REVIEW: Don't Forget Me by B.C. Schiller (ARC)

Don't Forget Me (Levi Kant #1) by B.C. Schiller

Genre: Crime fiction, thriller

Read: 11th February 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 12th December 2019)

★★★★ 4 stars

German author B.C. Schiller is the combination of husband and wife writing team Barbara and Christian Schiller. Together they belong to the most successful crime authors in the German speaking world, and it isn't hard to see why. They have written dozens of crime novels but DON'T FORGET ME is the first I have come across by the authors that has been translated into English.

At just over 200 pages long, DON'T FORGET ME is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that I found to be an incredibly enjoyable and easy read. I was intrigued by the premise which outlined two separate storylines - the first of which is the death of a teenager while the other was the disappearance of a husband and daughter 5 years ago...incidentally around the same time as the teen's death. Coincidence?

The story begins with psychiatrist Dr Olivia Hofmann, whose husband and daughter mysteriously vanished five years prior without a trace. She is fraught with grief and plagued by her own guilt and the mystery of what could possibly have happened to them. She lives alone, takes in private patients as well as working at the clinic her father, also a psychiatrist, once used to head...before Alzheimer's took away his memories.

Every year on the anniversary of her family's disappearance, Olivia receives an anonymous postcard with just two words "I'm sorry". Today is that day. And without fail, the postcard arrives. There is nothing to identify who is sending them which frustrates Olivia even further. Does someone know something? Could it be her husband? Or is this a killer's sadistic way of taking pleasure in her grief?

Unaware of the floodgates she is about to open, Olivia's patient that day confides to her during their session that he has seen a young teenager he knew during his time at the clinic. Only problem is, this girl was murdered five years ago...around the time Olivia's family had disappeared. But Jonathan is adamant. The girl was Lisa and he can prove it - he took her photo with his mobile phone. The photo, however, is blurry and could be anyone...although it does bear some resemblance to Lisa Manz. Jonathan also claims to have Lisa's rucksack that she left behind which was easily identifiable as belonging to her. He begs Olivia to come to his flat so that he can give it to her and she agrees to visit the following morning. Then before Jonathan leaves, he thrusts something into Olivia's hands with obvious fear in his eyes, claiming it was also Lisa's but that it frightened him. It was a pendant with two snakes interwoven together with distinctive ruby red eyes. It was a little disconcerting to look at but a stunning piece.

When Olivia arrives at Jonathan's flat the next morning, she finds him hanging out the window screaming words that don't make a lot of sense. She sees a shadow behind him the instant before Jonathan falls to his death. The police arrive and question her but after searching his flat and finding Lisa's rucksack believe they have found Lisa's murderer who, in a wave of guilt, jumped to his death and now they can finally close the five year old case. But Olivia is sure Jonathan didn't jump. He was pushed. But the police are just as adamant. The evidence speaks for itself.

Enter Levi Kant. Levi was in charge of the investigation into Lisa's murder before a bullet ended his career, leaving him now teaching at the police academy. When a former colleague calls Levi to inform him of this development in the Lisa's case, Levi drops everything and rushes to the scene. There he meets Olivia and together they join forces to find out the truth of what really happened to Lisa Manz. Who murdered her? Or is she still alive and someone else had been burnt beyond recognition in her place five years before? And is there a connection between Lisa's case and Olivia's missing family?

By re-opening the case, Olivia and Levi are then put in mortal danger as the killer is onto them and will stop at nothing to remain hidden. Olivia finds herself in hospital after being rammed by a 4WD on her bicycle, her flat is broken into and Lisa's files are stolen and her father is also put in danger when his place is also ransacked. What went on at the clinic five years ago that someone wants to keep secret?

The unfolding of the case at hand threw up lots of questions, doubt and had me second guessing just about everyone. For everyone, it seemed, had secrets but uncovering them proved to be a difficult, if not dangerous, task. Even the murderer escaped my detection!!

I did find the scene where Olivia's father's flat was being searched and ransacked somewhat distressing. Having a father with dementia myself, it was confronting to witness Leopold's confusion at the events taking place before him with no idea what was happening although he still had the nous to call his daughter and alert her. For a psychiatrist to be so insensitive to someone with dementia and their failing memory by taking advantage of it was both abhorrent and distressing.

The action was non-stop in this fast paced thriller which was totally binge-worthy. I could not turn the pages quick enough and thoroughly enjoyed the storylines that were interwoven together. Despite it not being the smoothest of translations, making some of the dialogue a little stilted and awkward, it didn't detract from the book as a whole because it was so well-written in its simplicity despite the story was a complex one. It didn't need the WOW factor to impress or intrigue - the way the author engages the reader through their skilled writing was enough. It was quick, enthralling and entirely compelling that I cannot wait for the translation of the second book!!

DON'T FORGET ME is essentially a German-written book and while sometimes things can be lost in translation I don't think that should be the focus. The story is both complex and simplistic making it an intriguing and thrilling read.

The one thing that I felt let it down was the premise promised more in the way of Olivia's missing family that I thought it may have featured just a little bit more in the story. Having said that, the cliffhanger left us with the promise of more to come on that front and I hope Book 2 features the mystery surrounding their disappearance a little more.

Overall, if you are looking for a quick, easy read that is both intriguing and binge-worthy then look no further than DON'T FORGET ME!! I certainly recommend it.

Bring on Book 2!!

I would like to thank #BCSchiller, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #DontForgetMe in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham (ARC)

The Secret Messenger by Mandy Robotham

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2

Read: 9th February 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 12th December 2019)

★★ 2 stars

Despite there being an influx of historical fiction set during WW2, I never tire of the era and enjoy reading the different locations and people the war affected. So I was excited at the prospect of reading this addition to the genre. Added to that, THE SECRET MESSENGER was a dual timeline story set between German-occupied Venice in the 1940s and modern day London and Bristol. I do love a dual timeline tale!

Venice 1944: Stella Jilani is a 27 year old proud Venetian, longing for the Venice of old. One that includes freedom from Nazi occupation and Italy's fascist dictator Mussolini. Ever since she was a young girl, Stella loved to write and as soon as she was old enough she gained a job on a newspaper as a journalist. But that came to an end when a story came her way about an incident where she was told by her editor to embellish the story in favour of the fascists. Stella wanted only to tell the truth but the truth was not what the paper wanted...they wanted propaganda that supported the fascist regime.

But Stella would not be swayed. She put her journalist experience to good use in the Venice Resistance Brigade writing for their underground newspaper. And she is soon given the position of a typist and translator for a high ranking Reich officer at Nazi High Command, where she secretes information she obtains in her position and passes it on to the members of the Resistance. As a secret messenger she walks a fine line each day relaying this information as well as trafficking essential supplies.

Throughout her journey is her beloved typewriter her grandfather gave her long before the war. On it, she produces information that is published in the forbidden underground newspaper. She also begins a tale of love which inadvertently makes it way into an edition, enthralling many Venetians alike, as they eagerly await the next installment. Even her colleague Cristain De Luca, Head Secretary to General Bruegal who she also works for, is intrigued by the story.

Cristian is a bit of a dark horse and Stella has trouble working him out. There are times she sees something of a sensitive side in him but at others he fixes her with a cold stare and she wonders if she had merely imagined it. But one thing is for sure, Stella must keep her secret life from Cristian for in this war you can trust no one. And yet, she cannot help but enjoy his company when they are away from Nazi High Command.

But then, Stella's life is threatened when the Nazi's search her apartment looking for her typewriter, after receiving information that she was the one responsible for the underground newspaper and the story that had captured Venetians. Breugal and Strauss have long been suspicious of her activities and when they find nothing in her apartment, she is then sacked from her position at Nazi Command, the newspaper disbanded and a warrant is issued for her arrest. Before she is captured, she receives paperwork entitling her to a travel pass which enables her to escape. However, she is confused as the pass is signed by Breugal just as her arrest warrant is. But Stella doesn't wait for explanations, hastily bidding her Venice goodbye as she makes her escape.

But her story does not end there...

London 2017: Luisa Belmont has recently lost her mother and is clearing out her vast home when she comes across an old typewriter in the attic. Having never seen it before, Luisa has no idea who it belongs to. So she decides to delve into the past to discover the story behind this piece of history. Along with the typewriter she also finds some old photos and some crumbling documents hidden away in a box and she wonders why her mother has kept this part of her heritage hidden away. The people in the photos are very obviously relatives as she recognises her mother in the features of the young woman though the photo was dated 1950...and her mother was born in 1953. She resolves that it must be her grandmother.

Luisa is aware that her mother and grandmother fell out some years before and hardly ever spoke. Her own mother was cold and distant and she pondered on whether the relationship with her own mother was then reflected in that which she later shared with her only daughter. Although she had shared half her life with her distant mother she felt that she didn't really know her...or much about their Italian heritage.

In the course of her delving into the past, Luisa discovers the story of her grandmother's life in Venice during WW2, her secrets, her sacrifices, her fears and ultimately, finding love.

I love historical fiction but it took me a while to find my way through this book and I felt it was very slow moving...not just at the beginning, but throughout much of the story.

THE SECRET MESSENGER had an intriguing premise...but for me, it fell a bit flat in its storytelling. Although I was intrigued by the story and was eager to find out what happened, I found the writing to be too descriptive with two of my pet peeves in books - 1) long chapters, and 2) incessant monologuing by Stella detailing just about everything that inadvertently puts me to sleep. I was disappointed because I thought the story had promise. I, did, however soldier on to finish the book...admittedly, skimming a lot of in-between monologuing that I could do without.

There was so much that didn't make sense to me as the author didn't bother to translate some of words, both in dialogue and Stella's own monologue. My Italian is very limited and it wasn't helped by the lack of translation in parts.

There was also not a lot of relative development in Luisa, despite her being Stella's granddaughter. The reader isn't given much of a chance to get to know Luisa as all she is doing is digging into the past and nothing else. She had no personality and lacked depth. Stella, on the other hand, featured far more than her granddaughter of the present day and yet she still didn't have a lot of development either. Basically all Stella did was monologue about work by day, resistance by night...day in, day out....with not much else in between.

There could have been so much more done with THE SECRET MESSENGER than was done making it simply drowning in the shadow of those far more interesting and intriguing books of a similar vein. I would far more recommend "My Name is Eva" by Suzanne Goldring, "The Secret Letter" by Debbie Rix, "A View Across the Rooftops" by Suzanne Kelman and "A Fight in Silence" by Melanie Metzenthin than THE SECRET MESSENGER. It had so much potential but just failed in the delivery. It actually put me to sleep on several occasions with Stella's endless monologuing.

Having said that, I am in the minority here as many others have thoroughly enjoyed it where I haven't. I was disappointed as I had high expectations for it that it just didn't live up to.

I would like to thank #MandyRobotham, #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #TheSecretMessenger in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Gone by Leona Deakin (ARC)

Gone by Leona Deakin

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 9th February 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 12th December 2019)

★★★★ 4 stars

If I had received a birthday card in the post with the greeting YOUR GIFT IS THE GAME. DARE TO PLAY? I would have tossed it out without a second thought. And if I did think about it, I might be a little paranoid at exactly who was playing with me. I am not a risk-taker; I don't go in for dares; and I certainly don't like to live life on the edge. And the fact that I have a conscience and consider the feelings of those around me proves that I would never fit into this category of very special people.
Psychopaths.

But not your serial killer type of psychopath. These people are what are known as functioning psychopaths. They have psychopathic personalities but are not necessarily bad people. They just don't think or feel the way a normal person does. Because they see themselves as far superior to others. To them, everything in this world revolves around them. They are selfish people who manipulate everything to their advantage with no conscience or the ability to understand what it is to have a conscience. Functioning psychopaths are all around us. They can be surgeons, politicians, lawyers - generally those in high paid positions where they reap the accolades they crave and don't care who they step on to get there.

So what does that have to do with this book? Everything. Because GONE is one big game in the battle for superiority. And everyone in the book is a pawn in the master puppeteer's game.

The story begins with Dr Augusta Bloom, a forensic psychologist who has an interest in psychopathic personalities, counselling 14 year old Seraphine Walker. Accused of stabbing the caretaker of the school she attends, Seraphine is claiming self defence. She alleges that Mr Shaw, the caretaker, tried to touch her inappropriately after consistently raping another girl in her class over the period of several weeks. Problem was, Claudia (the other girl) didn't back up her story and said Seraphine attacked him unprovoked. Up until then, Seraphine thought she had been clever. Obviously not clever enough. A mistake she would not make again.

A fascinating character, Seraphine added an unpredictable edge to the story. Even as you read her narrative, you are never really sure if she is telling the truth or not. But even so, her sessions are rather telling, despite trying to hide her true self. Even from early on, I could tell that Seraphine was a psychopath. But just how did she fit into the rest of the story?

The sessions with Seraphine alternated with the main storyline of people going missing on their birthdays after receiving a strange card with the message:

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY.
YOUR GIFT IS THE GAME.
DARE TO PLAY?

Four people - Lana Reid, Faye Graham, Stuart Rose-Butler and Grayson Taylor - are missing. None of them have anything in common...other than the fact that they all disappeared on their birthdays and all received a somewhat unusual birthday card prior to their disappearance. But as it turns out...that's not all they have in common.

Dr Augusta Bloom is on her way to the office when she receives a call from her business partner, Marcus Jameson (ex-MI6), about a woman known to his sister Claire going missing. Her daughter Jane returned home to find her mother gone with no message, no warning, and emptying their bank accounts...leaving Jane with no money for food or rent. Lana, a returned veteran of Afghanistan suffering PTSD, would never leave her daughter, aside from her tours, and Jane and Claire are both fraught with worry.

As Bloom and Jameson investigate, many untruths about Lana come to light. She is not nor ever has been in the armed forces and she certainly has never been to Afghanistan. So where was she going all those times she left Jane with Claire, if not on tour? And where did their money come from, if not from her work in the forces? And where was she now? Does her disappearance have something to do with her lies?

As they dig deeper, Bloom and Jameson uncover even more people who disappeared in similar circumstances after receiving a similar message. What did it all mean? And where were all these people now?

One thing became clear; each of these people displayed psychopathic personalities and each of them had played some kind of trivia quiz on social media that is subtly designed to identify specific personality traits. In this case, psychopathy. And someone is masterminding the entire thing in a game of challenges where participants, should they choose to accept the dare, are given a choice. And each choice leads them to the next challenge and so forth.

The investigation takes them from London to Bristol to Manchester and to Yorkshire. But things take a sinister turn when it appears that this game that is being played before their very eyes has become personal. And soon Bloom and Jameson are forced to make a choice of their own...

GONE is a unique concept with a very original and intriguing plot which had me turning pages at the speed of light. The story was addictive, dark and compelling throughout. I devoured it. The pace was steady and the short snappy chapters kept it moving quickly.

The twist, when it came, I was not surprised by. I admit to working out the mastermind and their role in the story early on as Augusta sat ruminating in her mother's attic. That was when the pieces fell into place for me.

The one thing that really let this book down, apart from the title, was the ending. It fell a bit flat for me. All that hype and lead up...to what, exactly? It left me a little disturbed even. All throughout GONE, it was full throttle ahead with non-stop action...and then suddenly STOP!! And I'm thrown head first through a windscreen of nothingness wondering what the hell happened to end like that!

And then there was the title. I'm not really sure why it was called GONE when it had originally been titled as MIND GAMES, which in my opinion is a far more apt title for this book. Why the change? MIND GAMES was far more appropriate considering the entire book was a mind f***!

However, despite the flat ending, I did thoroughly enjoy GONE. And I look forward to more featuring Dr Bloom and hopefully Marcus Jameson in the future.

I would like to thank #LeonaDeakin, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK for an ARC of #Gone aka #MindGames in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Blossom Twins by Carol Wyer (ARC)

The Blossom Twins (DI Natalie Ward #5) by Carol Eyer

Genre: Crime fiction, police procedural, thriller

Read: 2nd February 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 12th December 2019)

★★★★★ 5 stars

OMG...WOW! WOW! WOW! This isn't just one of the best books in the series...it is THE BEST book in this series! THE BLOSSOM TWINS is the fifth installment in the DI Natalie Ward series and I think it is the best one so far! What can I say that I haven't already done so? This is one of my favourite series and it just gets better and better! As soon as I see one pop up on NetGalley, I don't hesitate in requesting. But this one...is something else!! So where do I start to even begin to give this book justice?

The story opens with 17 year old Kerry accompanying her 14 year old sister Isabella to a free concert in the grounds of a stately home. The boy band, Blasted, is a favourite of many a teenage girl and is the featured act. So when there is a break between performances, Kerry goes to the drinks tent for some refreshments for her and her sister...with Isabella remaining by the arch to keep their place.

But when Kerry returns, there is no sign of Isabella. A search of the area reveals her sister is nowhere to be found and now frantic with worry, Kerry abandons the concert in search of her sister. She finds her phone abandoned in the grass. Something is wrong. Isabella, like any teenage girl, is surgically attached to her phone and would not misplace it so carelessly. So where is Isabella?

The next day, DI Natalie Ward receives the call that the body of a teenage girl has been found in the kitchen garden in the grounds of the estate where the Blasted concert had taken place the night before. DS Lucy Carmichael accompanies Natalie to the scene in the absence of DS Murray Anderson, who is on a well deserved holiday in Australia. When they arrive, Natalie is immediately reminded of a previous case she'd investigated several years before in Manchester - the case of the Blossom Twins. The positioning of the body and the rose petals scattered on and around her are all strikingly similar. But there is one difference...there is only one body, not two.

Still, Natalie feels sure the cases are linked. But how? The killer of the Blossom Twins was caught, arrested and sent to prison where he later killed himself. A sign of guilt? Maybe...except that the killer retracted his earlier confession stating he was innocent. Natalie didn't think anything at the time, but now...she's not so sure.

When 13 year old twins Ivy and Erin Westmore camp out in their backyard one night, it is an adventurous act on their parts considering the girls have never shown any interest in camping before. Still, they bid their parents goodnight and settle in giggling and sharing secrets into the night. The following morning, thinking the girls were having a lie-in, their mother unzipped the tent to wake them. But she found only their bedclothes stuffed into their sleeping bags...with no sign of the twins.

A missing persons investigation is underway lead by the same detective who searched for Natalie's daughter, Leigh, when she went missing earlier in the year during an investigation into missing teenagers who disappeared after accepting a dare online. When Natalie heard about the missing twins, she immediately thought of her own investigation and that of the Blossom Twins. There HAD to be a link.

And then Erin and Ivy's bodies were found in marshland...on their sides facing each other, holding hands and covered in petals. Natalie knew then without a shadow of a doubt the cases were linked. If this wasn't a copycat of the original killer then they had put an innocent man away for the Blossom Twins. And he is back with a vengeance.

In light of her previous boss' retirement she now has a new one, Supt Dan Tasker, who is rather unpleasant and is all about statistics rather than helping the community. He brings in DS John Briggs to assist in Natalie's investigation, as she is a DS down. However, it turns out that Briggs is good friends with the Superintendent and she wonders if her authority is constantly being undermined by the two men. It's clear that Tasker has a favourite and it isn't her. But Briggs is no stranger to Natalie. They had worked together on the original Blossom Twins investigation and no one else knows the case as well as he does. But Briggs is an arrogant player constantly questioning her or going against her. She has no room for someone like him on her team...but she has no say in the matter.

On a personal level, Natalie has her home life to deal with. Her husband David has consistently lied to her and she has had enough. After he had gambled away their savings, he continued to visit gambling sites, betting shops and even bought scratchies. Natalie doesn't have the strength to continue this daily battle especially as her work life is tough enough. Now sleeping in the attic, she has decided that her marriage to David has come to an end...but each time she intends breaking the news to their children, Josh and Leigh, something comes up preventing her from doing so. Is she having second thoughts? Should she leave David or can they make it work? Does she love him enough? And how can she remain connected to her children if they were to separate? And then there is Mike. Her friend, confidante, colleague and now potential love interest. However, both have agreed to put their feelings on hold until she has sorted out the mess that is her marriage. But will Mike wait for her?

Despite all the things thrown at her on a daily basis, Natalie is determined to get to the truth. Is the Blossom Twins killer back? Did they imprison the wrong man? If so, why did he stop for several years? And why is he targeting twins? But nothing will prepare Natalie for the truth when she uncovers it...

That ending...OMG! That ending!! While I began to piece together the puzzle when the truth came out I was still shocked, despite the sense it made as I pondered it at the time. But that wasn't the only shock to come. My goodness!! I was left speechless...breathless...completely stunned! So much so it has taken me nearly a week to write this review. And even then, can I do it proper justice?

Carol Wyer really took a brave step in this book and as I tweeted her my reaction upon finishing the book, she was thrilled that had it generated the response she had been after. All I can say is...WOW!

Natalie and the killer share the primary narration in THE BLOSSOM TWINS. Aside from the investigation and Natalie's personal life, we are also given a glimpse into earlier snippets of the killer's life and ultimately what became the signature of his kills. And then we are given even more in the form of first Isabella's and then Erin and Ivy's brief narratives as to what happened in the lead up to their deaths...given that they had just disappeared and no one knew how or why. It is both intriguing and clever. This was a brilliant touch by Wyer.

I really thoroughly enjoy this series and love all the characters. Each of them shine in their own way in THE BLOSSOM TWINS. But I especially love how it's not dog-eat-dog where everyone is trying to one-up the other. I find those procedurals less endearing. Whereas Natalie and her team all complement each other and work together well. That is what I like to see...not constant angst between the ranks.

There is, of course, plenty of angst on Natalie's home front so she doesn't need it at work too. Her children, Josh and Leigh, have their moments as teenagers but overall are good kids. David is problematic but every so often I see something of what Natalie must have seen in him in the beginning, but the fact that he has consistently lied again and again shows he cannot be trusted and if you can't trust your husband, what hope does your marriage have? I have gone from liking to hating to tolerating David over the course of the series. But I really do believe their marriage has run its course...and particularly now at a time when they will all need to band together and support each other, I don't think their marriage is strong enough to do so. I see it crumbling even more in the next book.

THE BLOSSOM TWINS is a jaw-dropping, heartwrenching, edge-of-your-seat thriller of a police procedural. Just when you think everything has fallen into place, we are sideswiped with a shocker twist! Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year!!

A complex, nail-biting, cleverly written thriller, THE BLOSSOM TWINS is intense and fast-paced from beginning to end. Although you "could" read this as a standalone, I do recommend starting at the beginning of the series to appreciate the characters and their roles and development throughout. Although I did came late to the party, starting at "Last Lullaby" (Book 2), I fully intend on going back and reading the first book when I have the chance. But THE BLOSSOM TWINS is by far the best of the series and I look forward to seeing where Book 6 takes us.

1 - The Birthday
2 - Last Lullaby
3 - The Dare
4 - The Sleepover
5 - The Blossom Twins

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBlossomTwins in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Argument by Victoria Jenkins (ARC)

The Argument by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Domestic thriller, psychological thriller

Read: 31st January 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 10th December 2019)

★★★★ 4 stars

After enjoying Victoria Jenkins' King and Lane series I was disappointed with her last book, "The Divorce", which was her first in the thriller genre. With THE ARGUMENT I was hoping for something a little more intriguing...and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. A book that is surrounded by a single argument sounded fascinating.

The story surrounds Hannah Walters, a stay at home mum, with two beautiful but equally different daughters - Olivia and Rosie. With a loving husband, Michael and a beautiful home, what more could Hannah want? How about a bit more respect and appreciation from her defiant and rebellious teenage daughter? Why couldn't she be more like Rosie, her golden child?

And so it starts with...well...an argument.

Fifteen year old Olivia Walters is told by her mum Hannah that she cannot go to a party. But being 15, does she listen? Of course not! She's 15! So she sneaks out of the house and attends the party anyway. Her mother is fraught with worry, suspecting that Olivia defied her and went anyway, so she waits up. When she does finally get home she's a little tipsy and she shouldn't be surprised to find her mother waiting up for her.

And so the argument begins...

...and it ends with the words every parent has heard from their teenager at some time or another. "I hate you! I am never going to speak to you again!"

But Olivia is determined. She doesn't speak for a day, two days...and soon it turns into a week. Hannah continues to engage with her daughter despite her silence until she decides that two can play that game. She even begins to enjoy the peace and quiet. Until...the nightmare begins...

Late one night, Hannah hears a crash from downstairs. Someone is in their house. But when she and Michael go to investigate, they find Olivia on the stairs. Michael orders her to her room as they continue downstairs. They find the back door windows smashed and a frightening message scrawled on the cupboard doors. Just one word. LIAR.

Did Olivia do this? Was she coming upstairs or going down? Hannah knows her daughter doesn't understand the lengths to which she goes to protect them, believing her mother to be a tyrant. But if she did do this, what exactly does Olivia know?

The nightmare doesn't end there. Keys going missing, phone calls from the school, a stranger on her doorstep. What does it all mean? Is Olivia trying to destroy them? Her own daughter? But then, Hannah holds a secret far greater than anyone knows. And she is sure that it is the reason behind Olivia's defiant and disturbing behaviour.

What starts as a family drama soon turns into something far more deadly. To say that this family is somewhat dysfunctional is an understatement. No one is who they appear to be and all of them are completely screwed up in so many ways. The parents, seemingly protective and loving, don't have any redeeming qualities to them. Michael is distant and never there. Hannah seems to be in a bubble of her own with a narrative that is sometimes as chaotic and confused as she is. Olivia got up my goat from the beginning, blaming everything and her whole life on the way her parents treat her.  But then, what teenager doesn't? In her eyes, her behaviour was a reflection on their treatment of her. I found her to be self-entitled, selfish and a bit of a brat. Rosie, despite her age, seemed to be the most mature of them all...and far wiser than her 10 years.

Told from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Olivia, as well as the odd diary entry, THE ARGUMENT is more than just an argument. It's more than just a family drama. It takes family drama to a whole new level. Only one of these narratives is truthful...and nothing is as it seems.

I normally don't like slow burns but this one was different. There was something about the narratives that just drew me in and I couldn't put it down. The suspense built slowly and the tension was palpable. 70% of the book was family drama so when the twist came and turned everything on its head, I wasn't expecting it! It seriously blew me away...and that doesn't happen often. While I was beginning to put the pieces together I never really expected them to fall into place...

A very different but well-crafted plot, THE ARGUMENT is a psychological thriller that pushes the boundaries. A seriously twisted domestic drama that shatters the illusion brilliantly.

An intriguing and twisted thriller where nothing is as it seems! I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheArgument in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Girls in the Lake by Helen Phifer (ARC)

The Girls in the Lake (Dr Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

Genre: Crime fiction, thriller

Read: 29th January 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publiation date: 9th December 2019)

★★★★ 4 stars

The second in what is promising to be an exciting new series, THE GIRLS IN THE LAKE is an intriguing continuation set just a month after the end of the first book "The Girl in the Grave". I like the easy flow of this series which doesn't bog the reader down in an overwhelming wealth of information which has us Googling for answers at the same time. And the short snappy chapters keep the story moving along at a steady yet increasing pace throughout.

Dr Beth Adams is a forensic pathologist who, after a working as an A&E doctor until her boyfriend tried to kill her seven years ago, moved to the Lakes District and retrained for her current position. Now her ex is behind bars, despite trying to kill her again from beyond his gaol cell, and Beth is attempting to move on with her life.

DS Josh Walker was first on scene and saved Beth from her murderous ex and since then they have been good friends...the only one Beth had come to trust. He was married until he came home early one morning to find his wife Jodie in bed with one of his colleagues. He packed his bags and left, never looking back.

Now Beth and Josh live together in her beautiful secluded home by Lake Windemere. Although their relationship is still new, they have found a  companionship in each other that is safe and comfortable both personally and professionally. Due to the nature of their jobs, both are used to early morning calls. So when the naked body of a young woman is found floating face down in the cold waters of Lake Windemere, Beth and Josh are on the case.

Ethan Scales wakes after a drunken night on his friend James Marshall's boat, hearing something banging against the hull. He climbs to the deck and finds the lifeless and naked body of Leah Burton floating face down in the water. He jumps into the freezing depths, pulls her to safety and tries in vain to save her.

Later that same day, a young boy going fishing sees what he thought to be a discarded sleeping bag in the lake. He wades in to pull the offending article out only to discover it is the bloated face of a dead body starting lifelessly up at him. His scream can be heard around the lake.

At the post mortem, Beth peels back the outer layer of skin from the hand and places it over her own in an attempt to retrieve the fingerprints of their "Jane Doe". The body is then identified as Polish national Julia Bach last seen working for Marcus Johnson in his pub, friend of Ethan Scales and James Marshall.

James owns the boat upon which the first victim, Leah Burton, had been aboard the previous night. Julia worked for Marcus. Coincidence? Beth thinks not.

Tensions rise when the daughter of Josh's partner DC Sally Thomas attends a party aboard the same boat, The Tequila Sunrise, as an unofficial obbo is undertaken by lake wardens. Although Grace appears to be in safe hands, another young woman suddenly falls overboard. She is pulled to safety still clinging to life and reveals that she was pushed. Then against advice, the young woman refuses an ambulance in favour of going home.

Meanwhile, Beth must also deal with the death of her ex who tried to kill her seven years ago as well and Josh's recent questionable behaviour which leads her to his ex-wife Jodie's door. What exactly is he keeping from her?

While THE GIRLS IN THE LAKE doesn't have a complex or intricate plot it is certainly an exciting read with a solid narrative throughout. Told from various perspectives, mostly Beth and Josh's, it is compelling, fast paced with a wealth of information to keep you intrigued.

I really enjoy the format of this series. It is incredibly easy to follow and enjoyable to read and the recurring characters, alongside Beth and Josh, are all extremely likable. I am not a fan of procedurals that must throw in all that constant angst, overly strong female leads and alpha male crap. I want a mystery, a thriller, something to sink my teeth into and not get my blood pressure boiling because of station politics or who's better than who.

I wasn't surprised by the villain as it seemed the most logical of all that was on offer. I think the downfall of this book is that there weren't enough red herrings to throw us off the scent, making the villain extremely easy to pick out. And the ending wasn't the best as I didn't see a lot of reason why. And as a reader, it is always preferable to know the why instead of just the who and the how.

But having said that, I still really enjoyed THE GIRLS IN THE LAKE and eagerly await Beth and Josh's next case together.

I would like to thank #HelenPhifer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlsInTheLake in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Orphans of War by Leah Fleming (ARC)

Orphans of War by Leah Fleming

(2020 edition)

Genre: Historical fiction

Read: 27th January 2020

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication date: 19th May 2016)

★★★★ 4 stars

As anyone who knows me KNOWS I am a sucker for historical fiction, particularly those set in WW2. There is just something about the era...something innocent almost...and of course the setting. The rolling hills and Dales of Yorkshire which just add to the beauty of this story making ORPHANS OF WAR a must read. This is my second Leah Fleming book and it won't be my last.

While it is a dual timeline story, only the the prologue and epilogue take place at the turn of the millennium, with the rest of the story set between 1940 and 1957.

1940: Madeline Belfield lives with her maternal family, uncle George and Granny Mills, in Chadley on the outskirts of Liverpool and loves nothing more than running through the fields with her dog Bertie. But when an air raid blitzes the city whilst she is out grabbing fish and chips for supper, Maddy finds herself pushed into the public shelter by the AR warden...but all she can think about is Bertie and that he is safe. When the all-clear sounds the next morning, Maddy exits the shelter to be greeted by mass devastation. She runs home to the Feathers Inn, where she lives with her uncle and Granny, but it is gone...decimated by the German's bombs. Frantic for Bertie she spends the next few days calling for him amongst the rubble, but she must resign herself to the fact that her only friend has gone.

Maddy now finds herself alone with no one to care for her. Her parents are the famous "Bellaires" duo - Arthur and Dolly Belfield - travelling and performing for troops so Maddy was left in the care of her mother's brother and mother. She knows nothing of her father's family, believing there to be no one. But whens she receives a telegram from who appears to be her father's mother, Maddy is sent off to West Yorkshire to live with them. Her parents will set sail from Cape Town as soon as possible to arrive back by Christmas and be reunited with their daughter.

Along the way she meets Gloria and Sid Conley, who are shoved rather unceremoniously on the train by their mother...with a letter in Gloria's coat pocket for whoever is to take charge of the two children. The children are frightened by this turn of events and crowded train of strangers, and they cling to Maddy for dear life, refusing to let go even when they reach Leeds, where Maddy is to meet her aunt.

Prunella Belfield (Plum) is Maddy's aunt and is at the station to meet the evacuees along with Maddy to take back to Sotherthwaite. The evacuees are her new charges to reside in the Old Vic, a hostel on the edge of the Belfield estate. Maddy is to reside in Brooklyn Hall. Plum sends Greg, the oldest of her charges off to find Maddy and he returns with not one but three children. Maddy explains the situation in which Gloria and Sid came to be in her company and how she has promised that they will take care of them.

And so begins the adventures of the "vaccies".

Throughout the years, we see them grow and follow their various adventures through life...until the end of the war sees only a couple remain. Whilst the premise billed the story of the evacuees, it is really only follows two of them alongside Maddy. We are taken through the war and their coming of age, as we watch Maddy and Gloria grow as forever friends and Greg become a young man, a far cry from the troublesome lad he had always been seen as. But adulthood brings a whole new set of challenges which will fill us with a range of emotions - from grief to anger to love to heartbreak - as the story moves into a new decade.

Although titled ORPHANS OF WAR, I felt it would have been more aptly named as THE VICTORY TREE. The war plays just a small part of the story but "the  Victory tree", named for a previous war and for its V shaped trunk, which stands behind the old hostel on the edge of the Belfield estate plays a far greater part. It is the headquarters of their childhood games and later the home of a dark secret. For Maddy, it is also a place of solace. The story begins with the tree, grows with the tree and ends with the tree. So I believe THE VICTORY TREE would have been a far more significant title.

The story had a wonderful array of characters that were both irritating and interesting. I really liked Maddy and identified with her, if only for her "Panda" as I had one I grew up with also and still have to this day. She is the predominantly the main character with Plum, Granny Belfield, Greg, Gloria, the Battys and the like all supporting characters. A really disliked Gloria, even as a child, and as she grew I disliked her even more. She is a selfish, jealous, self-centred cow and Maddy was better off with an enemy than Gloria as a friend. She coveted everything Maddy had and she still wasn't happy. Yet through it all, she failed to see just what Maddy had lost. I found it hard to be sad for her even in the end as she had brought it all on herself. I enjoyed the scenes with Granny Belfield, a rather cantankerous and stubborn old woman but with a heart somewhere deep within. I also enjoyed watching Greg grow from a troubled lad to a prosperous man with ambition.

I really enjoyed ORPHANS OF WAR but I felt there was a lot that could have been left out as well as a lot of repetition and other parts that could possibly have been expanded on. For example, there was a point in the story as children Greg had done something which deeply upset and offended Maddy after-which she said she would never speak to him again...and then in the next chapter, they were bosom buddies again. There was nothing to explain how she got past that and moved on with their friendship. And what happened to the other evacuees? They just sort of petered out and maybe mentioned in passing once or if that. I felt some parts of the story was skimmed over and others we were given way too much information on, drawing it out even further.

The chapters were unnecessarily long in parts. I mean, 55 minutes to a chapter? I think 20 minutes to 30 minutes is sufficient in historical fiction. But again, I feel this is due to the rehashing and repetition of events that didn't need re-going over. Along with Maddy's constant self-loathing, believing she was not deserving of happiness. I can understand that but to keep rehashing it? It did draw each chapter out that little bit longer.

Overall, ORPHANS OF WAR is a wonderful escape from reality, an easy read even if it is a tad long. I still thoroughly enjoyed it and the adventures surrounding the longstanding Victory tree.

A beautiful tale with a satisfying end, ORPHANS OF WAR is at times heartbreaking as we follow Maddy, Gloria, Greg and Plum through love, loss, tragedy, grief, deceit, betrayal, secrets and, ultimately, redemption.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction.

I would like to thank #LeahFleming, #NetGalley and #AvonUK for an ARC of #OrphansOfWar in exchange for an honest review.