REVIEW: Her Last Hour by Daniel Hurst

Her Last Hour by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 4th November 2024

Goodreads

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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: We Used to Live Here by Daniel Hurst

We Used to Live Here by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd November 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th February 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Every house has secrets. But not all of them stay buried forever...

When the Burgess family move into their 'forever' home, it seems like they are set for many happy years together at their new address. Steph and Grant, along with their children, Charlie and Amelia, settle into their new surroundings quickly. But then they receive an unexpected visit from a couple who claim to have lived in the house before.

They wish to come in and have a look around for old time's sake. Seeming pleasant and plausible, Steph invites them in. And that's when things begin to change. It's not long after the peculiar visit when the homeowners begin to find evidence of the past all around their new home as they redecorate. But it's the discovery of a hidden wall containing several troubling messages that really sends Steph into a spin.

After digging into the history of the house a little more, she learns it is connected to a shocking crime from the past. A crime that still remains unsolved...

A gripping psychological thriller from the author of the UK #1 bestseller The Passenger

MY THOUGHTS:

If only the walls could talk...

"How many people does it take to look for a dead body?

Seventeen, apparently, if the number of people currently in the garden at 31 Burchfield Drive was any way of judging it."

So I thought I would treat myself to some of Daniel Hurst's earlier thrillers because...well, I could. This is number 28 of his that I've read and while it is not groundbreaking or action-packed like some of his other adrenaline-fuelled thrill-rides, it still bears the trademark hallmarks of a Daniel Hurst thriller. That being the quirky easy writing style, the snappy chapters and the killer twist at the end that (while much of the story was predictable) even I didn't see that coming! I think this book is one of those that lulls you into a type of sense where you think you pretty much know what's going to happen...and then bam!

Steph and Grant have just moved into their new home with their two children, Charlie (5) and Amelia (6 months), needing to upsize from their smaller first home. And from first sight, 31 Burchfield Drive was perfect. One day they get a visit from previous owners, Ken and Julie, who would like a look around for old times sake. Steph has no problem with it but Grant is a little uncomfortable with letting a couple of strangers into their home - previous owners or not. But they are soon gone and life goes back to normal. Or does it?

As they begin renovating their new home to their style and tastes, they discover that the house holds some secrets from the past. Scribbled words under the wallpaper, a secret wall and some disturbing messages. Steph's interest is piqued and sends her on a mission to delve into the history of the house (and its owners), as much as she can, until Grant tries to put a halt to her investigations. She is like a dog with a bone refusing to relinquish her hold on all she has uncovered while Grant just wants a quiet life. He has troubles of his own which plague his mind far more than the mystery of the secret wall.

The dual narrative between Steph and Grant offers the reader their respective perspectives. You can feel Steph's frustration and anticipation as well as Grant's nonchalance. He's far more skeptical than she, possibly due to some of his own antics which take up far more of his time that it should.

A slow burn to start with, the pace doesn't really pick up much throughout making this a different style for Hurst. But it was still enjoyable while it lasted. This quick read, which I devoured in one sitting and four hours, is filled with plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep the reader guessing with the ending offering more than expected. Though I shouldn't surprised...Daniel Hurst is renowned for his last minute twists and stings in the tail of his storylines.

An easy four star read...until that final twist.

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: Every Breath You Take by Miranda Rijks

Every Breath You Take by Miranda Rijks

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 2nd November 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 14th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Has her husband really left her? Or is someone playing a deadly game?

When Eva’s husband Samuel doesn’t come home from a boys’ night out, she thinks he’s sleeping off his hangover at a friend’s house. So she waits. And waits...

Eventually, he sends her a text – he’s met someone else and needs a few days to get his head together. Eva is devastated. How could he do this? How could he do it to their children? She’d thought her marriage was rock solid.

She tries to go on with her life as best she can. But then things take a truly bizarre turn…

She receives a terrifying photo of Samuel with a knife to his neck, and a demand: do everything on my bucket list or he will die.

As Eva completes the increasingly crazy demands on the kidnapper’s bucket list, every aspect of her life begins to unravel: her children are struggling, she’s not paying attention at work, and her friends and family fear for her mental health. All the while, the threats are mounting. Samuel will die. Unless…

Can Eva save her husband and children or will she lose everything that’s dear to her?

Every Breath You Take - the gripping psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Visitors and Make Her Pay.

MY THOUGHTS:

A missing husband...and a deadly list of dares...

Miranda Rijks has long time been a go-to author for me and the premise for this latest thriller (my 13th by her) drew me right in. I was intrigued as to what was really at play here. When the first big reveal came just halfway through, which I had funnily enough already theorised (so I was surprised to find I was right), I knew that there had to be a bigger better twist to come. But what that was, I had no idea. So when it came I was shocked by the twisted deviousness in her plotting! I certainly didn't see that coming.

Eva has just returned from a weekend in Amsterdam with her three besties - Angela, Kalah and Nicolette - to celebrate their collective fortieth birthdays. Straight into the haphazardness of mum life as she picks her two children Riley (11) and Alfie (9) from school and they return home full of the day's adventures. After packing them off to bed, a quick glance at the time tells Eva that it's gone 9pm and Samuel should have been home long before now. When he hadn't arrived home by the time she drifted off to sleep, she just assumed he had crashed at one of his mates' place after a drink or two at the pub.

But by morning, Samuel still hadn't arrived home and Eva began to worry. She rang his best mate Hunter who said he'd left the pub early the night before to return home and see her after her weekend away. After ringing a few people and his work, Eva calls the police to report him missing. But they aren't too concerned, citing most people return after a few hours, at the most a day or two.

And then Eva's phone beeps with a message. From Samuel. Finally! But nothing prepares her for what he discloses.

He has met someone, they are in love and he is leaving her to be with them.

What the...? Who ends a fifteen year marriage via text? Eva is both angry and upset in equal measure. But hold on, it doesn't end there. She receives another text with one word "Snapchat". She downloads the app and before long she receives a message to say that Samuel has been kidnapped and if she wants to see him alive again, she must follow the strict instructions completing a bucket list set out to her one by one by the kidnapper. If she goes to the police, Samuel dies. If she tells anyone, Samuel dies. If she fails to comply, Samuel dies.

What ensues are a list of rudimentary and ridiculous requests that she begins to follow until they start to become insane. From changing her Facebook status to single to signing up to a dating app and going on three dates to cutting off her gorgeous hair to barely an inch...and all of this must be captured on her social media. But when the requests border on insane, Eva knows she can no longer comply and must seek the police for help. But her every move is counteracted and stopped. Which leads Eva to wonder if she is being watched or tracked somehow...thus leading her to an old friend to turn for help.

For all intents and purposes, Eva looks as if she is spiralling out of control so is it no wonder no one believes her ludicrous allegations? She doesn't even have the proof to back up her claims because snapchats disappear as soon as you read them. Even when she tried screenshotting the threats, her tormenter knew and demanded she delete it or...face the consequences. If not Samuel's death, then her children's.

This is a fast paced entertaining thriller that does require you to suspend belief somewhat, but none of that matters if it is entertaining, which it is. I knew I didn't have it all figured out because who discloses their big reveal just halfway through a story knowing there's still a long way to go till the end. I knew Ms Rijks had something else up her sleeve but just what that was I had no idea. I was just prepared for something BIG...and it was. So big it blindsided me that I didn't see it coming. And I was expecting it! Hahaha.

I love the alternating chapters between "the wife" and "the lover" which will keep you guessing until she slips in her reveal that will leave you going, wait...what? The writing is addictive and plot is just crazy but like a car crash, you can't look away. My only complaint is how quick her friends and everyone else were quick to gather round and offer support when they had spent the entire book dismissing her theories and allegations as insane, citing she must be having a mental health breakdown. How quick the turnaround was after all was revealed. I would have thought - "sorry, but in times of adversity you find out who your true friends are" and they didn't seem to have her back at all.

Overall, a fast paced thrill ride that kept me engaged from start to finish, devouring it in just under 5 hours. A quick fast paced read that won't disappoint psychological thriller fans.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Miranda Rijks lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, their musician daughter and black Labrador. ‘The Obituary’ was her first psychological thriller. She has also written a psychological thriller series featuring Dr Pippa Durrant, a psychologist and specialist in lie detection, who works alongside Sussex police getting embroiled in some scary stuff!

After a degree in Law, Miranda worked in marketing in London and Eastern Europe before setting up businesses in the horticultural, leisure and retail sectors. Along the way, she got a masters in writing and wrote the self-help book, ‘How Compatible Are You?’ and biography, ‘The Eccentric Entrepreneur’. In 2018, Miranda wrote ‘Don’t Call Me Brave’, a novel very loosely drawing upon her experiences of having a rare bone cancer.

She feels extremely lucky to be living the dream, writing psychological thrillers full time! 

Miranda loves connecting with her readers, so feel free to drop her a line.

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

    

REVIEW: Heartbreak at Harpers by Rosie Clarke

Heartbreak at Harpers (Harpers Emporium #8) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 1st November 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd July 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It's the roaring 20s - a time of prosperity, optimism, and change...

Oxford Street, London 1926

Kitty Wilson, who, after losing her father, rejects the unsuitable suitor her mother has chosen. Abandoned by her mother, Kitty faces the challenges of navigating life alone. Amidst the turmoil, Kitty finds solace and support from friends, securing a promotion at Harpers Emporium. However, tragedy looms, threatening to shatter her newfound stability.

Sally and Ben Harper face their own challenges. A decision by Ben regarding the restaurant, made without consulting his partner Jack Burrows, jeopardizes not only their friendship but also the stability of Harpers itself.

Meanwhile Beth Burrows becomes embroiled in some dangerous gangland dealings, raising fears for her family's safety. Can an unknown guardian angel emerge to shield them from harm? Yet, even in the darkest times, the bonds of friendship prove to be a beacon of hope.

Discover a tale of resilience, friendship, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of a transformative era.

Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Pam Howes and Dilly Court.

If you love this, try Rosie's other series - Blackberry Farm, The Trenwith Series, Dressmakers Alley and Mulberry Lane.

MY THOUGHTS:

Who doesn't love a Rosie Clarke novel? This is the eighth installment in the much-loved Harpers Emporium saga series which began with the suffragette movement some 16 years prior. Since then we have seen the store take off, been through the war, battled some losses and endured plenty of heartbreak. But all the while, the familiar camaraderie amongst staff where friendships were formed leaves us with that feel-good feeling long after the turn of the final page.

With each book comes new trials and triumphs along with some familiar and some new faces. Many have come and gone, most are mentioned in passing along the way if they don't feature due to having moved away, while we are introduced to some new characters.

Kitty Wilson is new to Harpers, having needed a job to help support her family since her father had an accident at work and was no longer able to earn a living. Her mother, having grown up with a certain kind of luxury, resents the fact they have been reduced to the lower working class barely able to make ends meet and living in a filthy end of town. She does nothing but complain all day long about her woes and what her life has been reduced to. She's loathe to accept the fact that Kitty has had to go out and work because where she comes from young women don't work but rather stay at home helping their mothers until they find a husband. 

When Kitty's father dies suddenly, rather than grieve for her husband Annie Wilson has just the ticket to get them out of the dire mess he had lumbered them with. Marriage to a prominent widower who is closer to forty than Kitty's twenty with two young children that need a mother. Joshua Miller has the means to give both Kitty and her mother a good home. He pays for her father's funeral, expecting the debt to be paid with her hand in marriage. But Kitty refuses. The man is a sleaze and makes her skin crawl. And so her mother abandons her, offering herself as a nursemaid to Miller's young children, thus living a life to which she was much more accustomed.

Despite her tragedies, she continues to thrive at Harpers, gaining promotion due to her forward thinking and initiative which has impressed Sally Harper. Finding herself in debt because she refused her mother's unsuitable suitor and her rent more then doubled by the very same man who was also her landlord, Kitty was offered a room at the Norton's and there she finds friendship and family with Alf, Larry and Mariah.

But Miller and Annie are far from finished with Kitty. The plans they have for her are so nefarious that when discovered, the pair meet their match in Sally Harper and Beth Burrows.

Alongside Kitty's story is that of those at Harpers. Sally and Beth feature the most prominently after Kitty, with their respective husbands Ben and Jack also sharing the focus. We also meet up with Jack's father (who seems to have undergone a name-change from Fred to Bert in this installment) and his wife Vera who are faced with challenges of their own.

A nice touch is the inclusion and mention of Dressmaker's Alley and the designs of Miss Susie which are sold exclusively at Harpers, mentioned throughout and of course as Ms Clarke's newest series.

As life moves on after the shadow of war, the roaring twenties bring a lot of new changes and challenges to their door. There is the workers' strike and even a gangland threat, adding even more uncertainty to this ever-changing world. And not everyone is embracing the change that the war has brought.

As the title suggests, there is plenty of heartbreak in this tale but there are also some happy moments as well. The strong bonds of friendship remain evident in their camaraderie and friendship and it's this that warms the heart, making it another enjoyable read. 

I cannot wait to see what Rosie Clarke has in store for Harpers next, as this series shows no sign of winding down. Although Mulberry Lane came to an end last year, I hope that Harpers continues for some time yet as it remains one of my favourite feel-good heartwarming saga series.

Overall, a light, easy read that is heartwarming and entertaining from start to finish. I devoured in one sitting after dinner last night, finishing before bed.

As always, a solid heartwarming 5 stars.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #HeartbreakAtHarpers in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: I'm Her Mother by Lauren North

I'm Her Mother by Lauren North

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 31st October 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th July 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

We both say she’s our daughter. But one of us is lying…

My little girl Lola is my whole world. Three years old and so beautiful – all golden curls and dimpled cheeks.

But on our way home from holiday she was stolen, whisked away in the blink of an eye.

I can’t breathe without Lola. I don’t know how to get her back.

The woman who has my daughter is on the run. And she has no intention of bringing Lola home. Because she says she’s her mother.

But that’s impossible, because I’m Lola’s mother.

Though really, I should have known my secrets would come back to haunt me. That this day was always going to come…

Two women claim that Lola belongs to them. Two women with something to hide. Only one is telling the whole truth… Who will you believe?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller, where no one is who they seem, and you don’t know who to trust until the very last page! Perfect for fans of gripping page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Couple at No. 9.

MY THOUGHTS:

We both say she's our daughter...who do you believe...?

I must say, Lauren North has impressed me. This is my fourth read of hers, the first being her first thriller "The Perfect Betrayal" (also published as "The Perfect Son", through another publisher) and I loved it. But then came "My Word Against His" (her first with Bookouture) - deviously brilliant, closely followed by "She Says She's My Daughter" - very clever. And then came along this one. And again, I was both entertained and thrilled in equal measure. Probably the most irritating thing about this book is the interfering mother-in-law and the husband's ridiculous name of Roly. I'm sorry, but I could only see a cross between a Sharpei dog and a rotund figure of a man.

The story itself is so full of twists that you think you have it all figured out (and granted, while you might have some, you won't even be close as to the rest of it!) that you will get whiplash with which the speed everything changes in the blink of an eye. Throughout the entire tale I was unsure who to really believe despite spying the obvious underlying truth. But hold tight, North isn't even close to being finished with this one, and everything you thought you knew you then begin to question. But are they the right questions? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Isobel and Roly are on their way home from Cornwall with their 3 year old daughter Lola when they stop at the motorway services for a bathroom break. And Lola, being at the precocious age of 3, insists on going by herself. That's fine, mum Isobel is only in the cubicle next door. The whole scenario takes something like, what, two minutes? But by the time Isobel comes out of her's, Lola has gone. She's not in the cubicle she'd locked herself in, she's not at the basins, she's not even outside the bathroom waiting for her mother. She has simply vanished.

Isobel is frantic. She races outside to find Roly scrolling through his phone and asks has he seen Lola. That would be a no. So he does what any frantic parent would do. Calls in a favour via a friend who is a DCI at Scotland Yard, knowing he'll track the culprit down and return Lola to them.

Let's backtrack a bit, back to the bathroom. While Isobel is scrolling through her phone in her cubicle, Lola had promptly finished her business and was busy washing her hands at the basin. Enter Emma...with a big bright yellow ducky that Lola had spied on her way to the bathroom with pleas to Isobel to add ducky to her collection of stuffed toys. Emma smiles. Lola smiles. Emma reaches out her hand. Lola hesitates, looks back at the cubicle before the lure of ducky is too much and she takes Emma's hand. In a matter of moments, before Isobel has buttoned up her skinny jeans that Roly loves her in, Emma and Lola have gone.

What ensues is a frantic chase north, south, east, west across the country in a bid to find Lola and return her safely into Isobel and Roly's arms and arrest the person who took her. But the deeper you delve into this story, the more you find that as soon as you peel back one layer, another lays beneath. And so on...and so on...and so on. Just when it seems they are closing in, Emma escapes their claws once again. 

But just who is Emma and how does she fit into Isobel and Roly's world? Both women claim to be Lola's mother, but which one of them is telling the truth? Both women have secrets but can you guess what they are? Even Roly has secrets as does his horrible mother Margaret who thinks only of the Huntingdon name and the fact that Lola is "her grandchild" rather than Isobel's daughter.

You'll need to suspend reality a bit but that's OK; if the story's entertaining and thrilling enough, then how believable it is or isn't doesn't matter. For me, it's all about the entertainment factor and how much the author draws you into the world within those pages making it an easy read and without being convoluted. If they can do that, and keep me thrilled along the way, then you can pretty much guarantee 5 stars from me.

Overall, a thoroughly entertaining, intriguing thrill ride that is twisty and intense from the first page. Plenty of red herrings in this one to keep you guessing all the way through. I doubt you will see the outcome before its reveal. I think most psychological thrillers will like this one!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Missing Heirloom Mystery by Rachel Ward

The Missing Heirloom Mystery (Supermarket Mysteries #5) by Rachel Ward

Genre: Cosy Mystery

Read: 29th October 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 22nd October 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Meet Bea Jordan: a checkout girl with a heart of gold and a knack for solving murders.

With the annual Kingsleigh Flower and Produce Show fast approaching and a tomato thief on the loose, Bea and best friend Ant have had little time for each other.

Now a grizzly discovery is waiting for them by the pumpkin patch . . .

The body of Dylan Bradley, their old history teacher. Someone stuck a trowel in his head and left him for dead.

But who would want to hurt Dylan?

When the discovery of a second body throws the townsfolk into full-blown turmoil, Bea must juggle small-town secrets, rivalries and murder with her growing feelings for Ant.

Can Bea dig up the truth before the killer strikes again, or has she finally planted the seed for her own demise?

If you love Richard Osman, Peter Boland, the Reverend Richard Coles and Ian Moore, prepare to be enchanted by this gripping British cozy murder mystery full of twists and loveable characters.

MY THOUGHTS:

Finders keepers, losers . . . Dead?

Bea works as a checkout chick at the local Costsave supermarket where her best friend Ant corrals the trolleys and whatever else falls under his remit. The pair are an unlikely duo - best friends and amateur sleuths - and Bea loves hanging out with Ant. 

Recently, Ant has taken up gardening discovering a love for growing things where he helps his older mates get ready for the upcoming flower and garden show...and with Marvin the marrow taking pride of place in their allotment garden. One afternoon after work, Ant asks Bea if she'd like to accompany him and to meet Marvin. Hesitant after her near miss (in a previous book, I daresay) but intrigued, she agrees and together they take a picnic to the allotment. All is going well until Ant discovers friend and fellow gardener Dylan Bradley dead in his locked shed, a trowel through his skull.

Soon the police are in attendance, the allotment is cordoned off and after giving statements the pair is dismissed, free to go home. After investigating alongside Bea, Ant has decided to uncover the culprit who murdered his friend but is surprised when Bea wants no part of it. So he and his friends at Costsave draw up their own investigation in their makeshift incident room at the back of Costsave.

Determined to uncover the truth, Ant and his friends decide to stake out the allotment at night with a metal detector to see if they can unearth some more treasures like the one Dylan had discovered shortly before his death. But what they discover instead is far more grisly than any of them anticipated. Human remains buried deep in one of the garden beds which open up a forty year old mystery.

Bea still declines to join in the investigations until Ant comes across a book Dylan had published about the history of Kingsleigh, marking some items with circles and dates. She decides to visit the council to view some of the artefacts but nothing prepares her for what she's about to uncover.

A delightful modern cosy mystery centred in the fictional village of Kingsleigh and its inhabitants, this series is an amateur version of Midsomer Murders with the local supermarket as its centrepiece. An easy read that was enjoyable from start to finish has a host of very well drawn characters (both good and bad). It's not easy to identify the villains and the end result is somewhat surprising but satisfying nonetheless. Given that this is book 5 in the series and I've not read any of the others, I didn't feel disadvantaged in any way as this can be read as a standalone.

Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining read for fans of Midsomer Murders and cosy mysteries.

I would like to thank #RachelWard, #ZoolooBookTours and #JoffeBooks for an ARC of #TheMissingHeirloomMystery in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Ward is a fifty-something award-winning author who writes adult crime books, YA thrillers and non-fiction. 

Her first book, Numbers, about a girl who can see death dates won numerous awards in the UK and around the world, and was published in 26 countries and is optioned for film/TV. 

Her cozy crime series, The Supermarket Mysteries, set in and around a supermarket in a small English town, has hit the Amazon top 20 Cozy Mystery chart, and starts with The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery. Rachel hosts a monthly crime book chat on X/Twitter, #cosycrimeclub, at 11.00am UK time on the first Tuesday of each month. 

She has also written psychological thrillers (as R. M. Ward) including Safe With You, which was featured in Heat Magazine.

Her new non-fiction book, Write Your Cozy Mystery: A Practical How To Guide, was published in 2024. 

Rachel has two grown up children, and lives in Bath, UK, with her husband and two little dogs. She is also an artist and photographer, and has exhibited locally. She likes to post a cheerful photograph every morning on social media (X/Twtter: @RachelWardbooks) to start the day off the right way.  

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 30th October 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Saffy is waiting to go into a job interview when she receives a text message from her best friend, Leona:

Can’t speak . . . don’t text or call . . . please just come

As Saffy struggles to understand what is happening the phone screen changes:

This message was deleted.

Saffy races to Leona’s house, but when her friend answers the door, she insists everything's fine. She doesn't know anything about the message. Saffy can tell something’s not right, but after looking around the house, she can’t think of anything else she can do.

Six hours later, Saffy gets a knock on the door. It's the police. Leona is missing, with her young child. There's blood everywhere.

And Saffy was the last one to see them alive . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

"Can't speak...don't call or text...pls just come..."

In recent years, Saffy's life has gone into freefall. Once married to dependable Neil and mother to the delightful Fox, it all came unravelling apart three years ago when she walked in on something unexpected. And has since been unable to move on. Everyone else has, but Saffy. Her marriage fell apart and Neil filed for full custody. She didn't contest because she knew she wasn't a fit parent and that Fox deserved better than what she could (or couldn't) provide.

Three years later and Saffy's life is on the up. She underwent treatment for her mental health, bought a half share of a house and is at this moment sitting in the waiting room for an interview as a data analyst. Neil has even agreed to a whole weekend visit with Fox - unsupervised. Nothing could spoil her mood today.

Until it does...

Leona has been Saffy's friend for as long as she can remember. Even when Leona didn't make the wisest of choices, Saffy was always there for her best friend. And then she met Ash. And only as Leona can, falls head over heels for him and elopes with him in Majorca. But there's something about Ash that Saffy doesn't like, doesn't trust. And it seems the feeling is mutual because Saffy has been excommunicated from her friend's house.

Then just moments before she's to walk into her interview, Saffy receives a text message from Leona.

"Can't speak...don't call or text...pls just come..."

And then just like that, the message is deleted. What? Why? Saffy can't concentrate on her interview and leaves abruptly, hailing a taxi and hurrying to her friend's place. Something is wrong. Saffy can feel it. But when she arrives, Leona opens the door surprised by her friend's sudden appearance...and more to the point, denying all knowledge of the texts!

Something is wrong. Saffy can feel it. Maybe hubby Ash's presence prevented her friend from confiding in her? Who knows? But six hours later, there is a knock on Saffy's door with two detectives informing her that Ash, Leona and 5 year old Rosie have all disappeared. And Saffy was the last person to see them!

What ensues is a police investigation focused on Saffy being the last one to see the family and honing in her as their prime suspect. But Saffy didn't do this. And yet she is the only suspect.

Only a handful of characters in this psychological whodunnit, but boy, you will have your work cut out sifting through each of them trying to work out which one of them is the villain. The story unfolds in the past and present over the course of various timelines leading up to the big reveal. We hear from Saffy, her sister Poppy and from Leona as well. Three women with three different perspectives and agendas. And boy, did I want to shout at Saffy for the stupid decisions she made and slap Poppy who was so obviously indulged by their mother from an early age. And Leona? My goodness, the woman walked from one disastrous relationship into another.

And yet the story kept me glued to the pages and had me devouring this read in less than a day, despite its 400 pages. This is my 18th read of Kim's thrillers so I know how she likes to throw us off the path but I was still entangled in the brambles that still lay there! I did guess the ending as it approached as suddenly things began to fall into place. 

Overall, an entertaining and intriguing read that kept me engaged throughout with plenty of twists, tense moments and never a dull moment!

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #Netgalley and #PMJBooks for an ARC of #MessageDeleted in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says "the creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads