The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

 

Filming of the latest season of the hugely successful baking competition "Bake Week" is taking place in rural Vermont. As a storm sets in the contestants and hosts are left isolated at Grafton Manor, the location for the show. When a dead body is discovered, the question is who is the murderer?

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell exceeded my expectations. I really enjoy a cozy crime mystery, and this certainly falls into that genre, but I found the style and writing elevated this to something more.

The opening chapter sets the scene. Grafton Manor, home of the show's host, Betsy Martin, is set in rural Vermont. Betsy is very protective of her home and insists that during filming the only people that can stay in the house are the hosts and the contestants. With a storm raging outside the producer of the show contacts Betsy, asking her to check that the tent where they film the show is secure. It's at this point that a dead body is discovered. In terms of mystery, this opening has everything going for it; a group of strangers, isolation, a huge mansion and a dead body.

The story then jumps back four weeks and we are introduced to the six contestants taking part in the competition. We learn a little about the backgrounds of this very diverse group and the build-up to the start of the competition. Short chapters jump between each of the contestants and the show hosts, Betsy and Archie. The constantly changing narrative gives the story its pace and regularly leaves the reader hanging on a snippet of information as we switch from one character to the next. The more we learn about each character, the more questions that arise. It's obvious that some are hiding secrets.

I must admit that I've never seen a single episode of GBBO, it's just never appealed to me, however, after reading The Golden Spoon I think I might just give it a try. The descriptions of the baking that takes place are mouth-watering. When some of the bakes go disastrously wrong you begin to wonder if a contestant is trying to sabotage the competition or is someone meddling to improve the show's ratings. 

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell will be published on 14th September 2023 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph publishers for a review copy.

An Escape To Remember by T. A Williams (Audiobook)

 

Reeling from finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman, Louise takes the opportunity her job offers to head to Italy. Working as a trouble-shooter for a luxury hotel chain, Louise finds herself at the Grand Hotel del Montferato, a rundown hotel with lots of potential.

An Escape To Remember by T. A. Williams is the middle book in the author's Love From Italy series. Reading through the blurb for each book in the series it would appear that the only thing that connects the books is the Italian setting so it is perfectly ok to read these as standalone books.

If you are looking for a nice, gentle romance then this is ideal. Things go pretty much as you would expect, with one or two slight snags in the way. Louise is a career-minded young woman who loves her job, a job that she's very good at. Thankfully her job gives her the chance to run away when she finds her boyfriend with another woman. It is a relief to see the "running away from it all" aspect being a realistic part of the story.

Swearing herself off from romance, we immediately see a range of possible suitors appear for Louise. Firstly, her rich, suave, slightly older boss seems to be dropping hints that he's interested. Arriving at the hotel she meets the former owner, a brooding Italian who has never recovered from the death of his fiance. An old flame, the man she thought was the love of her life but deserted her ten years ago turns up asking for another chance. Things are then made even more complicated when her most recent boyfriend also turns up unexpectedly.

The twists and turns of who Louise will end up with don't offer any real surprises. What makes this a lovely story to listen to is the setting. The Italian countryside sounds beautiful and the people warm and welcoming. The descriptions of the food and wine will have you salivating and your stomach rumbling. As I listened along I felt I could close my eyes and imagine relaxing in warm sunshine after a delicious meal.

An Escape To Remember by T. A. Williams will be published as an audiobook on 10th August 2023. The paperback and ebook are available now. My thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for a review copy.

Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

 

Amanda White is grieving the loss of her child and husband. Her young daughter was abducted and murdered, feeling responsible her husband committed suicide. Although the police are convinced they know who is responsible, there is insufficient evidence to convict. Amanda is determined to kill the man responsible but is unable to get close enough to him. At a support group for the bereaved, she meets another mother who offers to carry out the murder if Amanda will do the same for her.

Fans of Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series will know that the author produces gripping, easily read thrillers full of twists; his last book in the series, The Accomplice is a perfect example of this. Knowing this you have a pretty good idea of what to expect from a standalone thriller and Kill For Me Kill For You ticks all the boxes - and more.

The author doesn't shy away from gritty descriptions, however, I felt that the tone of this novel was a lot darker than usual. Some of the details are quite graphic, but it's the mental anguish we learn about that makes this a more somber outing.

There are twists galore. Steve Cavanagh is masterful in the way these are delivered. Just when you think you've figured out what is happening, he delivers another. The pace at which twists appear leaves you reeling and you feel as if you are strapped to a roller-coaster. I really don't want to add much more as that would be edging into spoiler territory. Just know, if you enjoy twisty thrillers then this is the book for you.

The Good Daughter by Laure Van Rensburg

 

When a fire kills a pastor and his wife suspicion falls on their teenage daughter who survived. Abigail has no memory of the three weeks leading up to the fire. As Abigail struggles to remember what happened she begins to question her whole life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Laure Van Rensburg's debut novel, Nobody But Us, last year and was really happy to be given access to a review copy of her new novel, The Good Daughter. The style of the two novels is similar, the reader is unsettled and unable to get a clear understanding of exactly what happened because of the constantly switching narrative. In the first novel Van Rensburg kept switching between the protagonists, this time round we switch time frames.

As the novel opens we learn that there has been a fire on the grounds of a conservative church group. There is evidence that the victims were killed before the fire started so suspicion falls on the daughter, Abigail, who survived. The story then jumps back five weeks and we learn that Abigail started talking to a podcaster who is investigating the church community.

From this point on the story switches between events after the fire and the five weeks leading up to the fire. Early on in the novel we learn that the church community is more like a cult, one in which women are seen as homemakers and mothers and that the outside world is corrupt. As time moves on we see how extreme the members of this group are and the lengths that some of them will go to in order to protect their way of life.

The events leading up to the fire show how Abigail is questioning not only the life she currently lives but also the memories she has as a child before joining the community and being brainwashed. Abigail happily accepted her role within the community, striving to be a "good daughter", never questioning that she would become a wife and mother when her parents decided the time was right. As memories are stirred she questions if everything the church leaders, particularly her father, say is right.

When you first start reading there is an intense feeling, almost claustrophobic. This is reinforced by the almost closed community and the southern setting. As we move through the story the tension builds and you can feel the panic rising in Abigail as she begins to distrust not only those around her but her own memories. There are even times were she feels as if she is going mad because she starts to see things.

The conclusion isn't shocking, enough hints are dropped in the run up to it, however it is satisfying. The novel left me with a feeling of anger more than anything, anger because religion is used by immoral people to control others.

The Good Daughter by Laure Van Rensburg will be published on 3rd August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph books for a review copy.

The Silent Man by David Fennell

 

A sadistic killer is on the loose in London. In the dead of night, he suffocates his victims by wrapping duct tape around their heads. DI Grace Archer and her team need to track down the killer before he claims any more victims.

The Silent Man by David Fennell is book 3 in the DI Grace Archer series. Fans of the series will enjoy this outing just as much as they did the previous two, however, the author certainly puts your emotions through the wringer this time around.

If all you are interested in is a serial killer thriller then The Silent Man will do the job but if you really want to see how the story-line has developed I implore you to read the previous two books in the series,  The Art Of Death and See No Evil, to gain a greater understanding of the dynamics.

The story picks up shortly after the second book in the series. During the night a killer enters the home of a father and his young son. The intruder immobilises the adult, wraps his head in duct tape and draws a face on the duct tape. The child is left unharmed. The police are puzzled, the only possible motive seems to be jealousy from his ex-wife's new boyfriend. When a second murder takes place under very similar circumstances the police realise they have a serial killer to contend with.

It's the mundane, everyday situations that quickly turn to terror that grip you at the beginning of the novel. It is frightening when you realise how easy it could be for someone to gain entry to your home. 

For me, however, the hunt for the serial killer is not the main part of the story. DI Grace Archer is still dealing with the vendetta against her and her family by Frankie White, the local crime lord. White was responsible for the death of Grace's father and now White blames Grace for the death of his grandson. 

No one close to Grace is safe from harm. There are some extremely tense moments. At one point I was so shocked and numb by the turn of events I wasn't sure if I could read on. I'm really not sure how it's possible to read while covering your eyes!

There are some lighter moments in the story. Trying to hide out from White and his gang leads to Grace staying in her partner's flat. This results in a group of old women becoming lookouts and bodyguards. Their actions and conversations will make you chuckle.

As the serial killer is tracked down there are some more tense moments and we gain an understanding of his motives. All the threads seem to be neatly tied up but author David Fennell can't resist one final gut-wrenching moment.

The Silent Man by David Fennell will be published on 31st August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for a review copy.

 

The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay

 

Struggling writer Jack Givins is approached by the US Marshall Service to create back stories for criminals entering the witness protection scheme. At the same time, there are a number of unexplained deaths in the city. Is there a connection to Jack's background?

I remember reading and enjoying some of Linwood Barclay's early novels. I've no idea why I stopped reading them. I'm pleased to say that The Lie Maker has put this author firmly back on my radar.

Jack Givins is a struggling author. He's had two books published, although they didn't set the best-seller chart alight. Unfortunately, his third novel was turned down by publishers. To make ends meet he works as a journalist. Turning up for the first day of his new job, he learns that the position no longer exists. To make matters even worse, his car bursts into flames. When his agent approaches him with a mystery job offer, Jack is skeptical. The job offer is to work for the US Marshall Service writing new backgrounds for the individuals entering the witness protection scheme and pays very well.

I loved the irony here as early on we are given a glimpse of Jack's childhood, when his father abandoned the family to enter witness protection. Although the Marshall Service did a background check on him, this was obviously something they missed, either because they didn't go back far enough or because he changed his surname when his mother re-married. Jack doesn't see any reason to enlighten them, particularly when he's in dire need of the money they offer.

As Jack is starting his new job there are a couple of unexplained deaths. Apart from the manner of the deaths, there seems to be no connection between the two people. Jack's girlfriend, Lana, is a journalist and decides to delve deeper into the deaths, convinced there is a connection.

The more involved Jack becomes, and the deeper Lana digs, we slowly realise that everything is connected to Jack and his father. We are given a glimpse into what led to Jack's father entering witness protection. Deciding to be honest with his boss at the US Marshall Service, he hopes that they will be able to put him in touch with his father. However, his father has disappeared. 

We see a race against time to track down Jack's father and danger from an unexpected source. I enjoyed the way in which all of the different elements of the plot came together in the end.

The Lie Maker by Linwood Barclay will be published on 31st August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a review copy.

The Chain by Adrian McKinty (Audiobook)

 

Rachel is on her way to a doctor's appointment when she receives a disturbing call from a mysterious woman. The woman informs her that she has kidnapped her daughter, Kylie, and unless she follows a strict set of rules her daughter will be killed. One of the rules is that she must kidnap another child.

From the very opening, The Chain by Adrian McKinty is full of tension. You are immediately gripped by the kidnapping of Kylie. The narrator, January Lavoy, conveys both the lack of experience of the kidnappers and the terror they are feeling. When the kidnappers contact Rachel to explain the situation the shock factor is taken to another level. Rachel is told that she is now part of "The Chain" and that to ensure the safe release of her daughter she must pay a ransom and kidnap another child to replace her daughter on "The Chain". 

Rachel is initially skeptical, however, the kidnappers provide sufficient evidence to convince her they have Kylie. They also tell Rachel that if she tries to contact the police, her daughter will be killed. Rachel still has some doubts. It is made very clear that once you are on "The Chain", you are there for good, should someone further down the line break the rules, the consequences could impact on you. All of this adds to the suspense.

This is really about the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their child. We see how determined and resourceful Rachel is. Alongside this, she also has to struggle with the anguish of knowing that she is about to put another family through the horror she is currently experiencing.

Social media plays an important part in the story-line. In her quest to find a suitable child to kidnap, Rachel uses social media to find appropriate children and discovers how some families give out a vast amount of information regarding their day-to-day lives and schedules. This really should make some people think about how much information they share.

The pace of the story never lets up for a moment. I particularly enjoyed the sections where we learned about the inception of "The Chain", these really did add an extra dimension to the story and made for an enthralling and frantic conclusion.

The House Hunt by C. M. Ewan

 

Lucy and Sam have remodeled their London home and are hoping to sell it and relocate out of the city. A potential buyer has a viewing while Sam is at work. The estate agent is running late, so when the potential buyer shows up Lucy reluctantly agrees to let him view the house. Lucy is very apprehensive throughout the viewing and before long her fears become real.

We all know that home is the one place we should feel safe and protected, unfortunately, this isn't the case for Lucy. Suffering from paranoia, and constantly feeling as if she's being watched, means that she doesn't even feel comfortable in her own home. C. M. Ewan uses this to great effect to set the opening scene in The House Hunt. When the prospective buyer, Donovan, turns up you fully understand Lucy's apprehension about allowing a complete stranger into her home. Donovan should have been accompanied by an estate agent, Bethany. who, unfortunately, is running late. When Donovan explains he's pressed for time and Lucy realises that there are lots of other properties nearby up for sale she warily agrees to start the viewing, assuming Bethany will arrive shortly. 

We are given a sense of Donovan's character early on. Well-dressed, attractive, wealthy enough to be able to afford a property in London and compassionate; nothing that should cause alarm. As he tours the property he makes positive comments and asks all the right questions. However, you can feel the tension coming off the page as Lucy's neuroses make the viewing uncomfortable for her. Little by little you realise that something isn't quite right. Donovan begins to make some strange comments, he's wearing gloves, and when he views the basement he claims not to have heard Lucy shouting to him.

Along with her paranoia, Lucy is also claustrophobic, hence her unwillingness to enter the basement. The claustrophobia stems from an assault that took place a couple of years ago, an assault that her mind is blocking. Luckily, her boyfriend is a psychology lecturer and is helping her overcome the trauma.

The longer the viewing goes on, the more uncomfortable Lucy feels. I was getting palpitations as I was reading, dreading what was going to happen, feeling a growing sense of menace. The sense of relief when Bethany finally arrives is unbelievable but there is still a niggle at the back of your mind. Is this some kind of game? An experiment? Is Bethany involved in it? C. M. Ewan then throws in the first of many twists, leading to a terror-filled situation.

You are holding your breath, willing Lucy to summon the strength to overcome her phobias and simply survive until her boyfriend is able to get home and rescue her. 

The House Hunt by C. M. Ewan will be published on 31st August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Fearless by M. W. Craven

 

Ben Koenig has been on the run for six years. When he's finally arrested it's because a friend needs his help. His daughter has been kidnapped and Koenig has the kind of skill set needed to track down the people responsible. Another useful trait is that Koenig is fearless.

M. W. Craven is the author of one of my favorite police procedural series, the Washington Poe books. When I heard that he had written a book about a vigilante drifter dealing with criminals I just knew Fearless was going to be special.

Firstly, let's deal with the elephant in the room, Jack Reacher. I've been a fan of the Reacher series for over twenty years, buying many of the books on the day of publication. While I've enjoyed the last few, I've felt that they were a little lacklustre and questioning if it was time for Jack to retire and settle down. The only problem with this is that there would be a gap. Quite a few authors have tried to emulate the series. I've tried a few but none has really hit the mark for me, until now.

From the outset, M. W. Craven acknowledges the comparisons with Jack Reacher by referencing the character, "You didn't have to go all Jack Reacher on us". There's also a dig at the drifter lifestyle, pointing out that to stay off the grid you need more than a fold-up toothbrush. There are lots of similarities between Jack Reacher and Ben Koenig, but there are also enough differences to make this series stand out.

Ben Koenig is a US Marshall who has been on the run for the last six years. Initially, it would seem that Koenig simply went AWOL and is on the run from the authorities, however, as we learn about his background we discover that there is much more to his disappearance. 

Delving into Koenig's background we discover the reason for the title. Following an injury it was discovered that Koenig has a degenerative genetic disorder which makes him immune to fear. Although this could be dangerous in his normal role as a US Marshall, some realise that he could be an asset and send him to train with a variety of specialist units around the world.

When Koenig is arrested his ex-boss reaches out to request his help. His daughter has gone missing and despite a month of searching is presumed dead. Koenig is asked to find out who took her and deal with them. With the aid of allies, old and new, the trail leads to Texas and a solar energy plant. Early sections of the novel show some of Koenig's skills, but it is only once he arrives in the town of Gauntlet, Texas, that we learn what he is really capable of.  The action just doesn't stop, however, it's more than brute force. Ben Koenig isn't a huge man, but he is very intelligent and highly trained, so we see a variety of tactics used to reach his end goal. 

A satisfying conclusion, with a high body count, sets up what could be a long-running series. It's hardly surprising that a major streaming service is considering a TV adaptation.

The Sentence by Christina Dalcher

 

Imagine an America where the death penalty still exists but is rarely issued. The reason for this is that any prosecutor who seeks the death penalty has to be absolutely convinced they are right because their own life is on the line. If the death penalty is carried out and the person is later exonerated then the prosecutor will be killed.

I love books like The Sentence from Christina Dalcher, ones which are set in a society we are familiar with but where one small thing has been changed. Not as dystopian as something along the lines of The Handmaid's Tale but with enough of a dystopian element to be thought-provoking.

The Sentence is told from two very distinct perspectives, the main one is prosecutor Justine Callaghan. When we are first introduced to her she is struggling with the aftermath of her latest trial. She has managed to gain a murder conviction but despite the overwhelming evidence and a confession, she refused to seek the death penalty. This has not gone down well with a vocal, and hostile, group of people. With a young son to take care of she's not prepared to risk her own life should the person she has just convicted ever be exonerated.

The second character we hear from is Death Row Inmate #39384 via extracts from his diary. Convicted of murder seven years previously he is counting down the days until his execution.

As the story progresses we learn a little about each character's background. We learn that Justine was partly responsible for the Remediation Act becoming law. As a law student, she met her future husband and they were both strong advocates against the death penalty, arguing that it was an arbitrary sentence. They also argue that with advancements in science evidence used to convict people has been discredited.

We also discover that seven years previously Justine, during a moment of extreme distress, sought the death penalty for Jake Milford, a man convicted of the brutal torture and murder of a child. Overwhelming DNA evidence and lack of an alibi were enough to convince Justine.

Jake Milford is inmate #39384. In his diary, we learn about the moments leading up to his arrest for murder and the reason he has no alibi. His story is heartbreaking. We learn that despite an unhappy childhood he has settled down and made a life for himself. 

Following Jake's execution new evidence arises. Justine is placed in a difficult position, should she destroy the evidence, flee the country or pass the evidence on? Deciding to investigate the events leading up to the murder Jake was found guilty of, Justine discovers there is far more to the case than was initially made public. She feels that with everything that has happened, there is only one thing she can now do to make things right.

This is the type of book where you wish everyone around you was reading it at exactly the same time so that you had someone to talk to, obviously it will be ideal for a book group. 

The Sentence by Christina Dalcher will be published on 17th August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ publishers for a review copy.

The Madonna Of Bolton by Matt Cain (Audiobook)

 

Growing up in Bolton, nine-year-old Charlie Matthews knows he's different. It's only when he receives a Madonna single as a birthday present that he finds his path in life.

A couple of things attracted me to this audio-book. Firstly, I'm a fan of Matt Cain's writing, having previously read and reviewed The Secret Life Of Albert Entwistle and Becoming Ted. Albert Entwistle is a character that will live with me for a very long time, he is so engaging; please do check out my review and the book itself.

The other reason that The Madonna Of Bolton attracted me is the setting. Charlie Matthews is growing up in Bolton, Lancashire, in the 1980's. I started my teaching career in Bolton in the late 1980's, so anything set around this time period holds a lot of nostalgia for me.

This is a heart-warming tale of growing up "different" in a northern town. We learn how Charlie struggles to be accepted at school and has to form allegiances with others who are different, bonding through a love of Madonna.

The story opens with a homage to the early 80's but doesn't dwell there. The story is fast-paced and whistles through Charlie's life as he grows older, attends university, gets a job and finally settles down. Each chapter of his life is referenced by a Madonna single. 

It is only when Charlie goes to university that he is fully able to accept what makes him different. It is amusing to hear him trying to hide his northern, working-class roots alongside not acknowledging his sexuality. 

There are a number of poignant moments in the story, however, the majority is full of humour and self-deprecation. By the end, we see a happier and wiser Charlie who is content with who he is and what he has. 

Just Between Us by Adele Parks

 

Kylie Gillingham is missing, presumed dead. Her husband is a suspect, the only problem is, which one? It turns out Kylie is a bigamist. As the police focus on her second husband, Daan, he is determined to prove his innocence by tracking down the real killer.

I have a couple of confessions. Firstly, I didn't realise this was a sequel to Both Of You, it was only when I'd finished the book and read a "Spoiler Alert" by the author that I found out that Just Between Us continues the story of Kylie Gillingham. The fact that I hadn't read the first book makes no difference as Just Between Us works well as a standalone novel.

My second confession is that I always assumed that Adele Parks wrote "chick lit". Well, this book has proved me very wrong, I'll certainly put the author on my reading list in the future.

Now to my review. I liked the opening, it was very ambiguous. We quickly learned about bigamist Kylie Gillingham and the fact that she was missing, presumed dead. The police know where Kylie was held captive, beaten and starved but the whereabouts of her body is unknown. The fact that we don't know for sure if Kylie is alive or dead, and exactly who is responsible, is what draws you in.

The story is told from a number of different perspectives. We get the thoughts, feelings and actions of both husbands, the best friend, the detective and Kylie's two sons. The constantly changing narrative made the story feel very fractured for me, I couldn't seem to get any flow. This was then complicated by jumping to a seemingly unrelated character and story-line, that of Stacie.

I had a lot of empathy for Stacie. Recovering from a brain tumor, she has lost her memory. Nursed by her aging father in a remote cottage, you really feel her struggle as she tries to dredge up memories of her earlier life. Stacie's father does his best, recounting her early life and showing her photographs. While this part of the story feels completely unrelated, for a seasoned reader of thrillers it was obvious where this thread was heading. The main questions being how and why?

Around about two-thirds of the way through I found the story began to coalesce. As Stacie began to have vague memories and the action shifted to Dorset I was finally gripped and began to worry that the killer would be increasing the body count. A race against time, involving a number of characters, puts a lot of people at risk and increases the tension. 

The final part of the conclusion ties up all of the loose threads and I can honestly say that I was happy about the way that things worked out. I'm sure that if I'd read Both Of You I'd have come to the same conclusion.

Just Between Us by Adele Parks will be published on 17th August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HQ for a review copy.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

 

Jacintha "Jack" Cross and her husband, Gabe, work as penetration consultants, breaking into companies to show their vulnerabilities. After one job goes wrong, Jack returns home to discover her husband has been murdered. As the police's main suspect, Jack goes on the run to find the real murderer and prove her innocence.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware is an action-packed thriller. From the opening pages, you are pulled into the world of corporate espionage and the role of penetration consultants. You live every moment alongside Jack as she breaks into a company and tries to evade security as she heads for the computer server. There are even moments where you're holding your breath, willing everything to work in Jack's favour. It's refreshing to see a female taking on this role, showing that a woman is just as good as a man in this type of scenario.

From the very beginning, we see that Jack doesn't lead a charmed life. This isn't one of those books where the hero always seems to miraculously escape capture or has a million and one tricks up their sleeve to solve all problems. Jack comes across as very normal, which is probably why we feel her shock and disbelief at finding her husband murdered. 

With Jack as the main suspect in the murder, she uses her skills to escape a police station and go on the run. Her only aim is to find out who murdered her husband and why. In modern society it is very difficult to avoid detection, Jack knows this and uses her particular skill set to stay one step ahead of the police. The cat-and-mouse chase is adrenaline-fueled, you are constantly on edge, wondering if this is the moment the police are going to win.

We do see Jack's vulnerabilities as the story progresses, it really does become a race against time as she narrows in on the real murderer. The identity of the person responsible for Gabe's murder didn't surprise me, neither did the reasons behind it, but it fitted well into the story-line, giving an extremely relevant slant to the motive. I'd love to read more of Jack's adventures in future novels (although personally, I feel this is destined for the TV).

A Game Of Lies by Clare Mackintosh

 

During a new reality TV show, a contestant goes missing and police are called in to investigate. It turns out that the contestants have been misled about the nature of the show. When a body turns up the police investigation switches to murder.

About a year ago I read The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh. I loved the twists in the plot, the style, the location and the characters. I was extremely eager to get my hands on book 2 in the DC Ffion Morgan series. The second book in the series, A Game Of Lies, takes place in the same location as the first book and features many of the same characters. 

The story takes place eighteen months after the events of the first book. The relationship between Ffion and DS Leo Brady has broken down mainly because Ffion is too frightened to let her guard down. As a result of this the working relationship between Ffion and Brady is strained, they are definitely off-hand with each other. Neither is willing to make the first move.

Reality TV is put firmly under the microscope. The contestants in the book thought they were taking part in a survival competition in the Welsh mountains. The manipulative producer turns the tables on them on the first day when they discover that the program is really about exposing their deepest, darkest secrets. The book really shows how TV moulds the narrative to suit their own agenda. We see how unrelated recordings can be easily manipulated to give a slant to a particular storyline. The role that society plays in these events is also questioned. As secrets are revealed there is a clamour to know more, social media becomes frenzied and we have a vicious cycle demanding ever more salacious gossip.

There are twists galore as almost everyone has a motive for the murder, not just the contestants desperate to keep their secrets. Each of the small TV crew and even some of the local residents are suspects too. 

We are introduced to a range of new characters, mostly the contestants. There is also a new DC working with Ffion, Georgina Kent. George, as she prefers to be known, is amiable enough but Ffion doesn't make a good first impression, mainly because Ffion isn't a team player. Another new character is Dave the rescue dog. Dave adds some lightness and hilarity to the story-line.

One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about The Last Party was that the murder victim was one of the most loathsome characters I've ever come across in fiction. The author does another excellent job developing the producer who is morally repugnant, only interested in getting the story he wants, with little regard to the welfare of the contestants. 

The conclusion is a frantic race against time to capture the murderer and stop anyone else from being killed. There is also an emotive revelation at the end which works well considering that the book is about the fear of having secrets revealed.

A Game Of Lies by Clare Mackintosh will be published on 20th July 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to publisher Little, Brown UK for a review copy.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

 

The lives of four women become intertwined when a care home manager is murdered and one of the residents goes missing. Could the events be linked to the disappearance of a baby twenty years previously?

Right from the opening chapter, Good Bad Girl from Alice Feeney has you gripped. Set twenty years ago we witness a woman who seems to be suffering from post-natal depression struggling with her young baby. On a trip to the supermarket, the baby is snatched.

We then jump to the present day and meet four very different women. Frankie is probably the most intriguing of the bunch. She works as a librarian in a women's prison but, we immediately learn that she is walking out on her job without telling anyone. Frankie has a task to carry out. However, the actual task isn't made clear.

Patience is a young woman, barely eighteen, who is working in an old people's home. She has dreams of going to art college but is doing the job to make ends meet. Patience has struck up a friendship with one of the residents, Edith, and smuggles treats into the home for her, along with her dog which isn't allowed into the home.

Edith is my favourite character. Eighty years old, she was forced to leave her home and move into the care home by her daughter, Clio. Edith wants nothing more than to go back to her own home, but her daughter is adamant that she can't live on her own. Edith is feisty, refusing to accept that although her mind may still be extremely agile, her body isn't.

Clio is the least likeable of the four main characters. Early on, I took a dislike to her because of the way she treats her mother. Clio doesn't seem to have any time or love for her mother, simply seeing her as a financial burden.

Over a period of a few days, the lives of the four women are thrown into turmoil. The manager of Edith's care home is murdered. Any one of them had a motive for the murder and the opportunity. As the police track down each of them, we discover more about their past lives. Their stories become entwined, spiraling like water down a plug-hole.

As little snippets of information about each person is revealed, you begin to assemble the pieces of the story, only to discover your assumptions are wrong. Alice Feeney has taken the art of misdirection to another level, leaving you with lots of "OMG" moments. The bittersweet conclusion draws all the threads together, making you re-evaluate your initial opinions of some of the characters.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney will be published on 3rd August 2023 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

June 2023 Reads

 

June was national crime reading month and since crime is my favourite genre I started the month with …….. two romance novels!

First up was A Song Of Me And You from Mike Gayle. I’ve always loved the author’s novels since discovering My Legendary Girlfriend, his first novel, almost 25 years ago. I’m overjoyed to be able to say that his latest is his best yet. A story of teenage lovers who meet over twenty years later when they are both at a low point in their lives. Helen is a newly single Mum with her eldest about to fly the nest and Ben just happens to be the front-man of one of the biggest rock bands in the world on the run from fame and fortune.

The second romance novel was From Now Until Forever by Rowan Coleman, a bittersweet story about a young man, Ben, who discovers he only has months to live. Fleeing to London he meets and falls in love with a woman who is on a quest to discover if a painting by Leonardo da Vinci holds the secret to immortality. Ben is such a warm and genuine character that you really want them to succeed.

Now on to the thrillers. First up is the extremely twisty The Trap from Catherine Ryan Howard. Fans of the author will be aware of how twisty the novels of this author can be, this is no different. Based on true life events we learn about a young woman who wanders country lanes in the dead of night hoping to stumble across the person who abducted her sister a year earlier. When I got to the end of the book I turned straight back to the beginning to reread the opening chapter.

Modern serial killer stories featuring young women are very popular at the moment and You’d Look Better As A Ghost from Joanna Wallace fits perfectly into this genre. An accidental rejection sets grieving Claire on the path to murder, only for us to discover that she’s an established serial killer. Unfortunately, someone knows what she’s done and tries blackmailing her. Claire has to figure out who and resolve the problem. There is lots of dark humour and a killer you can’t help liking.

I love the Roy Grace series by Peter James, so was over the moon to receive book 19 in the series, Stop Them Dead. This time around Grace and his team are investigating crimes involving animals such as the theft of pedigree puppies and dogs, and the illegal import of dogs. The story really hits home as to how dangerous this can be when there is a suspected case of rabies.

My final thriller of the month was Who She Was, a slow burner from Tony Parsons. Set in Cornwall an enigmatic young woman turns up in the fishing village of St. Jude’s and is quickly accepted by the residents. When her “dead” husband appears there are devastating consequences. As you become engrossed in the story you continually question the woman’s motivation and whether she can be trusted.

June was a good month for audiobooks, I managed four. First audiobook of the month was Trust Me from T. M. Logan’s back catalogue. I’ve enjoyed the three previous books I’ve read/listened to from this author but feel this didn’t really work well in audio format. A young woman abandons a baby with a stranger, Ellen, and leaves a note asking her to protect the baby. I struggled to keep track of all the characters with possible motives for harming the baby.

Next up was The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. This is a cozy murder mystery that works very well as an audiobook. The narrator does a fantastic job of portraying the different eccentric characters trying to solve a series of murders in the quaint town of Marlow. I’m looking forward to more in this series.

My third audiobook was The Red House, an engrossing thriller, full of twists by Roz Watkins. Initially, I felt that there were too many elements to the story but the author brought everything together well and certainly kept me guessing.

The final audiobook for the month was Poison At The Village Show by Catherine Coles. A cozy murder mystery set in a small village in 1947. This was slow to get going but by the end, I was fully invested. The author also left a few threads unfinished so I’m keen to see what happens in the second book in the Martha Miller series.

Publication dates to watch out for are:

A Song Of Me And You by Mike Gayle will be published on 6/7/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

From Now Until Forever by Rowan Coleman will be published on 3/8/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard will be published on 3/8/23 in ebook and audio format. The hardback will be published on 17/8/23

Who She Was by Tony Parsons will be published on 17/8/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

You’d Look Better As A Ghost by Joanna Wallace will be published on 21/9/23 in hardback and ebook format.

Stop Them Dead by Peter James will be published on 28/9/23 in hardback, ebook and audio format.