REVIEW: Love and Loss at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi

Love and Love at the Beach Hotel (The Beach Hotel #4) by Francesca Capaldi

Genre: Historical fictionn, Sagas, WW1

Read: 16th November 2024

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Published: 21st November 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Can true love win the day?

Hetty Affleck is working as a maid at the prestigious Beach Hotel in Littlehampton. Her beau, Lorcan, is away at war and has recently stopped replying to her letters but she is determined to keep her spirits up. When she meets wealthy shipbuilder's son Victor Perryman, they pass the time of day and they both feel a connection but she can’t allow herself to think anything more of it - not only does she have Lorcan to think of, but she and Victor are divided by wealth and class.

Yet they meet again and Hetty is charmed and intrigued by Victor and his openness towards her. It becomes harder to ignore the attachment growing between them.

When Lorcan comes back on leave, Hetty is forced to face her true feelings. Who does she really love, and can that love conquer everything in its path?

MY THOUGHTS:

Can true love win the day...?

What a delight it is to return to the prestigious Beach Hotel in Littlehampton and the flurry of staff and guests there! And who doesn't love to be by the seaside? Even in a storm?

I have delighted in this series since it began following the stories of first Edie, then Lili, then Helen herself and now Hetty. I also enjoyed seeing some of the regulars continue to pop up such as the Major, a resident at the hotel, as well as much of the staff and those guests who pop in from time to time. 

The focus of this fourth installment is Hetty Affleck who works as head stillroom maid (I was most interested in what that actually entailed, having never heard of it before). She and one of the other staff members, Irish lad Lorcan Foley, had only just begun stepping out together when he enlisted thus joining the fight at the front. Their relationship had barely begun but Hetty agreed to write to him and he her.

After three long years, despite early forecasts predicting it would be over by Christmas, Hetty began to wonder if she was merely writing to keep his spirits up as what they had barely constituted as anything but friendship. Besides, any leave he had he'd returned home to Ireland rather than return to the Beach Hotel to see her. Didn't that say something about their relationship, such as it was?

Then his letters seemed to have stopped. Even on her birthday he failed to send her something as he usually did. Did that mean something had happened to him? Or had he simply decided to end their friendship? Hetty isn't sure how she feels.

When she meets wealthy shipbuilder's son Victor Perryman, they exchange greetings and pass the time of day but nothing more. And yet she feels a connection to him, like a bolt of electricity every time she is in his company. But she is just a maid serving him and his family whilst he is upper middle class, certainly not for the likes of her. Besides, she has Lorcan to think of. But the more she sees of Victor, the more she is charmed and intrigued by the handsome young man. And the more time they spend together the more the pair realise how alike they are and it soon becomes difficult to deny the growing attachment between them.

And then Lorcan returns suddenly on leave and Hetty is forced to face her true feelings. Who does she truly love? And can love conquer all the obstacles thrown in their path?

A truly delightful, heartwarming and emotional wartime saga that is such a wonderful read that I devoured it in one sitting, not wanting to leave Littlehampton and its inhabitants for one minute. I can't wait to see whose story we get to follow next and what the author has in store for us.

A heartwarming 5 stars!

I would like to thank #FrancescaCapaldi, #Netgalley and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #LoveAndLossAtTheBeachHotel in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Francesca has enjoyed writing since she was a child. Born in Worthing, Sussex, and brought up in Littlehampton, she was largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was brilliant at improvised story telling.

A history graduate and qualified teacher, she decided to turn her writing hobby into something more in 2006, when she joined a writing class.

​Writing as both Francesca Capaldi and Francesca Burgess, she has had numerous short stories published in magazines in the UK and abroad, as well as in anthologies. Four pocket novels have been published by DC Thomson, one of which, Danger for Daisy, is available as an ebook.

Her Welsh World War 1 sagas were inspired by the discovery of her great grandfather's war record.  They are published by Hera Books

​She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

Francesca currently lives on the North Downs in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Daniel Hurst Psychological Thriller Box Set

Daniel Hurst Psychological Thriller Box Set

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th November 2024

Published: 8th December 2024

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Featuring FOUR adrenaline-charged thrillers by Daniel Hurst.

THE PASSENGER

She takes the same train every day. But this is a journey she’ll never forget.

Amanda is a hardworking single mum, completely focused on her job and her daughter, Louise. She’s been saving for years and now, finally, she can afford to give up work and chase her dream.

But then, on her commute home from London to Brighton, she meets a charming stranger – who seems to know everything about her.

He delivers an ultimatum . She needs to give him the code for the safe where she keeps her savings before the train reaches Brighton – or she’ll never see Louise again

.

Convinced that the threat is real, Amanda is stunned, horrified. She knows she should give him the code, but she can’t. Because she also knows there is a terrible secret in that safe which will destroy her life and Louise’s too…

THE BOYFRIEND

What if your exes were being killed off one by one?

Adele has had a colourful romantic past but has finally found her soulmate, Tom. They are engaged and she is looking forward to a future of blissful happiness.

Until she realises her ex-boyfriends are turning up dead.

At first the deaths seem accidental, but soon a sinister pattern emerges. All of Adele’s former partners are being killed off – in the order she dated them. As the body count grows, Adele has to figure out who is doing this and why.

Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until the killer gets to Tom…

THE BREAK

It seems like a lovely little house. But it has dark secrets…

Karen is a busy wife and mother. Between work, her husband Peter, and their two children, Oscar and Noah, she doesn’t have a minute to herself.

So when it all begins to feel too much, Karen knows just what she needs – to get away for a little while. Nothing big. Just a short break.

Her friend, Eve, tells her about a quaint little holiday home, and Karen books herself a short stay. She’ll have time to read, take bubble baths, unwind. Perfect.

But this is no ordinary holiday home – it contains a dark and disturbing secret. Because Karen isn’t alone here – someone is watching her. Waiting for the right moment to spring the trap and plunge her into a nightmare she’ll never forget.

THE NEW FRIENDS

They are fun, wealthy, fabulous. Pray you never meet them.

Becky and Jamie are an ordinary hard-working couple trapped in the daily grind, dreaming of an easier life. On one of their rare vacations, they meet a wealthy couple, Phil and Mel, who seem to have it all – they are fun, well travelled, and very generous with their money.

But they are also very, very dangerous.

Because Phil and Mel are not who they say they are. And this is no random vacation friendship, they have chosen Jamie and Becky carefully, seducing them with the promise of a lifestyle just like theirs.

By the time Jamie and Becky realise what their new friends really want, it’s too late, they’ve lost everything, their hopes and dreams lie shattered.

The only question now is how far will they go to get even?

DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS 4-BOOK BOX SET OF BESTSELLING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS THAT WILL HAVE YOU TURNING THE PAGES LONG INTO THE NIGHT!

MY THOUGHTS:

A massive Daniel Hurst fan I will thrilled with this box set of some of his best psychological thrillers. "The Passenger" is up there as one of my favourites with "The New Friends" and "The Break" following close behind. Only "The Boyfriend" let this set down with it's somewhat flat ending. However, it was still an entertaining fast paced adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride from start to finish. I just expected that trademark Daniel Hurst twist at the very end, leaving fans speechless.

"The New Friends" was the first book of Hurst's I ever read closely followed by "The Break". I read "The Passenger" last year and "The Boyfriend" last night, rounding off this spectacular box set. 

A must for psychological thriller fans!

You can read my individual reviews for each book below:

https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/search/label/Daniel%20Hurst%20Box%20Set

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #DanielHurstPsychologicalThrillerBoxSet in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Boyfriend by Daniel Hurst

The Boyfriend by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 20th June 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What if your exes were being killed off one by one?

Adele has had a colourful romantic past but has finally found her soulmate, Tom. They are engaged and she is looking forward to a future of blissful happiness.

Until she realises her ex-boyfriends are turning up dead.

At first the deaths seem accidental, but soon a sinister pattern emerges. All of Adele’s former partners are being killed off - in the order she dated them. As the body count grows, Adele has to figure out who is doing this and why.

Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until the killer gets to Tom…

The Boyfriend – the stunning psychological thriller from the author of The Passenger and The Broken Vows.

MY THOUGHTS:

"Three down...three to go..."

What if someone is killing your exes off one by one?

Another entertaining tale penned by Daniel Hurst, even if a little OTT - but who cares? It had thrills, twists and adrenaline pumping entertainment and that's all I'm here for. Another quick read to devour in 4 hours before bed. This is my thirtieth read by the prolific author.

This time we meet Adele. At thirty six, she has finally met her soulmate in Tom. They are engaged and planning to marry next summer. Life couldn't be better. Until one evening out with BFF Nicola, a perusal of her phone alerts her to the suicide of her first boyfriend Shaun. Adele is shocked and the women then drown their sorrows until well after midnight with Adele stumbling into the house she shares with Tom, giggling and somewhat drunk. Tom is not amused.

The following morning, she wakes with a pounding headache only to be replaced by a different kind of headache that she has suffered ever since her mysterious accident when she was sixteen. She and Nicola attend Shaun's funeral at which many old school friends she hasn't seen for twenty years also attend.

And then she discovers her second boyfriend was killed in a car crash. That's two in as many days. When a third dies in a housefire, Adele becomes frightened. Especially when she receives a text message soon after saying:

"Three down, three to go..."

Someone is killing off her boyfriends one by one and with three left that number also includes Tom. Frightened and needing to warn the others, Adele confides in Tom who doesn't believe her and neither do the police. It's obvious to her (and to the reader) that her two other exes are in danger but police don't see any threat citing the message could mean anything. Why won't they listen to her? Why won't Tom? Only Nicola seems to believe her. Together they realise that it has to be someone close to Adele, someone who knows her past, her boyfriends and in the order in which she dated them. Suddenly Adele starts to wonder who she can trust? Could someone from her circle of friends be behind all this?

With only boyfriends four and five left before the killer hones in on Tom, Adele tries to convince the police of the danger before deciding to try and find the killer herself.

Well...what an entertaining thrill ride this was! I opened it just to peruse it before maybe watching some TV before bed. Instead I was pulled into the story and began swiftly swiping the pages until the very end...some four hours later.

I really love Daniel Hurst and know I will be entertained by whatever he delivers. This one is no different. The plot is unique, the pace fast, the story entertaining. It's a race against time as Adele (and the reader) try to uncover the killer before any ore lives are lost. But will they be too late?

None of the characters are stand out. Adele is something of a lush, behaving like a sixteen year old rather than a thirty six year old, stumbling in drunk several times a week. And she thinks that's OK? No wonder Tom is losing patience with her. I think he is very patient with her under the circumstances. Her need to drown her sorrows at every turn drove me mad and is another reason I rated down. Must every thriller include senseless drinking?

As with all Daniel Hurst thrillers, there are only a handful of characters so working out which one could be behind it all could be tough to figure out. Some have cited it being VERY hard to figure out. I didn't think so. But then I try to think like Hurst and ponder who will have wearing the killer "hat". I did work it so was expecting another (bigger) twist at the end which is what Hurst is renowned for...leaving fans with a killer twist that leaves them speechless. Not so with this one. In fact, after the race against time fast paced adrenaline-fuelled plot, I was left feeling a little flat. Hence the rating drop.

But having said that, it is still a entertaining fast paced thrill ride in Hurst's unique signature style.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: One More Lie by Sheryl Browne

One More Lie by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 16th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 18th November 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

On the last day of school, my friends and I gather on the beach to celebrate the long summer ahead. Sipping cans of warm cider and watching campfire embers dance into the inky sky, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Until a scream pierces the night. The next morning, we find shy newcomer Pippa on the beach, sandflies gathering on her lifeless body…

I told the police I didn’t see anything that night. I was young, scared, and full of guilt. I heard my friends telling the same story. It’s a lie that has haunted me ever since.

Now, twenty years later, on the anniversary of Pippa’s death, another one of our group is found dead. As we gather once again to say goodbye, I know it can’t be a coincidence. I look around at the tear-stained faces of my old school friends – people I thought I could trust – a protective hand on my growing belly. The police are asking questions again, and I have an impossible decision to make.

Do I tell one more lie, or confront my worst nightmare; that one of us is a killer, and one of us is next…

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will absolutely devour this page-turning psychological thriller. Prepare to be hooked from the very first page!

MY THOUGHTS:

A beach party, six friends and a long held secret...

Becky stands by her husband Richie's side as the coffin is lowered gently into the ground. This shouldn't have happened. It didn't have to happen. Jodie should be here with them, living her life, instead of gone forever taking with her to the grave her secrets. But it's standing at her friend's graveside that brings to mind another another memory of another funeral for another life cut short too soon.

Twelve years ago, Becky and her group of friends are celebrating the end of university when another young woman joins their fold. Pippa Moore sits on the outskirts of their circle just waiting and hoping to be included...to be accepted. But Pippa doesn't make friends easily. She's shy and awkward thus making her a target for ridicule, which is relentless. When Richie invites her up to dance Pippa can hardly believe her luck. He's the nicest, along with Becky, of the group and she has no problem dancing with him though her moves are unco-ordinated and awkward. But then one of the others of the group, Emelia, screeches at her, tormenting her laughingly, until Pippa feels all eyes on her. Humiliated, she runs off into the night, the laughter trailing behind her. 

When her body is found the next morning, the group are sombre and silent, none of them revealing what they know. What happened to Pippa after she fled the party? Did someone meet up with her? Does one of them know what really happened? Who knows more than they're letting on?

Becky can't help but draw comparisons as she remembers the sombre event that was Becky's funeral and her distraught mother weeping buckets for the child that should never have gone before her. And now Jodie, who reportedly took her own life - why? Was the guilt of what happened all those years ago too much for her? 

She herself can't seem to let go of the past as she ruminates over past events, driving each of her remaining friends crazy. Even dependable Richie is growing tired of her constant tirade of what happened to Pippa that he throws accusations at her in desperate frustration. And consumed with own guilt and emotions running high, Becky sees something she totally blows all out of proportion and accusations fly in all directions. And when push comes to shove, Becky wonders who can she really trust? At seven months pregnant, she thought she could trust Richie but now she's not so sure. And Emelia? Her insensitive tirade regarding Pippa at the funeral was totally out of line. The woman is so incredibly selfish and thinks only of herself, just as she did all those years ago when she relentlessly tormented Pippa.

And then as secrets begin to bubble to the surface, strange things start happening, making Becky question her sanity and Emelia hers. Someone knows what happened all those years ago and now they are coming back to make them pay. With two deaths down, who else must die to avenge Pippa's memory?

The story alternates between the past and the present primarily from Becky's narrative, peppered with Pippa (in the past), Emelia, Richie and Jack (in the present). Becky's is the only first person narrative whilst the others are third person and through each of them we witness the unravelling of relationships within this tight-knit group of friends. Betrayals, jealousy and suspicion fuel the constant drama of which there is plenty. The characters are deeply flawed, so much so they contrast each other vastly. Becky is anxious and passive-aggressive (particularly where Richie and Emelia are concerned) whilst Emelia is selfish and reckless. Richie is so mild he comes across as passive at times as his dependability comes into question whilst Tom is just as reckless as his wife.

Though the story was predictable for the most part, the final twist is one that will surprise readers, I'm sure. I was left with something of a feeling that not all was explained therefore leaving me with a few questions, but on the whole I was entertained with this tense and dramatic psychological drama.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OneMoreLie in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sheryl Browne writes psychological thriller and edgy contemporary fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and awarded a Red Ribbon by The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

When she's not writing Sheryl can usually be found messing about on the water in her little narrowboat, Aquaduck, which she says she can generally be found falling off and she admits to being a bit accident prone.

Sheryl lives in Worcestershire with her partner and a variety of disabled dogs, of whom she says "my furry-friends give me back much more than I could ever give them. I really wouldn’t be me without them." According to readers of her thrillers, she also apparently makes an excellent psychopath.

Social Media Links:

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REVIEW: Dead at First Sight by Peter James

Dead at First Sight (Roy Grace #15) by Peter James

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller, Police procedural

Read: 10th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 14th May 2019

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You don’t know me, but I thought I knew you . . .

A man waits at a London airport for Ingrid Ostermann, the love of his life, to arrive. Across the Atlantic, a retired NYPD cop waits in a bar in Florida’s Key West for his first date with the lady who is, without question, his soulmate. The two men are about to discover they’ve been scammed out of almost every penny they have in the world – and that neither women exist.

Meanwhile, a wealthy divorcée plunges, in suspicious circumstances, from an apartment block in Munich. In the same week, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is called to investigate the suicide of a woman in Brighton, that is clearly not what it seems. As his investigations continue, a handsome Brighton motivational speaker comes forward. He’s discovered his identity is being used to scam eleven different women, online. The first he knew of it was a phone call from one of them, out of the blue, saying, ‘You don’t know me, but I thought I knew you’.

That woman is now dead.

Roy Grace realizes he is looking at the tip of an iceberg. A global empire built on clever, cruel internet scams and the murder of anyone who threatens to expose them.

MY THOUGHTS:

You don't know me...but I thought I knew you...

This is my first foray into reading Roy Grace, though my first was actually Sandy's Story "They Thought I Was Dead". I fell in love with the TV series and while I have way too many books on my TBR list I just went and added Roy Grace because he is just so lovely. Nothing at all like detectives that we normally come across. So maybe this wasn't the best book to begin with but as I have seen all four series so far and I read that this is one of those they are adapting in Season 5, it intrigued me so I thought I would begin with it. Some of the characters revisit with us, such as Tooth, the contract killer that has eluded Grace on a number of occasions...no thanks to his superior ACC Cassian Pewe, who is just as detestable here as on TV.

There are soooo many characters in this one that does make it hard to keep up with them. But I love James' short snappy chapters which helps keep the pace moving and at over 500 pages, that is some feat! I can't compare it to previous Grace mysteries as I have yet to read them. But what intrigued me was the romance fraud storyline scamming lonely vulnerable people online.

We meet Johnny Fordwater, retired Major with the British army who was widowed four years previously, who waits in the arrival lounge at Gatwick Airport, awaiting the love of his life Ingrid Ostermann who is due to arrive from Munich at any moment. In his arms is a ridiculously oversized bouquet of pink roses as she had said they were her favourite. 

Across the Atlantic, retired NYPD cop Matt Sorokin sits in a dive of a bar awaiting his true love Evelyne with whom he'd arranged to meet after arriving from Sao Paolo. He had booked the honeymoon suite in a nearby hotel with petals scattered over the bed spelling out her name. He can't wait to meet her.

In Brighton, Toby Seward is cooking up a storm for his husband when he receives a phone call from a Suzy Driver who claims that she, along with ten other women, are in love with him - or rather the man they thought he was though with different names.

Also what does a murdered woman in Munich have to do with a suspected suicide in Brighton?

This book is jam-packed with lots going on while Grace juggles caseloads from previous investigations as well as what is looking suspiciously like an internet dating scam where innocent people's identities and photos are used to scam lonely vulnerable people out of their life savings. We see the return of contract killer Tooth but will Grace be able to outsmart him once and for all?

Despite its length and complex web of happenings, I still managed to read it in a day...but only just. It is a compelling police procedural that is gritty opening our eyes to the disturbing underworld of cybercrime.

I think going forward I should begin at the beginning with "Dead Simple". Only reason I didn't is because I'd seen all those stories in the TV series. But I think it might be easier to follow from the beginning plus from what other reviewers have said, some say that this isn't as good as previous ones.

Still, a compelling enough read that is intriguing, fast paced and gritty throughout. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Peter James (born 22 August 1948) is a British writer of crime. He was born in Brighton, the son of Cornelia James, the former glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth II.

Peter James is an international best-selling crime thriller novelist who has had his books published in 36 languages. His series featuring Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has sold 17 million copies worldwide and has given him eight consecutive UK Sunday Times number ones.

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.

During his childhood Peter attended Charterhouse School and then, in later years went on to study at Ravensbourne Film School. As a result of his training there, he travelled to North America, and spent several years as a screenwriter and film producer. It was in 1994 however, that Peter’s name became known worldwide due to the controversial publication by Penguin of his novel, Host, officially “the world’s first electronic novel” on two floppy discs (a far cry from a Kindle!). Peter has since become a media spokesperson for electronic publishing. When he’s not writing his international bestselling stories of Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, Peter has many hobbies, one of which means that Peter holds an international racing licence and often competes in the Britcar Racing Series! 

Peter currently divides his time between his Sussex home, a Victorian Rectory, and his apartment in Notting Hill.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

REVIEW: Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Ben Stevenson

Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham #1) by Ben Stevenson

Genre: Murder mystery, Humour

Read: 8th November 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 29th March 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder.

Before the storm stranded us at the mountain resort, snow and bodies piling up.

The thing is, us Cunninghams don’t really get along. We’ve only got one thing in common: we’ve all killed someone.

Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let's get started.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

My brother

My stepsister

My wife

My father

My mother

My sister-in-law

My uncle

My stepfather

My aunt

Me

The Australian novel that has taken the world by (snow)storm. Following a heated auction in Hollywood, film/TV rights were sold to HBO, and publishing rights to 26 countries so far!

MY THOUGHTS:

I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder...

I came across this book via a review (thanks Sarah!) and when I saw it was set in my own country (Australia) I just had to check it out. I wasn't prepared for the complex ride Ben Stevenson took me on...despite its locale being a ski resort. Yes, it does snow in Australia (for the northerners) though only in the southern areas with a higher altitude. Otherwise we're pretty much an oven.

The opening of this very clever and witty prose drew me in from the very start. Ernest Cunningham (Ernie or Ern) is our narrator and published author of books on how to write books. He helpfully lists the ten rules of writing detective fiction at the beginning, to which he strongly adheres, and thus refers back to each rule as and when applicable throughout (usually in parenthesis such as these or even in general conversation with us, the reader). He is hugely entertaining with his wit and dry humour which I found very similar to Stuart MacBride, who I note has been quoted with his own thoughts on this rather fresh approach to the murder mystery.

(The best thing I've read in ages. I absolutely loved it. Whip-smart, twisted, funny, and constructed with the pinpoint precision of a bloodthirsty watchmaker. - Stuart MacBride) Snap! My thoughts exactly.

While the title draws the attention of the reader, how true is it? Has everyone in Ernest's family really killed someone? Bear that in mind because they are not a family of psychopaths and they are not killers, per se. So who have they killed? And why? One of the rules by which he writes is not to pen an unreliable narrator and promises to be a reliable one...but is he to be believed?

What begins with a family reunion at a ski resort (fictitious name and place but in the Snowy Mountains of southern NSW just out of Jindabyne, which does exist), should be a happy occasion, right? But Ernest has avoided any and all family reunions if he could help it in the past. However, he was not able to avoid this one as his aunt (a perennial busybody one could not say no to, even if they wanted to) stated in no uncertain terms in bold print so as to not be avoided that there were to be no excuses and all must attend. Happy happy joy joy. In a family where everyone has killed someone? This doesn't bode well for him, Ernest thinks.

So the players. There's Ernest, Michael (his brother), Sofia( his step-sister), Erin (his wife), Lucy (his sister-in-law), Audrey (his mother), Marcelo (his stepfather), Katherine (his aunt) and Andy (his uncle). That's just the family. Throw in a copper (Crawford), a dead body (green boots - you'll see), Juliette (the resort owner) and a few other characters peppered throughout - both past and present. 

Then there's the locale. A faded ski resort that has seen better days with a full guesthouse and vacant chalets for the Cunningham family.

Now, the plot. I don't think I could begin to do it justice. This really is one of those books where you need to go in blind and just enjoy the ride...because enjoy it, I think you will. If you love murder, mystery, wit and dark humour then I'm sure you will love this.

The entire tale gives off the vibe of Ernest just chatting to us, revealing bit by bit each clue as it appears to him. He claims not to lie to us or throw us red herrings but that all clues are peppered throughout and are presented just as he saw them as he saw them. After all, each clue is what he used to draw his own conclusions and expertly solve the mystery.

It's very quirky, very clever and oh so funny throughout. Some of his internal monologue had me in fits of laughter. For example, some of this thoughts on the spreadsheets (in the beginning upon arriving at the resort) and then later referring to having PTSD - Post Traumatic Spreadsheet Disorder. His rationale on the sign to the said resort needing punctuation between "resort" and "retreat" begging all who approach to turn around and don't look back!

A truly mind-boggling plot that is both clever and quirky as well as complex as it was convoluted, this thoroughly entertaining tale is dark and witty in equal measure. Stevenson has penned a unique style of murder mystery (that is appropriately OTT without seeming OTT) that is so complex that that in itself makes the villain not so easy to identify. I was befuddled by the family tree and keeping the tale in order as there is a lot of jumping about (hence the convoluted part) so I was stunned when I actually guessed villain correctly! And even spotted one of the clues for what it was and not what everyone else thought at the time. I didn't solve it completely so I was in for another shock but oh my, what a delightfully delicious dark and witty tale this is!

Marketed as Agatha Christie meets Arthur Conan Doyle (lots of Holmesian references within) meets Richard Osman. I haven't read either of the latter but I grew up reading Christie so I can safely say that this is a modern take on a Christie-esque mystery. There's even a nod to the Queen of Crime herself with one of her books penned under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott mentioned a handful of times. This is truly unlike anything I've read before though it's humour is very much like that I've read in Stuart MacBride and I always appreciate such dark witty humour. I'd be interested to see if the following two are just as entertaining.

I note that the rights have been snapped up to become a TV series so I look forward to that. I just hope they are able to capture the same quirkiness and wit that Stevenson does in this delightfully entertaining tale. With all it's twists and quirky humour throughout makes this one ride of your life you will not forget in a hurry.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Benjamin Stevenson is an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. His first novel, Greenlight, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction, and his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, was shortlisted for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Original Paperback. His books have sold over 750,000 copies in twenty-nine territories and have been nominated for eight ‘Book of the Year’ awards.

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, his third novel, was a huge bestseller and has so far been sold in twenty-four territories around the world. It will soon be adapted into a major HBO TV series.

Benjamin has sold out live shows from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival all the way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has appeared on ABC TV, Channel 10 and The Comedy Channel.

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REVIEW: Her Last Hour by Daniel Hurst

Her Last Hour by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 4th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 30th March 2023

★★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One woman. Many enemies...

Home alone on a Friday night, Katherine is anticipating a peaceful evening. But that all changes when she receives a shocking note through her letterbox...

The note tells her that she only has one hour left to live, but with no other information, Katherine has no idea who just threatened her or why. But things quickly go from bad to worse when she suspects her tormentor is already in her home and suddenly, her fight for survival begins.

Forced to reflect on her life choices and with a sizeable list of enemies to choose from, Katherine may have met her match. Who wants to kill her? Why are they doing this to her? Is this really her last hour?

A gripping psychological thriller from the author of the UK #1 bestseller The Doctor's Wife, The Couple In The Cabin and We Used To Live Here.

MY THOUGHTS:

One woman...many enemies...

How many people want Katherine dead? Apparently, it is fairly extensive list! And not just dead, but within the hour?!

It's a typical Friday evening when Katherine returns home to Kent from her busy job in London and she is looking forward to putting her feet up, opening a bottle of wine and just chilling out for the rest of the weekend. After a shower to freshen up, she types a quick text to her brother but isn't surprised when he fails to respond. But tonight, she is going to have a tech-free stress-free evening. So with that, she switches her phone off and places it in her bedside drawer before heading downstairs.

Walking into her kitchen, she hears the mailbox flap before pondering that it's a bit late for the postman to be delivering, given the hour. But sure enough, there is an envelope just inside her front door where it has fallen. Retrieving it, she opens it and just as quickly drops it again, shocked by it's contents.

"You have one hour left to live."

At first shocked, Katherine regains her composure before dismissing it as some kind of prank. Until the lights go out...and her phone has mysteriously disappeared from her bedside drawer. In her attempt to run for help, she is accosted in the backyard by a man wearing a balaclava as he manhandles her back inside where he ties her to the dining room chair.

Thus begins this adrenaline-fuelled thriller where all of Katherine's foibles and ruthlessness are uncovered as she attempts to find out who is behind this ridiculous countdown of her life. Until she realises the significance of "one hour". It's what she gave others a deadline by which to make their decision. 

So who of those she gave that deadline is behind this plot to end her life? And why the theatrics?

I was eager to dive into what is now my Daniel Hurst thriller and while I wasn't disappointed, I felt it lacked something though I'm not sure what. It had the adrenaline, it had the thrill-ride, it had the fast pace and snappy chapters. I think what it didn't have was that killer twist. It had a twist, yes, but I wasn't shocked or thrilled by it either. The biggest reveal came about two thirds into the story and with still so much more left, I think I was expecting something bigger, as Daniel Hurst usually delivers. Don't get me wrong, it's still a thrill-ride and adrenaline-pumped and of course his trademark OTT style, but it was hugely entertaining just the same.

Katherine wasn't the least bit likeable so I guess I found it hard to sympathise with her. She was ruthless but did she deserve to die for it? Someone seemed to think so. I just didn't much care for her really.

There are quite a few more characters in this one than is usual for Hurst but most of those play such a small part I guess it doesn't really matter. The main players here are Katherine and balaclava man.

I do have one final point that doesn't sit right with me. Unlike Australia or the US, in the UK their mail is delivered through a flap in the door (I kind of like that idea as it would save me venturing outside to the mailbox). However, very late on a Friday night an envelope is slipped through her letterbox flap. But her house is fortified like Fort Knox with an electronic gate that requires the mailman or delivery person to press a buzzer, announce their delivery and for Katherine to buzz open the gate. So how very late on a Friday night did she suppose the mailman was delivering her a letter? Why did she even have a letterbox flap when her property was locked up tight? In that case I would think she'd have a mailbox. Unlike most other aspects of his books, Hurst fails to explain this. And I felt it kind of needed explaining because it was the whole basis of the story and the threat she received that she had one hour left to live.

Overall, another entertaining adrenaline-pumped thrill-ride which whiled away the afternoon nicely.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

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