Shot In The Dark by Anna Britton

 

A young woman is killed and her body mauled by an animal on the grounds of a country estate. Detectives Stern and Martin lead the investigation but struggle to untangle the web of lies the suspects offer.

Shot In The Dark is the debut novel from Anna Britton. Despite first being published six months ago it still regularly pops up on my Twitter feed, with lots of praise from readers. I'm really not surprised that it has garnered so many fans after reading it myself.

The opening chapter fills you with terror as you follow a young woman running for her life through woodland. Not only is she being stalked by someone with a gun, she is also being hunted by a large dog. This opening chapter has your heart racing and you catch your breath as it ends.

Through a variety of different media, we meet DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin as they lead the investigation into the murder of the young woman, seventeen-year-old Melanie Pirt. The pairing of two female detectives is unusual but comes across as a breath of fresh air, many of the usual tropes are immediately removed from the storyline.

Both detectives are complex characters. DI Stern is detached, analytical and focused on her job. Colleagues consider her cold and unapproachable and there are a variety of rumors about her home life. We get small glimpses into the relationship with her husband and children, along with hints at possible problems, but nothing is made clear. DS Martin is the complete opposite of her boss, she's empathetic and trusting. She admires her boss and knows that many of their colleagues have the wrong impression of her but knows not to betray the trust that she has been given. We are given a little more detail into Martin's background, a disturbing one, but once again things are left a little vague. I love the fact that neither detective is perfect and we still have lots to learn about them.

There are five main suspects. The Dunlow family who live on the country estate where Melanie was murdered, the gamekeeper employed by the family and Melanie's abusive boyfriend. None of the suspects come across well, as the story unfolds you have little sympathy for any of them and at times you are filled with revulsion as their priority is self-preservation. As the web of lies increases you can feel the frustration of the police. As soon as a suspect is confronted with evidence of a lie they change their story, only for us to be left wondering if we are now hearing the truth or simply another lie.

As lie after lie is uncovered, lives are put in danger and the shocking truth is finally revealed. Knowing Anna Britton has already completed writing the second book in the Martin & Stern series, Close To The Edge, and has made a start on a third book I felt we had a satisfying conclusion - and then that ending happened! There's nothing better than when an author completely pulls the rug from under you and leaves you demanding to know more RIGHT NOW! I'm now going to be on edge until the second book in the series is published in September.

Author Details

Anna lives on the Isle of Wight with her husband and their chronically clumsy Labrador. An avid reader, she began writing around ten years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Anna works as a freelance editor and loves helping out other authors. When not filling her head with stories, Anna enjoys baking (and eating) cakes and exploring rivers in her kayak.

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica (Audiobook)

 

ICU nurse Meghan Michaels is drawn to the latest patient on her ward. A young woman, Caitlin, has tried to commit suicide, but as the police investigate they discover that there is a possibility that she was pushed off a bridge. Why would someone want to hurt Caitlin, a much-loved daughter?

There is so much going on in  She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica that I really had to pay attention to keep up with the story. The time frame isn't linear either and this adds to the unsettled feeling you get as you listen. The opening chapter is chilling, with a mother getting a phone call from the kidnapper of her daughter. The story then introduces us to Meghan.

Meghan has a lot going on in her life. Recently divorced, she's now living in an apartment in Chicago with her teenage daughter. Meghan loves her job but the hours are long and exhausting. You can feel Meghan's frustration as she tries to balance work with her life raising a teenager and an ex-husband wanting access.

When Caitlin, the attempted suicide, is admitted to the ICU you immediately get a sense of Meghan's compassionate side. She is drawn to the patient, at a loss for why a young woman would try to end her life. Caitlin's parents are also at a loss, they struggle to comprehend why their daughter would take such an action. Things become more complicated when a stranger tries to gain access to Caitlin and then the police decide that it wasn't a suicide attempt, Caitlin was pushed. This is compounded by the fact that someone is attacking women. You begin to wonder if Caitlin was one of the victims and her attacker is determined that she won't regain consciousness.

While all of this is happening Meghan bumps into an old school friend, Natalie. She learns that Natalie is a victim of domestic abuse and struggling to leave her husband as she has no access to their finances. Having recently divorced Meghan is sympathetic towards Natalie and offers to help her.

It was at this point that I felt that the author had put too many threads into the narrative, especially when we still had to learn more about the kidnapping from the opening chapter. What I didn't expect was the twist that was thrown in part way through which drew some of these threads together. From this point on it was one revelation after another. Even when secrets are uncovered you are still left with a feeling of uncertainty, not quite sure if we know the full truth. The ending doesn't fill you with satisfaction, intentionally, it leaves you with a vague sense of unease.

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica is available in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Mary Kubica is a New York Times bestselling author of thrillers including The Good Girl, The Other Mrs., Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (L.A. Times). She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.

Think Twice by Harlan Coben

 

When the FBI approaches Myron Bolitar enquiring about the whereabouts of one of his clients he doesn’t even have to think about the answer. His client, Greg Downing, has been dead for three years. The FBI thinks differently and wants to speak to him about a recent double murder.

The Myron Bolitar series was my introduction to Harlan Coben’s writing almost thirty years ago and since then I’ve followed the ins and outs of the sports representative and general "fixer" with great enjoyment. My only real complaint about the series is that there aren’t more books, maybe the scarcity of books is one of the reasons I love the series so much. Needless to say, I was pleased to get my hands on book 12, Think Twice.

 All of the familiar characters feature in Think Twice, along with some of the minor ones who’ve been part of Myron’s life for the previous eleven books.

Having returned to representing clients, Myron is shocked when the FBI claims one of his clients who has been dead for three years is wanted for a recent murder and has connections to a five-year-old murder. That client is Myron’s old nemesis, Greg Downing. The history between Myron and Greg is long and chequered. They were competitors in basketball until Greg ended Myron’s career before it had barely started. Greg went on to marry Myron’s college girlfriend, Emily. Unbeknownst to Greg, Myron and Emily slept together the night before the wedding and conceived a child, a child Greg raised as his own for thirteen years before he found out the truth. Despite all this Myron is convinced that Greg wouldn’t be involved in murder but he is puzzled as to why he’d want people to think he’s dead.

Supported by his best friend, Win, he tracks down people who have connections to Greg. This leads to a very tense scene with mafia-style criminals and I did wonder if Myron had met his match. As Myron keeps digging, the closer he seems to be getting to the truth, but there is that constant nagging feeling that people are holding back.

Thankfully, whenever danger lurks Win is around to help. Win is my favourite character. He comes across as not really caring but fans know he’s hyper-vigilant, highly skilled and usually a couple of steps ahead of everyone else. He does seem to have mellowed a little bit over the years, is age creeping up on him? He’s even taken note of the #MeToo movement. It’s the banter between the pair though that makes the story.

The narrative keeps you intrigued. The author has done an excellent job of keeping the identity of the lurking killer until the end, but even then there are still shocks in store for the reader. I felt so emotional as I was reading, really not sure how the book was going to end. I even got to the point where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read on and find out. Bravo to Harlan Coben for the suspense (but please can we have more).

Think Twice by Harlan Coben will be published on 23^rd May 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Century Publishing for the review copy.

Author Details

Harlan Coben is a no. 1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-six languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries, with eighty million books in print worldwide. His Myron Bolitar series has earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and several of his books have been developed into Netflix original series, including the no. 1 global hit Fool Me Once, The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good, The Woods, Stay Close, and Hold Tight, as well as the Amazon Prime Video series adaptation of Shelter. He lives in New Jersey.

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson

 

Shelley Woodhouse wakes to find herself in the ICU of her local hospital. Memories are fleeting but she is very sure that her husband tried to kill her. She also knows it's 2017. Hospital staff are reluctant to fill in the gaps about what happened, they just keep reassuring her she's safe. Slowly memories return, from her childhood up to the events that resulted in her being in hospital.

Laura Pearson is a new author to me, although I do have one of her earlier books on my wishlist. The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up was published recently and I noticed quite a lot of positive chatter about it on social media, so I decided to take a break from the usual crime and thrillers to check it out.

The theme of the novel, domestic violence, is a hard-hitting one but the author has handled it with sensitivity and empathy. From Shelley's childhood memories, we get a glimpse of the cycle of domestic violence in families when her Mum's boyfriend moves into the family home. History is seen to repeat itself as Shelley echoes her mother hiding what is happening, covering bruises with make-up and convincing herself her husband doesn't mean to do it, he loves her really.

Shelley is an engaging character, cheerful and no-nonsense, just as you would expect from a pub landlady. This makes what is happening to her even more shocking and goes to show that anyone can be a victim of abuse.

I really enjoyed the way in which the author used the character's uncertainty to keep the reader guessing. When Shelley woke up, convinced it was 2017, you just knew that something wasn't quite right. Different possible scenarios went through my mind and this helped me to understand how confused Shelley must have felt.

There are some lovely supporting characters in the book. Granny Rose is my favourite, and probably the one that will cause the most discussion. Living with Shelley and her mother she knows exactly what is happening but does nothing about it. You can feel how conflicted she is, she knows that by making a fuss she may lose her home and her ability to protect Shelley. Dee is the type of best friend everyone wants. She isn't aware of the abuse Shelley is suffering but once things reach a head she stands by Shelley 100%, offering help and support in any way she can. As for hospital visitor Matt, you just know that his role is going to be pivotal.

This was one of those books that I just couldn't put down, I needed to know what had happened and where Shelley's future was headed. Author Laura Pearson has a new fan and I'll certainly be looking at her other novels very soon.

Author Details

Laura Pearson is the author of four novels. The Last List of Mabel Beaumont was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write.

Truth Truth Lie by Claire McGowan

 

For a group of friends celebrating a milestone birthday on an isolated Scottish island things take a sinister turn during a game of two truths and a lie.

Stories featuring groups of people stranded on an isolated island, with their lives in danger, are quite common. Author Claire McGowan has managed to put a novel spin on her version of the genre in Truth Truth Lie, resulting in an enjoyable and intriguing read.

Eight adults, many of them friends since university, along with a teenager and five-year-old twins descend on an isolated island to celebrate the fortieth birthday of twins Vicky and Jonathan. The pair already have an association with the island as their family used to own it but there are frequent hints that it had to be sold as a result of something that happened in the past.

Most of the group have known each other for over twenty years having met at university. Amira, however, is still classed as a bit of an outsider as she’s only been one of them since she married Paddy fifteen years ago. You can feel the resentment and built-up anger from Amira as she has to deal with regular snubs from Vicky and her best friend Fiona. Another outsider is Rachel, Jonathan’s new girlfriend. The group is hostile towards Rachel, not only is she much younger but Jonathan used to be married to Fiona. Rachel, however, is too thick-skinned, or more worried about not being able to post to Instagram, to notice.

It is during a game of two truths and a lie that events take a sinister turn. After the first couple of rounds, it is obvious that the group don’t know each other as well as they thought. Then someone pulls out a slip of paper saying;

Everyone here has killed someone.

There is no way off this island.

You will all either kill or be killed.

Panic mode sets in. The group begins to wonder if they are truly alone on the island or does one of the group have malevolent intentions. At this point, it is great to see the author poking fun at the genre as one of the characters points out they shouldn’t split up as that’s when the murders usually start.

The reader slowly learns that the first statement is true. We get insight into periods of time over each person’s life where they have been responsible for the death of another person.

When one of the characters is discovered dead, quickly followed by another, panic sets in. No one can be trusted, particularly when secrets are uncovered.

The tension builds as each person is faced with simply surviving until they are rescued. You don’t feel invested in any of the characters as none of them are particularly likeable. I was intrigued to know who was responsible though and if anyone would survive. Numerous twists kept me guessing until the very end.

Truth Truth Lie by Claire McGowan will be published on 21^st May 2024 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a review copy.

Author Details

Born in Northern Ireland, Claire published her first novel in 2012, and has followed it up with many others in the crime fiction genre and also in women’s fiction (writing as Eva Woods). Writing thrillers for Thomas & Mercer, she has sold over a million books and has had several number-one bestsellers. She ran the UK’s first MA in crime writing for five years, and regularly teaches and talks about writing. Her first non-fiction project, the true crime book The Vanishing Triangle, was released in 2021. She also writes scripts and has several original projects in development for TV, as well as having four radio dramas broadcast. Several of her novels are in development as television series. 

The Switch by Beth O'Leary (Audiobook)

 

Still struggling to come to terms with her sister's death, Leena is forced to take time off work. Leaving London she heads to her family in Yorkshire where she discovers her newly divorced grandmother, Eileen, is struggling to find eligible men to date. They decide that swapping homes for a couple of months may be the solution to both of their problems.

I have only recently discovered Beth O'Leary when I listened to the audiobook The Flat Share. I enjoyed the story mainly because of the characters so decided to check out some more by the author. The Switch is the author's second book and I found it to be just as entertaining as her previous one.

Yes, the storyline is a little silly but when you want something to engage you, something light that is filled with charm then this hits the spot. As with the author's first book, it's the delightful characters that draw you in and keep you hooked as we learn about how their brief, new lives will affect them.

Leena is still grieving her sister who died of cancer. She felt that her sister gave up fighting and her mother supported this, as a result, she's estranged from her mother. Taking over her grandmother's role within the village she uses her organisational skills to plan the May Day fete. Alongside this, she also meets an old school friend who has developed into quite a hunk. Obviously, this doesn't mean anything to Leena as she has a devoted boyfriend back in London.

In London, grandmother Eileen initially struggles with city life, particularly travelling on the tube, she's also amazed that neighbours don't know each other. As she delves into the online dating scene she also decides to make the communal area of the block of flats more welcoming and this leads to her creating a social hub for the elderly.

Not everything is sweetness and light, author Beth O'Leary isn't afraid to touch on some challenging issues. Loneliness, the perils of online dating and romance scams are just a few of the issues but grief is the main one. We see that grief isn't a "one size, fits all" process, people handle grief in different ways, on different timescales.

The Switch shows that age knows no bounds and that sometimes a fresh pair of eyes or a different perspective is just what is needed to solve a problem.

Author Details

Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over a million copies and is now a major TV series. Her subsequent novels, The Switch, The Road Trip and The No-Show, were all instant bestsellers, and The Switch has been optioned by Amblin Partners, Steven Spielberg’s production company. Beth writes her books in the Hampshire countryside with a very badly behaved Golden Retriever for company. If she’s not at her desk, you’ll usually find her curled up somewhere with a book, a cup of tea and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather). 

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

 

When an old man is found dead on a bus Jackson Lamb is convinced that there are links to an underground network of Russian spies. The spooks at Slough House have to put their lives on the line to uncover the truth.

Having loved all three series of Slow Horses on TV I'm determined to read the first four books in the series before season four premiers. I read the first book in the series, Slow Horses, back in January of this year. The second season of the TV series is based on the second book, Dead Lions.

The first part of the story focuses on Jackson Lamb, the prickly, unkempt, un-PC head of Slough House in his quest to figure out what an old spy had uncovered. Discovering a cryptic message the hunt is on for a Russian spy who possibly doesn't exist and was simply invented to cause confusion and mistrust. The spy in question supposedly created the "cicadas" a long-buried network of Russian assets just waiting to spring to life and cause chaos. It is up to River Cartwright to infiltrate a small English village to try and uncover the truth. Luckily nothing can go wrong in a sleepy little village, or can it?

While all of this is happening there is a second story involving the visit to London of a Russian oligarch. Spider Webb is keen to turn the Russian to his advantage, but keen to keep things at arms length for deniability reasons. Webb enlists two of the slow horses to help, Min Harper and Louise Guy. Neither realise that Webb is using them to protect his own credibility, instead, they see the job as a possible route back into the heart of MI5.

There are lots of twists and quite a few shocking moments. As usual, people take Jackson Lamb for granted, little realising that he is usually a couple of steps ahead of them. Despite being a spy thriller this story really is character-driven. Each member of Slough House is given a chance to show their skills and personality, particularly Catherine Standish and Roddy Ho. Standish is an excellent foil for Lamb, who seems to be even more disgusting than in the first book. We also get to meet a couple of new members of the team, and I use the word team loosely since all of the younger members of Slough House are looking out for themselves. 

The pace of both stories never lets up. As the tension builds the lives of some of the characters are at risk. From reading the first book in the series I'm aware that characters are expendable so the trepidation as I read on was real. It becomes a race against time as both stories reach their explosive conclusions.

Author Details

Mick Herron is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Slough House thrillers, which have won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, two CWA Daggers, been published in twenty-five languages, and are the basis of a major TV series starring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb. He is also the author of the Zoë Boehm series, and the standalone novels Reconstruction and This is What Happened. Mick was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and now lives in Oxford.

Plot Twist by Breea Keenan (Audiobook)

 

Becca Taylor is consumed with grief when her best friend dies. Unable to continue with her teaching job she decides to take up the offer made by a friend she has met online and go to Ireland for a short break. 

If you want something light that is filled with engaging characters then Plot Twist by Breea Keenan is ideal. Becca Taylor is a primary school teacher and an aspiring children's author. She has befriended a romance author, Riley, online and they encourage each other in their writing as well as share other details about their lives.

When Becca's best friend dies she is overcome with grief and guilt, after all, Raye was on her way to visit Becca. Life seems to go from bad to worse when she discovers that Raye was in a secret relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Drew.

In true romantic fiction style, Becca chooses to run away from life. Her online writing friend, Riley, offers her somewhere to stay, pointing out that they can support and encourage each other with their writing. In typical romantic fiction style assumptions are made which lead to unexpected outcomes. Becca assumed Riley was female, only to discover he's a very good-looking man. She then assumes he's a widow.

Becca is like a fish out of water as she adapts to life in the country. She quickly learns that in a small community, everyone knows everybody else's business, and secrets are almost impossible to keep. There is also a strong sense of support and camaraderie. 

As Riley and Becca work on their writing they playfully discuss all the usual tropes used in romantic fiction. It certainly raised a smile that the author poked fun at the genre.

The narration from Joy McAvoy added to my enjoyment as it was easy to differentiate between the different characters and her accent made you feel as if you were in Ireland. The narration of Ivy was superb, she really brought to life the cheeky child.

There are ups and downs as life throws obstacles in the way, Breea Keenan doesn't shy away from some uncomfortable topics, but we know where the story is going to end, happily.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a review copy.

Author Details

Breea Keenan has been writing professionally for 18 years. She has a first-class honours degree in English Literature, Journalism and Creative Writing from Strathclyde University, and worked as a journalist for various media titles before moving into communications and marketing. Her poetry was selected for inclusion in Blether (Scottish Book Trust) and Living During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Legend Times). Breea lives near Glasgow with her husband and three children. Plot Twist is her debut novel.

 

They Thought I Was Dead by Peter James

 

Sandy Grace, wife of detective Roy Grace, simply disappears one day. There are no clues and at one point suspicion even falls on her husband. As the story unfolds, we discover her reason for disappearing and what happens to her over the next decade.

To date, Dead Simple, the first book in the Roy Grace series, remains my favourite. At the start of the series Roy’s wife, Sandy, is already missing. Over the next decade, and the proceeding books, author Peter James kept his fans wondering about exactly what happened to Sandy. We had possible sightings but nothing concrete until the twelfth book in the series, Love You Dead.

They Thought I Was Dead is Sandy’s story. We find out about her upbringing and early years married to Roy. More importantly, we discover exactly why she disappeared. Sandy was a gambling addict and had run up debts with an unauthorised money lender. Worried about the repercussions and the shame she would bring to Roy she felt the only solution was to disappear.

Sandy was fortunate that she met a rich man with the connections she needed to escape, including changing her identity. What she didn’t realise was that she was exchanging one life-threatening situation for another.

As a long-time fan of the Roy Grace series, I’ve always wondered what happened to Sandy, and why she would leave what appeared to be a happy marriage. They Thought I Was Dead answers those questions and Sandy doesn’t come out of it well. Author Peter James has done a fantastic job writing from Sandy’s perspective, giving her a distinct voice, unfortunately, I found her to be shallow, self-absorbed, ungrateful and weak. Sandy never seemed to be content with what she had, always wanting more.

We are given a glimpse into the personality of Sandy’s son, Bruno. In the Roy Grace series, it is obvious that he isn’t a “normal” child and we discover exactly why. I was hoping for a little more about Bruno, particularly as I was always on edge when he was featured in the Roy Grace books.

Overall, the book gives us answers and what I consider to be a satisfying, and suitable, conclusion.

They Thought I Was Dead by Peter James will be published on 9^th May 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy.

Author Details

Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger.

To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 19 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage – the most recent being Looking Good Dead. 

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland

 

When an agoraphobic jumps in front of a train everyone assumes suicide. DCI Cara Elliot isn’t so sure. Why would an agoraphobic leave their home to end their life? Two more suspicious deaths in quick succession have the team wondering if they have a serial killer on their hands.

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland is book 3 in the Major Crimes series. Anyone who has read the previous books, The Echo Man and The Twenty will know that the author pulls no punches regarding serial killers. This time around the killing is far more insidious with someone seemingly persuading people to end their lives. Some of the descriptions are graphic so we still have the same dark and disturbing tone we expect from the author.

You don't need to have read the previous two books in the series to enjoy The Puppet Master, however, events that took place in the preceding books are mentioned. By reading the previous books you will have a greater understanding of the team dynamics and what motivates the actions of some of the members.

It is when three suicides take place in a short space of time that Cara realises that something is wrong. Her team is depleted following the events of the previous two books. She also needs someone she can trust, who thinks outside the box, and who understands what it is to reach rock bottom. Hence, Cara persuades her brother Nate Griffin to return to policing.

There are no obvious links between the victims so the team is expanded again by introducing a tech expert, someone who can search the internet looking for connections. However, no matter how deep they dig nothing seems to connect the individuals. While they investigate the killer claims more victims.

Fans of the series will be well aware that no one is safe in a Sam Holland book, even those trying to track down the killer. With a murderer intent on killing those struggling with their mental health more than one of the team could be in danger of becoming prey.

Unexplained deaths, fallible characters and an unrelenting pace keep you turning the pages. The conclusion will have you holding your breath. As for the epilogue, I just wonder what is lined up for the next book in the series.

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland will be published on 9^th May 2024 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Sam Holland is the award-winning author of the Major Crimes series, following detectives as they investigate murders committed by brutal serial killers in the south of England. Her debut, The Echo Man, shocked and enthralled readers and reviewers alike with its sinister depiction of a serial killer copying notorious real-life murderers of the past.

Her books have been published in 11 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany and the Netherlands, where she became the first author to win the Bronze Bat for her debut and the Silver Bat for best thriller in consecutive years at the Nederlands Thrillerfestival.

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

 

When Clayton Stumper’s guardian, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away he decides that it is the right time to try and find out about the parents who abandoned him as a baby on the steps of Creighton Hall, the home of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr is a wonderfully uplifting read, although there are times when it will tug at your heartstrings. The story is filled with engaging characters, a puzzle or two, and a mystery along the way.

The story opens with Pippa discovering a hatbox on the steps of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, the home she shares with other like-minded people. The box contains a baby boy, only a few days old. Pippa has no children of her own, has never married and at sixty-seven is a little old to be thinking about raising a child but, she knows she will have the help and support of the other residents of The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers.

We then jump back to 1979 and learn about how Pippa founded The Fellowship. Pippa is a well-known compiler of cryptic crosswords, although she hides behind a masculine pseudonym. Knowing that there must be like-minded people out there she decides to form a club in the upstairs room of a pub. She is surprised by the variety of people that turn up, many of whom feature throughout the remainder of the story. The meeting becomes a regular event and after a few years Pippa comes up with the idea of buying what was once her ancestral home, Creighton Hall, to form a type of commune for some of the members of The Fellowship.

It is not a surprise that Pippa decides to form a commune, she sees like-minded people who accept her for who she is and her accomplishments. Despite being "presentable", her intelligence has always frightened ordinary men and she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. As a result of this, she’s a little lonely. You get the impression that the men who make up the majority of The Fellowship are loners too. What Pippa offers them is a sense of community, a family.

As we learn about the establishment of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers we also follow Clayton on his quest for information. At twenty-five he’s had a fairly sheltered upbringing, surrounded by the elderly residents of The Fellowship. Clayton doesn’t resent them for this, he’s always been happy, it is only recently that he’s begun to wonder about his parentage. Pippa always knew this day would come so prepared a series of puzzles for Clayton to follow.

For Clayton, this is a voyage of self-discovery as he leaves the warmth and protection of The Fellowship. You can feel his trepidation, he has no idea of where the journey will lead him or who he will meet. As Clayton follows the clues laid out for him, he meets new people along the way, some of whom will have quite an impact on his life. He also learns a little bit more about Pippa.

There is heartbreak along the way, I became so invested in these characters that I felt the pain. You also feel immense sympathy towards Pippa when she feels as if she has let the rest of The Fellowship down because she struggles to relinquish control or ask for help.

As Clayton finally gets the answers he was looking for and Pippa learns that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness we realise that family isn’t necessarily the one you are born into. Family can take many guises, it’s the people who love and nurture you, accepting you no matter what.

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr will be published on 9^th May 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for a review copy.

 

Author Details

Samuel Burr is a TV producer who has worked on popular factual shows including the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. Samuel’s writing was selected for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He previously studied at Westminster Film School.

 

                          

The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone

 

It is six months since the Enceladons arrived on earth and they've all but disappeared. Ava is on trial for her husband's murder. Lennox and Heather are being held captive at a military site and used in experiments to try and communicate with the aliens. 

The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone is the second book in The Enceladons trilogy. To get the most out of this wonderful story you really must read the first book in the series, The Space Between Us. Don't let the thought of either of these books being science fiction put you off, they certainly don't come across as typical of the genre. It would be better to think of the books as modern fairy tales or morality tales.

With events taking place six months after the Enceladons descended from the sky it is amazing that there is virtually no public interest. The event has been manipulated by the government and media and passed off as fake news. The only people who have shown any interest are those who feel a connection to the creatures and have set up a camp on the outskirts of the military base on the edge of Loch Broom.

The military sees the aliens as a threat to the status quo, particularly because the different species are able to live together in harmony and pose no threat to humanity, they are simply looking for a new home. By experimenting on Lennox, Heather, Ava and her baby, Chloe, they hope to find out how the Enceladons communicate and track them down since they have gone into hiding.

Thankfully, there are people both inside the base and outside who are willing to help the captives, they realise that "people have power when they work together" and that power is multiplied beyond belief when they work with the Enceladons. I'm trying my hardest to keep this a spoiler-free zone, you really do need to read, and experience, this book for yourself. I read it in a day because I was so invested in all the characters I wanted to know what happened to them.

There is so much to unpack in the novel, this would make an ideal choice for a reading group. As well as the misinformation and media control mentioned at the beginning there is also the plight of refugees, military powers akin to Nazi Germany, animal welfare and the fragility of the human body. These, and so much more, are all wrapped up in a story where the pace never lets up for a moment. And now, it's a case of waiting for the third book in the trilogy to discover what happens next.

The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone is available now in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Author Details

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

March 2024 Reads

 

March was a good month for reading. Not only did I manage to read nine books but I also got through four audiobooks. To make things even better, there wasn't a dud among them. Each month one or two books really stand out but it is almost impossible to pick from the superb selection I read last month.

The month began with one of my favourite series. Neil Lancaster takes the “prisoner escape” story and turns it on its head in The Devil You Know. One of the Hardie crime family offers information in exchange for better conditions during his term in prison, but, he insists Max Craigie must not be involved. Craigie knows never to trust a Hardie, so you fully expect him to say “I told you so” when the police transport containing Hardie is ambushed. Fast-paced, action-packed and a conclusion that has you filled with fear.

A Clock Stopped Dead by J. M. Hall sees a return to the retired primary school teachers Pat, Thelma and Liz as they investigate a spooky disappearing charity shop that may be the cause of a woman’s death. The investigation causes a rift in their friendship as they strike out in different directions looking for answers.

I couldn’t put Clickbait down. In a similar style to her previous book, The Ugly Truth, author L. C. North uses a variety of media to highlight the façade of reality TV. During a long-running TV show featuring a “real” family, an old clip re-ignites interest in a missing person case. We learn that lies and manipulation are used to gain, and keep, fame.

A thriller with a great twist is The Gathering by C. J. Tudor. When a teenager is murdered in a remote Alaskan town it’s the people that live on the margins of society that are the suspects. In this case, those people are a colony of vampyrs. It’s up to a detective to decide if the colony poses a threat to the rest of the town and authorise a cull before the inhabitants take matters into their own hands.

Twitter has been abuzz with praise for The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher so I decided to see what I was missing out on. Set in a residential home where the manager falls from a third-floor window we have an elderly resident, Florrie, investigating if it was attempted murder. BUT, this isn’t really a crime story, it’s all about Florrie as we delve into her past and journey with her through all the exotic places she’s lived and all the people who have loved her. Florrie, along with many of the supporting characters, are wonderful and I was sad to end my time with them.

Part crime thriller, part legal mystery, Seven Days by Robert Rutherford takes us from Whitley Bay, to Paris and on to New York as Alice Logan tries to find proof of her estranged father’s innocence. He was convicted of a brutal murder and his execution date has been set for seven days time. I enjoyed the moral questions this book brought up.

Profile K by Helen Fields is a cat-and-mouse thriller about a psychopath and an analyst who has identified his disturbing data as they race to track each other down. There are some dark and disturbing scenes as we see inside the killer’s mind, along with a multi-national organisation that has Big Brother tendencies. Definitely one to read with the lights on.

Another book that has been all over Twitter is The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr. If you enjoy a mystery (no murder this time around) and puzzles then this book will be right up your street. Pippa Allsbrook forms a commune of like-minded puzzle lovers. When a baby is abandoned on their doorstep, they raise the boy together. Twenty-five years later the boy, Clayton, has to follow a series of clues to discover his parentage. This is one of those books filled with such wonderful characters, particularly Pippa, that you’ll be hooked from the first page.

I rounded the month off with a serial killer thriller in the form of The Puppet Master by Sam Holland. Book 3 in the Major Crimes series is as dark and disturbing as you would expect but the killing is more insidious as the murderer persuades the victims to commit suicide. Not even the team are safe as they search for links connecting the victims.

Audiobooks

The Final Hours Of Muriel Hinchcliffe M. B. E. by Claire Parkin had me gripped. Ruth is Muriel’s carer, they’ve been friends all their lives. When Muriel predicts she’ll be dead in 72 hours, Ruth’s life spins out of control. We learn of the life-long friendship filled with jealousy, resentment and manipulation.

Looking for some light relief I decided to listen to something by Beth O’Leary as I’ve seen the author mentioned a lot on Twitter recently. Luckily BorrowBox had her first novel, The Flat Share, available as an audiobook. This is one of those stories where you know exactly where it is going to end, the fun is in how it gets there. I loved the main characters, Tiffy and Leon, they felt very real. I’ll certainly try more by this author.

Mother Of The Bride by Samantha Hayes introduced one of the most hateful characters I’ve come across in a long time. Lizzie and her fiancé find themselves with nowhere to live when they return from living in Dubai. She reluctantly agrees to live in her childhood home with her mother Sylvia. Sylvia is bitter, resentful and controlling. Living at home brings back unhappy memories for Lizzie and raises lots of questions.

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce initially seems to be three separate stories. Anna, newly released from prison and trying to find out why her cellmate killed herself. Lucy is obsessed with her professor. Marie, lives in a cabin on the shore of a remote loch. Gradually, the stories of the three women begin to converge and you wonder who is dangerous and who you can trust. The narrator really makes the hairs on your neck stand on end.

Publications dates to look out for:-

A Clock Stopped Dead by J. M. Hall will be published on 11/4/24 in paperback, ebook and audio format.

Clickbait by L. C. North will be published on 11/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor will be published on 11/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce will be published on 11/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher will be published on 18/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Seven Days by Robert Rutherford will be published on 25/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

Profile K by Helen Fields will be published on 25/4/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Fellowship Of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr will be published on 9/5/24 in hardback, ebook and audio format.

The Puppet Master by Sam Holland will be published on 9/5/24 in paperback, ebook and audio format.