REVIEW: The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 20th January 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 16th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The invitation to her school reunion couldn’t have come at a better time for Chloe Flynn. Divorced, broke and bored at work, she’s living a life her teenage self would hate. Turning the clock back fifteen years might be just what she needs to wipe the slate clean and start again. And then there’s the chance she’ll bump into Nathan Blake, the one she still regrets letting get away…

Back at her elite private school, Chloe sparkles as she reunites with old friends and long-forgotten love interests. And then, just as she’d hoped, there’s Nathan, more handsome than ever before. Even better, he’s single too, and seems to be just as keen to make up for lost time…

But as the evening progresses, Chloe can’t help feeling that something’s not quite right—that she’s not the only one who’s come here for more than just a party. When the secrets of the past start to emerge and the reunion takes a sinister turn, it’s clear that nothing is what it seems—and nothing will be the same again.

MY THOUGHTS:

Secrets can only stay buried for so long...

Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Not me. No thanks. Not ever. And if this tale is any indication of such events then I'm lucky to be missing out.

After her divorce, Chloe is living a somewhat bland life in a job she hates but in a flat she loves on Bath's royal terrace, thanks to her divorce settlement. And currently she is on the receiving end of her mother's endless criticism of everything that has ever gone wrong in her life.

And then an email arrives to distract her from her mother's tirade. An invitation to her school reunion back in Bournemouth. Oh no. Not touching that one, she thinks. But before she can hit delete her mother spies the email and its contents, and reiterates all the good things to come out West Cliff high school and she would do well to reconnect with her old friends...maybe hook up with her ex-boyfriend Chris Tamber who is now stinking rich and she could do a lot worse. Chloe just rolls her eyes. She is not touching that one. No way is she getting involved with her ex again. She has all but decided NOT to go...until she catches up with her old bestie, Harriet Walsh, and decides...why not?!

Of course she does have an ulterior motive for attending. And that is to hopefully hook up with Nathan Blake, the object of her secret crush fifteen years ago. If he's as hot now as he was then...

But then the night of the reunion dawns and Chloe finds herself face to face with the group of girls she'd gladly never set eyes on again. Abigail Matthews and her band of mean girls. And it seems age has not improved Abigail and she is as bitchy and as catty as ever.

And let's not forget the boyfriend she'd rather forget, Chris Tamber. But is he ready to let her go? It seems not as where ever Chloe goes, Chris never seems to be far away.

But there is something else bubbling beneath the surface at this reunion. Something out of all of their control...but will they be too late?

Shalini Boland has gone a touch darker with this psychological thriller about bullying, its effects and the revenge plot at its core. It makes for some uncomfortable reading at times, particularly for those familiar with the cruelty of bullies, despite them now being in their 30s.

As with all of Boland's thrillers, nothing is quite as it seems as the twists start to unravel a plot so tightly wound the reader will get whiplash at the change in the story unfolding before their eyes.

It's not the author's fastest plot but it is just as twisty as her others but a whole lot darker than her run of the m‎ill domestic thrillers. We are given a handful of characters, some of whom we'll love to hate, and through them we will sift through the clues laid out before us to see where it is all headed. You probably won't see it coming but if you do, be sure to enjoy the ride.

Once again, Shalini delivers a powerful punch in the form of revisiting teenage angst and the horrors of those school years. And remember...nothing is at all as it seems.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #TheSchoolReunion in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards

Keep Her Secret by Mark Edwards

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 4th June 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 30th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this sinister tale from 4 million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards, a deadly secret turns a couple’s new romance into a nightmare. And they’re not the only ones who know the truth…

After twenty years apart, Matthew and Helena have rekindled their college romance and are away in Iceland on their first holiday together. Swept up in the romance on a mountain hike, one moment they are taking the perfect photo, the next Helena is hanging from the cliff edge…

Terrified, Matthew almost misses Helena’s sudden and shocking confession—but what he hears chills him to the bone. And when Helena reveals the full truth Matthew is horrified, not only by what she’s done, but why she did it. Does he really know her at all?

His shock turns to horror when, back in England, they discover that someone not only overheard Helena’s confession but plans to blackmail her. Now Matthew must decide whether to go to the police or help Helena keep her secret—and as events spiral out of control, how far is Matthew willing to go to protect his ‘perfect’ girlfriend?

MY THOUGHTS:

How far would go to protect the one you love...?

It's been awhile since I've sunk my teeth into a Mark Edwards thriller so I thought with the release of this new one, I should take the leap and delve into its chilling depths and peel back the layers of secrets, lies and twisted deception. Because even though you think you know what is going on, you really don't.

Helena and Matthew are on a spontaneous hiking trip in Iceland having just reconnected after twenty years apart. Having recently lost her husband Lee several months before, Helena throws caution to the wind and agrees to join Matthew on a Northern Lights tour to Iceland. The couple are completely loved up and enjoying their newly rekindled affair when they find themselves separated from the group. Helena is in search of the perfect ultimate photo and will stop at nothing from getting it, posing for selfies in the most precarious of places. She convinces Matthew to follow her to something akin to the top of the world that inevitably holds the best views of the mountains, its valleys and stretching to the sea beyond. It is perfect. Giving Matthew her her phone she poses on the cliff edge, the stunning views behind her.

And then...three seconds is all it takes. Matthew swipes his face, the phone slips, Helena steps back to avoid a collision...into nothingness. And then she's gone.

Matthew freezes. He scrambles to the cliff edge expecting to see Helena's broken body in the valley below. But instead she is a few feet away, the strap of her rucksack having caught on a ledge. But it won't hold for long. Matthew is torn. Should he go for help as there is no phone service here? But Helena pleads with him not to leave her. But he cannot save her on his own. And then, he doesn't have to. Their tour guide has seen them and is leading the group to their location where together, they haul Helena to safety. But not before she whispered an ambiguous confession of sorts. That this was her punishment. What did she mean?

Later in the safety of their cabin, Helena confides in Matthew the truth about what she said up on that cliff edge when she thought she was going to die. A confession that shocks him. But one which he promises to keep and take to the grave. He will keep her secret.

Days later, they have returned to England and to their respective homes. Helena in Brighton and Matthew to London. But when Matthew suddenly finds himself out of a job (cutbacks etc.), Helena invites him to come and stay with her in her stunning house on the cliff above and old smuggler's cove. They had barely made themselves comfortable when the doorbell rings at quite literally the eleventh hour - 11pm at night. They are shocked and surprised to find Devon, one of their group from Iceland, on the doorstep. What on earth does she want? It seems she has come to return Helena's lost journal she had misplaced on the journey home...but she also has an ulterior motive. The secret Helena confided in Matthew about in Iceland? Devon had overheard the confession and what's worse, she recorded it. And now she wants something in return. But things only go from bad to worse and these two only dig themselves in deeper as it goes.

But the secrets have only just begun to resurface... There are so many and everyone is hiding something. So who wants what? And how will it all end? And who will keep her secret?

KEEP HER SECRET is somewhat far-fetched, as are many of Edwards' thrillers, but who cares? I'm here for the entertainment value and the thrills. And this was both of those plus a fast moving quick read I devoured in a day. It's hard to like any of the characters - Helena, Matthew, Devon, Lee - the only one I felt anything for was poor Robin. He was so blind and yet he meant well.

I am a great fan of Edwards' psychological thrillers with three of them being huge favourites - "Follow You Home", "The Magpies" and "Here to Stay". He has the ability to draw the reader into a tangled web of secrets, lies and deceit and keeps you there until every last thread is unravelled. The suspense is high and the tension is palpable with several twists along the way, though I did guess most (if not all) of them. I thought the epilogue was an incredibly clever touch and those final words "what could possibly go wrong?" pure perfection!!

Thank you again, Mr Edwards, for another thrilling and addictive read. I was surely entertained from start to finish. Perfect for fans of John Marrs.

As a side note, interestingly this book was published on mine and my husband's 25th wedding anniversary.

I would like to thank #MarkEdwards, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #KeepHerSecret in exchange for an honest review.

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: The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland

The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd June 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st June 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this chilling story from the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, it’s the wedding day of Alice’s dreams. Until it becomes a nightmare…

Alice and Seth are a perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They’re wealthy, well liked and made for each other—the envy of all their friends. Alice can’t wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn’t recognise the man waiting to marry her.

When this stranger insists he’s Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding.

As panic sets in, Alice’s world comes apart. Where is the real Seth, and why have all traces of him disappeared from her life? Fearing she’s losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth and escape the nightmare she’s living in. But with everyone around her convinced by the fake Seth, how can she ever hope to find the man she loves?

MY THOUGHTS:

It's the wedding day of Alice's dreams...until it becomes a nightmare...

There's been a real wedding theme in books lately - thrillers and historical fiction - it seems. Some with happy endings...others, not so much. THE SILENT BRIDE begins as the perfect love story but ends in anything but.

It's a beautiful summer's day with uncharacteristically stunning weather and Alice Porter is about to marry the man of her dreams. Her beaded bodice and flowing organza silk skirt radiates the bride's beauty as the sun beams its rays upon her as she steps inside the beautiful historic church on her father's arm. She's waited her entire life for this moment. She's ready. With a smile and a nod to her father she steps into the church behind her bridesmaids and looks down the aisle to her groom awaiting her at the altar. Seth Evans. Dr Seth Evans, endocrinologist at a busy London hospital who upped sticks and took a job at the local Southampton hospital to be nearer Alice's family and friends. He did that for her. And now she is to marry him at last. As she lets her gaze wander down the aisle to meet his, he turns to watch her procession with love and a smile.

But wait...stop. Alice freezes. She cannot take another step. She cannot speak. She cannot move. She can do nothing but stare. Stare at the place where her groom stands - where Seth should be. Because the man standing at the altar awaiting her is not Seth. And if he's not Seth, then where is he? And who is the man standing in his place?

Soon everyone is wondering what's the hold up. Alice's father is especially impatient and his brusque words to basically "snap out of it" are far from helpful. Imagine if you woke one morning to find the person you were married to was a complete stranger and you had never seen them before in your life? Personally, it would be terrifying. Hence Alice's shock and apprehension. Of course she couldn't go through with the wedding...not if she didn't recognise the groom, regardless of the reasons why. And yet, the stranger insists he is Seth, her family insists he is Seth and even his family, who she had met and now do not recognise either, insist he is Seth! Everyone is insisting that the man at the altar is indeed Seth...so why is she so intent on him NOT being Seth?

OK, everyone back up a minute, I say. Alice has obviously had a shock and regardless of what has happened she now no longer recognises the man she has been in a relationship with for the past year and was about to marry. She was literally minutes away from becoming his wife. So...something has happened to make her think, or more importantly believe, that "this Seth" is not "her Seth". So why is everyone being impatient with her rather than consoling her? Whether she marries Seth is neither here nor there, but the fact is she had such a terrifying shock that has changed her perception of everything she thought she knew and she begins to question her sanity. Shouldn't her loved ones be more concerned about that than saving face or, as her father seems intent on doing, shoving her and Seth together to fix things so that they can move forward together. But how can they when she doesn't even know him? Has no memory of this man? She has memories of her Seth but this is not him...not in her mind, he isn't. So where is her Seth?

This book is seriously messed up. The premise was so intriguing - a bride not recognising her husband-to-be as she walks down the aisle. Definitely a clever and unique concept and one that will keep you guessing throughout as to what really happened on that June day. The plot is such a ball of confusion that has you question who to believe and who not to believe. It's not entirely complex but it is a definite guessing game as to what is really going on. OK, so you may have to suspend belief a little but who cares? This is fiction. It's meant to entertaining and fun and thrilling...which it is all those things. 

Now I have to say Shalini, you have finally done it and hoodwinked me as to the who. But as to the how...I had a inkling of a suspicion along the way when backstories were mentioned in passing. It really was the only thing that made sense in my mind. So I wasn't completely bamboozled. But that final twist had me blinking in disbelief and going "Say what?"

I really can't say much more without accidentally revealing anything but expect the unexpected...as only Shalini can deliver.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheSilentBride in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

REVIEW: The Edge by Lucy Goacher

The Edge by Lucy Goacher

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 9th February 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st November 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Sometimes it’s easier to believe the lie. But is the truth right in front of you?

Everyone says Poppy jumped. My beautiful, creative sister, with her paint-splattered dresses and sunshine smile, took her own life. And I think they’re right. Until the day I get a call from a man with a very similar story.

Everyone says his sister jumped too. But he has proof that she was pushed. And if she was, I have to ask myself: could the same thing have happened to Poppy? In the moments before she died, was she really calling me to say goodbye, or was she calling for my help? Was she really alone on that cliff edge?

When Poppy’s friends tell me she had a serious boyfriend, I feel like I’m losing my grip on reality. If they were so madly in love, wouldn’t she have told me? Wouldn’t there be pictures of them together? And when I find the silver heart necklace he gave her, I feel sick. It’s the same silver heart another murdered girl was given in the weeks before she died.

This can’t be a coincidence. Either I’ve lost my mind, or the man my darling sister loved killed her. And if he could charm his way into her life so easily, what’s to say he’s not already in mine?

MY THOUGHTS:

Who pushed her sister...and is she next?

“I didn’t check the voicemail until the next morning, after I already knew she was dead. The sound of it taunts me again: wind on a phone receiver; the churning of waves. Silence.

Whatever she wanted to say to me, she never got the chance. Her last words died with her.”

This is a debut? Seriously? But it is soooo good! THE EDGE has all the hallmarks of an accomplished writer who has already made their mark on the genre. It is gripping, it is intense, it is pacy and it is skillfully plotted with twists and red herrings that leave you questioning who to trust...

Clementine Harris has returned from her studies in the US after the death of her sister Poppy, whose body was found on the beach below Hope Gap after a dogwalker came across her phone and backpack on the cliff's edge. An open and shut case, Poppy's death was ruled as a suicide. And Clementine accepts that but she blames herself. Because Poppy had tried three times to contact her on that last day and she ignored all of her attempts. What if she could have stopped her? What did she want to say in that last phone call before she jumped? She will never know because she never answered it.

So now, Clementine volunteers at a helpline for those who want to talk, who need to talk, to help talk them down from the edge. To be there, to be a voice in the night (or day) at the other end of a phone...to listen. If she couldn't do that for Poppy, at least she can do that for someone else. It's there she meets fellow helpline colleague Jude, who sketches out his callers as he pictures them whilst talking to them. He is sympathetic and caring but Clementine tend to shut down to the hands of friendship extended to her. She does with housemate Liam, with his exuberant pink hair, who does everything in his power to get her out of herself and to live!

She gets a call one night from a man whose sister had died two years before, having been ruled as a suicide. But he believes different. He knew his sister and she was murdered. But no one believes him, no one will listen to him writing him off as delusional. And now he can't imagine a life without his sister in it. But at the other end of the line, Clementine tries her best to talk him down...and fails. Or at least, she thinks she has. But if someone has decided to take their lives, they have already made that decision and nothing you can say will change that. But Clementine feels this failure as much as she did when she heard of Poppy's suicide.

When the inquest draws a line under Poppy's death, ruling it as suicide, Clementine thinks that's it. She had expected closure but all she has are more unanswered questions. She takes herself off to a suicide bereavement support group where she meets newcomer Daniel. And something in him, and his story, resonates with her. This chance meeting then throws into question everything she thought she knew about Poppy's death. Maybe Poppy didn't take her life. Maybe she was pushed... And if she was, then who pushed her? And why? What did sweet, sunny, smiling Poppy do to make someone want to kill her?

So Clementine and Daniel go in search of answers into their respective sisters' deaths to see if they can dig up any new information, anything that will cast doubt to it being suicide and pointing towards murder. Someone somewhere must have seen something, known something...surely? But as she investigates it seems every obstacle is being thrown in her path, which begs the question...does she know the killer already?

"For the rest of my life, I won't be able to trust any man – because any man could be him."

If this is indeed fact...then who could he be?  

THE EDGE is an intense psychological thriller that is at times heavy in subject matter. The story unfolds from Clementine's perspective with the odd inclusion of a random woman that will all make sense by the end. It begins with Poppy in the prologue with various others peppered throughout. Who are these women and what do they have to do with the story? Well, it's not hard to figure out but it does add another dimension to an already complex mystery.

There are a handful of characters within Clementine's life that could be the villain and, as a scientist who deals in hard facts, she carefully and methodically lists everything surrounding Poppy's death and gathers whatever evidence she can. But the closer she gets the more obstacles in her path. And pretty soon, she begins to doubt just about everyone. She can't trust any of them because it could be any of them!

As readers, we are given a handful of suspects and by a process of elimination, are we able to figure it out? I had two solid suspects, owing to Clementine's theory about the killer - which I won't reveal but it does give you cause to really look at everyone. And it was by that theory that I eliminated one of them on that very basis. But it did ruin the twist at the end that I had already figured out by this point. Lucy Goacher threw in a ton of red herrings to throw you off track but I would not be swayed.

THE EDGE is compelling and complex but an addictive read that will have you turning the pages. My only complaint is that it was a little long and dragged a little in places but as a debut, it totally rocks. I felt the similarities to John Marrs' "The Good Samaritan" in part, particularly with the mention of Beachy Head (a paramount location to Marrs' climax) and yet it was different. The chemistry between Clementine and each of the male counterparts was intense. Even the scenes with her parents were.

Overall, THE EDGE is fantastic debut psychological thriller. It is addictive, complex, dark, gripping, intense...everything I love in a thriller. I'd certainly be interested to see what the author offers us next.

I would like to thank #LucyGoacher, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheEdge in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lucy was born and raised in Worthing, and can often be found braving the windy weather on the seafront. She has an English degree and a master’s in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Sussex, and was a finalist in the 2017 Daily Mail First Novel Competition. She writes dark, twisty thrillers that explore issues such as grief, misogyny, and mental health.

Her time is split between writing, pampering her two cats, and photographing the family of urban foxes who visit her garden every night for dinner – much to her cats’ annoyance.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

REVIEW: Behind Closed Doors by Carol Wyer

Behind Closed Doors by Carol Wyer

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd December 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 6th December 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Two kidnappings, thirty years apart. Can Stacey face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter?

When Stacey’s ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey’s own violent kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and while a severe case of amnesia spares her from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough…

Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom—she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended.

Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not get involved. But Stacey can’t shake the eerie similarities between the two cases, and she’ll use whatever she can, from her journalistic powers to her shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. Desperate to find any link between Lyra’s abduction and her own, Stacey forces herself to revisit her forgotten, traumatic past for clues.

But can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm such an avid fan of Carol's crime thriller series that I couldn't wait to dive into her new psychological thriller BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. From the very first page we are thrown headfirst into the chilling fragmented memories of the past before landing in the present, faced with something of a similar dilemma.

Thirsty years ago, Stacey endured five long torturous days tied up, beaten, battered and bruised in a horrifying kidnapping before being rescued by a police officer answering a routine call. The people responsible for her kidnapping have never been identified or apprehended. The experience was so harrowing for the then 16 year old Stacey that she is left with dissociative amnesia and a few fragmented pieces that flicker in her memory. The lasting reminders being her amputated finger and her ear having also been cut off. The only thing she knows without a doubt is that her father never paid the ransom...and Stacey has never understood why. Even stranger was that as soon as she was discharged from hospital, her father packed up their belongings and moved them from Staffordshire to Lancashire...where she knew no one. He said it was for a new start...but was that really the truth?

Now Stacey is four years shy of the big five-oh and is an investigative journalist for a Lancaster paper where she is the senior reporter. She lives in a quaint little cottage in the seaside town of Hornby, living the quiet life she now appreciates. But when her ex-husband Jack comes knocking on her door one evening, it seems history is repeating itself. His daughter Lyra, who Stacey adores, has been kidnapped and the ransom demand is for £500,000 - the same amount as the ransom for Stacey 30 years before. Coincidence? Jack appeals to her for help but states in no uncertain terms that there is to be no police, as per the kidnapper's instructions. But can Stacey go down that rabbit hole and come face to face with her traumatic past? If it means saving Lyra, then yes.

Unfortunately, Jack doesn't the money - nothing even close to that amount - so Stacey uses all her skills as an investigative journalist to delve for clues as how to find Lyra...and who has her. But she cannot escape the similarities to her own kidnapping, right down to the last detail. But after thirty years? It doesn't seem feasible. But Stacey is sure her kidnapping holds the clues to finding Lyra before it's too late. But can she trust her memories or are they false narratives her mind is conjuring up?

This is an intriguing thriller from the very first page and I was eager to find out who was behind it all, and just how it related back to Stacey's own kidnapping. But I must admit to being bogged down by the lengthy chapters of which I am not a fan and for me that does slow down the pace a little. But boy, were there twists!! Just when you think you know who it could be, something shifts and it changes direction. But I did have one or two niggles at the back of my mind, both of which proved to be the case, although I wasn't sure of the exact details or anything else. Just a couple of niggles is all they were that didn't sit right. Trust your gut, follow your instinct. But it seemed Stacey wasn't listening...lol But then if she did, there wouldn't be much of a story...lol

Although Stacey was a strong lead I wasn't really a fan of her too much. Too stubborn and didn't listen to those who actually knew best. But she was the best of a bad bunch, believe me. Her father Henry and her ex Jack were two of the most despicable narcissistic and manipulative characters. I couldn't believe Henry wouldn't pay the ransom for his daughter and his reasoning was just ludicrous. And Jack? Well, we know why Stacey left him...had he really changed?

I loved the setting around Morecombe and could really picture it after seeing Carol's numerous posts of the area leading up to publication. Of course, I also remember it from the TV crime series "The Bay". And I just have to say, that cover ROCKS!!!

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a taut and tense thriller with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing throughout. My only complaint is that the chapters were just a bit too long which slowed down the pace.

Overall, an intense and intriguing read sure to delight thriller fans.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley, #AmazonPub and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #BehindClosedDoors in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol, had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 800,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

The much-anticipated new series, featuring DI Kate Young, was published on 1st February 2021 with the first novel, An Eye For An Eye,  a second, A Cut for a Cut, published on 24th June 2021 and a third A Life for a Life to be published 15th March 2022. An Eye for an Eye was chosen as a Kindle First Reads and became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy... who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Keep it in the Family by John Marrs

Keep it in the Family by John Marrs

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic noir, Suspense

Read: 10th October 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th October 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this chilling novel from bestselling author John Marrs, a young couple’s house hides terrible secrets—and not all of them are confined to the past.

Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.

In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can’t shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Haunted by the terrible things she saw and desperate to find answers, her obsession pulls her ever further from her husband.

Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but is it already too late?

MY THOUGHTS:

"I will save them from the attic."

Wow! I'm speechless. Seriously speechless! Where do I begin to review a book like this? Ok, first think of Fred and Rosemary West combined with Ian Brady and Myra Hindley...and multiply them a couple of generations! Then you have John Marrs' latest and probably darkest thriller yet KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY.

So Marr's is known for some really dark psychological thrillers. I've read two previously - "The Good Samaritan" and "What Lies Between Us"- and loved them despite how dark and twisted they were. But this one takes things to a whole new level of disturbing. I think it's the type of victim in this story that makes it all the more chilling. Don't worry, it's not graphic. Just...chilling.

Mia and Finn have just bought the house of their dreams...or it will be, once they've finished renovating it. A gothic Victorian five bedroom detached house that has stood derelict for four decades. Finn's parents Dave and Debbie had originally intended to purchase the property, renovate it then flip it but Mia had her heart set on it. Renovating is going to be a tall order but Dave is a builder and Finn is a plumber so between them, and their contacts in the trade, the men intend doing most of the work themselves.

And no sooner has work begun, than Mia suddenly discovers she is pregnant. The couple can barely believe it. And Debbie is excited at the prospect of a grandchild, despite the fact she and Mia have never gotten along. So it's decided the renovation will be undertaken in stages with the first stage ready for completion by the time the baby is due.

Then one day as Mia is surveying what will be the nursery, she discovers seven words etched into the skirting in a childish scrawl.

"I will save them from the attic."

Save who? And from what? All at once Mia sends Finn into the attic with Dave to take a look to see what is hidden up there. In her impatience she climbs the loft ladder to see for herself...and wishes she hadn't. For laid out are seven suitcases and inside each one of them is the body of a child. Shocked by the discovery and at seven months pregnant, Mia falls from the ladder breaking several bones and inducing a labour that would have her son prematurely born by caesarian. It's a miracle they both survived. But not completely unscathed. Almost every waking moment, all Mia can see are those dead children and so instills an even greater fear that she must protect baby Sonny from at all costs.

Of course the media have lapped up this juicy news of the "Babes in the Attic" as the police tear down their newly renovated home in search of clues as to who these children are and how they got there in the first place. And instead of leaving it to the police, Mia decides to do some investigating of her own...which can only have dire consequences.

And THAT is only a tip of the iceberg that sunk this tale of Titanic proportions! To find out what happens and where it leads you're going to have to find out for yourself because in all honesty, that's really the only way to experience a thriller as dark, disturbing and as chilling as this. Hearing about it is not believing...only seeing for yourselves can you really believe what you are reading. And there is no truer title than the one given to this story.

I knew from the very beginning when I read the opening prologue that this was going to be a dark and twisted read. Penned by an anonymous narrator who pops up throughout the story tells of the part they played in the abhorrent and chilling murders, the story then begins with Mia and Finn's respective narratives, also interspersed with Debbie and Dave's. We are also given excerpts of transcripts, interviews, newspaper articles and reports throughout at just the right time before lunging deeper into the past under the guise of the anonymous narrator. It is eye-opening, insightful and at times heartbreaking. The entire story is dysfunctional, as is the family it portrays, but it's the ending that is just too sad.

The story itself is filled with twists and red herrings that will keep you guessing - is it or isn't it? - leaving you wondering if you are able to figure them out. I did work out who the anonymous narrator was through a few drip-fed clues and things that were left unsaid. But that wasn't the only twist to be revealed...there are plenty more to come!

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY is a twisted and delicious dark unnerving read that is chilling to the core. It makes you wonder what goes on in the author's mind to be able to conjure up such macabre plots! He did say in his note at the end that this story was the result of a dream and that you wouldn't want to be inside his head at the best of times let alone at night!

This is one of the most disturbing, tense and completely unputdownable thrillers I have read. It is atmospheric and addictive and oh so chilling. Everything I love in a dark thriller...and Marrs excels in this genre. I'm not a fan of sci-fi so I don't read those of his but these dark and twisted thrillers are right up my alley! I thought "The Good Samaritan" was dark and then "What Lies Between Us" which had echoes of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", a very dark movie for its time...but this one? It knocks those out of the ballpark! The entire story was oh so twisted and the epilogue was chilling.

But oh! What a read!!

I would like to thank #JohnMarrs, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #KeepItInTheFamily in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Marrs is a former journalist from Northamptonshire, England, who spent 25 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines. He wrote for publications including The Guardian’s Guide and Guardian Online; OK! Magazine; Total Film; Empire; Q; GT; The Independent; Star; Reveal; Company; Daily Star and News of the World’s Sunday Magazine. 

Now a psychological thriller writer, his debut book 'The Wronged Sons' (also titled 'When You Disappeared') released in 2014 is a tense psychological thriller with over 240 x 5 star reviews on Amazon.  His second book 'Welcome To Wherever You Are' is a suspense thriller and an Amazon #1 best seller, 'The One' (previously 'A Thousand Small Explosions') was relaunched in January 2017, 'The Good Samaritan' published in 2018 with his latest 'What Lies Between Us' published in May 2020.

He recently gave up his job to write novels full time. His first car at the age of seventeen was a three-door, Ford Escort with a Batman sticker in the rear windscreen. He thought the sticker was cool at the time.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: A Cut for A Cut by Carol Wyer

A Cut for A Cut (DI Kate Young #2) by Carol Wyer

Genre: Crime fiction, Police procedural, Crime thriller

Read: 28th June 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 29th June 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

DI Kate Young can’t trust anybody. Not even herself.

In the bleak countryside around Blithfield Reservoir, a serial murderer and rapist is leaving a trail of bloodshed. His savage calling card: the word ‘MINE’ carved into each of his victims.

DI Kate Young struggles to get the case moving—even when one of the team’s own investigators is found dead in a dumpster. But Kate is battling her own demons. Obsessed with exposing Superintendent John Dickson and convinced there’s a conspiracy running deep in the force, she no longer knows who to trust. Kate’s crusade has already cost her dearly. What will she lose next?

When her stepsister spills a long-buried secret, Kate realises she’s found the missing link—now she must prove it before the killer strikes again. With enemies closing in on all sides, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to bring them down. But time is running out, and Kate's past has pushed her to the very edge. Can she stop herself from falling?

MY REVIEW:

"You're mine...forever!"

I'm always excited when Carol has a new book in the midst and eagerly await getting my hands on it ready to devour. Having followed DI Natalie Ward's story, I was thrilled to meet DI Kate Young in the first book back in January and while Carol left us dangling with a very alluring tidbit, I couldn't wait to rejoin Kate in her quest to bring down those responsible for the death of her beloved husband Chris and the corruption in the force linked to his murder. 

However, while "An Eye for An Eye" was more ambiguous in that we were still getting to know Kate's story, sifting through events and all had transpired to lead her to the point we met her at, A CUT FOR A CUT is a little more transparent in that we know who she's hunting in her personal quest for justice. Not knowing who to trust, Kate relies on her wits and her fading memory of Chris to keep her focussed. 

A word of advice for those wanting to jump in, you really need to read the first book "An Eye for An Eye" before delving into this one. Although the primary investigation is self-contained, the sub-plot is a recurring one carried over from the previous book and, while they are briefly referenced with enough information to keep the reader up to date, the get the full picture and background you really need to start from the beginning with the first book.

The prologue opens with Kate in a clandestine meeting with pimp Farai who supplied the underage sex workers to the Maddox club in the first book, in an attempt to garner whatever knowledge he had on her boss Superintendent John Dickson who she is sure is, not only corrupt, but behind her husband Chris's murder. Although Farai checks her over for a wire, Kate managed to secrete a tiny wireless tap in her bra to record their meeting, wanting a record of what took place should she need it.

Kate is enjoying having her once estranged step-sister back in her life having returned from Australia with young son Daniel in tow after the collapse of her marriage to Jordan, Kate's ex-fiance with home Tilly ran off with two decades ago. The sisters have plans to entertain Daniel by taking him to a theme park when Kate is summoned back to work to investigate the death of young woman found half naked in a restaurant dumpster and no ID on her. Her prints taken at the scene reveal her to be Laura Dean who lived alone in the village of Abbots Bromley with her adopted rescue cat Charcoal. She had been raped with the word "MINE" carved into her right shoulder before being strangled to death. 

Enquiries lead her to one of the solicitors at the firm she had recently resigned from in Stafford before moving to the quiet village in which she died. The team also delve into the background of Laura's father's partner Steve after learning that the couple had been seeing each other prior to Laura's mother's death from cancer. With no other leads forthcoming, these are their only suspects thus far.

Then another woman is found nearby the following morning and is immediately recognised as one of their own, Heather Gault - a civilian investigator tasked with investigating cases alongside police. The MO is identical and Kate fears the killer will strike again if they can't identify him quickly. Then when Kate discovers that Heather's computer has been sent directly to technicians with strict instructions not to reveal its contents unless there is anything pertaining to her investigation, she begins to suspect something else is going on. Had Dickson gone over her head and issued this order? What was he afraid of Kate and her team discovering on there? Was Heather looking into the very thing that Kate was "unofficially" investigating? Is that what lead to her death? Surely not. The MO from Laura's murder was identical to Heather's and Laura had nothing to do with police corruption or underage sex workers. Could this just be a coincidence?

In the midst of two investigations, albeit one unofficially, Kate learns of a third victim. But this one is still alive. Olivia Sandman was found in the construction site across the road from the new-build house in which she lived with her mother and when she hadn't turned up for work, her mother began ringing around friends and the police in an effort to find her missing daughter. Now she is hospital in and out of consciousness and Kate needs to speak with her as soon as possible. Olivia may have key information regarding the perpetrator. But with a third victim there's even more questions. How were these three women linked? And why did she survive? Had he been interrupted and had to make a quick exit before ensuring she was dead? Is this his first mistake?

Alongside her investigation into these brutal rapes and two murders, Kate continues to delve deeper into the police corruption Chris had been investigating and which had ultimately got him killed. When she receives word that the man who had helped bury the body of an underage boy in the previous book wants to speak with her, Kate makes every effort to arrange a visit at the prison in which he is incarcerated. But before she can see him the prison governor calls her with the news that the man, Cooper, took his own life that morning. But Kate refuses to believe it and is sure that someone knew she was going to visit him and had him killed before he could pass on whatever information he had to give her.

On top of all this Kate is still processing the various stages of grief, determined to remain in the anger stage until she can avenge her husband. She continues to talk to him with his words of wisdom she imagines he imparts helping her to remain focussed. And then there is Tilly. She hasn't seen her step-sister in two decades and the two women are finally putting the past behind them to move forward together as a family. After all, Tilly is all she has now.

As Kate and her team unearth clues to bring them closer to identifying the killer, Kate unwittingly discovers a shocking link closer to home that leaves her reeling as time seems to be running out fast. All the while, someone in her unofficial investigation seems to be one step ahead of her while others in the force are out to undermine her and her ability to lead a team. Will she catch a killer and get the evidence she needs to bring down Dickson at the same time?

I thoroughly enjoyed A CUT FOR A CUT which is an excellent addition to this new series. It is a good solid police procedural with clever insights into the killer's mind at the same time. Although the story is predominantly from Kate's perspective, I love how there are excerpts in the killer's narrative also, providing insight into the delusions that drive him. 

Admittedly, I identified the link to the killer and figured out who he was quite early on in the story. I also suspected another aspect about halfway through - one which came as a final twist at the end and possibly shocked many but instead of being surprise I felt vindicated as guessing correctly. It was a twist that was never even alluded to but I suspected it when there wasn't anything to suspect. Maybe I just have a suspicious mind. lol

I love Carol, her wit and her storytelling. And I love the undercurrent that simmers beneath the surface threatening to derail everything should Kate not succeed in bringing down Dickson and the underbelly of corruption within the force. The way Carol has left a breadcrumb trail throughout both books as we follow Kate in her quest for justice.

A rather compelling read, A CUT FOR A CUT is gritty and even brutal in parts, though not graphic in detail. Kate is incredibly flawed as she struggles with her grief and her mental health whilst trying to seek justice for her husband and bring down corruption within the force. Maybe she should call on AC-12.

Again, I cannot stress enough that the first book "An Eye for An Eye" is best read before this one or it could be a struggle to tie events and piece the puzzle together. The sub-plot of corruption, underage sex workers, paedophile rings and the death of her husband Chris all began in the first book and will continue to run in the background of each subsequent book until either Kate catches them or it runs its course. Who knows where it will end? Or how?

What I do know is that Kate is just getting started. So bring on book 3!!

Perfect for fans of gritty crime fiction.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #ACutForACut in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol, had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 800,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

The much-anticipated new series, featuring DI Kate Young, was published on 1st February 2021 with the first novel, An Eye For An Eye, and a second, A Cut for a Cut, to be  published on 24th June 2021.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy... who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads