REVIEW: The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon

The Quiet Wife by Diane Saxon

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 18th February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th February 2025

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

I want to be ordinary. To fade into the shadows where no one notices me and live a quiet life. A normal life.

But I am not ordinary. Not anymore.

I’ve been keeping a secret. From my colleagues, my friends and most importantly, my husband - who knows nothing of my past life.

Twenty years ago, at college, a boy became obsessed with me. Craig Lane believed he could make me love him back if he just tried harder. When I rejected him, he did something so horrifying, it’s the stuff of nightmares. All my nightmares.

Now I’ve been informed by Victim Support Services, that boy - now a man - has been released from prison. The news terrifies me.

Am I safe? Or does Craig still carry the same obsession he did when we were seventeen? I don’t know. I’ve ignored every letter he’s ever sent me.

Now strange things have started to happen: flowers have been left on my doorstep, my cat keeps going missing. Someone is watching me. Knows where I live. I am sure.

Worse, something even more sinister could be stalking me from the shadows. Because I have another secret...

My past is coming to get me. One way or another.

MY THOUGHTS:

Trigger warning: rape, sexual assault and stalking

A secret past that comes back to haunt her...

I wasn't sure what to expect from the rather demure title but it certainly wasn't this! What a rollercoaster of a ride this dark and disturbing tale of obsession is.

Soriah is a quiet wife living the quiet life with her husband Marcus. But her life is thrown into turmoil when she receives a letter from Victim Support Services. And suddenly, her past come rushing back to haunt her all over again. The nightmares, the claustrophobia, the sleeplessness, the fear, the panic attacks...all relative to a deep dark secret from her past. Something she has barely shared with Marcus, not that he'd show any interest anyway. But she's never really completely trusted another man again - not after what happened to her over twenty years ago.

When she was seventeen, Soriah survived a terrible ordeal after becoming the obsession of another student. Despite her protests that she wasn't interested, he persisted - mainly at the insistence of her best friend Gilly. And then one night, she was kidnapped and held for days while starved and raped repeatedly...all while he was professing his undying love for her. Soriah vowed she would never trust another man again.

Now two decades later, Craig is being released and Soriah is beside herself with panic. Suddenly flowers are being left on her doorstep and text messages from an unknown number. It could only be Craig. But how does he know where she lives? How does he know her number? And surely it's a breach of his licence that he even comes near her, let alone contact her? Soriah, who has never let anyone else remotely close to her in all these years, has no idea who to turn to. Who can she trust? Her family? But they have their own worries, so she doesn't want to trouble them.

Then when Marcus goes away for a work event, she begins to get the sense she is being watched. Items disappearing from her house. Her key safe unlocked. Luna being locked in the one place Soriah would never open. Is she losing her mind? Or is someone out there watching her again?

The story unfolds in the past and present between Soriah, Craig and an unknown narrator calling themselves "the Fox". It was interesting reading Craig's narrative, as entitled and arrogant as it were. And none of the characters were at all endearing. In fact, I found the story rather depressing for the first several chapters as all Soriah seemed to do was lament about her past or about Marcus and how little he seemed to care for her. Craig's behaviour was delusional and Gilly was a complete b****. Again, none of them were at all endearing. Except maybe for Soriah's parents but they didn't play a huge part. Then when things started to pick up, those chapters were indeed harrowing reading, both chilling and disturbing. It's these that will be triggering for some, hence my warning above.

Diane Saxon has the ability to pen a tense yet gripping tale that is as real as it is shocking. She keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout despite predictability (though that could just be me knowing what to look out for and suspect) and leave you wanting more. I devoured this book in a day, such was its fast pace.

Another entertaining thriller taking the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions and leaving you breathless by its end.

I would like to thank #DianeSaxon, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheQuietWife in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Diane Saxon lives in the Shropshire countryside with her tall, dark, handsome husband, a retired policeman. She has two gorgeous daughters, a Dalmatian, two cats, numerous rare breed chickens, and a black Labrador called Beau—a name borrowed by her hero in For Heaven's Cakes.

After working for years in a demanding job, Diane gave it up when her husband said, “Follow that dream.” She subsequently has 12 Romances published for the U.S. market.

Inspired by her long, lonely walks in atmospheric woodlands, Diane has gone over to the dark side to write British psychological crime thrillers. With a four-book deal through Boldwood Books, her first in series Find Her Alive was published October 2019 followed by Someone's There in February 2020 and What She Saw is due in September 2020. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

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REVIEW: 20 Minutes of Valentine's Day by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes of Valentine's Day (20 Minutes #9) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 25th February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd February 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Love is in the air as the bestselling 20 Minute Series continues on the most romantic day of the year!

Set over one 20 minute period on Valentine's Day, the ninth book in the series sees familiar characters return for a night of romance, passion and second chances.

First dates. Old flames. Heartbreak. And one very dangerous villain...

MY THOUGHTS:

Now six weeks after the events of "20 Minutes Before Christmas", the festivities of the holiday season have been and gone and now love is in the air for Valentine's Day. And once again, our favourites are back with a few new ones to pepper the pages but will their stories continue? Or were they just here for the day?

Jelena has been our starter in each of the books and she kicks things off once again. Now settled in Belgrade and working as a waitress and though she misses Bogdan, she knows she did the right thing in leaving. But while other couples are celebrating the day of love, how will Jelena's end?

Amongst the Valentine's day revelers are Lindsey and Diego as well as Harry trying his best to impress his secret crush. Newcomer Sam has a plan to win back girlfriend Rachel while Tom receives a surprise at the station. And Will is on a search of his own with Chantelle's help. Meanwhile, a murder investigation is looking into unsolveds and now still missing people for links that could tie them to the spate of killings in the bustling city.

Many of the characters are well established now as they pop up throughout the series while others have been and gone with more popping up along the way.

While this wasn't the strongest of the series (and I see I'm not the first to say that), it was still rather enjoyable as we watch our favourites' stories unfold...some of the spectacularly.

As always, an entertaining read and I look forward for what's in store for our friends in the coming installments.

Next...20 Minutes to Change a Life

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: 20 Minutes Before Christmas by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes Before Christmas (20 Minutes #8) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 23rd February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 10th December 2020

★★★★ 5 stars 

DESCRIPTION:

It's a magical time of year. But not for everyone...

It's Christmas Eve, and London is still reeling from the events on Bonfire Night. But time waits for nobody, so what fresh drama is in store as the presents are wrapped, the turkeys are cooked, and the clock counts down to the most wonderful day of the year?

Mistletoe. Mince Pies. Mulled wine. And murder...

MY THOUGHTS:

Taking place about seven weeks after "20 Minutes Around the Bonfire", this one is exactly as the title suggests - it's literally 20 minutes before Christmas...on Christmas Eve. This time the Christmas spirit is captured amidst some of our favourites we have been following from almost the beginning alongside some more new faces, here for the holidays, some maybe beyond.

Opening once again with our favourite Jelena, this time there's a twist to their story which I shall refrain from mentioning so as to not spoil it for the reader. But it was one that made me go searching through the following books after for any clues as to what will happen there.

Another favourite is Will who is struggling with his blindness and also the tragedy that rocked him at halloween. And then there is Harry, still mischievious, this time setting off his house alarm on Christmas Eve. April continues to drown her sorrows months after learning the truth about Joe, this time going home with a handsome stranger. For the first time, we get a chapter from her bestie Katie who finds her own handsome stranger to celebrate with. We see Lindsey await Diego, who is busy "working" late and then we get Diego's perspective and where he really is. Helen, the woman saved from stepping off Waterloo Bridge, is enjoying Midnight Mass with her family. Kathryn, whose daughter was languishing in a Peruvian prison, has the best reason to celebrate. Mark, whose little boy has leukaemia, knows this will be their last Christmas with him so makes it extra special. Valentin is on the prowl for his next victim. We also see the return of policeman Tom, Carol, Chantelle, Curtis, Bogdan and a surprise regarding Louise.

New faces to the mix are Nina, a reporter outside Belmarsh prison; Jimmy, a prisoner inside Belmarsh; Paula, heading up a murder investigation with MIT; and Tracey and Zoe, mums preparing for the big day respectively.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and while some of the faces only appear for the one book, even though I feel some have more story to tell, I am fully invested in those that have been with us from almost the start. Like that of Jelena and Bogdan, Will and Chantelle, Tom, cheeky Harry and even this new twist involving Louise. Some regulars I could do without like April who just drinks herself stupid in each book, Diego who is just deplorable and Lindsey I could take or leave. Valentin is like a car crash you can't look away from. I don't like him and would love to see the back of him, but his story is gripping as we follow his exploits and what he will do next.

My only complaint is with the recapping for each regular comes a bit of repetition in each of the chapters, like when it's mentioned several times for several characters about the events on bonfire night in Battersea Park (from last book). It could be recapped without the repetition while just alluding to events. But still an addictive series.

Next...20 Minutes of Valentine's Day

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: 20 Minutes Around the Bonfire by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes Around the Bonfire (20 Minutes #7) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 22nd February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st November 2020

★★★★ 5 stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Fireworks. Flames. Fate.

Set five days after the events on Halloween, the citizens of London descend on Battersea Park for the annual 5th November celebrations.

With everybody in one place, and the mood in the park high, what could possibly go wrong?

MY THOUGHTS:

Just five days after the events in "20 Minutes at Halloween", several characters return alongside a few new ones as the people of London gather for the annual bonfire night. And we catch a glimpse of another 20 minutes in the lives of those people.

After recent events, Jelena has grown suspicious of boyfriend Bogdan's secretiveness and tonight she is following him as he kissed her goodnight for another shift working security. But instead of heading in the direction of work, he is heading south as she tails him into the crowded confines of Battersea Park and to the stage area overlooking the huge bonfire. She sees him meet the gangster and hand over an envelope.

Bogdan has done it. He has finally got the money to pay off his debt to Ronnie and tonight he hands over the rest of the cash that will see the end of their business. With that done, he just wants to return home to Jelena and move on with their lives.

Will's life was turned upside down five nights ago when he returned home after performing to a sea of adoring fans. A tragedy which rocked his world and only adding to his already existing feeling of depression. 

Valentin is not in Battersea park to enjoy the fireworks but to claim his fourth victim thus crowning him with the status of serial killer.

Curtis returns with his colleagues as they are on hand should there be any emergency. We first met him in the second book as he doused the flames of the flat in which Jelena had been kept prisoner for four months.

Tom is also on patrol at Battersea Park tonight with his colleague Lizzy, to help keep everything under control. But a scream from the food stalls hails their attention.

Carol, Lindsey and Diego also return along with Harry who told his mum he was at a sleepover at a friends in order to stealthily scarper to south London for the fireworks. April and her friend Katie also return, getting drunk as per the norm while Joe and Louise round of the regulars of this story.

New faces include 18 year old Scarlett, who is working the burger van at Battersea Park tonight but is struggling to meet the demands of customers without her colleague Lucas who stole a few minutes for a cigarette; Zara, the event organiser for the event in Battersea Park; Jonny, who is in charge of the fireworks; Melanie, there with her Syrian boyfriend Jamal not for the fireworks but for another plan they've set in motion; Archie, the sixty-something stall holder who cons the money out of unsuspecting players to his stall, intent on making a killing tonight; Rose, a quiet mouse of a woman who is set on gambling her way into winning at Archie's rigged stall and Faye, an Armed Response officer deployed with her team as they descend on Battersea Park looking for the suspected terrorist in their midst. And that ending? Wow! Didn't see that coming! Let's just say I would have much preferred Diego to be caught up in those fireworks of a different kind!

All play a part in this series of interconnected stories that is skillfully plotted. It is so hard to review without giving too much away. So if you are here reading this you are either taking this journey with me or you are considering doing so. If so, then you need to go back to the prequel "20 Minutes Earlier" and start from the beginning because, while the author does recap some of each characters' backstory, these books are not standalone and all are connected. Each book is novella and a quick read. I devoured books 6 and 7 in one day! Meanwhile...onto the next!

Next...20 Minutes Before Christmas

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: 20 Minutes at Halloween by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes at Halloween (20 Minutes #6) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 22nd February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st October 2020

★★★★ 5 stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Set over one 20 minute period in London, the sixth book in the 20 Minute Series captures all the thrills, frights and drama that Halloween promises each year.

Trick-or-treaters calling at every home. Costumes concealing identities. And a masked murderer roaming the streets...

On a night when you can be anyone, who will you be?

MY THOUGHTS:

Set six weeks after the events in "20 Minutes on the Thames", we rejoin many of our favourites and some more new ones in this sixth installment of this unique and exciting series.

When we left Jelena, she was enjoying a riverside walk with Bogdan while, unbeknownst to them, the pair of them were followed. Now after noticing how hard Bogdan has been working and being granted legal resident status, Jelena has gotten herself a job to help out with living expenses. However, little does she know that Bogdan's worries are far greater than she imagines as he works long hours to pay back the money he borrowed two months ago. And when some of his shifts are cancelled, he becomes even more anxious as to what the loan shark will do to him should he not show up tonight with the full amount.

Carol returns, this time trick or treating with her grandson while her thoughts remain on her husband Steve who is undergoing more tests tonight. Only time will tell if she has something more to worry about. Meanwhile, her grandson is trying to eke out more time trick or treating before heading home for bed.

Louise answers the door to Carol and her grandson trick or treating, enjoying the quiet comfort of her flat on this bustling evening of madness. After her confrontation with Joe six weeks ago, she never expected that he would hand himself in and confess all to the police.

Joe has wrestled with his conscience since that awful drunken night and after that confrontation with Louise, he handed himself in. Now he can only await what sentence will befall him.

When April heard the confrontation between her boyfriend and his ex on the riverfront that night, she broke up with him on the spot. Now she is single and destined to always be, as she drowns her sorrows at a comedy club with best friend Katie.

Abdul, the bus driver we met last book, returns this time taking the stage in a comedy routine. He's a natural and is enjoying the laughs he is bringing the audience until the fire alarm goes off, evacuating the venue.

Harry is celebrating his 13th birthday with his friends and the girl of his dreams. But giving in to peer pressure in the hope for some dutch courage to speak to her, he instead makes a spectacle of himself in front of everyone...including the girl he so wanted to impress.

Diego is back...worse luck. Least said about him, the best.

Lindsey is spending the night in with her housemates watching "Scream" and wishing Diego was with her but he had to work late.

Will's career is heading into stratospheric heights as he prepares to perform for the Halloween Big Bash on live TV. But moments before taking the stage, he receives some disturbing news that will shock him to the core.

Will's mother Ruth is at home with her TV turned up to watch her son perform tonight. She has been lucky enough to retire from her job as an office cleaner as with Will's success, he has enabled her to do so. But still a secret from her past continues to haunt her.

Wealthy market trader Valentin, arrogant and narcissistic to boot, has killed twice and has a third victim in his sights. And halloween is the perfect time to disguise himself as he enters the house of his next victim.

Tom is back, this time dealing with Eve, the grandmother of missing Olivia (Valentin's first victim), and hoping for a place on the Major Investigation Team, doing what he joined the police for. To serve and protect the public. But will he be sucessful? And romance is in the air in the midst of his divorce from the awful Kelly.

We also meet 15 year old Gemma, a bored teenager hanging out with her friends in a park; Stephen, a recluse who lives in an old gothic Victorian house on the edge of the park the girls knocked on the door of as a prank; Mark, whose son has leukaemia as he turns their house into a haunted house for his son; Alex, a door to door salesman who I couldn't care less for; Eve, the grandmother of missing Olivia who has fronted up to the police station searching for answers as to her disappearance; and Ronnie, the loan shark Bogdan loaned money from.

As usual, so much is going on within the snapshot of 20 minutes in each of these peoples' lives. How do they interact with the others and where do they each lead? Given that the next book is set just five days after this one, there isn't a huge time gap to find out what happens next in the lives of each of those who we have become invested in. Some more than others.

There is an awful lot of drinking in these books. Is that really how people deal with whatever comes their way? Drown your sorrows. So many of them do it, it does become a little tedious. But then there is also a lot more going on. Dark secrets, trauma, sex clubs, mental health, narcissism, serial killing and loads of other nefarious individuals. Can't wait to see what's in store next!!

Next...20 Minutes Around the Bonfire

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 Baby Swap by Daniel Hurst

The Baby Swap by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th February 2025

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Someone stole my little boy. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him back…

ME: Staring down at the sweet baby in my arms, I feel panic instead of love. Because this isn’t the child I gave birth to. My husband whispers to the midwife. They all think I’m going crazy. But the tiny boy in my arms is crying again. I’m certain: he knows I’m not his mummy. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get my son back.

HER: I did it. I swapped my baby with another newborn in the hospital. As I hold the child in my arms, I hear my own little boy start to cry on the other side of the curtain. My heart is shattering into a million pieces.

I know I had no choice. I didn’t want to do this. But no one can ever find out the reason why I swapped my baby. Because if anyone knew the truth, my life and my child’s life would be in danger…

Number 1 bestselling author Daniel Hurst is the master of fast-paced thrillers with twist after twist. The Baby Swap is an utterly addictive, page-turning read with a jaw-dropping ending for fans of T.M. Logan, Freida McFadden and B.A. Paris.

MY THOUGHTS:

Someone stole my little boy and I'll do whatever it takes to get him back...

And...he's back!! I've taken time out from this author's thrilling 20 Minute series to read this latest release of his and Daniel Hurst is back with a bang! In his unique style of twists and whiplash, he delivers something of his trademark addictive plots that I have come to know and love. I devoured this book in around five or six hours reading time (I had to sleep in between) and it was thrilling and fast paced from beginning to end.

The story opens with a prologue that draws you in and grips you from the start. And leaves you guessing as to which mother is going to make the swap. Rewind back a few hours to the day before when both mothers go into labour and arrive at the hospital to find themselves sharing the same room, their beds beside each other. 

We meet Avril, a forty-one year old woman who has undergone IVF for her miracle child, and Jade, a thirty-eight year old woman who found herself in a position she never thought possible. Both women give birth on the same day to the boys, within hours of each other, and back on the maternity ward have nothing but a privacy curtain separating them. One baby is placid and latches onto breastfeeding immediately while the other does nothing but scream the place down, his mother at a loss as to what to do to soothe him.

But in the hours that follow a plan is hatched, a swap is made and nothing is ever the same again. Each woman has the other's baby - one knowingly, the other completely unaware - as they each navigate the birth of motherhood.

Now while the concept was predictable enough - we guess pretty quickly who makes the swap - the why behind it slowly unfolds. But as with any Hurst thriller, nothing is as it seems and we just know there is far more to the tale that what we are being told.

The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Avril and Jade, both in the past and present, as we get to know each of the women and their secrets. And everything about them has lead to this moment. Both women were unreliable narrators and my opinion on whose side I was on kept changing. In the end, I found both of them deplorable in their actions but like any true Hurst thriller, he has finished with us readers yet...and he deals us with yet another and another and another twist. And true to form, there is never a dull moment, no lull in the plot and no way was I falling asleep, such was the action-packed thrill ride Hurst takes us on.

A tense, shocking (if a little OTT in parts, as is his style) and oh so hard to put down thrill ride. Pretty much, if Daniel Hurst writes it then I'm going to read it...whether I like it or not...because you are always guaranteed to be entertained from start to finish. I think I have read about 40 of his books so far and there are still so many more to devour...so I best get to it!

Another hugely entertaining read that was thrilling and captivating from beginning to end.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBabySwap 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: 20 Minutes on the Thames by Daniel Hurst

20 Minutes on the Thames (20 Minutes #5) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 21st February 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st September 2020

★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Set in one 20 Minute period in various locations on the banks of the Thames in London, the fifth book in the 20 Minute Series is as twisting and fast-flowing as the famous river itself.

There is a storm brewing overhead but that doesn't stop several of the capital's inhabitants from heading to the water's edge, filling the bars, restaurants and apartments that overlook the murky river, and putting some on a collision course with their destiny.

Picketers clash with policemen, criminals mingle freely with the innocent and the clock is ticking down on an explosive relationship that is about to be re-ignited.

The river holds many secrets. But the people around it have plenty of their own...

MY THOUGHTS:

I had to take a break from this exciting series to read a few tour books but I was thrilled to rejoin them again. Hopefully I can have the rest of the series all done and dusted by the time I have another reading commitment to fulfill.

This fifth installment takes place one month after the previous "20 Minutes on Holiday" in which we met several new faces and reunited with some old favourites. The overall theme of "20 minutes in the day of the life of" several people at once means we meet many new people we may never come across again, which I find kind of sad as they had stories to tell too and I would love to know how some of those turned out. But generally, we have the main few that have pretty much been in every book thus far (if not them, then someone related or attached to them in some way has) and their respective stories are progressing nicely...or not so nicely, as the case may be for some of them.

Jelena returns with Bogdan as the couple take a leisurely evening walk along the Thames, both reflecting respectively on their lives. Jelena is loved up and thankful for the day that Bogdan saved her from a life of torment and abuse while Bogdan is reflecting on a new problem he has in that the money he borrowed a couple of months ago to eek out his revenge didn't come from a reliable source but rather a loan shark. And now he has to find a way of paying it back by the deadline he has been given or risk the gangster's wrath. But little does he know that they are being followed to gain intelligence that will serve as a reminder to Bogdan exactly what is at stake if he doesn't pay up on time.

Tom is on crowd control outside a television studio with his colleagues holding a group of protesters back who are baying for blood from the politician inside its doors. The last thing he feels like doing is standing in the miserable rain. But it's currently more preferable than the alternative: being at home with a wife who wants a divorce and another arguement on his hands.

Kathryn is the mother of Jessica (who we met in the last book) who was arrested in Peru trying to smuggle 10kg of drugs out of the country and into the UK. In the month since she was caught, she has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years and while her husband is in Peru fighting to get his daughter extradited to the UK, Kathryn is amongst the protesters baying for the politician's blood outside the TV studios. She too wants her daughter extradited home to serve her time here and the inhumane conditions to which she's subjected there. But then her anger gets the better of her and she finds herself in handcuffs.

Harry is back, still dreaming of playing for West Ham, but today his school has enjoyed a trip to the London Eye. Meanwhile the 12 year old has discovered strange feelings and goes all gooey every time he sees the beautiful Stephanie, a girl in his class. His aim is to be able to speak to her and invite her to his upcoming birthday party.

Joanne is a wedding planner and is overseeing the nuptials of couple Beth and Andy who we met last book on their respective hens and stag nights. All is going well until something, as it almost always most certainly does, goes wrong leaving the bride screaming in anger.

Australian Hudson is a waiter at the wedding. He had dreams of seeing his fortune in London. But well, things don't exactly go according to plan.

Carol returns but this time it's her husband in the specialist's office and while he doesn't seem overly concerned, he has sent her hubby Steve on for further tests. Only time will tell what they may (or may not) reveal...

Will has returned with his girlfriend Chantelle and they are taking boat on the Thames with his manager to the O2 arena, the venus for his performance tonight. Along the way, he meets someone special who touches his heart.

Valentin is back with a vengeance. A successful market trader, rich and with no clear direction has taken up an obscure interest that sees him multitasking his day job with that of his other life: being a serial killer. With two murders already under his belt, he is on the prowl for more.

April is celebrating her 30th birthday with her friends and boyfriend Joe. After a string of unsuccessful dates, she has finally found the perfect man in Joe. Or has she?

Joe has found redemption in April after a drunken night he would rather forget. But like all secrets, they have a way of bubbling to the surface...he had no idea it would happen on the banks of the Thames just as he had no idea he would see Louise again...or that the truth will come out by the evening's end.

Lindsey is also back...thankfully, Diego is not.

There are several new faces (aside from those already mentioned above) in Simone, a workaholic, is a chef in a michelin star restaurant. But working in such a high pressure environment just may be her undoing; Scott who is recovering from an accident on his bicycle the year before. He was never thought to have walked again but here he is taking his steps to the site of his accident; Abdul, a bus driver; Sue, a Scrabble-playing passenger on his bus; Helen, a troubled soul on Waterloo Bridge; and Damian, a passerby doing his good deed for the day but who has secrets of his own which have him wanting to remain anonymous.

I love how Daniel Hurst brings to life each character but as I said I just wish we would see them more than the fleeting times some of them appear as many have more stories to tell. Some are there for the one book which suffices for that one alone, like the 999 operator in a previous book. But there are others I'm still waiting to see if they return. And then there are our favourites who I love catching up with in each book.

So much is happening in each book and each story is hard to put down. Can't wait to dive into more of them...

Next...20 Minutes at Halloween

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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