The Twenty by Sam Holland

When a body is discovered on waste ground closer inspection turns up further bodies. Someone has used the derelict land as a dumping site and five bodies are uncovered, each with a number ranging from 12 to 16. The police realise that the killer is counting down and need to find him before he gets to one. When the ex-wife of the senior investigating officer hears of the numbering it triggers a memory from 25 years ago. A notorious serial killer scratched the numbers 20 to 17 at his kill site. Are the new murders connected? Is someone continuing the countdown?

The Twenty from Sam Holland is labeled as book 2 in the Major Crimes series, the first book in the series being The Echo Man. Apart from a few characters there isn't a lot connecting the books so this could easily be read as a standalone novel without any impact.

Right from the opening pages we have a stomach churning story that moves at a blistering pace, it certainly didn't feel as if I was reading a book of over 400 pages. The vast majority of the story takes place over a two week period. This condensed time period really adds to the gripping story-line as you really understand the pressure the police are under to solve the crimes before anyone else dies.

The lead police officers are a likeable duo, DCI Adam Bishop and DS Jamie Hoxton. Bishop is a damaged man after the break-up of his marriage, this means he's living life on the edge and involved in risky behaviour. Thankfully his partner, Hoxton, is a stabilising influence. As we learn about the pair of detectives you get an ominous feeling and worry sets in whenever they leave the safety of police headquarters. This feeling also makes you wonder what, or who, is at the end of the countdown.

As the modern day killer is hunted we also learn about the events of 25 years previous when a pillar of the community abducted and murdered young women. The police begin to wonder if he's controlling the current killer.

I had my mind firmly set on who the killer was but Sam Holland has thrown plenty of twists into the story to keep you guessing right to the end.

The Twenty by Sam Holland will be published  on 11th May 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a review copy.

 

The Burning by Jane Casey

 

A serial killer is brutally beating young women then burning their bodies and the police are at a loss. When victim number five is discovered one of the detectives, Maeve Kerrigan, feels that something doesn't quite fit the pattern of the previous murders. Kerrigan's boss gives her permission to investigate the murder.

Back in January I read and reviewed The Close by Jane Casey. I absolutely loved the story line and the characters and was shocked that it was book ten in a series I knew nothing about. I was determined to get to know Maeve Kerrigan better. I was a little surprised to discover that the first book in the series had been sat on my Kindle since 2017!

The Burning is a great introduction to the series. The pace is a little slow but this really gives time to get to know the central character, Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan. Maeve is an ambitious young woman, determined to succeed in a male dominated team. She knows that the way some of the other detectives treat her isn't quite right and she could report them but she's thick skinned and knows that it wouldn't be the way to find her place in the team. Hard work, perseverance and solving the case will be the way to make her mark.

As Meave digs into the background of victim number five, Rebecca Howarth, she discovers a chaotic life; one that makes her look closely at her own life and relationship. She also meets Rebecca's closest friend and her ex-boyfriend, both of who give Maeve some serious reservations about their stories. The more questions asked, the more Maeve is convinced this case is completely separate to the murders of "The Burning Man". There are even possible links to a mysterious death in Oxford, seven years previously.

The best friend and ex-boyfriend are very unlikeable characters. Both are cold, calculating and controlling. Neither have any redeeming qualities and you question how anyone could be involved with them, however they both seem to be expert manipulators.

All the threads are finally tied together, including the one involving "The Burning Man", as we learn what drives people to treat others with such dispassion. I'm already looking forward to my next outing with DC Kerrigan.

Death Of A Bookseller by Alice Slater (Audiobook)

 

When new employee, Laura Bunting, starts work at Spines bookshop Brogan Roach feels an instant rapport. Unfortunately Laura doesn't feel the same. Over a four month period Brogan does everything she can to get to know Laura better but everything she does seems to push Laura further away, resulting in an unbelievable crime.

The two protagonists of Death Of A Bookseller are the complete opposite of each other. Laura is light, bright, friendly, perfect. Brogan, on the other hand is dark, introverted, brooding, and obsessed with serial killers and true crime. Having two narrators works brilliantly. As the story switches between the two characters Emma Noakes and Victoria Blunt narrate them to perfection so that you have no problem understanding which character is speaking.

It is Brogan's obsession with true crime that makes her believe she has a connection with Laura. Laura writes poetry, some of the inspiration for the poetry comes from true crime. When Brogan tries to ingratiate herself with Laura she uncovers something even darker. This secret drives Brogan's obsession on, little realising that the more she tries, the more she is alienating.

Brogan's obsessive personality is disturbing. The lengths she is willing to go to in order to learn more about Laura are unsettling and when she starts to act in a malicious way you can understand how Laura thinks she's losing her grip on reality.

The title gives a very big clue to the conclusion, but as the story progressed I couldn't quite decide which of our protagonists was going to be the victim, it could easily have gone either way. Author Alice Slater has done an amazing job keeping you wondering right to the end.

Death Of A Bookseller by Alice Slater will be published on 27th April 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for a review copy.

Conviction by Jack Jordan

 

Neve Harper is a successful and ambitious barrister. When a colleague commits suicide she is asked to take over an infamous case he was working on. Although there is little time to prepare, Neve sees this as an opportunity to further her career. As Neve prepares her defense strategy she is approached by a stranger who threatens to reveal her darkest secret if she doesn't ensure her client is convicted.

Right from the opening page there is an air of mystery to this story. You're immediately asking questions. What is the crime that has happened? What happened to the previous barrister? The first question is answered relatively quickly, as for the second, there is a nagging doubt that we know the real answer.

Fans of Jack Jordan's previous novel, Do No Harm, won't be surprised by the premise of Conviction. The protagonist, Neve, is being blackmailed to ignore the ethics of her profession to ensure that her client is found guilty. The blackmail threat is actually twofold, not only is she being threatened with violence, there is the risk that her darkest secret will be uncovered.

Neve is a formidable character; intelligent, driven, resourceful. As the novel opened I had a lot of sympathy for Neve. Unfortunately this sympathy waned as the story progressed but it didn't stop me from willing her on, wondering if she would be able to overcome the obstacles in her path.

The story-line is fast paced, from the opening pages which are only a few days before the trial starts, to the trial itself which lasts only a few days. Conviction shows that the English judicial system is nothing like the American shows we regularly see on TV. Even though this removes some of the possible explosive elements of the story the compact timeline means that the momentum never falters as we wonder which direction Neve will take.

Conviction by Jack Jordan will be published on 22nd June 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for a review copy.

Blood Runs Cold by Neil Lancaster

 

When a young girl goes missing Max Craigie has a personal connection. His wife was working with the girl, a victim of trafficking, to get her younger sister out of an orphanage in Albania and into the UK. As Craigie and the rest of the team he works in investigate they realise that the case is far bigger, it involves organised crime and possible police corruption.

I have loved all the books in the Max Craigie series,  Dead Man's Grave, The Blood Tide and The Night Watch, so was eagerly anticipating book 4, Blood Runs Cold. Author Neil Lancaster has produced a brilliant thriller, the best in the series to date.

Right from the opening pages we have a plot filled with tension and terror as we are introduced to organised crime and county lines, although initially I thought things were going to go a completely different route. 

After a time jump of three years we are lulled in to a false sense of security as everything appears to be fairly humdrum. Events escalate quickly and we are introduced to a much wider plot involving organised crime and some extremely unsettling villains, a couple of who I certainly wouldn't want to meet on a dark night (or even in broad daylight).

The involvement of Max Craigie and the rest of the "Policing Standards Reassurance" team is almost accidental but as they look into the disappearance of the missing schoolgirl they uncover the involvement of Albanian gangsters and possible police corruption.

The full team are present and the interactions between them are fantastic. I love the banter and the dark humour doesn't surprise me given the nature of their jobs. Given this is book 4 in the series we are still learning more about the individuals in the team, particularly Barney this time around.

Quite a few times I was filled with trepidation as I read, wondering if we were about to see the demise of one of the characters. Holding my breath as I read I was torn between racing through the pages and not wanting to discover what was going to happen.

Neil Lancaster has certainly used his experience of working for the Metropolitan Police to write a thriller that feels extremely timely and real. The strongest element of the whole story is how the victim is humanised, someone you really care for and worry about.

Blood Runs Cold by Neil Lancaster will be published on 13th April 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a review copy.

A Pen Dipped In Poison by J. M. Hall

 

Staff at a primary school become the target of poison pen letters. The contents of the letters indicate that it must be someone close to the school. Thankfully retired teachers Pat, Thelma and Liz are on hand to help uncover the malicious letter writer.

This is the second book by J. M. Hall which features the retired primary school teachers Pat, Thelma and Liz. In the first book, A Spoonful Of Murder, the trio investigated the mysterious death of an ex-colleague. A Pen Dipped In Poison has a slightly less menacing tone as the crime involved is the sending of malicious letters, this means that this novel feels much more like a cozy mystery.

The contents of the letters show that there are lots going on in peoples lives and that even the smallest thing can tip the balance where mental health is concerned. Our sleuths point out that letters have a limited circulation unlike social media which can be much more damaging as it has a wider spread and is far quicker than the gossip grapevine. 

There are a number of lighter touches that brought a smile to my face. The image of the gerbil is imprinted in my mind! J. M. Hall also seems to have tapped in to the mentality of our middle-aged women really well - a security wee before setting out on a journey is spot on.

Working in a primary school means that the author is able to describe what happens in schools when academisation takes place. The descriptions of how the primary school operates, a business rather than a place that nurtures children, is very sad and, unfortunately, very real. As Pat, Thelma and Liz dig deeper into the mystery of the anonymous letter writer they also uncover ways in which the business model of running a school can be manipulated.

A Pen Dipped In Poison by J. M. Hall will be published on 30th March 2023 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

 

David Burroughs is five years into his sentence for the brutal murder of his three year old son Matthew. Although David is adamant he didn't kill Matthew he feels he's exactly where he should be because he didn't protect his son. When his sister-in-law turns up with a photograph of a boy who looks exactly like Matthew, David begins to wonder how he can escape so he can track down his son.

Author Harlan Coben is the master of taking everyday situations and turning them completely on their head, I Will Find You is no exception. Lead character David Burroughs is a man who has given up on life, he's simply living one day at a time in prison. Guilt is eating him up. The period around the murder of his son remains a blur but David is insistent that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Matthew. Unfortunately all the evidence points to him having committed the crime. 

The pace really picks up when David is shown a photograph and in the background is a boy who looks remarkably like Matthew. Deciding to break out of prison isn't to prove his innocence but to rescue Matthew and find out why he was framed for the murder. Escaping a maximum security prison is made easier by the fact that the warden is also his godfather, a lifelong friend of the family.

Once out of prison David is helped by his sister-in-law, Rachel, as they try to evade the police and track down witnesses who gave evidence against David at trial. Throughout the story are those little niggling questions; if David is telling the truth then how did the crime take place, why did someone frame him for murder and who is responsible? Slowly the pieces fall into place, not without a couple of twists.

Hot on the trail of David and Rachel are a couple of FBI agents, Max Bernstein and Sarah Jablonski. These characters make a fantastic double act and truly deserve a series of their own. The interaction between them swings from hilarious to alarming.

It was lovely to see a nod to some of the characters we know and love from Harlan Coben's other novels. Win Lockwood gets a brief mention, while Hester Crimstein plays a part in helping David and Rachel evade law enforcement.

Yes there are a lot of coincidences that help the story along but this is pure escapism so they can be easily overlooked. 

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben will be published on 16th March 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.

January 2023 Reads

 

Still not back to my usual reading routines but a slight improvement on the last two months. My only read that wasn't a thriller was Found In A Bookshop by Stephanie Butland. Set during COVID this focused on the day to day life of a bookshop and it's efforts to make life better for it's customers by curating reading lists for issues they were having in their lives. Initially I wasn't grabbed by this book but I persevered and really wanted to know how those issues were resolved.

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore featured a women gifted a retreat in a forest in Sweden. Thrown together with ten strangers paranoia begins to set in when strange noises and events begin to happen, things no-one else experiences. This was a slow burner, building the tension and neurosis of the main character. Unfortunately the reactions of the main character were questionable at times so I couldn't quite sympathise with her.

My three remaining thrillers were all five star reads. Back in late 2021 I discovered Helen Fields DI Callanach series when I reviewed One For Sorrow, little realising it was book seven in a series. I promised myself I would read the earlier books. January saw me finally making a start on the series with Perfect Remains. Newly relocated DI Luc Callanach is thrown into the deep end when he has to investigate the abduction and murder of a woman in Edinburgh. A seriously creepy protagonist, a race against time and an engaging crime solving duo made this a gripping read. I now just need to find the time to read the rest of the series.

Author T. M. Logan is a master of twisty psychological thrillers and The Mother is one of his best. Heather Vernon has been wrongly convicted of the murder of her husband. Newly released from prison she is determined to clear her name. The opening immediately grips you by its intriguing start. From that moment on it's a blistering pace full of action, conspiracy and suspense.

The Close from Jane Casey introduced me to the Maeve Kerrigan series and I'm questioning why I've never read any of these books before. Kerrigan and partner DI Josh Derwent go undercover in a small community to try and discover how vulnerable adults are going missing. The story was engrossing with many of the residents of the community hiding secrets. What really made the story was the chemistry between Kerrigan and Derwent. 

Two audiobooks this month. Five Survive by Holly Jackson was a well thought out thriller aimed at young adults. The action takes place over a twenty-four hour period which keeps the tension going. I did feel the story lacked a little sophistication and had to keep reminding myself that this was aimed at teens rather than adults.

End Of Story by Louise Swanson is a dystopian story where fiction of any type is banned and writers are threatened and punished if they try to write. Through journal entries we learn of the rising fear Fern Dostoy faces as she joins an underground movement who read bed-time stories to children. This story really surprised me, even when I thought I'd figured out what was happening.

Publication dates to watch out for are:

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore will be published in audio and ebook format on 22nd February 2023, the paperback will be available on 27th April 2023.

The Close by Jane Casey will be published in hardback and ebook format on 2nd March 2023.

The Mother by T. M. Logan will be published in hardback, audio and ebook format on 2nd March 2023.

End Of Story by Louise Swanson will be published in hardback, audio and ebook format on 23rd March 2023.

Found In A Bookshope by Stephanie Butland will be published in paperback, audio and ebook format on 27th April 2023.