REVIEW: Cold Justice by Katherine Howell

Cold Justice (Detective Ella Marconi #3) by Katherine Howell

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 28th April 2017

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★★★★ 4 stars

It's been a while since I read Katherine Howell and thought it was about time again. As always, a pleasure reading such a setting as Sydney - all the places, names and areas all familiar.

As for the story...I enjoyed it greatly, except for Ella's parents and her controlling boyfriend. I suspected the killer about halfway through and the why of it. But even so, that never takes the joy out of a good story.

REVIEW: The Woman Before Me by Ruth Dugdall

The Woman Before Me (Cate Austin #1) by Ruth Dugdall

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 20th April 2017

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★★★ 3 stars

I actually enjoyed this book and kept turning the pages devouring each for more. But it was the ending that I found anti climatic and that let it down. You get the feeling all the way through the book that Rose is innocent only to have but one final tragedy twisted to be even more tragic. The whole tale was sad and tragic but the ending made Rose seem even more twisted. I had hoped she was just a poor grieving mother who'd known no real love in her life, obsessed with trying to hang onto the one person she loved but didn't really love her. It was a sad tale in all. And I can safely say the only person I liked in the whole story was Cate.

I didn't like Rose all that much but I liked her more than Jason who just took her for granted while remaining in love with his ex wife and sleeping with her still, fathering her new son whose murder Rose was imprisoned for. I didn't like Emma, Jason's ex wife and Rose's new friend, who complained about her lot in life when she had everything Rose ever wanted and took it all for granted. And I didn't like Dominic who was just an angry controlling husband who seemed somewhat put out that a baby disrupted his and Emma's life. I may not have liked Rose much, but I felt sorry for her and the hand she'd been dealt. And then the ending ruined that for me...

REVIEW: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Read: 17th April 2017

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★★★★ 4 stars

** spoiler alert ** Nora...not Lee. And Lee...not Leo.

I don't know why so many said they didn't like this book or any of the characters. The only ones I didn't like we're Flo and Clare. Flo because she was unhinged where Clare was concerned, practically worshipping her. And Clare because she seemed too perfect. Somewhat fake. I wasn't disappointed in the ending either because I didn't like her to begin with.

I wondered if I was the only one to pick up the "text" sent from James breaking off with Nora ten years before as not being from him at all. Long before Nora picked up on it towards the end. I picked up on it right away when it began "Lee..." James only ever called her Leo.

I wasn't disappointed that I guessed who was behind the whole charade. I thought it was a good read. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

REVIEW: Random by Craig Robertson

Random by Craig Robertson

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery

Read: 15th April 2017

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★★★★★ 5 stars

Wow! Wow! Wow! I have just finished RANDOM and it was by far one of the best reads I have read in some time! I read the complete second half of the book tonight...as I could not put it down till I found out how it ended. Brilliant. Not 5 stars - 10 stars!! Loved it.

I thought when I started it that from the perspective of the serial killer might get a little tedious but it is anything but! The continual monologue from the killer's perspective is both fascinating and eye-opening as well as very different. It is one of those books where I keep telling myself "just one more chapter" and then keep reading beyond that and more! And I read generally when I go to bed so I can be up till 3am still reading, unable it put it down....as I was last night. Until my eyelids began drooping and I was getting weary - given the hour that was to understandable - and I closed at the end of the chapter. But it is then a case of when I wake in the morning I have to pick it up again to find out more! With each chapter more about the killer is revealed in small yet significant ways. It is incredibly well written to be solely from the perspective of the killer, with the police and the investigation taking a backseat to the killer's motives, and what makes him do what he has. And the process he undertakes in selecting his victims. And we see him more than a killer - but a father, a husband - and we begin to feel sympathy towards him. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book...though I didn't think I would.

REVIEW: Never Somewhere Else by Alex Gray

Never Somewhere Else (DCI Lorrimer #1) by Alex Gray

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 30th March 2017

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 ★★★★ 4 stars

Enjoyable read set in Glasgow. Love my Scottish thrillers. I did guess the killer but then I didn't mind. Not that it was easy...I just figured it was. Great read. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

REVIEW: Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves

Telling Tales (DCI Vera Stanhope #2) by Ann Cleeves

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 21st March 2017

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★★★★ 4 stars

3 and a half to 4 stars. Pretty much because I felt it dragging a little at the beginning. Even though Vera appeared earlier in this one than in The Crow Trap, I still felt she was a distant ring-in as it switched from one to another, with Vera popping up every now and then. I was longing to see who really murdered Abigail but disappointed with who it turned out to be. I think it would have been better with Robert as the murderer. It made sense. Or even Emma herself. That is one screwed up lady. Vera's right. It's time she (Emma) got a life.

But having said that, I still enjoyed the book. The mystery and the little twists.

REVIEW: Broken Skin by Stuart MacBride

Broken Skin (DS Logan McRae #3) by Stuart MacBride

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

Read: 10th March 2017

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★★★★★ 5 stars

Brilliant! MacBride has done it again with his dark but very witty humour that often has me laughing, in his third Logan MacRae novel. I can never wait to read the next but I always mix my reading up a bit and tackle another author in between and revisit at a later time. But I love MacBride so much I want to just move onto the next one....hoping to find out a few answers from where this one left off.

While most of the mysteries were solved in this book, one remained just that - a mystery. And who was really responsible? MacBride tantalises with the reader leaving us gasping for more as MacRae ponders what really happened the night footballer Macintyre was beaten to within an inch of his life and left in a coma. Leaving MacRae wondering...just what had Jackie done?