REVIEW: Missing by K.L. Slater

Missing by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 11th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th May 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I've known him all my life. I know he has taken my daughter. His mother says she can help me. But she's the last person I can trust...

Samuel lived next door when we were children. We were inseparable. But he didn’t like sharing me with my adored little brother. And one terrible night, he got rid of my brother forever…

Now, years later, he’s free. And my daughter is missing.

I turn on my baby girl’s unicorn nightlight and bury my face in her pillow, my heart breaking. I know Samuel has her – he blames me for ruining his life, and even after all this time, he still doesn’t like to share.

As darkness falls, there’s a knock at my door and I open it to see Samuel’s mother. She says she can help me.

I know I can’t trust her, but I don’t have a choice. With each step I take, my fear grows stronger. Can she help me find my daughter? Or does she know something about what really happened all those years ago? Something that could stop me from saving my baby girl…

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from K.L. Slater here: https://www.bookouture.com/kl-slater/

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for K.L. Slater's addictive and compelling thriller MISSING.

“It was 9.6 miles. A fifty-minute bus trip. A twenty-minute cab ride. I always knew exactly how far I was from my past, and it was never far enough.”

I have loved Kim Slater's books since I discovered her with "Blink" many moons ago and have devoured every one of them since (this is my 12th!!)...so I still have a few that I have not yet read but I have to remedy that as soon as I possibly can. Because there is always room for another Kim Slater thriller. So imagine my excitement at the prospect of a new thriller in the midst that I devoured MISSING in a few short hours despite propping my eyes open with matchsticks in the wee hours. Because I knew I would not be disappointed. And I wasn't.

14th April 1993 is a date that Josie Bennett will never forget. It was the day her entire world changed...the day her beloved 8 year old brother Jimmy went missing and later found dead. Her neighbour, 19 year old Samuel Barlow, was sentenced to 30 years for his murder. And Josie's world fell apart. Her mother never wanted her when Jimmy was alive, she wanted her even less after his death. 

And so Josie vowed that when she grew up she would move as far away as she possibly could from where she grew up; where Samuel's mother Maggie Barlow still lived; and where the memories of a past she has tried to escape remain. But life is what happens when we're busy making other plans, in the words of John Lennon, and Josie met and fell in love with Terry and had little Ivy just a year after their wedding. And they settled in a village not far enough away from Josie's past...and there she stayed. Even after her marriage fell apart and she had to make a life for her and Ivy, starting from scratch.

Now twenty-six years after Jimmy's death, Josie hears a disturbing rumour which is later confirmed when the police call to inform her that Samuel Barlow has been granted early parole and will be released in a few short days time. Once again Josie's world spirals. This can't be happening. He was meant to serve thirty years, not twenty five. Now she must do everything within her power to protect her daughter Ivy from the man who destroyed her family's life.

Then one afternoon, Ivy disappears from their friend's backyard. And Josie knows without a doubt who is responsible. For Ivy is exactly the same age as Jimmy was when he died...and Samuel was jealous of anyone gaining Josie's attention that wasn't him. He was obsessed with her. What would he do to her little girl?

The police are called and while they are skeptical of Barlow's involvement, they do admit that it is a little too coincidental that Ivy disappears without a trace from a secure backyard just days after Barlow's release from prison. Josie is distraught as she demands to know what they are doing to find her daughter. Have they brought in Barlow? Have they questioned him? What could he have done to her little girl?

That evening, a tentative knock on her window reveals a face from the past Josie never thought she would see again. Maggie Barlow. And although she wanted to tell her to go away, Maggie offered her a chance to help her find Ivy. One one condition - she could tell no one...not even the police.

But nothing...NOTHING...could prepare Josie for the secrets she is about to learn.

Missing children stories are so popular in psychological and domestic thrillers today and I admit to them being one of my favourite tropes. But Kim Slater puts her own unique twist to it that makes for such a compelling read that will keep you turning pages long into the night. I found myself promising "just one more chapter"...when some 70% of the book already read I finally turned out the light to savour the outcome the next day.

While it seems clear to Josie who has taken Ivy, I found Samuel to be a little too obvious...especially for a Slater thriller. I knew there had to be a twist around there somewhere remaining undetected whilst all the attention was on Barlow. So I did some detecting of my own. With so little to go on, I began to look for...well...indiscrepancies...nuances...a teeny tiny clue that may reveal what is really going on and what happened to Ivy. Because it is obvious that there has to be something else at play.

And then come the twists. While I had begun to figure out a couple, there is one that blew me away that I never saw coming in a million years. Well, two actually. The first reveal...that threw me for a six. Then the last one...just WOW! Despite being able to unravel the intricate twists laid out for us, Kim still has the ability to shock. Even me.

Told from four main perspectives - Josie, Samuel, Maggie and the Nottinghamshire Police - MISSING unfolds in the present and the past beginning from 1985 through to 1993 when Jimmy Bennett was found dead in a meat freezer in an abandoned industrial estate. Little by little, piece by piece, we are drip-fed enough to reveal exactly just the right amount of information in an intricate and timely manner. And it's given to us in such a way that we cannot drag ourselves away from this addictive read...not until we have turned that final page.

MISSING is an exceptionally thrilling tale from start to finish, no matter how unlikeable some of the characters may be. You just have to know how it all turns out...and find out why? I myself didn't warm to Josie. Not sure why but although I would want to do anything to find my child, I would also trust the police to know what they are doing. Why, then, does she feel that she can knows better? I actually felt sorry for Maggie Barlow. She was in an impossible position with defending her son or to set him on the straight and narrow. Mothers always think they know better when in some cases they really don't. And then to be blamed for what her son was convicted of as if that had some reflection on her, as his mother. But Samuel was most definitely a case of - nature or nurture? Pauline was a horrible excuse for a mother. I cannot say any more than that without revealing major spoilers but her behaviour was appalling. She did not deserve to be a mother. And DI Price...it seems she's appeared in a previous Slater thriller (and yes, her name is familiar) but for the life of me I can't remember from which one...Either way, I enjoyed her's and Brewster's input.

As for Josie...will she be forever known as the murdered boy's sister? Or the mother of the missing girl? Or both? It seems that no matter how far Josie runs (which in this case wasn't too far at all) she could not escape her past...until facing up the truth of what happened before moving on with the future.

Overall, MISSING is a compelling, addictive and engrossing read that will have you turning the pages for "just one more chapter" until the very end. It's Slater at her best and I loved every minute of it! A thoroughly enjoyable read that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Definitely recommended!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says" he creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: I Catch Killers by Gary Jubelin

I Catch Killers by Gary Jubelin

Genre: Biography, True Crime

Read: 19th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st August 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

THE #1 TRUE CRIME BESTSELLER. Serial killings, child abductions, organised crime hits and domestic murders. This is the memoir of a homicide detective.

WINNER OF 2021 DANGER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION

Here I am: tall and broad, shaved head, had my nose broken three times fighting. Black suit, white shirt, the big city homicide detective. I've led investigations into serial killings, child abductions, organised crime hits and domestic murders. But beneath the suit, I've got an Om symbol in the shape of a Buddha tattooed on my right bicep. It balances the tattoo on my left ribs: Better to die on your feet than live on your knees. That's how I choose to live my life.

As a cop, I got paid to catch killers and I learned what doing it can cost you. It cost me marriages and friendships. It cost me my reputation. They tell you not to let a case get personal, but I think it has to. Each one has taken a piece out of me and added a piece, until there's only pieces.

I catch killers - it's what I do. It's who I am.

Gary Jubelin was one of Australia's most celebrated detectives, leading investigations into the disappearance of preschooler William Tyrrell, the serial killing of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville and the brutal gangland murder of Terry Falconer. During his 34-year career, Detective Chief Inspector Jubelin also ran the crime scene following the Lindt Cafe siege, investigated the death of Caroline Byrne and recovered the body of Matthew Leveson. Jubelin retired from the force in 2019. This is his story.

MY THOUGHTS:

"I catch Killers — it’s what I do. It’s who I am."

I have always admired Gary Jubelin and his dogged determination to uncover the truth and seek justice for victims and their families. When he was called out and charged over "illegal recordings" of a suspect in the William Tyrrell investigation, I was both shocked and appalled. Not by his actions but by those of the NSW Police Force who should have protected one of their own instead of backing him into a corner and essentially silencing him. 

If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, many cases may not have been solved. If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, Matthew Levenson's body may never have been recovered and thus giving his parents closure and to be able to bring their son home. If it wasn't for Gary Jubelin, the families of the Bowraville murders would have been ignored for three decades with no one fighting in their corner. He may not have solved the Bowraville murders nor uncovered the truth behind William Tyrrell's disappearance...but Gary Jubelin made a difference. He was there for the victims' families and stood beside them when no one else would. He was a voice for the victims. And I wish he was still able to be...because if anyone could get to the bottom of William Tyrrell's disappearance and bring the culprit to justice...it would be Gary Jubelin.

Leading us through his early years as constable through to detective, Jubelin identifies the change that came to the NSW Police Force after the Wood Royal Commission into police corruption. How many big names of those once looked up to became criminals themselves. Still idealistic, when asked by a lawyer if Roger Rogerson (corrupt copper from the 80s now serving a sentence for murder) was his hero, Jubelin states simply..."Look, I know who Roger Rogerson is. I haven't worked with him. As for a hero, I don't think so." Jubelin is honest and dogged. He works for the victims and their families, for truth and justice. Nothing more, nothing less.

I CATCH KILLERS may not be a perfectly styled story. It may be uneven in its pace. It may not have the depth of a fictionalised tale or the grammar of a seasoned writer. But what it does have is a completely raw and honest look at the life of a homicide detective beginning as naive constable fresh out of the academy peppered with tales from his youth. It is not a sensationalised story or glamourised in any way. Gary Jubelin is not a writer. He was a detective...and a bloody good one. And yes, he made a difference.

I loved reading Gary's story from his childhood to his surfing to his marriage to his joining the police force. His young naive idealism is probably the same for almost every copper that steps out of the academy and into real life as a probationary constable. They want to make a difference. But those early years are spent learning on the job and slowly but surely making his way through the ranks from general duties into the Armed Hold Up Squad, the Tactical Response Group and various others until he landed his dream job in homicide. For almost two decades Gary Jubelin was there for a victims' family's darkest days. He was taught not to get involved with the families as it would make investigating the cases harder...but he learnt that you HAD to become involved with them. Because they needed to know that someone was on their side fighting for their loved one in bringing them justice. And in becoming involved with the families made him fight that little bit harder. It became personal. And that made him a good copper. A great detective. And the best man for the job. 

Which is why the police force turning their backs on him during one of those most famous and sensationalised investigations, rankles. If it rankles with me, I cannot imagine what it did to him. I doubt the families of the Bowraville victims will get justice for their murdered children now because Gary Jubelin was the only one willing to fight for them...really fight for them. And I find it unlikely we'll ever know what happened to William Tyrrell because Gary Jubelin knew that case better than anyone. To oust him on the basis of illegal recordings without listening or taking into account why, is appalling. 

Gary Jubelin is one of those detectives who you would have been lucky to have to fight in your corner. He pulls no punches; he tells it how it is; but he would go above and beyond the call of duty to get you justice...even to the detriment of his own personal life. He is not perfect and I doubt I could have suffered being married to him. Yes, he can come across as arrogant and single-minded but he is someone I would trust to fight in my corner, had I needed him. The end result for Jubelin is both shocking and appalling. On one side I can see the legality but on the other I can also see why. It was a fine line he walked...and sadly he did not come unscathed. And even more shocking is the way he was treated and basically ignored by "the powers that be" who thought only of statistics and results instead of truth and justice.

Jubelin's story is at times heartbreaking but his resilience shines through. Despite all that was thrown at him, he still stands...and he has moved on. But one thing is for sure...

Gary Jubelin made a difference. It's what he set out to do...and it's what he did.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Legendary homicide detective Gary Jubelin has been credited with solving some of the nation’s most horrific crimes.

He retired in 2019 with the rank of Detective Chief Inspector after a 34-year career with the NSW Police Force.

During a career which earned him high commendations for policing, he performed duties from covering generalist detective duties to major crime.

These included experience in the Armed Hold-Up Squad, Organised Crime Squad, Gangs Squad, Unsolved Homicide and Homicide Squad. He specialised in the field of homicide investigation for 25 years up until his retirement.

As a homicide detective, Gary Jubelin led some of the largest, most complex, high-profile investigations in New South Wales.

The direction of the investigations, operational decisions, community safety, the arrest and conviction offenders were his mainstream responsibilities.

These included gang land killings, serial murderers, sexually motivated murders, domestic murders, child killers, revenge murders, murderers who tortured their victims, random murders, police shootings, abductions and serial rapists.

Gary Jubelin has been a key figure in solving major crimes for the past three decades gathering a mountain of information based on the methodical and successful processes he employed as a crime investigator.

Gary's greatest regret on leaving the NSW Police Force is those cases where he has been unable to tell grieving families what happened to their loved ones.

Social Media links:

Goodreads

REVIEW: The Tenant by Angela Lester

The Tenant by Angela Lester

Genre: Psychological thriller, Noir, Suspense

Read: 6th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 8th May 2022

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Amy is the perfect landlady. But she does have some ground rules…

Kate has always dreamed of a life in music. And now she’s finally done something about it – giving up her steady job, moving to the city to enroll in a degree program at a prestigious college.

Needing a place to live, she answers an ad and moves in with Amy who seems a nice lady – mothering and protective.

At first Kate is glad to have some support in this strange city, but gradually Amy’s presence becomes more and more stifling – it just seems so hard to get away from her. And every time Kate tries, something terrible happens…

As her life spirals downwards, Kate struggles to understand what’s happening. Is Amy plotting against her? Or is she simply buckling under the stress of adjusting to her new life?

Fearing for her sanity, Kate knows she needs to get some answers and begins to look into the history of the creepy old house she shares with Amy. What she finds is beyond her worst nightmares…

The Tenant - the terrifying psychological thriller perfect for fans of K L Slater, Jane Renshaw, Teresa Driscoll

MY THOUGHTS:

Home is a place of safety...a place of refuge. But what if it's not?

A former librarian, Kate left Carlisle and moved to Cardiff for a fresh new start. So she quit her job and used her savings to to university to pursue her dream of becoming a music teacher. She finds an ad near the uni whose owner was looking to rent out her spare room and is soon enticed by the inexpensive rent offered. Amy is a writer working on a novel based on her own life of growing up with an alcoholic mother. Initially, Kate felt at ease with Amy who welcomed her into her home and the two women soon become friends. 

Then as the weeks go on, strange things begin to happen and Kate starts feeling ill and extremely fatigued. The following morning Amy would report on Kate's behaviour during the night - sleepwalking, rages, drunkenness - followed by excessive sleeping. Added to this is the stress factor of uni - her essays and assignments and being asked to play piano for the choir...in front of an audience, which only adds to her anxiety. As Kate's health deteriorates, so do her her new-found friendships from university. Given that they often end up in the pub after lectures, Amy is forced to remind Kate that maybe these friends are not all that good for her if they are adding to her stress and encouraging her to drink, when she obviously has a problem.

Then come the accusations. The rages. The confusion. And the blackouts. Swiftly followed by reparations as Amy helps her by cleaning up the messes she's made during these blackouts. Even almost killing them both in their beds! Amy seems like the perfect friend caring for her during these bouts and insisting she rests and stay away from parties and gatherings in the pub where she may be tempted to drink again. Soon every day begins to feel like Groundhog Day as it becomes a repeat of what has gone before.

But secrets and lies are always uncovered but, when revealed, will it be too late?

It's hard to describe this book as a thriller, despite having some thriller elements to it, as I spent most of the book waiting for the hammer to fall and for something to happen. The pace was steady but still a little slow in parts as the entire plot just seemed to be on constant repeat. I can appreciate what the author was maybe trying to do with this story but I found that there was something missing...though I'm not entirely sure what. It could have been faster paced, certainly, and maybe the tension could have been more palpable. Because I didn't feel like I was on the edge of my seat throughout. More like wanting to slap Kate for being so gullible and quick to believe what she was being told and maybe pulling off Amy's fingernails with a pair of pliers. Both characters frustrated me endlessly.

A slightly creepy book, THE TENANT is a tense and claustrophobic read. I enjoyed it for the most part while at the same time believing it could have been better. It certainly had potential, that's for sure. But it was very predictable. From the start the reader can see where the plot is heading...even if we don't quite know why just yet. But when the reveal comes, it's not mind-blowing as such...more like, "ah yes, now it makes sense".

Overall, THE TENANT is a fairly enjoyable read that has elements of creepiness and a few spine-tingling moments...but nothing earth-shattering.

I would like to thank #AngelaLester, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheTenant in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Angela Lester loves writing psychological suspense that explores the dark side of human nature.

A philosophy graduate, she came over from Germany in 1991 and has lived in Cardiff ever since. She plays the piano, sings in a choir and loves walking in the great Welsh countryside. She has worked as bookseller and translator, but her real passion is writing. She has written short stories and novels in German and English. The Tenant is her first published thriller. 

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

EXTRACT: The Catcher by Kerry Birds

 

The Catcher by Kerry Birds

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 6th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd May 2022

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

The perfect marriage?

Or the perfect lie?

Alistair tells white lies. It’s easier that way.

Elena loves Alistair. But he’s married to Celia.

Celia likes playing games. And one day soon someone is going to get hurt.

The only question is - who?

EXTRACT:

CHAPTER ONE

CELIA

I didn’t want to kill him.

I didn’t want to kill any of them.

But death happens. It’s all about numbers. Population dynamics. A mathematical constant which stipulates some things must die. Not that he would die because of resources or predation; no, he would die because he had hurt me, and for that he couldn’t go unpunished.

He was the buff-tailed bumblebee which I kept in an old fish tank in the spare room. The bottom was covered by soil in which purple clover grew and a few glass jars sat; the jars were filled with water, slightly green and on the turn, and cut flowers which I replenished daily. The provision of flowers wasn’t easy, and I needed to plan my season from dandelions through to hollyhocks, from alliums through to lavender. But it was always worth the effort.

I went to my bumblebee early in the morning, when the bee was too cold to fly or fight. Its face was furry, as black as my soul, and the stripes were yolk yellow. I watched it for a while, perfect and oblivious, preening its body and warming its wings. I had gone to a lot of effort to nurture my bee and I was very attached to it. Regardless, it stung me, and so it needed to suffer before the end.

After removing the tank lid, I swooped in with a pair of tweezers, plucked it out and pinned it to the windowsill. The poor little thing refused to keep still, and so I trapped its wing beneath a glass paperweight. It scrambled for a while, though stopped briefly when I removed a leg with a pair of silver scissors. For several minutes it seemed to rally, adjusting to its worsening predicament, and it bravely tolerated the loss of another two legs and an antenna. The crumpled wing looked so untidy on the beautiful creature that I decided to snip it off too. Only after the loss of the wing, and with it the chance to be free, did it finally give in.

With the tip of my finger, I touched what was left of the bee. The remaining wing was clingfilm flimsy and the soft hairs were like a money spider crawling across my skin. I held it to my lips and breathed across its desecrated body.

I had denied the bee of its freedom, provoked and exhausted it, and made it suffer in every way. Its tolerance, however, had been remarkable—unlike those before it which simply curled up and died.

I supposed insects were just like people.

Yes, they absolutely were.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Birds lives in Derbyshire with her husband and two boys. She is an Environmental Chemist who started reading fiction in her thirties and took up writing soon after. She now writes prolifically, partly to quieten her anxious mind.

In 2018 she self-published her first novel, Share My Sky, which was brilliantly received. Rainbows in a Storm and its sequel soon followed. She’s had her nose to the grindstone ever since.

In her spare time, Kerry loves to be with her family, preferably walking on mountains or moorlands, where she finds the perfect places to eat cake and drink tea. She likes seeing friends, going to writing group, stalking bumblebees and drinking wine.

The Catcher, a tale of obsession and revenge, is a piece of literary genius that's firmly set in the domestic noir genre, will be published in eBook and hardback in early 2022.

Social Media links:

Twitter

REVIEW: The Adoption by Jenna Kernan

The Adoption by Jenna Kernan

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 5th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th May 2022

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your little girl is all yours… isn’t she?

Dani and her husband Tate’s life together is almost perfect. But Dani is haunted by guilt for causing a terrible car accident that left her unable to have children. She can’t remember why she was driving so fast that day or where she was going. Her therapist says she should try to move on.

So when their application to adopt is accepted, Dani sobs with joy. As perfect little Willow nestles in her arms, Dani looks at Tate’s loving smile and knows he will always provide for his family, no matter what.

When Dani sees a woman staring as she pushes Willow’s stroller around the safe, gated Florida community where they live, she tells herself it’s simply an admiring passer-by. After all, Dani herself used to watch the local moms and wish she was in their shoes.

But when Dani wakes in the night to find Willow’s crib empty, their perfect life becomes a nightmare.

In her frantic distress for her daughter, Dani’s memories of the accident flash through her mind. And with a jolt she realises: everyone around her has been lying about that day.

Will Dani find out the truth before it’s too late for her baby girl?

Or will facing her own dark secrets tear them all apart?

A totally addictive and heart-stopping read with a truly mind-blowing twist. Fans of The Woman in the Window, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us won’t be able to put down this incredible thriller from bestselling author Jenna Kernan.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Jenna Kernan's captivating thriller THE ADOPTION.

Excuse me while I dry my eyes and stop sniffling. OMG...that was so heartbreaking! It was just positively sad. There really are no other words for it. But it didn't start out that way...

In the beginning, THE ADOPTION starts off with a very slow and steady climb...like when you are riding a bike up a never-ending hill and you are pacing and forcing yourself to keep at it, that you'll get there. Then throw in the repetitive commentary as the reader is told the same thing over and over, sometimes in the same paragraph or page. Some of it was even unnecessary and could have been edited down to make an even tighter tenser thriller. And yet...it is still one heck of a thriller! But only when you get past all the aftermath of the accident which set this entire ball rolling and the repetitiveness...only then do you begin to see the cracks. And it is then you begin to wonder just exactly what is going on here.

Dani has an almost perfect life. She has an adoring husband Tate who has just been nominated as a circuit judge, they have a beautiful house in an exclusive Florida gated community and thanks to her parents' trust, she never wants for anything. The only thing missing from their lives is the pitter-patter of tiny feet and the joyful sound of a baby's laughter. And now that will never come. Because three days before Christmas, Dani was involved in an horrific car accident that left her with a brain injury, face blindness and unable to have children. Not only that, Dani is plagued with guilt for crippling her twin sister Shelby, now a paraplegic as a result of the accident. But as haunted as she is, Dani cannot remember why she was driving so fast that day or where she was going.

After six months in hospital then a psychiatric unit, Dani is finally going home. But it's not home as she knows it. She's only seen staged pictures of the house Tate is bringing her back to as she has no memories of this palatial home in a gated community. And every time she sits at the kitchen bench or underneath the crystal chandelier or on the plush leather sofas, Dani cannot help but long for their old home. That felt like home. This...is more like a display home. She may have views of the water and Tampa Bay but she doesn't have the stillness of nature with the variety of songbirds she used to enjoy. Just noisy jet skis and motor boats and squawking seagulls.

Dani's greatest wish is to be a mother. But it's a wish that will never come true now...that is, until Tate gets off the phone one afternoon to say their adoption application has been approved and that they will be getting a baby the following day. A week after being out of hospital? Red flag, much. But Dani blinks any doubts away and delights in the wonder that she is actually going to be a mum! She is so thrilled she shares excitement with Shelby while she and Tate deck out their new nursery with every-baby-thing they could find. Their child will want for nothing.

And then Sunday arrives...with their new baby daughter she names Willow. And Dani couldn't be happier.

But then strange things begin to occur. A wild haired, wild eyed woman barefoot in their backyard bashing at the windows screaming to be let in. But with her prosopagnosia (face blindness) means Dani could never identify the intruder...even if she saw her again. And she does see her again. This time, the woman makes a specific demand of her. And Dani is left wondering...has Tate been lying to her? Is everything she perceives in fact real...or is it just in her head? How can she decipher truth from fiction? And just who can she trust?

As I first stated, the story does start off slow and to be honest I do feel some of it could have been edited down to keep the pace moving a bit quicker and keeping the plotline tighter. The repetitiveness does get a little monotonous...I lost count of how many times we heard how much Dani preferred their old home to this sparkly new one or the brand new SUV Tate had bought her "that she would never drive". These were mentioned over and over that it drove readers nuts...and I wasn't alone in that, I noted. But it was alluded to that maybe this repetitiveness was intentional to give readers an insight into Dani's confused state of mind. Because to be honest, Dani was forever second guessing herself and questioning everything she thought or did or may have done. I guess, this could be true. But still, it felt as though this bogged the narrative down a little too much.

However don't despair, readers, and don't give up. Because it does get better. Boy, does it get better! I found around the 30% mark, the pace began to pick up as did the plot and I began to notice some anomalies to the narrative. Not in a bad way but more like what exactly is going on here? Are we getting the full picture? Or are we only seeing what we are meant to see? It began to feel as if Dani was being gas-lighted but with her fragile state of mind who would believe her?

I love the fact that the story focused on the protagonist having a brain injury because right away that makes her an unreliable narrator, making us question everything she says, does or thinks. The focus on mental health was very sensitively done and made for some heartbreaking reading. I found my heart just breaking for Dani as she struggled with her own reality as opposed to actual reality. The narrative, though in the third person, was twisty and sometimes confronting. But it was clear from the beginning that there was something so much more going on that none of us had any clue about.

Given the fact this was a twisted thriller, I began to pick holes in everything and create my own narrative as to what I thought was going on. Imagine my surprise by the end to discover how right I was! Although it was clear where the story was heading, it wasn't so clear as to what was actually going on. I just decided to delve deeper and seek out clues and piece bits together. An address (is all I'll say, so no spoilers) was a big one that jumped right out at me from the first moment. After that, everything fell into place.

Despite the beginning making a slow start off the mark, I do feel it played a big part in the bigger picture but could have been edited down and still been as paramount to Dani's story. My advice is to stick with it because it truly does get better and then it's a race to the end as the tension mounts and the twists are revealed. 

I loved the ending. It was sad, poignant and even heartbreaking but it was fitting. That final twist that turned everything on it's head was a perfect touch.

Filled with betrayal, lies, deception and secrets, THE ADOPTION is a domestic and psychological thriller that is unique in its originality and plot that keeps you guessing throughout. If it wasn't for all the excess and unnecessary repetitive features, this would most definitely be a 5 star read. Once I reached that point of no return, I could not put it down and I devoured every twisted minute of it.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jenna Kernan is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of thirty-five novels including gripping psychological thrillers, romantic suspense, paranormal shifter romance, and Western historical romance. 

A critically acclaimed and award-winning author, Jenna Kernan’s novels have reached Amzon’s Top 100, been twice-nominated for the RITA award, won the Book Buyer’s Best award, nominated for the Silver Falchion Award and been selected for a Top-Pick by RT Book Review. Readers describe her stories as heart-stopping, imaginative, thrilling, gritty, action-packed, fast-paced and flat-out good. 

She lives on Florida's west coast with her family.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Storm Girl by Kathleen McGurl

The Storm Girl by Kathleen McGurl

Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction

Read: 4th May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th May 2022

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park and The Forgotten Secret.

A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries.

1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the love of her life and protecting her family…

Present day. Fresh from her divorce, Millie Galton moves into a former inn overlooking the harbour in Mudeford and plans to create her dream home. When a chance discovery behind an old fireplace reveals the house’s secret history as a haven for smugglers and the devastating story of its former residents, could the mystery of a disappearance from centuries ago finally be solved?

Sweeping historical fiction perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kathryn Hughes and Tracy Rees.

MY THOUGHTS:

I first discovered Kathleen McGurl a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed every book she's published since. However, I have to say that this one was a disappointment for me...not because it wasn't well written or plotted out well but because the story really didn't interest me. I've never been all that interested in stories around smugglers and I have to admit being far more interested in the present day plot than the historical one. I loved wondering what was going to be uncovered next in the renovation of the 18th century house rather than the play out in the past.

Thirtysomething Millie, recently separated from her husband and going through a very amicable divorce, buys an 18th century house in much of need of some TLC...if not, complete renovation. She hires builder Nick to undertake the renovations for her and a discovery is made that begins an exciting and interesting historical journey for Millie who thus seeks out a local historian to clue her in on the history of her new "old" house.

Rewinding back to 1784, Esther Harris works alongside her brother and father in their pub The Ship at Anchor. But besides this, she also works by night with the smugglers (or free traders) as they loot and store smuggled items in their very secret and purposely built cellar beneath the pub. She faces many difficult decisions and challenges, one of which questioning her steadfast love for one man when she is given an opportunity to wed another. But she must choose carefully...for there will be consequences far reaching should it be the wrong one. And then the battle raging between the smugglers and the Revenue and Customs officers brings things to a head...never knowing who to trust and who might betray them.

The present and the past are interwoven beautifully with each aspect of the past revealed at just the right time the story unfolds in the present. One of my favourite things about dual timelines. 

However, this was not one of my favourites of Kathleen McGurl's but that isn't to say it isn't well researched or well written, because it is. Reading is subjective and what appeals to one does not to another. As I said at the beginning, the subject matter wasn't an appealing one to me and I found little interest in it. But I did read it to the end all the same.

I do look forward to more by Kathleen McGurl as she is a wonderful storyteller and a master at weaving the past with the present, however tenuous the link. It just so happens, this story wasn't for me but it was still exceptional storytelling.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl, #Netgalley, #HQStories and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheStormGirl in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kathleen McGurl lives in Christchurch, UK, with her husband. She has two sons who have both now left home.

Kathleen always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers.

After a long career in the IT industry she became a full time writer in 2019. When she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: How to Spot a Psychopath by M.Q. Webb

How to Spot a Psychopath by M.Q. Webb

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 3rd May 2022

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th April 2022

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

We’ve all wondered about someone… are they… how do I know?

How to Spot a Psychopath is a thoughtful, intelligent, psychological thriller full of conflicting accounts and sharp turns. How to Spot a Psychopath will keep you questioning who is hiding what, and why.

When four-year-old Mia Edwards goes missing on a play date, everyone suspects that Jessica Green knows what happened to her, especially Mia’s mother, Holly, but Jessica isn’t talking.

Psychiatrist, Dr Oscar de la Nuit, is determined to save Jess from the same mistakes he’s living with.

Will Jess lead to his redemption, or will she be his downfall?

Is Mia safe, and will Jess be able to return to the life she had before?

MY THOUGHTS:

“Find out if she knows what you are.”

Four year old Mia is missing. The prime suspect, Jess, is refusing to speak. What is she hiding? Who is she protecting? And what does she know about what really happened to Mia?

This book was so intriguing I found it hard to put down! I wasn't prepared to enjoy it as much as I did but I was captivated from the first page that I just had to know how it ended. I see it compared to "The Silent Patient" and having not read that I can't give an opinion on that but I can give you one of HOW TO SPOT A PSYCHOPATH. Honestly, the premise was so intriguing but venturing into the murky territory of an unknown author...I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised.

When four year old Mia Edwards disappears from Jessica Green's house on a playdate with her daughter Zoe, all eyes turn to Jessica as the prime suspect. After all, the little girl was in her care and upon her arrest and having been placed on remand, Jessica has said little to nothing in her defence or even to try to explain what could have possibly happened. Instead she has remained tightlipped which has only added to the police's case against her. Only guilty people say nothing. An innocent person wouldn't remain silent, would they?

Forensic psychiatrist Oscar de la Nuit is intrigued by Jessica's case and arranges for her transfer from remand to the Whitner Psychiatric Hospital under his care. Unlike everyone else, he isn't quick to believe her guilt but rather believes she staying silent for a reason. What that is, he has yet to find out. And in treating Jessica, Oscar hopes to lay some of his old ghosts of the past to rest. But in doing so, he begins to peel back the layers behind which Jessica is hiding...can he discover the truth before it's too late for Mia? Or is it already too late?

The story the progresses by backtracking to where it all began. When Jessica met Holly Edwards, Mia's mum. When she inveigles her way into their little group and despite her sister Niki taking to her immediately, Jessica isn't so sure about Holly. There is something chilling about her, but Niki thinks she is just feeling insecure about Zoe going off to kindergarten. So how come everywhere she goes with Niki, Holly magically turns up? And more to the point, why? Whatever the reason, Jessica is sure Holly is up to something.

And then Mia disappears. On Jessica's watch. Does Jessica know more than she's letting on? Or is she truly innocent of any wrong-doing, despite feeling responsible?

Under Oscar's care, Jessica slowly begins to trust and little by little gives him another piece of the puzzle...before clamming up again. Why the need to remain silent? What is she hiding?

A fantastically intriguing story, HOW TO SPOT A PSYCHOPATH unfolds in the present through Oscar's narrative primarily and in the past a retelling of events through Jessica's eyes leading up to the disappearance. It was cleverly written and despite it's complexities, it was an easy book to read, with it's seventy short snappy chapters which kept the pace moving rapidly. The THEN chapters are interspersed and perfectly timed to reveal just enough to be woven with the NOW chapters.

Although it is a tad predictable, there is a twist thrown in towards the end that will have you questioning motives and sincerity as it unfolds. I was able to detect the psychopath, which was fairly easy, as well as what possibly happened to Mia. There was one aspect of the ending that wasn't entirely wrapped up and I felt it needed a little more explanation. I'm sure I'm not alone in this as others have stated much the same on one aspect. Although they don't say which aspect, I think it is fairly easy to guess which one because it really is kind left up in the air or swept under the proverbial carpet.

Despite this, HOW TO SPOT A PSYCHOPATH is a stunning debut. It is thrilling and chilling and an engrossing read. I'd be interested to see more of Oscar in the future given that this is the first in a series.

I would like to thank #MQWebb, #TBR and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #HowToSpotAPsychopath in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

MQ Webb has always believed in the transformational nature of words, and a medium to utilize them. A fascination with human behavior and motivation led them to study psychology and human behaviour and now enjoys writing thrillers, suspense, mysteries and horror. She once worked in a building that was converted from a gaol into an office space and has worked for NFP’s, universities, and the public sector.

Born without a Middle name, Q is such an undervalued letter of the alphabet, only appearing with u, so thought they would give it some respect by acknowledging it in their name. 

How to Spot a Psychopath is the first book in the Oscar de la Nuit series.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads