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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Amazon

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: Five by Five by Claire Wilson

Five by Five by Claire Wilson

Genre: Crime thrillers, Mystery

Read: 29th September 2024

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Amazon

Published: 29th August 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

'Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read' Guardian

'A bloody good read' Val McDermid

----

What if the killer she's hunting turns out to be the woman she's falling for?

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – working in one of Scotland’s toughest prisons, monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard, nicknamed Scout, with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

Despite her growing fear, there is one thing going right for Kennedy. The enigmatic new prison officer Molly is beautiful and ready to sweep her off her feet.

But Kennedy can’t afford to let her guard down. Because with Scout hiding very close by, her next mistake might just be her last . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime...

OK, I admit. I was one of those who thought the book title was in reference to the size of the prison cell but in actual fact it is the nickname for the intelligence reports submitted by officers to the intelligence unit. Something Claire knows a lot about in her job as an intelligence analyst within the Scottish prison service. Now this is not normally my type of book but I opted to read it as I'm friends with her mum and admittedly, after reading an article about the new release, I was intrigued. So I grabbed myself a copy and I read it in a day. I stayed up in the wee hours of the night just to finish it...and then it ended where it did!

Kennedy Allardyce's job as an intelligence analyst at HMP Forth Valley was meant to be rewarding. Instead it almost gets her killed. She has picked up some intel regarding not just prisoners but the possibility of a corrupt officer on the wing and she will stop at nothing to uncover their identity. But does that also mean at the cost of her life? Is it really worth it? Kennedy thinks so, much to the annoyance of her ex-girlfriend/best friend Ellie with whom she still shares a flat.

And then Kennedy meets Molly, an officer on one of the wings. But Kennedy doesn't mix business with pleasure (though she states it a little less eloquently a few times) and yet that still doesn't stop her from getting involved with Molly. But almost from the outset Kennedy is suspicious. Why is Molly suddenly paying her so much attention? And what role does Molly play on the wing that houses some of the most violent offenders? Worst of all, Kennedy thinks she's falling for this woman who could well be her downfall?

Suited and booted with lashings of violence, corruption and with a taste of "Line of Duty", this debut which is the first in the series (of which there are to be eight, I believe) packs a hell of a punch and is not for the fainthearted. Not a fan of the excessive language, though I know that's all in a day's work at a prison, and the cliffhanger ending left me feeling a little off kilter. I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings as I prefer everything resolved (even in series) and also usually when the next book comes out I've forgotten where the previous one ended. But then, I remember the makers of Line of Duty left fans hanging as to the identity of The Caddy for three seasons which spread over about four years! I hope we don't have to wait that long to find out who Scout is. I have my suspicions so we'll see.

Overall, a cracker of a debut with snappy chapters and a fast pace that kept me turning the pages into the night until I finished it. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

​

Claire Wilson is a crime writer from central Scotland. Her crime books are based on her day job as an Intelligence Analyst in a Scottish Prison. She loves gritty crime and grew up reading Martina Cole and Stephen King. Her debut novel, Five by Five was previously a finalist in the Capital Crime / Amazon Publishing New Voices Award in 2021 and Adventures in Fiction New Voices in 2022. 

 

Claire was picked to pitch her novel at the Pitch Perfect event at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2022.

 

In 2023, Claire won the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers Prize. Five by Five was published by Penguin Michael Joseph in August 2024.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Instagram

REVIEW: They Thought I Was Dead by Peter James

They Thought I Was Dead: Sandy's Story by Peter James

Genre: Crime thrillers, Mystery

Read: 28th September 2024

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Amazon

Published: 14th May 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Some will know how it begins . . .

Her name is Sandy. You might know her as the loving wife of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

But there's more to her than meets the eye. A woman with a dubious past, a complicated present and

an uncertain future. Then she was gone.

Some will think they know how it ends . . .

Her disappearance caused a nationwide search. Even the best detective on the force couldn't find her.

They thought she was dead.

But nobody knows this . . .

Where did she go? Why did she run? What would cause a woman to leave her whole life behind and

simply vanish?

For the first time, the number one, multi-million copy bestselling author Peter James reveals the

truth behind Sandy Grace's dramatic disappearance. They thought I Was Dead will thrill fans

and new readers alike with its gripping story of a woman on the run. This is Sandy's story.

MY THOUGHTS:

Her name is Sandy...you will know her as the wife of DSP Roy Grace...but there is more to her than meets the eye...

I've known of the Roy Grace series for some time but as I already had loads of books TBR and other series on the go, I never added them to my ever growing list. And then I watched the TV series. And I fell in love with the totally lovely Roy Grace. Apart from the powers that be, the series didn't have the same angst amongst the ranks that others do. And so I went out and got my hands on the entire series which I intend to read (sometime) but I began with Sandy's story. I was interested to see how close it was to the TV adaption and while it correllated with the screen, there were some differences. But I won't spoil it by saying what they were for those who haven't read the book or are up to date with the TV series.

This book is soley Sandy's story and we see very little of Roy so the first question I asked my friend (who has read the series) was "Is Roy as lovely in the books as he is on TV?" and she said that he was. Because the Roy Sandy was describing was just how I knew him from TV. 

As I watched the series, I had so many questions as to what happened to Sandy. Because like the books, viewers got snippets of her, and it made us wanting to know more about her and what happened to her. Did she die? Did she leave him? And if so, why? Roy is so lovely why would she? And thus THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD was born. 

Given that this was Sandy's story thought it would be more of a novella, inserted in between books in the rest of the series, but no. It is a full length book of around 400 pages and 113 short(ish) snappy chapters. My favourite kind. The pace was steady in places, fast in others. And as with the rest of the series where we got snippets of Sandy from Roy's perspective, we get Roy from Sandy's.

Having never read a Peter James novel before I wasn't sure what to expect. But I really enjoyed it. I could have slapped Sandy so many times. I think she would have been better off to have stayed as Roy would have remained loyal and stood by her. But on the other side, I think Roy is better off WITHOUT her as she was such a flibbety-jibbet, unsatisfied with her lot in life and thinking the grass was greener elsewhere...only to discover it had always been green where she was. She was fickle and her decision-making left a lot to be desired. Simply put, I wanted to slap her at every opportunity for being so stupid. 

I never liked Sandy...after all, she left Roy! How could she? Because she couldn't hack it as a policeman's wife? Well, she knew what he was when she met and married him. It was hardly going to change. And Roy was devoted to her and balanced his work and home life as best he could. But she wanted more. And although this book throws a little more light on what made her tick, I liked her even less. I actually liked her more in the TV series. This book just made me dislike her even more. Still...the hole she dug herself, which only got bigger as time went on, her fear, her sadness and the questions she kept asking herself kept me turning the pages and hooked throughout.

I'm glad Sandy has had her ending and Roy has finally had closure. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see her actually stand up and stop that wedding. I have never seen someone do that and actually stop a wedding. But as she was legally declared dead already, where did she and Roy stand in that case? Would it have been bigamy as she's still alive? I would have liked to see the questions it would have raised. But...at any rate, we got our ending. As did Sandy. And Roy got closure to that chapter of his life.

Overall, an ominous and entertaining tale that finally gives us insight and answers to what became of Sandy Grace. I can't compare it to other Grace books as I have yet to read them but others have said it is different but still a must read if you are a Grace fan. I can't wait to delve into Roy's story and follow his cases (despite having watched them on TV already).

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Peter James (born 22 August 1948) is a British writer of crime. He was born in Brighton, the son of Cornelia James, the former glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth II.

Peter James is an international best-selling crime thriller novelist who has had his books published in 36 languages. His series featuring Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has sold 17 million copies worldwide and has given him eight consecutive UK Sunday Times number ones.

Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers' Association Diamond Dagger.

During his childhood Peter attended Charterhouse School and then, in later years went on to study at Ravensbourne Film School. As a result of his training there, he travelled to North America, and spent several years as a screenwriter and film producer. It was in 1994 however, that Peter’s name became known worldwide due to the controversial publication by Penguin of his novel, Host, officially “the world’s first electronic novel” on two floppy discs (a far cry from a Kindle!). Peter has since become a media spokesperson for electronic publishing. When he’s not writing his international bestselling stories of Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, Peter has many hobbies, one of which means that Peter holds an international racing licence and often competes in the Britcar Racing Series! 

Peter currently divides his time between his Sussex home, a Victorian Rectory, and his apartment in Notting Hill.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

REVIEW: What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 10th August 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont.

The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.

But this morning all of that will change.

Because Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.

How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.

Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.

And one innocent question could be deadly.

MY THOUGHTS:

Nothing ever happens in Fairhill, Vermont...until it does...

Not your average thriller by Shari Lapena but a pageturner just the same. This time we're taken to Fairhill, a sleepy little town in Vermont where everyone knows each other and nothing ever happens...until it does.

A farmer is working his fields when he notices the circling of vultures over one of his fields and thinking he may have a dead cow or some other animal on his land, he goes to investigate. Nothing prepares him for the horror that assails him. The visceral disemboweled remains of teenager Diana Brewer, her eyes pecked out by the feathered ferals.

The days starts off as normal for teenagers in Fairhill as they head off to school, avoid their parents at all costs and basically anything that is everything to a teenager. Riley Mead is worried though. She has texted Diana several times this morning and she has not responded...which is unlike Diana. She wants to know how she got on with boyfriend Cameron the night before. And then when Riley gets to school, she discovers that Diana is not there. And she does not arrive, making Riley worry more.

And then the principal knocks on their classroom door. The police are here. Diana has been found murdered. Riley's world falls apart. She and her friend Evan, Diana's two best friends, work to support each other and Diana's mother through this terrible ordeal. Who could have done this? And why?

Investigations reveal a creepy customer at the Home Depot where Diana worked, who gave her an inordinate amount of attention which made her uncomfortable. Is he responsible for Diana's death? And some inappropriate behaviour by someone in authority - someone who should be trusted - is also revealed. Could they be responsible for Diana's demise? Who would do such a thing? Diana was popular and well liked. She would do anything for anybody. Why would somebody kill her?

The story unfolds from various third person perspectives - from Riley to Evan to Diana's mother to Cameron and his parents  to Diana's various teachers to the police and persons of interests. It has a touch of supernatural to it with Diana suspended between her life and her untimely death as she struggles to recall what happened to her on that night and watches with pain the heartache her loved ones are going through.

While it is not one of Shari Lapena's best, it was a pageturner all the same and I devoured it in good time. It was a fast paced read with short snappy chapters that kept it moving nicely. Despite it dragging a little, I love Shari's writing style which made the story such an addictive read.

I would like to thank #ShariLapena, #Netgalley and #TransworldDigital for an ARC of #WhatHaveYouDone in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shari Lapena is the #1 internationally bestselling author of six suspense novels including The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, and Not a Happy Family. Everyone Here is Lying is coming in July 2023.

A former lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes full time from a farm in Ontario, where she lives with her husband.

Her first thriller, The Couple Next Door, was a runaway global bestseller, selling  4 million copies worldwide. It was WHSmith’s “Book of the Year” in 2016 and the #1 Adult Fiction Title in the UK for 2017. All of Shari’s novels have been New York Times, UK Sunday Times, and Globe and Mail bestsellers. Three of her books have been Richard & Judy Book Club Picks. Her books have sold into forty territories around the world and have been optioned for film and TV.

She doesn’t want you to be able to put her books down.

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REVIEW: At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer

At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer

Genre: Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction, Mystery

Read: 13th March 2024

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Published: 12th March 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It’s an invitation that will change everything…

It’s 1923 and in a decade that promises excitement and liberation, Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.

Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a shared history with several of the guests, although he won’t admit it. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl’s worries are compounded when their host fails to arrive…

Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that will culminate in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself.

But then Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?

A completely addictive and unforgettable 1920s mystery – with a timeslip twist – perfect for fans of Daphne duMaurier, Agatha Christie, and Lucinda Riley.

MY THOUGHTS:

Until the mystery is solved, she's trapped in time...

After reading the author's previous novel "No 23 Burlington Square" and absolutely loving it, I had high hopes for this one. While the previous one had a sliding doors theme, this one is more Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day. And it was rather cleverly done.

The year is 1923 and Pearl Glenham has lived a somewhat sheltered life with her father Raymond in a parsonage cottage in rural Suffolk. But life as she knows it is about to change when her father receives an invitation he can ill afford to refuse. A weekend at Highcliffe House on the Jurassic coast of Dorset. Both father and daughter do not mix well in social circles and both would rather not attend. But with a curiosity to know more, Pearl sought out the letter that summoned their presence and was shocked to discover that her father was is essence being blackmailed to attend...alluding to secrets of the past that he did not wish to become public knowledge.

From the moment they arrived at Highcliffe House, they are greeted by an overfamiliar manservant and a harried cook-cum-housekeeper - the only two staff on hand to serve them. That and the pompous Harlow Standfield who had arrived just moments before them. But they were not the last to arrive, with Celine and Aldo Revallo sweeping in annonce their arrival. Each of them were curious as to their host who had yet to arrive himself - a Mr Badgerwood.

Almost from he first moment, Pearl had the distinct impression that the gathered group had met before but none of them admitted that fact. Her father had indeed stated he had never been to Highcliffe before but it was clear that he was familiar with the house. Why was he lying? Why was any of them?

Eager to escape the stifled atmosphere, Pearl changed into hr bathing costume and stole herself down to the private cove for a swim. It is on the shingled beach that she steals across a cave heralding its own treasures...and in her curiosity, set in motion a series of events that would see her relive the same afternoon over and over for weeks...each day ending before the stroke of midnight. 

To escape the time in which she is trapped, Pearl must uncover a twenty year old mystery. But can she unravel the truth in time to save them all?

A rather novel concept with a Christiesque feel and a hint of Daphne du Maurier to the equivalent of Groundhog Day. I must admit I was stumped as to the mystery but I did figure out at least part of it and what happened to one of the missing members of the family. That idea came to me right from the beginning and stayed with me until it was revealed at the end.

I didn't care for any of the characters except Pearl and Ellery. Pearl's father treated her as an unpaid servant when he could quite easily accomplish the tasks himself but expected her to fulfill them. Celine and Standfield were incredibly self-absorbed.

An interesting tale which I found entertaining and whiled away a few hours this afternoon. But her previous one is a hard one to top.

And let's just take a moment to admire that simply stunning cover!!

I would like to thank #JenniKeer, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #AtTheStrokeOfMidnight in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jenni Keer is the well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart.

After gaining a history degree, Jenni embarked on an career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique-restorer husband and their four teenage boys. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework, but it remains a mystery, so is more usually found at her keyboard writing fun romantic comedies with #blindcat Seymour by her side.

When not up to her elbows in family life, she can be found busy with her Edwardian marquetry business, planning her next fancy dress party or practising her formation dance moves.

Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year, her first book with Boldwood No 23 Burlington Square was published in October 2023.

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REVIEW: Save Her Twice by Helen Phifer

Save Her Twice (Detective Morgan Brookes #11) by Helen Phifer

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller, Mystery, Police procedural

Read: 11th February 2024

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Published: 7th February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Morgan shivers in the darkness as she walks through the park towards the abandoned building. She sees the body and the blood dripping onto the cold, frosty grass. A beautiful teenage girl is dead. Morgan feels rage build inside of her as she realises who it is…

Arriving at a quiet family home on the outskirts of the Lake District, Detective Morgan Brookes must deliver devastating news to a heartbroken mother. Seeing Lexie’s pink boots against the side of the house, she remembers the girl’s happy face and can’t help but think of her carefree childhood. Three years ago, Morgan saved Lexie from a serial killer, who is now behind bars. But this time, she’s failed to protect her.

Certain a new and more terrifying killer is at large, Morgan finds a neighbour who claims a man in a silver car was watching Lexie’s house. Then she discovers that Lexie was meeting other survivors of serial killers at a local victim support group. Another girl, Milly, thinks she has been followed by the same silver car.

But just as Morgan rushes to warn the other women, the case takes an even more sinister turn. One of them is found dead, posed in a chair with her hands tied in prayer. Flames engulf the church where the victims usually meet, with several of the others trapped inside.

Morgan manages to save the women just in time, but she knows this killer will never give up. To find him, she must relive every terrifying case she’s ever worked on. Somewhere in her history lies the key to saving more lives, but Morgan has no idea that this dangerous individual wants her as his final victim…

A dark, gripping and twisty new thriller in the Morgan Brookes series that will have you racing until the final page. For fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Rachel McLean.

MY THOUGHTS:

Sometimes I think Morgan thinks she's a one-woman band. Although in this book she does tame it down a little, she still faces off with the killer at the end. At least this time she didn't go out looking for him...yet.

This is the eleventh book in the Detective Morgan Brooks series complete with her entourage of colourful characters from Susie to Declan to Theo to Cain. Not to forget Ben either who I'm sure is on his way to a heart attack with constantly looking out for Morgan.

This time round Morgan is called out to the discovery of blood at one woman's front door, frantic that she's unable to raise her daughter Lexie. Some years previously, Morgan saved Lexie and her mother from near death, both of them barely escaping with their lives. As it turns out, Lexie is one many young women in a survivors support group who call themselves "the final girls", having all survived the grip of a killer. 

When Lexie's body is discovered soon after, another young woman from the group Milly confides that she believes she is being followed and describes the car she has seen on a number of occasions. Is the killer stalking these survivors to finish what their would-be killers never could?

But as Morgan delves deeper, she begins to realise that she too is in the killer's crosshairs.

As with the rest of this series, I enjoyed this mystery despite how predictable Morgan is becoming. The chapters are short and snappy keeping the pace moving along steadily. Actually this one was a quick read I managed to finish in just a few hours.

Overall, another exciting installment for Morgan and her team.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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REVIEW: A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer

A Soul for a Soul (Detective Kate Young #5) by Carol Wyer

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller, Police procedural, Mystery

Read: 24th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 30th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The syndicate have taken everything from her. It’s time to take them down—or die trying.

DCI Kate Young never meant to shoot Superintendent John Dickson at the reservoir that night—even if, as a scheming corrupt cop and head of the shady syndicate, he probably had it coming. But now Kate has photographic evidence that someone else knows her terrible secret…

Tormented by guilt and the voices of the dead, Kate is desperate to unmask the rest of the corrupt officers before her own sins catch up with her. When DI Harriet Khatri, awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor, claims she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate, Kate reluctantly agrees to help in the hope of finding answers.

Meanwhile, DI Emma Donaldson finds herself on the hunt for a double murderer—a man who incapacitates his victims with a powerful narcotic called Devil’s Breath. Desperate to measure up to her role-model boss, Emma finds herself hurled into the deep end in more ways than one…

While Kate’s grip on reality wavers and the syndicate closes in, and with the mystery killer taking a special interest in Emma, could this be the case that defeats both detectives?

MY THOUGHTS:

Where to even begin?

I have followed this series from the start so I'm familiar with Kate's flaws and foibles. Does she get on my nerves? A little. Especially with the constant monologuing with the dead William and Dickson. Chris' dialogue was enough but now we have her mentor and her nemesis to battle it out in her head!

OK, so if you haven't read any of the previous books, don't start this one until you have done so as the culmination of events and everything that went beforehand will make absolutely no sense. Some series you can pick up here and there and read without missing out on anything else. But this series is not one of them. In fact, the entire series hinges on Kate's relentless investigating into a corrupt syndicate involved in sex trafficking, drugs and murder - and that of the murder of her husband Chris. A syndicate compromised of corrupt police officers, some of whom were at senior level. It's like a series of "Line of Duty"...lol

Since the previous book, Kate has been promoted to DCI and taking the place of her mentor and friend William Chase who was brutally murdered by one of the syndicate, DI Harriet Khatri. Harriet, however, is protesting her innocence loudly though no one is listening. Least of all Kate who was not her biggest fan in the first place. But Harriet calls on Kate with a special request...but how will Kate react?

Since Kate's promotion, it has left room for her previous position as DI open as well as Harriet's also, since she now sits under house arrest with strict bail conditions awaiting trial for William's murder. And so Kate handpicks her two DS's, Emma and Morgan, to step into the Acting DI role until they can take their Inspector's exams.

Emma's first big case comes along investigating a killer who maims his victims with a psychoactive drug, leaving no trace in their systems. Or so he thought. It seems he is cockier than he is clever. But will he outsmart Emma before she can uncover the truth?

Meanwhile, Morgan has been tasked to Operation Moonbeam who are investigating the people trafficking and with a mole in their midst, Morgan is feeling frustrated with the slow progress, despite months of work. And it's affecting his home life with Emma.

On top of it all, Kate must maintain a professional integrity in overseeing her teams but she misses being in the thick of the investigation. But under the mantle of DCI she is also able to continue looking further into the syndicate and its remaining members, and attempt to bring it all down once and for all.

Then just when you think that's the end of it...Wyer delivers those final lines. Is this the end? Or is it not?

I admit to having further suspicions but in hindsight, I'd like this to be the end for Kate. To sit back and relax and just let it all go. To remain and continue digging would just be tempting fate. 

The twists are delivered with fervour in this story but alas, I could not be hoodwinked. I correctly figured two out of three. That last one had me surprised. But the identity of the killer nor the first of the remaining syndicate members revealed were not. Sorry (not sorry!).

This series is so different from Carol Wyer's others and I could see how it could be so all-encompassing, when she locks herself away in her office for hours on end leaving Mr Grumpy to fend for himself. I think I'd be exhausted with navigating all this!

Overall, an entertaining taut crime thriller that will have you turning the pages until the very end, and then leaving you scratching your head.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #ASoulForASoul 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.

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