The Death Row Club by V. A. Vazquez

 

Nicole Fischer's life has been in freefall since her father was convicted of murder; she had no idea he was the serial killer who terrorised their small town twenty years earlier. An invitation to a retreat for the children of serial killers offers her the opportunity to seek solace with people in a similar situation.

The premise of The Death Row Club by V. A. Vazquez is a compelling one. I will be honest and admit that I had never really thought about the impact on families when a serial killer is convicted. While therapy must go some way to helping, surely the only people who truly understand the torment they are going through is those who are in a similar position.

At the beginning of the story, Nicole is living alone following her father's conviction. A true crime TV series about the case is being shown, making Nicole a target for the media. She is also being shunned by her local community, as the TV series implies she must have known what her father was up to.

When the strange invitation arrives, Nicole sees it as a way to escape the intrusive media that is camped at her door. It will also give her the opportunity to confront Greer Woods, the woman behind the series, and someone she thought was a friend.

An isolated location, surrounded by woods, no electronic devices, and a group of people raised by serial killers sets the scene. You know from the outset that something chilling is going to happen; the big question is, how much of a bloodbath will it be? You wonder if the danger is lurking out in the woods, or is it inside the retreat?

To add to the unsettling feeling, there is a secondary character, Steffani, whose story is interspersed with Nicole's. I was intrigued as to how the two stories were connected, particularly when Steffani's background and the situation she finds herself in are revealed. There are multiple twists as all of the plot lines converge in the frantic and hair-raising conclusion, leading us to realise that not everyone has been entirely truthful and that ulterior motives have played a large part in their actions.

The Death Row Club by V. A. Vazquez will be published on 18th June 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for a review copy.

Author Details

V. A. Vazquez was born and raised in Buffalo, NY where she currently teaches English. She received her B. A. in English from Barnard College and used to live in Scotland in a town inhabited by more sheep than people.

The Defence by Rob Rinder

 

When ex-Tory MP and wellness guru Adrian Wells is murdered, junior barrister Adam Green is part of the defence team for the accused, Juliet 'Jules' Quentin. Jules was Wells's assistant and the brains behind his business, so she stands to lose a lot following her boss's death. However, animosity has flared between the pair recently. Could this be reason enough to commit murder?

The Defence by Rob Rinder is book 4 in the Adam Green Mystery series. This series is a cross between cosy crime and legal thriller. Over the series, we've seen Adam's career progress from pupillage at Stag Court, through to his current position as a junior barrister. Each of the four books works as a standalone novel, however, by reading them in order, you will gain a greater understanding of the life of a trainee barrister and the politics at play within the legal environment.

As we join Adam at the beginning of the novel, he is making progress in his career, but is having doubts. Not only did his last big case prove unsuccessful, but he seems to be doing nothing but mundane cases at the moment. Added to all this, his friend and colleague, Georgina, has been given a promotion. Being part of the defence team, working alongside a highly successful senior barrister, seems to have come just at the right time to bolster his spirits. Adam is his usual self, turning detective to try and find a defence for his client. Jules is a strange character; she's reluctant to say anything in her own defence. The reason for this becomes apparent as the story progresses.

The author takes the opportunity to have a little fun at the expense of the wellness industry and influencers. The way in which one of the characters speaks, non-stop platitudes and affirmations, was enough to make me feel nauseous. There's also some name-dropping, which makes the story feel very up-to-date.

Perception plays a major role in the story. You begin to realise that not everyone is as they seem; sometimes it's an act, and at times it's deliberate manipulation. By the conclusion, despite the outcome of the case, Adam still feels jaded and is questioning his future.

The Defence by Rob Rinder will be published on 18th June 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Century for a review copy.

Author Details

Rob Rinder is a barrister turned broadcaster and Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author. Called to the bar in 2001, Rob went on to specialise in cases involving murder, international fraud, money laundering and other forms of financial crime, while working in media to make law more accessible. He started his broadcast career with Judge Rinder for ITV winning a Royal Television Society Award before going on to host his own BBC 5Live series Raising the Bar.

Rob’s participation in Who Do You Think You Are? retraced the story of his Holocaust survivor grandfather and received a BAFTA. The BBC series he presented, The Holocaust, My Family and Me, was aired to wide critical acclaim and he has gone on to curate and present notable documentaries on a range of topics, from international conflict to medieval history and, recently, the history of prisons. In 2020, Rob was awarded an MBE for his services to Holocaust education and an honorary doctorate for his legal work.

A regular host on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rob co-hosts BBC Two’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby and recently appeared in a new show about art and travel, The Grand Tour, which saw Rob and his co-host Rylan retrace the footsteps of cultural greats around Italy.

Rob’s novels The Trial, The Suspect and The Protest are inspired by his experiences as a barrister.

Against The Tide by G. D. Wright

 

A spate of armed burglaries has taken place in Beachbrook, and the police are no closer to apprehending the culprits. Their investigation is taken up a notch when the most recent burglary leaves one person dead and another badly injured.

If you are about to start reading Against The Tide by G. D. Wright, I'd suggest you lock all the doors, draw the curtains and put your phone on silent, because once you start reading, you won't want to put this brilliant book down.

From the opening pages, the story packs an emotional punch and keeps you in its grip throughout. The book covers some hard-hitting themes, with one thought-provoking one in particular. These themes are handled in an extremely sympathetic manner, thanks to the empathetic writing of the author.

The book alternates between three main characters. Natalie Knight is the adult daughter of the couple involved in the most recent burglary. DC Vinny Robson is the police officer assigned as Natalie's FLO, and DS Sue Willmott is his boss. Alternating between three different characters keeps the pace flowing and results in some breath-catching cliffhanger moments.

Guilt is a big theme throughout the story. Natalie is wracked with guilt after finding a scene of utter devastation when she visits her parents; she keeps wondering if events would have been different if she'd visited earlier. Vinny is dealing with his own issues; his widowed mother is in a care home, suffering from dementia. Despite regular visits, he still feels that he needs to do more. DS Willmott is trying to balance family and work; not only does she feel guilty that she isn't always there for her young daughter, she is also struggling with moving on to a new relationship.

Throughout the story, I found my emotions bubbling to the surface on a regular basis. Anger flared following the opening scenes, and the historical events; however, sadness was the most prevalent emotion. Natalie receiving news of her mother in the hospital was heartbreaking, and one scene between Vinny and his mother was so reminiscent of what happened to my own mother that I felt tears welling.

As the conclusion neared, I could feel my anxiety rising, wondering how everything slotted together and how much more the lives of some of the characters would be impacted. The multiple twists at the end left me shocked, as the truth was finally revealed.

Against The Tide by G. D. Wright will be published on 18th June 2026 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Gary Wright joined Kent Police at the age of 18 and worked in a variety of uniformed roles. At the age of 29, and completely out of the blue, he suffered two cardiac arrests that led to the diagnosis of a life limiting and incurable disease of the heart. Following the implantation of an internal defibrillator into his heart, he was unable to continue policing and retired at the age of 30. He bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour, and spent years looking out over the sea and dreaming up stories. He now writes full time, committing those very stories to paper.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar

 

A terrorist attack on a train leaves more than a hundred people dead. A young woman, Jivan, who witnessed the attack, is appalled by the lack of police intervention. Feeling frustrated, she posts on Facebook, criticising the government, and this leads to her arrest.

A Burning by Megha Majumdar was recommended to me by a member of my book group. I do enjoy my book group, not only does the monthly read push me out of my comfort zone, but it's great to share recommendations.

While this was a very accessible read, its content was stark and devastating. Set in India, we get to witness the harsh way of life for many people. Poverty is rife, and the vast majority of people are scrambling to make enough money to get by. This is a bleak reminder of how well off Western nations are.

Like many young people, Jivan takes to social media to vent her frustration regarding the police and the government, little realising that her ill-though-out post would result in her arrest. Thrown into prison, she has to wait a year for her trial. It is hoped that two character witnesses will be able to show that she was not supporting the terrorists.

We gain a glimpse into the lives of those two witnesses throughout the novel. PT Sir is a gym teacher at the school Jivan attended. He always felt protective of Jivan, even supplying her with food when he realised how impoverished she was. PT Sir accidentally becomes involved with the party in opposition to the government. The other witness is Lovely, a member of the hijra community, India's third gender. Lovely has ambitions to become a Bollywood actor, and Jivan was helping her to learn English.

As Jivan struggles in prison, hoping that a journalist will tell her story, we see how wealth corrupts everyone, even those she hoped would help her. I was devastated by the conclusion of the story, shocked at how something as simple as a provocative post on social media could have such dire consequences. 

Author Details

Megha Majumdar is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel A Burning, which was nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize, and the American Library Association's Andrew Carnegie Medal. It was named one of the best books of the year by media including the Guardian, Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, Atlantic, Vogue, and TIME Magazine. A 2022 Whiting Award winner, she was born and raised in Kolkata, India, and holds degrees in anthropology from Harvard and Johns Hopkins. She is the former editor in chief of Catapult books, and lives in New York.

Mr & Mrs Dixon Hide A Body by Jennifer Holdich (Audiobook)

 

On the way home from a late-night party, the Dixons hit someone with their car. Terrified of the repercussions, they decide the easiest thing to do is to hide the body. Unfortunately, a storm results in the body being uncovered, and everything spirals out of control.

I absolutely adored Jennifer Holdich's first novel, Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath (you can read my review here), so I was over the moon when I got the chance to listen to her second novel, Mr & Mrs Dixon Hide A Body. 

Daisy Dixon, along with her husband, James, lives at Langley Manor. From outward appearances, they have it all, but the marriage is loveless. Daisy spends most of her time plotting to kill her controlling husband. Unfortunately, it's not a simple case of divorcing James as a pre-nuptial agreement means that Daisy wouldn't get back the money she invested in her husband's crypto-scheme.

James is obviously the villain of the piece. I know I'd certainly give Daisy a hand to bury the body after hearing all about the ways he criticises her. He likes to flaunt his wealth, from expensive watches to high-end sports cars, and he expects his wife to act accordingly. Daisy, however, is the complete opposite. 

I felt sorry for Daisy; her only confidante is her cleaning lady. This brings in an added air of mystery. Why is everyone in the village wary of her? Alongside the constant digs from her husband, she's not allowed to prepare food from scratch; only ready meals are allowed. The subtle references to events in the past all add to the intrigue.

When the body is finally discovered, it soon becomes obvious that James is trying to place all the blame on his wife. James, however, is hiding far more than just his part in the accident. I was delighted when he finally got his comeuppance, the conclusion was fabulous.

Mr & Mrs Dixon Hide A Body by Jennifer Holdich is available in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Jennifer Holdich obtained an MA in Scriptwriting in 2014, won the Cardiff Writers’ Circle Short Story competition in 2021 and has had multiple short stories and pieces of flash fiction published. Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath is her debut novel.

The Cherry Crush Flower Shop by Harper Graham

 

Zoe, owner of The Cherry Crush Flower Shop in Maple Falls, learns that her mother has placed a bet involving a large sum of money on her and her best friend, Jackson, winning the most romantic couple competition at the Spring Fling. The only problem is that they aren't a couple. When Zoe explains the predicament to Jackson, they agree to act as if they are in a relationship for the sake of the competition.

I fell in love with the town of Maple Falls in September last year when I read The Cinnamon Spice Inn, the first book in the series (you can read my review here). This was followed shortly after by The Spiced Cocoa Cafe (you can find my review here). Needless to say, when The Tandem Collective on Instagram offered me the chance to read The Cherry Crush Flower Shop by Harper Graham, I leapt at the chance. 

Zoe has recently taken over the running of the flower shop, offering her mother the opportunity to make the most of her retirement. When her mother spots Zoe and her best friend, Jackson, close together, she mistakenly assumes they are a couple and starts telling her friends. Zoe wants to put the record straight until she learns that her mother has placed a sizeable wager on them being crowned 'Couple Of The Year' at the upcoming Spring Fling. Worried that her mother will lose her retirement fund, Zoe persuades Jackson to 'fake date'.

In this fake-dating, friends-to-lovers story, the conclusion isn't surprising. What is enjoyable is the journey it takes. We quickly discover that unrequited love exists for both characters. Zoe would be happy to take their relationship to the next level, but refuses to do anything about it as she doesn't want to jeopardise their friendship. Things are more complicated for Jackson. He has strong feelings for Zoe, but the trauma he is living with from his time in the army means that he doesn't feel he deserves to find happiness.

Being thrown together in different situations, particularly when surrounded by other people, leads to them losing their inhibitions and some very steamy scenes. After each encounter, both characters had mixed emotions; I wanted to climb into the book and bang their heads together, the pair were so indecisive. I could understand Jackson not wanting to hurt Zoe, but I couldn't come to terms with why he thought that repeatedly playing with her emotions was acceptable.

Eventually, the couple ends up on the same page, turning their fake relationship into a real one, just as we would have predicted from the start. There are a couple of subplots meandering through the story, which keep forcing the pair together; however, I did feel that we didn't see enough of Maple Falls and its community as we have in the previous books. Saying that, I'm already looking forward to the next instalment in the series, The Hot Honey Hideaway, which was nicely lined up at the end of this book.

My thanks to The Tandem Collective and Bookouture for my spot on The Cherry Crush Flower Shop Book Club. 

Author Details

Harper Graham lives with her mischievous spaniel in a cozy small town in Connecticut. Her quirky neighbours may or may not have inspired the residents of her Maple Falls series. When she’s not hiking with her daughter, baking her grandmother’s recipes or reading in her favourite coffee shop, Harper can be found writing the sweet and spicy romance stories of her own dreams.

Liar Liar by Luca Veste

 

Suspended police detective Mark Fletcher wakes to find himself in a hotel room with a dead body beside him. He has no recollection of how he got there. but knows deep down that it must be connected to the Bonucci family, a notorious Liverpool crime family.

Most authors would begin a novel with a shocking scene to grip the reader. That wasn't good enough for Luca Veste, Liar Liar opens with three scenes that immediately grab your attention and have you wondering how everything is connected. As the author takes us on a tour of his home city, we are kept in suspense as to how the crimes are linked.

The main character, Mark Fletcher, had a successful career as a detective, a career that was derailed when he became involved with a member of the Bonucci clan. It is impossible not to feel sympathetic towards Mark; ten months ago, he made an error in judgement, resulting in his suspension, and he's still living with the consequences. Now, someone seems set on retribution, and Mark has no idea why. As he races to find out who is responsible, you are kept on the edge of your seat. The pace is blistering and danger is never far away. Throughout, it felt as if menace was lurking around every corner; the Bonucci family has its tentacles in every aspect of life in Liverpool. You can feel the fear; people are terrified of even mentioning the family, worried that punishment will follow.

As Mark races to find answers, his colleagues are trying to investigate another crime involving the family. When it becomes clear the cases are linked, Mark has to try to remain one step ahead of them, as well as those out to get him. His colleagues are filled with disbelief; the man they know isn't a killer, but it's difficult to explain away the evidence in front of them.

There are twists galore; I certainly didn't predict the two towards the end. One of them filled me with sadness; however, it provides a hook for what promises to be a fantastic series. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next instalment in the Liverpool Crime series.

Liar Liar by Luca Veste will be published on 4th June 2026 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Luca Veste is a writer of Italian and Liverpudlian heritage, married with two young daughters, and one of nine children. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool. He is the author of the Murphy and Rossi series, which includes DEAD GONE, THE DYING PLACE, BLOODSTREAM, and THEN SHE WAS GONE.

Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.

He is also the editor of the Spinetingler Award nominated charity anthology 'Off The Record', and co-editor of 'True Brit Grit', also an anthology of short stories for charity.

He is a former civil servant, actor, singer and guitarist (although he still picks it up now and again), and now a full-time writer.