BLOG TOUR: Deadbeat - Adam Hamdy

Peyton Collard was a good man once, but his life changed after a horrific car accident. Divorced, drunk, and severely damaged, Peyton is offered a life-changing sum of money to kill an evil man. But as he goes on a vigilante journey that leaves a trail of bodies across California, Peyton wonders about the identity of his anonymous patron. Soon, his questions become an obsession, and he embarks on a tense and potentially deadly investigation to discover the truth about the murders he’s committed.

 

What did I think?

Now that's what I call a gritty thriller!  I've had Adam Hamdy on my radar for a while but this is the first book of his that I have read and it's absolutely brilliant.  

Peyton Collard admits he is a deadbeat after being convicted of drink driving and causing the death of a young woman.  I actually felt really sorry for him and the chain of events that led to that devastating moment in time that saw his life veering off course.  War has got a lot to answer for and I could totally understand why Peyton, a forces veteran, drank himself into oblivion.

I have never flipped so much in my opinion of a protagonist.  From feeling sorry for Peyton at the start to despising him for taking more lives, but even that's not black and white.  Peyton isn't killing for his own gain, it's so his daughter can have a better life.  Oh man!  Although I could never condone taking a life, I can understand why the temptation was irresistible.

The chapters are short and punchy and the prose is action-packed making the pacing blisteringly fast.  It's just crying out to be made into a movie and I would be very surprised if we don't see this one on our screens in the future.   

With a protagonist you both like and despise, Deadbeat is a dark and gritty thriller that had me on the edge of my seat until my virtual stand up to applaud the magnificent and completely unpredictable conclusion.  A very highly recommended and completely unmissable book.

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 Amazon

About the author:

Adam Hamdy is a Sunday Times, Kindle, and international bestselling author and screenwriter who works with studios and production companies all over the world. The author of 15 novels including 6 books in the multi-million bestselling Private series co-written with James Patterson, Adam lives in Mauritius.

His most recent standalone novel, Deadbeat, has been described as a superlative thriller by Publishers Weekly. His previous standalone novel, The Other Side of Night, was one of the New York Times Best Thrillers of 2023 and appeared on several best books of the year lists.

Adam has a degree in Law from Oxford University and a degree in Philosophy from the University of London and was a strategy consultant prior to becoming a writer. A fan of extensive research, Adam is well versed in finance, technology and science. He is also published in numerous world-class scientific and medical journals.

A former boxer and kickboxer, seasoned skier, rock climber, sailor, and CPSA gold marksman, Adam also seeks thrills off the page.

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CHASE: The Complete Trilogy - Thomas Dellenbusch (Author), Richard Urmston (Translator), Geoffrey Quarterman (Translator)

"Chase", the famous detective agency in Hamburg, is faced with three extremely tricky cases. Solving the intricate mysteries is one thing, the dangers involved are another. Chief investigator Rique Allmers and his team are always up against powerful and unscrupulous opponents.

In "The Hunt for the Mute Poetess", they set out to uncover the family secret of a deaf-mute author, which is closely guarded by the Hamburg mafia.

In "The Hunt for a King", the two Chase agents Jérome and Chen Lu travel to Scotland to solve the murder of a history professor. Without knowing it, they fight to preserve one of the greatest legends of mankind.

In "The Hunt for the Tsar's Treasure", Andree, Chase's IT specialist, after his girlfriend is kidnapped, suddenly finds himself in a race to find what is probably the most valuable lost treasure in the world.

 

What did I think?

The Chase trilogy contains three novellas and so much action is packed into each one of them that they read almost like full length novels.  It was originally written in German but you really can't tell that it didn't start out in English as the translation is flawless.

I love how each story is separate but almost follows on from one another as the characters progress through the whole book.  I expected all the stories to be set in Germany, which two of them are, but Scotland serves as the meat in this very appealing sandwich.  

The pacing is fast and each plot is incredibly intriguing with hints of Jack Bauer (24), Robert Langdon (The Da Vinci Code) and Indiana Jones with chases, races against time and puzzles to solve along the way.

The writing is incredibly visually descriptive and it is like having your very own cinema inside your mind as the scenes play out in amazing colour and crisp detail.  I couldn't wait to read the next story each time I finished one and my only disappointment was when the book came to an end as I could have kept reading about the adventures of this eclectic detective agency.

I really can't recommend Chase highly enough; it contains all of the ingredients required to make an intriguing, gripping and fast-paced feast for the mind and I absolutely devoured it.  An easy five stars.

Many thanks to the author for sending me an ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Culprits - Richard Brewer & Gary Phillips

A hard-bitten crew of professional thieves pull off the score of their lives, coming away with seven million in cash. Like any heist there are some unforeseen complications, and unfortunately they don’t get away without a few bodies dropping. But despite this, they get away with the swag. Seven million. Enough to change their lives, make new identities, start fresh. But that’s when the real trouble begins... 

In this unique, riveting, linked anthology, we follow each member of the crew of culprits as they go their separate ways after the heist, and watch as this perfect score ends up a perfect nightmare. 

Featuring stories penned by acclaimed writers Brett Battles, Gar Anthony Haywood, Zoë Sharp, Manuel Ramos, Jessica Kaye, Joe Clifford and David Corbett, CULPRITS examines what happens next to these criminals once they take their cut and go their separate ways, only to find that the end of the heist was the beginning of their troubles.

 

What did I think?

What an absolutely fantastic idea for a book!  I've never really thought about what happens after the heist when you see the criminals heading off into the sunset with their bags of cash...so Richard Brewer and Gary Phillips challenged seven authors to write the characters' story after the heist.

It's an anthology book but it's written so seamlessly that you don't even notice that each chapter is written by different authors.  I read it a lot quicker than I expected as I couldn't put it down at the end of each chapter.

Dark, gritty and sometimes grisly, Culprits is a cracking anthology that any crime fiction fan will love.  I'm not surprised it has already been made into a TV show and it's definitely going on my watch list.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Meantime in Greenwich - Hannah Keens

Can an orphaned astrologer and a widowed astronomer put aside their differences to find love?

After Stella’s parents died, she spent her childhood in an orphanage so she fears loving anyone in case she loses them. Her only solace in life is astrology.

Benedict’s wife died in childbirth, so he raised his son alone. When he meets Stella, he is overwhelmed by guilt. And as a respected professor of astronomy, can he really allow himself to fall in love with an astrologer?

Find out whether love is written in the stars for Stella and Benedict in this English romantic comedy.

What did I think?

I absolutely adored Meantime in Greenwich from its clever play on words title to its charming and heartwarming storyline.  It's no secret that Hannah Keens is a pseudonym of Helen Steadman and as Helen is one of my favourite authors it's no surprise that this gorgeous book is going straight on to my favourites shelf.

I used to go to Greenwich a lot when I visited family in London so it was lovely to virtually revisit this part of London in the book as it was brought to life through the wonderfully vivid and descriptive writing.  If I thought the location was vivid, it pales in comparison to the characters who virtually pop from the page.  I loved Stella but it was her love interest Benedict's son Daniel who stole my heart.

So I mentioned the clever play on words in the title earlier and obviously the location is Greenwich (with Durham playing a small cameo) but the Meantime comes from the spat between astrology and astronomy.  Stella is an astrologer and, as her mother taught her, it keeps her mother's memory alive.  Stella meets astronomer Benedict when she attends his lecture about Saturn and they have an instant connection.  Benedict's snooty astronomy colleagues couldn't bear it if he dated an astrologer!

There is just so much to love about this book and it's perfect escapism to put a smile on your face at the end of the day.  It's fabulous feel-good fiction without being sugar-coated as the characters have their own past heartaches and challenges to overcome.  I warmed to the characters so much that I had a lump in my throat at the end and I'm missing them already.

Romantic, charming and uplifting, Meantime in Greenwich is a fabulous romantic comedy that warmed my heart and cheered my soul.  I will definitely be reading it again to brighten my day; it's like my own personal prescription from Dr Steadman.  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 Amazon

About the author:

Hannah Keens is a contemporary English novelist. She writes sweet romantic comedies that will leave you with a smile in your heart. Welcome to a world of love, laughter and happily ever after.

Website: https://hannahkeens.com/ 

Author note from book: https://hannahkeens.com/visit-mysteries-in-covent-garden

Twitter: https://x.com/HannahKeens 

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

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BLOG TOUR: A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff - John Donoghue

Is he the best cop on the streets?... No.

 

But does he go to work with a positive attitude and put 100% into every incident he attends?... Also No.

 

What he does is write about the funny, unusual, and bizarre jobs he goes to.

 

From arresting a bride at her own wedding, an Aztec style sacrifice, subversion in the ranks, a naked dog thief, an accidental kidnapping, disappointing a nun… these are true tales from the front line of policing, where fact is often stranger than fiction!

 

These are the tales he probably shouldn’t share.

 

What did I think?

You know that kind of wheezing laugh you get when something is just TOO funny?  Well that's what happened to me when I was reading A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff.  This is easily the funniest book I've ever read and what's even more funny is that each chapter is based on a true story.  

We've all had funny things happen to us in work that made us think "you couldn't write it" well John Donoghue has done just that.  Thank goodness he's saved up all of these hilarious stories from his time in the police force and decided to share them with us.  The tales are so funny and bizarre that you really couldn't make them up and I think it makes them even funnier knowing that these things actually happened.

There's a lot of toilet humour in the book and it's all the better for it!  I laughed, chortled, sniggered, belly-laughed and guffawed my way through it and I wouldn't have been surprised to find that I'd laughed so much my sides had split.  Honestly, this book is SO funny that my other half thought I was hyperventilating but I was just laughing ultrasonically.

I would usually say don't read A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff in a public place as you will definitely laugh out loud, however, the more people that know about this book the better - we could all do with a good laugh.  My only disappointment was when I finished the book but I was delighted to find that John Donoghue has a number of books in his back catalogue to keep me entertained while he's writing his next one.

Hilarious don't quite cover it when describing A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff; it's ultra-hilarious and completely unmissable.  Anyone with half a sense of humour will absolutely love this cracking book; I've never laughed so much.  Very highly recommended - buy one for yourself and all of your friends and give your laughing muscles a good workout.

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:

Having served Queen, King & Country over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.

His previous police memoirs include:

Police, Crime & 999

Police, Lies & Alibis

Police, Arrests & Suspects

He has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’

 

He says: “I am also a public speaker, conducting tongue in cheek presentations about the ‘Ten Life Lessons I’ve learnt in the Police’, and conduct medieval tours in my spare time.”

 

He also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k - @johndonoghue64

Website: www.policecrime999.com 

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BLOG TOUR: Intervention - Harrison Murphy

Disillusioned archaeologist, Greg, has often wondered what death felt like. Little does he know, he will prematurely find out.

After a fatal car accident, he enters The Cloud – a viewing platform with the ultimate box set of everything that has ever happened, and has yet to happen, on Earth.

As Greg excavates the artefacts of his own history, journeying across time and realities, he discovers he has a power he could never have imagined: Intervention. The ability to change one thing on Earth but sacrificing his eternal existence in exchange.

Will he take the deal? What will he change? And what ripples will spread from his Intervention?

 

What did I think?

Intervention has a very thought-provoking premise and it's a book that I have continued to think about, long after turning the final page.  Whether you believe in eternal life after death or not, this book really gets the old grey matter working and it would be a fabulous book to discuss at book group.

It's like several books in one as the story is told from the point of view of whoever has died and is in The Cloud.  The Cloud is a place where you can select a viewing of events from any point in time.  The person in The Cloud has a difficult choice to make: do they stay in The Cloud forever watching reruns of their old life or do they choose to intervene in an event and end their own existence.  

If I had to describe Intervention in one sentence I would say: it's like a horror version of a mashup of The Truman Show, Sliding Doors and Groundhog Day but with real consequences of manipulating people's lives.  There's a wonderful thread running throughout the book and I loved how it linked Christopher Columbus to characters in the story.

Wonderfully inventive and incredibly thought-provoking, Intervention is an intriguing and compelling piece of speculative fiction that really impressed me.

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:

Harrison Murphy is a writer from Motherwell, Scotland. He specialises in downbeat speculative fiction with elements of sci-fi and fantasy occasionally thrown into the mix. Intervention is his fourth novel. He also wrote the Chrysalis trilogy which focuses on the societal impacts of an implant which allows the people who can afford it to design their own minds and tinker with the minds of others. He is working on his fifth and sixth novels: one about a computer program that harvests people’s secrets and pits them against each other in a gameshow; the other a dystopian, cli-fi reimagining of Rapunzel.

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