REVIEW: The Better Mother by Emily Shiner

The Better Mother by Emily Shiner

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 15th October 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 22nd October 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Zoe just wanted to help. Now she may have a killer in her home.

Zoe is happily married to Ethan until the day a 13-year-old boy shows up on their doorstep. He says his name is Micah and that Ethan is his father. Distressed because his mother is missing, Micah has come to them for help.

Ethan is wary – he didn’t know anything about Micah - but kind-hearted Zoe feels she can’t possibly turn her back on the boy. She welcomes him into their home and does her best to make him part of the family.

But there’s something off about Micah.

He lies constantly, creeps silently around the house and towers over Zoe, observing her every move. And his growing bond with Anna, Zoe’s young daughter, feels all wrong.

So when his mother's body is found and the police start looking for the murderer, Zoe realizes something terrible…

MY THOUGHTS:

She just wanted to help...now she may have a killer in her home...

A fast paced entertaining quick read and my new favourite by Emily Shiner. While some of her books have been hit and miss with me, this has got to be one of her best. It is fast paced with short snappy chapters and a simple storyline that holds your attention throughout. It may be a tad predictable but it certainly didn't ruin my enjoyment. I loved every minute of this quick read which I devoured in a matter of hours.

Zoe lives a happy life with handsome surgeon husband Ethan and their three year old hurricane Anna. Their lives are perfect...until one day a knock on the door changes everything. As soon as Zoe opens the door, she could see the teenager standing on her porch was her husband's son. There was no denying the similarities between them. What was she to do? She let him in and welcomed him into her home.

Thirteen year old Micah has had a very different life to the one he's just walked into. His drug addict mother would disappear for days on end, returning when her money ran out. But this time was different. She's been gone a week without a word and the power has been cut off. Micah had no choice but to seek out the father she had told him about and see if he would take him in...even for a short while. At least until they found his mother.

Ethan is shocked to see the boy who is clearly his son. But he knows nothing about his life and if he poses a danger to the carefully curated life he has created with Zoe, or their little daughter. But Zoe is kind and compassionate and refuses to turn her back on the child who so clearly needs to be take care of. But to Ethan, he's a stranger. Does he want him here?

It isn't long before little things begin to happen that are a little creepy, if not odd. A missing photograph later reappearing as a crafted photo-chop of Micah and his mother. Rita, his biological mother? Or Zoe, his new mother? A carefully curated collection of photos of Zoe on his laptop sends her into a tailspin. Micah is not what he appears. Why was he stalking Zoe? And what is he hiding?

When Micah's mother Rita is found dead, Zoe's heart goes out to the boy despite her growing fears about him. But does he know more about his mother's murder than he is letting on? His disturbing activities lead her to suspect this to be the case leaving her feeling torn between her committment to Ethan and her family and the realisation she has made a grave mistake in letting this child into her home.

This tale is both heartbreaking and disturbing. I felt for Micah and sympathised with his situation and yet there was also that nagging doubt as to his guilt. But of what? The further you delve into this story the more it reveals. It's shocking in a sense and yet it isn't because of its predictability. But I still lapped up every word of every page because for me it's the entertainment factor. And I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, though I figured out the twist almost from the start it wasn't hard to, but it was still an addictive and captivating tale.

And then there was that nice little sting in the tale twist at the end...

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world.

She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs. And loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.

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REVIEW: The Homemaker by Miranda Rijks

The Homemaker by Miranda Rijks

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 28th October 2023

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Amazon

Published: 22nd October  2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Maria always wanted a family. Now she’s found one.

Imogen has never been so busy – she’s juggling two jobs, has a young family and now she’s pregnant again.

Enter Maria, the perfect housekeeper. Hard working and capable, she seems like the ideal solution to Imogen's chaotic life. But Maria isn’t at all what she seems – she has a sinister agenda of her own.

Little by little, she installs herself at the heart of Imogen’s family – doing the school run, cooking meals, caring for Imogen’s little girl.

But once she has won the family’s trust, Maria starts to do some digging. And discovers that Imogen has been keeping a terrible secret, a secret which Maria threatens to reveal unless Imogen starts to run this home the way Maria sees fit.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Imogen has no choice but to comply.

A terrible mistake. Because as the full scale of Maria’s horrifying plan becomes apparent, Imogen realises that everything she holds dear – her marriage, her family, her friends – all may fall victim to The Homemaker.

The Homemaker – the chilling psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Visitors and What She Knew.

MY THOUGHTS:

Maria always wanted a family...and now she's found one...!

What a deliciously disturbing domestic suspense thriller Miranda Rijks has cooked up for us. This time we meet a lonely middle-aged woman who is desperately searching to belong. Only problem is, does she belong to THIS family?

Imogen has a perfect life with her dentist husband Josh and their 5 year old daughter Ava. She wants for nothing and the beautiful house in which they live was clearly too big for them with seven bedrooms but the moment they saw the 18th century property, they fell in love with it. As an aside, Imogen rents out two of the ensuite bedrooms, which are accessed separately, operating as a thriving Bed and Breakfast whilst providing a consultancy business for hotels. It's not that she needs the money - she just loves doing what she does.

But then Imogen discovers she is pregnant. And the news is not at all welcome, given the devastating revelation her mother made just days before her death three months before. Now Imogen has no way of knowing how she can come back from this. And how can she bring another child into this world knowing what she knows?

Hubby Josh is oblivious to Imogen's silent heartache but he has noticed her looking tired and pale of late and suggests a visit to the doctor. Imogen then reveals her pregnancy to which Josh is ecstatic and announcing it to anyone and everyone. Imogen is not so sure. But one thing she is sure of and that is she is going to need the extra help especially now with a baby on the way. And that's when she hires Maria.

Maria enters Fairvew House with her own agenda. Sure, she's there to help Imogen, providing a cleaning service and whatever else she may require but Maria has a hidden agenda. She plans to inveigle her way into every aspect of Imogen's life so that she can no longer be without her...and then she will reveal the truth to her. However, it's not long before Maria uncovers Imogen's own hidden secrets and only then does she have the power of the upper hand. And Imogen doesn't know what's hit her.

OK, so Maria is not who she appears to be. That much is obvious from the start but then we wouldn't have a story then, wouldn't we? But just how much is Maria keeping from Imogen and just how much power does she yield? One thing is for sure, Maria has plenty of secrets of her own.

Once again, Miranda Rijks has pulled me in from the very first page and kept me engaged throughout. Her thrillers are addictie, compelling and definite page-turners, and this one is no different. Of course I wanted to slap Imogen for trusting Maria and punch Maria in the face. I could have gladly given Kyle a swift kick up the gluteus maximus also for his bad attitude. And Josh? So quick to believe the worst of his wife without even sitting down and talking with her. Only Ava seemed to make any sense and she's a five year old! But then again, who is sane in this psycho-domestic thriller?

With its snappy chapters a perfect length, the pace moved steadily through to the nail-biting end. Another great read from one of my favouritie authors.

I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheHomemaker 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.

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REVIEW: Dead Pretty by Joy Wood

Dead Pretty  by Joy Wood

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 29th October 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

UK

US

Published: 17th October 2023

★★ 2 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1977 – Six student nurses embark on their nurse training at Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital. They are young, excited and soon develop a strong friendship bond within their cohort.

But there is a predator amongst them. 

A man that takes great delight in killing young, pretty girls. 

He’s done it before.

He watches their movements to decide which one is next.

And then he kills for the thrill.

A student disappears – quickly followed by another. 

There are no leads, no evidence, and no bodies. 

He’s clever.

But is he as astute as he thinks he is?

MY THOUGHTS:

I know I'm in the minority here but I really couldn't get into this book. I made it 30% through before skimming the rest of it and feeling like I didn't really miss anything anyway. I was looking forward to this read as it sounded so intriguing but most of it was nursing students and their exploits yaddah yaddah yaddah. The anonymous chapters of the killer in between whetted my appetite but then that petered out and I found myself growing impatient for something to happen. And then when it did, I'd lost interest.

Set in 1977, the story focuses on student nurses at an orthapaedic hospital near Nottingham. We follow primarily about half a dozen of them - Kym, Louise (both of who narrate chapters), Zoe, Vanda, Guy and Simon. When one of the set disappears, it makes news headlines and the others grow increasingly worried for her safety. Especially as it is so out of character for the young woman. When another goes missing, the young folk realise something more sinister is going on and begin to look over their shoulders, wondering who is doing this?

It was an OK read and I skimmed to the end, found out the killer's identity and pretty much thought I didn't miss much. In fact, it felt a little off kilter. Maybe it was just me and the mood I'm in, I don't know. But this one just wasn't for me. Not at this time.

I would like to thank #JoyWood and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #DeadPretty in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Joy Wood has worked as a nurse most of her adult life and turned to writing six years ago to ‘see if she could.’ Her earlier work was adult romance and intrigue, but more recently she has switched genres to romance with a crime element. Joy lives in the small but charming seaside town of Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire and her writing ideas come from watching the tide turn daily, of course with the obligatory ice-cream – someone has to support the local economy!

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Lodge by Sue Watson

The Lodge by Sue Watson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 26th October 2023

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Amazon

Published: 24th October 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘Please – someone – help us. We’re at The Lodge, the snow is everywhere. We’re trapped. There was an argument last night… things got out of hand. Someone went missing in the middle of the night. We think they might be dead…’

Two days ago the Wilson family checked into the imposing, glass-fronted Lodge, surrounded by snow and perched perilously on the edge of a cliff looking out to a grey sea. Not everyone was looking forward to the family get-together. But mother-in-law Angela insisted the winter trip would help heal their rifts…

Danni: The new wife who feels like an imposter. She doesn’t trust anyone – even her husband. But is she trustworthy herself?

Fiona: The ex-wife who feels that all eyes are on her. She’s here for the sake of her children, but she fails to hide her seething jealousy towards her ex-husband’s new family…

Angela: The mother-in-law who can’t help but interfere. She planned the family holiday to get everyone together, but does she really want to keep the peace?

Scott: The husband torn between his ex-wife and his new wife. He says he wants to do right by his family, but he’s been telling lies to them all. Now his darkest secret is about to be revealed.

After a night of arguments, morning breaks with a single scream. Not everyone came to The Lodge to play happy families. Someone came to get revenge…

A completely gripping, utterly twisted thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train. 

MY THOUGHTS:

One family...one holiday...one chance for murder...

One wife, one ex-wife, the husband, his mother, his two teenage/adult by said ex-wife, a 12 month old baby by now current wife and a personal chef with a possible hidden agenda. What could possibly go wrong?? This dysfunctional family are the stars of this locked room thriller set in the beautiful and picturesque Cornwall that is snowed in for this tale. Sue Watson does family drama on a whole other scale here right up to the barely convoluted end.

Fiona is just getting her life back on track after her husband Scott threw a grenade into their marriage by sleeping with a colleague and then marrying her. She's tried the dating life and discovered it's not for her so it settling back into her own rhythm when she receives an invite from family matriarch Angela to join them all on a family holiday to a secluded lodge in Cornwall to celebrate her 75th birthday. And she does mean...everyone. Including Scott's new wife Danni and their bouncing baby Olivia. Fiona really doesn't want to play happy families with her ex and the newer model he traded her in for, but her former mother-in-law hinted that it may be her last birthday. So Fiona felt she could hardly refuse.

From the moment everyone arrived, tensions were high. It was clear from the outset that no one was comfortable with the arrangement but were here for Angela. Even the birthday cake was a bone of contention as both Fiona and Danni had made one specially because Angela always said "that it wasn't my birthday without Fiona/Danni's cake!" Really? Talk about awkward. And then came the sabotage. Who was really guilty there?

Honestly, I think Angela was winding everyone up by inviting them all to the lodge for "a nice family holiday". How on earth did she think it would go? The entire weekend was doomed from the start. And then she announces their own personal chef in the form of former lab assistant from Scott's school, Jenna! How did she go from lab assistant to waitress to cordon bleu chef in a matter of months?

And then the police arrive one evening to announce a hit and run on the road leading to their lodge the evening of everyone's arrival. They seem to think one of them guilty! And when one of them disappears in the early hours of the morning, everyone is on tenterhooks as to what happened...and more importantly, why?

Let's talk about the characters...or not. There really isn't much to like about many of them. First of all, Danni. She got on my nerves from the off. Her irritating annoying little snipes at everyone made me want to slap her. Jenna? She was annoying on another level, sidling up to "Scottie" and trying to be the centre of his attention at every opportunity...even in front of his wife. Both of them! Fiona? I liked her but some of her decisions were questionable. Scott? Simply put, he was a tool. He'd have a shiny toy that he had been happy with until an even shinier one came along and then he decided he wanted that one instead...and so he risked everything by being an absolute idiot. And he didn't stop there. Georgia was incredibly insecure and anxious about just about everything. Sam seemed a little cagey...what was he hiding. Even baby Olivia got on my nerves with her constant screaming and wailing...and I couldn't even hear her! And then there was Angela. I really think she was winding everyone up by inviting them all to the lodge because what did she honestly think was going to happen? But then she did want one last birthday with them all. One last birthday that she could enjoy as Angela. And therein lies the conundrum.

There was so much cattiness and bitchiness going on with Danni being the main instigator and Jenna being a little more subtle in her approach. I really didn't like any of the characters but Fiona and Angela were the lesser of the evils I think. I guess I found a little sympathy for Angela in her case which is maybe why I was relatively okay with her.

The ending was somewhat convoluted with an epilogue that seemed to go on forever. But held within those pages were the answers we were all seeking. What really happened in Kynance Cove in Cornwall?

This atmospheric thriller is the perfect locked room mystery that will have even the reader on edge being locked up with all these characters for company. But what a fun read it was. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with with Sue once again and once again in Cornwall, always an atmospheric setting.

Tightly plotted, well written, tense, chilling and a thoroughly entertaining read.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels (many involving cake), and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW, FIRST DATE, THE FOREVER HOME, THE NEW WIFE, THE RESORT, THE NURSERY, THE WEDDING DAY and THE LODGE.

Sue explored the darker side of life for her latest book 'Our Little Lies,' a dark, psychological thriller completely devoid of cake. She's hoping this change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Night of the Sleepover by Kerry Wilkinson

The Night of the Sleepover (Sleepover #1) by Kerry Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 16th October 2023

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Amazon

Published: 23rd October 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Four girls close their eyes. Only one wakes up.

Leah and her three best friends get changed into their pyjamas, eat pizza and argue about what film to watch. They laugh together until the early hours. But the next morning, Leah blinks open her eyes and sees three empty sleeping bags. The other girls are gone.

Twenty years later. In her small hometown, still-haunted Leah has never been able to shake off the rumours and whispers. How could she have slept through it all? She must know what happened.

Now, a documentary is being made about the night Leah’s best friends disappeared. Is the truth about to come out?

Then an anonymous email arrives in Leah’s inbox. ‘Stop them’.

Somebody out there knows what happened the night of the sleepover. Is Leah in terrible danger? And will she ever find her missing friends – or are some secrets meant to be kept forever?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller with twists and turns that will make you gasp. Anyone who loves Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena or The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put this down.

MY THOUGHTS:

And then there was one...

It feels like so long since I've had a "Kerry-fix" so naturally I was eager to dive into this little mystery surrounding a teenage sleepover. And while the little town in which they live is not referred to by name, I do note the mention of Whitecliff with regards to a slightly non-important character. And it made me ponder, will there be more Whitecliff mysteries? But back to the sleepover...

Just before Christmas 1999, when the world was awash with the hype surrounding the Y2K millenium bug that was supposedly going to crash all computers whent he clock ticked over on New Year's Eve, Leah and her three best friends - Vicky, Jasmine and Harriet - are enjoying a sleepover complete with vodka, pizza and gossip. As sleep slowly came, each of the girls crashed out and all was quiet. When Sunday morning dawned with its choral cacophony of birdsong, Leah opened her eyes and looked over at her sleeping friends...except they weren't there. All three of them were gone, their sleeping bags empty. And they were never seen again.

Now twenty four years later, what happened to the girls has remained a mystery although it continues to haunt the town that has never fully recovered. Although she has tried to move on, Leah remains in the same town having married (and divorced) and now has a 14 year old Zac, who is not much younger than she was when her whole life changed in that one single night. Almost everyone in town remembers that night and none moreso than the missing girls' families - Deborah, Harriet's mother who became a surrogate mother to Leah, and Vicky's elder sister by three years, Esther, who is now a solicitor...and also returned to the town.

It seems none can escape the past, especially when it shapes so much of who you were and who you are now. Then along comes Owen, the younger brother of Jasmine, who is now a filmmaker of sorts and has returned to town with his team to make a documentary on the missing girls' disappearance in the hope it will turn up new evidence that will inevitably lead to the truth about what happened the night of the sleepover. He has a whole host of people he wants to interview, and who of them is more important than the remaining survivor of that night but Leah? Of course, Leah is reluctant to drag up the past whilst at the same time wanting answers as to what happened to her friends so when her interview comes around, is goes from bad to worse and she ends up storming out.

And then things only seem to get worse for Leah when she becomes the recipient of seemingly threatening emails warning her to do whatever it takes to stop the documentary from going ahead. But how is she to stop it? And why should she? After all, she wants to know what happened to her friends on that fateful night.

The story unfolds solely through Leah's narrative in the present day as well as switching back to before, during and after the sleepover, as gradually readers are given more insights into the girls and pondering what may have happened on that night.

This was indeed an intriguing read though I did feel there was a lot of fluff in the middle, probably put there as red herrings to sidetrack us. Well, it didn't matter because I was thoroughly stumped as to how three girls could just up and vanish overnight and leaving one behind. How could no one know what happened? Someone, surely, knows something. The question is...who? And when it is revealed you will be surprised and then shocked as a flurry of twists are delivered in quick succession. I see some were outraged at such an ending but I felt it was a delicious twist and nicely played. Particularly as I certainly didn't see it coming (not often that happens...lol)

The story suffices perfectly well as a standalone but there is a sequel around the corner though I'm not sure how it will relate to this one as I found everything was resolved nicely. But I am looking forward to read it!

Overall, another engaging and intriguing read from Kerry Wilkinson complete with his trademark wit peppered throughout.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Social Media links:

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

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REVIEW: The Teacher by Danielle Stewart

The Teacher by Danielle Stewart

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 14th October 2023

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Amazon

Published: 20th October 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I‘m the perfect teacher. From the outside, you’d never know that I’m hiding a dark secret. And if anyone finds out, it’ll destroy everything…

I always wanted to teach. I imagined rosy-cheeked students bringing me apples, grading their homework with a cup of coffee, and making a real difference in their lives. Maybe even saving them. Because I never want anyone to go through what happened to me when I was a young girl…

My beloved son Bryson is even in my school now. He’s a model student and the answer to all my prayers. Having my baby at work with me every day is all I could wish for.

Except one day, my perfect world turns into a nightmare.

When my student Daisy comes to me with tears in her eyes, she tells me that my darling little boy did something unspeakable to her. I’ve worked so hard to raise him right—gentle, kind and caring. Nothing like the men that hurt me when I was young. I want to believe he’s innocent. But should I?

Then, the threatening messages start.

But they’re not just for Bryson. They’re for me too. Someone knows my secret. Is someone trying to ruin my son's life to make me pay for what happened? Or did he really do the horrible thing he’s accused of? Either way, I have a feeling I might not get out of this alive…

This addictive and gripping psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train.

MY THOUGHTS:

One dangerous accusation...one lession you'll never forget...

I am actually pleasantly surprised by this one. I don't know what I expected with this thriller but it was so much more than it was. There truly are so many twists coming from all angles that you don't know what to believe. Nicely played Ms Stewart.

We meet Elizabeth, a high school teacher who is not your average teacher. She goes the extra mile for her students because she knows what it's like to come from nothing, to have nothing and no one to look out for you. She's the teacher that students can have a laugh with, someone they can approach and confide in. Which is how Daisy comes to confess to something that Elizabeth is all too familiar with. She sees Daisy looking dishevelled and distressed one day during class and approaches her. After some prompting, Daisy reveals that she was assaulted at a party she attended after becoming intoxicated. Concerned for her student's welfare, Elizabeth tries her best to help. But then Daisy drops another bombshell. Her attacker was her own son, Bryson.

Elizabeth's world shatters as she tries to be present for both her son and Daisy but soon her credibility begins to crumble. Her care and concern borders inappropriate and she risks everything in her quest to be the person to her student she wished had been there for her at Daisy's age. But nothing will prepare Elizabeth for the hurricane that is about to be unleashed... and just how closely her past is tied to her present.

With her marriage at risk, her son suspended and her job on the line, Elizabeth goes down the rabbit hole in her quest for absolution.

Unfolding primarily through Elizabeth and Daisy's narratives, with the odd one from husband Rick, this fast paced thriller is a little far fetched in places but completely entertaining from start to finish. I honestly had no idea the direction it would take. And then comes the twist after twist after twist. And suddenly readers don't know what to believe. Is Elizabeth being gaslighted? Are we? What is true? And what is fiction?

A delightfully entertaining thriller that came together nicely with a satisfactory end. Trigger warnings of sexual assault and mental illness.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Danielle Stewart is a USA Today Best Selling Author of over 50 books. She has held the number one book rank on Apple Books, Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Danielle currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and son. She works hard to perfect her ability to write in a noisy house and create story lines while daydreaming and folding laundry. She loves hearing from readers so please find her on social media. 

Social media links:

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REVIEW: Her Perfect Revenge by Lesley Sanderson

Her Perfect Revenge by Lesley Sanderson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 13th October 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th October 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

On the surface we were the perfect couple, but no one knows what we’ve been hiding…

Just six hours ago, Alex and I were married. It was a beautiful wedding by the sea, on the beach we’ve always loved. Our guests crowded outside our beach hut to raise a toast before our first midnight swim together as man and wife. And then, suddenly, he was gone, drowning in the water that meant so much to us.

But instead of being able to mourn in peace, to get to grips with my awful new reality, the police are here. It seems they don’t think Alex’s death was an accident. And I’m the main suspect.

I know I’m innocent, but I also know we both had secrets. And to my horror, it seems Alex’s were worth killing for. But who in our wedding party could have wanted him dead?

I thought I knew the man I married but I couldn’t have been more wrong. But then again, he didn’t know the real me either. I’ve been hiding from the truth for so long. And then I realise: what if it wasn’t Alex’s past that was coming back to find him. What if it’s mine? How far will someone go to expose my darkest secret?

A gripping, jaw-dropping page-turner with twists to die for. If you love Lisa Jewell, Daniel Hurst and Frieda McFadden, you’ll love Her Perfect Revenge.

MY THOUGHTS:

My husband is dead...and I'm the only suspect...

What a delightfully delicious psychological thriller Ms Sanderson has delivered us with. And the setting is superb. I love the beach, the water. So refreshing and invigorating. But this thriller is not quite what you expect it to be at first...

It's the perfect setting. A hotel whose doors open up onto a deck that give way to the sandy beach where a party is well underway celebrating Alex and Felicity's wedding. But this wedding comes with a difference. At the stroke of midnight, the bride and groom, and anyone who wishes to join them, are taking a midnight swim to mark this momententous occasion...and to exorcise a few demons for others. 

As the guests shed their clothes, Alex and Felicity are the first to dive into the icy depths, the others following behind. But Alex, a born competitor, sees this swim as a challenge and swims further into the black water as Felicity, feeling the chill, promised herself only ten minutes before returning to shore. No one thinks anything of it...until a further ten, fifteen, twenty minutes go by and there's still no sign of Alex.

Frantic now, Felicity calls 999 and the police attend, along with the coastguard. And Alex still has not returned.

It isn't long before all the guests are questioned and a picture is formed. But then in follow-up interviews over the ensuing days, another picture is becoming clearer. Alex was engaged once before. And his fiance Beth swam in the same cove three years previously and was never seen again, fear drowned. Coincidence? But the police don't believe in coincidences and so they begin a thorough investigation questioning and re-questioning everyone again. 

And it soon becomes clear that yet another picture was forming... But was it the truth? Or was it just what they were being lead to believe? 

Even though I guessed one or two of the major plot twists almost from the start, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of this entertaining thriller. I read so many of them I tend to look where no one else does and expect what no one else does. The story unfolds in the past and present, both five years previous and up to Beth's drowning, to the wedding day and beyond. It does shift back and forth from time to time but only so as to drip feed us information at just the right time. And then we have a handful of chapters by an anonymous source. That one was a mystery but it wasn't too hard to narrow it down. The clues are all there for you to find.

The pace was steady throughout and the chapters short and snappy, which always keeps things moving along nicely. The ending was satisfactory with no loose ends though I would have liked maybe a final chapter from Alex as he took that last swim. I would have liked to peek inside his mind and what was going through it as he entered the water on that fateful night. Still, it the resolution was satisfactory and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A very different type of tale that was thoroughly entertaining.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lesley attended the Curtis Brown Creative 6 month novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 The Orchid Girls (then On The Edge) was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.

'The Orchid Girls' was her first psychological thriller followed by 'The Woman at 46 Heath Street' in 2019, The Leaving Party (2020), The Birthday Weekend (2020), I Know You Lied (2021), Every Little Lie (2021), The Widow's Husband (2022) and The Mistress Next Door (2023).

Lesley spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and works as a librarian. She loves the atmosphere and eclectic mix of people in the area. Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has been hooked on psychological thrillers ever since and is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.

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REVIEW: Trust No One by Keri Beevis

Trust No One by Keri Beevis

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 18th October 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th September 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A woman haunted by her past and a killer who won't let her forget.

‘A long, long time ago, you did a bad, bad thing, Now it’s time to pay...’

When I first found the note, I assumed it was a prank.

But then I am lured to a house where I witness a gruesome murder, and I realise the threat is real.

But who is tormenting me though, and why?

Noah Keen, my boyfriend, is determined to get to the bottom of things, and soon other familiar faces appear from my past. Ones who are connected to a tragic accident that happened when we were teenagers. They too have received similar notes.

Someone knows the truth about what really happened that night in Norfolk.

Someone believes we were responsible and they will not stop until every one of us has been punished.

The perfect read for fans of authors like Clare Mackintosh, Cara Hunter, and Paula Hawkins.

MY THOUGHTS:

"A long, long time ago, you did a bad, bad thing. Now it’s time to pay..."

When Olivia Blake first found the note on her car, she thought it was a prank. Then when she arrived at the house that had been on her firm's books forever and was unsellable, she assumed this was her colleague's idea of a joke. But when she wandered the darkened halls and followed the Christmas music to the kitchen where she found a man bound and gagged and doused in petrol, she knew this was no joke. Least of all because of the flames that were licking at his legs and gradually consuming the rest of him, his screams muffled by the gag in his mouth. Olivia turned and fled the house screaming, running out on to the road and without looking was hit by a car. She woke up in hospital with a sizeable headache and the visions of the man burning to death.

Days later, Olivia learns that the name of the man and realises she knew him almost twenty years ago at school. So maybe her being being at the house for a viewing that never happened was no accident. Someone lured her there. Someone who knew about what happened in her past. But then why are they targeting her? She's done nothing wrong. Has she?

When she was 14 years old, Olivia was inadvertently involved in a prank that went horribly wrong. She had been betrayed by her best friend who was nothing if not cruel, showing her true colours after Olivia returned to school in the most cruellest and shameless ways. Olivia confides in her boyfriend Noah Keen about the truth of what happened to her and together they discover that the others involved in this harmful prank have also received similar notes. But no one has uttered a word about what happened all those years ago...and Olivia was oblivious to what really took place...unless she's the one who has been sending them? Olivia denies it...but then Fern says she would, wouldn't she?

Then one by one, each of those involved in that prank die a horrible painful death. And Olivia and Fern know that the past is coming back to haunt them in a big way. Someone knows what happened...and they are making every single one of them pay.

And yet several questions remain. Who is stalking Olivia? What is Noah hiding? And what really happened in the woods all those years ago?

Teenagers are the worst for pranks. Seriously. They think it's incredibly funny but in actual fact it is downright cruel and sometimes even dangerous. Although this prank was intended to be harmless it didn't end up that way. And several other pranks were even crueller. I don't miss being a teenager that's for sure. In this tale, the teenage prank that went horribly wrong comes back to haunt all those involved in the ultimate act of revenge. It isn't totally hard to work out what the revenge is for when you learn what happened. But narrowing down who it is is a little trickier. I had two people in my sights as possible suspects. One I really didn't want to be the villain and the other one I really DID want to be the villain! LOL I leaned more towards the one I wanted it to be from about 40% in and from then on I picked up subtle clues that merely confirmed it to be that person. I was thrilled upon discovering I was right. I don't think it is obvious. I have just learnt what to look for...or what not to look for. And knowing who it was for most of the book didn't spoil my enjoyment because for me the thrill is in the ride. And Keri Beevis certainly gave us that!

A dark story with more gruesome murders than a Midsomer Murders episode, this thriller moves along swiftly with Olivia completely oblivious to everything and everyone, whilst jumping at shadows and reluctant to trust those closest to her. But as the past has shown her, she can literally trust no one as the net closes in and her past comes rushing back to haunt her.

A great set of characters, though not all likeable...in fact most of them are relatively unlikelable. Even Olivia herself was often irritating. A tightly woven plot and a great narrative makes this fast paced thriller an addictive and exciting read right up to it's nail-biting end. Even the epilogue was a nice touch.

One of the best Beevis thrillers I've read to date.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Keri Beevis is the internationally bestselling author of Dying To Tell, Deep Dark Secrets and Trust No One. Dying To Tell reached no. 1 in the Amazon chart in Australia and was a top 25 hit in the UK, while Deep Dark Secrets was the bestselling Bloodhound Books title of 2020. Every Little Breath, was released in April 2021 and The Sleepover (her first with Boldwood Books) was published in October 2022.

Keri lives in Norfolk, England, with her two naughty kitties, Ellie and Lola, and a plentiful supply of red wine (her writing fuel). She loves Hitchcock movies, exploring creepy places, and gets extremely competitive in local pub quizzes. She is also a self-confessed klutz.

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REVIEW: The Retreat by Karen King

The Retreat by Karen King

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 6th October 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th October 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The sunlight dances on the turquoise pool as I wait for our first guests. But my blood turns to ice when I recognise one of them as an old friend and a flood of guilt and fear comes rushing back. Is she here to ruin my life for a second time?

‘It’s been so long’, Saskia says as she hugs me. I plaster the smile back on my face, my hands shaking as I usher our guests into the traditional Spanish farmhouse we’ve spent years renovating to perfection. Saskia and I had been so close, until she betrayed me.

Now I’ve started a new life here in Spain. I met José and fell in love with his deep brown eyes, and together we opened our own retreat nestled high in the mountains. But José has no idea about the real me – I know he wouldn’t be able to look me in the eye if he ever found out that I have blood on my hands.

Then I discover our beautiful water fountain stained a deep red. My heart pounds with fear because it feels like a warning. And all my worst nightmares are confirmed when I find a note in my bedroom, revealing my terrible secret.

I was with Saskia all day, so I know it can’t be her. Which means that someone else at the retreat knows the truth about me – and they’re here for revenge.

But this perfect new life means everything to me. And I’ll do anything to protect it…

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.

MY THOUGHTS:

Relaxation...recovery...revenge...

When I saw other reviews were mixed and a couple DNF, I was surprised as Karen King has always been a winner for me with three out of four of her thrillers being 5 stars. But having trudged my way through this one, I can see why. It was quite drawn out and very much a slow burn. But the premise was intriguing so I stuck it out. OK, so it did get better but not till around 65% when things really started to pick up and by that stage I was flipping the pages at the speed of light. Before that, it was all yoga, breathing, nature walks and munching kale, olives and chia. Yeah, na.

Eva and Jose have spent the past two years renovating the villa he inherited from his grandmother after her death some five years before. Their dream was to open a wellness retreat...a place to relax, reflect and just unwind. Eva, who had her own baggage of secrets, was now a wellness coach practicing yoga, mindfulness and massage. Jose was a chef who grew his own vegetables and everything at this retreat came from what they grew themselves.

As an introductory special, they decide to offer six places at half price for a week's trial before opening to the public for summer. The bookings are snapped up right away and Eva is shocked to discover that her old college friend Saskia is among the guests. That wouldn't be so bad if Saskia didn't come with her own set of problems and the past she represented to Eva that she has tried so hard to put behind her. Saskia betrayed twice before...is she coming to do it again? Or is she just over thinking things?

Jose's cousin Carlos is also amongts the guests, whose families have been estranged since before they were born and no one revealing what the feud was about. But is Carlos jealous that their grandmother left the villa to him? Is that why he has come? To get his revenge for an inheritance he feels he should have also had a part in?

The remaining guests are two couples. One British - Nathan and Bianca. The other American - Sean and Adrienne. Both saw the opportunity for rest and relaxation under the sun. But are they all they appear to be?

Someone is out for revenge. But who? And who are they seeking revenge against? Eva and her secret past? Or Jose and his inheritance? Or is it something else altogether?

I had to shake my head at Eva who jumped up and down at Jose keeping secrets when she is doing the exact same thing! Pot...kettle...and all that. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, though Eva and Jose were kind of sweet. Most of the guests were pretty unlikeable. But then that's the nature of the beast.

There were plenty of twists and I liked the ending because comeuppance was had for the villain in the end, but it took a lot to get there. It wasn't King's best but it was still entertaining enough.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Karen King is a multi-published author of both adult and children’s books. Currently published by Bookouture and Headline, Karen writes about the light and dark of relationships. Her eleventh romantic novel, The Spanish Wedding Disaster, has recently been published and her third psychological thriller The Mother In Law is out in July, with a fourth one in February 2023.

Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her thrillers The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea became International Amazon bestsellers.

Karen is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. She now lives in Spain where she loves to spend her non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with her husband, Dave, when she isn’t sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

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