A Stranger In The Family by Jane Casey

 

What initially looks to be a case of murder-suicide of an elderly couple soon has Maeve Kerrigan and the rest of the team investigating a years old missing persons case involving the couple's nine-year-old daughter, a case that was never solved.

A little over a year ago I read The Close by Jane Casey not realising it was book 10 in a series. Since then I was determined to read the rest of the books in the series before book 11 was published. I'm pleased to say that I managed to read them all, along with the spin-off, The Outsider, which is set in the Meave Kerrigan universe and takes place between books 10 and 11.

I really can't recommend this series highly enough. Every time I've read one of the books I'd comment that it was better than the last. Each one is brilliant on its own and would be a satisfying standalone read but if you really want to understand the motivation of the characters I would suggest reading the series from the beginning. If that sounds like too much then possibly read The Close before you read A Stranger In The Family.

One of DS Maeve Kerrigan's strengths is noticing little details that others may miss. So when the team is called to a flat where it appears an elderly man has murdered his wife and then taken his own life it's Maeve's observational skills that make them realise that a double murder has taken place. The team quickly realise that the couple are the parents of Rosalie Marshall, a nine-year-old who went missing from home sixteen years previously and has never been found. While half of the team investigates the murder, the others, including Maeve, look into the cold case to see if there are any links.

The focus on a sixteen-year-old missing persons case makes this more of a mystery story compared to other books in the series. The story flits backward and forwards between now and the days in the run-up to Rosalie's disappearance. We meet characters involved in both time periods, none of whom come across favourably. Even Rosalie herself is a strange character, one of those children who is wise beyond their years and is not above manipulation to get what they want.

The murder investigation seems to be plodding along, with little progress in either case, until a startling discovery is made. Things then progress quickly, showing how dangerous assumptions can be, and leading to a bittersweet conclusion.

It's not the crime itself that the vast majority of fans will be interested in though, it's how the relationship between Maeve Kerrigan and her boss, DI Josh Derwent, has developed since the events in the last book. For a variety of reasons Josh has tried to distance himself emotionally, he even appears to be the one who is a victim of jealousy this time around. Josh seems to be in an impossible position, he's trying to keep everyone around him happy and making himself miserable in the meantime. The usual brash and insensitive veneer Josh displays is rarely seen. Maeve is wary, she can sense that Josh is conflicted, and wants to be a supportive friend, but she can't deny the sexual tension between them. Author Jane Casey keeps the reader on tenterhooks with the constant "will they, won't they" scenarios. Since my reviews are always spoiler-free I'm not going to tell you if they do or they don't. What I will say is that the epilogue will leave you in suspense, wondering how the author can leave fans with those final words and how long will it be before we find out what happens next.

A Stranger In The Family by Jane Casey will be published on 14th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for a review copy.

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan

 

DCS Kat Frank and her AI partner are given their first live case to investigate when the body of a man is found crucified at the top of a rubbish heap. The use of AI in the police force comes under intense media scrutiny as the pair try to uncover who is responsible and prevent further murders.

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan is the much-anticipated sequel to In The Blink Of An Eye which introduced readers to Kat Frank and her holographic AI partner. In the first book, we are introduced to newly widowed Kat as she returns to work and is asked to lead a pilot program, the Future Policing Unit, where AI is used alongside conventional policing. Kat is not a fan of AI but gradually comes to appreciate the skills her new partner, AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detecting Entity) Lock, brings to the role as they investigate cold cases.

In this sequel, Kat is keen to get involved in an active case to prove that the FPU offers a positive contribution to the police force. Everyone connected with the program, including AIDE Lock's creator, is aware that this will put the FPU firmly in the public eye.

The team ends up investigating the crucifixion of a man and the story touches on so many topics relevant to society today. Obviously, the use of AI is the major storyline. The story covers the ability of AI to trawl through social media, databases, research, etc in a matter of seconds, something that will save a huge number of man-hours and allow the police to focus on other aspects of the investigation. As a result of its ability to search through resources rapidly it can make predictions about what could happen and suggestions on how to proceed.

What AIDE Lock can’t do is nuances. Humans are inconsistent and contradictory, and Lock struggles to understand this. Although he can monitor vital signs such as heart rate he fails to understand body language and tone of voice, all those subtle signals that skilled observers pick up on. Another issue with Lock is that he’s a hologram, he doesn’t offer a physical presence and this has implications as the team closes in on the murderer.

The story touches on the public mistrust of AI and this is played out through the biased press. Personally, I was fascinated by the possible uses of AI. The virtual autopsy had me engrossed and the idea that social media could be searched in seconds to help try to identify victims seems so effective.

 Another topical issue covered is toxic masculinity. When it becomes obvious that young men are being targeted tables are turned as police advice is not to go out, not to go off with strangers. Men begin to get a taste of the messages women receive on a daily basis and don’t like it.

The team that comprises the FPU are an engaging group of characters. The author takes time to flesh out each character, endearing them to the reader. The interactions between Kat and Lock are, at times, just like a normal police partnership as they seem to “bicker” about procedure and I’m convinced Lock has had a sarcasm upgrade.

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan will be published on 28^th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a review copy.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (Audiobook)

 

At the age of seventeen Frances Adams visits a fortune teller and receives a chilling prediction, that she will be murdered. For the next sixty years, Frances lives in fear of her fortune coming true and tries to solve the cryptic clues the fortune teller gave. On the day she is going to meet her great-niece Annabelle for the first time she is murdered and it is up to Annabelle to piece together the clues Frances has collected to try and solve the murder.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is an old-school murder mystery. Set in a mansion in a small village there is a cast of larger-than-life characters, many of whom have a motive for murder. Saxon Gravesdown, another of the possible beneficiaries, came across as a classic villain. The narration makes you feel as if you are in the middle of events.

Annabelle knows of her great-aunt's existence but has never met her. When Frances announces that Annabelle is to be a beneficiary in her will she has to finally meet her great-aunt. On the very day of the meeting Frances is murdered, bringing about a prediction that was made almost sixty years previously. Frances has left instructions with her solicitor, whoever solves her murder will inherit her vast fortune, but they only have a week to solve the murder.

As everyone tries to solve the murder the story periodically jumps back in time and we learn about Frances and her close friends Emily and Rose in their late teens. The trio share a strong friendship, however jealousy begins to creep in as romance appears on the horizon. 

I enjoyed the way in which the past and the present were woven together. Subtle clues from the past are dropped to help you try and solve the mystery of Emily's disappearance and Frances' murder. There is also some misdirection thrown in for good measure. I certainly didn't solve the mystery before the killer was revealed.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin will be published on 26th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a review copy.

The Outsider by Jane Casey

 

Undercover police officer Rob Langton is trying to get close to the Carter family in order to find out more about their shady business dealings. Little does he realise how dangerous this particular job will be.

The Outsider by Jane Casey is a spin-off of her hugely successful Maeve Kerrigan series of books. Fans of the series will recognise Rob Langton as Maeve's ex-boyfriend who walked out on her and then disappeared. In The Outsider we find out a little more information about why Rob disappeared - he had to cut all ties with his former life to become an undercover officer.

My nerves are in shreds after reading The Outsider, from the opening scene involving a car accident and a heart attack, through to the terrifying conclusion. As Rob slowly ingratiates himself with Geraint Carter, the head of the family, you are fearful for his safety. Every task Carter gives Rob seems to be a test of his loyalty and you wonder if this is going to be the moment when his true identity is revealed.

Geraint Carter is a businessman with a wide variety of interests, all of which seem to be a cover for his illegal activities. The more involved Rob becomes he realises that his boss is a far-right sympathiser with plans to cause chaos across the country.

During one incident Rob, in his undercover persona, is arrested and questioned. The officers that interview him are Josh Derwent and Maeve Kerrigan. It was fantastic to see these well known characters make an appearance. It also gave Rob a chance to clear the air with Maeve and explain the reasoning behind his disappearance. I felt very emotional during these scenes but happy that there was a sense of closure for Maeve.

Danger doesn't just exist in the jobs that Geraint Carter gives Rob. The family isn't a happy one and the interactions between some of them feel like a ticking timebomb. One scene in particular filled me with revulsion and it was the fallout from this that ultimately led to Rob's downfall and a heart-racing conclusion.

The Outsider by Jane Casey is currently available in ebook and audio format. The paperback is due for release on 7th November 2024.

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner

 

Serial killer Kaylee Pierson is a matter of weeks away from execution. Her one regret is that her younger sister, Lea, went missing the night she fled an abusive relationship. Convinced that Lea has been held captive by her abuser for over a decade, Kaylee asks Frankie Elkin for help tracking her sister down. Frankie is an expert in finding missing people, people everyone else has given up on.

The name Lisa Gardner is well known by fans of thrillers. When I checked the author's back catalogue I was surprised to find that it must be well over ten years since I'd read anything by the author. This certainly wasn't deliberate, as I've mentioned in a previous post there are so many brilliant female thriller writers around at the moment it is sometimes difficult to keep up with writers you enjoy. 

The description of Still See You Everywhere certainly appealed to me; a serial killer, a young woman being held captive, someone going undercover on an isolated Hawaiian island. I certainly wasn't disappointed by the opening chapters of the book.

We quickly meet Frankie Elkin, a wanderer who takes on jobs when she decides. Frankie is driven to help find people society has given up on. I could not help but compare Frankie to Jack Reacher, another wanderer who has his own moral code which results in him helping the small guy.

Frankie has been tracked down by the attorney of a serial killer, Kaylee Pierson, The Beautiful Butcher. Kaylee is not the type of person you want to get on the wrong side of, particularly if you're male. She has no remorse regarding what she has done and fully accepts she's about to die. Her only regret is that when she fled her last relationship she left behind her little sister. Desperate to re-establish contact with her sister and make sure she is safe and well she requests Frankie's help. The main problem is that her last relationship was with a tech billionaire who has an isolated island off the coast of Hawaii.

The island is in the process of being made into an exclusive ecologically friendly resort, so Frankie has to go undercover as a worker on the island. There are only a dozen other workers on the island so it should be easy for Frankie to track down Lea if she's there.

I am sure we've all dreamt of relaxing on a beautiful tropical island. After reading Still See You Everywhere I can state categorically that this is no longer a dream of mine, it would be more like a nightmare. The description of the floor constantly moving was enough to unsettle me, followed by instructions about hanging your shoes up to prevent spiders, geckos or scorpions from hiding in them. The deciding factor was when I Googled "coconut crab"! I've seen a picture of one before and thought it was a film prop, to discover they really exist was shocking and enough to stop me dreaming about tropical islands. 

The descriptions of the natural dangers on the island, along with a storm and someone trying to sabotage the building project made for a pacey story. Unfortunately, the momentum of the story ground to a halt a couple of times when Frankie started dwelling on the past. This didn't add anything to the story, it was just rambling. 

Chaos reigns in the conclusion, with some spectacular twists. I did feel that this nightmare scenario could have lasted longer, making for an even more frightening and panic-ridden finale.

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner will be published on 14th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a review copy.

The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder by C. L. Miller (Audiobook)

 

Freya Lockwood has enough on her plate to deal with since her ex-husband insisted that the family home be sold. The last thing she needs is a phone call from her Aunt telling her that her old mentor, Arthur, has died under mysterious circumstances. Returning to her childhood home after twenty years brings back unpleasant memories and a hunt for a murderer.

Both the title and the cover of The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder are enough to grab your attention. When you add in the pedigree of author C. L. Miller you know you're in for something exciting.

This was such a fun audiobook to listen to. The way in which the story develops, including the numerous hints to events in Cairo twenty years ago, has you immediately thinking of an Indiana Jones type adventure. We learn that Arthur Crockleford was Freya's mentor, he taught her everything about tracking down antiques that had been stolen and returning them to their rightful owners. On one of their hunting trips, twenty years ago, something went disastrously wrong and they became estranged. The listener/reader is kept in the dark for quite a while as to the exact nature of what went wrong. This, along with Arthur's murder, adds another layer of mystery to the story.

The police are convinced that Arthur's death was an accident, but Freya and her aunt are suspicious. When Freya receives a posthumous letter from Arthur she knows that he was fearful for his life. The letter turns out to be a series of clues to help them solve the puzzle of who would want Arthur dead, and why.

The clues lead to an antiques event at a stately home filled with larger-than-life characters. No one is as they seem and absolutely no one can be trusted. My favourite character was Aunt Carole, an eccentric luvvie who thinks she can talk, or act, her way out of any situation.

I am convinced that this cosy murder mystery will be the start of a successful series featuring Freya and her aunt.

The Antique Hunter's Guide To Murder by C. L. Miller will be published on 29th February 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio for a review copy.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas

 

Tasha and her husband, Aaron, jump at the chance to spend a week at her sister’s apartment in Venice. While they are away her sister, Alice, and her husband have offered not only to house-sit but to look after their twin daughters too. Things take an ominous turn on the second night in Venice when they are almost mugged. A phone call reveals that things back at home is even worse.

Author Claire Douglas has packed The Wrong Sister with so many twists and turns that you really cannot second-guess what is happening. From the ominous opening page indicating that someone is watching and is about to take away everything you’ve taken for granted there is a sense of unease. The description of red hair means you know that the person being watched is either Tasha or her high-flying sister, Alice, but anything beyond that is vague.

As we meet the sisters and learn a little about their lives I immediately jumped to conclusions. Tasha still lives in the village she grew up in, married her teenage boyfriend and is now the mother of two-year-old twins. Tasha can’t help but be a little bit jealous of her older sister who lives in London, has a high-paying job, a beautiful house and a handsome husband, Kyle. It was Tasha’s slight fixation on Kyle that had me thinking this was going to turn into a story of jealousy and greed. How wrong I was.

The main plot line happens quickly, and I’m glad it did because I liked the characters of Tasha and Aaron and I didn't want to have doubts about them. The couple came across as real people, struggling to figure out how to rekindle the spark that has been extinguished by the arrival of their children. It’s obvious they still love each other but they’re stuck in a rut, particularly Aaron, and simply too exhausted each day to address the issue. Alice and Kyle are also likeable characters. Arriving in a McLaren sports car it’s obvious they have wealth but they don’t try to show off or look down on Tasha and her family. Despite their vastly different lifestyles the sisters share a close bond.

The near mugging in Venice is just the start of the nightmare for the sisters. During what appears to be an attempted burglary Kyle is killed and Alice is assaulted. Rushing home Tasha then receives an anonymous note saying it should have been her that was attacked. Is this a threat, or a warning?

Absolutely everyone becomes a suspect, you doubt the motivation of even the nicest people. It’s almost as if you are watching over your shoulder as you read, waiting for the next blow to fall. This is made even more complex when we discover that Tasha and Alice had a baby sister who was abducted thirty years ago and never found.

Another murder in the small village has you wondering how all the events are connected, or are some of them simply coincidental. As a new narrator is introduced some of the individual pieces begin to fit together and a picture of what happened begins to take shape, but you are still left with an unsettled feeling that everything isn’t as it seems. Claire Douglas has done a fantastic job weaving all the different plots together, however, I felt unsatisfied by the ambiguous ending.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas will be published on 14^th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for a review copy.

Moral Injuries by Christie Watson

 

Olivia, Laura and Anjali formed a strong friendship when they met at medical school. When two of their children are involved in a serious incident at a party it threatens to uncover a secret they’ve kept hidden for twenty-five years.

The opening of Moral Injuries by Christie Watson is a party setting, a raucous party with alcohol, drugs and fighting. We learn quickly that someone is badly injured and that people involved in whatever has happened run.

The story then jumps between the three main characters, Olivia, Laura and Anjali, in 2024 and when they first met in 1999. We learn how the three women met at medical school and became close friends, maintaining that friendship over the next twenty-five years. Olivia is a successful heart surgeon, Laura is an A&E specialist and Anjali is in general practice. We slowly learn that a teenage boy has been seriously injured at a party attended by Olivia’s daughter and Laura’s son. This then brings back memories for the three women of a similar party and a secret they’ve kept hidden. You then begin to wonder which party is described at the very beginning of the book.

I liked each of the three women. Laura is driven, terrified of failure, becoming a doctor and doing the best job she can is all-consuming. Anjali is reckless, always open to new experiences. Olivia is the most complex; cold, made of steel, and from a family of surgeons so she’s never considered anything else. The women support each other but it’s obvious Olivia is the leader. None of the women are perfect, this story is about the grey areas between right and wrong, but because we see the friendship grow and develop over time you feel as if you are part of the group. It’s the events involving their children that makes you begin to doubt the behaviour of each of them.

There are lots of hints about the secret the three women are keeping but I did feel that this part of the storyline was too vague and too slow to develop. The role of them as mothers, desperate to protect their children, alongside their role as doctors, sworn to “do no harm”, brought forward the issue of moral ambiguity. The vagueness made sense to me in the end as all was revealed and made me look at some of the characters in a whole new light, questioning how likeable they actually are.

Moral Injuries by Christie Watson will be published on 14^th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for a review copy.

Small Hours by Bobby Palmer

 

On the day that Jack Penwick is made redundant, he spots a mange-ridden fox in the middle of London. After cornering the fox he manages to contact a rescue centre. Just as the fox is being taken away Jack is convinced he hears it say “thank you”. Jack doesn’t have time to dwell on this as he then receives a phone call from his sister explaining she needs his help with their elderly parents. Returning to his childhood home he discovers that things are worse than he expected, and somehow the talking fox has followed him there.

Firstly, I want to mention the beautiful cover, the artwork is stunning. You get a sense of being in the countryside, with the city in the distance, on an early morning with the mist making everything hazy. The gorgeous colours would certainly attract my attention and have me crossing a bookshop to pick up the book to find out more.

One of my favourite books last year was Isaac And The Egg by Bobby Palmer, it was unique, emotive and uplifting. When I discovered that the author had a new book, I was very keen to read it. Unfortunately, Small Hours didn’t quite match the high standard set by Isaac And The Egg for me. It was always going to be a difficult act to follow.

There are a number of different voices narrating the story and it took me a little while to get to grips with this. Jack is the main character, he is an introvert, a numbers man and self-absorbed. As a teen he was desperate to escape from home, embarrassed by his parents. Having escaped he’s been reluctant to return, his contact with his family has been minimal. As a result of this, returning home is a shock for him.

Jack’s father, Gerry, is another of the narrators. We learn that Gerry has been living with dementia for a few years and the decline is gradually getting worse. The author does an amazing job at showing how the thought processes of someone with dementia might go; present one moment, convinced time has turned back thirty years in another, confusing a person with someone who has been dead for over a decade.

I liked the playful nature of the fox. I’m still not sure if the fox is allegorical. Is it Jack? Could it be Jack’s conscience? The fox was struggling to survive in the city, just as Jack was.

As Jack is trying to come to terms with what is happening with his parents we learn about how the couple met each other. I found the relationship between Gerry and Hazel to be the most endearing part of the novel. Two non-conformists, people who shouldn’t really “fit” together just click. This love story warmed my heart, the thought that the right person just “gets you” and knows what you need.

To me, the overall messages of the book are sacrifice and redemption. Parents sacrifice everything, wanting their children to have a better life than they did, and worrying about the wrong paths their children may take. And redemption because it’s never too late to change things.

Small Hours by Bobby Palmer will be published on 14^th March 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a review copy.

Murder By Candlelight by Faith Martin (Audiobook)

 

In the sleepy village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh Amy Phelps, the resident of The Old Forge, is convinced she has a ghost. Luckily, celebrated ghost-hunter Arbie Swift, author of The Gentlemen's Guide To Ghost-Hunting, is at hand to help out with a ghost-watch. When Amy Phelps is discovered dead the following morning Arbie investigates, believing it wasn't a ghost who is responsible.

Set in a quaint English village in 1924 Murder By Candlelight by Faith Martin has all the hallmarks of a classic British locked-room mystery. The setting means that everyone knows everybody else's business. A class system still holds power and there are numerous suspects.

Arbie Swift is the central character. He's one of those gentlemen who doesn't really do anything, who accidentally fell into ghost-hunting and, as a result, is now considered an expert. Arbie comes across as a bit of a bumbling character, I thought of the classic Bertie Wooster character early on. Thankfully, Arbie is aided by the vicar's daughter Val in his investigations. Val is much more down-to-earth, logical and intelligent.

A whole host of suspects, each hiding a secret they might kill to protect, means that it is impossible to guess who the murderer is. While the murder mystery is expertly crafted the whole tone of the story is kept light thanks to the musings of Arbie. The whole story worked well as an audiobook, expertly narrated by John Hopkins, who really brought Arbie to life. I felt completely immersed in the murder mystery from beginning to shocking end.

Murder By Candlelight by Faith Martin is available in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

January 2024 Reads

 

A cheeky week away at the start of January allowed me to soak up some much-needed winter sunshine. Despite a long list of books waiting for me to read and review I decided to make a dent in my TBR pile, therefore January features quite a few older or recently published books.

His Favourite Graves by Paul Cleave initially looks to be a standard cat-and-mouse manhunt between a local sheriff and a serial killer. I certainly didn’t expect all the twists and turns the story would take. You are taken through a whole range of emotions, from empathy, shock, disbelief and revulsion. This is one of those books which is hard to describe without giving away plot twists. If you like dark and disturbing thrillers then this is for you.

Book 6 in the Luc Callanach series, Perfect Kill by Helen Fields, sees Callanach and Turner working in different countries on cases they eventually realise are linked. A missing young man, people trafficking and organ harvesting lead to some action-packed scenes where everyone’s life is put at risk.

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham is a slow burner. Introvert Margot is struggling to come to terms with the death of her friend. When she starts college she is beguiled by enigmatic Lucy. Things take a dark turn, however, when Lucy is accused of murdering Levi, the boy Margot blames for her friend’s death. This is a tale of lies, misdirection, manipulation and deceit.

Author Milly Johnson can always be relied upon to offer a warm hug in book format. The Happiest Ever After delivers just that. Polly Potter is taken for granted at home and at work. If only she could be as brave and assertive as her fictional character, Sabrina. When Polly loses her memory the only thing she is sure of is her name, Sabrina.

I love the TV series Slow Horses so decided to try the books. Slow Horses, by Mick Herron, is the first book in the Slough House series and introduces us to the occupants of Slough House, the place where failed spies are sent until they get bored and resign. Wonderful characters, particularly Jackson Lamb, race against time to save the life of a hostage and their own poor reputations.

I have loved every book in the Maeve Kerrigan series. It seems silly to say that each one is better than the last but it’s true. The Cutting Place by Jane Casey is book 9 in the series. A female journalist is murdered and Kerrigan has to investigate a story she was working on, an elite gentlemen’s club that abuses women. Kerrigan also has to deal with problems closer to home.

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French is about the disappearance of a wife and mother and covers a thirty-year time period. Charlotte Salter’s husband seems unconcerned but her children, particularly daughter Etty, are adamant she wouldn’t abandon the family. It is only years later, when the police re-examine the evidence, that the family gains closure. I found the emotion in this quite raw.

Small Hours by Bobby Palmer is a modern-day fairy tale about a young man and a talking fox. Fans of the authors debut novel will know to expect something a little different in this unconventional love story that reminds us about the sacrifice parents make for their children and that redemption is possible.

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan is the second book in the series featuring DCS Kat Frank and her AI holographic partner, AIDE Lock. The team are firmly in the public, and press, glare as they work on an active case involving the crucifixion of young men. We see clearly the benefits and pitfalls of using AI.

I was extremely fortunate to win an early proof of The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven so this was my final read of the month. Washington Poe recounts the harrowing case that has left him with PTSD. A religious cult, a high body count and lots of suspense. The ending is shocking in a number of ways.

Audiobooks

The Secrets Of Blythswood Square by Sara Sheridan offers a fascinating insight into Victorian England. We see the double standards that men and women are held to as we follow two very different women trying to push boundaries. There are lots of secrets to be uncovered, including the disposal of erotic art.

Publication dates to watch out for:-

The Secrets Of Blythswood Square by Sara Sheridan will be published on 8/2/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Happiest Ever After by Milly Johnson will be published on 15/2/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French will be published on 29/2/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Small Hours by Bobby Palmer will be published on 14/3/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan will be published on 28/3/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Mercy Chair by M. W. Craven will be published on 6/6/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.