December 2022 Reads

 

I'm still struggling with concentration (second month in a row) so not many books finished in December. Once again, I can't fault the books. Hopefully January 2023 will be a little better.

The month started with the eagerly anticipated The Pain Tourist from Paul Cleave. I loved the author's previous book, The Quiet People, so was really keen to read this. While it didn't have the same pace as The Quiet People the carefully woven threads of the story filled me with a sense of growing dread. It was one of those thrillers that was impossible to figure out how it was going to end.

As with my first book of the month the second was another where I'd read something previously by the author so was keen to read more. All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham shares similarities with A Flicker In The Dark mainly because of the setting. The American deep south setting lends a languid feel to the story. This gradual, somnolent pace is perfect for a story about sleep-walking and sleep deprivation. The switching between the present and the past added to a slow sense of dread as I tried to figure out exactly what had happened in the past and how it impacted on the present.

Third book of the month was an absolute cracker. Stuart MacBride can always be relied upon to deliver dark and gritty and The Dead Of Winter certainly lives up to the description. From the opening chapter which leaves you open mouthed to the gripping conclusion you are entertained by the antics of DC Edward Reekie and his assertive boss as they try to solve a murder in a snowed in village populated entirely by criminals. I really do hope that this is the start of a series.

I finished the month with what would be an ideal beach read. The Other Guest by Heidi Perks is about a couple on holiday trying to salvage a marriage under strain. The wife, Laila, likes to people watch and becomes obsessed with another family who appear to be perfect. When a body is then discovered in the hotel pool Laila is torn. Should she report her suspicions, particularly when some of them involve her husband.

I also managed one audiobook and that was the excellent The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin. Another snowed in thriller but this time two strangers turn up, hours apart, at an isolated hotel. They both claim to be the same police officer who was transporting a dangerous criminal who is now on the loose. Once the initial scene is set this had great pace and you really did wonder who was telling the truth and who was the imposter. There was also the nagging doubt that there may be other people who you shouldn't trust.

Publication dates to look out for are:-

The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin will be published on 19/1/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Other Guest by Heidi Perks will be published on 19/1/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham will be published on 2/2/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Dead of Winter by Stuart MacBride will be published on 16/2/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.