BLOG TOUR: The Method - Shannon Kirk

You're sixteen, you're pregnant and you've been kidnapped.

If you're anyone else you give in, but if you're a manipulative prodigy you fight back in the only way you can. You use what you've been given against your captors.

You have only one chance to save your life and that of your unborn child. You're calculating, methodical, and as your kidnappers are about to discover, they made a big mistake in abducting you.

What happens when the victim is just as dangerous as the captors?

What did I think?

It is clear from the opening lines that the 16 year old girl being held captive is different to other teenagers.  She has a very scientific brain and doesn't feel emotions like other people, rather she chooses to turn emotions on or off like flicking a switch.  It is this characteristic that will be her saviour as she calculates and plots her escape plan.

Several pregnant teens have gone missing, some may have run away due to their condition but for others it would appear that something more sinister has happened.  Special Agent Roger Liu and his partner, who he refers to as 'Lola' to protect her identity, are tasked with investigating the disappearance and possible abduction of Dorothy M. Salucci.  It was reported that Dorothy was bundled into a van leaving one of her sneakers behind.  It reminded me a bit of Cinderella, as Liu and Lola hunt for the foot that fits the sneaker.

Meanwhile, our captive is accumulating assets.  Seemingly innocent objects that she collects and labels throughout her time in captivity. Putting them all together might just save her life and that of her unborn son.  She just has to time it right and flick the switch to act the way that she is expected to act: frightened and submissive.  Her captor has no idea what's going on in her mind, and he thinks he has her right where he wants her...but he couldn't be more wrong.

The Method is so very unusual; it is tense, gripping and at times gruesome.  I couldn't read fast enough to find out whether the captive would escape or whether she would suffer the same grisly fate as the others before her.  The way that it is written made me feel as if I could see inside the cool, calm and collected mind of the captive.  I loved it when local country-bumpkin Boyd, aka Chicken Man, started tagging along with Liu and Lola.  Boyd is somewhat of a vigilante farmer and, in quite a comical manner, he has taken it really personally that he sold his van to the guy who is kidnapping these young girls.

It's nail-biting, intense and has a shock or two in store for readers.  I recommend The Method for readers who like to get inside the head of the person in the book.  I have never felt so deeply ensconced in the psyche of a character, and the voice is so very strong that I felt as if the character was speaking to me throughout the book.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Witchfinder's Sister - Beth Underdown

'The number of women my brother Matthew killed, so far as I can reckon it, is one hundred and six...'

1645. When Alice Hopkins' husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.

But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women's names.

To what lengths will Matthew's obsession drive him?

And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

What did I think?

We've all heard of the Salem witch trials but we often forget that similar witch-hunts were going on in Britain, led by Matthew Hopkins in Essex.  In the days before plucking and waxing, woe betide any woman with a furred brow or hairy lip as they may find themselves being labelled as a witch.  Many unfortunate women in The Witchfinder's Sister are unfairly accused of being witches and maybe there is one real witch in the story - will Matthew's methods of detection identify her?

Alice thought she had escaped the strange ways of her brother, Matthew, when she married Joseph and they set up home in London, however, Joseph's sudden death sees her return from London to Manningtree.  Alice is carrying her own precious secret, a secret that she knows she can't keep hidden for long, not when Matthew has eyes and ears in the whole town.

Matthew has strange secretive meetings at the house and Alice overhears enough to make her fear for the safety of her mother-in-law Bridget.  Bridget has been close to the Hopkins family for many years, and knows more than she is willing to let on about the terrible scarring Matthew has on his face.  Matthew was told that he crawled into the open fire as a baby but Alice finds out the truth that Bridget has kept hidden for many years.  Will it be too late to save Bridget from Matthew's witch-hunt?

There are so many interesting stories within The Witchfinder's Sister that it's a guaranteed page-turner.  Alice's story is tragic and poignant but as his sister she's known Matthew since he was born so she knows how he works.  My heart went out to the poor women who were tried as witches, made even more poignant by the fact that the characters in the book were real women who were tried by Matthew Hopkins in the Essex Witch Trials.

Reading The Witchfinder's Sister is like having a secret window into the 17th Century.  It is so impeccably researched and filled to the brim with interesting facts that are so cleverly woven into the fiction, almost hidden in plain sight if we choose to see them.  Never has a fiction book had me racing off to google both during and after reading it.  I was absolutely gobsmacked at the origins of 'hocus pocus' and I was delighted to see Alice having beer for breakfast!

The Witchfinder's Sister is a stunning debut by Beth Underdown.  Her wonderful descriptive writing style naturally draws the reader into the story and seems to take on such authenticity of the period that I really felt as if I was there watching the trials unfold.  The ending was jaw-droppingly brilliant and, although a very good end to the book, I for one would love to see the story continue. 

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

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Lie In Wait - G.J. Minett

A man is dead. A woman is missing. And the police have already found their prime suspect... 

Owen Hall drives into a petrol station to let his passenger use the facilities. She never comes back - and what's more, it seems she never even made it inside.

When Owen raises a fuss, the police are called - and soon identify Owen himself as a possible culprit - not least because they already have him in the frame for another more sinister crime.

Owen's always been a little different, and before long others in the community are baying for his blood. But this is a case where nothing is as it seems - least of all Owen Hall...

A dark, addictive thriller, ingeniously plotted with a twist that will make you gasp, LIE IN WAIT is perfect for readers of Angela Marsons or Rachel Abbott.

What did I think?

This is the first book by G.J. Minett that I have read and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it  - I'll certainly be looking out for more from this author.  It's a very strong thriller that feels like a game of chess with all the pieces on the board, just waiting for someone to make the first move.  At times I didn't know what the devil was going on and why this or that person was in the story but it all comes together in a magnificent a-ha moment at the end.

Owen Hall hasn't had a great life; he doesn't really know how to relate to people.  He suffered a terrible event as a youngster and you wonder how much this affected his ability to deal with people.  At school he was bullied by Callum Green and only Abi ever showed him any kind of friendship.  Now Abi is married to Callum and Owen crosses paths with them once again.

The story starts with Owen stopping at a petrol station so his female passenger can go to the loo.  When she doesn't come back, Owen can't understand what has happened and the petrol station attendant calls the police.  Now that the police have Owen in their sights they realise that he fits the bill perfectly as a suspect in a recent murder.

In a game of cat and mouse, all of the traps are set to catch the murderer and it's an absolutely brilliant game that is played in Lie In Wait.  I was so sure that I knew what had happened but I had completely walked past all of the clues, such is the clever style of G.J. Minett's writing.  Looking back now, I should have been asking questions, but my attention was always drawn on to something else. Well played, sir!

I loved the unravelling and gradual reveal of Owen's history and perhaps only now, a few days after I have read it, do I realise how very good Lie in Wait actually is.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Before the Rains - Dinah Jefferies

A romantic, heart-wrenching tale of love against the odds from the Number One Sunday Times bestselling author

1930, Rajputana, India. Since her husband's death, 28-year-old photojournalist Eliza's only companion has been her camera. When the British Government send her to an Indian princely state to photograph the royal family, she's determined to make a name for herself.

But when Eliza arrives at the palace she meets Jay, the Prince's handsome, brooding brother. While Eliza awakens Jay to the poverty of his people, he awakens her to the injustices of British rule. Soon Jay and Eliza find they have more in common than they think. But their families - and society - think otherwise. Eventually they will have to make a choice between doing what's expected, or following their hearts. . .

What did I think?

This is the second Dinah Jefferies book that I have read and on both occasions have been swept away to the beautiful locations described in the book.  Before the Rains, like the Tea Planter's Wife, is absolutely oozing with colour, sounds and smells of exotic imperial India.  You often hear people say that 'I closed my eyes and I was there' but with Dinah Jefferies my eyes were wide open as she took me on a journey to 1930's India.

The book starts with a tragedy for Eliza as she leans over the balcony to catch a glimpse of her father in a procession into the city of Delhi.  As he comes into view, Eliza gets her final glimpse of her father as she witnesses his death.  Eighteen years later, Eliza returns to India as a photographer on assignment to photograph the royal family of Juraipore.  Eliza doesn't want to get staged shots of the family in stiff poses, but rather wants to capture the natural flow of life in the castle.  Eliza soon becomes friendly with the mysterious and alluring second son, Prince Jay, as he attempts to create an irrigation system before the rains come.

Eliza has a secret that she tries to keep from the royal family - she is a widow.  As with all secrets, this secret gets out quite quickly as the walls in this castle really do have ears.  In England nobody would bat an eyelid at this but in India, where women are tasked with ensuring the health of their husband, Eliza is seen as unlucky and must be chaperoned at all times.  As Eliza inevitably grows closer to Jay, their relationship has the potential to create a royal scandal - you can almost see the headlines: The Prince and The Widow.  In the end, will Jay chose love or duty?  With many people trying to put a stop to their relationship, do they even stand a chance?

Before the Rains is another fabulous saga from Dinah Jefferies.  It is filled with secrets, intrigue, skulduggery and romance.  Eliza is an amazing trouser-wearing heroine, pushing the boundaries of what was expected of women in that era.  She is such a strong and vibrant character that she breathed life into every page.  A colourful, vibrant epic that I highly recommend.

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

My rating:

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Little Girl Lost - Carol Wyer

Her breath rose and fell in fearful gasps but it was too late. She could already see what she dreaded most. The back seat was empty.

Her little girl was gone.

Abigail lives the perfect life with her doting husband and adorable baby Izzy. But someone knows a secret about Abigail and they want the truth to be told.

When Izzy is snatched from a carpark, it becomes a case for Detective Robyn Carter.  Someone has been sending threatening messages to Abigail from an anoynmous number.  What is Abigail hiding?

Robyn’s instincts tell her there’s a connection between Izzy’s abduction and two murders she is investigating. But the last time she acted on impulse her fiancé was killed. To break this case and earn her place back on the force, she must learn to trust herself again – and fast. Robyn is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer. And unless she gets to the twisted individual in time a little girl will die ….

What did I think?

What a brave move from Carol Wyer to make the transition from writing funny, lighthearted books such as the fabulous Life Swap to something so intensely dark and disturbing in Little Girl Lost.  A move which completely paid off, I might add.  I found Little Girl Lost quite uncomfortable to start with as there are some disturbing opening scenes but real life is unfortunately filled with such darkness.

There are a lot of characters at the start and I found it slightly confusing, but out came my trusty notebook to jot down all the relevant names.  In a 'before' setting we are introduced to Alice who's about to become the stepdaughter of actor Paul Matthews.  Paul has two children of his own: sick and twisted Lucas and goth-girl Natasha.  Alice still hears the voice of her dead father speaking to her through her toy bunny and when something terrible happens to Alice and her mother's relationship with Paul breaks down, she only has her bunny for comfort as nobody believes her.

Meanwhile in a 'now' time setting, Abigail is happily married to Jackson and they have a beautiful baby called Izzy.  Abigail starts to get texts, emails and phone calls telling her that Jackson is having an affair.  She doesn't believe it at first, but then photographic evidence turns up in her inbox.  Her tormentor takes things a step further and tries to alienate Abi's friends by hacking her Facebook account and posting vicious messages on friends' pages purporting to be from Abi.  It becomes clear that her tormentor must be somebody who is close to her and has access to her house...

So what does Abi have to do with Alice, you might ask.  Well, Carol Wyer has managed to cleverly weave an intricate web of secrets and lies that ties your brain in knots!  I haven't even mentioned the excitement of bodies starting to turn up with toy rabbits placed at the scene.  Alice is back for revenge and she may very well be hiding in plain sight.  Nobody is safe, however tenuously linked to her past, in her quest for retribution.

A cracking first thriller from Carol Wyer that had me reading late into the night - I absolutely could not rest until I had discovered all the dark secrets of Little Girl Lost.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Secrets We Keep - Faith Hogan

Two distant relatives, drawn together in companionship are forced to confront their pasts and learn that some people are good at keeping secrets and some secrets are never meant to be kept.

A bittersweet story of love, loss and life. Perfect for fans of Patricia Scanlan and Adele Parks.

The beautiful old Bath House in Ballytokeep has lain empty and abandoned for decades. For devoted pensioners Archie and Iris, it holds too many conflicting memories of their adolescent dalliances and tragic consequences – sometimes it’s better to leave the past where it belongs.

For highflying, top London divorce lawyer Kate Hunt, it’s a fresh start – maybe even her future. On a winter visit to see her estranged Aunt Iris she falls in love with the Bath House. Inspired, she moves to Ballytokeep leaving her past heartache 600 miles away – but can you ever escape your past or your destiny?

What did I think?

If you haven't come across Faith Hogan yet then boy, are you missing a treat.  I read her debut, My Husband's Wives, and was completely blown away by the effortless warmth of her writing that I knew from just one book that I had become a Faith Hogan fan! Faith is definitely an author to get excited about so I was eager to read her second book, Secrets We Keep. 

Kate has a heart-breaking story in her past which has seen her throw herself into her work and become one of the top divorce lawyers in London.  Her last relationship saw her very publicly being left at the altar and she has found it difficult to trust men again - so you can see why she has become a ruthless and much sought-after divorce lawyer!  On a visit to her roots in Ireland, she finds an abandoned bath house and decides to renovate and reopen it, with a little help from her family and new friends.

When the rumour mill starts churning about a buyer for the old ruined castle in Ballytokeep, Kate could never have imagined that her past would come back to haunt her.  Or is it fate?  As Kate begins to unearth some well buried family secrets, she realises that her roots go a little deeper in Ballytokeep than she originally thought.  Home is indeed where the heart is.

I have to say that the setting is simply amazing - the quiet (fictional) coastal town of Ballytokeep in Ireland.  Now being a coastal girl myself, I found it easy to visualise the location and could almost taste the salt on my lips and feel the wind in my hair.  I loved the thought of a ruined castle on the cliffs and an abandoned bath house by the shore.  I was reminded of my love for fairytales and how it's possibly every little girl's dream to live in a castle.  Faith Hogan has successfully captured this magical essence and moulded it into a modern day fairytale with real-life heartbreak, secrets and the inevitable (and much sought after) happy ending.

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

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BLOG TOUR: Lie With Me - Sabine Durrant

Lie With Me is a book that I still think of now, several months after I have read it.  It reminds us of how easy it is to become embroiled in a lie and how you often become some wrapped up in the lie that the truth is very difficult to discern.  I am delighted to re-release my review as part of the Lie With Me blog tour.

It starts with a lie. The kind we've all told - to a former acquaintance we can't quite place but still, for some reason, feel the need to impress. The story of our life, embellished for the benefit of the happily married lawyer with the kids and the lovely home.

And the next thing you know, you're having dinner at their house, and accepting an invitation to join them on holiday - swept up in their perfect life, the kind you always dreamed of...

Which turns out to be less than perfect. But by the time you're trapped and sweating in the relentless Greek sun, burning to escape the tension all around you - by the time you start to realise that, however painful the truth might be, it's the lies that cause the real damage...

... well, by then, it could just be too late.

What did I think?

From the title, it's obviously clear that the reader is about to be plunged into a web of lies but what isn't clear is how intricate this story is.  The characters are all introduced and first impressions are made but nothing is quite what it seems.  This really is a unique book, I can't believe how much I enjoyed it when I didn't like one single character - that's the whole charm and addictive nature of the book.

Paul Morris is THE most shallow and deceitful man I have come across in a book.  He is mean, selfish and lies every time he opens his mouth.  He thinks he has landed on his feet when he meets Alice and pretty much invites himself to her friends and family gathering at her villa in Greece.  Paul arrives later than the other guests after meeting with his publisher (not) and taking a late BA flight (not) and you really get the impression, even if he doesn't, that he is a bit of an unwanted guest.  There just seems to be an air of tension around the place which is exacerbated by the 10 year anniversary of the disappearance of a 13 year old girl, Jasmine.

When another girl on the island gets attacked, I had several suspects in mind.  All the time wondering what had happened to Jasmine 10 years ago and whether it was linked to this attack.  The common denominator being the same group of guests on the island...yes, Paul was also there 10 years ago.  Will we ever be able to separate the truth from the lies?

Sabine Durrant, you got me!  I was played like a fiddle and completely sucked in, leaving me wide eyed and open-mouthed at the end. Lie With Me is a very clever book, you don't realise how hooked you are until you try to put it down. 

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

My rating:

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