REVIEW: Everyone this Christmas has a Secret by Ben Stevenson

Everyone this Christmas has a Secret (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson

Genre: Mystery, Humour

Read: 1st December 2024

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Published: 23rd October 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe...

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN

THE ASSISTANT

THE EXECUTIVE

THE HYPNOTIST

THE TWIN

THE COUNSELLOR

THE STAGEHAND

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there; A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens; And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it's Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

MY THOUGHTS:

Seven gifts. Six suspects. And a deadly advent calendar of clues...

Ben Stevenson is back with his alter ego Ernest Cunningham in this quirky quick-witted Yuletide novella. On the back of the series opener "Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone" - Ernest finds himself pondering the question if that notion of familial history extends to exes? He doesn't know but he is keen to find out...and prove her innocence.

Four days before Christmas, Ernest receives a desperate plea for help from ex-wife Erin. Her partner Lyle Pearse has been found dead in their home and she with blood on her hands - literally. Under the guise of attending magician Rylan Blaze's appearance at the Pearse Foundation's theatre, Ern hightails it up to Katoomba in the picturesque Blue Mountains where Erin currently sits in a police holding cell.

After questioning Erin, even he finds her story unbelieveable. But he knows Erin and he doubts the likelihood of her murdering anyone, let alone the man she loved. But all evidence points to her guilt and it is up to Ernest to prove otherwise. If he can.

He is doorstepped by lone wolf journalist Josh Felman as he leaves the police station. The man seems to know what he's doing before he does! I admit to chuckling at the image of Josh being dragged along by Ernest's car after his boom got caught in the window. Although Ern works alone, primarily, he does exchange information with the journalist with the promise of an exclusive once he's solved the case.

So when a second murder occurs in front of, not only him, but an entire audience crammed into the Pearse Foundation's theatre, Ernest knows he must be at his sharpest to uncover the murderer this time around. 

With not a lot in the way of clues, though Ernest cleverly drip-feeds us little tidbits of information in the form of an advent calendar and secret santas. But even with those 24 chapters of advent clues, I was still relatively stumped this time round, despite solving it in the first book and coming very close to doing so in the second. This time, I was stumped. Ernest is, as always, a reliable narrator but even he hoodwinked me this time.

I did find one flaw. I know how Josh got all the reports and various bits of information but the one thing I didn't find explained was how he knew about the answerphone message. For a reliable narrator I thought it would be explained or maybe it was a blink and you miss it explanation.

As always, I love the quick wit humour peppered throughout and the locale of this one being close to my own neck of the woods, this was indeed a funny and cleverly plotted holiday read. One that I devoured in an afternoon.

With this being the last of the Ernest Cunningham series to date, I have to wait until the next one which is probably another 12 months away. Can I wait that long? I guess I'll have to.

Overall, a thoroughly entertaining, fun-filled holiday mystery, not as spectacular as the last "Everyone on this Train is a Suspect", but still a fun read all the same.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Benjamin Stevenson is an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. His first novel, Greenlight, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction, and his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, was shortlisted for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Original Paperback. His books have sold over 750,000 copies in twenty-nine territories and have been nominated for eight ‘Book of the Year’ awards.

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, his third novel, was a huge bestseller and has so far been sold in twenty-four territories around the world. It will soon be adapted into a major HBO TV series.

Benjamin has sold out live shows from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival all the way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has appeared on ABC TV, Channel 10 and The Comedy Channel.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Ben Stevenson

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

Genre: Mystery, Humour

Read: 25th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 17th October 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars (and another 5!)

DESCRIPTION:

6 WRITERS. 5 DETECTIVES. 4 DAYS. 3 WEAPONS. 2 MURDERS. 1 TRAIN...

The program is a who’s who of crime-writing royalty:

the debut writer (me!)

the forensic science writer

the blockbuster writer

the legal thriller writer

the literary writer

the psychological suspense writer.

But when one of us is murdered, six authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime.

Or commit one.

How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?

MY THOUGHTS:

"Everyone on this train is a suspect..."

"Including you?"

"Well, no."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm the narrator."

Ben Stevenson has done it again...only better! I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and sequels are notoriously hard to match the success of the first but, well, in three words - he nailed it! 

IT IS BETTER THAN THE FIRST BOOK!!

How is that possible? I don't know how but it is soooo much better it's shocking! If the first one has had the TV rights sold, then this one should be snapped up because it really is better than the first. And I gave that one five stars. So how can I top that rating with this book which was soooo shockingly good?!

Ernest Cunningham is back this time hightailing it onboard the luxurious Ghan to celebrate the Australian Mystery Writer's Society fiftieth anniversary. And once again he promises to be a reliable narrator and that he couldn't be the murderer because he's the narrator. And a book in which the first person narrating the story is the murderer just breaks one of the golden rules of mystery writing. Writers are an idiosyncratic bunch.

So Ernest undertakes this journey with Juliette (readers will remember her as the owner of the resort the last book took place at) and so it begins. Six writers, five detectives, four days, three weapons, two murders (only two?) and one train...and it all comes down to a comma! Punctuation, peoples, is important. And Ernest is a stickler for the proper use of grammar, punctuation and the golden rules of detective fiction.

So the Ghan. It's a luxurious train almost a kilometre in length (google for the mile conversion) and traverses the dead red centre of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide and back again. That's its purpose. 2,797 epic kilometres (about 1860 miles) over four days...for a very hefty price tag. It's cheaper to fly to Europe than to travel the Ghan (everything in Australia is expensive but that's another story). And I love his description of flat (I can't remember the exact wording)...the endless nothingness edge of the world type of feeling. That flat.

So on the back of the success of his previous book "Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone" (yes, the author and Ernest share the same title), Ernest has been granted a six figure advance in lieu of his next blockbuster...if he could ever get past this writer's block, that is. Problem is, someone (or many someones) have to die for Ernest to write. And to top it off, on the tail of that and his first book's success, he is suffering from both imposter's syndrome and survivor's guilt.

Stevenson breaks the fourth wall of writing here, as he did with the first, in where he addresses the entire tale to the reader through Ernest Cunningham. And it so works! It feels as if the writer is speaking directly to you, even inserting side comments via parenthesis etc. He even dares us to work it out for ourselves by giving us the number the murderer's name is mentioned and that a comma will save the day. He even pauses (mid-scene) to give us a chance to lay our own thoughts and guesses on the page before the big reveal. And to be fair, he does give us all the clues throughout. Nothing is hidden and all is laid bare. But...he is a little sneakier this time a subtle change that, while it is there to note, it's hiding in plain sight. But unlike the first, I didn't quite guess the murderer, but I was very close.

And the humour. Oh my, the humour is here in spades! There were times I had to go back and re-read what I'd just read I was laughing so much! I love the wit and humour that sneaks in and peppered throughout. So thoroughy entertained by the humour alone that I didn't even notice that it was already 38% through and in Chapter 11 before someone died! That speaks to the author's ability to keep his audience entertained in lieu of the murder mystery they came here for.

My only criticism is that the title of one of the books "Life, Death and Whiskey" was purportedly written by a Scottish author and the Scottish spell "whisky" without the E. Only the Irish and Americans spell it with an E. Don't worry, readers, this is not a spoiler. This is just an observation made when reading, the spelling of which bore no significance to the mystery.

With all that this story entailed, I devoured this witty and deliciously devious mystery in a day. I was not going to bed before I turned that last page. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey (the only way I could afford a trip on the Ghan) and cannot wait for Ernest's next adventure. If I thought "Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone" was a hard act to follow, then this one is going to be even harder to top. Sequels are generally never as good as debuts, but this one doesn't just knock the first out of the water, it drowns it first!

I loved it so much that, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to dive straight into the third book "Everyone this Christmas has a Secret". And then where will I be? Eagerly awaiting the fourth!!

A cleverly plotted, deliciously devious and witty locked room mystery taken to a whole new level. Not just a five star read...this is a ten star read! Love love LOVED it!!

And to think...it all started with a 1 star review. No danger of that here. Stevenson NAILED it! Total genius!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Benjamin Stevenson is an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. His first novel, Greenlight, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction, and his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, was shortlisted for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Original Paperback. His books have sold over 750,000 copies in twenty-nine territories and have been nominated for eight ‘Book of the Year’ awards.

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, his third novel, was a huge bestseller and has so far been sold in twenty-four territories around the world. It will soon be adapted into a major HBO TV series.

Benjamin has sold out live shows from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival all the way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has appeared on ABC TV, Channel 10 and The Comedy Channel.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Ben Stevenson

Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham #1) by Ben Stevenson

Genre: Murder mystery, Humour

Read: 8th November 2024

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Amazon

Published: 29th March 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder.

Before the storm stranded us at the mountain resort, snow and bodies piling up.

The thing is, us Cunninghams don’t really get along. We’ve only got one thing in common: we’ve all killed someone.

Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I'm not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.

I'm Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I'd killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it's a little more complicated than that.

Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.

Who was it?

Let's get started.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE

My brother

My stepsister

My wife

My father

My mother

My sister-in-law

My uncle

My stepfather

My aunt

Me

The Australian novel that has taken the world by (snow)storm. Following a heated auction in Hollywood, film/TV rights were sold to HBO, and publishing rights to 26 countries so far!

MY THOUGHTS:

I was dreading the Cunningham family reunion even before the first murder...

I came across this book via a review (thanks Sarah!) and when I saw it was set in my own country (Australia) I just had to check it out. I wasn't prepared for the complex ride Ben Stevenson took me on...despite its locale being a ski resort. Yes, it does snow in Australia (for the northerners) though only in the southern areas with a higher altitude. Otherwise we're pretty much an oven.

The opening of this very clever and witty prose drew me in from the very start. Ernest Cunningham (Ernie or Ern) is our narrator and published author of books on how to write books. He helpfully lists the ten rules of writing detective fiction at the beginning, to which he strongly adheres, and thus refers back to each rule as and when applicable throughout (usually in parenthesis such as these or even in general conversation with us, the reader). He is hugely entertaining with his wit and dry humour which I found very similar to Stuart MacBride, who I note has been quoted with his own thoughts on this rather fresh approach to the murder mystery.

(The best thing I've read in ages. I absolutely loved it. Whip-smart, twisted, funny, and constructed with the pinpoint precision of a bloodthirsty watchmaker. - Stuart MacBride) Snap! My thoughts exactly.

While the title draws the attention of the reader, how true is it? Has everyone in Ernest's family really killed someone? Bear that in mind because they are not a family of psychopaths and they are not killers, per se. So who have they killed? And why? One of the rules by which he writes is not to pen an unreliable narrator and promises to be a reliable one...but is he to be believed?

What begins with a family reunion at a ski resort (fictitious name and place but in the Snowy Mountains of southern NSW just out of Jindabyne, which does exist), should be a happy occasion, right? But Ernest has avoided any and all family reunions if he could help it in the past. However, he was not able to avoid this one as his aunt (a perennial busybody one could not say no to, even if they wanted to) stated in no uncertain terms in bold print so as to not be avoided that there were to be no excuses and all must attend. Happy happy joy joy. In a family where everyone has killed someone? This doesn't bode well for him, Ernest thinks.

So the players. There's Ernest, Michael (his brother), Sofia( his step-sister), Erin (his wife), Lucy (his sister-in-law), Audrey (his mother), Marcelo (his stepfather), Katherine (his aunt) and Andy (his uncle). That's just the family. Throw in a copper (Crawford), a dead body (green boots - you'll see), Juliette (the resort owner) and a few other characters peppered throughout - both past and present. 

Then there's the locale. A faded ski resort that has seen better days with a full guesthouse and vacant chalets for the Cunningham family.

Now, the plot. I don't think I could begin to do it justice. This really is one of those books where you need to go in blind and just enjoy the ride...because enjoy it, I think you will. If you love murder, mystery, wit and dark humour then I'm sure you will love this.

The entire tale gives off the vibe of Ernest just chatting to us, revealing bit by bit each clue as it appears to him. He claims not to lie to us or throw us red herrings but that all clues are peppered throughout and are presented just as he saw them as he saw them. After all, each clue is what he used to draw his own conclusions and expertly solve the mystery.

It's very quirky, very clever and oh so funny throughout. Some of his internal monologue had me in fits of laughter. For example, some of this thoughts on the spreadsheets (in the beginning upon arriving at the resort) and then later referring to having PTSD - Post Traumatic Spreadsheet Disorder. His rationale on the sign to the said resort needing punctuation between "resort" and "retreat" begging all who approach to turn around and don't look back!

A truly mind-boggling plot that is both clever and quirky as well as complex as it was convoluted, this thoroughly entertaining tale is dark and witty in equal measure. Stevenson has penned a unique style of murder mystery (that is appropriately OTT without seeming OTT) that is so complex that that in itself makes the villain not so easy to identify. I was befuddled by the family tree and keeping the tale in order as there is a lot of jumping about (hence the convoluted part) so I was stunned when I actually guessed villain correctly! And even spotted one of the clues for what it was and not what everyone else thought at the time. I didn't solve it completely so I was in for another shock but oh my, what a delightfully delicious dark and witty tale this is!

Marketed as Agatha Christie meets Arthur Conan Doyle (lots of Holmesian references within) meets Richard Osman. I haven't read either of the latter but I grew up reading Christie so I can safely say that this is a modern take on a Christie-esque mystery. There's even a nod to the Queen of Crime herself with one of her books penned under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott mentioned a handful of times. This is truly unlike anything I've read before though it's humour is very much like that I've read in Stuart MacBride and I always appreciate such dark witty humour. I'd be interested to see if the following two are just as entertaining.

I note that the rights have been snapped up to become a TV series so I look forward to that. I just hope they are able to capture the same quirkiness and wit that Stevenson does in this delightfully entertaining tale. With all it's twists and quirky humour throughout makes this one ride of your life you will not forget in a hurry.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Benjamin Stevenson is an award-winning stand-up comedian and author. His first novel, Greenlight, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction, and his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, was shortlisted for the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Original Paperback. His books have sold over 750,000 copies in twenty-nine territories and have been nominated for eight ‘Book of the Year’ awards.

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, his third novel, was a huge bestseller and has so far been sold in twenty-four territories around the world. It will soon be adapted into a major HBO TV series.

Benjamin has sold out live shows from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival all the way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has appeared on ABC TV, Channel 10 and The Comedy Channel.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Foster Family by Nicole Trope

The Foster Family by Nicole Trope

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Domestic Suspense, Family drama

Read: 23rd September 2022

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Published: 21st September 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In their holiday home, a stone’s throw from the beach, Elizabeth dials the police with trembling hands. ‘My little boy, he’s missing.’

Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.

She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.

She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.

She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.

Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened – the unimaginable – Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?

It’s time to tell the truth – even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.

A totally addictive, twist-packed psychological thriller about family secrets, a marriage on the edge, and the deadly line between love and hate. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's tense domestic tale THE FOSTER FAMILY.

Nicole Trope has done it again! I love her books and am always excited when she has another coming out. Each story is emotive and filled with tension, drama and even a little bit of mystery and THE FOSTER FAMILY is no different. She has the innate ability to draw you in from the very first page and keep you invested throughout the journey. And it is a journey she takes you on. Her skillful prose and the way in which she entwines the past and present into one can only speak of her proficiency in both her writing and the genre with which she floods. She can always be relied upon to spin us a tale of intrigue and tension that will get under your skin.

On the beautiful south coast, a couple of hours from Sydney, Elizabeth, husband Howard and their 5 year old foster son Joe arrive at their holiday home for the next month leading up to Christmas. The weather is warm, the sun hot and the sandy beach offers plenty of recreational enjoyment for the family. Elizabeth wants nothing more than to give Joe all that his heart desires but Howard rules the home with an iron fist - both figuratively and literally. He has a list of rules that are far too many for such a young child and yet there will be consequences should Joe fail to follow them.

Across the road, watching from his window is 80 year old Gordon. He enjoyed the idea of a young family on the quiet street again and is eager to introduce himself. But something stops him. A cross word, a frowned expression and a pointed finger that was oblivious to his watchful eye and Gordon realises that all is not as it seems. What should he do?

One morning he goes out to fill his bird feeder when he sees little Joe laying on the bench outside with a blanket over him. It might be summer but the mornings can still be chilly on the coast. So why would a child be sleeping outside when he should be safely tucked up in bed?

The more Gordon watches, the more he realises that something is amiss with the family across the street. But when he phones his son Malcolm and shares his concerns, he tells him to keep out of it. But Gordon isn't so sure.

And then one morning as he returns from his walk, he is shocked to find police cars outside the house. It seems Joe has gone missing. And Gordon can't help but think if only he had called the police and shared his concerns earlier, maybe he could have prevented this from happening. But he isn't sure himself of what he saw in the fogginess his deteriorating mind has become.

Across the street, Elizabeth is frantic and Howard is angry. He has pointed the finger at "the old guy across the street" accusing him of showing a perverted interest in Joe. But Elizabeth knows that not to be true. He is just a nice old guy that is a bit forgetful sharing his love of birds. But can she speak out against her husband and live with the consequences? Or should she just keep quiet? What if Joe's biological mother has come looking for them? What if she's found him and taken him? The authorities have denied her any access whatsoever after she was caught trying to sell him for $50,000.

And then there are the intermittent chapters of an unnamed man who stops to help a horrifically injured young girl. Who are they? And where do they fit into the story? 

But what's most important is finding Joe. Where could he be? Did he run off? Did Howard hurt him? Has Gordon taken him? Or has the biological mother returned to claim him, albeit illegally? The possibilities are endless.

The story unfolds primarily through the alternating perspectives of Elizabeth and Joe both leading up to the disappearance and on the day of. While interspersed are those of the aforementioned unnamed man. The plot is complex with a wealth of characters that each play a part. The beginning may be a little confusing to start with, especially as the unnamed chapters have no timeline on them so we have no idea of when it takes place. Is it present or sometime in the past? But it soon falls into a steady rhythm that flows quickly as the pace quickens.

The characters are expertly drawn though it was hard to warm to Elizabeth and definitely not to Howard. The winner of the story, for me, was Gordon who wanted so much to help but was battling with his own deteriorating mind. Nicole expertly gave us a window into the mind of someone in the early to mid stages of dementia...and it is both eye-opening and heartrendering. It is something close to my heart just now.

As always, Nicole's writing is solid and skillful as the story seamlessly flows between perspectives, timelines and events. While the ending did require a little suspension of belief, it was a rather happy ending for all and that in itself is satisfying, whether it was believable or not.

Overall, THE FOSTER FAMILY is an emotive yet tense read that while not really a thriller, is still fast paced tale of domestic suspense. I cannot speak highly enough of Nicole Trope's work and I have loved everything of hers I have read. Worth every star.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: His Other Wife by Nicole Trope

His Other Wife by Nicole Trope

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 15th June 2022

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Published: 21st June 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She has my husband. She has my child. She has my life.

I never thought I would end up here. Alone, in a cold one-bedroom apartment, only seeing my precious daughter once a week.

Another woman is living the life that was once mine. I wish I was still married to my ex-husband, the love of my life. I dream of tucking my five-year-old child into her ballerina bed sheets every night. I miss living in a beautiful house, the perfect family home, with a winding staircase and a sprawling garden.

I’d do anything to be with my family again. To start over and prove to them that I’ve changed, that I won’t lose control like before.

But when I get my second chance, the vicious messages come. The noises at night. The feeling of being watched. It’s happening all over again. I know I’m not going mad, but no one will believe me. I don’t know if I even believe myself.

All I wanted was my life back. But now my life is under threat – and my darling little girl is in danger…

A totally addictive, twist-packed psychological thriller about the lengths we go to for the people we love. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and Adele Parks.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Nicole Trope's creepiest thriller yet HIS OTHER WIFE.

“Can you come and help us please, Daddy? Mummy says the whispering man is back and she’s scared.”

Oh. My. WOW! Nicole Trope (fellow Aussie here...Oi! Oi! Oi!) is one of my favourite authors. I don't need to read the premise for her books before grabbing them because I just know I'm going to enjoy the ride she takes me on. And HIS OTHER WIFE does not disappoint. It is so different from her more domestic family drama genre that it ventures into the psychological creepy thriller vein complete with unreliable narrators, gaslighting, questionable choices and a twist on the whole psychological mental health aspect that will have you turning the pages long into the night. It did me...and here I sit at 2.30am having read this book in one evening wondering where to start to review this twisted tale.

Although they have been divorced for two years now, Gideon remains at his ex-wife's behest as she has struggled over the years and he has never stopped caring for or even loving her. But now in the middle of the night, he receives a frantic phone call from his 5 year old daughter Emily summoning him to save her and her mother from "the whispering man".

Sarah is delirious from lack of sleep, her insomnia causing hallucinations and believing she must stay awake to protect her daughter Emily from the whispering man who plagues her at night, scratching at the windows, invading her mind and whispering thoughts how everything is her fault. She doesn't dare fall asleep in case he comes for her. Her spiral into a deep dark depression and anxiety began when she miscarried three years ago and then lost both her parents in quick succession in the months after. She didn't see they were suffering and as she slept, they were taken from her. Now, Sarah believes that if she sleeps now the whispering man will return to take the only thing she has left - Emily.

Now Gideon is engaged to Charlotte who adores Emily as if she were her own. So when Emily summons him in the early hours, he knows that this time Sarah needs help. Arriving at her apartment and calming her down, he calls the paramedics and has her sectioned in a private clinic while he takes Emily back to his place to be cared for by him and Charlotte. Whilst Sarah is in the clinic, Gideon and Charlotte celebrate their marriage with a small private ceremony with Emily as their bridesmaid. Together this family of three are happy and their home is a haven of peace.

After three months, Sarah is ready to return home to a new flat that Gideon has rented for her and Charlotte has decorated. She knows that access to Emily will be limited at first as she has to prove herself as a competent mother but the plan is that they share custody of Emily with two weeks on and two weeks off each. Emily is, of course, thrilled to see her mother again and begs for a sleepover to which Gideon acquiesces. But when Charlotte arrives the following morning to collect Emily, she finds Sarah dishevelled and tired with dark circles beneath her eyes and the place a mess. Charlotte at once assesses that Sarah is not ready to return to motherhood just yet. But Gideon disagrees. He sees Sarah is doing really well and that there are no signs of her previous troubles.

Sarah is a bone of contention for Charlotte. She is his ex-wife and she, Charlotte, is his wife now. So why is it he spends most of his free time talking to or about Sarah? Why is spending so much time with her? And why is he not as concerned for Emily's welfare as she is? Despite her efforts to hide the fact, Sarah is obviously struggling and yet Gideon refuses to believe it. She doesn't think Emily is safe around her and says so but Gideon is adamant. Sarah is Emily's mother and she will always be Emily's mother. 

And then the whisperings start again. Strange noises in the night. A knock on the door when no one is there. Has the whispering man come back...?

It is difficult to tell just who is telling the truth in this creepy psychological thriller. Sarah grapples with reality and the fact that she could truly be losing her mind as Charlotte seems to have an unhealthy obsession with Emily. While Gideon is caught in the middle of this love triangle trying to support both women but not knowing who to trust or who to believe or know exactly what is going on.

Told through Sarah, Gideon and Charlotte's narratives, HIS OTHER WIFE is a psychological thriller like no other, teetering on the edge of the domestic genre with a disturbingly creepy undertone throughout. Nothing is as it seems in this tangled web. You think you know what's happening but you don't! Is the whisper man real? Is Sarah really recovered or is she hallucinating again? Does Charlotte really have Emily’s best interests at heart? Who is telling the truth and who is lying? Who is keeping secrets? Who is manipulating who?

What a wild ride! I read this book in one evening and finished in the wee hours, I could not put it down! HIS OTHER WIFE is the type of twisted thriller that really messes with your head as you try to untangle the truth from the lies to uncover what is really going on. Look closely and carefully, and you may just work it out.

A fast paced read that had me turning the pages as the intensity built, HIS OTHER WIFE is fun, entertaining and thoroughly addictive that had me hooked from the very first page. What a crazy ride! Absolutely brilliant. Loved every moment of it. And that ending...chilling.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Family Drama, Contemporary fiction

Read: 18th April 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st July 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

When I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s not a sound that disturbs me. It’s a feeling. Silently, I creep to my daughter’s room, breathing a sigh of relief when I see her sleeping, her night-light twirling, butterfly shapes moving their pink wings. Quickly, I lock the door. I won’t let anything happen to my little girl.

You tell him everything. The husband you adore, the father of your child, your best friend.

He knows, just by looking at your sage-green eyes, when something is wrong. The two of you can communicate with a glance, or a touch of the hand.

Except what if you can’t?

What if your happy marriage has plastered over one huge lie? A lie you have even started to believe yourself, in order to survive?

What if you have a secret, something you have hidden from your beloved husband and your strawberry-scented baby girl, to keep them safe? What if the guilt has kept you up, night after night, for as long as you can remember?

Because, after twenty-eight years, that secret is refusing to stay buried. The past you have tried so desperately to outrun is catching up with you. A faded photograph, torn in half, threatens to expose the truth and everyone you love, everything you cherish, is in harm’s way…

An emotional, thought-provoking and beautifully written novel which examines the pieces of ourselves we are afraid of, and the impossible decisions we make when we are desperate. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kerry Fisher and Liane Moriarty will be moved by this heartbreaking tale.

MY REVIEW:

What an emotional read this is! It pulled at my heartstrings, it brought tears to my eyes...it was just breathtaking. Nicole Trope is easily one of my favourite authors as her ability to capture every emotion, every thought, every heartbeat, every moment and transport you to the very heart of the story is phenomenal and just keeps me coming back. 

Having said that, THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is not an easy book to read due to the intense and chilling content. Containing themes of mental, emotional and physical abuse and domestic violence, the story that unfolds is a tragic tale of long-held secrets, shame, fear, guilt and anger that is painfully realistic. Some of the abuse scenes are graphic in nature that feel very real due to Nicole's ability to capture a moment in time with as few words as possible, placing the images in our minds that appear all too real. Our imaginations do the rest. I won't lie...the abuse scenes are harrowing, particularly if you have endured something similar, but the story is incredibly moving and as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

Rachel is enjoying a life well deserved with her loving husband Ben and their their beautiful seven year old daughter Beth in a beautiful new house they have recently purchased in a new and up-and-coming estate. But she hasn't always had the perfect life. In fact, she has such a troubled past that not even her husband knows about it. Why? Because Rachel and her mother, Veronica, made a promise to each other to never tell.

But now twenty eight years later it seems Rachel's past is coming back to haunt her. The secret she has kept for so long refuses to stay buried and she wonders how much longer she can keep her secret from resurfacing.

What should be a happy and exciting time in their new house is soon shattered when someone breaks in one night whilst Rachel is alone with Beth. She locks herself in her daughter's room as she hears footsteps pad up the stairs and sees the doorknob turning as someone attempts to gain entry into their hiding place. She calls Ben in a panic and then the police. But whoever had been in the house is long gone...if they were ever there at all. And then Rachel finds a troll doll standing in the centre of the landing...and she knows without a doubt that her past has come back to haunt her. He's found them at last and has come to inflict his revenge. 

Frightened for her family and scared for herself, Rachel cannot tell Ben her fears because he knows nothing about her past. The only one she can confide in is the one person who lived through it as well - her mother. Only she can't...because her mother is in a palliative care hospice with end stage cancer and is barely conscious. And even if she was, Rachel couldn't want to worry her mum. So now she is faced with a quandary - should she reveal her past to Ben? And if she does, what will he think of her? Will she lose him once the truth comes out? After all, she has lied to him their whole married life and how can one get over that? 

Whatever she does, Rachel knows she cannot keep this secret for much longer. Her past has come back and now the man they have run from for twenty eight years has been leaving little reminders of her past to let her know he is there...waiting...watching...that he can strike at any time when she least expects it. She has a family to protect. A little girl of her own...who is now the same age as she was when she and her mother left their old life behind.

Rachel's life hasn't always been perfect. It hasn't always known love...or tenderness...or care... It only knew rules, cruelty, abuse, violence, mind games and fear. Her father was a man she loved and hated. He could give with one hand and take with the other...either that or he would hit, kick or punch to get his message across. He wanted the perfect house, the perfect wife and the perfect family. Appearances were everything. And control was his weapon...as were his fists. Rachel was just seven years old and she loved her daddy but she hated how he made her mummy hurt. She could hear the thump thump thump coming from their bedroom after she has gone to bed. And in the morning she could see the purple flowers on her mummy's face that made her cry. The slightest thing would make her daddy lash out. An orange that had fallen from the fruit bowl. A frame or ornament out of place. A film of dust on top of the fridge or shelf. A forgotten toy on the floor instead of put away neatly. Everything had to be sparkling clean. Rachel, her mother and the house. Everything clean and fresh with dinner ready by the time daddy walked through the door at 6pm every night. 

Except her brother Kevin. He either stays at his friends so he doesn't have to come home or locks himself in his room. He doesn't want to be on the receiving end of daddy's anger anymore than he is. Rachel hates him. He's just like daddy. He's almost as big as daddy but he is just as scared of him as she is. But when daddy isn't around, Kevin is just like him. And then one night Rachel wakes to hear the thump thump thump noise again and makes a decision. At seven years old she is determine to protect her mummy, and so they pack a bag each and leave their life behind, once and for all.

Now, twenty eight years later, it seems that old life has caught up with her. She knows her father will make them pay for leaving him but she doesn't know how to fight him, despite the fact he would be an old man at sixty five now and she is sure who would be a formidable force still. But how can she fight him while her mother is dying? How can she face her past? How can she face him? She isn't even sure she has the strength to. But if that's not bad enough, her perfect life with Ben appears to be also falling apart at the seams. How can she possibly get through with not only losing her mother but losing her marriage also? On top of having to face the monster from her past?

And then just when Rachel thinks that things couldn't possibly be any worse, the unthinkable happens...and her world comes crashing down. Will Rachel come out of this unscathed? Will her family? And will Ben forgive her for not telling him the truth? But most of all, will Rachel make peace with her past once and for all?

Oh. My. God. You will not finish this book without having a box of tissues handy. It will pull on your heartstrings and have you weeping buckets for Rachel - for the child she was and the adult she now is - and her mother. And even her brother Kevin. The abuse they endured at their father's hands is just unfathomable and heartbreaking. But what also tugs at your heart is the glimpse into what made him into the man he became. Children are born innocent. Monsters are made. Violence begets violence. 

THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is one of Nicole's most heartbreaking reads. And yet it is so powerful it will leave you breathless. The story moves between past and present evenly through various perspectives - Rachel, Ben, Little Bird (seven year old Rachel) and an unknown narrator. And yet Rachel's narrative has the feel of an unreliable narrator as she flits between the fear of her past to the reality of her present while trying to balance them with the impending death of her beloved mother.

Nicole combines thriller with contemporary fiction with this dark and harrowing story that instills a fear and throwing very few clues as to the identity of who is leaving behind the gifts that sends chills right through Rachel's core. It is cleverly crafted as the story weaves between the past and present easily despite the difficult subject matter. Nicole takes the reader through a range of emotions along with each perspective - from heartbreak to fear to anger to pain as well a love and happiness - as the story gradually unfolds, revealing a surprising twist turning everything on its head.

THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is both heartbreaking and heartwarming with it's chilling tale of a secret buried so deep in the hope it would never resurface. The story is harrowing from the abuse to the extent the fear it generated in Rachel from childhood and into adulthood. 

Emotional and compelling from beginning to end, THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is an emotionally charged story that will break your heart. And yet it delivers at the end with its heartwarming conclusion.

I love Nicole Trope and always look forward to her books, knowing that she will draw me in and take me through a range of emotions and deliver a spectacular ending. I have no hesitation in recommending any of her books...though this one I do so with the warning of the sensitive and brutal subject matter.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: Dead and Gone by Sherryl Clark

Dead and Gone (Judi Westerholme #2) by Sherryl Clark

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller

Read: 4th April 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 25th June 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

There's nothing more dangerous than revenge.

Judi Westerholme has been through it. Brave and strong-willed, she's just about coping in her new role as foster parent to her orphaned niece, taking a job at the local pub to help make ends meet. Then the pub's landlord and Judi's friend, army veteran Pete 'Macca' Maccasfield, is murdered, and her world is suddenly turned upside down.

Despite warnings from the city police to keep out of it, Judi can't help but get involved in the search for Macca's killer. But she soon becomes deeply entangled with some ruthlessly dangerous men. She must act fast and think smart to work out what they want - before anyone else gets hurt...

Long buried secrets resurface in Sherryl Clark's pacey crime novel that pushes Judi Westerholme to her limits to protect the people she loves most.

MY REVIEW:

When I requested this book I had no idea it was part of a series. But having said that, DEAD AND GONE can be quite easily read as a standalone without having read the first book, as I haven't, as the author gives the reader enough backstory to keep up. And believe me, you won't be disappointed.

Having had her life change completely after the death of her brother, Judi Westerholme is back in Candlebark struggling to make ends meet by managing the local pub and raise a toddler. Upon learning her brother had stipulated in his will that she become guardian of little Mia in the event of his death, Judi was reluctant to be lumbered with such a responsibility. After all, kids had never been on her radar. But after four months of caring for little Mia, she cannot imagine her life without her. Added to that, she has a fledgling long distance romance with a police detective back in Melbourne with no real idea where they both stand with each other.

And then, on one of the pub's busiest days everything changes.

A body has been discovered in the dumpster behind the pub. It's identified as Macca, the owner and landlord. And he's been murdered.

Now Judi finds herself having to juggle the running of the pub along with everything else. At least until the police find out who murdered Macca and they work out what to do now with the hotel. But then, Judi learns that she has inherited a third of the pub, alongside two of Macca's longest serving staff - Andre, the chef, and Suzy, the barmaid. But why would Macca leave them the pub when he has a daughter who has just turned up claiming the business is now hers? According to her, Macca had promised it to her. So what changed? On top of everything else, Judi did not want to deal with the woman's histrionics.

But something is definitely amiss and, unable to leave things alone, Judi begins her own investigation, talking to locals behind the bar and getting a feel for things, and ends up discovering more than she expected to. A search of Macca's room uncovers old service medals from Vietnam and a photo of a group of smiling soldiers identifying Macca as one of them and his friend Carl as another. Along with the photo, Judi also finds a couple of newspaper clippings detailing the deaths of two men in different circumstances. The names of the men are the same as two of those in the group photo with Macca and Carl. What has she uncovered?

Taking her new information to the police, Judi tells them her thoughts but is brushed off and told the circumstances in which the two men died are most probably unrelated and to leave the investigating to them. Of course it doesn't help that one of the homicide detectives up from Melbourne to investigate Macca's death is Heath, her fledgling romance. But despite being warned by the police to stay out of the investigation, she continues looking for answers. And when the pub comes under fire, Judi will stop at nothing to ensure it remains safe at all costs.

Although she is now the fulltime guardian of Mia, Judi must also ensure her safety as well. She has engaged childcare with a local woman to look after Mia during Judi's shifts at the pub, knowing Mia enjoys herself thoroughly at Joleen's house with her two young boys. But a part of her feels guilty that she is neglecting the little girl who has already lost her mummy and daddy by the time she was two years old while at the same time not wanting to put Mia in danger at the pub should danger come looking for them. Mia is quite used to being at the pub with Judi on occasion and has even got her own little play corner that Judi set up for her, that other parents with children have come to appreciate as well. But given all that she has learnt since Macca's death, Judi isn't sure the Candlebark Hotel is the safest place for little Mia.

And then comes the suckerpunch. Judi receives a phone call from her solicitor in Melbourne to inform her that Mia's maternal grandparents have applied for guardianship of their granddaughter. The granddaughter they never knew existed until their daughter's death because they had been estranged. And now Judi must deal with the threat of losing Mia, the little girl who has become her world. She finds herself torn between what is best for Mia and her promise to take care of her. She may not have wanted to take her on in the beginning but she has come to love that little girl who has brought such sunshine into her life.

Initially, I requested DEAD AND GONE purely for the fact that it is Australian and I like to support my fellow Aussies where I can, despite not knowing it was part of a series. However, it most definitely reads sufficiently as a standalone and readers won't find themselves lost having not read the first book. Set in rural Victoria, I am familiar with Bendigo and of course Melbourne but not much more beyond that. I knew right away what chop chop was before it was explained to Judi and I must say it was a welcome change to be immersed in an Australian mystery thriller once again.

My first book by Sherryl Clark, DEAD AND GONE is well written and addictive from the start. I found myself enjoying it immensely and I loved each of the characters from the pub locals to the detectives from Melbourne. I even loved little Mia. I found it a welcome change that, while still an important part of Judi's life, not everything revolved around Mia. She was there but she wasn't mollycoddled and pandered to at every whim. And Mia was okay with that. And that endeared her to me even more. She didn't demand every bit of attention at every minute of every day. She was happy to sit in the corner stacking blocks, drawing circles on scraps of paper or chasing the cat and pulling its tail. A child who provides her own entertainment as we did as kids and not relying on or demanding an adult's attention every second of the day. Mia was a sweet child and I look forward to seeing her bloom in future books.

Like Judi I had my suspects, but I had no idea really what was going on or why. So Sherryl had me pretty much hoodwinked throughout. DEAD AND GONE was one of those books that grabbed your attention and keeps you guessing until the end.

A nice easy read, I really enjoyed DEAD AND GONE and recommend it fans of crime fiction thrillers.

I would like to thank #SherrylClark, #NetGalley and #VerveBooks for an ARC of #DeadAndGone in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sherryl Clark was born in New Zealand in 1956 and first came to Australia in 1978. Her passion for crime fiction began when her high school teacher gave her boxes of books by the likes of Mickey Spillane, James Ellroy and Raymond Chandler. Her first forays into crime writing were short stories, including ‘Fresh Bait’ which was  published by Artemis Press and has since been reprinted many times in high school texts.

Sherryl's early crime novels are now all in the bottom drawer, and in 1996 she began writing books for children and young adults, resulting in more than 70 titles published by Penguin Random House, UQP, HarperCollins, Pearson and Macmillan Education.

She continued to write adult crime fiction for her own enjoyment while publishing books for a younger audience. When Sherryl entered her novel 'Trust Me, I’m Dead' in the 2018 CWA Debut Dagger Awards, she was delighted to be shortlisted. This has led to a two-book deal with UK publisher, Verve Books with the sequel being 'Dead and Gone'.

Sherryl has had 40 children’s and YA books published in Australia, and several in the US and UK, plus collections of poetry and four verse novels. 

She has taught writing at Holmesglen TAFE and Victoria University. Recently completing a Master of Fine Arts program at Hamline University, Minnesota, Sherryl is now studying for a PhD in creative writing. 

Sherryl's favourite writers are: Tana French, Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, Mark Billingham, Peter Robinson, Val McDermid, and many more.

Her current favourite TV shows: Vera, Line of Duty, Endeavour, Bosch, Longmire, Person of Interest, Happy Valley.

While her secret writer's wish is to write an episode of Vera.

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