REVIEW: Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge

 

Eeny Meeny (DI Helen Grace #1) by M.J. Arlidge

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Mystery

Read: 31st August 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

"On the floor by the phone you'll find a gun. It has one bullet in it. For Sam or for yourself. That is the price of your freedom. You must kill to live. Do you want to live, Amy?"

Though I have seen this concept done a couple of times - in "Saw" and "Criminal Minds" (season 2 episode 7 "North Mammon") - abducting and trapping people together with no food or water and giving them only one option left - to kill or be killed - I was completely hooked from the very first page. As the author suggests, it is a twisted form on the childhood game of "eeny meeny miny mo" and I loved it!

It begins with Sam and Amy who are hitching home one dark night when they are picked up by a woman in a van. Relieved to be out of the cold and the rain, they are offered a warm drink to take the chill off...then they wake up in an old dive pool in the middle of nowhere, abandoned with just a phone and a gun. When the phone rings, Amy picks it up...and the horror of realisation dawns. The gun has one bullet - for Sam or herself. They must choose - who lives and who dies. THAT is how the game is played. One must die...and only one gets out alive.

But who is the real victim? The one who who dies? Or the one who killed them?

DI Helen Grace is a tough cop who thought she had seen it all. After being called to hear Amy's story, Helen questions the the validity of such a tale. It is just too crazy to be real...and yet why would Amy make up such a crazy story unless it was true? And then, it happens again. Helen and her and her team race to find another missing couple - colleagues Ben Holland and Peter Brightston - who disappeared in the New Forest on route from Bournemouth.

Who is this person? Why would someone abduct two people and then abandon them with nothing but one choice - to kill or be killed? Is it random or are they all connected in some way? And if so, how?

This is the first in a series featuring DI Helen Grace. She has problems of her own and in many ways is a damaged soul who is battling the demons of her own past that continue to haunt her but she chooses to bury herself in her work, with a private outlet for herself that is somewhat different and a little far from the norm. But she is a survivor who thrives in the face of adversity. She is assisted by DS Mark Fuller and DC Charlene "Charlie" Brooks, who both have problems of their own, but are each completely likeable in their own ways. I'm not usually a fan of strong female types but I am looking forward to reading more  DI Grace and her team.

EENY MEENY will keep you guessing as to who the killer is. I can usually figure out who it could be but I had no idea with this one. In fact, I don't think I even stopped to think who it could be, I was racing through it so quickly and enjoying the ride. I never saw it coming though. And yet when it was revealed it all started to make sense.

I couldn't tear myself from this book nor could I read it quick enough. It is fast paced and thrilling from start to finish. It held my attention throughout with quick, short, fast paced chapters (the best kind) that leave you wanting more. I felt like I was eating a block of chocolate, devouring every last word.

EENY MEENY is a compelling, dark, compulsive psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It never loses pace and it keeps you guessing every step of the way. For those who enjoy these types of thrillers, you will not want to go past this one!!

REVIEW: Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite

Flowers for the Dead by Barbara Copperthwaite

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 28th August 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD is the first book I've read by this author - yet another new one to add to my list - and it won't be my last. It's different, it's dark, very twisted, and in some ways quite sad. 

Told in three separate 'points of view' - Adam's, Laura's and DS Mike Bishop - FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD is an utterly compelling read that will keep you up long into the night. Perfectly horrific and twisted, if you are a fan of tense, creepy psychological thrillers then this book is a must!

REVIEW: The Good Samaritan by John Marrs

The Good Samaritan by John Marrs

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 18th August 2018

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★★★★★ 5 stars

This is the first book by John Marrs I have read and if this one is anything to go by it won't be my last. I loved it despite it's slow start. But at the same time I hated it. Why? Because of Laura, the main character and so-called 'good samaritan'. She is anything but and I hated everything about her. But it sure made for good reading. And I am not revealing any spoilers here because from the first moment you discover what she is like. It is only as the story develops do you discover just how deranged - and delusional - she is!

Laura is a wife and mother of three, feeling unfulfilled at home, wondering why her family never show up for meals she has cooked or why her husband sleeps in another bed. Then there is her work at a suicide helpline called End of the Line, where she feels needed and where she thrives. She is one of many volunteers who are supportive, non-judgemental and sympathetic. It is not their job to talk you out of suicide but to let you know you have options. But what happens when the kind sympathetic voice on the other end has ulterior motives? This is where Laura comes in. It is where she shines. But her defining moments come when she is on the end of the line as her callers take their last breath.

Then there is Ryan. He is devastated after his pregnant wife commits suicide with a stranger. Who was this man? And how did his wife know him? There is talk of her having an affair with him, but Ryan is not so sure. He endeavours to uncover the truth and find the answers he so desperately seeks. But at what cost?

The first part of the book is told solely from Laura's perspective and admittedly I found it a little slow and uneventful. We get flashes here and there about Laura and her past but Laura's story is somewhat of a mystery as you don't know how much is truth and how much is imagined. And then there is her home life. Where is her husband? Her family? They never seem to be around and they are never home to eat the meals she prepares. Her only saving 'anchor' is her son Henry who is in a care home, whom she visits often but her husband Tony never does. Laura's story almost feels claustrophobic as no one else seems to be play a part in it at all, except in her imagination. Then one day whilst on shift at End of the Line she answers a call from Steven. He is at such a low point in his life his only option was to call the helpline. One by one, he ticks off Laura's mental boxes to become one of her 'candidates'. But she must test him to ensure his seriousness in that final step. Until Steven makes an odd request which both frightens and exhilirates Laura.

The next part retells the story from Ryan's perspective, as he goes from loving husband to grieving widower. He goes from disbelief to denial to depression to anger...and there he stays. One day, whilst searching for answers, he comes across a hidden folder on his wife's laptop and when he gains access he is shocked to discover its contents. His anger fuels him as he searches for answers and the truth behind his wife's suicide. It takes months of calls to End of the Line before he finds her. And so he creates an elaborate end game to bring Laura down. But can he? Does he know just who he is up against? In his quest for answers and justice, Ryan finds himself in a cat and mouse game with a very experienced feline with years of experience. And in the end, at the great lengths he goes to to end Laura's game, he discovers he is no better than her.

The story switches between both Laura and Ryan's narratives with their own agendas, both just as devious. Laura exploits the vulnerable at the weakest time in their lives and manipulates everyone she comes into contact with. She is a sick and twisted person with no thought to anyone other than herself, and she will do anything to ensure everything in her life is just how she wants it. Ryan's was a sad story and one to which I could relate to. Losing a loved one is hard enough but to suicide - the fact they chose to end their life and not even 'you' were enough to keep them here - is horrendous. I felt his pain and the stages of grief he went through. But then he went off script and whilst I didn't agree or condone his methods or actions I could understand his reasoning. And that's what makes it so sad and tragic. 

Who will be the last one standing? Can you guess??

THE GOOD SAMARITAN is dark, devious and seriously twisted but oh so good!! A dark book dealing with a heavy subject matter that will have you going through so many emotions. Suicide is a difficult issue and not an easy topic to read about. It may well be a trigger for some, and for this reason it may not be for everyone. Those who do enjoy twisted dark psychological books with plenty of twists, then you won't want to pass this one up.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN is a book that will definitely stand out in my memory for some time to come. I was a little disappointed with the ending but I still enjoyed it. I guess I just expected something different. It was still a well written and seriously twisted book that will stay with me for a while yet.

REVIEW: Little Boy Found by L.K. Fox

Little Boy Found by L.K. Fox

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 13th August 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

LITTLE BOY FOUND is a slightly different take on the "missing child" story and a real page turner. I wasn't sure what to make of it at the beginning especially with the shift in stories and completely unrelated characters in the alternating chapters, but I was soon hooked by the end of the "third" chapter (Nick's second chapter). So what is it all about then?

First we meet Nick, who is married to Ben with a 6 year old son from Ben's first marriage. Nick adores Gabriel and despite his own souring relationship with Ben, Nick continues a much better relationship with Gabriel. When he wakes with hangover one morning, Nick rushes Gabriel off to school and is involved in a minor collision with another car. The driver refuses to stop or give his insurance details so Nick whips out his mobile phone and snaps a photo of the licence plate as it leaves the car park. Upon returning home, Nick endeavours to find the elusive driver and uploads the photo to his laptop for a better look of the plate. Upon enlarging the image on the screen he can't believe what he sees - his son Gabriel in the back of the car with his hand pressed up against the window. As he has just dropped him off, Nick rings the school to be told Gabriel's name is not on the register. He tries to tell Ben his concerns but Ben doesn't listen or believe him. What ensues is Nick's desperate search for answers and a whole chain of events that seem to unravel as Nick tries to make sense of what is going on.

Meanwhile in a seemingly unrelated story we meet Ella, a lonely teenager infatuated with a musician of a Z-grade band named Ryder and hopelessly dreams of a happily ever after with him. When Ella wins a backstage pass to meet the band, her dream rapidly becomes a nightmare as things take a dramatic turn with massive consequences. Feeling more alone and desperate than ever, longing for her mother and estranged from her father, Ella takes matters into her own hands setting in motion a course of events that once undertaken can never be undone.

So how does this relate to Nick and his quest for answers? While I couldn't see the significance at first, it didn't take long for me to work out just how Ella's story collides with Nick's - well, one part of it anyway. And it wasn't long before I suspected where Ben really fit in as well - something of a secret he hadn't told Nick about. What I didn't see coming was who Nick really was!

At first it seems Nick's story is far more interesting than Ella's obsession over a musician, but soon her's becomes moreso as Nick's unravels into a series of confusing events in his quest for answers. Despite this, both stories had me quickly turning the pages to find out more and watch with baited breath as both their worlds finally collide.

LITTLE BOY FOUND is an interesting concept that started off at an even gait with the end result being a fast-paced thrill ride that kept me reading long into the night until the very last page. The story is intense on both sides with some jaw dropping twists that made for a thrilling read. While the whole concept may be a little unrealistic, it's these stories that truly make for fascinating and thrilling reads beyond any doubt.

I have seen others comment on the Epilogue adding an unnecessary shock whilst the story could have satisfactorily wrapped up before that. This is true, but...I think the Epilogue was a solid touch to end the story. I didn't see it coming which made it even better but on the whole, given the events that lead to this point and the journey the characters took to get there, I think it was indeed a gratifying ending considering the circumstances. Without giving anything away, I believe anyone in that situation themselves would very probably feel it to be the only end appropriate.

LITTLE BOY FOUND is brilliantly written and I highly recommend it for any fan of the psychological thriller genre. It is dark, clever and unique to other thrillers but incredibly intriguing and well worth devouring.

REVIEW: She by Pete Brassett

She (DI Munro & DS West) by Pete Brassett

Genre: Psychological thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction

Read: 11th August 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★ 4 stars

SHE is the first in the DI Munro and DS West series and takes place in London as opposed to the following books as I understand them to be set in Scotland. I came across SHE quite some time ago and only now decided to give it a go.

From the get go, SHE begins in the first person by an unknown narrator, possibly male judging by his perspective, as he recounts his meeting with a somewhat strange young woman, before moving on to his thoughts on "Who is SHE?" and "Did I know what SHE had done?" and so forth. It is very cleverly told with every second chapter devoted to the unknown narrator and every alternate chapter recounting the procedural side of the investigation into what was first reported as a "missing person". Upon searching the missing man's residence, with some clever detecting a body is found and the case soon becomes a murder investigation.

It soon becomes clear that this is no ordinary killer and the race is on as Munro and West must act fast to trace a woman seen observed at the scene of the crime. Yet uncovering her just who she is, as well as finding her, proves to be no easy task.

There was an element of DEXTER to this serial killer tale, what with all the slicing and dicing and dispersing the various body parts into separate packages. The difference here being that SHE is the serial killer. But just who is SHE? The investigation brings up several young women attached to the case somehow but just how are they involved? And what part do they play? Are any of them the one we know only as SHE?

DI Munro is a Scottish policeman who was on the verge of retirement when his wife was tragically killed. So in an attempt to escape the ghosts that haunted him, he upped sticks and moved south to London. In his somewhat witty banter with DS West - Charlie as he decided to call her - it was revealed that she chose this new post as "no one else wanted to work with Taggart". It seems his reputation preceeded him, as well as his somewhat gruff nature which no one else wanted to be on the receiving end. However, Munro and West work really well together, and as it was revealed at the end that Munro decided it was time for him to return home to his native Scotland I had wondered where that would leave West. But it appears she is called upon and heads north herself to continue the partnership.

I loved Munro and warmed to him from the beginning. I love his witty nature and the somewhat humourous conversations shared with West, who oftentimes took him far too literally. I can't wait to get to know him more and follow his future exploits. I wasn't overly keen on West, as she seemed far too quick to jump into bed with the nearest male with a pulse! Every morning she awakes to a new sleeping body in her bed, and her partiality to gin or anything remotely alcoholic doesn't do anything to endear her to me. I look forward to seeing Munro knocking her into shape and do something to earn her rank of Detective Sergeant.

SHE is a unique take on any murder mystery I've ever read with an edgy undertone that kept me turning the pages (or rather tapping them on my Kindle) late into the night. A fairly easy read that I devoured in two sittings. While I figured out who was who and who was SHE about halfway through, the ending throws us a twist that I didn't see coming and left me pondering. Definitely recommend!

REVIEW: The Silent Girls by Ann Troup

The Silent Girls by Ann Troup

Genre: Psychological Mystery

Read: 9th August 2018

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★★★★★ 5 stars

THE SILENT GIRLS is the first book by Ann Troup that I have read, and I have to say that it will not be my last. The book is a psychological mystery with an historical twist - those I seem to love best as they delve into the past to make sense of the future, and not to mention solving historical crimes!

The prologue begins in 1964 and describes a convicted murderer being hanged and a murder taking place on the same day. The novel then moves to forty six years later where Edie arrives in Coronation Square to clear out her Aunt Dolly's rancid house after she has died suddenly. Edie hasn't been there for over 30 years and almost at once she is shocked to discover how the Square has declined and the squalor that her aunt had been living in.

Soon after she arrives at the Square, Edie inundated with a "murder tour" group gathered outside her front door. Aware of the Square's history does not endear her to the group or its guide and finds the fascination somewhat ghoulish. Before she was born, several young women were found raped and murdered in the Square - one right outside the door of her aunt's house which she now has to clear and get ready for sale. Although someone was hanged for the crimes 46 years previously, there is one person intent on discovering the truth about the murders and soon ropes Edie in, despite her indifference.

Soon after she began clearing the house - her Aunt Dolly appeared to have hoarded everything pertinent or not to her life - Edie finds a young homeless girl breaking in. Apparently eccentric old Dolly used to let young Sophie stay whenever she needed to, and her sudden death comes as a shock to the young girl. It's quite clear that Sophie has taken somewhat of a beating and Edie allows her to stay on the condition she helps her clear out the house. It doesn't take long for Sophie to make some discoveries in the rancid rubbish, whilst not aware of their significance only adding to the mystery. I liked Sophie, streetwise but with a heart. I enjoyed watching the relationship between her and Edie grow into an almost mother/daughter one - Sophie certainly needing a mother figure while Edie longed to feel wanted and needed - and it was clear they both gained from their relationship.

There is a plethora of characters in this story, some delusive whilst others are just evil. It seems most characters have a duplicity about them to which Edie is blind to, having just come from an emotionally abusive marriage and at her most vulnerable. Everyone in this story has secrets which are slowly discovered as the story, and its mysteries, are slowly unravelled. Lena, Sam, Lional, Matt - who can she trust? She can't even unload to her sister Rose as she is in the middle of a cruise, leaving Edie to tackle the squalor that was Dolly's house...and life.

Whilst slow to start, as the story progresses Dolly's house relinquishes more of its grim secrets and history and Edie begins to discover more about her family that she ever wanted to know. And before long it becomes apparent that Edie's life was built on a lie, and soon she doesn't know who she is anymore.

With a touch of 10 Rillington Place, THE SILENT GIRLS is an intruiging tale that will keep you turning the pages as you uncover the many twists of this mystery right up to the end. I must admit I figured out 'whodunnit' well before that stage but it didn't ruin my enjoyment as I devoured each moment and each chapter till the very last page. The final chapter was a nice touch - a real twist if you never saw it coming - with a closure you wouldn't expect.

Highly recommend even if it is not your usual genre because it is definitely worth the read.

REVIEW: Close to Home by Cara Hunter

Close to Home (DI Adam Fawley #1) by Cara Hunter

Genre: Crime Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

Read: 6th August 2018

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

CLOSE TO HOME is a book that's been on my TBR list for a while so I finally got around to it...and I am impressed. Another debut thriller that intrigues and grips you right away.

"Someone took Daisy Mason. Someone you know."

When eight year old Daisy Mason disappears during a fancy dress summer BBQ, the race is on to find her. She appears to have vanished without a trace beneath everyone's noses and no one noticed a thing. Her parents Barry and Sharon Mason appear to be cold and distant, and very unco-operative - a sign that they are hiding something. When making a TV appeal, social media comes alive and begins a hate campaign against the parents. Barry doesn't make eye contact, is hostile and clearly hiding something. Sharon is obsessed with appearances with freshly painted nails, perfect hair, a knock-off designer hand bag and stiletto heels. It is clear from the get-go that something is not right with this family.

DI Adam Fawley is tasked with the investigation of finding Daisy before it's too late. We learn from early on in the story that he too has lost a child, though it isn't revealed until near the end how or why. I like the fact he remains married, despite his loss, as all too often the "divorced cop" cliche is a common theme throughout many police procedurals. I liked DI Fawley right away and the fact there was no in house bitching and squabbling between the ranks of his team. They made for strong characters and I look forward to getting to know them in the future.

The main focus is on Daisy's parents and her brother Leo as Fawley and his team dig deep into their stories and ultimately their pasts to try and make sense of what lead to the disappearance of their daughter. We see from the beginning that Sharon is more concerned with appearances than her daughter's disappearance and that Barry appears aloof and secretive. At the heart of this sad story is Daisy's brother Leo. Where does he fit in? And what has happened to him? It appears no one seems to care about little Leo at all!

Then comes the shocking revelations from Daisy's friends that she had a "secret friend" and that it was a "secret". Combing through the school CCTV footage, the team discover Daisy at the edge of the school playground and at the school gates, with a big smile on her face as she disappears from view with a teenage boy no one seems to know. Who was this boy? What did this mean? And now does it relate to her disappearance? All children have what they deem as "secrets" but as the team pull back the layers of Daisy's life, it seems that she is not all that she appears.

Written mostly from DI Fawley's perspective, with additional POV's shared throughout, CLOSE TO HOME is a fast paced thriller that shifts back and forth in time from before and after Daisy's disappearance. I loved how the mystery kept me guessing throughout and I wasn't even close to figuiring out the culprit until right at the end in the final reveal.

My only complaint is that (and I don't know if it was just my copy) I didn't like the fact there were no chapters. Yes, there were "breaks" between scenes and different parts of the story but there were no chapters. Just Prologue, Close to Home and Epilogue, as listed in the contents on my Kindle.

CLOSE TO HOME is half police procedural, half domestic thriller. The pace was electric, never letting up throughout with the reader given loads of information to digest - clues, red herrings and innuendoes that keep you guessing. I definitely recommend to those who enjoy this genre and who like "who did it?" missing child stories.