REVIEW: Happily Married by Victoria Jenkins

Happily Married by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 11th May 2023

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Published: 11th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My husband is keeping secrets. I’m watching his every move…

Jake and I were childhood sweethearts. Strong, dependable and with a smile that melts my heart, he is the perfect husband and father to our beautiful little daughter. We have our money troubles – but getting a lodger, Kara, calms the panic I feel about our bills. Jake is reluctant but what choice do we have?

I’m relieved that Kara is so sweet, playing endless games of hide and seek with Elsie and settling into our home. But when I catch Jake and Kara sitting close together on the sofa one evening, they jump apart when I walk into the room. Jake promises it’s nothing…

When I search Kara’s room, I know for sure. My husband is keeping a terrible secret. And it’s much, much worse than I imagined.

Confronting him will tear our marriage apart, but I’ll do anything to protect my precious daughter.

Even if it means putting on a smile as I greet Kara at the breakfast table.

Even if it means lying to my husband’s face.

Even if it means someone has to die…

For fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Housemaid, this is a psychological thriller with a mind-blowing twist you’ll never see coming.

MY THOUGHTS:

A husband with a secret...a wife dying to tell...

All the recent books of late of brides and weddings and being happily married...I'm sensing a theme here. But then, not all seem to be all that happy, do they? Even when they think they are. But when a couple's marriage is on the verge of breaking point, even the slightest push can set all sorts in motion. Which is exactly what happened here.

HAPPILY MARRIED is really anything but. It's a book that is difficult to review without inadvertently revealing something and it makes you question everything you thought you knew.

Natalie and Jake were childhood sweethearts, having been together since they were fourteen years old. Now almost two decades on, they live on Natalie's family's dairy farm trying to make a living and only just scraping by. The pandemic hit them hard, then their cattle fell ill and money they make is barely putting food on the table let alone making a decent living. Farming is a 24/7 job and sometimes Natalie has to wonder if it is all worth it. So she has the idea to let their spare room out to a lodger, to help make ends meet, but Jake is reluctant. But then...what choice do they have?

Enter Kara. A young vivacious woman who works in IT remotely since it became "a thing". But she's also attractive and Natalie isn't imagining things when she knows Jake has noticed too. And when she comes home one evening to find them sitting a little close together, sharing a bottle of wine and a few laughs, suspicion fills her soul. They jump apart a little too quickly, a look of guilt on their faces. Jake promises me it's nothing...but I'm not so sure. 

She's not imagining it. Jake has been distant with her for months. He flinches whenever she touches him. He won't look her in the eye; refuses to talk to her. What is she to think?

And then strange things start happening. Natalie faints and ends up in hospital. Their 3 year old daughter Elsie collapses from sheer tiredness that is not normal. Natalie begins to misplace things, forget things and imagine things. She has been under enormous amounts of stress of late...Is she really starting to lose her grip with reality?

This was one very cleverly plotted tale. Just when you think you know whats going on, along comes a killer twist that turns everything on its head and you're left going - "what the...? what did I just read?" It will make you stop where you are, flick back a few pages or chapters to re-read them to see if you read it correctly. Well, I sure didn't see THAT coming! But once that was made known, the rest easily fell into place for me. After that twist, Jenkins couldn't shock me again. I figured the rest of it out easily enough.

HAPPILY MARRIED is a fast paced addictive page turner that is easily devoured in one sitting, which I pretty much did. The style is simple and easy to follow, the chapters short and snappy and just the way I like them. The multiple perspectives can be confusing at times and many have stated they believe it would have been helpful it each narrative was identified, including me...but there was a reason for that. But it easily enough identified with Natalie in the third person and Jake's "bit on on the side" in the first person.

Victoria Jenkins has really found her niche in the psychological thriller genre after her successful King and Lane police procedural series. I have enjoyed many of her standalone thrillers and this one is no exception.

Overall, HAPPILY MARRIED is a compelling fast paced thriller where none of the narrators appear reliable and you can trust no one.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017 and is an Amazon UK top 30 bestseller, and top 5 bestseller in the Amazon US chart., to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.

The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.

Her first psychological thriller, The Divorce, was published in July 2019. The second, The Argument, was published December 10th 2019 and The Accusation was published June 9th 2020, followed by The Playdate, The New Family and The Bridesmaids.

Victoria lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.

 

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

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REVIEW: The Bride to Be by Daniel Hurst

The Bride to Be by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Domestic thriller

Read: 10th May 2023

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Published: 7th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What if saying yes was only the first mistake?

Kate is getting married. It’s an exciting time, but she has some doubts - her partner Mark sometimes mistreats her, and she is beginning to wonder if he is really “the one”.

Her concerns only grow when she spots a ridiculously happy couple during a wedding dress fitting. Realising that they have everything she wants, she becomes obsessed with the pair.

She decides that the groom, Tristan, is her ideal man and becomes fixated on getting closer to him. As she does, she discovers more and more about him and his seemingly perfect life with his bride-to-be, Tess.

And realises that below the surface they have their problems too.

As the wedding draws nearer, Kate has some big decisions to make. Should she leave Mark? Is Tristan the one she should really be with? And what will happen when the dark secrets that both couples are hiding come out into the open?

MY THOUGHTS:

"What if saying yes was only the first mistake?"

I am a huge fan of Daniel Hurst and know that anything of his will keep me entertained and riveted until the very last page. THE BRIDE TO BE was no different. It is, however, one book that makes you think twice about tying the knot! How can one come through such an experience and not be affected, you have to ask? And for much of the story it does make for some uncomfortable reading as the reader can feel the claustrophobia, of being trapped and the see-saw of emotions that always come from a situation such as this.

A wedding day is meant to be a happy occasion. The prospect of said wedding equally joyful. But for Kate, it is anything but. Approaching forty with all her friends now long since married and raising families of their own, Kate feared that she might be left on the shelf. That is, until she met Mark who swept her off her feet, romanced her and now here they are...planning their upcoming wedding. Kate should be excited by this prospect and yet still three weeks out from the big day she still hasn't found a wedding gown. So it's not unusual that she would find herself in a bridal shop trying on a variety of dresses that on the surface look good but when she gets them on, they don't feel right. 

Until she sees the perfect dress. Only problem is, it is one another customer is wearing for her fitting with her husband-to-be in tow. The man smiles appreciatively and appears to love the dress his fiance is wearing and Kate knows in that moment she wants that dress and she wants that man.

She may be engaged to marry Mark in just three weeks' time but, let's face it, she's not happy with him. And who would be with the way he speaks to her and treats her? It's only a matter of time before his psychological abuse becomes physical. So why wouldn't she be looking for a way out? And for some reason, she sees Tristan as her escape route, deciding that he is her ideal man and devises a plan to get closer to him. But as she does, she discovers that his seemingly perfect life is far from rosy. Unfortunately, things are not all that they seem to be on that front either.

So as their wedding draw nearer, Kate knows she has some big decisions to make. Should she leave Mark? And what about Tristan and his upcoming nuptials? How can Kate help him without making things worse for them both? And when she discovers a dark secret about the man she's to marry, how will that affect the outcome? 

THE BRIDE TO BE is a fast paced page turner typical of Hurst's standards. As stated previously, it does make for some uncomfortable reading at times...particularly when I've been in the same situation and know exactly what it feels like and to hope for that chink of light that offers some hope of something better. I could really feel myself in Kate's shoes in that respect...her stalking of Tristan? Not so much. I did find her decisions in that regard a little out there but then she was desperate. And how can she not be? Mark is controlling and abusive. He spends most of his time moody and belittling every small thing only to love bomb her afterwards to keep her second guessing herself...and to stop her from leaving him. He is clever, manipulative and dangerous. He gaslights her at every turn. Is it any wonder she's confused?

So Kate must devise a plan of escape. But can she go through with it?

An entertaining and addictive read, THE BRIDE TO BE is actually quite a terrifying tale of manipulation and duplicity that will keep everyone second guessing themselves. The tension is taut, the plot addictive with several twists that will leave you shocked and awed. While the epilogue leaves readers (and Kate) with something to consider, I can't help but feel it was superfluous and I felt I could have done without it. Having said that, someone always knows the truth. But to what end?

Enjoyable, entertaining and fast paced, THE BRIDE TO BE is everything I expect from this brilliant and witty author. It is the type of thriller that just begs to be read in one sitting...

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheBrideToBe in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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

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SPOTLIGHT: The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes

 

The Summer Holiday by S.E. Lynes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 8th May 2023

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Published: 9th May 2023

DESCRIPTION:

One loving couple. One surprise guest. One week to destroy everything…

When the doorbell rings, I take one last look round the villa. The nuts and olives are in bowls; the white wine is chilling in the fridge; everything is ready for my old college friend, the guest I’m dying to impress.

When I open the door, Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, as effortlessly beautiful as ever. But then her face freezes in horror, her mouth falling open. I turn to see my husband Jeff behind me, his eyes wide, his cheeks pale.

After a moment, they both smile, pretending nothing happened at all. But I know what I saw.

This holiday was meant to rescue my marriage, not ruin it.

But the connection between my friend and my husband isn’t what I thought.

All three of us have something to lose, and something to fight for.

And when the truth comes out, not all of us will survive…

From the no.1 bestselling author S.E. Lynes comes a brilliantly gripping thriller that will have you racing through the pages and gasping out loud at the twists. Fans of Paula Hawkins, Lisa Jewell and Gillian Flynn will love The Summer Holiday.

SPOTLIGHT:

The people closest to you know exactly what you're trying to hide.

The hostess: Kate wants this holiday to be different. It's the first time in years it's just been her and her husband. A chance to walk along the beach, eat ice cream together in the bright Spanish sun, remind each other of why they fell in love. And what better way to start than inviting their glamorous university acquaintance Coco for a drink at their clifftop villa, with it's pristine pool.

The host: Jeff doesn't know why Kate's making such a big deal about their surprise visitor. But if it makes her happy, that's fine. He wants her to be happy. He'll never tell her what he did to ensure it....

The guest: when Coco steps from the dusty street into the cool tiled hall, she has an idea what she's about to see. As Jeff comes down the stairs, he freezes in horror.

One innocent invitation could cost everything.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After graduating from Leeds University, Susie Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen to be with her husband. In Aberdeen, she worked as a Radio Producer at the BBC before moving with her husband and two young children to Rome, where she lived for five years (that sounds amazing). There, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She combines writing with teaching at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children in Teddington, Middlesex.  She is the author of critically acclaimed psychological thriller, VALENTINA, published by Blackbird books. MOTHER, her follow up, was published by Bookouture in November 2017 then THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER?, HER SISTER'S SECRET, THE HOUSEWARMING, THE BABY SHOWER, THE EX and THE SUMMER HOLIDAY.

Formerly a BBC producer, she turned to novel writing after the birth of her third child.

After her MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.

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REVIEW: The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 8th May 2023

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Published: 11th May 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.

But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.

The children and their teachers simply do not come back.

What’s happened doesn’t seem possible.

How can an entire class of children simply vanish?

MY THOUGHTS:

What happens when your worst nightmare comes true...?

After reading a couple of reviews I wasn't sure what to expect from this my fourth thriller by Jackie Kabler but I was pleasantly surprised. Whilst many of my fellow reviewers, who read much the same books as I do, and I share similar tastes and more often than not similar ratings, this time most of those differ. But then we can't all like the same books all of the time.

So...THE VANISHING OF CLASS 3B...the further I read the more I was getting "Criminal Minds" vibes from a very similar episode in which an entire busload of children had simply disappeared whilst on an outing one day, leaving the BAU to get into the mind of the perpetrator and thus discovering not only who was behind it but where the children were being kept. But without the BAU in this case, the sleepy Cotswold village of Littleford had to rely solely on the Cotswold Police (both fictitious created for the story).

The story opens from the various perspectives of selected parents as they stand outside the gates of Littleford Primary School where ten students and four of their teachers were going on an excursion to the Cotswold Wilderness Park (another fictitious place for the story) in Stratford-upon-Avon. The school had recently acquired a brand new Mercedes minibus paid for with a generous donation by one of the more wealthy parents, Reynold Lyon, TV personality and host. But this morning there seems to be an error lighting up on the minibus's dashboard indicating a possible serious issue and rather than put the childrens' lives at risk they opt for leaving the vehicle behind and managing to secure a last minute booking with a local taxi firm. So 45 minutes after their intended departure time, the minibus departs the school with the children and their teachers for the day's excursion. Given their delay, they are now not expected to return until 5.30pm at the latest.

When that time comes and goes and the children have still not returned, parents begin to worry that something may have happened. The head teacher has attempted to contact each of the four teacher but all four phones are going straight to voicemail. And as the children are all 7 and 8 year olds, none of them are permitted to have mobile phones themselves during school hours. So as it stands, the children and their teachers are unreachable. The parents elect to contact the police without delay and given the gravity of the situation - that is, ten children and four adults disappearing - the police begin investigations immediately.

After several days with no word and no clue as to their whereabouts, police and parents are mystified as to the reason for their disappearance. And then...contact is made. Each of the parents receive a text message stating :

"All of the adults and children taken from Littleford Primary School bus trip on Friday are safe and well. We will tell you what we want from your very shortly. There will be no engagement or discussion. Await further instructions.

PS. One of you has a secret. We know what it is. And if you want to keep it a secret, it's time to PAY."

So it is a kidnap and they want something from the parents. But what exactly. And one of them has a secret? Which one of them? Because from where I was sitting every one of them had a secret, none of which they wanted to share with the police...even to get their children back! Instead they were intent on destroying their marriages and each others' lives by sharing them with each other. Well the final eight of them, that is. Which is the how the group of parents narrowed themselves down, the fact that they were hiding a secret that could potentially be the reason their children had been taken. And boy, did they go to work on blowing up their lives and sending their unsuspecting spouses into meltdown. Of course none of these secrets - bar one - was worth kidnapping for. Not in my opinion anyway. Not unless there was something more to their secrets someone wasn't sharing. So I figured it was either the pretty shocking secret one of them revealed...or it was a whole different secret altogether. One we knew nothing about...yet.

The parents in this book are all unlikeable and all pretty selfish putting the secrey of their...er...secrets above the safety of their children. I mean, wouldn't a normal person disclose whatever secret they had been harbouring if it meant saving their child? OK, so one of the secrets (the pretty shocking one) was...well...shocking and even criminal, so I can kind of understand why they were reluctant to reveal that little tidbit to the police. But affairs? Nothing worth their childrens' lives, surely. In fact, those affairs weren't even very secret because I had figured them out long before they revealed them to the "final eight". Even another little kicker of a twist I suspected. So yeah, my money was on the shocking secret or something not yet known to us.

Quite honestly, I was in the dark as to who was behind the kidnapping and was as eager as the rest of them to find out who it was...and why. I did figure out the identity of The Visitor (so dubbed by Luca) simply by one simple clue I picked up on and then later on they kind of overplayed their hand and revealed themselves to the readers in a pre-emptive move. But the big secret and reason why the kids were taken? Not as big or as shocking as the one we were already privy to but to those involved I can understand why it meant what it did to them. The ending was a little different and wrapped things up nicely...albeit with a nice little final twist to round off this addictive read. And one I definitely didn't see coming...though did wonder in passing at one point. But in the end, it was the perfect conclusion.

Overall, THE VANISHING OF CLASS 3B had a bit of a Midsomer Murders feel to it, given its setting in the Cotswolds, with a hint of "Criminal Minds". It definitely was something different and made for thrilling and addictive reading. Plenty of secrets and as many twists to accompany them.

I would like to thank #JackieKabler, #Netgalley, #OneMoreChapter and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheVanishingOfClass3B in exchange for an honest review.

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and crime writer.

A former news reporter, she spent more than nine years with GMTV as a roving correspondent and newsreader, covering some of the biggest stories of the decade including President Clinton’s impeachment trial, the Asian tsunami, the Kosovo crisis, famine in Ethiopia, the Athens Olympics, the Soham murders and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Jackie left GMTV to work as a freelance broadcaster in 2008. She became a regular presenter of the ITV national morning news and a reporter across ITN’s news programmes including News at Ten; a reporter and presenter on the BBC’s Midlands Today programme; presenter of property show Selfbuilder TV on Sky’s Information TV channel; and guested as a TV gardening expert. Her work also appeared on the BBC’s News Channel and on CNN.

She also worked as a media trainer and in media simulation – in particular with the armed forces – and produced, wrote and presented corporate and promotional films.

In January 2013 Jackie joined the UK’s biggest shopping channel, QVC, as a presenter.

A former newspaper reporter, she has also worked as a reporter and presenter for Channel TV, ITV West, Central TV, Five News and Setanta Sports News.

Jackie is also an internationally bestselling crime writer, author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of humorous murder mysteries set in a television room, and of psychological thrillers Am I Guilty? and The Perfect Couple. The Happy Family is her sixth book. 

Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Other Couple by Diane Jeffrey

The Other Couple by Diane Jeffrey

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 6th May 2023

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Published: 14th June 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Two couples. A fatal accident. And a decision that changes everything…

Kirsten and Nick are enjoying a weekend away until, on their drive home, they accidentally run over and kill a man. They should call for help – but they have too much to lose, and no one can know the real reason they’re here. Instead, they make a split-second decision to conceal the accident.

Amy and Greg have just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Amy is expecting a baby, and they couldn’t be happier. So when Greg fails to come home from a dog walk one weekend, Amy knows the police are wrong to believe he left of his own accord. Someone must be behind Greg’s disappearance, and Amy won’t give up until she gets justice – or revenge.

If you had nothing left to lose, how far would you go to find the truth?

MY THOUGHTS:

They ruined your life...it's time to get revenge...

Just wow! This has got to be the best Diane Jeffrey book I have read to date! Oh my gosh...the adrenaline was pumping from start to finish. You just know who the villain is so how will it all end? Even I had no clue as to its direction until just before the final twist. And what a splendid twist it was. They say that revenge is a dish best served cold but Diane Jeffrey has dished this one up piping hot!! Where to begin?

THE OTHER COUPLE is about two couples - Nick and Kirsten...and Amy and Greg. And to make this thriller even more twisted, Nick is married to Edie and Kirsten is married to Jamie. They met five years previously when Kirsten, a high end real estate agent, sold Nick and his wife their stunning house. And a celebratory dinner ended up being a five year long affair. Never mind that Kirsten had a hubby and 8 year old daughter Lily at home. No. These two are the most selfish narcissistic self obsessed people that they cannot (and will not) see beyond their own selfish needs and desires...and to hell with everyone else. Not least their spouses...but also Amy and Greg Wood.

Nick and Kirsten have just enjoyed a dirty weekend at a flat they've rented on the North Devon coast. Far away from their busy lives in London...and anyone who would know them. But as their weekend comes to an end and they must return to London, they round a bend in the pouring rain and hit someone walking their dog...who turns out to be the owner of the very flat they have just rented this past weekend - Greg Wood. Panic sets in and the couple decide they have far too much to lose and bundle the body into the car along with the dog. They return to London where Nick "takes care of things" and Kirsten goes back to her life with a dog now in tow.

Back in Devon, Amy Wood has a roast lamb ready for carving and awaiting Greg to return from walking Rusty, their dog. When an hour turns into two, three and four, she begins to realise something has happened. She calls his parents and friends and no one has seen him. When she finally does call the police, they begin to work on the assumption that Greg has left of his own volition. But Amy knows that not to be true. They just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary the day before and were on the cusp of an exciting new chapter of their lives. Greg was excited. He did not leave her and take Rusty with him without a word.

But what happened to Greg? And if something did happen to him, then where is Rusty?

Told from the alternating perspectives of Amy and Kirsten, THE OTHER COUPLE begins as something of a domestic thriller but turns into something far twistier. 

Kirsten is wealthy with a stunning home in an affluent neighbourhood, a loving husband and an 8 year old daughter - she has it all...and still she isn't satisfied. She wants more. She wants Nick. And he is nothing but an abusive controlling narcissistic sociopath. He controls her by ghosting her for days and weeks on end and then love bombing her when they reunite. I honestly don't know what she saw in him. Frankly they deserved each other. 

Amy, on the hand, had all my sympathy. She had a loving husband that was taken away from her in an instant, lost her dreams and even her dog! This other couple took everything from her. My heart ached for her with the not knowing what happened to Greg. When the police fail to provide any results, Amy decides to do some digging of her own...and to find out the truth one way or another.

WOW! Despite knowing who was who and who did what, the tension in this book was so tight I thought I would snap from the sheer intensity of it all. I loved the letters peppered throughout the book that were tacked onto the end of selected chapters. They aren't signed and there is enough information for readers to glean that someone's in prison...but why? And how? And most of all, who? None of which become clear until just before the final reveal when everything begins to fall into perfect place. And oh what symmetry! That twist was just so delicious I just have to relish it, it's so perfect. I loved it!

Overall, THE OTHER COUPLE is an edge of your seat thriller that is addictive and compelling, despite knowing all the players and their roles, you still want to see how it all ends. It really is so good...too good to put down and I hated the times I had to because I just wanted to keep reading it! I loved it. A well deserved 5 stars!

I would like to thank #DianeJeffrey, #Netgalley and #HQStories for an ARC of #TheOtherCouple in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Diane Jeffrey was born in 1973 and grew up in the UK: in North Devon and Northern Ireland. She spent a lot of my childhood in the water: either in the swimming pool or the Atlantic Ocean,swimming competitively and also surf life saving for several years. Diane was actually the first female lifeguard to work on the beaches in the UK. 

After obtaining a BA joint honours degree in French and German from the University of Nottingham, Diane then decided to become a teacher. Though she felt she wasn't fluent enough in French or German to teach either subject, she moved to France, where she became an English teacher. 

Diane always wanted to be an author and started writing poems and short stories at about five years of age. After lots of rejection letters and emails over the years from agents and editors, her debut novel was published when she was 43.

Diane has written five psychological thrillers, all published by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins, and all bestselling ebooks: Those Who Lie (2017), He Will Find You (2018), The Guilty Mother (2019), a USA Today bestseller,  The Silent Friend (2020), A Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA, and The Couple at Causeway Cottage (2022). She is currently working on my sixth novel.

When she's not teaching or writing, she runs (a little) and swim (a lot). She devours chocolate, books and beer. She also love holidays and travelling. Above all, Diane enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

Diane now lives in Lyon with her husband and three children, black Labrador and cat.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: Secrets at Meadow Lake by Wendy Owens

Secrets at Meadow Lake by Wendy Owens

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 5th May 2023

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Amazon

Published: 27th April 2023

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A group of college friends got away with an unthinkable crime, or so they thought.

Ten years after that fateful night, Riley and her friends all receive a mysterious invitation to spend the weekend at a cabin on Meadow Lake. It's obvious to all that it isn't a coincidence the gathering falls on the anniversary of the evening that changed their lives forever.

Once everyone arrives, tensions run high in the midst of a snowstorm as everyone tries to figure out who brought them together and to what end.

As the snow continues to fall, the body count begins to rise. The survivors must confront their dark pasts and the secret that brought them back together if they have any chance of surviving.

Will they make it out alive, or does whoever knows their secret have other plans for them?

MY THOUGHTS:

Another thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" hot off the tail of my previous read "The Wilderness Retreat" which was vaguely similar. As opposed to a bunch of strangers holed up in the wilderness, this one sees a group of friends mysteriously summoned to an isolated cabin. Cue Ms Christie.

Riley and her friends all receive a mysterious invitation to a weekend at a remote cabin on Meadow Lake. It is obvious that this is no coincidence as it also marks the tenth anniversary of the night that changed all their lives forever. Ten years ago, they got away with a crime. Or so they thought. Because now, someone knows what they did and are hell bent on the truth coming to the surface once and for all. Tensions run high as a snowstorm cuts them off and they each try to figure out who who summoned them here and what is their end game?

And then one by one, each of them begin to meet an horrific end.

But before the weekend is out, who will be left standing? And who will confront the dark past and the secret they thought would stay buried forever? Will any of them make it out alive?

This was a fairly quick read that I was surprised about but it was a fun an entertaining thriller that really gives you that sense of isolation and claustrophobia.

I would like to thank #WendyOwens, #Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of #SecretsAtMeadowLake in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Wendy Owens is a thriller writer, born in the small college town, Oxford Ohio. After attending Miami University, Wendy went onto a career in the visual arts. After several years of creating and selling her own artwork she gave her first love, writing, a try. It’s become a passion ever since.

When she’s not writing, this dog lover can be found spending time with her tech geek husband, their three amazing kids, and three pups. She loves to cook, watch movies, and play games.

Social media links:

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REVIEW: The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore

The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 4th May 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 23rd February 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I release myself from the shackles of the outside world and embrace the wilderness within.

As Bella drops her son off at university, she’s devastated. It’s been the two of them ever since Asher was born. The only thing helping her through is the upcoming week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden. It’ll be her chance to reconnect and recharge.

At the retreat, Bella basks in the beauty of the modern lodge, with its luxury rooms and picture-perfect views, the glistening lake and lush forest. For the full detox effect, everyone must surrender their phones.

The holiday seems idyllic until the person who ruined Bella’s life years ago arrives, threatening everything she’s worked hard for and will do anything to protect. Suddenly, a terrified Bella is trapped in the wild, knowing someone wants her dead…

MY THOUGHTS:

The premise for this book had me intrigued. Single mum escapes to the Swedish wilderness for some much needed "R and R". The setting was atmospheric and the tone was the definitive of creepy. It was a little reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" as everyone finds themselves secluded in this retreat, surrendering their phones and having to succumb to a full digital detox. Sounds legit...but I'd still like to keep a hold of my phone. You never know when you might actually need it!

We meet Bella who is bidding a tearful farewell to her son Asher as he embarks on a new journey of university life. Bella is a composer of film scores and recently made something of a name for herself for a very creepy thriller. This retreat is a birthday gift from her sister Rachel as a way of relaxing and recharging after always putting herself last whilst raising her son alone. As she waves Asher goodbye, her next stop is the airport where she will catch her flight to Sweden and begin her wilderness retreat.

However, the getaway in this idyllic setting soon proves not to be the refreshing break she had hope it would be, despite the luxury rooms and stunning views and surrounds. Then a storm cuts them all off from the outside world and suddenly all hell breaks loose.

I don't want to give too much away so all I shall say is that when secrets from the past that refused to stay buried start to be revealed, questions begin to surface about an incident from nineteen years previous. 

There are sick guests, mysterious characters, sinister references, creepy nuances...a reminder to never go on one of these wilderness retreats myself! Have none of these people read a psychological thriller before? Seen a scary movie? Enough to not put yourself in such a situation.

At any rate, the pace was fairly slow throughout and Bella was damn annoying. So much I felt was repetitive that it took away from the impact of the tale which had the promise of being such an atmospheric one at that. In the end, the story was kind of drawn out and with so many different characters it did get a little tricky keeping track of who was who.

Overall, an OK thriller but nothing memorable.

I would like to thank #JenniferMoore, #Netgalley and #HQStories for an ARC of #TheWildernessRetreat in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Moore is a novelist, freelance writer and children's author (writing as Jenny Moore) from Devon. Her short fiction has been widely published on both sides of the Atlantic and she was the first ever UK writer to win the Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

Social media links:

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