BLOG TOUR: New Memories (The Sandlin PI Series Book 3) - S.E. Shepherd

For three decades, Olivia Farnley used alcohol and drugs to try to block out the memory of the horrific murder of her mother which put her father in prison. Now, she’s ready to face her past, and her hypnotherapist is sure he can help her to fill in the gaps.

During therapy, a key detail comes back to her, one that is so momentous that Liv is forced to share this new-found information with the police. When they dismiss her claims, Liv is left frustrated and furious. Then a chance encounter leads Liv to private investigator Hannah Sandlin, who, accompanied by her best friend Lottie, embarks on an investigation in the Spanish resort of Marbella.

Amid the magnificent villas and infinity pools of Porto Banus, and the stunning beaches of Playa de la Fontanilla, dark secrets lurk. Once Hannah deploys her sharp investigative mind and shameless tenacity, she discovers what really happened to Liv’s mother, Susan, all those years ago. In the process, she uncovers some shocking secrets that the rest of the Farnley family have been trying their hardest to keep.

Can Hannah separate the lies from the truth and bring Liv the resolution she so desperately needs?

S.E. Shepherd’s brilliant third novel in her darkly funny crime series is a story of how untrustworthy memory can be and how love can blind you to the darkness of those close to you. Everyone has a dark side, do they not? Even the ones you love. New Memories is a gripping new thriller that you won’t want to put down.

 

What did I think?

New Memories is the third book in the Sandlin PI series but you can definitely read it as a standalone as PI Hannah Sandlin and her team are tasked with a brand new investigation.

This is a very intriguing case and the client, Olivia Farnley, wants to find out who killed her mother.  Olivia's father was convicted of the crime when a neighbour saw him fleeing the scene, however, nobody seemed to consider that he had an identical twin brother.  Olivia's memories of that awful night are accessed through a series of hypnosis sessions but as far as the police are concerned the case is closed, so Olivia turns to Hannah to prove that these new memories are a true recollection of what really happened.

I absolutely loved the exploration of memories and how traumatic events can be locked away inside your brain until you are ready to look for the key to open them up.  I've always been fascinated by hypnosis, although I would never consider having it done to me, and think it's amazing that the brain can be put into such a state that it is receptive to suggestions, outside the brain owner's control. 

The fabulous plot in New Memories is so compelling that it races along at a fast and furious pace.  I couldn't read fast enough to uncover all of the secrets buried deep within the book and the big reveal at the end has a wonderful Agatha Christie feel about it.  I certainly didn't see any of it coming!

Intriguing, gripping and impossible to put down, New Memories is a thrilling mystery that had me on the edge of my seat throughout.  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:

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BLOG TOUR: Between the Lies - Michelle Adams

What would you do if you woke up and didn't know who you were?

Chloe Daniels regains consciousness in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. She doesn't recognise the strangers who call themselves family. She can't even remember her own name.

What if your past remained a mystery?

As she slowly recovers, her parents and sister begin to share details of her life. The successful career. The seaside home. The near-fatal car crash. But Chloe senses they're keeping dark secrets - and her determination to uncover the truth will have devastating consequences. 

What if the people you should be able trust are lying to you?

What did I think?

I really enjoyed Michelle Adams' debut, My Sister, so I was very excited to read her new book, Between the Lies, and I am delighted to say that I was not disappointed.  The story is intriguing, the pacing is fast and I read it cover to cover one sunny weekend (yes, we do get the odd sunny day up here in the North East).

I loved the idea of Chloe Daniels waking up from a coma and not knowing who she is.  She has no alternative but to believe the people who say they're her family, even though she doesn't like the smell of them.  Chloe thinks her family is lying to her; I know they are, as I've seen the title of the book, so I was suspicious of everything and everybody.  Her dad is controlling, her mother is an alcoholic and her sister is afraid of their dad.  What are they all hiding?  Little gasp-out-loud landmines of truth are exposed at regular intervals to keep the pages turning rapidly and I was completely riveted.

The police are waiting to speak to Chloe about the accident that left her with a brain injury but she can't remember anything about it.  Chloe's dad is a neurologist so he has put himself in charge of her therapy and uses hypnosis to try to help Chloe regain her memory.  I really worried that he may have been inserting false memories as there are certainly some things that he doesn't want Chloe to remember.  I really wanted some things that happened to Chloe to be false memories but life can indeed be cruel.

Between the Lies is a riveting fast-paced thriller that had me completely hooked from the start and didn't disappoint.  I will definitely be recommending this book to my nice-smelling family and friends.

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

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About the author:

Michelle Adams grew up in the UK and now lives in Cyprus, where she works as a part- time scientist. She read her first Stephen King novel at the tender age of nine, and has been addicted to suspense fiction ever since. 

BETWEEN THE LIES is her second novel following the acclaimed psychological thriller MY SISTER.

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Herring Girl - Debbie Taylor

Set in a Tyneside fishing village, Herring Girl moves effortlessly between 1898 and 2007 as twelve-year-old Ben finds himself the unlikely conduit for Annie, a herring girl who lived – and died – a century earlier. As Ben tries to unravel the puzzle of Annie’s death, he is drawn irresistibly into her long-vanished world.

Bringing the startling story of Annie’s life and curious death vividly to life, this brilliantly realised historical mystery introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, and reveals how the secrets of our past are never too far away.

What did I think?

I saw a write up about this book in one of those free supermarket magazines a while ago and thought the reincarnation story sounded really interesting.  I added it to my wishlist then spotted it in the library so snatched it off the shelf and rushed to the desk, naturally picking up another book along the way!

Unfortunately it was the hardback edition of the book so I found it a bit cumbersome to read for long periods but I did thoroughly enjoy the story.  There are a lot of issues covered in the book including homophobia, trans-gender operations, broken families and past lives. Ben is a lovely young boy but he believes he should be a girl and feels trapped in his body, but perhaps it is his previous incarnation, Annie, who is trapped inside his body and trying to get her story heard.  Ben's mother has moved to New Zealand to start a new life and a new family, so Ben lives with his Dad who is most definitely a man's man and can't understand what Ben is going through.

Ben looks for support elsewhere and finds Laura, who runs the local cafe and Dr Mary Charlton who hypnotises him to extract Annie's story.  I absolutely loved Annie's story, although sometimes I found the language hard to understand and I am from this area!  I have no doubt it was authentic local dialect but I think perhaps a glossary in the back might have assisted some readers.

The whole subject matter was fascinating to me - not just reincarnation but the possibility that groups of souls reincarnate and find each other in their next life.  I loved the way the book was written from both Ben's and Annie's perspectives with both stories bringing tears to my eyes.

Wonderfully researched, with a host of fascinating characters spread across the decades, this is a book that is well worth reading.

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