people's lives on either side of the Valley Park estate's boundary.  Vivien wants to develop the estate and create new homes and amenities but Binty wants to hold on to her home and refuses to sell.

The Flower House is almost a character in its own right as it holds so many secrets within its walls.  Jeff and his sister lost their parents at a young age but they inherited the family home.  Their naivety is exploited and before they know it, there's a bunch of strangers living in the house and flowers are being painted on the walls.  

I was incredibly intrigued by Binty and couldn't read the book fast enough to discover all of her secrets (and there's a lot of them).  I had so many questions as I was reading, and they all get answered absolutely brilliantly.  If it was a play, I'd have given it a round of applause and a standing ovation.  As they say up here in Geordieland, it's pure belter like.

Riveting, compelling and simply brilliant, The Flower House is as impossible to put down as it is to predict.  It's a cracking read and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.  An easy five stars!

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:

Nicky Black writes gritty, North East fiction, full of drama, twists and turns. Geordie criminals divide and rule their territories with a mixture of fear, threats and violence.

The Prodigal and The Rave are the result of a collaboration between two writers, Nicky and Julie. Julie's TV and movie scripts have provided the blueprint for Nicky's creation of these two novels, both set on the fictional Valley Park estate in Newcastle upon Tyne. Both Nicky and Julie have had careers working at the heart of disadvantaged communities in the North East of England, where they experienced the real grit and struggle of peoples' every-day lives, as well as their humour and determination to lead a happy existence, whatever that meant to them.

Nicky was born and brought up in Alnwick in Northumberland and now lives in North Tyneside. Julie is a born and bred Geordie and still lives in the Toon.

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Parasite? The Secret Diary of a Landlord - The Secret Landlord

Get ready to learn what really happens behind closed doors.

Landlords have become one of the most hated groups in society. Parasites, they’re often called. And there’s a lot of them. The Treasury estimates there are almost 2.6 million landlords in the UK with around 5.45 million rental properties.

But the real life of a professional landlord is very different to what most people think. From burglaries and break-ins to drug raids, police warrants, crazy tenant antics, bailiffs, squatters, lawsuits, wrecked properties, interfering council officers, game-playing freeholders to moments of heartfelt joy and happiness, the life of a landlord is never dull. Especially when the government keeps moving the goalposts.

This explosive front line exposé blows the lid off what it’s really like to be a landlord and the shocking reality of renting out a property. Hovering close to a nervous breakdown and likely suffering PTSD, The Secret Landlord exposes truths rarely shared. Stories that will grip you, move you and smack you in the face.

This is the truth, the other side of the door.

What did I think?

What a complete eye-opener!  I really enjoyed reading Parasite? The Secret Diary of a Landlord.  It's written in diary format, which I often feel guilty about reading, but the voice of the Secret Landlord really stands out and I felt like I had her approval to read her honest account of some very busy and tiring days.

My heart really went out to the Secret Landlord, being on call 24/7/365 and I could have cried when reading about the wrecked properties.  I felt the frustration with the council housing department and the inability to take even a single day off without hassle.  It's not all doom and gloom though as there are plenty of funny moments; I laughed out loud when the Secret Landlord cleared up after a hoarder and went for a bone crunching Thai massage.  

I did briefly consider renting my property when house prices fell during the 2008 recession but, after seeing how tenants treated the rental property next door with total disregard, I thought it would be more hassle than it was worth.  Parasite? The Secret Diary of a Landlord certainly proves me right and makes me so glad that I'm not a landlord.  

Honest, humourous and horrifying, Parasite? The Secret Diary of a Landlord is a superb read whether you're a landlord, a tenant or a nosy neighbour.  I sometimes forgot it was actually non-fiction as it's a highly addictive book and I couldn't put it down; I'm sure there are many more stories that the Secret Landlord can share with us and I do hope that there are more books to follow.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

The Secret Landlord has been renting, refurbishing and selling properties across the UK for almost two decades. An award winning landlord, as judged by the National Landlords Association, The Secret Landlord has provided accommodation for hundreds of tenants from all walks of life. 

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.thesecretlandlord.com

Twitter: @landlord_secret

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