BLOG TOUR: What You See - Hilly Barmby

Harriet (Haitch) Boswell’s career as an artist could be about to go stratospheric. She’s been nominated for a prestigious bursary that would change everything. To secure it, she needs to see off five other hopefuls and charm the man who holds the purse strings during a weekend at a stunning location in Spain.

But just before she’s due to leave, she falls ill. There’s no way she can attend the event. Perhaps there’s a solution… her twin sister, Tilda.

But Tilda’s life is in turmoil. Her husband Sam has left her, declaring his love for a mystery woman. Spending a weekend schmoozing with the cream of the creative world while pretending to be her sister, is the very last thing she wants to do. But the bonds of sisterhood are strong. Haitch begs her, and Tilda agrees.

What if she’s discovered as an imposter? There’s Haitch’s egotistical agent Damian to get past first. Then there’s the small matter of surviving the selection process – all five nominees are pitted against each other in an intellectual beauty contest.

And then when someone discovers a body the next day, no one is prepared for what comes next...

 

What did I think?

Oh this book was so good and I simply couldn't put it down.  There are so many layers of intrigue to hold the reader's interest and I was well and truly hooked.

Haitch and Tilda are identical twins but although they may look alike they are very different in nature.  Haitch is the outgoing one who says what she thinks and Tilda is the quiet nerdy one who thought she had found the perfect man with whom to spend the rest of her life...until he left her.  

Tilda is reeling from Sam's bombshell so a change of scenery could be just what she needs so she doesn't take much convincing to impersonate Haitch when Haitch falls ill and can't attend a prestigeous event in Spain.  It looks like the twins have got away with their ruse but complications arise when a dead body is discovered after the event.

Oh this is very intricately plotted and I loved every minute of it.  Hilly Barmby's vivid and captivating writing cleverly drew me in to an amazing web of deceit before going in for the kill with a superb twist.  What an absolute cracker!

Intriguing, gripping and twisty, What You See is an outstanding psychological thriller that hooked me from the start and didn't let go.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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The Survivors - Caroline Mitchell

A fatal car crash with only one witness—but is she telling the truth?

On a winding cliff edge on the wild Irish coast, two cars collide. In one is Maura Claffey’s niece, Finn, and her baby daughter. In the other, Kathryn with her own newborn—and her own secrets. Both women survive, but one of the girls does not.

In the aftermath, bruised and heavily medicated, both women struggle to come to terms with what happened that day. Recovering at Maura’s home, Finn’s confused thoughts continually return to her recently deceased mother, who left Ireland under mysterious circumstances, but Maura won’t be drawn into revealing anything. Meanwhile Kathryn, certain that she’s being lied to about the crash, goes in dogged pursuit of the truth.

Only Maura has the answer. Only she was watching that day. But she won’t let anyone get in the way of what she wants…

 

What did I think?

Wow Caroline Mitchell has written another absolute corker of a book!  This gripping and twisty book shocked and surprised me from start to finish and just when I thought I knew what was going on, Caroline Mitchell pulled the rug right from underneath me.

The story is told from three different point of views: Maura, Finn and Kathryn.  Finn is on the way to visit her Aunt Maura when she is involved in a road traffic accident with Kathryn.  Both Finn and Kathryn are driving with their baby daughters in the car and there is one devastating fatality.  Finn's Aunt Maura was first on the scene but she is a very unreliable witness as she is completely unhinged...and dangerous.

OMG!  I was on tenterhooks throughout the whole of this book during Finn's recovery and Kathryn's turmoil.  Honestly, Maura Claffey makes Annie Wilkes from Misery look like a sweet and caring aunty.  I just didn't know how many versions of Maura there were or which one was going to make an appearance today.  I did feel sorry for her though as growing up in the shadow of her twin left deep scars that will never heal.

It's the sign of a good psychological thriller when you feel like you have been blindfolded and spun around so you can't tell which way is up never mind what is going to happen next.  I loved that I was completely blindsided by every twist in this gripping tale and I was thrilled by every single reveal.  

Fast-paced, gripping and twisty, The Survivors is unpredictable and unputdownable.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars.

I received a gifted copy for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Taken - Danielle Ramsay

I am accused of the worst of crimes – murdering my baby – and I have hours before this passenger ferry docks in Spain to find him, alive.

Someone knows about my difficult past and darkest secrets, and now I think they’ve taken my baby. But who would do this to me and why? I know the answer. Or least I think I do…

The police want to know why I have fled my home and husband. How do I tell them that I had a breakdown after my first baby died? That today is the anniversary of his death? That my husband is planning on having me sectioned?

Despite what my husband says, I’m not ill. Am I? For I have discovered he has an agenda…

So how could I have been so wrong about him?

And how do I convince the police I’m innocent, when everyone believes I’m guilty, and get my baby back before he disappears forever?

 

What did I think?

Make sure you're sitting comfortably when you pick up Danielle Ramsay's new novel, Taken, as you won't be able to put it down.  I absolutely devoured it, reading way past my bedtime until I discovered all of the secrets buried in the book.

Alice is one of the most unreliable narrators I have come across and she is tortured by grief, guilt and what ifs following the cot death of her son.  Alice blames herself and falls into a spiral of depression.  Meanwhile, Alice's husband Tom seems to be getting on with life by planning a move back to America but then Alice falls pregnant again.

Oh Alice!  I really wanted to reach into the book to give her a hug.  She feels like everyone is conspiring against her and it's no wonder she is struggling to cope with the birth of her second son after losing her first baby so tragically.  I wasn't sure whether Tom was just good at hiding his emotions or simply uncaring but it really seemed like Alice was a lone passenger on a rollercoaster of emotions.

With secrets in both Alice's and Tom's pasts, the pacing is blistering as I raced through the pages to uncover everything and I was kept guessing right to the end.  Death of a child is a difficult and disturbing subject but it was handled very sensitively and I could almost feel the torment that Alice was going through.  I really enjoyed Taken and would highly recommend it. 

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/TakenSocial

About the author:

Danielle Ramsay is the author of the DI Jack Brady crime novels and other dark thrillers. She is a Scot living in the North-East of England and was previously published by Hodder & Stoughton and Avon.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: DanielleRamsayAuthor

Twitter: @DanielleRamsay2

Instagram: @danielle.ramsay.author

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DanielleRamsayNews

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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:

Buy it from Amazon

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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BLOG TOUR: Her Last Summer - Nina Manning

I had vowed I would never get back into the water, but of course, this was always going to be the outcome. I never really had a choice.

When out of work actress Rey Levine is offered her dream acting role, she knows she has to make it work. But there’s a catch: the film calls for Rey to swim, something she hasn't done since her last fateful summer holiday fifteen years ago. The summer her sister disappeared…and everyone blamed Rey.

Rey will do anything to block out the painful memories, but it means her current life is in freefall – drink and men her drugs of choice.

With her first dip in the cool water, Rey thinks she’s found the perfect escape. But as the water holds her, old memories float to the surface, forcing Rey to remember the terrible summer she’d rather forget.

But someone doesn't want the truth to surface. Not now, not ever... And they're prepared to ruin Rey's life all over again.

What did I think?

Her Last Summer is Nina Manning's tenth book but it's the first of her novels that I have read and I really enjoyed it.  

Rey is filled with guilt after her little sister disappeared whilst her family was on holiday.  Rey was just a child herself so it really wasn't her fault but her family still blamed her and the whole devastating event shattered her family into a million pieces.  Rey is now an actress, which is unsurprising as the last person she wants to be is herself.

It is so heartbreaking to see how one event in their past can shape a person's whole life.  Rey is searching for oblivion so she doesn't have to remember her past but the memories start resurfacing as soon as Rey steps foot in the pool.  Rey holds the key to what happened to her sister but someone else knows too and they'll do anything to stop her as they follow her from London to the Scottish Highlands.  Yikes!

Her Last Summer is tense, disturbing and a little creepy with a dark family secret at its heart.  I shall definitely be reading more of Nina Manning's books after enjoying this one so much.

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

My rating:

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/herlastsummersocial

About the author:

Nina Manning studied psychology and was a restaurant-owner and private chef (including to members of the royal family). She is the founder and host of Sniffing The Pages, a book review podcast. The Daughter in Law is her debut psychological thriller and since then Nina has gone on to write 9 more books including: The Guilty Wife published in March 2020, The House Mate published in October 2020.The Bridesmaid published May 2021 and Queen Bee in January 2022. She has also written two 'mum-lit' fiction books: The 3 am shattered mums' club and the 6 pm frazzled mums' club. Her tenth book, Her Last Summer, another thriller, is published in May 2024.

Nina currently lives in The Highlands in Scotland with her family.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083674816362 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ninamanninguk 

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/NinaManningNews 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/nina-manning 

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BLOG TOUR: The Affair - Claire Allan

Her heart is thumping now, only just distinguishable from the roar of the water and the wind. This is not safe. She is not safe…

She realises then, only one of them is coming back out alive.

She’s the person I want to be. Sorcha Hannon, survivor of a devastating affair. She’s found the healing and hope I desperately need to find for myself.

And now that Sorcha and I are friends, I am no longer alone. Instead of days hiding away from the world, I have someone to talk to. I feel as if I finally belong.

There’s just one small catch. Sorcha Hannon isn’t just a new friend to me, and she certainly isn’t a stranger. In fact, I know the ins and outs of her life, and her marriage, almost as well as she does. But if she finds out who I really am, I’ll lose everything. Then again, as Sorcha says, no one’s life is really as perfect as it seems… and I should have realised, I’m not the only one with secrets.

What did I think?

As soon as I read the prologue of The Affair I knew I was hooked and I couldn't read fast enough to find out how it all got to this heart-pounding point.

Claire Allan really gets under the readers skin and inside their minds with her fabulous psychological thrillers and The Affair is no exception.  I started off with very little sympathy for Tina as she made her bed by sleeping with a married man and now she's trying to befriend his wife.  Sorcha seemed a little too perfect for me and she almost lives and breathes the perceived perfection of Instagram.  Nobody is that perfect!

As time went on, I started to feel sorry for Tina.  I think Ronan Hannon knew exactly what he was doing when he started his affair with co-worker Tina and when he'd had his fun he couldn't drop her fast enough, leaving her not only devastated but in a very difficult position at work.

Tina wasn't Ronan's first affair and Sorcha has had enough but she has her 'Sisterhood' to support her as she goes through her divorce.  My feelings for Sorcha Hannon ebbed and flowed like the tide; I felt sorry for her as the wronged wife but I struggled to see the real Sorcha beneath her perfect persona.  

Filled with suspense and intrigue, The Affair is quite a nail-biter as nobody is showing their true colours.  I really enjoyed it and think it's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/theaffairsocial

About the author:

Claire Allan is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers and, in the past, women's fiction.

A former reporter with the Derry Journal, she published eight contemporary women's fiction novels with Poolbeg Press in Ireland before becoming a full time author, and switching genre to 'unleash her darker side'

Her first domestic noir novel, Her Name Was Rose was published by Avon/ HarperCollins in 2018 and was an instant bestseller in several countries. Claire's novels have been translated into multiple languages.

Latterly. Claire worked as a story consultant on series one of the huge successful BBC drama series 'Blue Lights' with Two Cities Productions. She has also written a number of rom-coms under the pen-name Freya Kennedy, and supported Sunday Times Bestseller Serena Terry while she was writing her Mammy Banter titles.

In 2023 Claire signed a multi-book deal with Boldwood Books to write four thrillers as Claire Allan, and three rom-coms as Freya Kennedy, securing her publishing into 2026.

Social Media Links 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaireAllan 

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ClaireAllanNews 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/claire-allan 

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BLOG TOUR: The Thief of Joy - Stacey Murray

Single-mum Roz compares herself to everyone else, from her sister to friends to people on social media, and feels she's missing out. She wants what they've got - a husband, a father for her daughter, and respect.

When she meets Daniel, Roz thinks her dreams are possible, until he dies suddenly and tragically. Devastated by grief and loneliness, she rushes headlong into a relationship with Mark, a widower she meets in an online support group.

Yet as Mark's behaviour becomes more controlling and manipulative, Roz realises he isn't the man of her dreams. He is hiding a jaw-dropping secret that spells danger for Roz and her daughter...

 

What did I think?

The Thief of Joy is a very good slow burn thriller that smoulders from start to finish and I really enjoyed it.  Stacey Murray's suspenseful writing creates a web of intrigue that completely captured my attention.

I felt really sorry for Roz at the start when all the hopes and dreams of a new relationship are snatched away from her so cruelly.  Roz only knew Daniel for a short time so she doesn't get much sympathy from her family and turns to an online grief support group to validate her right to grieve.  

As with all online groups though, there are some nice people and some trolls so when Roz gets a message from an administrator the reader can't help but wonder which category Mark falls into.  As Mark gradually wheedles his way into Roz's life the chapters are interspersed with sinister snippets that let the reader know that all is not as it seems.

My sympathy for Roz ebbed and flowed like the tide as she is always comparing herself to other people and wanting what they have.  I'm not saying she's not unlucky but her desperation to find a partner causes her to overlook their flaws and this puts her and her daughter in danger.

Captivating and tense, The Thief of Joy is a riveting psychological thriller that is filled with suspense, envy and danger.  It's well worth a read and I think it's important to remind readers that some people online are not who they seem.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Perfect Parents - J. A. Baker

Jackson and Lydia Hemsworth are pillars of the community, feted for having the perfect marriage and three wonderful children – Florence, Jessica and Ezra.

But appearances can be deceptive.

Because behind closed doors Jackson Hemsworth rules his family with cruelty and control. His marriage is a sham; his children for years have cowed in fear.

Until the day that Jackson and Lydia throw themselves off Newport Bridge in a joint suicide pact – the final cruel blow by Jackson to control his wife and torture his adult children.

As the Hemsworth siblings return to their family home, they must try to make sense of their parents’ last act. But there are many dark secrets waiting to be unearthed at Armett House.

Like, why are the townsfolk so suddenly hostile towards them? And who are the strangers who arrive at Armett House unannounced? And why has their mother’s body still not been found?

In the aftermath of their parents’ death, it becomes clear that something terrible is about to be exposed about the Hemsworths’ perfect parents.

A secret they may all wish had stayed hidden…

 

What did I think?

I've read enough J. A. Baker books to know that the parents in a book titled The Perfect Parents are going to be anything but perfect parents.  Just what sort of parents jump off a bridge for a start?

Three siblings return to the family home after the shock of their parents' suicide.  There is only one funeral to arrange though as their mother's body has not been recovered and the children aren't about to shed many tears over the death of their father.  The people in the town aren't upset about Jackson Hemsworth's demise and there is outright hostility at the funeral.  Just what has he done and why did he kill himself?

It does sometimes get a little confusing as to who is who, especially when the secrets start to be spilled and my poor old tired brain tried to understand the links and repercussions. This is probably because I only read my kindle in bed at night, so I'm sure a more alert brain would have no such issues.

This book is chock-a-block full of secrets and I couldn't read fast enough to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Hemsworths and Armett House.  There are lots of shocks and surprises in store for the reader and I had a veritable gasp out loud moment after one such shock.  I absolutely love books filled with secrets so I really enjoyed The Perfect Parents.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/perfectparentssocial

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 was published in December 2022.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judith.baker.9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewriterjude

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JABakerNews

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The Stranger in Her House - John Marrs

Paul’s just here to help, or so he claims—sent by a charity for vulnerable people to do odd jobs for elderly widow Gwen. But for Gwen’s daughter Connie, there’s just something about Paul that rings alarm bells from day one. He’s a little too kind, a little too involved…Worse still, Gwen seems to have fallen under his spell.

The last thing Connie wants is a stranger meddling in the safe routine she’s built around Gwen. She loves being the one Gwen turns to for cooking, cleaning and company. But the more Paul visits, the more Gwen is relying on him. By the time he conveniently finds himself between homes and has no choice but to move in, Connie is certain he’s trying to push her out completely.

It’s her word against his, though, and as her attempts to unmask him become ever more desperate she’s not the only one left wondering if she’s lost her grip on reality. But when events start spiralling rapidly out of her control, should Connie wage all-out war on Paul and risk losing Gwen forever—or has that been his plan all along?

 

What did I think?

Wow this book is so twisty!  The Stranger in Her House is an absolute cracker!  I've read a few John Marrs books and I think that this is his best one yet.

Gwen has her daughter Connie looking after her and she is getting help from a charity in the form of Paul Michael who is doing odd jobs around the house.  With two caring people looking after her, Gwen is luckier than a lot of people who suffer from dementia...or is she?  It is clear that all is not as it appears and something dark and dangerous is hiding beneath the surface.  The reader is immediately compelled to take sides: are you on Team Connie or Team Paul? 

I'm not going to say any more about the plot as it could spoil it for others but just when I thought I had it all worked out, John Marrs pulled the rug out from under me.  In the blink of an eye I went from feeling smug (Ha! I've worked this one out!) to catching flies in my dropped jaw.  Well played, Mr Marrs, well played!

The Stranger in Her House is twisty, gripping and blooming scary at times, pick this book up at your peril; you'll not be able to put it down until you finish it!  I'd like to see how John Marrs follows this absolute belter of a book.  Very highly recommended.

I received an ARC for the Tandem Collective readalong and it was torture reading it in instalments!  This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Best Served Cold - Hilly Barmby

A mystery woman enters Lily's life

At the launch for her latest children's book, a member of the audience asks Lily for an strange inscription in her copy of the book. Why does this unnerve her?

Is Jack the answer to Lily's prayers?

Later, while celebrating in a local bar, Lily, and best friend Alice, spot the same woman. Her name is Rose. Putting aside earlier unease, a new friendship between the three is formed. Rose offers to help Lily re-enter the dating scene after a bad breakup and they come across Jack, Mr Perfect on Paper. Lily quickly falls for handsome Jack. Is he too good to be true?

The past is the past, or is it?

Soon after the pair start dating, bizarre things start to occur to Lily, things are moved or they go missing, and, what’s worse, her precious artwork is damaged. Who did this to her? Surely it can’t have been her new boyfriend, her new friend Rose, or even oldest friend Alice? They all have a motive. Perhaps Lily did this all herself. Who can she trust, in fact, can she trust herself? Or has a ghost from Lily's past come back to haunt her?

 

What did I think?

Oooooh this book gave me the chills and I absolutely loved it!  Hilly Barmby is a new author to me and I'll definitely be checking out her back catalogue (and future books) based on this fantastic read.

I loved Lily and Alice's friendship and it is a very strong friendship to have survived Lily's breakup with Alice's cousin, Harry.  Whether it will survive the addition of a suspicious new member to their group is the big question when Rose Briar (see what Hilly Barmby did there, fairy tale fans?) inveigles her way into their lives.  As soon as Rose said that line from Misery, Lily should have run for the hills! 

Lily's duo becomes a trio and Rose convinces Lily to try online dating.  Before Lily knows it, Jack Kelly enters her life and he really is too good to be true.  As the reader being treated to flashbacks to Lily's past, I could see what was happening to her I wanted to reach into the book to keep her safe.  It's like watching a car crash in slow motion as events unfold and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.

Incredibly gripping, addictive and chilling, Best Served Cold is a fantastic revenge thriller that had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read it fast enough.  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:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: My Best Friend's Secret - Danielle Ramsay

Five women; pretty, privileged, perfect, and ultimately protected… but not for long…

 

It was ‘their’ dark secret. For twenty-two-years ‘they’ kept it buried. Time hasn’t healed my wounds. Instead, they’ve festered. Their actions went unpunished. Until now…

Shamed, scarred, and shunned, I watched, waited and plotted how to shatter ‘their’ enviable lives. Now, finally, they will suffer as I did in ‘their’ cruel hands that fateful night.

Time’s up. I am here for you, Dr Claudia Harper. But first, you’ll witness your childhood friends, one by one, beg for mercy.

And I’ve saved the best ‘til last, so watch your back; I’m closer than you think. I’m here to expose your best friend’s secret. The one you’ve all kept hidden...until now.

A tale of betrayal, dark, twisted lies and long-awaited retribution. Perfect for the fans of Claire McGowan, Shalini Boland and S. E. Lynes

 

What did I think?

This book is an absolute corker!  I couldn't put it down until I had discovered the secret that this group of friends were hiding.  Revenge is a dish best served cold and in this case it's positively glacial.

Claudia is reeling from the sudden death of her best friend, especially when they weren't on the best of terms when Jaz died.  As Claudia and her old schoolfriends Willow, Issie and Ava gather to pay their last respects, it's clear that something is being kept back from Claudia and paranoia sees her spiralling out of control.

I wanted to reach into the book and give Claudia a shake and a hug at the same time.  She has hit the self-destruct button and has front row seats to watch her life blowing up spectacularly.  My brain was whirring at a rate of knots as I tried to work out what was going on and just what the big secret was.  Whilst I had some suspicions about particular characters, I really couldn't have guessed any of the explosive plot.

Fast-paced, gripping and chock-full of intrigue, My Best Friend's Secret has a razor-sharp plot that reminded me of a firework display; it fizzes and crackles with tension and as the smoke begins to clear there are yet more surprises in store.  It's a fabulous psychological thriller and one I highly recommend.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/bestfriendsocial

About the author:

Danielle Ramsay is a Scot living in a small seaside town in the North-East of England. Always a storyteller, it was only after completing a First Class (Hons) Degree in Media Production that she then went on to follow an academic career in literature. She was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger in 2009 and 2010, and appointed a New Writing North Read Regional author in 2011. 

She is the author of five DI Jack Brady crime novels and The Last Cut, a dark thriller with DS Harri (Harriet) Jacobs. Danielle fills her days with horse-riding, running and murder by proxy.  She is also the proud Patron of the charity SomeOne Cares, which counsels survivors of domestic violence, rape and child abuse. 

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.ramsay.author/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielleramsay2 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.ramsay.author/?hl=en-gb 

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BLOG TOUR: The Woman in the Woods - J.A. Baker

I am safe here, in my cottage in the woods where no one knows me or my real name. Here all is peaceful and calm and the real world can’t hurt me – because I know how cruel it can be.

But then I see here again and her pale, white face. Watching me. Taunting me. And then the notes appear.

I know who you really are… I know what you did…

My mind in whirl I don’t know what to do. Now the walls of my cottage feel like a prison. The peaceful woods around me feel like a maze that will trap me forever.

Who is this woman? And what does she want? And can she possibly know what happened during that boiling hot summer of 1976 when I made my terrible mistake. And if so, how?

So many questions paralysing me with fear. One thing I do know.

She must be stopped.

 

What did I think?

I love J.A. Baker books and her new novel, The Woman in the Woods does not disappoint.  Tense, suspenseful and gripping doesn't even begin to describe this fabulous psychological thriller as the main character must be one of the most unreliable narrators I have ever come across.

The main character is an author who lost her memory after a hit and run, which might be a blessing in disguise as she has a very dark secret in her past.  A secret that somebody knows and rather than simply threatening to reveal the secret, she wants retribution.  The simmering tension and increasing sense of unease feels like a cat playing with a mouse before it goes in for the kill.

As the past is gradually revealed, I felt sick to my stomach at the mindless crime committed.  It does give you food for thought as it's an often debated subject about whether children should be given a second chance after they have committed a crime.  They don't have the experience to understand the consequences of their actions but a crime is a crime.  Everyone deserves a second chance, or do they?

Dark, disturbing and incredibly tense, The Woman in the Woods really got under my skin and at several points really made my skin crawl.  It's another corker of a psychological thriller from J.A. Baker and a recommended read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/WomanWoodsSocial

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.

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