REVIEW: A Killer Came Knocking by S.B. Caves (ARC)

A Killer Came Knocking by S.B. Caves

Genre: Thriller

Read: 12th August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 8th August 2019)

★★ 2 stars

The first book I have read by this author, A KILLER CAME KNOCKING was nothing like I expected. I'm still trying to decide whether I liked it or not. On the one hand it was intriguing while on the other it was crazy! Some reviewers have indicated an element of comedy to the story, but I'm struggling to find anything amusing about it.

When I read that Jack Bracket had witnessed the murder of his wife on their doorstep some 12 years prior, I thought this was going to an intriguing search for the truth. What it actually turned out to be is a quest for revenge on so many psychotic levels. I can't even begin to go there.

When his wife Kate was stabbed in the neck when she went to answer the door, believing it to be their food delivery order, Jack was distraught. He never got over the senseless murder of his wife by what he believed to be a young teenager with the most piercing green eyes he has ever seen and a lust for blood. So when he is shopping in his local supermarket one day and he sees those same green eyes, his world stops. He has found him at last.

What ensues is a cat and mouse chase of sorts as Jack endeavours to find out who this man is - his name, where he lives and, most of all, why he killed his wife. He enlists the help of Kate's twin sister Emily, dragging her into his woeful search for justice. They hatch a plan, convinced that nothing could go wrong, to kidnap the man and convince him to tell them the truth...whatever that may be.

But it doesn't all go according to plan. They were seen, and now they have people looking for them as well. And not the good kind.

Then there is Jack's current girlfriend, May. She is something else. The woman is crazy, psychotic and completely unhinged. Her tantrums were next level. I started to wish something would happen to her. So when Jack calls off their relationship, she hatches a plan of her own. One that Jack cannot refuse...if he knows what's good for him. The way she can go from a loving and affectionate woman to a screaming psychotic beast within seconds is mind-blowing. By the end of the book, I had decided they truly deserved each other.

Jack finds himself with a conundrum on his hands. What to do with May? And what to do with the man who killed his wife? Emily proves to be of no help. She seesaws between helping him and abandoning him.

As events spiral out of control, more people are drawn into this dangerous situation. And Jack finds once he has started the ball rolling, nothing can stop it.

There was a lot going on at one point or another that in the end I felt some elements did not have closure. I'm not sure if this is where the author intends to leave it or whether he means to pursue it in a future release, but for me, it felt unfinished for some characters. It was certainly not what I expected.

A KILLER CAME KNOCKING is a dark read with an element of violence throughout. In my view, it's not overtly graphic but others may be of another opinion.

I would like to thank #SBCaves, #NetGalley and #Canello for an ARC of #AKillerCameKnocking in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Asylum by Jack Adams (ARC)

Asylum (Delaney and Murphy #1) by Jack Adams

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 2nd August 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 2nd August 2019)

★★★★★ 5 stars

A fantastic new voice in Australian mystery fiction, ASYLUM is the brilliant debut by Jack Adams!

Three things grabbed me about this book - one, the awesome cover and dark title; two, the thrilling rundown of its description; and three, it is Australian! Hailing from down under myself, finding authors from my part of the world with the ability to captivate and thrill readers with the ease of such seasoned writers as Mark Edwards and Val McDermid, is like striking gold. They truly are few and far between...or they simply disappear after a few books, never to be seen again. It is my fervent hope that Jack Adams remains firmly entrenched on the market for years to come.

The story begins with a haunting Prologue consisting of just five lines :

"Something happened here.
Behind these walls, in these rooms, on the grounds, at the river.
The inmate sketched it all - fine lines.
See there, in the negative space, the truth in the pencil strokes.
Then he was gone."

With these words, you just know you are in for one hell of an enthralling mystery. And I couldn't turn the pages or devour each chapter quick enough. It sounds almost spooky, and in a way, I guess it kind of is. But it's not a ghost story. It is about two boys and the friend they made through the boundary fence of an asylum. Then one day, he was gone.

Nate and Adam grew up together on the outskirts of Brisbane, although both were from very different backgrounds. Nate was from an anonymous working class family whereas Adam lived in the more affluent area, the son of a model once linked to a former Prime Minister and who drew the attention of the media at every turn. But as 10 year olds boys, they were best friends who loved exploring, imagining stories and enjoying the simplicity of their lives.

It was on one such exploration that they noticed a lone figure in white who always sat by the boundary fence within the confines of the River Park Lunatic Asylum. They watched him from their vantage point in a nearby tree as the man sketched relentlessly, and they imagined stories surrounding the man and other inmates of the asylum. It wasn't long before the boys struck up a conversation with the man, with incessant questions that the man happily answered in his own way. And soon, Nate and Adam found themselves looking for Joe each time they frequented the asylum boundary as the three of them became unlikely friends.

Nate and Adam spent as much time as they could there, as Joe regaled them with stories and insights - some of which befuddled them - and often sketched them. But he never told them why he was there. Still, Joe intrigued them.

Wondering what had led Joe to end up at River Park, regardless of whatever stories surrounded the asylum, Nate and Adam knew their friend wasn't insane. So why was he there?

But then one day, when they came to the boundary fence, Joe wasn't there. Each day they kept returning and looked for him but Joe was never there. He had gone.

Twenty years later, former police detective Nate Delaney was separated with a young daughter and was now setting up his own private investigation service. Adam Murphy was divorced and now a successful psychologist. Still best friends, the two men had just opened an office for their respective businesses with Jessica as their joint receptionist, whom Nate appropriated from his time in the police force.

Then one day, they receive a letter from a solicitor naming their childhood friend who had bequeathed them what Joe affectionately referred to as "expectations". The endowment was, in its essence, very Joe, as the men recall that he had once regaled them with the story of Pip from the Charles Dickens novel. Nate and Adam are speechless. They had not thought of Joe in long time. When had they stopped thinking about him, they wonder?

At the request of his wife, Joe has now been declared legally dead despite no body having ever been found and no sign of Joe since Nate and Adam last saw him 20 years ago. But the solicitor has a request of his own...and enlists Nate's professional services to find out what happened to Joe all those years ago - whether he escaped, or whether he was alive or dead. What ensues is an investigation that starts a chain of events discovering a mound of secrets that neither men knew existed as they both find themselves reminiscing about their childhoods...and their memories of their friend, Joe.

As their investigation deepened, the horrific atrocities uncovered were appalling. But someone doesn't want those shocking secrets revealed and will stop at nothing to keep them hidden.

But the secrets that the hollow walls of the abandoned asylum still held had been captured by Joe and a treasure map given to the then boys were to lead them to his sketches. If only they hadn't lost the map to a cycle in the washing machine all those years ago. Joe had trusted them with what they had seen as just a game and they owed it to him now to decipher the code he left them from memory and find out once and for all what really happened to their friend.

ASYLUM is a journey between these two men that we follow from childhood to adulthood and their search for the truth. It's like nothing else I've read and yet it is intriguing, compelling and completely gripping.

The characterisation of Nate and Adam was incredibly well-developed as they are not stereotypical in the way men are usually portrayed in fiction today. They are flawed and they know it. They are divorced - or in Nate's case, almost divorced - and yet they don't seek the next woman to warm their beds. Their relationships with their mothers are different and yet it doesn't define them. They are simply grown versions of the boys they were 20 years before when they befriended Joe. I enjoyed the quips between the two men, as well as those shared with Jess and Dan. They were fun and likable and I enjoyed being around them.

After the prologue, ASYLUM begins with the opening chapters weaving between "Then" and "Now". I love a good dual timeline narrative and the balance between each is perfectly executed as the story is fleshed out with impeccable timing at just the right juncture.

Aside from the ensuing mystery recounted in past and present and in Joe's diary, ASYLUM gives an insight into the difference in attitudes towards mental health and how they have changed. The appalling practices that would not be allowed today but were rife in days gone by and how patients were treated more like prisoners than people. Even to the extent where they are referred to as "inmates", a term usually reserved for those in prison rather than a hospital (of sorts).

When I requested this title, I wasn't aware that it was a series. Thankfully, it is just the beginning and after reading it I am now looking forward to more featuring this dynamic duo. We are given a taster of the second in the series STALKER in the notes at the end and I eagerly await this next installment of Delaney and Murphy.

An interesting and intriguing read, I thoroughly recommend ASYLUM - for its gripping story and the refreshing difference in setting, being in Australia - as Jack Adams skillfully weaves a tale of suspense and unravels it with the ease of more seasoned writers of our time.

I would like to thank #JackAdams, #NetGalley and #AtlasProduction for an ARC of #Asylum in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Daughter-in-Law by Nina Manning (ARC)

The Daughter In Law by Nina Manning

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 31st July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 1st August 2019)

★★★★★ 5 stars

Wow! This is such a fantastic psychological thriller that it is hard to believe it is the author's debut. THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW had me glued to each page and devouring every word that I could not put down until I finished! So full of twists it will leave your mind reeling and your head spinning!

When I first read the premise for the book, I thought it would be something like Kim Slater's "Liar". I was wrong. This was so much more and then-some!

The story begins with Annie who lives in an isolated seaside cottage she inherited from her drunken father many years ago. As a single mother, she thought it was the perfect place to raise her son Ben and always kept him close, loving their life together. It had always been just the two of them - Annie and Ben. They needed no one else.

Until Ben met Daisy.

After a whirlwind affair and discovering she was pregnant, Ben and Daisy married in a quiet ceremony within months of meeting. He adores her and she is utterly in love with him and together they complete each other. They share a flat with Daisy's best friend Eve and are incredibly happy. Life is good within their little bubble...what could possibly go wrong?
Enter Annie, stage door left.

As it had always been just the two of them, Annie seemingly struggles with the concept of Ben finding love beyond his mother. She doesn't believe they need anyone else but each other. The fact that they married in secret without telling anyone - especially Annie - doesn't help nor thrill her one bit. So when Ben brings Daisy to his childhood home to meet his mother, it is not a warm or welcome meeting.

It begins with just little things that Daisy thinks she imagines them. The dismissive look. The accusatory glance. The smile that doesn't reach the eyes. Her hand pressed against the scalding hot teapot. The refusal to acknowledge her pregnancy. And the constant chill in the air of what should be a cosy home. Daisy doesn't know what it is but it's clear that Annie doesn't welcome her. Her appearance is an obvious intrusion into what Annie perceives as her's and Ben's lives. The image she had envisioned of a warm and fluffy woman from the photo Ben had shown her of his mother was merely just wishful thinking. Annie does not want her here.

Ben is caught in the middle of his mother and his wife. A musician whose work comes in fits and spurts, Annie makes it abundantly clear that they would struggle to rely on Ben's income. Daisy is confused - is she proud of her son or not?

Then Ben gets offered a huge gig in Scotland to record an album with a band - but it means leaving Daisy for several months. He is excited at the prospect and Daisy encourages him to take it as it would mean experience for him and money for them and the baby. While he doesn't need to leave until after Christmas, he hopes to be back before the baby is born.

When the flat they share with Eve erupts in a gas explosion, killing her best friend and destroying all their belongings, Ben and Daisy have no choice but to move in with Annie. But grieving the loss of Eve, Daisy is uncomfortable in Annie's house, as Annie obviously doesn't welcome her presence. Still she tries to make the best of it for Ben's sake and soon wonders if this could be a good opportunity for the women to bond.

But Annie has other ideas. She recognises Daisy's face from somewhere and has racked her brain from the moment she met her. Until it came to her. Searching the internet for information, she finds what she needs and prints it out to confront Ben with the truth about his wife.

Ben then confronts Daisy. They have words and Ben storms out the house and disappears to Scotland for this big job he had lined up. Daisy regrets their row and messages Ben constantly her apologies but receives no response. And as the days roll into weeks and months with still no word from Ben, Daisy must resign herself that he may not return.

Tortured with grief at the loss of her best friend Eve and now with the absence of her husband, Daisy spirals into a deep depression and finds that Annie is all she has now and that she must rely on her mother-in-law to care for her. Still she questions why Ben doesn't respond and after weeks of silence from him Daisy finds herself complying with Annie, believing that she probably knows best. But does she really?

From the beginning we know that something about Annie is off. Although the bond between a mother and child is strong, Annie's obsession with Ben and their "secret party of two" is not normal. Does she truly want what's best for her grandchild? Or are her motives more sinister? But then is Daisy all that she appears to be? What is her terrible secret that she feels she is unworthy of motherhood? What does Annie know about her that drove Ben away in anger? And why is Ben different? Why does he have memories that don't correlate with the upbringing he's had? And why does Annie insist that he loves his mum while Ben appears indifferent, reluctant to talk about her? So many questions as we turn the pages at a brisk pace in search of the answers.

Annie and Daisy tell their stories in alternate chapters in the first person, bringing a personal perspective to the plot. Their thoughts draw us into the abyss of their confused minds with their equally complicated narratives. And then there is Grace, who shares her own remarkable story. Who is she? And where does she fit in?

With each chapter the story unfolds delivering new revelations so shocking that make THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW a compelling and intriguing read you cannot put down. The characters are complex, emotionally damaged in their own ways, but entirely believable. It is easy to feel empathy for Daisy in her predicament from which she cannot escape. She is grieving and she is  missing her husband, added to that her hormones are playing havoc with her emotions making her easy prey for the mother-in-law from hell.

But almost from the start we know Annie is someone we just love to hate. She is a master manipulator determined to get her own way, with an overpowering dominance and a warped idea of love. The way she totally justifies her actions in her narrative just made me devour her chapters even quicker. The woman is a sociopath. She cannot feel love, only a misplaced sense of love, nor is she remorseful for anything she does or has done.

But mark my words, be prepared for Annie to get under your skin and stay there long after you have finished the book. She told us herself - "When I feel unhinged, who knows what I'm capable of?!"

THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW is twisted with a capital T. Clever, but oh so twisted! The psychological rollercoaster ride we are taken on is fast-paced and thrilling as the story progresses, keeping us guessing who is hiding the biggest secret?

With a Hitchcockian tension that is palpable from the start, THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW is filled with suspense so compelling that part of you will want to savour the sheer brilliance of such a twisted tale while the other wants to race to the finish just to escape Annie, who will both terrify you and infuriate you.

As the penultimate climax builds so does the tension unfolding to a dramatic conclusion that will keep readers glued to the very last page. My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed which could be due to the building tension throughout the entire book. Still, I had hoped for more karma at the end.

While there was plenty of confusion throughout, I did piece some of the puzzle together quite early but that never deters from my enjoyment of a good story. I had my suspicions and at other times I was completely baffled. A brilliant thriller, THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW - which should really be called THE MOTHER-IN-LAW - was creepy, sinister and completely twisted. The more disturbed, the more delicious!

I cannot believe this is Nina Manning's debut. She excels in this genre so brilliantly and is an author to watch out for. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Highly, highly recommended, deserving of more than the 5 stars I can only give.

I would like to thank #NinaManning, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheDaugherInLaw in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne (ARC)

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Psychological thriller, domestic thriller

Read: 28th July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 30th July 2019)

★★★ 3.5 stars

Oh boy! This book did my head in!
No, correction...Jason and Karla did my head in!

But Sheryl Browne was on top form in this twisty, twisted domestic thriller that was even more dysfunctional than the last book I read. Where do I even begin to start?

Jason and Karla were a loving couple who have been happily married for twelve years, with two children, Holly and Josh. An aspiring actress when they met, Karla and Jason married soon after she fell pregnant. Now, Jason had his own eCommerce business that was rapidly failing unless he could find an investor to inject some huge funds to save it from ruin. And this is where it began its downward spiral. Karla's father is a self-made wealthy businessman (with more money than sense) and on top of that, is incredibly obnoxious.

Karla had been practically nagging Jason at every opportunity to ask her wealthy father for a loan, but he had refused every time. He couldn't stand the man and didn't relish being indebted to him for the rest of his life. After all, he'd already bought the house they were living in. But it got to the point that Jason could see no other way...and he relented.

The whole convoluted mess then began when her father, in turn, revealed a secret so vile enough to churn any stomach at the mere possibility. It is so dark and so shocking, it never even entered my mind. Jason was left reeling at the revelation, repulsed that her father would stoop so low...but with no choice but to do as Robert wanted. Leave Karla.

But Jason cannot reveal the truth to his wife, knowing that it would surely destroy her. So he says nothing...except to tell her it was over. Remaining in the marital home, he slept in the spare bed and kept things together for the children, while Karla systematically lost the plot.

Then one night by pure chance, Jason struck up a conversation online with Jessie, a nurse in Ireland...and they soon became friends. Jason found himself confiding in Jessie about the situation with Karla without revealing the terrible secret his father-in-law had imparted on him. Their conversations soon morphed into phone conversations, as they exchanged mobile numbers. I thought Jason was treading on dangerous ground here. But little did I know where it would lead...and the twist that it would deliver.

Added to what was already a convoluted mess, Karla continued to battle with the memory of her twin sister's death, wreaking havoc on her sanity. She hated her father, aware that he was at the centre of her pain and that his lecherous womanising contributed to her self-destruction. Now Jason had withdrawn from her and prompted by seeds of doubt planted by her father, Karla discovered her loving husband had been "playing away". So she, in her own twisted form of retaliation, set out to destroy herself in a way I simply failed to understand, given that she had been - up till that point - a loving and devoted mother. I could not understand Karla's unraveling - why she began destroying herself and what she thought it would achieve.

The tale just keeps on unraveling as Karla continues to spiral into a black hole and Jason still keeps quiet. Her mother, Diana, knew the truth but failed to say anything. The family is so dysfunctional with so many secrets and lies I'm surprised they haven't imploded before now. No one in this whole sorry tale, except the children, was particularly likable. Everyone was hell bent on destroying themselves and each other that they never gave a single thought to the children. Although Jason was the only one who did his best to keep it together for Holly and Josh, who clearly didn't understand what was going on with their parents, particularly their mother.

I really didn't see where else this story could possibly go given the destruction everyone was meting out on one another. I already had a suspicion regarding Karla and her father, which proved to be correct, and funnily enough cancelled out the awful secret that kept Jason and Karla apart in the first place! But none of this would amount to anything since no one was talking to each other, except to hurl insults and accusations. It wasn't until Karla had the truth thrust in her face by way of the paper that she decided to confront her parents. Oh, what a tangled web these people weaved...

THE MARRIAGE TRAP is a powerful and emotive read but a very destructive tale of secrets filled with such pain and anguish that I just wanted to knock their heads together. You will find yourself going through a range of emotions just reading it! Part of me wanted to keep reading and the other part wanted to hurry and get it over with because these people were doing my head in!

I will add that THE MARRIAGE TRAP was a slow burn to begin with, as it needed to be to build up to the point where Jason and Karla ultimately found themselves...but hang in there for the fireworks because what a show!

A dark and disturbing plot that is so twisted, THE MARRIAGE TRAP is not for everybody. But don't let that deter you from the author's other brilliant works. In this book, Sheryl Browne pushed the boundaries and tested the limits at writing something so different and much bolder than ever before. It was so dark that its twists were even more delicious.

Again, not a book for everybody. But should you dare to take a chance, check it out. I do recommend it for fans who like the darker and more twisted side of psychological domestic thrillers.

I give it 3.5 stars mainly because the characters all did my head in! lol

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

REVIEW: The Silent Ones by K.L. Slater (ARC)

The Silent Ones by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, domestic thriller

Read: 24th July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release date: 24th July 2019)

★★★★★ 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Kim Slater and I love her books, though I have yet to read them all. I had eagerly been awaiting it to land NetGalley and as soon as I did I requested it. The premise sounded interesting and I couldn't wait to dive into it. I've read "Blink", "Liar" and "Finding Grace" previously but this one was different. And I was not disappointed. For those who may remember, it had a hint of the Jamie Bulger murder case which occurred in the UK in the 90s. But in true Kim Slater fashion, it was so much more than that.

Two sisters - Juliet and Chloe - run their own kids clothing business and have a daughter each, Maddy and Brianna, both aged 10. The girls are best friends, having practically grown up together, as the family is a close-knit one. But as we delve further in, we discover that this family is not like other families. They are incredibly dysfunctional, taking the concept to a whole new level.

The story begins with Maddy and Brianna making their way to elderly Bessie Wilford's place, after stealthily leaving the safety of their grandparents' place, and letting themselves in through the back door. When they arrive Bessie is sound asleep in her chair and so the girls decide to have "some fun with Bessie". One of them leans forward with her lips close to Bessie's ear and yells "WAKE UP BESSIE!!" after which Bessie is jolted awake and falls backwards from her chair. At this stage, it isn't revealed which girl is which.

As the girls leave Bessie's house, they are picked up by authorities and taken to the police station. We, as readers, are left wondering what really took place and why the girls refuse to utter a single word.

Juliet and Chloe are in the midst of accounts and orders at the warehouse they have rented for their business when the police arrive. They are told simply that their girls are at the police station and they need to come. The sisters are worried something has happened to their girls and fire off questions to the officers who accompany them. But they are assured their girls are fine. So why are they at the police station?

When they are ushered into an interview room, Detective Inspector Conor Neary - SIO on the case - informs them that the girls have been arrested for the vicious assault of elderly victim Bessie Wilford. Juliet and Chloe cannot believe this of their girls. They are sweet, kind and gentle...and are only 10 years old!

But there is one major problem. Both Maddy and Brianna refuse to utter a single word. Even to each other.

Then they receive word that Bessie has died of her injuries and it is now a murder inquiry.

The girls' grandparents arrive, along with Juliet's husband Tom. All are at a loss as to the magnitude of the situation that the girls have found themselves in. If only they would talk... So it becomes Juliet and Chloe's job to try and encourage Maddy and Brianna to speak.

What ensues is a frantic 36 hours from start to finish as the truth of what really happened at Bessie's place eludes the police. Tensions rise, secrets unravel and the truth behind the seemingly loving family comes to light. There are sooo many secrets, deceptions and lies to be uncovered it will make your head reel.

The characters are all those you love to hate. Juliet is probably the exception - although she had her issues as well, as she tried to run from a past she could not escape. I found her sister Chloe to be entitled and bitchy. Their mother, Joan, is positively awful who takes to her bed with migraines whenever the mood took her, and didn't seem to care one iota for Juliet but doted on Chloe. That would probably explain Chloe's air of entitlement. Their father seemed to be ruled by their mother's moods and her every whim. And the girls? Maddy and Brianna? I found them to be horrible precocious entitled little brats. I did feel a little sorry for them in parts but their actions toward Bessie, just as a laugh, was cruel. But then having come from such a dysfunctional family, what hope was there for them?

Despite the unlikable characters, THE SILENT ONES was a compelling, intriguing and untputdownable thriller that I devoured. The twists and turns throughout which led to false conclusions were both tense and breathtaking. I had an inkling that fluttered at the edge of my brain as the story unraveled which, though I suspected, still shocked me upon revelation. The "how" was devious but the "why" was shocking!

A cleverly crafted psychological thriller, THE SILENT ONES analyses friendship, betrayal, family, deception, secrets and lies all wrapped up in a fast paced tale of enthralling domestic suspense.

I love every minute of THE SILENT ONES. Every page, every secret, every reveal.

I highly recommend you check this book out. I think you will love it as much as I did. In fact, I'd be surprised if you didn't.

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

REVIEW: The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix (ARC)

The Secret Letter by Debbie Rix

Genre: Historical fiction

Read: 22nd July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon
(release date: 2nd July 2019)

✡ ✡ ✡ ✡ ✡  5 stars

Inspired by the true story of the author's own parents, THE SECRET LETTER is a beautiful tale about bravery, kindness and hope in a time of war and devastation from the perspective of two very different - and yet somewhat comparable - girls. This touching tale is also incredibly heart wrenching, highlighting the horrors of World War 2 from both sides in a unique way. Imogen and Magda, both extremely affected by the war, may be separated by hundreds of miles but they are united by similar convictions...though it was hardly likely they would ever meet. Their stories intertwine as they come of age and grow into strong young women who each play their own important part in the war...and beyond.

It's 1939 and we begin with 15 year old Imogen growing up in Newcastle in the north east of England. As an only child of somewhat affluent parents, she is not spoilt but rather wise, even if a little mischievous. When war breaks out, her school is evacuated to the Lakes District and the girls billeted to various families in the Keswick area. She passes her time writing letters home to her parents and rambling up gorgeous mountains like Skiddaw with her best friend Joy and fellow evacuee Helen, whilst harbouring a secret love for neighbour Freddie who was away at university before joining the RAF.

Even at 15, Imogen displays a strength of character in her stubbornness and determination. Her letters home are filled with a contrariness as she describes her thoughts on the war and then asking for money for new shoes in the next line. It was quite amusing but also a reflection of the times from the perspective of a young girl still coming to terms with her own journey through adolescence. She meets young Dougie who amuses her as they spend a lot of time together, growing closer, and yet while she is drawn to him she still finds herself carrying a torch for Freddie back home.

The girls go back home to Newcastle during the holidays which begs the question - why is it safe to return home for the holidays but not during the school term? Imogen said it best when she stated "I think the idea was for our schooling not to be disturbed. If we die in the holidays that’s not so important." I thought that an amusing line. A little bit of humour amidst a troubling time, one needs to keep their sense of humour.

Imogen completes her schooling in the Lakes and returns home to Newcastle a couple of years later to attend university where she wanted to study engineering but her gender deems her unable. So she turns to architecture and completes her first year before she is required to join the national service upon turning 19. She joins the Wrens, along with best friend Joy, and she serves as a plotter whilst Joy is a typist having been to secretarial school. Her time as a plotter leads her to London, then later Portsmouth and even Paris where she thrives as a Wren, serving under some important military powers of the time. She comes into fleeting contact with Prime Minister Churchill, King George VI and General Eisenhower as the war begins to culminate. During this time, she is fortunate to have Joy alongside her as they both find love and heartbreak in equal measure  before the war is over.

It is during this time she meets American Ben who falls in love with her and asks her to marry him. Imogen enjoys his company and despite being wary, graciously accepts. However, she is moved to Portsmouth under the cover of secrecy leading up to D-Day and she hears nothing from him again until her station in Paris. But the giddiness she felt in his presence has been replaced by discontent and irritation. Does she really love him or was it just a fascination? She realised that she knew nothing about him such was the secrecy of his involvement. Her mother says when you marry someone you will love them forever, with all their foibles and their faults as well as for their gifts and advantages. The problem is the secrecy surrounding Ben's involvement in the war was promising to continue afterwards, and Imogen wasn't sure she wanted that. She was enjoying her new-found independence and she was unwilling to give that up.

Then there is Magda, who is just 13 years old and living amidst the growing unrest of Germany. She is devastated by the loss of her best friend Lotte who was cruelly snatched along with her family and sent to a concentration camp - the Star of David sewn into their coats. Magda didn't understand why she could no longer be friends with Lotte. The fact that she was Jewish was not important; she was her best friend. When Magda receives a letter from her brother Karl, who is studying in England and a staunch objector of his country's new ways, she is shocked by the contents unable to comprehend much of what he was alluding to. At the end of the letter, Karl urged her to show no one and to burn after reading it. But Magda could not. What if it was the last letter from her beloved brother? She desperately wanted to show her mother so she could shed some light on what he was saying...but to do so would be a betrayal to her brother. Instead, she secreted it away in her Bible.

As the Nazi's power takes hold, Magda begins to see a new Germany - one that she does not like nor agree with and the one Karl had alluded to in his secret letter. The fanatical new rules of the Hitler Youth, a group a boys who instill fear in villagers if they do not conform to the new way of the Fuhrer, makes her seethe with anger and yet she cannot escape. On her next birthday she must join the Young Maidens, a group of young, ripe girls who must strive to become the epitome of the perfect German woman/wife - blonde, blue-eyed and submissive - as broodmares for perfect Aryan children. But Magda secretly refuses to conform and joins the White Rose movement, a German resistance who rebel against the oppressive frightening world around them.

But what Magda does not count on is Otto. He is one of the Hitler Youth - a bully - aspiring to the Fuhrer and exclaiming his proclamations. Otto claims Magda as his own (whether she likes it or not) and unfortunately, to save herself and her family from death, she must agree to be Otto's girlfriend - as much as the idea repulses her. When he rises to the rank of an SS officer, Magda is relieved to be reprieved from Otto's wandering hands and ever-watchful eye.

Then an enemy plane - a Lancaster bomber - crashes just beyond the boundary of their farm, and Magda and her father find six dead airmen and one barely alive. Magda insists on helping him and hides him in the secret attic of their farmhouse. By now, Magda is 16 and is incredibly resourceful for her age but she is also determined not to let the abhorrent new rules of her country quash the basic laws of humanity nor dictate her ability to help someone in need. She didn't ask for this war, she didn't want it and she doesn't agree with anything the new regime stands for. And so, over the course of the next few weeks Magda becomes friends with the British airman, Michael. She has never met anyone like him nor he her. Locked away in the small dark attic room, Michael sees no one but Magda and her kindness towards him - the enemy - touches him. Inevitably, they fall in love. But when Otto returns suddenly, Magda must keep Michael safe as the unthinkable happens, tearing her world apart. She must help Michael escape before Otto returns, lest they all be killed. Their parting words for him to return after the war so they could marry, and it is these words, and the promise of brighter days, that keep Magda soldiering on.

So how do Imogen and Magda's worlds intersect? Hundreds of miles apart and even worlds away from one another, these two women's stories tells of life in such a frightening time. The sheer horror of hearing bombs dropping, of having them fall in your path, the panic each time an air raid siren sounds - a sound which now reduces my own dad to tears at the memory of being a child during the war - all of this and more is just mind-blowing that the strength of mankind can live through such a horrific and turbulent time.

Most of us only hear about the war from the British side but what was it like for the Germans who rebelled against Hitler's regime? What makes this story so unique is that we not only hear the British aspect but we also hear a German's perspective. Back in the day, all Germans were seen as the enemy but not all Germans WERE the enemy. This story shows us just that. The abhorrent rules inflicted on the German people under Hitler's despicable and repulsive dictatorship were abominable, to say the least. I would not have liked to have lived under those conditions, against everything I believed in, under a dictator as repugnant as him. Christmas was even taken away from them. No longer could you decorate your trees with stars as it was seen too similar the Star of David and that was assigned to the Jewish people who were banished from their country. Instead they had to decorate with gold swastikas. They even began to pray to the Fuhrer. All schools had to teach the ways of the Fuhrer and not historical fact or even fact, for that matter. It was eye-opening to read just how these new rules were forced upon the Germans and if they dared to go against them, they faced imprisonment or even death.

THE SECRET LETTER is so beautifully written I was completely captivated by every aspect that I didn't want it to end. It was emotional, it was heartbreaking, it was touching, it was eye-opening, it was compelling but most of all it was just simply beautiful. What people of the time had to live through at the hands of a dictator wreaking havoc on a world he wanted to make perfect for himself, it was an horrific reminder of what mankind could do to fellow human beings.

The narrative between the two perspectives of Imogen and Magda is both intriguing and heartbreaking. Both young woman experience first loves, new emotions, heartbreak and disappointment. I loved reading their stories, noting how different their childhoods and journeys into womanhood were, but appreciating them just the same. Each girl/woman had a story to tell and each played an important part to that tale. The beautifully intricate way in which their stories entwine made THE SECRET LETTER a compelling read.

The fact that Imogen's story was based on the author's own parents added to the book's believability. Her mother was a WREN and her father was an RAF pilot who was shot down over Germany. Using her mother's letters, her father's logbook and diaries, she was able to draw a picture of Imogen based on her mother. Some of Imogen's letters were even her mother's written verbatim. It gave a whole new element of realism to the story that made for compelling reading.

I truly appreciated THE SECRET LETTER so much more than I ever expected - I think for being so unique in its perspective. Unlike many others, I don't care how much is actually based on historical fact or how much has been embellished because I am not reading a reference book - I am reading a story. And what a beautiful story it was! Basically, I adored this book from start to finish.

THE SECRET LETTER is a book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any fans of WW2 era historical fiction. In fact, I can't recommend it highly enough. If I could give it 10 stars, I would!

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

REVIEW: The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

also published as "The Perfect Son" (in North America)

Genre: Psychological thriller, domestic thriller

Read: 19th July 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(release dates 14th March 2019 - Transworld Digital)

★★★★★ 5 stars

If I could just say READ THIS BOOK and leave it there, I would. Because that is really what it comes down to. You just have to READ IT!

This book is just so bloody brilliant I have no words! The twist and that ending. No way did I see that coming! The shock left me reeling as it culminated to the last page. And then all the pieces finally fell into place and everything made perfect sense now. By the time I finished I wondered how on earth I was going to review it.

As the story begins, Tess is in ICU after being stabbed. How she was stabbed or by who was a mystery at this stage. She is incoherent from the strong painkillers they have her on but of one thing she is clear - her son Jamie is missing.

Of course the police are investigating, taking statements and asking questions...but why aren't they out there looking for Jamie? Tess points them in the direction of Shelley. She must have Jamie. Her and Ian, her brother-in-law. They are working together. Please, she whispers...find Jamie.

This may be where the book starts off, but it's not where the story begins...There is so much more that culminates to this point that will leave you tingling, breathless and yes, even crying. This book is so emotive I cannot even begin to tell you the range of emotions you feel reading it. So let's start at the beginning...

After the untimely death of her husband Mark in a plane crash, Tess is devastated. She struggles to come to terms with losing him, her grief and how to go on living without him. But at least she has Jamie, their 7 year old son. Without him, she would have nothing. Together, they would get through this. But neither of them know how to express their grief without anger, each drowning in their anguish.

Then one day Shelley Lange breezes in, filling the dark house with her bright cheeriness where there had only been sorrow. As a grief counsellor, Shelley was enlisted by her concerned mum to help Tess through her bereavement. But as Tess soon discovered, unlike anyone else, Shelley understood her pain, her anguish, her sorrow and her complete heartbreak. And unlike anyone else, Tess let Shelley into her world. She came to look forward to her visits and Jamie adored her. His face lit up each time Shelley was around, and Tess' heart broke a little each time wishing she had that same effect on her son.

As the days turn into weeks, Tess finds herself depending on Shelley more and more, cutting herself off from everyone as Shelley fends off calls from family and friends on Tess' behalf.

But then strange things begins to happen. Tess gets the feeling she is being watched. Someone is following her. She starts getting threatening calls from an unknown number along with hang ups. Cars tailing her in the lane. Items are missing from her house and papers have been rifled through. Someone has been in her house. But who? She can only think of one person who has a key - her brother-in-law Ian.

Ian began bothering her about money Mark had supposedly lent him. But she can find no record of the loan and still Ian is adamant, claiming he told her all this at the funeral. The funeral?? For pity's sake, she was burying the love of her life and Ian was worried about some money??!! Why talk to her about it at the funeral? She could barely remember it, such was her grief. But he keeps pestering her, to the point Shelley stepped in and blocked his moves. In the end he leaves her with a form to sign to renounce herself as executor of Mark's will and leaving Ian as sole executor. Does he have an ulterior motive?

But between the calls from the man with the gravelly voice about Mark and Ian's claim that he'd had borrowed £100,000, Tess begins to wonder just what had her husband done? And why hadn't he told her?

Then Jamie begins to act out. He starts screaming at her and saying he wishes Shelley was his mummy! What has Shelley been saying to her son? Then one night, Tess wakes to find Shelley in Jamie's room sitting on the bed and singing him a lullaby, just as a mother would. When Shelley turns, the hate in her eyes pierces Tess to her core.

With the series of unsettling events, Tess begins to wonder just who can she trust? She begins to suspect Shelley as well as Ian, and more than once Tess heard Shelley and Ian angrily exchanging words in hushed tones. Was Shelley protecting her? Or was there something else going on? She begins begins to write things down, making note of all the unsettling occurrences, her fear that someone was out to get her and Jamie, the phone calls, the man in the garden...and then the hushed tones between Shelley and Ian. Was she going mad with grief or should she feel afraid? Tess didn't know anymore.

Which leaves us with the question - just who was betraying who?

Narrated primarily by Tess, there are snippets from Ian and Shelley sprinkled throughout as well as the questioning of Tess in the aftermath of her stabbing. These chapters are layered perfectly as the main story gradually unfolds through Tess' eyes. Her one line responses to conversations with Mark are heartbreaking, as she relives moments in time of the life they had shared together. An emotionally charged book, it is also an absorbing, riveting and massively addictive thriller I could not put down!

THE PERFECT BETRAYAL is exactly what a good psychological thriller should be. It was well written with deftly woven layers of emotion and suspense creating the type of thriller that makes you question everything everyone says and does - even Tess. And yet I never thought such a twisty thriller like this could have me crying by the end...but it did. The wealth of grief is so immense that your heart just breaks for Tess by the end of this book.

Honestly, I thought THE PERFECT BETRAYAL was going to be just another domestic thriller. And that's OK - as long as the story is compelling and intriguing I don't care as I would enjoy it anyways. But I was so wrong! This book is NOTHING like that. It is so much more. The immense depression, grief and emotions are completely heartbreaking. Everyone's motivations remain hidden throughout. Nothing is as it seems as you question everything. But it's the ending that will have you shocked and in tears. The twist that changed everything and yet it changed nothing. One thing is for sure, that ending will remain with me for a long time to come...and not every book does that to me.

THE PERFECT BETRAYAL is a title you really have the think about to make sense of. And by the end, you will. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If I could give it TEN STARS I would!

I would like to thank #LaurenNorth, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers for an ARC of #ThePerfectBetrayal in exchange for an honest review.