Erased - Miha Mazzini

She Doesn't Exist.

Neither Does Her Baby.

Now What?

When a “software error” erases Zala from the system, she discovers that officially, she and her newborn don’t exist.

As Zala fights desperately to prove her existence, and save her child from adoption, she uncovers the Kafkaesque reality of Slovenia’s system — one that erased 25,671 citizens on February 26, 1992.

A chilling thriller about bureaucracy as violence, and one mother’s battle against the state. 

What did I think?

Oh my word, Erased by Miha Mazzini is an emotional and heartrending book that is astonishingly based on real events.  It just blew my mind that this could happen but also reminded me how easy it is to press the delete button on a keyboard.  I thought identity theft was scary but deletion of identity is even worse!  This isn't an imaginative dystopian novel; this deletion actually happened in Slovenia in 1992. Wow!

Zala is about to give birth to her first child so she attends her local hospital, only to be told that she doesn't exist on the computer system.  She is accused of being an illegal immigrant and presented with a bill for her hospital stay, oh and the hospital is keeping her baby.  I can only imagine what Zala felt like and I had feelings of shock, outrage and devastation as I followed every step of her journey as she fights for her baby and her identity.

It's an incredibly emotional read as I really felt for Zala as she is on her own.  She is a very strong character though and there's nothing more powerful than a mother fighting for her child.  Miha Mazzini's evocative writing brings Zala to life so the reader can't help but take her to their heart.  I actually forgot that it was a translated novel when I was reading it so I have to give a shout out to the impeccable translation by Gregor Timothy Čeh.

Shocking, disturbing and harrowing, Erased is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that really makes you think about your own electronic identity and how easily it could be erased.  I would highly recommend this outstanding book to readers of all genres.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Identity Crisis - Nicola Gill

Be yourself, people say. But the last person Clare Palmer wants to be is herself – she’s lost everything she once had and now can barely get through a bus ride without wanting to thump someone. (People who don’t wear headphones, sniffers, fried chicken guzzlers.)

So when she discovers her resemblance to beloved reality TV presenter Jenna Cox, Clare jumps at the chance to become a lookalike, earn some cash and get her life back together.

But it’s all too easy to cross the line between celebrity lookalike and pretending to be the real Jenna – and becoming someone else is about to take Clare’s life down a track that’s even rockier than the one she’s on…

 

What did I think?

Identity Crisis is Nicola Gill's fifth novel but it is the first of her books that I have read and I absolutely loved it.

Clare Palmer was once a successful author with a loving husband; now she has writer's block and her husband is shacked up with someone else.  When Clare is mistaken for celebrity Jenna Cox one day, she applies and is accepted to become a lookalike.  Whilst it's a good way to earn some money when her editor is waiting for Clare's next book, being Jenna Cox takes up more of Clare's life than being Clare Palmer.

With such a heartbreaking backstory, it's easy to see how Clare has lost sight of who she is so it's no wonder that she steps into Jenna's shoes so easily.  It just gets Clare into a bit of a tangle when she starts to care about the people who think she is actually Jenna.  There's a lot of humour but also a poignant moral dilemma as the story progresses and I had no idea whether or not it would all turn out right in the end.  No spoilers here - you will need to read it yourself to find out!

Incredibly entertaining, laugh-out-loud hilarious and surprisingly emotional, Identity Crisis is a fun, heartfelt and uplifting novel that I absolutely raced through.  I will definitely be looking out for more Nicola Gill books as Identity Crisis is a superb five star read. 

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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FREE BOOK PROMO: Sugar and Snails - Anne Goodwin

I'm reposting my review today of Anne Goodwin's fabulous debut novel, Sugar and Snails.  If you sign up to Anne's newsletter in February, you can grab a free copy!  So make sure to sign up HERE

At fifteen, she made a life-changing decision. Thirty years on, it’s time to make another.

When Diana escaped her misfit childhood, she thought she’d chosen the easier path. But the past lingers on, etched beneath her skin, and life won’t be worth living if her secret gets out.

As an adult, she’s kept other people at a distance... until Simon sweeps in on a cloud of promise and possibility. But his work is taking him to Cairo, the city that transformed her life. She’ll lose Simon if she doesn’t join him. She’ll lose herself if she does.

Sugar and Snails charts Diana’s unusual journey, revealing the scars from her fight to be true to herself. A triumphant mid-life coming-of-age story about bridging the gap between who we are and who we feel we ought to be.

What did I think?

I do love to read books based in the North East; I get that little skip of pride in my belly seeing places I've been and streets I've walked down in print.  I also visited Cairo many years ago which created my love for Egyptology, so I was getting a double whammy in this book.  Unfortunately for me, Cairo doesn't feature greatly, as it is about the event that happened there in Diana's past rather than the city.  Location aside, Sugar and Snails is such an exceptional and unique book that deals with some difficult subjects in a sensitive and honest manner.  Anne Goodwin has created a character in Diana that you instantly care about because of her insecurity, but Diana is stronger than she thinks and the reader has the honour of joining her on a journey that sees her fear peeling away like the layers of an onion.

Diana Dodsworth is a junior lecturer at a university and, with a select group of only a few friends, it is clear that she likes to keep herself to herself.  One night at a dinner party she meets Simon and it is clear that there is an attraction there but there's something holding Diana back.  Despite Diana constantly pushing him away, Simon is undeterred and their relationship grows.  When Simon is offered a position in Cairo he wants Diana to come out to visit him but Cairo holds painful memories for her and she is loathe to apply for a passport to join him.  As Diana's past is revealed, it becomes apparent why she doesn't want to travel to Cairo and I felt such terrible anguish for her.  Will their relationship survive the distance?

This was such a heart-rending story and it is very difficult to review without spoilers.  Suffice to say my heart was breaking at the pain Diana has endured in her life.  From parents who didn't understand her, and even took her on a trip to Lourdes to cure her, to confusing teenage years when every teenager just tries to find out who they are.  Some passages are difficult to read and I had a clenching tummy on more than one occasion, but my discomfort was quickly surpassed by my feelings for Diana's wellbeing.  Diana feels so alone and scared but when she overcomes her fear she finds out that true friendship is more than skin deep.

So hopeful and heart-rending, Sugar and Snails is an amazingly brutal and honest story about one person searching for their place in life.  Diana is perhaps more honest than most people can ever hope to be and I applauded her bravery throughout the book.  Sugar and Snails is emotional and intelligent and well worth 5 stars from me.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Anne Goodwin is the author of two novels and a short story collection. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, about a woman who has kept her past identity a secret for thirty years, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize. Throughout February, subscribers to her newsletter can read Sugar and Snails for free: https://www.subscribepage.com/sugar-and-snails-free-e-book  CLOSES 28 FEB 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnJ5pbhSLho&feature=youtu.be

Website: annegoodwin.weebly.com 

Twitter @Annecdotist

Link tree https://linktr.ee/annecdotist

Amazon author page: viewauthor.at/AnneGoodwin

YouTube: Anne Goodwin’s YouTube channel

BLOG TOUR: I Could Be You - Sheila Bugler

A life has been taken. But whose life is it?

On a stifling hot day, former journalist Dee Doran finds the crumpled body of her friend at the roadside. Katie and her little boy, Jake, have been a light in Dee’s otherwise desolate life – now a woman is dead and her son is missing.

Katie has been keeping secrets for a long time. Years earlier, she fell for the wrong person. But he was in love with someone else; who he couldn’t have but couldn’t keep away from. When jealousy and desire spilled over into murder Katie hid the truth, and has been pretending ever since.

As Dee assists the police with their enquiries she’s compelled to investigate too. She realises Katie wasn’t who she claimed to be. Lies are catching up. Stories are becoming unravelled. Revenge is demanded and someone must pay the price. The question is: who?

Don’t miss this explosive crime thriller perfect for fans for Alex Marwood and Fiona Barton.

What did I think?

I Could Be You is a book that grabs the reader's attention not just from the first page, but from the very first line when Dee finds her neighbour, Katie, dead in the road and only an empty pushchair where toddler Jake should be.  It soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary hit and run as Sheila Bugler takes us on a twisty journey through Katie's dark and mysterious past.

Dee is a former journalist so she's no stranger to investigating stories and sniffing out deep, dark secrets but she's not the only one interested in finding out the truth about Katie; both Dee's ex-husband and her cousin are journalists too.  Dee is warned by the police to stay out of the investigation but Katie was her friend and I loved that she put herself in danger in the hunt for justice.

A lot of the story revolves around Katie's past and after her mother disappeared, it's no surprise that Katie was a troubled teen.  Her father had a busy job running a pub so he didn't have a big hand in her upbringing and she was left to her own devices, which is when she hooked up with local bad boy, Shane.  I felt so sorry for Katie when she was growing up; she was overweight and felt invisible so it's no wonder she grabbed on to the attention that Shane lavished on her, even though she knew that he was using her.  I knew this story would end badly, but I didn't realise how many lives would be ruined.

With past and present mysteries to solve, I Could Be You is a definite page-turner.  It's full of mystery and intrigue and some eye-popping moments that really did make me gasp out loud.  With fast-pacing and a gripping storyline, I Could Be You is a tense and twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

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

My rating:

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BLOG BLITZ: One Perfect Witness - Pat Young

On a remote Scottish hillside, three paths meet. On each path, a boy, one carrying a gun.

When their paths cross, a shot is fired and a boy dies.

That leaves two - one killer and one perfect witness.

This killer will stop at nothing to make sure the witness says nothing. Difficult for most people, even for someone who's been guarding a secret of his own for five years.

What if the witness decides he's been silent too long? Sometimes even the unspeakable must be spoken, if we can find the words.

What did I think?

Pat Young is such a talented writer and I am pleased to say that I have read all three of her excellent books.  One Perfect Witness is her latest book and I have to say that it completely tugged on my heartstrings, often bringing tears to my eyes, as Charlie struggled to be noticed by his parents.

Charlie totally stole the show as the main character and you can't help but take this young lad to your heart.  Now twelve years old, he stopped talking when he was younger and nobody knows why.  He is tired of going unnoticed by his parents and he makes a rash decision to steal his father's gun that will have explosive consequences.  All of this happens in chapter 1 and with such an amazing jaw dropping ending to an opening chapter, I just had to read on.

Sebastien, meanwhile, is going on an adventure.  Swapping sunny Paris for a summer job in wet and windy Scotland, but his mother has a bad feeling about him leaving.  A mother's instinct is never wrong and my heart was breaking for Catherine as she tried to locate her son.  With someone now assuming Sebastien's identity, Catherine's emotions were put through the wringer as she went from worrying about her son's safety to elation that he was safe but too busy to call her.

Unfortunately, Charlie and Sebastien's paths were destined to cross, albeit briefly, which will change both of their lives forever.  Can Charlie ever speak the words that will take Sebastien home?

With an absolutely killer first chapter, One Perfect Witness hooked me from the start.  I was willing Charlie to find the strength to speak and put an end to the campaign of terror he was being subjected to.  There was a strong sense of family running through the story and I couldn't help but compare Charlie and Sebastien.  The love that Sebastien's family had for him was plain for all to see but Charlie felt like he was invisible and that absolutely broke my heart.

One Perfect Witness is another unforgettable book by Pat Young; it's a book that will simultaneously get your heart racing and breaking with the fast paced dysfunctional family storyline.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the author:

Pat Young grew up in the south west of Scotland where she still lives, sometimes. She often goes to the other extreme, the south west of France, in search of sunlight.

Pat never expected to be a writer. Then she found a discarded book with a wad of cash tucked in the flyleaf. ‘What if something awful happened to the person who lost this book?’ she thought, and she was off.

Pat knew nothing of writing, but she knew a thing or two about books, having studied English, French and German at Glasgow University. A passion for languages led to a career she loved and then a successful part-time business that allowed her some free-time, at last.

Pat had plans, none of which included sitting at her desk from daybreak till dusk. But some days she has to. Because there’s a story to be told. And when it’s done, she can go out to play. On zip-wires and abseil ropes, or just the tennis court.

Pat writes psychological thrillers. Her debut novel Till the Dust Settles, has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable Stag trophy. Following publication in July

2017 Pat was delighted to be chosen as an ‘emerging talent’ for Crime in the Spotlight and read from Till the Dust Settles to an audience at Bloody Scotland – another dream come true.

Published by Bloodhound Books, I Know Where You Live is the much-anticipated sequel to Pat’s gripping and unmissable debut thriller, Till the Dust Settles. It too is a psychological thriller with a skilfully told story that makes for an enjoyable stand alone read. It will hook you from the start.

One Perfect Witness, Pat’s third novel to be published, tells a completely new story. If, like Pat, you’re fascinated by what happens when someone disappears, you’ll enjoy this book of secrets, lies and deception.

Links:

Twitter: @py321_young 

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BLOG BLITZ: I Know Where You Live - Pat Young

Penny believes she’s being watched. Yet no one should know where she lives.

Penny seizes the chance of a new life for her family when her husband is offered a job in Europe.

At the airport, they meet charming Sophie, fluent in French and looking for work as an au pair. Penny, struggling to cope in France, offers Sophie a job and she soon becomes an important part of the family’s life. But Sophie is hiding something.

Then Penny’s toddler son, Ethan, is abducted and an international hunt for the child begins. The police beg Penny and her husband to take part in a television appeal but the couple refuse. Unknown to the police, Penny and Seth have new identities and are determined to lay low and protect them. But it may be too late for that.

Who has taken Ethan and why?

Are the couple’s true identities linked to the abduction?

And who has been watching them?

To save her son Penny may have to put her own life on the line.

What did I think?

I was greatly impressed with Pat Young's debut, Till the Dust Settles, so I didn't hesitate when presented with the opportunity to join the blog blitz for her second novel, I Know Where You Live.  As this is a sequel I would recommend reading Till the Dust Settles first, although you could get away with reading this as a standalone as it might make the story more believable (which I will explain shortly).

Lucie and Dylan are now known as Penny and Seth Gates: identities that have been created to keep them safe whilst in witness protection.  They have two children, Angeline and Ethan and have taken the decision to swap Texas for France.  After 10 years, surely they're safe now?  It is whilst at the airport that they are befriended by stranger, Sophie, and, knowing Lucie/Penny as I thought I did, this is where the story became quite unbelievable as she entrusts this stranger with her children.  You're in witness protection, you feel like you're being watched, then you hand your children over to a stranger you meet in an airport!  I know it is fiction, but it does need that nugget of possibility to draw the reader into the story which is why I think that someone who hasn't read Till the Dust Settles would perhaps accept the storyline more.  

Putting my disbelief to one side, I did get engrossed in the story and Ethan is so unbelievably cute that I was devastated when he was taken.  I really felt for Penny and Seth as they struggled with the decision to make a televised appeal that would reveal their identities and put themselves and Angeline in danger.  

I love Pat Young's style of writing; I feel like the book is almost speaking to me as she gives each character a unique voice.  I loved seeing the transformation from frightened Lucie into happy and secure Penny with her husband and children by her side.  I Know Where You Live is a good follow up to Till the Dust Settles but my niggling disbelief meant that it didn't scoop all of the stars like its predecessor.  

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Hiding - Jenny Morton Potts

Even before I was invited to read a review copy, I had earmarked Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts as a book I definitely wanted to read this year.  There was something so very alluring and mesmerising about the cover: the unsuspecting lone woman and the hypnotising eyes of the man who has her in his sights, who I have to say looks rather dishy.

So I leapt at the chance to join the blog tour and I am delighted to share my review of this spectacular book, along with your chance to win an e-book for yourself.

A gripping psychological thriller with chilling twists, from a unique new voice.  

Keller Baye and Rebecca Brown live on different sides of the Atlantic. Until she falls in love with him, Rebecca knows nothing of Keller. But he’s known about her for a very long time, and now he wants to destroy her.

This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens?

What did I think?

Hiding draws you in immediately with two very strong and intriguing main characters: Rebecca Brown and Keller Baye.  The reader is catapulted into such pivotal points in each character's life that it made me sit up and take notice, rubbing my hands in glee, at such juicy bait dangling from the line cast by Jenny Morton Potts.  Now that's what I call hooked from the start.

Rebecca's story starts in 2007 when she becomes an orphan along with her older siblings: brother, Austen, and sister, Colette.  When their parents are killed in a car crash they are sent to live with grandparents in Scotland at the family home called Taransay, or The Orphanage as the siblings refer to it.  As Rebecca gets older she wants to know what happened to her parents but her family won't talk about it.  Why?  What are they hiding?

Fast forward to the not too distant future of 2021 and Keller Baye is heading to the prison to watch his father be put to death by lethal injection.  Keller is already severely damaged as his time spent living with his cruel Aunt Joya has made him into the man he is today.  The event that started all this was the moment his father shot a man in a failed bank robbery and now Keller is out for revenge.

The development of both main characters in Hiding is exceptional.  I felt like I could see inside their heads and know what they were thinking and how they were feeling.  I actually felt so sorry for both of them as they seemed so unhappy with their lives that they invent a new persona to escape who they really are.  Rebecca reinvents herself as a comedian after a life spent feeling as if she didn't belong, her family has even taken her name away as they refer to her as 'Youngest Brown'.  It might seem affectionate to them but I felt like it stole her identity.  Meanwhile, Keller becomes quite the charmer with the ladies but he is not as controlled as Rebecca as his emotions can change at the flick of a switch.

I was wondering what the link was between Rebecca and Keller from the start and after some nicely built suspense, the pieces all start falling into place.  The title of the book is woven so cleverly into the story, meaning very different things for Rebecca and Keller, but ultimately every character is Hiding something. 

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Hiding; it is so intriguing and compelling that I lost track of time while I was reading (I could have easily read it in one sitting if I'd picked it up on a weekend rather than a work night).  Reading Hiding is like doing a jigsaw; you have all of the pieces but you can't see the full picture until the final piece is slotted into place.   Hiding is an exceptional book that hooked me from the start and kept me riveted throughout; a well-deserved five stars.

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

My rating:

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About the author

Jenny is a novelist, screenplay writer and playwright. After a series of 'proper jobs', she realised she was living someone else's life and escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England, to write her socks off. 

Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, settled with family. 

She tries not to take herself too seriously.

Social Media Links –

www.jennymortonpotts.com

https://twitter.com/jmortonpotts

www.facebook/jennymortonpotts

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Genuine Fraud - E. Lockhart

From the author of the unforgettable bestseller WE WERE LIARS comes a suspenseful new psychological thriller - the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. 

But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.

Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. 

An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. 

A bad romance, or maybe three.

Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. 

A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.

A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

What did I think?

I'm a little bit OCD when it comes to numbers (well ok, maybe I'm severely OCD about numbers) so I wasn't sure how I would cope with Genuine Fraud beginning at Chapter 18.  Well I was so engrossed in the story that I didn't really notice, to be honest.  I just wanted to know what had happened to get to this point in time and even though I sometimes didn't know what the devil was going on, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected.

Jule and Imogen are unlikely friends but friendship doesn't see class, religion or skin colour but Jule is a fraudster and it isn't long before she turns herself into a mirror image of Imogen.  It isn't long before Jule assumes Imogen's identity and starts living her life, but Imogen will turn up and put an end to all that, won't she?  

There is so much suspense in Genuine Fraud, making it a compelling addictive read.  I felt so afraid for Imogen's safety early on and as time ticked backwards that feeling intensified until I had to read every single page before going to sleep.  I don't know whether it was the working backwards, but I did sometimes feel a bit confused at times as to what was going on.  Despite this, it held my attention enough to continue on and I wonder if perhaps we haven't seen the last of Jule...in fact I think a sequel is a must!

Genuine Fraud is a quick read at less than 300 pages which is just as well as it's quite hard to put down!  A super little YA read that made me look at unlikely friendships in a different light.  It's true that you can never see inside someone's mind, and nor would I want to, but it's frightening to think that some people may have hidden agendas.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...but which is which?

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Till the Dust Settles - Pat Young

The lives of two women who never meet are about to collide.

Lucie married young. Her husband has become abusive, controlling and violent.  Having lost everything as a result of the marriage, Lucie decides it is time to walk away.

As she leaves the house on the morning of September 11th, heading to a job interview at the World Trade Centre and the promise of a new life, the unthinkable happens.

On a street in New York, choking on the dust, Lucie stumbles upon an opportunity for a new life.

She thought the grass would be greener. But starting again is never that simple…

Sometimes, what lies ahead is even more deadly.       

What did I think?

Until September 11th 2001, I could never understand how people of a certain generation always knew where they were and what they were doing on the day that President John. F. Kennedy was assassinated.  With a family member working only a block away from WTC, I can remember September 11th of 16 years ago as if it was yesterday.  I can still feel the shock, fear and disbelief as the majestic twin towers collapsed, towers that I had stood before to photograph only the previous September.  So I was a little unsure how I would feel about reading a book set around this horrific event, but I had absolutely no cause for concern as Pat Young recreates events with so much grace and compassion in her EXCEPTIONAL debut novel, Till The Dust Settles.

Lucie is in an abusive relationship with her husband, Curtis, and in an attempt to take back control, applies for a job as a cleaner in the World Trade Center.  Her job interview is on September 11th 2001 and she's worried about turning up late after applying make-up to cover up the imprint of her husband's hand on her face.  For once, the detestable Curtis has saved Lucie's life as by turning up late she is outside WTC when the plane hits.  In the confusion and blindness of the dust cloud, Lucie drops her handbag and when she scambles to pick it up, she picks up somebody else's bag.  In an attempt to return it, she is mistaken for the bag's owner and she realises that she might have an opportunity to escape Curtis once and for all.

Phew!  What a scorching read.  I was shocked to find that this is Pat Young's debut novel, it is so impeccably written and she has created such a strong likeable character in Lucie that you root for her from the start.  There are so many moments that tug at your heartstrings and I felt completely emotionally invested in the book that I gasped and held in my tears several times over.  Lucie may have been a beaten wife but she is so strong underneath and Pat Young has quite a rollercoaster ride in store for her before she even has a chance of her own happy ever after.

Without capitalising on such a tragic event, Pat Young has written an emotional story of hope and new beginnings.  Without darkness we wouldn't have light and this story is the perfect example of that.  Till the Dust Settles is such an exceptional debut novel and if ever a book is well worth 5 stars, this is it.  It makes me wish I had a secret extra star to give to outstanding books such as this.  Absolutely superb!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. I am releasing my review as part of the blog tour.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the author

Pat Young grew up in the south west of Scotland where she still lives, sometimes. She often goes to the other extreme, the south west of France, in search of sunlight.

Pat never expected to be a writer. Then she found a discarded book with a wad of cash tucked in the flyleaf. ‘What if something awful happened to the person who lost this book?’ she thought, and she was off.

Pat knew nothing of writing, but she knew a thing or two about books, having studied English, French and German at Glasgow University. A passion for languages led to a career she loved and then a successful part-time business that allowed her some free-time, at last. 

Pat had plans, none of which included sitting at her desk from daybreak till dusk. But some days she has to. Because there’s a story to be told. And when it’s done, she can go out to play. On zip-wires and abseil ropes, or just the tennis court.

Pat writes psychological thrillers. Till the Dust Settles is her debut, from Bloodhound Books. 

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Crash & Burn (Tessa Leone #3) - Lisa Gardner

My name is Nicky Frank.

I'm in hospital, afraid. All I can think about is Vero. I have to save her but I can't find her. She's just a little girl. The man by my bed tells me we're married and there is no Vero. He says that six months ago I suffered a brain injury, that I have dramatic mood swings and large gaps in my memory. I get angry and I drink. All of which explains the car crash that put me here.

Now a Sergeant Wyatt Foster has questions about the accident. He has concerns about my husband. And he's worried about a missing girl. He would like to know what happened to me. So would I.

This is my life. Watch me crash and burn.

What did I think?

I have been a fan of Lisa Gardner for some time now and although this is the third book in the Tessa Leone series it is the first one that I have read.  I don't feel like I was at a disadvantage by not having read the prior books, as that is the beauty of Lisa Gardner - it's not so much that the story carries on, it is just that the main character links the books together.  Crash & Burn must have one of the best first sentences I have seen for a long time; it starts with the sentence "I died once." immediately drawing the reader in and giving me goosebumps in the process.

The story starts with Nicky waking in a hospital bed with scant recollection of what has happened to her.  All she can think of is the mysterious Vero and I could feel her distress creeping out of the pages like curling tendrils of smoke as she wondered what had happened to her.  As officers investigate the car accident that brought Nicky into the hospital, there is no sign of anybody else being in the car at the time of the accident.  So who exactly is Vero and what has happened to her?

The way the story evolves made me question not only Nicky's sanity but her very identity.  There is a lot of mystery surrounding her and her husband so my mind was working overtime as it tried to figure things out.  I got some things right and other things way wrong! Although I didn't think this was one of Lisa Gardner's best books, it was a satisfying twisty story with a good amount of surprises.

Crash & Burn tied my brain in knots as I tried to work out the story but, with Lisa Gardner pulling the punches, you really can expect the unexpected.

I received this book from the publisher, Headline, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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