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The Disappeared - Sibel Hodge

6/1/2019

2 Comments

 
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Book Description
The Widow. The Secret. The Liar. The Disappeared… 

On a routine flight from Africa to England, Dr Mason Palmer is tragically killed when the light aircraft he’s travelling on crashes and disappears in dense bushland.

The Widow…
Ten months later, Nicole Palmer is still trying to block out the grief of her husband’s sudden death. Until one morning she receives a photo of Mason through the post, along with a cryptic message. A message only he could’ve written.

The Secret…
But when Nicole tries to find out if Mason is really alive and what actually happened to him in Africa, everyone she turns to for answers ends up dead.

Determined to find the truth, Nicole uncovers a conspiracy that spans the globe, and discovers there are powerful people who are prepared to kill to keep her silent.
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Who’s lying? Who’s watching Nicole? And can she expose their murky secrets before they catch up with her?
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*****

Over the last few years, author Sibel Hodge has written a number of brilliant, edge-of-your-seat suspenseful thrillers that keep the reader hooked from start to finish. 'The Disappeared' is no different. Actually, I think this is one of her best to date and I'm so glad to have picked up this book as my first one of 2019 as it has surely set me on the right mood and track for this year's reading. 

"Mason Palmer didn't know he had less than two hours to live when he walked into the ramshackle building."

And this, the first sentence of the prologue, has sucked me up into a roller-coaster vortex from the get-go, and if it weren't for real life getting in the way, I would have devoured the whole book in a couple of sittings. 

The suspense in this book starts high at the beginning of the story and remains high till the end. This has kept me intrigued and interested by the evolving story throughout... the plane crash, Nicole receiving the mysterious photograph (with a message only her husband could have written) ten months after he perished in the plane crash, chilling murder scenes, abductions, disappearances, corruption, organised crime, heartbreaking scenes, heart-pumping scenes, lies, secrets and much more. My blood pressure went through the roof and my heart just couldn't keep up with the adrenaline pumping through my veins!

The sense of danger in this book is almost tangible. It looms everywhere and all the time. I really feared for Nicole's life and a myriad questions invaded my mind. Is the photograph just an elaborate hoax to hurt her? Or is it genuine? Someone wants to seriously hurt Nicole and stop her in her quest to find the truth, but who are these people? What do they want? And why have they come after her now, ten months after her husband's death? And where is Mason? Is he dead or has he somehow miraculously survived the plane crash? But how can that be possible?

I really like this author's 'voice', her writing style, the way she develops the plot and portrays all those vivid scenes and life-like characters. I thought everything was very realistic. It's evident that the author has done extensive research, mostly on one shocking aspect of the plot I can't mention so as not to give away spoilers. And she has succeeded in making me feel all sorts of emotions: sadness, anger, fear, pity, joy etc. I was really satisfied by the whole plot and the beautiful ending. 
  
Well, this electrifying book gets a resounding 5 stars from me as it's just brilliant and I really enjoyed every moment I passed engrossed in its lines. If I were to read it again, I would do so in a heartbeat without hesitation, and I highly recommend it. 

With kudos and thanks to the author for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review. ​
About the Author
Sibel Hodge is the author of the #1 Bestsellers Look Behind You, Untouchable, Duplicity, and Into the Darkness. Her books have sold over one million copies and are international bestsellers in the UK, USA, Australia, France, Canada and Germany. She writes in an eclectic mix of genres, and is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.

Her work has been nominated and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Harry Bowling Prize, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition, The Romance Reviews’ prize for Best Novel with Romantic Elements and Indie Book Bargains’ Best Indie Book of 2012 in two categories. She was the winner of Best Children’s Book in the 2013 eFestival of Words; nominated for the 2015 BigAl’s Books and Pals Young Adult Readers’ Choice Award; winner of the Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Book from a Series Award in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2013; winner of the Readers’ Favorite Young Adult (Coming of Age) Honorable award in 2015; a New Adult finalist in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s International Digital Awards 2015, 2017 International Thriller Writers Award finalist for Best E-book Original Novel, Honorable Mention Award Winner in the USA 2018 Reader's Choice Awards, and winner of the No 1 Best Thriller in the Top Shelf Magazine Indie Book Awards 2018! Her novella Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave has been listed as one of the top forty books about human rights by Accredited Online Colleges.

For Sibel’s latest book releases, giveaways and gossip, sign up to her newsletter at www.sibelhodge.com/contact-followme.php.
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The Red Address Book - Sofia Lundberg

31/12/2018

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Book Description
A heartwarming debut about 96-year-old Doris, who writes down the memories of her eventful life as she pages through her decades-old address book. But the most profound moment of her life is still to come …
Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jenny—her American grandniece, and her only relative—give her great joy and remind her of her own youth.
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When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colourful past—working as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World War—can she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, to unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris’s life?
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****

I wanted to end 2018 with something different to what I usually read. So as soon as I read the blurb of 'The Red Address Book' I decided that this would be it. This is a work of fiction that sounds so real. It is the beautiful, heart-warming, emotional but also quite sad and nostalgic story of a lovely, talented and quick-witted old lady and the many memories that have shaped her long life.
 
Doris is just a few short years of being a centenarian, but even if she's frail and riddled with pains brought on by her old age, she still has her wits about her and remarkably, she still manages to live alone in a small apartment in Stockholm. Apart from the caregivers who visit her everyday, Doris's only contact with the outside world is with her great-niece Jenny who lives in America, through Skype on her laptop. Yes, Doris didn't let social media and technology intimidate her. Sadly, she has no other relatives living close by. 

"Once upon a time I was very beautiful."

Among Doris's most precious possessions is an old address book. Over the years, in this book, Doris has recorded the name of every single person she had come across throughout her long life. Now, sadly, almost all names are crossed out and marked 'Dead'. 

"There are certain memories you just can't forget. They linger and fester, occasionally bursting like a boil and causing pain, such terrible pain."

Doris doesn't want to take all her memories to the grave with her. She wants Jenny to know about all her many wonderful and painful  experiences. So she starts to pick names from the address book and write down the many memories associated with those particular names. 

Through her writing, Doris gives life again to the people that have left an impression on her in one way or another. With her, we relive Doris's life, her ordeals and heartbreaks, anguish and pains, but also her passion and love and happy times. From the time she was a young girl forced out of her home to start working, to the time she became the most beautiful, wanted model in Paris, then on to the time she escaped war and went to the States and then back again to her country, Sweden.

Since all my grandparents passed away before or just a few years after I was born, I have always been curious as to how life was back then, what they went through in their lives, how they managed to survive both wars. So, as I was reading this book, I imagined Doris was my grandmother telling me about her life, what she went through so many years ago, in her childhood and youth. About the heartache and suffering she had endured, about the all-consuming love she experienced. About the many people that have crossed paths with her throughout the years. 

This book was originally written in Swedish, but it has been perfectly translated to English. It is not a fast read and thank goodness for that as I wanted to read it slowly so as to savour all Doris's adventures, both at glamorous and trying periods of her life. Each chapter starts in the present day with what Doris is doing and what happens to her presently. (This part made me feel so sorry for Doris as she tries to deal with the many challenges an old body presents). Then each chapter continues with a chunk of Doris's musings about some particular character from her past. I found myself laughing with Doris, feeling happy and sad with her, wondering what if... with her, and yes, by the end I ended up with my emotions all over the place, with a lump in my throat and with tears in my eyes. Tears of joy and sadness mixed together. Doris will stay with me for quite some time now.

The author has succeeded in transporting me back in time, to glamorous places such as pre-WW II Paris and to New York where Doris spent some years. The author's exquisite writing and vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was there and could clearly visualise everything. 

Being a lover of historical fiction, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. With huge thanks to HarperCollins for a review copy of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.

About the Author
Sofia Lundberg is a journalist and former magazine editor. Her debut novel, The Red Address Book, will be published in 32 territories worldwide. She lives in Stockholm with her son.
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Good Samaritans - Will Carver

26/12/2018

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Book Description
One crossed wire, three dead bodies and six bottles of bleach.

Seth Beauman can’t sleep. He stays up late, calling strangers from his phonebook, hoping to make a connection, while his wife, Maeve, sleeps upstairs. A crossed wire finds a suicidal Hadley Serf on the phone to Seth, thinking she is talking to The Samaritans
But a seemingly harmless, late-night hobby turns into something more for Seth and for Hadley, and soon their late-night talks are turning into day-time meet-ups. And then this dysfunctional love story turns into something altogether darker, when Seth brings Hadley home…
And someone is watching…
Dark, sexy, dangerous and wildly readable, Good Samaritans marks the scorching return of one of crime fiction’s most exceptional voices.
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****

At the beginning of this review I want to say that this is a book like no other. It's a quite disturbing book that requires a strong stomach. One that you just have to read fast, at one go and with the lights on. It is addictive, dark, twisty, sexy and terrifying. A character-driven story full of lies, sex, secrets and bleach and with a number of shocking, sickening scenes. 

"Hey, it's Seth. I can't sleep. Want to talk?"

Seth is an insomniac who spends his nights drinking coffees and phoning strangers. He dials random numbers hoping for some connection and warmth. One such call puts Seth through to Hadley Serf, a suicidal young woman who's trying to contact The Good Samaritans in the hope that someone would listen to her. Hadley doesn't realise that this is a case of a crossed wire and that Seth is not really one of the Good Samaritans. Seth doesn't tell her either and he just plays along. He's just happy to have someone to talk to, happy to listen to her as she pours her heart out. From just her voice, he's immediately attracted to Hadley even though he is aware that she's troubled and has never seen her. She too enjoys talking to him and they agree to call each other again. Soon Seth becomes obsessed with Hadley and the two decide to move things forward and meet in person. But that will set the scene to one of the darkest stories I've ever read. Is Hadley the girl Seth thinks she is? Is Seth really what Hadley imagines he is? And who else is aware of Seth's little transgression? 

It's really very difficult to review this book without giving any spoilers away. I'll just say that I've never read anything similar. The story revolves around a number of pretty f****d up, unlikeable individuals. Characters I hope I never come across in real life. There's also a very creative killer in the mix, dumping bleached bodies around, as well as a troubled Detective Sergeant desperate to put an end to these murders. 

Thanks to the author's original, fast writing style, I found myself immersed in the story from the very beginning, following these messed-up but very engaging characters, and I didn't come up for breath till the very end. The suspense in this book never lets go and there are quite a few WTF moments. I felt tense throughout and I ended up gnawing my fingernails to the quick. 

The book includes a lot of hot and steamy sex scenes and references to sex, so if you don't like such scenes it's better if you don't read this book. Other scenes we come across can best be described as shocking and nauseating but this in no way means that this isn't a good book. On the contrary, I found it quite intriguing and I really enjoyed the author's writing style and 'voice'. He certainly didn't leave anything to the imagination, just went on and explicitly gave us every shocking minute detail. 

So if you're in for a dark, tense story, are not squeamish, not easily upset or shocked and love explicit sex scenes, I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed the breathtaking suspense, the original plot and even the hot stuff. One thing is certain. After reading this book, you won't look at the bleach bottles in your cupboard under the sink the same way! 
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Longstone - L J Ross

16/12/2018

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Book Description
Between the devil and the deep blue sea…

Viking treasure is discovered beneath the icy waters of the North Sea and local historian Doctor Anna Taylor is called in to help catalogue the most exciting hoard in living memory. But when a shipwreck diver washes up dead, she’s soon out of her depth. Luckily, she knows just the person to call…

When DCI Ryan arrives at the picturesque fishing town of Seahouses, he's faced with an impenetrable wall of secrets and lies. As he juggles marine archaeology and the cutthroat world of shipwreck diving, another murder blows the case wide open. To uncover the truth, Ryan must delve deeper into the hearts of those around him to find what lies beneath…
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Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
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*****

'Longstone' is book 10 in the astounding DCI Ryan series by the brilliant Louise Ross. This mystery series is absolutely one of the best out there and I highly recommend it to all lovers of crime fiction. Once again, in this book, the author has taken me to an enchanting spot in Northumberland, this time to one of the natural highlights of the Northumbrian coast - the Farne Islands. 

The day after claiming to have made the discovery of a lifetime - the wreck of an ancient Viking longboat - the body of an expert marine archaeologist is found washed up on the rocks at the foot of Longstone lighthouse. Was it an unfortunate accident, a suicide possibly, or did someone hear of the discovery and wanted to keep the treasure for themselves? DCI Ryan and his team are called in to the village of Seahouses to start the investigation. They start from the family running the inn where the man had rented a room and it's soon apparent that not everything is as it seems. There are tensions and currents beneath the surface and echoes of an old mystery can be strongly felt. Ryan is aware that the small village is a magnet for many salvage divers and marine archaeologists, all keen to explore and loot the wreck, so he knows that the possible suspects may be numerous. When a brutal murder takes place soon after in the streets of Seahouses, Ryan must first determine whether the two deaths are connected or not in order to catch the killer.

Well, I really had a great time reading this book and I think Longstone is actually one of my favourites in the series so far. I absolutely loved the setting of the story and I could clearly visualise the small fishing village with its harbour, the rough seas around the islands, the seabed peppered with old shipwrecks, the islands home to many birds and seals, and the boats fighting the huge waves as they come crashing down on the rocks at the foot of the lighthouse. One thing I love in this series in general, apart from the beautiful, vividly described locations, is the author's ability of mixing and balancing drama, humour and romance throughout. In this book, the author gives us an interesting insight on what goes on in wreck salvage operations. 

Thanks to her crisp, clear writing and the mystery she has so cleverly woven in the plot, the author kept me glued to my kindle, entertained and interested till the end. I felt especially intrigued by the family running 'The Cockle Inn'. All members of this family seem to be hiding secrets. As I was reading, I had countless questions in my mind and I was desperate to have them all answered. Mostly, I wanted to know who the killer was as I had a suspect in mind from the very beginning and I was curious to find out if I would be proved correct or not by the end. Well, I'm not saying anything more other than the author left me open-mouthed more than once by the time I read the last chapter. One shocking surprise after the other!

With a picturesque setting, fantastic lifelike, intriguing characters, a well-thought out plot and an engrossing mystery that keeps you guessing till the end, Longstone is an outstanding addition to the series and I highly recommend it. Fantastic book!! Well done to the author!

With thanks to the author for a review copy of the book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
About the Author
LJ Ross is the author of the international #1 bestselling series of DCI Ryan mystery novels. Her debut, Holy Island, was released in January 2015 and reached number one in the Amazon Kindle UK best sellers chart. 

Since then, she has released a further seven full-length novels in the DCI Ryan Series, all of which have been top three bestsellers. Cragside, Dark Skies, Seven Bridges and The Hermitage (due for release 20 October 2018) were all #1 in the UK on pre-orders alone.

The novels are available to purchase in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats on the Amazon store, as well as in selected independent bookshops. Holy Island is also available in German translation. 

Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King's College, University of London and studied abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a regulatory lawyer for a number of years before taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write.

Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland. She enjoys reading all manner of books, travelling and spending time with family and friends. 

If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:

https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
http://www.ljrossauthor.com
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
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Toxic Justice - M.A. Comley

14/12/2018

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Book Description
When life gets tough...

Desperation seeps in.

When Jonathan Giles has nowhere left to turn in life, he commits suicide. How can a fifteen-year-old boy be driven to take such drastic action to solve his problems?

DI Lorne Warner is about to tackle the most heart-wrenching, nonsensical case of her career.

With the suicide statistics among teenagers rising on her patch, DCI Roberts asks Lorne to investigate the reasons behind the victims taking their own lives.

Will the shocking truth Lorne and her tenacious team uncover give the grieving families the justice they deserve?
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*****

Can't believe this is the last book in the series!! I loved the Justice Series so much that I never thought this series would come to an end one day. And Lorne Warner goes out with a boom! What a book this is!! The author treats the subject of bullying, a horrific reality affecting all age groups and found everywhere, in schools and workplaces alike. 

Lorne and her team, who usually investigate murders, are tasked by DCI Roberts to investigate a string of suicides among adolescents. He wants them to stop these suicides, if at all possible. Why are these kids, all seemingly coming from good families, killing themselves? What can Lorne do to stop these suicides? What part can schools play to prevent more deaths from taking place? Used to investigate murders, Lorne feels quite out of her depth with this case.

This is a book that kept me hooked from start to finish. To say I enjoyed it wouldn't be the right term to use in this case for obvious reasons, but the author did an outstanding job in keeping me engaged from start to finish. I was really curious to find what has been happening, if Lorne would be able to find out what was behind all those deaths. And that ending!! OMG!! I had my heart in my mouth!! No, Looorne!!!

Great book! I highly recommend this one and the whole series. Now I'm just so sad to see the end of this incredible series and I'm already missing the feisty Lorne Warner so much.

About the Author
New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career. When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex. I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series.
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The Forgotten Daughter - Renita D'Silva

13/12/2018

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Book Description
‘You were adopted’.
Three simple words, in a letter accompanying her parents' will, tear Nisha’s carefully ordered world apart. Raised in England, by her caring but emotionally reserved parents, Nisha has never been one to take risks.
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Now, with the scrawled address of an Indian convent begins a search for the mother and family she never knew and the awakening of childhood memories long forgotten.

The secrets, culture and people that Nisha discover will change her life forever. And, as her eyes are opened to a side of herself she didn’t know existed, Nisha realizes that she must also seek answers to the hardest question of all – why? 

Weaving together the stories of Nisha, Shilpa and Devi, The Forgotten Daughter explores powerfully and poignantly the emotional themes of motherhood, loss and identity – ultimately asking the question of what you would do out of love for your children?
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*****

I thought I've read and enjoyed all books written by the amazing Renita D'Silva, until I was browsing my kindle library and found this little gem among the many books waiting patiently for their turn to be read. Yes, Christmas has come earlier than usual for me this year. I felt happy as I knew that I was in for a treat, and in fact this was yet another mesmerising experience that I'll keep close to my heart for many years to come.
 
'The Forgotten Daughter' is a beautiful story about a family torn apart by tragic circumstances. After Nisha's parents die in a fatal car crash, she learns that she wasn't their natural daughter, she was adopted. A few lines in a letter left to her by her parents are enough to turn Nisha's life upside down. She realises that all that she thought she knew, all that she was told, was just a bunch of lies. Her whole life was nothing but one huge lie. All of a sudden, as her life begins to crumble, long forgotten snippets of memories, images and even smells start to invade her conscious mind and her dreams. What do these mean? From where are they coming? Who is she? Who are her real parents? Where are they? Are they still alive? And why did they give her away? She wants to know everything, she wants all these questions and many others answered.

Across the globe, in India, Devi is going through a very difficult time. Her mum is in hospital fighting for her life. Due to her rebellious nature, Devi's relationship with her mum has always been strained at best. Now, feeling terrible for how she has always behaved, she seeks comfort by reading her mother's diary, going back in time and getting to know the woman her mother was before she was born, learning about her father, whom she has never met. She thought she knew her mother, knew everything about her, but through her mother's written words, she begins to uncover unimaginable secrets. All of a sudden, her mother's behaviour, her suffocating love, words and actions begin to make sense and all the dots begin to be joined together to form a picture. She also finds it therapeutic writing letters to her mother. Letters in which she pours her heart out, telling her mother her own secrets, experiences and feelings in the hope that her mother will soon be able to read them. Will mother and daughter finally be able to understand each other? Will they have the chance to start anew?

Well, as I was expecting, thanks to her beautiful, evocative writing, the author took me on another emotional, heart-warming and tear-jerking journey spanning decades and continents. Ms Silva's magnificent descriptions are alive, stimulating the senses, making the reader feel, see, taste, smell and hear all that is taking place in the story. I could clearly visualise everything with my mind's eye. The chaos of the Indian cities, the women in the colourful saris, the buses full to bursting with passengers, the damp, intense heat, the sweat, the sweltering sun, the dry red mud, the palm fronds swaying in the breeze, the nuns' kind faces. It was as if I was there living it all, in the places she so skilfully describes, interacting with the lifelike characters. I don't like to use this term in my reviews but yes, I could not put this book down and as I was reading, my emotions were all over the place. I wanted to know how it will all end, what will happen to the three women. Will their dreams come true? There were times in which I wanted to cry, others in which I wanted to shout and throw the kindle against the wall at the injustice of it all. There were also lovely moments in which I wished I was really there, one of the characters. 

Chapters are written from the point of views of the three women, Nisha, Devi and her mother Shilpa and by the end, I've come to love all three of them. All three women have gone through some challenging times in their lives and I wished I could give them a hug and help them in some way. I wished they were true characters and that I form part of their lives. I already miss them!

'The Forgotten Daughter' is a brilliant book and I really loved and enjoyed it. It has certainly given me a short break from the adrenaline-pumping thrillers I usually like to read. A huge well done to the author, Ms Renita D'Silva, who once again made me dream with my eyes open, imagining this beautiful exotic country that is India. A colourful country of extreme contrasts, of many languages, religions, diversities and delicious food. 

This book is really a work of art, or should I say 'a work of heart' and I highly recommend it.
About the author
Renita D'Silva loves stories, both reading and creating them. Her short stories have been published in 'The View from Here', 'Bartleby Snopes', 'this zine', 'Platinum Page', 'Paragraph Planet' among others and have been nominated for the 'Pushcart' prize and the 'Best of the Net' anthology. She is the author of 'Monsoon Memories','The Forgotten Daughter', 'The Stolen Girl', 'A Sister's Promise', 'A Mother's Secret', 'A Daughter's Courage', 'Beneath An Indian Sky'.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/RenitaDSilvaBooks

Twitter: @RenitaDSilva

Website: http://renitadsilva.com/

Email: Renitadsilvabooks@gmail.com
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The Secret Life and Curious Death of Miss Jean Milne - Andrew Nicoll

2/12/2018

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Book Description
A woman murdered
A crime unsolved
A  mystery that has lasted a century

The brutal murder of wealthy spinster Miss Jean Milne a hundred years ago shocked the country to its core. But for a century, the case has gone unsolved. Why was she tied up, tortured and brutally murdered? And who could have committed such a heinous crime?

To all appearances, Miss Jean Milne was the model of respectability, living a quiet life alone in her seaside mansion. But behind the façade, she had a secret life, her frequent trips to London masking a very different lifestyle. Now, using newly released evidence from police files and eyewitness testimony hidden for a century, Andrew Nicoll has brought the case back from the dead to reveal what really happened.

It's a shocking tale of class division, money, sex, lies, betrayal and murder. And, at last, after a hundred years, the curious death of Miss Jean Milne may finally have found a solution.
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****

I love historical fiction and when I saw this book on Amazon, I was instantly attracted to the hauntingly beautiful cover depicting this mysterious lady going up the stairs, and I downloaded a copy. Now, years later, browsing through my library for something different to read, I came across this cover again and decided to finally give this book a go.  

​As I began to read, I immediately realised that I was reading a true story. This wasn't fiction at all, but a 100-year-old unsolved murder mystery. Miss Jean Milne, a wealthy spinster living alone in a huge mansion in Broughty Ferry (now a suburb of Dundee, Scotland), was found brutally murdered in the hall of her house in November 1912. Written from the pov of Sergeant John Fraser, one of the police officers investigating the case, this book takes out of mothballs and re-studies all the evidence gathered by the police at the time and the statements collected from the many witnesses who thought they've seen something on the night of the murder. 

The author skilfully paints a rather vivid but at the same time bleak picture of life at the time. Thanks to his descriptions I really felt I went back in time by a century and could truly see Broughty Ferry, London and other places through the eyes of the various historical characters in the book. Andrew Nicoll spares no details in depicting the crime scene. We are told exactly how the poor woman was murdered, where she was found and in which position and from where the various items of evidence have been collected. It was as if I were there too, in the house, on the streets investigating. Some scenes are so well described in harrowing detail that I found myself wincing as I was reading, namely when the victim's body was removed from the crime scene and taken for the post-mortem. I have nightmares because of those scenes alone I can tell you. Yes, those images will remain with me for a long time, especially knowing that it was all for real, not just an invented story.

It seems that Miss Milne was a small, fragile lady who led and seemed to enjoy a solitary lifestyle with not even a maid or gardener ever setting foot in her huge house. She was a respectable lady devoted to church affairs. However she was known for her eccentric habits, pretending to be younger than she was and boasting of the various nice gentlemen she had some kind of intrigue going on with. She frequently left home for long periods of times, sometimes without telling anyone that she was leaving or where she was going. She loved to go to London, far away from the local gossip, where most probably she freely interacted with other strangers. 

So, who could have killed Miss Milne? Was it one of these men she met in London and sometimes invited to her house? Or was it someone much closer to home? The case remains unsolved, and it's evident that, under the command of Chief Constable Sempill, even though extensive, the investigation left much to be desired, with important evidence not properly followed up or blithely overlooked. The author, however, seems to have made his own detection work and instead of ending the book with the murder unsolved, he has come up with, in my opinion, a very plausible but shocking solution. Could he be right? Could that really be the person who killed Jean Milne? Will we ever know the truth?

This was a great book that I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed reading and I highly recommend it. 
About the Author
After a brief stint as a lumberjack, Andrew Nicoll has spent his working life as a newspaper journalist. His first novel, The Good Mayor, was an international bestseller. Andrew is married with three children.
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Fade to Grey - John Lincoln

25/11/2018

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Book Description
Gethin Grey is the man you call when there’s nowhere else to turn.   

His Last Resort Legals team investigates miscarriages of justice. But Gethin is running out of options himself: his gambling is out of control, his marriage is falling apart and there’s no money left to pay the wages...

Izma M was sent down years ago for the brutal murder of a young woman. In jail he’s written a bestseller and become a cult hero, and now the charismatic fading-film-star Amelia Laverne wants to bankroll Gethin to prove Izma's innocence.For Gethin – low on luck and cash – the job is heaven sent. But is Izma M really as blameless as his fans believe?
​
This seemingly cold case is about to turn very hot indeed...
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****

Gethin Grey owns a small business called Last Resort Legals. Assisted by two women, Lee and Bex, Gethin investigates miscarriages of justice. Unfortunately, the business has not been faring very well lately, so when Gethin receives an email from an ex film-star named Amelia Laverne asking him to investigate a new case, it was like a godsend opportunity for him and his team. 

Ismail Mohammed, aka Izma M, has been in prison for ten years now. He was imprisoned for the murder of a young woman. He has always categorically denied the allegations, but it seems he was seen with this girl on the night she was killed. Being a drug dealer didn't help his case either. In the time spent in prison, Izma has written a bestseller and has become some sort of celebrity himself. Gethin must prove this young man's innocence, but to do so he has to find out more about this guy and what has really happened on the night in question. Is Izma telling the truth? Is he truly innocent as he claims to be? Or is he using his book to gain the general public's support and sympathy? And if he didn't kill the girl as he claims, then who did? Was he really framed for her murder? And why is Amelia Laverne so interested in seeing this young man out of prison? 

Apart from Gethin and his workmates, we also meet his wife and daughter living in their curious 'upside down' house. Life at home seems serene enough, but Gethin's internal demons threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. In his quest to find the truth, Gethin steps on the toes of some rather unsavoury underworld characters. People who don't appreciate his intrusion at all and who are keen to stop him, even if that means eliminating him.

It was kind of refreshing not having a detective or a police officer as main character for once. Gethin is quite intriguing. He's good at his job, but he can be quite brusque or bullyish at times and rather weak or even silly at others. But he's a man of principles, even though he doesn't always succeed in upholding them. 

Full of twists and turns, the story is mainly set in Cardiff and Bristol, with the characters going to and fro between these two cities numerous times. Through vivid descriptions, the author sets the scene very clearly, putting the reader right at the centre of the action. Apart from the main story, we also have snippets of another sub-story set in the past involving a young man named Danny who lives in Cyprus. Who is this Danny? How is he connected to the main plot?  

Well, I rather enjoyed reading this book. The only minor thing that annoyed me is that each and every time Gethin got in his car, the author felt the need to specify what CD he was listening to. Maybe he just wanted us to know who are his favourite singers. Also, I'm not that bothered by the 'F' word, but if you don't fancy books that include it, be warned that you'll come across it quite frequently in this book. 

On the whole, this was a good read for me. Maybe not as suspenseful as I thought it would be, but I liked the main story, the characters, the way the plot develops and the heart-stopping moments. I was very curious to find out if Izma M would turn out to be really innocent or not. And I wasn't expecting the way things turn out at the end. 

This book is out on the 21st February 2019. I'm not sure if this is the start of a new series, but I would love to meet Gethin again on a new investigation and to learn more about him and his workmates, which were both quite interesting in their own way. Recommended!!

With thanks to No Exit Press for an advanced review copy of this book.
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The Hermitage - L J Ross

17/11/2018

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Book Description
He thought he was invincible, but he was wrong… 

When an old man is found dead inside the ancient hermitage at Warkworth Castle, Northumbria CID are called in to investigate. With no apparent motive, it’s their job to unravel why he was murdered – and this time they’re forced to do it without their star detective… 

DCI Ryan is thousands of miles away. He’s tracked a killer across Europe and has sworn not to return until he has his man in custody. Nathan Armstrong is a dangerous psychopath but there’s just one problem – he’s also an international celebrity; a world-famous thriller writer with money and connections. 

Ryan is a stranger in a foreign land, but he knows one thing – he’ll never give up. 

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular landscapes of Northumberland and Tuscany. ​
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*****

'The Hermitage' is book 9 in the stunning DCI Ryan series by the highly-talented LJ Ross. Through her articulate, clean, crisp writing, the author has once again succeeded in keeping me hooked and on the edge of my seat from start to finish as she slowly unfurled another intricate mystery. As with the previous books, I was entranced by the beautiful locations she oh-so vividly and expertly brings to life. 

"Eddie Charon was quiet and well-spoken. He kept himself to himself, came into work and did as he was told without any trouble." 

So why did someone murder this old man in cold blood? Eddie was just a simple ferryman, taking tourists across a river in a small boat to and from the castle's hermitage in Warkworth, Northumberland. When Eddie's body is discovered inside the hermitage, Denise MacKenzie and Frank Phillips are called in to investigate. They soon realise that in order to solve this crime, they need to dig deep into the man's past, and it's not long before they make a shocking discovery. Up until a few years earlier, Eddie had been leading a very different life. He held a powerful position and accumulated an uncountable number of enemies during that time. Who was really Eddie Charon? Why did he leave his old life behind and come into 'hiding' in this quiet setting? And who has apparently found him out and evened the score?  

While Denise and Phillips are busy trying to solve the case, DCI Ryan and his wife Anna are away in Florence, Italy, chasing a vicious murderer who has left a trail of victims behind both in the UK and in other countries. Nathan Armstrong hides his true nature behind the facade of a world famous writer currently celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his masterpiece 'Il Mostro'. Ryan has to deal with his Italian counterparts in Florence to try and capture Armstrong and he knows that he has no say there. He has to abide by the Italian police's regulations and just observe. But where there's Nathan Armstrong, death is never far away, and it's not long before a murder takes place. Soon, Ryan's input in Italy becomes an indispensable aid for the Italian police. But will Ryan's efforts to catch Armstrong bear fruit this time?

Well, this was such an adrenaline-pumping, roller-coaster read full of twists and turns. Once I started this book, I couldn't stop and guiltily enough I found myself even reading a few chapters at work, shhh!!! But I was desperate to find out who killed Eddie. This character became more and more interesting as the story progressed. And I wanted to know if Armstrong would slither through Ryan's hands once again. I found myself imagining the quiet setting of the mysterious hermitage witness to this brutal murder, and I could clearly visualise the beautiful Florence with the famous cathedral dominating the skyline, the narrow streets traversing the tall palazzos and the city's beautiful squares.  

Have you ever felt sorry for a killer? No? Well, read this book till the end first. I won't say anything else, just that I was left in awe by the insanely brilliant way the author develops and weaves the plot. I certainly wasn't expecting things to turn the way they did towards the end. I was so absorbed by the story and the realistic turn of events that I was left quite overwhelmed by emotions at the end. I felt sad, shocked and happy, all at the same time! WOW! Just WOW!!   

Louise Ross is undoubtedly one of the best authors out there. Her books are all absolutely fantastic and every time I finish one, I feel the urge to shout about it from the rooftops. Needless to say, I highly recommend, not only 'The Hermitage', but the whole DCI Ryan series.

With thanks to the author for a review copy of this book that I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
About the Author
LJ Ross is the author of the international #1 bestselling series of DCI Ryan mystery novels. Her debut, Holy Island, was released in January 2015 and reached number one in the Amazon Kindle UK best sellers chart. 

Since then, she has released a further seven full-length novels in the DCI Ryan Series, all of which have been top three bestsellers. Cragside, Dark Skies, Seven Bridges and The Hermitage (due for release 20 October 2018) were all #1 in the UK on pre-orders alone.

The novels are available to purchase in e-book, paperback and audiobook formats on the Amazon store, as well as in selected independent bookshops. Holy Island is also available in German translation. 

Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King's College, University of London and studied abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a regulatory lawyer for a number of years before taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write.

Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland. She enjoys reading all manner of books, travelling and spending time with family and friends. 

If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:

https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
http://www.ljrossauthor.com
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
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A Fractured Winter - Alison Baillie

21/10/2018

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Book Description
A missing girl.
Threatening notes.
Sinister strangers.

Olivia’s idyllic family life in a Swiss mountain village is falling apart.  She thought she’d managed to escape the past, but it’s coming back to haunt her.

Has somebody discovered her secret – why she had to leave Scotland more than ten years ago?

And what is her connection to Marie, a lonely schoolgirl in a Yorkshire seaside town, and Lucy, a student at a Scottish university?

A twisty family mystery with a dark edge, where nothing is as it seems. ​
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****

I read Alison Baillie's brilliant debut novel 'Sewing the Shadows Together' back in 2015 and I've been eagerly waiting her next one ever since. Admittedly the author sent me this book some months ago, but unfortunately it's only now that I found the time to read it.

The main character in this book is Olivia Keller, a Scottish woman living a prosperous life in a small mountainous village in Switzerland. Her husband, Christian, is Swiss, and they live together with their children in a beautiful house surrounded by breathtaking views. However, as the book is aptly titled, this ideal life is suddenly fractured when a local girl, best friend of Olivia's daughter Lara, disappears into thin air. Numerous search missions prove fruitless and the girl remains missing. Where is Sandra? What happened to her? Was she involved in some accident and is now injured and alone in some remote place? Or has something more sinister happened to her? Was she kidnapped? Murdered? And if it were so, why and by whom?

Sandra was a family friend and Olivia becomes obsessed with her disappearance, thinking that it could have been her daughter who has gone missing. But this will be just the beginning of the unravelling of Olivia's life. A few days later, she receives a sinister note. In the note, someone asks her how she could sleep at night knowing what she has done back in Scotland. And here we start to get the picture. Olivia has escaped from Scotland and is in hiding in this remote village in Switzerland. What terrible thing has she done in Edinburgh? Who knows about her secret? Not even her husband knows about it. Suddenly, the past she has fought so hard to keep away and hidden has come back to destroy her new life. The memories and the ghosts of the past start to haunt her days. The ideal life she had so painstakingly built begins to crumble as she's carried away by her own fears, obsessions and suspicions.

Olivia is quite a weak character, leaving all decisions in her husband's hands, and as the book progresses, she begins to go to pieces as the mask behind which she has lived all these years in Switzerland begins to slip away. She becomes progressively paranoid, choked by fear, consumed by suspicions, not trusting anyone, not even her family. Her husband doesn't recognise her any more. She knows that someone is out there watching her and waiting for the right moment to come and destroy her and her family.

The book is well written and all characters are realistic and believable. Thanks to the author's vivid descriptions, I found myself in this beautiful country, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lakes and forests. I could almost inhale the fresh air and feel the biting cold on my skin. The author also gives us an insight into some Swiss traditions. Alternating chapters take us back and forth in time between what's happening in Switzerland now and what took place in Scotland in the past. 

I was surprised by what happens at the end. I wasn't expecting things to turn the way they did and am not that sure I like the way the mystery is solved, but I like the way the book eventually ends. Maybe, I would have preferred it to be a bit more suspenseful, and at times I felt it was a bit repetitive, as Olivia zig-zags between her house and one of the other three or four places in the village she visits regularly on her mission to solve the mystery behind the girl's disappearance and to rebuild her own life. 

However, on the whole, this was quite an enjoyable, absorbing read and I went through it very fast, wanting to find the answers to the many questions invading my mind.

With thanks to the author for a copy of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.   
About the Author
Alison Baillie was brought up in the Yorkshire Dales, but has always felt Scottish. Her parents were both from Scotland and, as soon as she could, she went back there to study English at the University of St Andrews. After a year in Finland she taught English in several Edinburgh High Schools. She then moved to Switzerland, where she still lives, but her heart will always be in Scotland, where she goes as often as possible. She loves travelling, reading crime fiction, going to crime writing festivals and being with her family and friends. In 2015, her first novel, Sewing the Shadows Together, set in Edinburgh, the Outer Hebrides and South Africa, was published. To find out more about her and her books, visit her website alisonbaillie.com or follow her on Facebook at Alison Baillie Author or Twitter alisonbailliex. If you enjoy the book, please contact her. She’d love to hear from you. And if you could write a review after reading A Fractured Winter, it would mean so much to her.
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