REVIEW: Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

Genre: Thriller

Read: 26th November 2025

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Amazon

Published: 14th October 2025

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

Maggie McCabe is on the brink. A highly skilled and renowned army combat surgeon, she has always lived life at the edge.

But now, after a devastating series of personal tragedies, Maggie is thrown a lifeline by a former colleague, an elite surgeon whose anonymous clientele demand the best care money can buy - as well as absolute discretion.

Halfway across the globe, one of the world’s most mysterious men requires unconventional medical assistance. Desperate, and one of the few surgeons in the world skilled enough to take this job, Maggie enters his realm of unspeakable opulence and fulfils her end of the agreement.

But when the patient suddenly disappears while still under her care, Maggie must become a fugitive herself – or she will be the next one who is . . . Gone Before Goodbye.

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Harlan Coben and all his witty dry humour so I was disappointed with this one, in collaboration with Reese Witherspoon (whom I don't think much of as an actress and even less as an author). I wanted to like it but I could see no Harlan in the pages I read and I read a good portion of it before I ditched it as anything army or combat related, my eyes just glaze over and I am so not interested.

BUT...I do eagerly await the next Harlan thriller as he is such a wonderful writer and I love his books and TV adaptions.

I would like to thank #HarlanCoben, #ReeseWitherspoon, #PenguinBooks, #CenturyBooks and #Netgalley for an ARC of #GoneBeforeGoodbye in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

Harlan is the creator and executive producer of several Netflix television dramas including FOOL ME ONCE, STAY CLOSE, THE STRANGER, SAFE, THE FIVE, THE INNOCENT and THE WOODS. He is also the creator and executive producer of the Prime Video series Harlan Coben’s SHELTER, based on his young adult books featuring Mickey Bolitar. Harlan was the showrunner and executive producer for two French TV mini-series, UNE CHANCE DE TROP (NO SECOND CHANCE) and JUST UN REGARD (JUST ONE LOOK). KEINE ZWEIT CHANCE, also based on Harlan’s novel, aired in Germany on Sat1. Harlan also appears in each of his adaptions to screen in a cameo - a concierge, a police detective, a passerby.

Harlan was born in Newark, New Jersey. He still lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children.

Social Media links:

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Reese Witherspoon is an award-winning actress, producer, founder and New York Times bestselling author. She won an Academy Award® for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in Walk the Line and was later nominated in that same category for Wild in 2014, which she also produced. Witherspoon also starred in beloved films Sweet Home Alabama, Legally Blonde, and Election, as well as the award-winning television series Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, and The Morning Show. Her other film credits include Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, Universal Pictures’ animated musical comedy Sing and Sing 2. In addition to her acting and producer roles, Witherspoon is an author and founder. In 2018, Reese released her first book, Whiskey in a Teacup, which was an instant bestseller. In 2016, she established the media brand Hello Sunshine. Hello Sunshine puts women at the center of every story it creates, celebrates and discovers. Hello Sunshine tells stories across all platforms–from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series–all shining a light on where women are now and helping them chart a new path forward. Hello Sunshine is also home to Reese’s Book Club, Reese’s YA Book Club and newly launched Gen-Z focused brand Sunnie. Hello Sunshine is part of Candle Media, an independent, creator-friendly home for cutting-edge, high-quality, category-defining brands and franchises. She’ll soon release her first novel, Gone Before Goodbye, a thriller, co-authored by Harlan Coben on October 14th.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

REVIEW: Spare Us!: A Harrody by Bruno Vincent

Spare Us!: A Harrody by Bruno Vincent

Genre: Humour

Read: 26th November 2025

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Amazon

Published: 6th April 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

'All I had ever wanted was privacy. In order to get it, it seemed that an exceptionally detailed 500,000-word book was in order...'

He was born into an ancient powerful dynasty and, through no fault of his own, became one of the most recognisable men on the planet.

His life was a constant barrage of press intrusion and manipulation. Until finally, he demanded that it stop. In order to get the privacy he so craved, he has written a frostbite-and-all book that goes deep inside the castle walls and exposes every shouting match, fist-fight, betrayal, teddy bear, awkward hug and tear-stained wedding rehearsal for the world to feast their eyes on.

All for privacy!

This is his story.

MY THOUGHTS:

'All I had ever wanted was privacy. In order to get it, it seemed that an exceptionally detailed 500,000-word book was in order...'

I wanted a laugh and that's what you get here. This brief 112 page hilarious "harrody" (with its own sarcastic twist) poke at the royal spare whose exploits we are so often regaled with through the media and, quite ironically, via his own claim for privacy. I have never ever seen anyone so intent on privacy flouncing their apparent need for such privacy and shouting it from the rooftops of Buckingham Palace and later the mountains of California where he and the wife who must be obeyed migrated to after their harrowing brush with the British media and even bloodier Royal family.

Prince Harry and his concubine, aka Ginger and Whinger or Hank and Skank, are the most publicly known private couple ever to walk to face of this earth. His obvious harrowing upbringing is alluded to highlighting the fact that he is none other than an entitled privileged "spare" that lives only second to his (apparent) bullying older brother William. The author cleverly weaves his own version of Harry's perception of his entitled upbringing and subsequent life in the shadow of the death of their mother Princess Diana. Yes, he does wear his victimhood like a badge of honour and it gets somewhat wearing to those of us who also have troubled lives and difficulties we must navigate without the benefit of money and royal titles.

I read the letter "Spare Us, Prince Hassle" prior to this which serves to speak for much of the public who at one time thought Harry to be a loveable rogue and now only sees him as a whiny entitled millennial snowflake seeking to shift the blame for his own misdeeds onto others. A quick read that took about an hour. Which is more than I can devote to the immigrant formerly known as Prince Harry.

My favourite part of the book (besides the quirky anecdotes) is the cover. Yes, spare us please Harry!

(NOTE: this review is pretty much the same as the one for Spare us, Prince Hassle since I read them one after the other and they both tended to blend into the other.)

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Bruno Vincent was a former book editor and bookseller before he became a bestselling author. He made his fiction writing debut when he penned “Grisly Tales from Tumblewater,” the first of the “Grisly Tales from Tumblewater” series in 2010.

He would then follow that up with a single-standing novel titled “A Christmas Carol II” in 2011 before making it big with the “Enid Blyton series for Grown Ups,” which is a spin-off of some of the most popular Enid Blyton works. He has also penned gothic horror story volumes for children that were so popular that they would ultimately be adopted for the stage.

Vincent has also published several humor titles for adults collaborating with Jon Butler, most of which would become bestsellers. Many of Bruno Vincent’s novels have been translated into several languages over the years.

In an interview, Bruno Vincent said that his popular “Enid Blyton for Grown Ups” series is not a parody or rejection of Blyton. He believes his novels are a nostalgic, respectful, and unfashionably wholehearted rendition, even though the estate of the late author may have a different view.

According to Vincent, he writes his novels to provide some comic relief for readers that grew up reading Enid Blyton. He optimistically hopes his novels are a great alternative to the very disposable Christmas stocking filler novels that most bookstores love to stock in place of humor.

Nonetheless, the Blyton estate has been heavily involved in the publication and production of the series. In fact, it is Enid Blyton’s distinctive signature which is on the front cover of all the works in the series. Bruno’s name as author is usually embossed in small type on the back of the books.

The novels also come with some of the original Eileen Soper illustrations with some relevant captions.

Bruno Vincent’s “Five On Brexit Island” is a hilarious parody, especially following the Brexit decision. The storyline is all about the Five who avoid real life on the night the referendum is being conducted.

They head to Kirrin Island in George’s territory where they hope to have a brief holiday. Soon enough, there is a fierce war between George who is firmly in the remain faction, and Julian who is strongly in the leave column. George is horrified and decides that Kirrin Island must leave Britain and holds a referendum on the residents. Vincent writes what is a particularly light take on Brexit politics that is both well-informed and humorous. The characters have a striking resemblance to their Blyton counterparts which is only exacerbated by the fact that the author insisted on using the original illustrations.

While this work may not heal those reeling from the pain of Brexit, it is still a well-crafted and clever story with some light relief.

“Five Go Gluten Free” by Bruno Vincent is another interesting work in the series. Anne had always been a huge fan of health fads and decided that the Five need to cut out most of the food they love rather than adopt the much simpler gluten-free diet.

They will cut out beer, chips, and pies going forward for medical reasons and for health. This happens to be one of the funniest of the series especially since we have always associated the child characters in End Blyton’s works with a Peculiarly British love of midnight feasts and picnics.

The Famous Five spent most of their time eating and hence the challenge of whole foods and macrobiotics soon proves a huge problem. Still, there are many hilarious one-liners and laugh-out-loud moments. The five translate particularly well to the contemporary world and bring a spicy nostalgic feeling.

Bruno Vincent’s novel “Five Go Parenting” is the penultimate work in which the Five are handed Ruper Kirrin’s baby.

They are to take care of the kid since Rupert and his wife have been sent to prison following yet another one of their very illegal activities. They now have to live with the six-month infant but thankfully they have a very large London flat. It makes for an amusing look into the world of parenting, particularly for people who know nothing about child care. It also explores how much life can change when an infant is introduced into one’s life.

It is a well-executed and witty work and Vincent does a good job of echoing Blyton. It makes for an excellent tongue-in-cheek gift if you are a new parent or maybe a humorous piece of nostalgia for children that may be left to care for younger siblings.

Social Media links:

Goodreads | Amazon

REVIEW: Spare Us, Prince Hassle - an Open Letter to the Prince of Wailers by Anonymous Sniper

Spare Us, Prince Hassle by Anonymous Sniper

Genre: Humour

Read: 26th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 9th January 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

For legal reasons and for the sake of old-fashioned honesty, the author, who is not an expert for Royalty or similar follies, wants to make you aware that after reading this publication you might not adore Prince Hassle anymore, just in case you ever did.

Believe the word of an honest man:

There are better and more fulfilling ways to spend a Pound Sterling, a Dollar, a Euro ...

You have been warned!

However, some few admirable people with a sense of humour might enjoy this short and rather spontaneous outburst of (a bit of) fury.

To the credit of the author, i.e. me: This publication was not written by a team of ghostwriters.

MY THOUGHTS:

This brief 13 page hilarious in-jest poke at the royal spare whose exploits we are so often regaled with through the media and, quite ironically, via his own claim for privacy. I have never ever seen anyone so intent on privacy flouncing their apparent need for such privacy and shouting it from the rooftops of Buckingham Palace and later the mountains of California where he and the wife who must be obeyed migrated to after their harrowing brush with the British media and even bloodier Royal family.

Prince Harry and his concubine, aka Ginger and Whinger or Hank and Skank, are the most publicly known private couple ever to walk to face of this earth. His obvious harrowing upbringing is alluded to highlighting the fact that he is none other than an entitled privileged "spare" that lives only second to his bullying older brother William.

I love the letter which serves to speak for much of the public who at one time thought Harry to be a loveable rogue and now only sees him as a whiny entitled millennial snowflake seeking to shift the blame for his own misdeeds onto others. A hilarious quick read that took about 20 minutes. About all I can devote to the immigrant formerly known as Prince Harry.

REVIEW: I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes

I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 26th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd November 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A child is missing. But I stole her first…

I sit little Mila down at my kitchen table with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. She smiles shyly at me and I reach out to ruffle her hair.

Leaving her alone for a moment, I dash upstairs, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. What have I done?

Mila isn’t my child. I should never have taken her home. But what choice did I have?

Painting a smile on my face, I head back down to the kitchen.

But when I reach the table, my blood turns to ice. The back door is open, and Mila is gone.

I need to find her. I need help. But who’s going to believe anything I say when I’m the one who took her first…?

A seriously twisty, addictive psychological thriller that will keep you awake flipping pages all night long. Perfect for anyone who devoured The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train.

MY THOUGHTS:

Someone stole her from me...but I stole her first...

When a mother fails to collect her 5 year old daughter from school one afternoon, school teacher Hannah Marlowe takes it upon herself to take the child home to safety. But within moments of arriving and Hannah leaving the room, little Mila is taken - again. And this time, no one knows where she has gone.

Hannah reports the disappearance to the police who wearily sigh at having to deal with the distraught woman once again. Because this is not the first time Hannah has fronted up to police to report suspicious goings on or the disappearance of her husband Rory. From disturbances to missing items to a suspicious car parked out front of her house to a husband who appears to have walked out on her, the police take what Hannah says with a very fine grain of salt. But Hannah is certain someone has taken Mila. The question is...who?

Then strange things begin happening to Hannah. Her car mysteriously picked up from the mechanics by a stranger claiming to have her permission. A dress collected from the dry cleaners who had the corresponding ticket. Items moved around her house, the scent of cigarette smoke when neither her nor her 15 year old daughter Jodie smoke. And a suspicious van parked out the front of her house and the school where she works that drives off as soon as she tries to approach it. Who is doing these things? And why?

And then her daughter disappears.

Suddenly Hannah is searching for Jodie and little Mila when no one appears to be concerned about their disappearances. Least of all the police. Until they arrive to arrest Hannah for the abduction of little Mila. Yes, she took her first but someone else took her again and that someone is the one the police should be looking for! Added to that, Hannah has a secret or two from her past that she would much prefer to remain buried.

And then Jodie's father turns up - after 15 years of radio silence. But with all that is happening, Hannah isn't sure who to trust anymore.

OK, so the premise was intriguing and the prologue was explosive. But then...what followed for the first half of the book was a confusing mess that was tangled beyond redemption. I was thoroughly confused and found trying to get my head around all the tangled pieces difficult to make any sense of and, while they did make some sort of sense in the end, the execution of it all fell short and was difficult to maintain interest in what was happening. It took me two weeks to read this when it should have taken no more than two days. I kept putting off going back to it because I felt it just too confusing and the twists that came felt forced. As most of the loose ends were tied up by the book's end, there were a few unanswered questions that I felt were inadequately explained. Like Fleur's abduction was a twist that felt way forced and its explanation was slightly tenuous to say the least. Though when things began coming together, it wasn't hard to work out what had happened.

BUT, having said that, I loved the ending. That was just way too good! Nice touch that saved what was unfortunately a long and drawn out confusing read that could have been made shorter. I love Samantha Hayes' thrillers and was excited to dive into this one but having just gone through major surgery myself, I found it difficult to concentrate on complex tales which may have hindered my perception of this one. It took me two weeks to wade through the first 35% of the book and the rest I devoured in a matter or hours. So it could well have been my inability to focus on complex tales that drew this one up short.

This is a hard one to rate and review because I do think my recovery hindered my perception so therefore it wouldn't be a totally accurate one. Especially given the fact I devoured the most half in a matter of hours and totally relished that explosive ending. I'll give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 as I feel I probably would have enjoyed it more had it not been for my recovery.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards

The Christmas Magpie (The Magpies #4) by Mark Edwards

Genre: Psychological thriller, Novella, Quick read

Read: 17th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 30th October 2025

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE…MURDER

Discover the terrifying festive thriller from the five million copy bestselling author of The Magpies and Here To Stay

It’s Noel and Dani’s first Christmas in their new home and they want everything to be perfect - lavish presents, a beautiful tree and outdoor decorations to join in with the festivities in this welcoming community.

But they quickly wonder if this street is as perfect as it appears.

First, there are the unwelcome presents left anonymously on their doorstep.

Then they are sure someone is watching them...

And why are the neighbours all obsessed with a notorious killer who is housed at the nearby women’s prison?

After tragedy strikes at a Christmas party, Noel and Dani try to find out who is targeting them – but, in this case, it might be safer not to know . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

It's beginning to look a lot like...MURDER!

I'm not usually one for festive reads but I couldn't pass up this creepy little thriller by Mark Edwards, featuring his most famous and love-to-hate characters Lucy Newton. But this time there is a new magpie in the flock. Or is that murder?

We meet Noel and Dani who have just moved into Nightingale Close, a close-knit yet delightful little community with their self-appointed leader in Linda, principal of the nearby girls high school. It is approaching Christmas and Noel is planning on this being their best Christmas ever as their first one together in their new house. Added to that, Noel is a Christmas baby himself having been born on Christmas Eve. Nothing and no one is going to ruin this for them, of that he is certain.

And then things slowly start to unravel as they at first begin to receive some strange parcels with some even stranger contents. From mince pies laced with chilli to a sexy santa dress for Dani to a creepy porcelain doll that never seems to die. Then the electrics in their house begin to play up and they return home from the pictures to discover they have been burgled. But the one thing that remains that was never there before - that damn doll! A tragedy then sets off a chain of events that drags them even deeper into danger, where the tension lays simmering beneath the surface.

And then there are the nearby neighbours. Not the ones in the Close or even the surrounding streets. But the ones housed in the nearby women's prison - namely notorious multiple murderer Lucy Newton.

Behind bars, Lucy finds herself the recipient of a series of Christmas cards signed "Secret Santa aka the Christmas Magpie". With each card comes the promise of something more, something that whets Lucy's appetite as she ponders just who is behind the series of little gifts...and what exactly they have in store for her. Whatever it is, can the Christmas Magpie outsmart the original magpie?

Yes, she's back. Her presence looms large even if she isn't centre stage but the tension she brings is unmistakeable! If you haven't already met Lucy, then you are in for a treat. Once met, never forgotten.

This Christmas novella is a delightfully dark Christmas treat. As the technical fourth in the Magpie series, with The Psychopath Next Door loosely claiming that place, this one is set to rekindle those Lucy vibes...or if you haven't read the previous books, then it will most certainly have thrown the cat amongst the magpies as it were. But rest assured though it is part of a series it can be read as a standalone as Lucy is not the main feature here though she does feature a lot more than she did in The Psychopath Next Door so you aren't missing anything that went on before. Much of what had gone on before is explained in enough detail to leave readers with a something of a picture while not giving everything away for those who haven't read the other books.

The doll was a thrilling touch that added that extra edge of creepiness to this delightfully dark and creepy festive thriller. A short snappy read that I read rather quickly in a matter of hours. This one is Mark Edwards at his finest! I loved it!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers about ordinary people who encounter terrifying events. He has been described as ‘a can’t-miss king of psychological suspense’ by thriller author Brad Parks and ‘a natural born storyteller with the darkest of imaginations’ by crime writer Fiona Cummins.

He has sold more than three million copies of his books and topped the bestseller lists numerous times since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013. 

His other novels are What You Wish For, Because She Loves Me, Follow You Home, The Devil’s Work, The Lucky Ones, The Retreat, In Her Shadow, Here To Stay and The House Guest. He has also published two short sequels to The Magpies, A Murder of Magpies and Last of The Magpies, and six books co-authored with Louise Voss.

Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Estonian, Thai, Lithuanian, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish and Russian.

In 2019 Mark won The Cat and Mouse Award for Most Elusive Villain at the Dead Good Reader Awards for Last of the Magpies.

Mark loves hearing from his readers and encourages them to contact him. He regularly interacts with readers on his Facebook page, where he hosts book release launch parties and lots of giveaways.

You can follow Mark on Twitter, like his Facebook page or take a peek at his pics on Instagram.

Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, three cats and a golden retriever.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: You Started It by Daniel Hurst

You Started It by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Short story, Quick read

Read: 16th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 4th June 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Revenge takes time....

Alison thought she lived a quiet, normal life with her husband, Damian. But that all changes when an unexpected visitor reveals a shocking truth about her partner. Things will never be the same after that as a deadly game of deceit begins, full of shocks and surprises, lies and betrayal, and ultimately proving that when it comes to revenge, it's best to take your time.

You started it. But who will finish it?

A fast-paced psychological thriller short story full of twists from the bestselling author of UK #1 The Doctor's Wife, The Couple's Revenge and The Passenger.

MY THOUGHTS:

Daniel Hurst has been one of my favourite thriller writers since I discovered him about four years ago (around the time he became a full time author). His thrillers a fast pacy reads with short snappy chapters that keep you swiping (or turning) the pages right to the very end. I have found in recent times that I've enjoyed his earlier offerings more than his latest ones though they are still quick and easy reads even if more OTT than is per usual for his unique style. Of course, I have my ultimate favourites of his which, to be honest, will be tough to beat no matter how good the next book might be. 

I have recently gone through major surgery and am recovering slowly though I do find it hard to concentrate on reading anything too complex. So I thought I would give Daniel's last short story a go which he published a few months back. I figured that it would be an easy enough tale to digest and I wouldn't have to concentrate too much on it. And given that it's a short story, it's a very quick read which I managed to devour in an hour before dinner.

Firstly, I have to say that Daniel hooks us in from the start with a play by play account of Alison's frantic search for her missing husband and subsequent not being taken seriously when first reporting him missing. She and Damian had been happily married for fifteen years sans children so it was just the two of them. But when he didn't arrive home from work by 6pm as is his usual routine one evening, Alison is naturally worried. By 9pm she is understandably frantic. But the police take her concerns with a grain of salt assuring her that he is "probably working late" or "out for drinks with some colleagues and lost track of time" or any number of reasons. However, after a week they finally take her concerns seriously and question her both for information and as a suspect. At any rate, they are no closer to finding him...or whatever's happened to him.

When she receives a knock on her door she runs to open it hoping it will be Damian with some hare-brained reason as to where he's been this past week or the police with some positive update to share. It's neither. It's a stranger. But while he is a stranger to her, he seems to know exactly who she is.

"Hello Alison..."

He greets her with a smile as she opens her front door to him. He goes on to explain who he is and why he's there. She is speechless. He makes her an offer she couldn't refuse. A chance to get answers and maybe even her own piece of revenge. But what she didn't bargain on was the escalation things took when she finds herself framed for murder...and no way of proving her innocence!

I was pleasantly surprised by the journey this short story took me on, despite its OTT nature (that's just Daniel Hurst's way) and thoroughly enjoyed it even after I found myself wanting to bang Alison's head on something hard to knock some sense into her. The woman was gullible not to mention stupid. And while I enjoyed this twisted tale for those most part it was the epilogue ending that let it down. It was off the scale OTT that past the point of any believability or suspension of belief. It was just plain ridiculous. I'm sure Hurst could have construed a better ending than that and it was this that let the entire tale down. I loved that it was different in concept and thoroughly enjoyed it up until that ridiculous epilogue.

However, that being said - it was still a fast pacy read that I enjoyed and I would still recommend it to others for a quick read, which can be easily done so in an hour.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Surgeon by John Nicholl

The Surgeon by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 5th November 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your life is in his hands… Exactly where he wants it 👀

When an eminent surgeon is arrested for murder, he knows he didn’t do it. He knows what it’s like to feel a person die on his operating table, but he didn’t inflict the wounds that ended the life of the girl they say he killed.

So, when the real perpetrator comes forward, and he is released, he feels vindicated.

What nobody knows – not the officer who arrested him, nor the influencer who petitioned for his freedom, nor the girl who escaped a killer years before – is that while he was incarcerated, he was making a plan.

Because revenge is sweet. But murder is sweeter…

A totally twisty, unhinged and gripping suspense thriller that fans of Daniel Hurst, TM Logan and Frieda McFadden won’t be able to put down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Your life is in his hands...which is exactly where he wants it...

Professor Alexander Aitken is one surgeon you would not like to be under, nor his scalpel. He is not like other surgeons who value their Hippocratic oath to first do no harm. When he was found by the body of murder victim Holly Larkin, her blood on his hands and his bite marks on her neck, it was naturally assumed that he was responsible for her untimely demise. And for the past five years, he has sat in prison for her murder - a death for which he was innocent in this case. But innocent was something Aitken most certainly was not. Oh, he was of Holly's murder but he was guilty of so much more than the police and the public at large were totally unaware of. And for the past five years and the months after his release once the real killer was discovered, he then spent planning his revenge. Because revenge is sweet...but murder is sweeter.

Ten years before, sixteen year old Megan Matthews was attacked on the dark streets of Tenby one evening barely escaping with her life and not before she'd been stabbed. She never saw her attacker and could never identify him but when she sees Professor Aitken on the West Wales news after his release and hears his voice, she stops. And then she sees those ice blue eyes. Her attacker wore a balaclava but she remembers those eyes and that caramel smooth voice. She takes her concerns to DI Laura Kesey who was always patient with her each time she thought she saw her attacker in the street. But this time, Megan is sure Aitken is the one. 

Aitken curses himself for letting sweet little Megan go all those years ago. And she now sits at the top of his revenge list to be the first of his "lab rats" for him to study and bend at will. She will do as he says and she will feel the blade of his scalpel once again. In fact, it will be the last thing she feels and his will be the last face she sees. He will make sure of that. next on his list is Laura Kesey - the pig who put him away for a crime he clearly didn't commit. He will make sure she pays for her misdemeanour...and he has the perfect way to make that happen. He can almost taste it it is so perfect.

DI Laura Kesey was supposed to be enjoying a holiday with her wife Janet and their son Ed in Lanzarote but she couldn't leave the case of Professor Aitken behind. There was just something about it that didn't sit right. He professes his innocence but she saw the material on his computer. The man is clearly deranged and disturbed. If he is innocent of this crime, he is most certainly guilty of something else. If not now, then he will be. Of that she is sure. But when she returns home and Aitken is freed for being unjustly imprisoned for a crime he hadn't committed, Laura is intent on uncovering exactly what he is guilty of...because he is, that is for sure. But her boss has made it abundantly clear that Professor Aitken of off limits. She is not to investigate him, question him or go anywhere near him in any way, shape or form. Unfortunately for her, that leave Aitken free to his own devices...a clear recipe for disaster for both her and anyone else who gets in his way.

John Nicholl is one of my favourite authors with his gritty writing that pulls no punches in his unique style. He has the ability to draw characters that we can both sympathise and hate in equal measure. Laura Kesey is a mainstay in his standalones and I was thrilled to see her former DS Raymond Lewis return despite his retirement after events that took place in the previous book. 

The chapters were a little longer I felt in this one though the book itself is a relatively quick read. Nicholl definitely knows how to paint a villain that readers love to hate. Aitken's scenes certainly do make for uncomfortable reading with disturbing scenes painted in vivid detail.

Not one of my favourite books but still a good read that packs a punch.

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

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.

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REVIEW: Secrets at the Irish Adoption House by Michelle Vernal

Secrets at the Irish Adoption House (The Irish Adoption House #2) by Michelle Vernal

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline

Read: 7th October 2025

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Amazon

Published: 3rd November 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Ireland, 1920. Tears fill my eyes as I hear the whispers of the other girls in the dark of the night. But I won’t let them see me cry. I won’t let my secrets out. The family I’m hiding from could find me, and take my baby away…

To the other girls at St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, Cecelia is just another fallen woman. But they don’t know her father is a penniless lord with an English title… And Cecelia is determined that they never will. She came here alone, in secret: if her family knew she was pregnant, the life of her baby could be on the line.

Despite herself, the kind act of stolen bread being pressed into her hands when she’s in most need sees her confiding in the other women. Then the worst happens: Cecelia’s family find her and take her precious newborn. Was she betrayed by another girl in the home?

She’s determined to find her child… but with all her family’s connections, she can’t do it by herself. She hears whispers of a network of women working to unite mothers and babies. But with the baby’s father dangerously caught up in the unrest brewing across Ireland, will Cecelia or her darling daughter ever see him again?

This tear-jerking and unforgettable historical novel, full of family secrets, betrayal and friendship in the darkest times, is perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Sandy Taylor.

MY THOUGHTS:

Ireland 1920: Young and idealistic Cecelia thought she was in love. Dark and mysterious Finian Fahy offered her a world she could only dream of - freedom for Ireland. Not to mention, freedom from the life her family have already mapped out for her. 

With her family's estate falling into ruins around them and nothing but a title to keep their heads held high in respectable society, the plan is to send Cecelia off to London with her lady's maid Lizzie and her mother in tow, to make her debut in society and to hopefully land a husband who will save the family from ruin. A suitor in her mother's sights, Cecelia carries with her another secret; one that will shame her and her family. She confides in Lizzie and together they hatch a plan to return to Ireland where Cecelia will find herself at the mercy of the nuns at St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home which they nickname the Irish Adoption House. 

She's no sooner moved in that she regrets it at once. The nuns are harsh and unfriendly; the mother superior just as bad. Only one nun, Sister Louise, who is a kind and gently soul wanting only to help the women who have fallen through no fault of their own than the life they had been born into. Cecelia keeps to herself and follows the strict rules so as to make her time there as uneventful as she can.

Cecelia's not here to make friends so when Nessa tries to befriend her, she shuns her thus coming across as aloof as if they were below her. Even after she has given birth to a baby girl she refuses to name or get close to, Cecelia stays at the home growing closer to her child she dare not love for fear of losing her. But Nessa, Maudie and Molly soon worm their way into her heart. She soon finds herself confiding in them her story. Maudie knew her from the village she came from though she had never let on. Then when Nessa goes into labour and disappears one night, never to return, Cecelia vows to take the other two under her wing. And in their friend's honour, she names her unnamed daughter Vanessa, Nessa for short.

Soon Maudie has gone, in search of her daughter who disappeared one night, and then Molly, leaving only Cecelia and baby Nessa...and the comings and goings of girls like her. Until one morning, Cecelia's mother sweeps into the home and takes Nessa, promising her a life a plenty - and that Cecelia will never see her child again. How did her mother know where to find her? Did someone betray her?

Determined to be reunited with her child, Cecelia makes a plan with an unlikely source as she cannot do it alone. With all the unrest in Ireland brewing and her family's connections, can Cecelia reclaim her daughter and make it to safety before it's too late?

This is a wonderful sequel to "The Irish Adoption House" which told of Maudie's tale but this one was so much better. When reading the first book, you just know there is a story to be told about Cecelia so I was thrilled to discover at the end of the first one, that Cecelia's story was to come. And what a tale it was! It is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once, filled with secrets, deception, betrayal and the bond of friendship spanning the decades from 1919 to 1985. And with it, brings a beautiful conclusion to the two stories which remain connected throughout time.

Ireland was awash with mother and baby homes run by nuns who showed no ounce of Christ's love and compassion they claim to live by. It is a sad part of the country's history that those in authority weren't ideally equipped to care for these girls and instead they punished them. Most people would judge them for their horrible and harsh treatment which was barbaric to say the least but they didn't know any better and were only equipped with what had been drummed into them. And most of them certainly had no lived experience that these girls had and honestly would have been better placed to take care of them, knowing all too well the fear, guilt and shame that they too experienced. But it was another time and Ireland was under pressure with unrest brewing in the fight for independence. 

Still, this was a wonderful tale I read in one sitting and enjoyed meeting up with Maudie once again.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Storyteller. Cheese scone connoisseur. Occasional yogi.

Michelle Vernal never set out to become a writer—at least not until she joined a creative writing class while on maternity leave with her first son. Fast forward a few years (and more than a few cheese scones), and she’s now the author of over thirty feel-good, funny, and emotionally rich novels that have captured readers’ hearts around the world.

Her stories, often described as “laugh-out-loud,” “utterly heartwarming,” and “the kind of book you read with a smile,” include the bestselling Little Irish Village series, the much-loved Irish Guesthouse on the Green, and the time-slip favourite, The Dressmaker series.

Michelle lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband, two sons, and a pair of particularly spoiled tabby cats, Humphrey and Savannah. 

Her latest book, The Irish Adoption House is available for Kindle pre-order now and will be released in all other formats on August 7, 2025.

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REVIEW: Flora by Linda O'Byrne

Flora (Cousins of Pemberley #7) by Linda O'Byrne

Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance

Read: 21st October 2025

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Amazon

Published: 30th September 2025

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In 1837 it is not considered desirable for a young lady of good family to have views and opinions that are different to those of society.

When scandal surrounds Flora McGregor, Mr Darcy’s niece is sent from her home in Scotland to Pemberley in order to learn refinement and ladylike behaviour.

But insisting on speaking her mind and following her heart means that trouble follows Flora, no matter how hard this Scottish wildcat tries to avoid it - and falling in love only complicates matters!

MY THOUGHTS:

In 1837 it is not considered desirable for a young lady of good family to have views and opinions that are different to those of society...

But that has never stopped Flora McGregor, niece to Mr Darcy of Pemberley. She spends her days roaming barefoot the lochs and moors of her highland home in Scotland whilst her mother, Mr Darcy's sister Georgiana McGregor, wants to see her settled and wed before she and Flora's father Rodrie set sail to the new world in Canada. But Flora loathes the man her parents have chosen, Gordon Erskine who promises to purchase her home of Tawny Keep in exchange for her hand. But it's not her hand he's wanting as Flora well knows from the lascivious look of lust she sees burning in his eyes. He wants her and he'll stop at nothing to get her. Flora however has other ideas and spares not a thought for the man when unleashing her displeasure at a dinner he is hosting.

And so Flora finds herself packed off to Pemberley where she is to learn manners and decorum, as any young lady should. Her journey is broken at Courtney Castle in Northumberland where she gets into merry mischief with young Matilda, daughter to Sir Robert Courtney and husband to Flora's cousin Catherine. It is there she meets the acquaintance of a man she met previously at her home in Scotland on the banks of the loch and later again at the fiasco that was Gordon Erskine's humiliating dinner party. 

Daniel Kincaid is on his way home from Scotland when he comes across the redheaded wildcat berating a villager over his poor treatment of his dog, which she then implores Daniel to take charge of the animal. He is a man of means but by no means wealthy, having inherited the neighbouring estate to Courtney Castle, Brenchley. The estate had run into disrepair and he means to restore it to its former glory. His journey north had proven productive where he had acquired a healthy herd of highland sheep that he intends to farm.

Between them, the young couple are thrown together in all sorts of circumstances and each time Flora fails to curb her tongue, unleashing her every thought the moment she has them. And then immediately regretting them...mostly. 

But when beautiful Arianne Richmond returns to Courtney in need of filling her fast depleting coffers, she can't decide whom to set her cap to. Martin Courtney, brother to the earl of Courtney Castle? Or the silent and brooding but dashing Daniel Kincaid?

Flora had meant to be only stopping at Courtney for a few days but her stay has turned into weeks. Which is no small pleasure with the dashing but infuriating Daniel Kincaid always seeming to appear at every turn. But when Flora makes a shocking discovery, she is sworn to secrecy lest her reputation be in tatters. All the while, she continues to fight the growing attraction between her and Daniel. After all, falling in love will only complicate matters.

Told in the style of Jane Austen reimagined, this is the seventh in the delightfully entrancing Cousins of Pemberley series. I have devoured every one of them, my only complaint being I have to wait so long for the next one! And the next one is one worth waiting for...I have long been waiting and hoping for the youngest Darcy daughter, Bennetta, and her story to be told. We have watched her grow from a teenager to a young woman of 21 in this book, and far more mature than she has been in previous ones. I eagerly await her story...

1. Cassandra

2. Catherine

3. Miriam

4. Jane

5. Merryn

6. Beth

7. Flora

8. Bennetta

I would like to thank #LindaOByrne, #SpellboundBooks and #ZooloosBookTours for an ARC of #Flora in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Fiction has always been my go-to world, a place of entertainment, excitement and imagination - I am told that I wrote my first story when I was four about a lady who had twenty children!   Sadly it has been lost for posterity.

I have been writing all my life in the time I could spare from having a “proper job”, mostly for children under the name of Linda Blake, stories of ballet dancers, pony riding and talking animals!  Not all in the same book!

But my love of romance, a great tendency to say “What if..?” and the endearing characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice have now resulted in a series of books that will take the reader forward to the next generation of heroines.

I am retired, live in Kent and am a keen member of my local drama group.  Directing and acting take up a lot of my time - I have been given the onerous task of writing the Christmas pantomimes - but I still need to cope with a large garden, doing daily battle with the heron who thinks my pond is his own breakfast buffet and keeping in touch with friends and family scattered all over the world.  

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