REVIEW: Rattle by Fiona Cummins

Rattle (DS Fitzroy #1) by Fiona Cummins

Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 30th July 2017

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★★★★ 4 stars

OMG...I hate books that end without closure!! 

I'm thinking 4 and a half stars...maybe...because it had potential to be better. Don't get me wrong, it was good...but it could have been better. The constant leading up to Jakey's abduction seemed to take forever! It was almost like there was no real purpose to his visiting the school gates and giving him the letter for his teacher when nothing really happened there. In the end it was halfway through the book before he was abducted and I actually felt like rejoicing "At long last! What the bloody hell took you so long?" And the constant bickering between his parents. Actually, both mothers of Clara Foyle and of Jakey were much more concerned about themselves than anything else. Then when their children were abducted they were all pining for them. And both of them didn't seem to give a toss about their husbands.

And then, what happens? An anti climax, Clara's still missing, he gets away and then the threat of him returning. Jakey sees him outside the window. And life goes on. That's it? That's what this page turner results in? Like I said at the beginning...I hate books that end without closure.

REVIEW: Brothers and Sisters by Adele O'Neill

Brothers and Sisters (Kelly & Kennedy #1) by Adele O'Neill

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Read: 25th July 2017

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★★★★★ 5 stars

WOW! I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! I came by it when reading Jessica Jalvri's "When I Wake Up" as a book she had listed as wanting to read and thought it sounded interesting. It's just the type of book I love. Psychological, mysterious, full of secrets whilst being fed a little at a time as we try to put the pieces together ourselves. I pieced most of it together myself, but the final twist that came was something I never saw coming. 

I started this book and read it in two and a bit sittings. I couldn't put it down. It's one of those books I have to read into the night despite the late hour and how early I may have to get up the next morning. It was enthralling to say the least. You wanted to be a part of the story and to feel it. But on the whole, it was a sad story, and I found myself crying near the end. But I guarantee that you won't want to put this book down!

REVIEW: When I Wake Up by Jessica Jarlvi

When I Wake Up by Jessica Jarlvi

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery

Read: 17th July 2017

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

Wow! Wow! Wow! This book is fantastic. I read it in two sittings and simply could not put it down! When I did finish it I was at a loss as to where to go from here. It definitely has that edge of your seat thrill ride, as the story unfolds through each of the player's (in the story) eyes. In the form of "Gone Girl" it switches between the present and the past. Interestingly, the present is only told from husband Erik's perspective with all the other characters - Anna, Iris, Daniel and Rolf - telling the story leading up to the present. Then they each continue the story from there. But it is ingeniously woven. I wasn't sure who had attacked Anna right until just before it was revealed...then it kind of fell into place. Brilliant story telling, even with Anna and Iris, that you just cannot put down.

If you love "The Girl on the Train", "Before I Go to Sleep" and "Gone Girl" then you will love Jessica Jarlvi's debut with this brilliant psychological thriller.

REVIEW: Constable on the Hill by Nicholas Rhea

Constable on the Hill (Heartbeat #1) by Nicholas Rhea

Genre: Crime Fiction

Read: 15th July 2017

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★ 1 star 

I love Heartbeat and was looking forward to reading the books that inspired the series but I was sadly disappointed. To me it read more like "The Life and Times of ..." as it read more like a memoir instead of a procedural story. I hate excessive monologuing without dialogue. And the chapters are too long and never ending. I don't like long chapters that take 40 minutes to read. It is dreary, dull and completely unexciting. I couldn't finish it.

REVIEW: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Read: 14th July 2017

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★★ 2 stars

After a slow start it kind of picked up, but tapered to a ridiculously cryptic ending. What the hell was the meaning of it? I don't like cryptic ends. I like everything to fall into place to make sense....and blow my mind with its genius. Instead I'm left wondering what the hell happened in the end. Carrie is obviously still alive and scarpered...but 40 000 Swiss francs? And why was Lo blase about it in the end, despite contacting her bank in the first place to enquire as to the odd deposit. Seriously? Cryptic endings leave a bad taste in my mouth. Very disappointed I wasted a week reading this.

REVIEW: Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Read: 10th July 2017 (couldn't finish)

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★ 1 star

This is one of those books that sound enthralling by the blurb but really fail to live up to it's hype. In fact I preferred the TV adaption much more, and found that far more riveting. I loved the ending..kind of left you thinking and/or reeling.

REVIEW: Stolen by Rebecca Muddiman

Stolen (Gardner & Freeman #1) by Rebecca Muddiman

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 7th July 2017

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

Wow! This was an awesome book that I read in two days and three sittings. It was so painfully sad but intriguing at the same time. I am not a mother so I cannot completely comprehend that bond or grief of such a loss, so I do guiltily admit to finding Abby a little pathetic at times. But then, I'm not a mother. Yet everyone is different in how they deal with grief. Had it been me in that situation I probably wouldn't be much different than Abby. Now the story...when it all fell into place it just made so much sense. But, without giving anything away, I picked the one to have stolen Beth as they just seemed suspect from the beginning. And this was just a couple of chapters after Beth was taken. The timing, the circumstances, and the baby. To me, it made sense. What did come as a surprise was how it all linked back to the start! But as I said, when all was revealed it all made sense.

As a side note, the missing girl in 2010, five years after Beth was taken, was eerily familiar to the Shannon Matthews case, which was recently made in to a 2 part mini series "The Moorside" detailing Shannon's disappearance in 2008...later discovered under the bed at her uncle's as planned by her mother for the money.

Loved the book and will be back to read more of Rebecca Muddiman in future.

REVIEW: The Royal Nanny By Karen Harper

The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper

Genre: Historical, Biographical

Read: 3rd July 2017

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

What a wonderful book! Although it is based on actual events, some of the story is fictionalised but that makes it so much more beautiful and heartwarming. I found myself in Lala's shoes, seeing, doing and feeling everything she did in this book. The romantic in me was of course disappointed with the Chad and Charlotte outcome, but in those times nannies were single women. There was never going to be a truly happy ending for them. 

I enjoyed learning more about who was who and where they fit on the royal family tree, so when young Bertie struggled with his stuttering as a young boy I found myself wondering if he grew up to be King George VI and our present Queen's father, as I knew he stuttered. I really didn't like David, the actual heir. He was spoils and entitled and selfish. The most decent thing he did was to abdicate when marrying Wallis Simpson, paving the way for young Bertie to take the reigns as King.

But the story was about Lala's, Charlotte Bill - the Royal nanny to the young Royal children - and life seen through her eyes. It was beautiful, heartwarming, funny and touching. Her fierce loyalty to Prince John, the lost prince who suffered epilepsy and quite possibly autism, while the royal family kept him out of public view. 

We have come long way in many ways in the past 100 years whilst we have also forgotten what's important along the way also. So much of what was treasured, valued and important in those days is ridiculed and seen as outdated today.

In all, a brilliant read! I completed it in 3 days I was so addicted. It was like reading a Catherine Cookson, whom I also love, though my main genre is generally murder mysteries procedurals and thrillers. A wonderful enjoyable read. Highly recommended.