REVIEW: The New Year's Party by Daniel Hurst

The New Year's Party by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 30th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 28th December 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Would you share your New Year's resolution with a stranger?

When Carrie and Andy attend a high-class New Year's Eve Party, they're looking forward to closing out the year in style. But then they meet Martin and Michaela, a couple who haven't just come out for champagne and fireworks. They have a New Year's resolution, and it's very unusual.

After sharing their own resolutions, Carrie and Andy receive a shocking but tempting offer, one that leaves them unsure of how to proceed. But whatever they decide to do, one thing is certain - this will be a New Year's Eve they will never forget.

A fast-paced short story full of twists and turns from the author of popular psychological thrillers Til Death Do Us Part, We Used To Live Here & The Couple In The Cabin.

MY THOUGHTS:

Literally read in one sitting! Well, it is just 51 pages in length and can be easily devoured in an hour which is exactly what I did on this New Year's Eve "eve"! And who could resist a Daniel Hurst thriller? Really?

THE NEW YEAR'S PARTY has all the hallmarks of a classic Daniel Hurst thriller that fans will not be disappointed. How can he deliver us such an exciting twisty thrill ride that is fresh and intriguing in just 51 pages, you ask? Easy! He throws in some thrills, some surprises and a devilishly delightful twist...after...twist...after twist!

Without further ado, be very careful what you wish for this new year's...and who you disclose them to. Because you never know where your wishes, your new-found resolutions, will take you. And never EVER assume anything! While Lies, deceit and betrayal are deadly...revenge is sweet.

Let the games begin!!

A fun and entertaining game of cat and mouse in this little novella from one of my favourite authors to round off the year.

Happy new year to me! J

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. 

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 Gift by Freida McFadden

The Gift by Freida McFadden

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 30th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 4th December 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It’s Christmas Eve and Stella Hansen is broke.

She is so broke that despite working two jobs, she can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as man and wife. But then a mysterious storekeeper at a pawn shop offers Stella an intriguing trade.

Stella wants more than anything to buy her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams. But will it come at a terrible price?

MY THOUGHTS:

I came across this book as a recommendation from one of my favourite authors Daniel Hurst so I thought I would check it out. After all, I absolutely LOVED Freida's psychological thriller "The Housemaid" and have the sequel on my shelf to read next month. But this? This is something else.

THE GIFT is a Christmas quickie like no other. Don't be fooled by its genial title...for what lays within is anything but.

Stella is coming off a twelve hour shift on Christmas Eve. Her feet are aching. Her blisters have blisters. She's tired and fed up and just wants to go home to her husband Justin. It's their first Christmas together as a married couple and she wants it to be special. The only problem is, she has no gift to give him as all her money went on getting the heating put back on after it was cut off.

So with less than 15 minutes left of their shift to go, Stella and Bessie are finishing up with waiting for the two remaining customers to leave. One down but the other remains. An elderly woman sitting in a corner booth at the back. And then Stella realises that neither she nor Bessie have served this woman. How long has she been sitting there? Waiting to be served? 

With just 2 minutes left before they can close and she can go home to Justin (gift-less), Stella decides to tell the woman they are closing. But as she approaches the old woman and her attempts to rouse her fail, Stella then sees her once dark eyes clouded over and staring. And then she touches her. Her body is rigid. What the...?

UH-OH!

A creepy tale on Christmas Eve that is unlike any other Christmas story. It is chilling but deliciously so. Even so, it had the potential for greater things as a longer story but it sufficiently suffices with its well-earned creepiness as a short story. Still...I'd love to have seen how things panned out for those involved. And one hateful character.

A fast paced quick read that I devoured in half an hour. And that Epilogue? Brilliant. Though I saw the twist coming just before the reveal and thought how ironic and deliciously twisted it was. Just imagine how awesome it would have been as a full length tale!

If you enjoy creepy thrillers or are a McFadden fan, then you will love this short story.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: What Child is This by Rhys Bowen

What Child is This by Rhys Bowen

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Christmas, Novella, Short story

Read: 30th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 6th November 2018

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Christmas during World War II is a time for small miracles in this bittersweet short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and In Farleigh Field.

Jack and Maggie Harris are adrift on ravaged streets during the London Blitz. Their home is gone. They have nowhere to go and nothing left to lose. With only the memories of their greatest loss—the death of their child during a Christmas years before—Jack and Maggie settle in a seemingly deserted mansion for the night.

Inside they find shelter, warmth, and a bit of cheer. They also discover a surprise. Now, in the darkest of times, the unexpected compassion of strangers will make this Christmas one to remember forever.

MY THOUGHTS:

A delightful short story set in the midst of the Blitz in London on Christmas Eve 1940. A young couple are still grieving the loss of their own child some years earlier when an air raid forces them to take cover, followed by an incendiary which has whole street. With their homes and their lives under threat, Jack and Maggie flee to an underground Tube station which is packed with all sorts seeking shelter from the German bombs.

Distressed beyond all measure, they have lost everything and Maggie takes Jack's hand as the last train of the night passes through the station and they find themselves in Hyde Park. But the night is cold and the wind is icy and they need to find shelter if they are to survive the night. 

And then Jack finds an abandoned mansion with an air of desertion about it. A quick rummage around finds them some food to eat as they get a fire going to keep warm. 

And then a miracle occurs. The kindness of strangers and a sense of hope that all is not lost...even amidst a war.

WHAT CHILD IS THIS is a charming tale set during a horrific and frightening time but offers a sense of hope to those who need it...even at Christmas.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rhys Bowen is the pen name for Janey Quin-harkin. She was born in Bath, England in 1941, and educated at London University, but now divides her time between California and Arizona. Her books have been nominated for every major mystery award and she has won twenty of them to date. They have been translated into twenty-two languages, including Chinese and Arabic.

She currently writes two historical mystery series, each very different in tone. The Molly Murphy mysteries feature an Irish immigrant woman in turn-of-the-century New York City. And Lady Georgie, who is 35th in line to the throne in Her Royal Spyness series.

Her most recent achievement has been the big historical stand-alone novels, Above the Bay of Angels, In Farleigh Field, The Victory Garden, and The Tuscan Child. They have enjoyed impressive sales world-wide and brought Rhys many new readers. Her latest stand-alone, Where the Sky Begins, was published in 2022.

As a child, Rhys spent time with relatives in Wales. Those childhood experiences colored her first mystery series, about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia. She wrote ten books in the series, including the Edgar nominee Evan’s Gate. The Evans series is currently being reissued in the U.K. by Joffe Books.

She has lived in England, Germany and Australia, but has called California her home for many years. She now escapes to a condo in Arizona during those cold California winters. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, sing, hike, paint, play the Celtic harp and spoil her grandchildren.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Wrong Mother by Charlotte Duckworth

The Wrong Mother by Charlotte Duckworth

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 29th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 14th December 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One mother on the run. A safe place to hide. But you can't escape the past forever . . .

Faye is 39 and single. She's terrified she may never have the one thing she always wanted: a child of her own.

Then she discovers a co-parenting app: Acorns. For men and women who want to have a baby, but don't want to do it alone. When she meets Louis through it, it feels as though the fates have aligned.

But just one year later, Faye is on the run from Louis, with baby Jake in tow. In desperate need of a new place to live, she contacts Rachel, who's renting out a room in her remote Norfolk cottage. It's all Faye can afford - and surely she'll be safe from Louis there?

But is Rachel the benevolent landlady she pretends to be? Or does she have a secret of her own?

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought I had read Charlotte Duckworth before as the name is familiar but according to Goodreads, I've not marked any of her books off as read. Hmm...so maybe not. But I could have sworn... Anyway, this thriller is a little bit of a slow burn to start with but enough to keep you engaged particularly as it was the premise that had me intrigued to begin with.

Faye is 39 and her biological clock is ticking...or so she thinks. All her life she has desperately wanted a baby but she has failed to find the perfect man with which to make that dream become a reality. Until her best friend Jonas suggested she go online to meet someone. Which is exactly what she does, albeit reluctantly. What she finds stuns her. Amidst all the usual dating sites and apps, she comes across "Acorn" - a "mating" app, for those who want to co-parent without becoming romantically involved. Faye thinks this is just perfect. Exactly what what she wants. A baby, without the strings attached.

She is surprisingly inundated with messages from men (and one woman) who wish to have a baby with her. But one stands out from them all. Louis. They arrange to meet and after a few dates it isn't long before Faye feels that the stars have aligned to bring them together. Faye is falling in love with the smooth-talking Louis and she feels sure from the signals she is getting from him that he feels the same. Maybe they will be one of the couples that make it real.

But a year later, Faye's dream has turned into a nightmare. She's on the run from Louis with baby Jake in tow, ditching her damp pokey flat and her beloved piano, in search of somewhere safe to hide. And then she sees an advertisement for a room to rent...

Sixty four year returned teacher old Rachel lives in Helston village in rural Norfolk. She is lonely and has been since her mother died many years before. Which is why she's always taken in lodgers. But for some reason, none of them seem to work out. After her last lodger left under a cloud, Rachel advertises her spare double bedroom for rent once again. And Faye answers the ad under the name Fiona and Rachel assures her that having a newborn baby won't be a problem. Well, it isn't for Rachel but it soon turns out that it is for Faye.

As a new mother with a crying newborn, it seems Faye isn't coping and Rachel wants to help but will Faye let her? And what of Rachel? Is she all that she seems? Or is there something darker lurking beneath the surface? And why won't she let her cat roam outside? And what of the overgrown backyard with tendrils creeping under the door and into the house? And Faye? What exactly is she running from? Was Louis abusive? Are her and baby Jake in danger? And amidst all of this is she suffering post natal depression?

There are so many questions to this thriller that will keep you guessing right up to the end. It was an engaging tale with some surprising twists (and some not so surprising) but an entertaining read all the same. I loved the village setting and along with the giant bonfire and Guy being constructed on the village green gave an air of Midsomer about it, making it very atmospheric.

There are some chilling aspects to this story that will resound with great big warning bells going off letting you know that something definitely is not right with these two women...but figuring out what is half the fun!

THE WRONG MOTHER is written in a dual timeline format rewinding back to a year before as Faye embarks on her journey to become a mother to the present day where she is on the run and meets Rachel. The story unfolds through Faye and Rachel's narratives lending something of an interesting curve to the story. It is cleverly crafted and I quite enjoyed it with plenty of twists and tension to keep you guessing and turning the pages.

Overall, THE WRONG MOTHER is an entertaining and somewhat chilling read that is page-turning, twisty and fast paced.

I would like to thank #CharlotteDuckworth, #NetGalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #TheWrongMother in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Charlotte Duckworth is the USA Today bestselling author of The Rival, Unfollow Me, The Perfect Father and The Sanctuary. Her fifth psychological suspense, The Wrong Mother, will be published by Quercus in early 2023.

She started her career working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites.

She also writes contemporary bookclub fiction under the pen name Charlotte Rixon. 

Charlotte lives in Surrey with her partner and their daughter.

Social media links:

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REVIEW: The Missing Wife by Kerry Barrett

The Missing Wife by Kerry Barrett

Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction

Read: 28th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 8th December 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1933. Hannah Snow is fleeing her unhappy marriage to an MP when she finds herself in a small hotel on the banks of Loch Ness. But when a monster is spotted in the depths of the waters, the press descends – and Hannah finds her hiding place is discovered. Someone has been looking for Hannah, and when they find her events will take a devastating turn…

Present day. True crime podcaster Scarlett finds herself intrigued by the mystery of Hannah Snow, wife of a promising government minister who disappeared in 1933 – just months before her husband also went missing, presumed dead. As Scarlett works to uncover the truth, she discovers a tragic family secret, and a story as murky as the depths of the loch where Hannah and her husband were last seen…

MY THOUGHTS:

Wow. Just wow. This is my first read by Kerry Barrett and if all her books are as engaging and as intriguing as this one, then I just have to add her to TBR list! THE MISSING WIFE is just phenomenal! I loved every minute, every page, everything about it! Every. Minute. Detail. Everything! And did I say I loved it?

Going into this story, I really had no idea what to expect but I just love dual timelines and it was set around the beautiful Loch Ness in Scotland. It was just perfect. I just had to delve into this story and boy, was I immersed?! From start to finish. It is undoubtedly one of those "just one more chapter" types of books. It is one of those books that you just never want to end whilst wanting it to see how it all ended. And now that I've turned the last page, I am still sitting here just thinking about it...reliving every moment and how it made me feel.

London, 1933: Nineteen year old Hannah Snow has just married Lawrence Wetherby with great expectations for her marriage, though she doesn't love him and is quite sure he doesn't love her. But she is fond of him and is willing to make the best of things, after all his inheritance will save her own family from ruin. Lawrie is sixteen years her senior and his reasons for marriage are rather more private that not even Hannah is privy. Aside from the fact that there was a clause in his father's will stipulating that if Lawrie doesn't marry by his 35th birthday his younger brother Simon will inherit. And Simon was all for that...until Lawrie married Hannah.

But on their wedding night, Hannah walks into the bridal suite expecting her new husband but instead walks in something far more shocking. Armed with the camera Lawrie had earlier gifted her, Hannah snapped several shots before her presence was clocked and in the furore a sudden accident causes Hannah to flee. Believing her husband to be dead, Hannah boards a sleeper train to Inverness in Scotland where a new life awaits her...and her past remains a secret.

Present day: True crime podcaster Scarlett Simpson, who is also a broadcast assistant with radio station Britain Live, has just won an award for one of the podcasts in which she exhonerated a woman previously believed to have defrauded her employers some 40 years ago. Her ex Charlie, with whom she podcasts, steps up to receive the award without giving Scarlett a thank you or even a mention...considering it was all her work. To make it up to her, Charlie has a proposition for her made to him by an MP who wants Scarlett and Charlie to investigate a missing persons case from 1933. He will pay them £10,000 upfront with another £50,000 upon a satisfactory result. But there is a stipulation.

Refusing to comply, Scarlett walks out of the meeting and decides, with the prompting of her producer friend Robyn, to head up to Loch Ness herself to see if she can solve the mystery herself. Before Charlie gets wind of it or begins his investigations.

Can Scarlett find out what really happened to Hannah Snow and her husband Lawrence, who apparently went missing around the same time she did? Did she kill him and flee? Or did he kill her and disappear? Either way, the family now wants answers as they believe Hannah made off with the inheritance that should have passed to the younger brother as well as stealing some precious treasure. Can Scarlett uncover the truth before Charlie hightails it to Scotland to steal her thunder? 

What a wonderful enthralling story from start to finish! Not only was it an intriguing mystery, but it was also set against the backdrop of the first recorded sightings of "Nessie", the Loch Ness monster. And I love how Barrett incorporated this into her story. Not only was the Scotland setting exquisitely beautiful but the whole Loch Ness mystery added an atmosphere to it that was evocative and wholly absorbing.

I love the dual timeline and found myself captivated by both when usually it is one or the other that intrigues me more. In this case, both timelines were compelling and I loved both Hannah and Scarlett from the past and the present respectively. The transition between the timelines were seamless and woven together with ease. I loved how the transcripts Scarlett wrote were incorporated into the story but tailed off before revealing too much to the reader just yet. And the same with Hannah's columns, penned under the name Ann O'Shawn, which were also included gave the credence to the already compelling tale Barrett was weaving us with.

I have read many dual timeline tales over the years but this has to be hands down one of my favourites, of which there have been many but there is just something enthralling about this one. I loved every minute of it and found myself wanting to stay there - be it in 1933 with Hannah or the present day with Scarlett. Either way, I didn't want the story to end. By far, one of my most favourite dual timelines and one of my favourite reads this year. I've given many 5 star reviews this year but there is just something unforgettable about THE MISSING WIFE. I just hope Barrett's other works are as good but then, admittedly, this one will be a tough one to beat. However, I look forward to checking out some of her others in the future.

An easy 5 star read, I just loved everything about this book that ticked all the boxes for me. A perfect read that will remain a favourite for a long time to come.

Overall, THE MISSING WIFE is an intriguing mystery and a wonderful story that readers of historical fiction and dual timelines alike will not want to miss. If you love Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl, you will love THE MISSING WIFE!

I would like to thank #KerryBarrett, #NetGalley and #HQStories for an ARC of #TheMissingWife in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Barrett was a bookworm from a very early age and did a degree in English Literature, then trained as a journalist, writing about everything from pub grub to EastEnders. Her first novel, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, took six years to finish and was mostly written in longhand on her commute to work, giving her a very good reason to buy beautiful notebooks. Kerry lives in London with her husband and two sons, and Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes is still her favourite novel.

Social media links:

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REVIEW: The Night Nurse by Cole Baxter

The Night Nurse by Cole Baxter

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 27th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 27th November 2022

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

They seem like angels of mercy. Until you invite them in.

While going through a bitter divorce, Laura moves home to care for her widowed father who suffers from dementia.

Quickly realizing she can’t handle her dad alone, Laura hires nurse Bella and her dementia-specialist brother, Andrei, to look after him. The siblings are the perfect caregivers, effectively handling her father’s needs and mood swings.

Then accidents begin happening around the estate, and her dad takes a drastic turn for the worse. He becomes violent and claims he’s being poisoned. Is it true? Or is his illness causing paranoia?

As Laura tries to get to the truth, she begins to realize that the caregivers are not who they seem, that they may have a sinister agenda of their own. But who are they really? And what do they want?

The answers to these questions are more horrifying than anything Laura could ever have imagined…

MY THOUGHTS:

Of the three books I've read by this author, this is the one I've liked the most. And after reading the three, I have to say that I'm not entirely enamoured by his style though this one was certainly much better than the previous two I tackled. Despite that, I was initially drawn to this one because of the premise which sounded intriguing and the story surrounding the protagonist's father suffering dementia. Admittedly, it sounded an interesting concept.

As a romance writer, Laura Radcliffe had always dreamt of finding that one true love and thought she had found it but after 18 months of marriage and a huge debt accumulated in her name by her ex-husband Jim, she found him to be cheating with one of his 19 year old students. She throws him out and while going through a bitter divorce, she moves back to her childhood home on the sprawling Radcliffe estate to care for her aging father who has dementia. But coming back has not been without its burdens. For years Laura and her little brother Billy had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their mother and being back in her childhood home brings back some of those nightmarish memories, although her mother is now three years dead.

Having been back at the estate for several days, Laura begins to realise that she can't cope with her dad on her own. He is obstructive and cantankerous and she finds it incredibly draining that she is too tired to focus on her own work. So she decides to hire a nurse and caregiver for her father as he needs 24 hour care that she is not equipped to give him. 

And then in walk the answer to her prayers. Bella and Andrei Ormond, brother and sister, specialise in caring for dementia patients. And after a week's trial, Laura is more than happy with the service they provide that she hires them and they move in to begin full time care. And for a time, Laura finds the freedom liberating. She is able to concentrate on her writing and get her edits done and even begin seeing a therapist to help her deal with the betrayal of her marriage and the unresolved feelings of the past.

But then little things begin to happen and Laura wonders if she has made the right choice in the pair. Although her father appears to be much more compliant under Bella's care, he also seems to be sleeping a lot more that she rarely sees him. And Andrei is a notorious flirt, taking every opportunity to bat his eyes and attempt to woo Laura. But she is conflicted. Andrei is definitely good-looking...but he's not Sam. Safe dependable Sam, the estate manager who has cared for the Radcliffe estate grounds for over a decade. And then when Sam falls victim to an accident he confides in Laura that he believes someone has been tampering with his equipment. Although he won't tell her who he suspects, it isn't hard to figure out.

Suddenly, things take a rapid turn and begin to rapidly escalate as Laura finds herself becoming her father's full time carer once again before becoming a suspect to murder! Why did she not call the FBI contact she had when police stormed the house? And I felt Angela should have come back with her information before the FBI took over and things were wrapped up. The ending, when it came, was a little rushed and even rather predictable. There was no real twist as you knew who all the players were from the beginning so it wasn't rocket science figuring it all out.

So many others hated Sam's constant use of the term "darlin'". I don't know if that's because it's not entirely PC to refer to women as such these days, but I don't take offence. I found it endearing as it is meant to be. Though I agree it did seem a little repetitive but that, I think, was just part of Sam's nature. He was endearing as is the use of the term.

I loved that the story centred around someone with dementia and how that could be a perfect opportunity to take advantage but I just felt that the rest of it was a little lacking in execution and twists. And there was such opportunity for that ending that simply just concluded. No big twist, no great fanfare...just the end.

Overall, THE NIGHT NURSE was a good read but not a great one as it still has so much room for improvement. I think a solid 3.5 (rounded down to 3) stars is fair as it is still the best of his I have read. Having said that, I don't think I would read another. I just don't think his style fits my taste.

I would like to thank #ColeBaxter, #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #TheNightNurse in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It’s all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.

He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.

His stories will have you reading through the night—they are very addictive!

The Perfect Suitor is his first psychological thriller with Inkubator Books. 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Cop by John Nicholl

The Cop by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 24th December 2022

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Amazon

Published: 13th December 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Kathy thought she’d met her soulmate. But Police Inspector Michael Conner’s behavior changes on the day of their wedding. Showing his true colors for the first time, Conner becomes increasingly manipulative, controlling, and cruel as the months pass.

When Kathy tries to escape, Conner does his best to convince everyone that she is mentally ill. But Anna, Kathy’s identical twin sister, doesn’t believe it. After a tragic event, Kathy decides enough is enough and elicits Anna’s help to rid herself of Conner for good.

But will Conner simply let Kathy walk away, or have the sisters bitten off more than they can chew?

MY THOUGHTS:

Oh wow! I thought "The Student" was an uncomfortable read but it has nothing on THE COP! True to form, Nicholl wastes no time in plunging the reader straight into a confronting first chapter which only got worse as the story unfolded. The subject matter is dark and is certainly uncomfortable to read with plenty of trigger warnings for those who have suffered domestic violence. Nicholl's villain is a vile hateful character that makes your blood boil with every word that spews out of his mouth. He has an innate knack of creating the types of characters that really get under my skin more than anyone else ever has...which speaks to his skillful writing and unique style.

Kathy Conner thought she had married that man of her dreams but instead what she got was her worst nightmare. Her husband Michael Conner, a police inspector no less, is a bully who has broken his wife down little by little over the half a dozen years in which they've been married. He controls her every movement, she has no friends, he has separated her from her family and everything she does must meet his high expectations and standards...but then, they never do anyway...even when they do. He belittles her, abuses her, beats her, dehumanises her and laughs at her every misfortune by his hand. She is trapped with no way out for Conner has ensured that no one will believe her should she call for help. After all, he's the respected police detective and she is just a silly woman with mental problems.

Conner uses cruel and manipulative measures to control Kathy so that she will never leave...to be at his mercy forever. He owns her. And when she tries to escape, he convinces everyone that she is mentally ill, crying tears that have his colleagues and neighbours eating out of his hand. Even her own mother believes the lies he has constructed! The only person Kathy can turn to is her twin sister Anna.

Then Kathy discovers she is pregnant again and rather than risk Conner beating the life out of her unborn child, she instead devises a plan to take back control of her life. Enlisting Anna's help but without confiding in her, lest Conner discovers her plans, Kathy must rid herself of Conner once and for all.

But will her plan work? Or will she pay with her life?

OMG! This was one tense read from start to finish. I was so uncomfortable reading it I had to put it down - yes, just as I did "The Student" but this one was way more uncomfortable! But for different reasons. The brutality is confronting and Nicholl holds nothing back. I was literally squirming whilst turning the pages. Part of me wanted to just race to the end to find out how it ended to save myself the discomfort but I knew I would be doing myself a disservice because Nicholl is such an accomplished writer I would miss out on so much. I so wanted to see Conner get his comeuppance! My only complaint is I didn't get to the full impact of it. Still, this was Kathy's story.

And then there is that ending. WOW! Where did that come from? I did not expect any of that! Maybe a little far fetched but hell, it was pure genius. Such a masterful stroke to turn the tables as he did. And here I was wondering how it was all going to end? I'm still shaking my head in disbelief...just wow!

Throughout the abuse scenes between Kathy and Conner, I couldn't help but draw parallels to that of "the doctor", David Galbraith from that trilogy. Galbraith treated his own wife with the same contempt and cruelty, I felt as if I was re-reading Galbraith's scenes again. The similarities were chilling. And both men were incredibly hateful.

I have to say Nicholl has done it again. He is a pure master at psychological thrillers which torture me each time I read them...and yet I go back for more. Why? Because he is such a brilliant writer. His storylines are compelling, his characters are hateful and pitiful in equal measure, he has the innate ability to draw you in completely and then spit you out at the end with a shocking twist! And best of all, his thrillers are fast paced thrill rides with relatively short snappy chapters which just keep that pace moving. Everything I love in a thriller.

If you have not read John Nicholl yet, I have to ask why not? I urge you to go out and do so! He is one hell of an author that I only discovered some six months ago and he is now up there as one of my all-time favourite go-to authors.

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheCop in exchange for an honest review.

Previously published as "The Girl in Red".

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, social worker and lecturer (and now a "serial chiller") as the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of numerous darkly psychological suspense thrillers. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Student by John Nicholl

The Student by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 23rd December 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th December 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Harry Gilmore has no idea of the terrible danger he faces when he meets a beautiful girl in a local student bar. Drugged and abducted, Harry wakes up in a secure wooden compound deep in the Welsh countryside, where he is groomed by the leaders of a manipulative cult, run by the self-proclaimed new messiah known as The Master.

When the true nature of the cult becomes apparent, Harry looks for any opportunity to escape. But as time passes, he questions if the master’s extreme behavior and teachings are the one true religion. With Harry’s life hanging by a thread, a team of officers, led by Detective Inspector Laura Kesey, investigate his disappearance. But will they find him before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS:

As always, John Nicholl never disappoints with another mesmerising tale of true psychological proportions. He truly pushes the boundaries as well as the reader to the limits and well out of their comfort zone. And this time he has a cult at its centre. So buckle up, peoples, you're in for one hell of a bumpy ride!

After having been dumped by his girlfriend (via text no less), Harry Gilmore finds himself drowning his sorrows with a pint or two. But being the poor skint student that he is, he doesn't even have enough to do that with any great success. And then in a vision of white the most beautifully stunning girl walks in and makes her way to the vacant stool beside him and orders them both a drink. Harry cannot believe his luck. Maybe Simone breaking up with him was meant to be...so he could meet this vision of beauty who he is fast believing to be the girl of his dreams. Or is she really? Or maybe he is about to discover that she actually his worst nightmare?

Achara is young, beautiful and impressionable. Or at least she was. Until she discovered true enlightenment as a follower of the master. Now she is a trained recruiter for the community in which she lives and at the behest of her mentor Baptist, Achara spies the lonely Harry with his shoulders hunched and his tear streaked face, making him ripe for the picking. She follows Harry into the pub, befriending him and seducing him with her feminine wiles until he falls under her spell.

Hours later, Harry is drugged and lead to the old white transit van awaiting them, where he later wakes locked up in a secure compound - complete with bars on the windows and cameras in ever corner. What happened to him? Why has he been brought here? And where on earth is "here" even?

His questions are soon answered by the arrival of Baptist who is to be his mentor. It seems Harry is now the newest member of a cult set deep within the woodland of the West Welsh countryside. His purpose is to be a worker to tend the garden, work the land...and to serve "the Master". But all Harry really wants to do is go home. Back to his student life, his digs, his mum and all that is familiar. This? This is just too weird.

But the Master has other plans for him. And Harry must comply and seek to serve him or risk his wrath and the punishment he dishes out as God's will.

When Harry's mum notices his absence, she reports him to police and DI Laura Kesey sets about investigating Harry's sudden and out of character disappearance. But will they find him before it's too late?

Whoa! This has to be one of the most uncomfortable reads I've read in a long time. Not much gets under my skin but this one did. There is just something so inherently evil about the man who calls himself the Master and cults in general. Their predatory nature in seeking out the vulnerable, identifying their weaknesses and exploiting them to their own advantage. Their ability to manipulate others and make them pliable to do their bidding with the click of their fingers. And the power he has over them. It's simply terrifying.

I have to say I drew many similarities between that of the Manson family as well as a Nazi concentration camp. There is one scene where all members line up with the men in front and women and children behind...all of them silent, their faces expressionless...as they awaited permission to leave. I was almost expecting the SS to appear shouting commands. Instead the Master appeared in all his glory (no, not the naked kind though...he did that often enough) to look down on his servants while they did his bidding and bowed down to him as the powerful one. 

I'm sure I will be dreaming the words..."God is great. I am nothing. All praise to the master."

THE STUDENT is raw and edgy throughout with the tension is palpable. You find yourself yearning for Harry to somehow find an escape and yet you have no idea how. The sense of claustrophobia is so real I found myself almost squirming on several occasions and I had to put the book down to catch my breath. I could have easily read this book in just a few hours but for the subject matter making it difficult without coming up for air. 

Whilst not my favourite read by Nicholl, it is still an incredibly captivating tale that is gritty and tense throughout. Nicholl has the innate ability to draw his readers in leaving us gripped to the edge of our seat as we turn each page wondering how it is all going to end. His writing is compelling with his own style of uniqueness that is...well...unique.

If you have not read John Nicholl yet, I urge you to go out and do so! He is one hell of an author that I only discovered some six months ago and he is now up there as one of my all-time favourite go-to authors.

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheStudent in exchange for an honest review.

Previously published as "The Girl in White"

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, social worker and lecturer (and now a "serial chiller") as the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of numerous darkly psychological suspense thrillers. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Their Burning Graves by Helen Phifer

Their Burning Graves (Morgan Brookes #8) by Helen Phifer

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller, Police procedural

Read: 22nd December 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th December 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

They are picture perfect. A young, happy family sat around the kitchen table. But no one moves as wisps of smoke filter into the room and the house becomes a burning grave around them…

When reports come in of a family trapped in a burning house, Detective Morgan Brookes rushes to the scene. But as soon as she enters the ruined home, she is devastated by what she finds. Tied to the kitchen table, Sally and David Lawson, and their young son, had no chance of escaping the flames and the smoke…

Neighbours all agree the Lawsons were the perfect family, and CCTV shows nothing suspicious. Morgan’s only clue is the silver crucifix necklace around Sally’s neck. Because according to friends, she wasn’t religious. Was someone passing divine judgement on this mother and her family?

Focusing on Sally’s last steps, Morgan gets the breakthrough she needs – just days ago Sally had confided in a friend that she felt someone was watching her. And when Morgan finds photos of Sally on her neighbour Luke’s phone, all the pieces slot together.

Only then another local woman reports feeling watched. Nothing seems to link her to Luke, but Morgan can’t ignore it. Could the killer still be out there? Going deeper into Sally’s past and uncovering the killer’s motivations is her only chance to save more innocent lives, but can she solve the twisted puzzle in time?

MY THOUGHTS:

I just adore Helen Phifer's books and this series is one of my favourites, despite Morgan's ability to get into sticky situations all on her own with no back-up and I have to wonder...does she never learn? LOL Nevertheless, I am always eager to dive into whatever latest installment that awaits whilst piecing together all the clues Phifer drip-feeds her readers throughout. And of course I was not disappointed.

THEIR BURNING GRAVES is the eighth book in this exciting series and as with each other the characters simply grow beneath the tip of Phifer's pen. I love their camaraderie and banter and seeing how far loner Morgan has come since the first book that I read, which was in fact the second book in the series "The Killer's Girl". I still have the very first one sitting on my shelf to get to one of these days so that I can go back and see how and where it all began.

THEIR BURNING GRAVES opens with a shocking prologue and scenes of carnage that the reader just knows will come back to bite someone in the butt when they least expect it. I mean, that's how crime thrillers like this go, right? But in the final paragraphs of this opening, there is enough there to send chills down your spine as you can picture the scene as if you had witnessed it in reality.

Morgan Brookes is recovering from a sprained ankle she gained at the close of their last case in which they lost a fellow colleague and friend, Des Black. The team are still reeling from his loss, even blaming themselves, leaving them a team member down with just the three of them. 

And then are called to a scene in which three family members are found dead around the kitchen table. Their neighbour called in to report their house on fire but that isn't what killed them. And that isn't the worst of it by any means. But who wanted Sally and David Lawson, and their their 14 year old son Tim, dead?

The Lawsons appear, on the surface, to the perfect family. They lived in a beautiful house in an affluent part of Rydal Falls so why were they targeted? No matter how deep they dig or what they uncover, Morgan feels sure that this crime was personal. But why? And who was the real target of these murders? Was it David, the English lecturer? Or Sally, the beauty salon owner? Or maybe it was Tim, the student who had suddenly fallen behind in his grades and had been lured to the dark web? But then what of the scene? Why was Sally wearing a crucifix if she wasn't religious? Why was the entire family murdered if only one of them was the target?

A chance encounter leads Morgan to a cafe-come-store called Practical Magic, after one of Morgan's favourite movies, where she meets the owner Annie. When Annie alerts her to concerns for one of her regular customers, Morgan is quick to lend a hand but is soon left thinking - what does it all mean? And how is it linked to the Lawson murder?

Can Morgan piece it all together and save another woman and her family from an obsessed and vengeful killer before it's too late?

Helen Phifer truly does it again with this heart-pounding addition to an already exciting series that was a quick read I read in a day. But I do find myself shaking my head at Morgan and wondering when will she ever learn? Time and time again, she puts herself in harm's way without back-up as if she is a a one woman crusader of the bionic kind that no killer can touch. Yes, it is exciting and makes for thrilling reading, but seriously, after eight books Morgan, you should know better by now. As much as I love this series and it does get better and better, I do tire sometimes of Morgan's relentless going in single-handedly to save the day. Can she not at least have a partner on hand to aid her should it all go pear-shaped? Does she always have to go it alone? I'm sorry, but for me common sense prevails. And in reality, Morgan would have been hauled over the coals for continually putting herself in danger. But I know I know...it's just a book. And of course, it makes for exciting reading. Her behaviour just frustrates me sometimes when she really should know better.

That aside, THEIR BURNING GRAVES is a brilliant read I devoured in a day. Although I found the mystery an easier puzzle this time round and easily pieced most of it together before the final showdown, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of it by any means. What I did find a little puzzling was a possible red herring that kind of backfired when Morgan was questioning a person of interest and was left feeling spooked by their summation of events and thinking to herself that she hadn't disclosed that information to them. But if you go back a few pages in that conversation, she did indeed reveal the very information she said she hadn't. So I feel that this was meant to be a red herring to put readers off the track but in the end it was kind of redundant. 

Another point was the non-existent mobile phone signal at one of the scenes where Morgan couldn't call in to the station until she had left and signal had returned, but at the end she was at that very same place when she received a call on her phone...and yet throughout the entire book there had been no signal??

I did feel some of the stories of those involved weren't wrapped up as neatly this time round and I would have liked to see Maggie one last time as she was such an endearing character. I wouldn't mind sitting at her table and sampling her goodies.

Nevertheless, THEIR BURNING GRAVES is a fantastic addition to the series and an exciting story that unfolded superbly. I still enjoy the team's camaraderie and even miss Des, as irritating as he could be at times, but I welcome to addition of their newest member to the team as I feel he will be an incredible asset to them, as he was already an endearing character.

I did miss one character, though she did get a mention. Ettie. She is delightful and I would love to see more of her. I hope we do.

The ending was a little unexpected, as it usually ended with Morgan and Ben debriefing in some way. It wasn't as if it had left the space open to continue onto the next book as it was only relevant to this story. I didn't not like it, it was just different to what I had expected. However, I did thoroughly enjoy this thrill-ride and look forward to the next installment for which I hope we don't have too long to wait...

I thoroughly recommend the entire Morgan Brookes series.

I would like to thank #HelenPhifer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheirBurningGraves in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Helen Phifer is the #1 Bestselling crime and horror novelist of the Annie Graham, Lucy Harwin and Beth Adams series. 

Helen lives in a small town in Cumbria. Surrounded by miles of coastline and only a short drive from the beautiful Lake District. 

She has always loved writing and reading since the days she learnt how to in infant school. She loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and make her afraid to go to the toilet, alone in the middle of the night. She is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. 

Unable to find enough of the scary stories she loves to read, she decided to write her own.

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