BLOG TOUR: One by One - Sam Frances

Ten years since she was pushed. Now someone is back for the rest... 

With tensions between the police and public at an all-time high, a music festival during a heatwave is the last thing DS Alice Washington needs. When she learns that the headline act is infamous rock band The Dolls, appearing for the first time since the lead singer Ris was pushed to her death. 

It was an open-and-shut case: Ris's best friend was witnessed committing the crime by hundreds of people. But when The Dolls start receiving death threats, Alice is forced to reexamine the events leading up to Ris's murder. Was it really just teenage jealousy, or is there something more sinister beneath the surface? 

As the threats escalate, Alice must race to uncover the truth before someone else gets hurt. Because while Ris's killer has been behind bars for ten years, it's clear someone is still out for blood. 

 

What did I think?

One by One is the second book in the DS Alice Washington series but it can definitely be read as a standalone as it was my introduction to the series and I loved it.  Sam Frances is from my local area and there's a good helping of Geordie humour (as well as a Geordie character) throughout the book.  

I knew I was going to love this book before I even finished the first sentence of chapter one and I wasn't wrong.  Sam Frances' writing is so witty and insightful that I frequently laughed out loud and often said: "that's so true".  There's a scene with a banana (it's not what you think) that made me almost choke I was laughing so much.  I was delighted to spot a most excellent Bill & Ted reference too and I want to read it again to see what else I might have missed.  It's unusual to have so much humour in a crime novel and it really makes this book stand out in such a popular genre.

The crime part of the plot is riveting as the mystery is twofold: what really happened to the lead singer of rock band The Dolls 10 years ago and who is after the rest of the band at their reunion gig.  Needless to say, I didn't guess either answer correctly and it's one occasion where I'm more than happy to be wrong.

Gripping, unpredictable and wonderfully witty, One by One is an absolute belter of a crime novel.  I will definitely be ordering the first book in the series and I've already got my hands out like Oliver Twist pleading for more.  Unmissable and unputdownable; an easy five stars that just doesn't seem quite enough when a book is as exceptional as this.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Sam Frances is a British crime thriller author from Tyne and Wear. She writes stories that combine her love of sardonic characters with her background in policing and lives in London with her partner and their wolf pack of pets. 

When not writing (or daydreaming about writing or listening to writing podcasts), she can usually be found no more than 9-10 metres from a block of cheese, either in deep conversation with one of her cats, or playing a musical instrument poorly. 

Find Sam on IG: @samfranwriter | X: @SamFranWriter 

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BLOG TOUR: Five by Five - Claire Wilson

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

At least one thing is giving her joy – a blossoming relationship with Molly, a beautiful, enigmatic new guard.

Wouldn’t it be awful if the killer she’s hunting turned out to be the woman she’s falling for?

 

What did I think?

I think Five by Five is the first book I have read that is set inside a prison and I really enjoyed it;  it is both claustrophobic and thrilling.

Kennedy has such an interesting job: she is the eyes and ears of the prison as she monitors her various feeds to identify any threats.  The only problem for Kennedy is that the threat seems to be directed towards her and my danger radar skyrocketed.  I couldn't read fast enough as the danger levels increased and I didn't know who Kennedy could trust.

Five by Five is Claire Wilson's debut thriller and it's a cracking one at that.  The writing is very accomplished and it makes me very excited to read what Claire writes next.  I enjoyed the prison setting and it really made me think about the procedures that must be in place to protect other prisoners, staff and the public from dangerous criminals.

Filled with tension and fraught with danger, Five by Five is a book that is difficult to put down once you pick it up.  It's an impressive debut from an exciting new talent and Claire Wilson is definitely one to watch.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Peter Miles Has To Die - Katie Collom

“What happens when three women decide to avenge the murder of their best friend? In her riveting debut, Katie Collum explores what we owe the ones we love, and how ordinary life can change in an instant. I couldn’t put this thriller down.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

Peter Miles has to die. And Dylan Darcy, Priya Shah, and Isabel Guerrero—a bartender, a nurse, and a student—have to be the ones to kill him. As they see it, this local cop deserves death for murdering their best friend and getting away with it. All they need to do to pull off the perfect crime is stick to their carefully prepared plan.

So that’s exactly what they do. Murder, it turns out, is surprisingly easy when you’re fueled by revenge. What comes after is the hard part.

As the dry Texas heat gives way to cooler weather, their blazing rage is replaced by a chill fear. Because there’s a fallout that comes from settling the score against someone like Peter, and it could cost them more than they’ve bargained for. When the lead investigator on the case starts sniffing around for a cop killer, the three friends are not feeling as confident as they did on that fateful night. And when they start receiving death threats, it weakens their resolve even further . . . but it’s too little too late.

What they don’t realize is that this detective has her own reasons for wanting to get to the bottom of Peter’s murder. Reasons that don’t involve them at all. The investigation ramps up, and so does the pressure, leaving Dylan, Priya, and Isabel to wonder if ending his life may end up costing them theirs.

As the guilt of what they’ve done settles in their bones, they realize there’s no going back. Someone is going to have to take the fall.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  I raced through this book and read it in two sittings as I simply couldn't put it down.  It's a page-turning thriller without a whodunnit as we know why Peter Miles has to die and we also know who killed him but what we don't know is who is in prison for his murder.

The story is told from various points of views over different timelines but it never gets confusing and it's very easy to follow.  Dylan, Priya and Isabel plan the murder of Peter Miles, who got away with murdering their friend Beck.  Peter Miles got away with it because he's a cop and cops stick together, even when one of them is rotten.

Bree is the detective who is investigating Peter's murder and it's not a straightforward case as there are so many people who would have wanted to kill him.  It obviously looks like Beck's three friends avenged her death but there is no evidence and that's when the intimidation tactics begin as some cops take the law into their own hands.  Bree's case just got a lot more complicated as the spotlight turns on her colleagues.

I couldn't read this book fast enough and although I wanted them all to get away with murder, I knew that one of them went to prison for it.  The abuse of power is infuriating as the cops think they can do what they want to the suspects (who are innocent until proven guilty) and unfortunately, this does sometimes happen in real life.

Blisteringly fast-paced and impossible to put down, Peter Miles Has To Die is an outstanding debut novel (I actually had to double check that this was Katie Collom's debut).  Take note, thriller fans: Katie Collom is definitely one to watch and I am excited to see what she writes next.

 

I received a gifted hardback for The Love Books Tours blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Alien Clay - Adrian Tchaikovsky

They travelled into the unknown and left themselves behind . . .

Professor Arton Daghdev has always wanted to study alien life in person. But when his political activism sees him exiled to the planet Kiln, condemned to work under an unfamiliar sky until he dies, his idealistic wish becomes a terrible reality.

Kiln boasts a ravenous, chaotic ecosystem. Its monstrous alien life means Arton will risk death on a daily basis – if the camp’s oppressive regime doesn’t kill him first. But, if he survives, Kiln’s lost civilization holds a wondrous, terrible secret. It will redefine life and intelligence as he knows it – and might just set him free.

 

What did I think?

Science fiction is not one of my preferred genres but I do like to push myself out of my comfort zone now and again so I was very intrigued by Alien Clay.  That stunning cover is enough to draw you into the world that has been created within the pages of the book.

Arton Daghdev has been exiled to Kiln, an extrasolar planet that is 30 years away from Earth.  I mean just the fact that it takes 30 years to get to the planet made me stop and consider how very insignificant we are in the universe.  Kiln could very well be Earth many years in the future when we have damaged the planet to the point of extinction of our species.

I was surprised how easy I found it to read and I quickly built up a mental image of the camp and planet in my mind.  The story is very imaginative but there are also little snippets of facts about weird and wonderful creatures that I had never heard of but found fascinating when I later researched them.

The vibrant and dangerous ecosystem of Kiln adds an almost horror element to the story that made my skin crawl at times as it is so vividly described.  I loved that there is a constant scent of revolution in the air, leading to questions about who can be trusted.

Mind-blowing, eye-opening and provocative, Alien Clay is an incredibly thought-provoking and entertaining novel that may be a frightening glimpse into the future for our own planet.  I'm not quite a sci-fi convert yet but this book has certainly made me more open to reading other books by Adrian Tchaikovsky and other authors in the sci-fi genre.

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 Folly - Gemma Amor

Morgan always knew her father, Owen, never murdered her mother. She has spent the last six years campaigning for his release from prison. Finally, mid-pandemic, Owen is set free, but the debt-riddled pair can no longer afford (or bear) to live in the family home – a house last decorated by a dead woman’s blood. 

Salvation and the chance for a new start in life comes in the form of a tall, dark and notorious decorative granite tower on the Cornish coastline known only as ‘The Folly’. The structure is empty, prone to break-ins, and the owner needs a caretaker – food and bills included. It’s an offer too good to refuse. Morgan and Owen relocate, leaving everything of their former lives behind and hoping that a change of scene and the remote location will be good for them both. 

At first, the Folly is indeed idyllic, but soon enough that peace is shattered when a bald-headed stranger arrives. A stranger who acts like Morgan’s mother, talks like her mother, and wears her dead mother’s clothes. 

What does he want? Why won’t he leave them alone? Why does he keep mentioning the year 1976?

And what secrets does the Folly tower hold?

 

What did I think?

This book totally creeped me out!  The Folly is a short book at 156 pages but it is filled with secrets and creepy events so it can easily be read in one sitting...with the lights on!

Morgan has stood by her father, despite him going to prison for her mother's murder, as she believed he was innocent.  There's just no way he could have done it, is there?  All of this and more will be revealed in this fast-paced mystery.

When Morgan and her dad move into The Folly, their secrets add to the building's secrets and it's only a matter of time before it all comes tumbling out.  Revelations are forced out into the open by a strange man who appears to be possessed by Morgan's mother's spirit...a spirit that won't rest until the truth is revealed.

I get goosebumps just thinking about the story in The Folly and I was really creeped out by the man who is acting like Morgan's mother.  The building itself was also really creepy and I would have been packing my bags after the first night.

Hauntingly atmospheric and incredibly creepy, The Folly is a chilling gothic horror filled with secrets and surprising revelations.  It's a quick read and one I would recommend to both horror and mystery fans.

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 author:

Gemma Amor is a Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award nominated author, voice actor/podcaster and illustrator based in Bristol, UK. A hugely successful self-published author, Gemma has written the award-nominated Full Immersion with Angry Robot Books and multiple titles with Cemetary Gates Media. The co-creator of horror-comedy podcast Calling Darkness, Gemma’s stories have featured many times on popular horror anthology shows including The NoSleep Podcast, and in a number of print anthologies including Ellen Datlow’s The Best Horror of the Year.

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Someone Is Watching You - Tess James-Mackey

 How far would you go for a dare?

Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it to finally become part of the group. But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside.

And then Kayla vanishes.

Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. There is a horrifying secret hidden within the prison's walls - and now someone is hellbent on making sure Nia and her little sister become its last inmates...

An utterly compelling take on toxic friendship from a remarkable UK debut author.

What did I think?

Crikey, this book is chilling, scary and completely addictive.  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this turned into a movie or mini series.

Nia is trying to fit in with the cool kids but she always feels like she has to prove herself.  I was virtually screaming ‘Run away, Nia!  Run away now!’ but oh, they are clever.  Just one look from Scott and Nia goes weak at the knees, she will do anything to be the girlfriend that he wants…and he knows it.

When Nia and her family go to a soft play area inside an abandoned prison (amazingly based on the author’s own true life experience), the gang sees the opportunity to send Nia off on a dare: to get lost inside the prison.  My eyes were so wide, I might have been reading in the dark myself as I just couldn’t put the book down when Nia began exploring the creepy prison.

There’s a lot of thought-provoking material in the story for teens and young adults: the girl who is so invisible that she does actually vanish, the power of the opposite sex and how it can be manipulated and the pressure to be accepted by the popular crowd in school.  It might be YA but this forty-odd-year-old thoroughly enjoyed it!

Heartpounding, creepy and disturbing, Someone is Watching You makes the Mean Girls look like Disney princesses.  It’s an outstanding debut and a real page turner with a protagonist that you want to hug but also shake some sense into.  I really do hope to see this on my screen in the future - grab this one before anyone else, Netflix!

My rating:

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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.

My rating:

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Golgotha (The Necropolis Series Book 3) - Guy Portman

This sociopath is spiralling out of control.

Dyson Devereux is languishing in an Italian prison awaiting trial for murder. His capricious paramour Alegra is desperate for him to be released, so they can start a new life together. But all Dyson wants is to be back in the UK with his treasured mementos.

Time inside has not abated Dyson’s violent urges, and it won’t be long until he is hunting new additions for his collection. He will need to be wary, for hell hath no fury like a sociopath scorned.

Golgotha is a funny, frenzied crime novel boasting a sinister and sardonic protagonist.

Grab your copy and settle in for the ride.

 

What did I think?

The Necropolis Series is definitely my favourite series at the moment and I can't get enough of my favourite sociopath, Dyson Devereux, so I'm delighted that Golgotha is my first book review of 2023.  Golgotha is the third book in the series and it picks up where Sepultura left off, so it's advisable to read the series in order.

After a work trip turned deadly, Dyson is stuck in an Italian prison.  He's hundreds of miles away from his treasured memento collection and of course his son.  Without being able to be soothed by her particular token, Dyson's dreams are haunted by his cousin and his first kill.  He needs to get home to his precious fly fishing tin.

Dyson hooked up with a woman he met through work on his trip to Italy and Alegra has stood by him while he's in prison.  When Alegra is no further use to him, Dyson drops her like a stone and if she doesn't let him go quietly, she might be the next kill on his list.  I'm not saying another word about the fantastic plot but suffice to say that I loved every second of it.

I just love Dyson, in the same way that I loved Dexter on TV; you know what he's doing is very wrong but you can't help rooting for him and hoping that he doesn't get caught.  This would be a brilliant Netflix series and I'd love to see Dyson brought to life on our screens. 

Highly original and incredibly entertaining, Golgotha is absolutely brilliant from start to finish; it's dark and gory at times but Guy Portman weaves his wonderfully dry humour throughout the prose and it's impossible not to laugh out loud at times.  I love it so much I'm already planning to read the series again from the start.

An easy five stars - very highly recommended.

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

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The Pact - Sharon Bolton

A golden summer, and six talented friends are looking forward to the brightest of futures - until a daredevil game goes horribly wrong, and a woman and two children are killed.

18-year-old Megan takes the blame, leaving the others free to get on with their lives. In return, they each agree to a 'favour', payable on her release from prison.

Twenty years later Megan is free.

Let the games begin . . . 

What did I think?

What an absolute scorcher!  The Pact is so good I couldn't put it down and I devoured it in two sittings.  This is a great example of when friends become frenemies and I loved every single second of it.

Six friends have the world at their feet until a stupid dare has earthshattering consequences.  I was shocked and appalled as events played out and I couldn't believe that they were all willing to let one of their friends take the blame so they could get on with their lives, pretending nothing ever happened.  It really made my blood boil.  Megan has the foresight to get them all to sign a pact so she gets a favour from each of them when she is released from prison, but 20 years inside gives Megan plenty of time to think... and the others to forget.

The Pact has everything you want in a great thriller: revenge, secrets, unlikeable characters and a fast-paced twisty plot.  The plotting is stunning, the writing is flawless and the whole package is breathtaking.  It's one of those Pringles-type novels - once you open it you can't stop reading it, so make sure you block out a good chunk of time and find a comfortable seat when you pick up a copy of The Pact.

Sizzling with suspense and tension, The Pact is an outstanding thriller.  It's dark, twisty and completely compelling, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

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The Nurse - J.A. Corrigan

 

When you hear her story, will you believe her?

Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer. Or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood.

Down-on-his-luck true crime author, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. His first surprise comes when Rose reveals that the victim was not a stranger to her.

As time goes on, it seems that Rose is letting Theo see behind her perfect mask. With each new visit, he learns terrible new things about her heart-breaking past. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he trying to free an innocent woman, or falling prey to a calculating murderer?

A gripping and unputdownable thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient, Shari Lapena and JP Delaney.

What did I think?

The Nurse is so good I've read it twice!  I don't often have the time to read books more than once, despite having a 'to be read again pile' but I was an early reader of The Nurse and also read a finished copy.  So despite knowing the story, I still thought it was absolutely brilliant.

It's quite unusual to start a novel with a protagonist who has already admitted to the crime and is serving time in prison.  You might be wondering where the hook is but it's the character of Rose herself that draws the reader into the story.  An author decides to write a book on Rose's case and as the story unfolds you can't help but question whether Rose actually did the crime for which she is being punished.  

With such well-developed characters that virtually leap out of the page, J.A. Corrigan has written a clever and unforgettable thriller that gripped me from start to finish.  I felt like I was on a see-saw as I constantly flipped back and forth between 'she did it' and 'she didn't do it' as the history and motivation behind the story was gradually revealed.  Everything about The Nurse is great from the accomplished and polished writing to the cunning and clever plot.

Captivating, intriguing and haunting, The Nurse is a stunning thriller that I wholeheartedly recommend.

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

My rating:

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The Serial Killer's Wife - Alice Hunter

 

Every marriage has its secrets…

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

What did I think?

BOOM!  I never saw that coming!  What a great book; it kept me going right up to the very last page.  Alice Hunter's debut is a really interesting idea for a book, questioning how well you ever really know your partner and how people hide their true selves behind a mask.  

I really wanted to feel sorry for Beth when her husband Tom is arrested for murder, but there was just something about her that I didn't warm to and I felt like one of the school mums as I questioned just how much she actually knew.   I considered women's instinct and how we can always seem to sniff out a lie, no matter how cunning our partner thinks they are.  Beth had to know something...didn't she?

As the police investigation progresses I simply couldn't read fast enough, gasping out loud as little landmines of shock and surprise exploded in my path.  Alice Hunter's writing is exceptional, creating layer upon layer of intrigue and unwrapping the secrets of Beth and Tom's marriage like a game of pass the parcel.  With so many twists and turns, my interest was held throughout and my eyes were firmly glued to the page.  There is no doubt that Tom is a killer, but just how many bodies has he buried?

Gripping, compelling and twisty, The Serial Killer's Wife is a brilliant debut from Alice Hunter.  I will definitely be adding her to my watch list and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I chose to read a digital ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Prison Doctor - Dr Amanda Brown

Horrifying, heartbreaking and eye-opening, these are the stories, the patients and the cases that have characterised a career spent being a doctor behind bars.

Violence. Drugs. Suicide. Welcome to the world of a Prison Doctor.

Dr Amanda Brown has treated inmates in the UK’s most infamous prisons first in young offenders institutions, then at the notorious Wormwood Scrubs and finally at Europe's largest women-only prison in Europe, Bronzefield.

From miraculous pregnancies to dirty protests, and from violent attacks on prisoners to heartbreaking acts of self-harm, she has witnessed it all.

In this eye-opening, inspirational memoir, Amanda reveals the stories, the patients and the cases that have shaped a career helping those most of us would rather forget.

Despite their crimes, she is still their doctor.

What did I think?

I like to read non-fiction now and again and The Prison Doctor by Dr Amanda Brown caught my eye.  You could be forgiven for forgetting that this is non-fiction as some of the stories are as harrowing and shocking as crime fiction but this is real life.

Dr Amanda Brown's writing is vibrant and honest, which makes the reader feel as if they are in the prison hearing the shouts of the inmates and the clank of the doors.  As she has made some monumental decisions in her medical career, Dr Brown does include a little bit of her personal life and I really liked this aspect.  We often don't realise how much a GP practice is run like a business with targets and requirements being imposed that impact the doctor and the practice financially.

Leaving her GP practice was heartbreaking as the patients Dr Brown had cared for over many years were so sad to see her go.  I'm not surprised her patients were heartbroken as she wasn't just a doctor to many of them, she was often also a counsellor and a friend.  Dr Brown comes across as someone who loves her job and gives 100% to whatever task is presented to her.

The stories vary from funny to disturbing so there's a good mix and I'm sure Dr Brown had many stories to choose from.  I laughed at some of the stories from the young offenders institution and I gasped with shock at some of the stories from the adult prisons.  The Prison Doctor really does give a 360 degree of a doctor working behind bars and gives us a glimpse of what life is like for some of the prisoners.

The Prison Doctor is an interesting, disturbing and often funny memoir that provides an honest insight into the challenging life of a modern doctor.  Very well written and incredibly enjoyable reading.

My rating:

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The Coincidence (The Trial Trilogy) - David B. Lyons

How wide can a coincidence stretch your beliefs?

Joy Stapleton is Ireland’s most infamous prisoner.

She was incarcerated for two life sentences, after the bodies of her two young sons were found buried in a shallow grave in the Dublin mountains.

But she has always maintained her innocence, and argues the only reason she was ever arrested in the first place comes down to mere coincidence.

But it’s a coincidence that didn’t convince detectives.

A coincidence that didn’t convince a jury.

And a coincidence that hasn’t impressed the inmates of Mountjoy Prison.

That is until eight years into her sentence, when new evidence emerges, and everybody — including Joy’s long-suffering husband Shay — is forced into a rethink.

Take your seat in the courtroom for the retrial of the century… and see just how wide you’re willing to allow a coincidence stretch your beliefs…

What did I think?

I absolutely love books set in the courtroom for their high drama and edge of your seat thrills and David. B. Lyons delivers drama and thrills in abundance in The Coincidence, the third book in The Trial Trilogy.  It's such very compulsive reading and once you pick it up, it's impossible to put down.  David B. Lyons’ writing is so vivid and immersive I actually felt as if I was sitting in the courtroom; in fact it felt like I was in the judge's seat as the reader is privy to judge Delia's thought processes.

The case in this book is a retrial so the defendant, Joy Stapleton, is already in prison serving two life sentences for the murder of her sons.  Joy was convicted after being caught on CCTV near to the burial site, however, Joy claims it wasn't her in the video and the image isn't clear enough to confirm this.  New evidence is brought before the court to cast doubt on the person's identity in the video and a retrial is granted.

David B. Lyons paints such a vivid picture of life behind bars that my kindle virtually hummed with the underlying tension and the threat of violence.  An extra layer of suspense is added by the reader first meeting Joy 3,000 days ago when she is brought to Mountjoy Prison and the days count down to the verdict.  As if there wasn't enough tension already, the countdown clock made me put on my literary running shoes so I could race to the end of this very cleverly crafted and completely addictive book.

I had to take a few moments at the end of the book to gather my thoughts as I had so many questions flying around my head.  Some of these questions could have been answered along the way if I'd read a bit slower, but once I sat down and thought it over I fully appreciated the brilliantly clever plot.

The Coincidence is so gripping and fast paced, I couldn’t put it down; you’d think it was made out of chocolate the way I completely devoured it.  With clues to collect along the way, there’s so much to absorb and discuss which makes The Coincidence the perfect read for book groups.  A fantastic book and highly recommended.

Thank you to David B. Lyons for sending me an ARC to read; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: A Ruined Girl - Kate Simants

 

TWO BOYS LOVED HER.

BUT WHICH ONE KILLED HER?

On a dark night two years ago, teenagers Rob and Paige broke into a house. They beat and traumatised the occupants, then left, taking only a bracelet. No one knows why, not even Luke, Rob's younger brother and Paige's confidant. Paige disappeared after that night. And having spent her life in children's homes and the foster system, no one cared enough to look for her.

Now Rob is out of prison, and probation officer Wren Reynolds has been tasked with his rehabilitation. But Wren has her own reasons for taking on Rob as a client. Convinced that Rob knows what happened to Paige, and hiding a lifetime of secrets from her heavily pregnant wife, Wren's obsession with finding a missing girl may tear her family apart...

What did I think?

Part way through I thought I had A Ruined Girl all worked out; a few minutes from the end, I was just doing a celebratory dance around the ring when Kate Simants landed a right hook and a knockout blow that wiped the smug look off my face.  A Ruined Girl is an absolute cracker of a novel; it's fast-paced and gripping with a dark and gritty storyline that grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until I had turned the final page.

The story opens with a girl being buried in the woods by a boy and a man.  The boy is so tender with the body that it is clear that he has deep feelings for the girl.  Of course you then wonder why he killed her, or helped to kill her.  Why else would he be burying her in the woods?

Rob is a prisoner eligible for the Community Atonement Programme, whereby he meets and apologises to those affected by the crime that saw him sent to prison.  Rob and Paige, a young girl from a care home who later disappeared, were seen on CCTV after breaking into a house and stealing a valuable bracelet.  Rob went to prison and Paige has never been found.  Wren Reynolds is Rob's probation officer and she has the unenviable job of taking Rob to meet his victims.  With what happened to Paige being the big question on everyone's lips, Wren can't help digging into the past even when it puts a strain on her family life.

Switching between 'Before' and 'Now' we get glimpses into the past where Rob's brother, Luke, is in the same care home as Paige.  Luke is obsessed with Paige, watching her movements and buying her gifts, and it's much more than a harmless teenage crush.  It tells you in the blurb that two boys loved her and one of them killed her, but I couldn't decide between Rob and Luke.  A burglary gone wrong or hormones gone crazy?

Both the before and now storylines had me absolutely gripped.  I wanted to find out about events leading up to Paige's disappearance but I also wanted to put together the pieces of the puzzle with Wren.  I loved Wren's character; she makes so many mistakes that I felt like slapping my forehead every time she did something stupid, I even hissed through my teeth and said 'noooooo' on one occasion.  Her emotions are running high with taking on such a high profile case while her partner is about to give birth.  She does seem to have bitten off more than she can chew and if she's not careful she might end up losing her job as well as her family.

Perfectly plotted, A Ruined Girl is dark, disturbing and completely compelling.  Kate Simants is definitely one to watch and I can't wait to read more of her books.  

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

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