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Girl a - Dan Scottow

18/4/2021

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​Someone thinks they know who she is… and what she did.

But she insists it’s a mistake.

All Beth has ever wanted is a quiet life for her and her family. And that is what she has, until one evening a note is pushed through the door, with two words scrawled in menacing black ink;

Found you.

As Beth’s neatly crafted life begins to unravel, an unseen menace torments her and those she loves. But who’s behind the threats?

Somebody is out to get Beth, but do they have the right woman?
​

Beth faces losing everything, and there is far more at stake than just her marriage…

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5/5

WOW! WOW! WOW! What a corker!! I'm so glad to have picked up and read this brilliant book on the recommendation of two lovely facebook friends. This must be one of the most breathtaking, suspenseful books I've ever read.

A strange note posted through Beth's door is just the first in a number of weird things that start to happen to her and her family. Someone seems to have targeted them, for what reason neither Beth nor her husband, Charlie, seem to know. Beth tries to play it down as some joke by a colleague but when these weird things start getting progressively more serious and deadly, Charlie is understandably worried and decides to involve the police. But Beth doesn't seem as keen on doing so, why? Who is doing these things to Beth's family? And why?

When lies and secrets begin to see the light of day, the serene life as Beth, Charlie and their kids know it in their lovely farmhouse starts to crack at the seams, until ultimately it is completely blown apart. The first chapter in the book, taking place in the eighties, gives us a clue as to the origin of these strange occurrances.

This is THE kind of book I LOVE, a brilliant plot with great characters and non-stop tension, and having read it now, I'll make sure to get a copy of the author's other book. The suspense in 'Girl a' never wavers and is at a high level from start to finish. My mind was immediately invaded by myriad questions and I found myself gnawing my nails, desperately wanting to know what happens next from one chapter to the next. I really felt scared for Beth and her family coming to any harm. And when I thought I had sussed it all out, the author expertly pulled the carpet from under my feet and sent me flying with even more questions than before. The ending was totally unexpected and I was left open-mouthed. OMG!!

'Girl a' is an astonishingly brilliant book and I highly, highly recommend it! Will be surely looking for more books by this talented author. Well done!

About the Author
Dan grew up in Hertfordshire before moving to London in his early twenties. After more than ten years living there, he decided enough was enough, and packed his bags for Scotland in search of a more peaceful life.
Dan works as a graphic designer, but dreams of the day he can give it up and write full time.
Besides writing, he enjoys painting, watching a good scary film, travelling the world, good food, long walks on the beach with his dogs, and of course, reading a great book.
Dan's psychological thrillers 'Damaged', and 'Girl A' are out now, and available to buy or download.

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Blood Loss - Kerena Swan

11/4/2021

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Sarah
With one eye on the rear view mirror and the other on the road ahead, Sarah is desperate to get as far away from the remote Scottish cabin as she can without attracting attention. But being inconspicuous isn’t easy with a black eye and clothes soaked in blood…

… and now the fuel tank is empty.

DI Paton
When a body is discovered in a remote cabin in Scotland, DI Paton feels a pang of guilt as he wonders if this is the career break he has been waiting for. But the victim is unidentifiable and the killer has left few clues.

Jenna
With the death of her father and her mother’s failing health, Jenna accepts her future plans must change but nothing can prepare her for the trauma yet to come.

Fleeing south to rebuild her life Sarah uncovers long-hidden family secrets. Determined to get back what she believes is rightfully hers, Sarah thinks her future looks brighter. But Paton is still pursuing her…

… and he’s getting closer.

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5/5

When I read the intriguing blurb of 'Blood Loss', I knew that I would enjoy this chilling book and I was right as I was drawn into the story right from the frenetic first chapter.

Sarah has just murdered a man in a desolate cabin in the woods, and covered in blood, she is desperate to get away from the scene as fast as she can before she's spotted by someone. Who was this man? Why did she kill him?

Desperate to be in charge of a case, DI Paton is alerted about the discovery of the body in the cabin. He hopes that this will be the case that finally puts him in the limelight at the station. He wants to catch the killer as quickly as possible and prove his worth with his colleagues, boss and his son Tommy. Paton is a very interesting, likeable character with worries of his own concerning his family unit.

Jenny is a young lady who loves dreadlocks, horses and travelling. She has recently lost her father and her mother's health is sadly also gradually deteriorating. She and her sister, Lucy, are always bickering about something or other. Strange things start to happen to Jenny. It seems as though someone is trying to harm her. But who and why? What does Jenny have to do with the main plot of the book, that is, Sarah and the murder? When the author finally revealed the connection, it was completely unexpected and the plot took on a completely different dimension.

'Blood Loss' is the first in a new series but it can be read as a standalone. It follows on from a novella called 'Here She Lies' which doesn't necessarily have to be read first. I read the novella before I started this and I enjoyed it too.

I found 'Blood Loss' very engrossing throughout. The plot is pacy, all characters and dialogue are realistic and the writing crisp and fresh. The story is told from the povs of Sarah, DI Paton and Jenny. This is not just a crime fiction like any other, yes we have a murder and a detective investigating, but this book is so much more. You could say that the main character in this book is actually the murderer, not DI Paton. The author expands on her life, and more importantly about her past. I couldn't decide whether I hated the murderer or empathised with her more because of the bad hand she has been dealt in life.

One thing I didn't like in this book is the chapter headings. I wouldn't recommend the author to title chapters in future books as 'The previous February' or 'The following June' and so on because it proved rather confusing and daunting to follow and understand the timelines. I would have preferred just the month and year.

Other than that I really enjoyed this chilling page-turner and I highly recommend it. It's a brilliant, thrilling start to a fabulous new series. This was a new author to me and now I'll certainly be on the lookout for the next in the series. With huge thanks to Hobeck Books for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

About the Author
A B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree.

Kerena Swan trained as a Social Worker and worked for Social Services for over 25 years. For the past 14 years she has owned and managed an ‘outstanding’ rated agency for children with disabilities. Following serious illnesses she decided to fulfil her long-held ambition of writing a book and getting it published. ‘Dying to See You’, published by Bloodhound Books, was her debut novel.
After many years of writing professionally in the course of her work, Kerena has discovered the exhilaration and deep joy of writing fiction and can be found at all hours in front of her computer. Her second novel 'Scared to Breathe' is now available and her third book, 'Who's There?', will be released on December 13th 2019.
Kerena lives with her family in a small village in Bedfordshire, UK and her books are set in the surrounding areas.
Drawing on her extensive knowledge and experience of the problematic world of social work and social studies, Kerena adds a unique angle to the domestic noir and crime genre.
If you would like to hear more about new releases, read Kerena's blogs and download a free short-story - the prequel to Dying to See You - then visit kerenaswan.co.uk and join her mailing list.

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Here She Lies - Kerena Swan

8/4/2021

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Buried truth is hard to find...

Harry
It is the middle of the night when Harry receives a shocking phone call from his estranged sister, Stacie. Despite being sworn to secrecy, terrified and haunted by what he's been told, Harry is compelled to tell the police.

DI Paton
DI Dave Paton has a hunch that all is not as it seems with Harry's story. But can he unravel the mystery?

Here She Lies, a tale of family trauma and guilt, introduces DI Paton and his son, Tommy, the stars of the new gripping crime series by Kerena Swan.

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4/5

'Here She Lies' is the prequel novella to 'Blood Loss', the first in the DI Paton Investigates series by Kerena Swan. It is available free of charge on the Hobeck Books website.

It's not necessary to read this novella before reading 'Blood Loss', but it introduces DI Paton and his son, Tommy. It also ends at exactly the same point were 'Blood Loss' starts.

One night, Harry receives an unexpected call from his sister, Stacie. The news she gives him chills him to the core but she makes him swear to her not to tell anyone what she had told him. She's beside herself, terrified and desperate. But Harry's conscience wouldn't let him quiet and he decides to break his promise and divulge everything to the police.

DI Paton takes on this shocking case. His son Tommy insists on helping him out, but Paton only takes him as far as the police station and only as it was the weekend, when his boss wouldn't be around.

Will Paton succeed in helping Harry out? Will he find what Harry tells him when he visits the site pointed out by Stacie?

Well this serves as a good introduction to the series. I read it in minutes and found it intriguing. I like DI Paton and Tommy and can't wait to dive into the new series.

Thanks to Hobeck Books for offering this novella free of charge.

About the Author
A B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree.

Kerena Swan trained as a Social Worker and worked for Social Services for over 25 years. For the past 14 years she has owned and managed an ‘outstanding’ rated agency for children with disabilities. Following serious illnesses she decided to fulfil her long-held ambition of writing a book and getting it published. ‘Dying to See You’, published by Bloodhound Books, was her debut novel.
After many years of writing professionally in the course of her work, Kerena has discovered the exhilaration and deep joy of writing fiction and can be found at all hours in front of her computer. Her second novel 'Scared to Breathe' is now available and her third book, 'Who's There?', will be released on December 13th 2019.
Kerena lives with her family in a small village in Bedfordshire, UK and her books are set in the surrounding areas.
Drawing on her extensive knowledge and experience of the problematic world of social work and social studies, Kerena adds a unique angle to the domestic noir and crime genre.
If you would like to hear more about new releases, read Kerena's blogs and download a free short-story - the prequel to Dying to See You - then visit kerenaswan.co.uk and join her mailing list.

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Depend on Me - Christian Williams

23/3/2021

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​It's been over a year since JJ and Donnie's passionate affair. They each try to start a new life following the seismic events caused by their unexpected relationship and heart-rendering split. Yet both men are struggling; Donnie is in serious debt and in trouble with the law, whilst JJ is in the grip of obsession and addiction. Could it be that the young JJ and the older Donnie actually need each other after all, in order to prevent their lives completely falling apart?

This is the second in the series of the 'Donnie & JJ' romance, originally inspired by the film 'Call Me By Your Name'.

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5/5

After reading and enjoying 'Taste', the first Donnie and JJ novella by Christian Williams, I kept wondering if the author would write another book featuring these two characters. So, when I found out that 'Depend on Me' was published I didn't think twice to download it.

This is another novella-length instalment and the story takes place about two years after book one. In that book these characters' paths crossed each other leading to an ardent, passionate love story, but then sadly and cruelly life tore them apart. So now I was curious to find out if the author would bring them back together again and if yes, what would they do. In this book JJ's brother, Aron, has a central role too.

I don't want to say much not to spoil the book to anyone. I'll just say that both Donnie and JJ are not enjoying the best of lives. They are both emotional wrecks in financial trouble, their story together a thing of the past. Can they ever get out of the difficulties they find themselves in? Will JJ and Donnie's paths cross each other again? Will they rekindle their burning passion towards each other? I was curious to find out and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting.

'Taste' was the author's first attempt at publishing. It was a very well-written entertaining story and literally hot to handle. Now, having read this book I have to say that the author's writing is even better. This book does not include the saucy scenes I had been expecting, similar to those in book one, and I have to say I missed those, however the plot is very engaging and intriguing all the same and the characters are given even more depth.

I enjoyed reading this novella and I'm now looking forward to reading more books by this author, preferably more books featuring Donnie and JJ. Well done!
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The Last Thing to Burn - Will Dean

10/3/2021

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He is her husband. She is his captive.
​
Her husband calls her Jane. That is not her name.


She lives in a small farm cottage, surrounded by vast, open fields. Everywhere she looks, there is space. But she is trapped. No one knows how she got to the UK: no one knows she is there. Visitors rarely come to the farm; if they do, she is never seen.

Her husband records her every movement during the day. If he doesn't like what he sees, she is punished.

For a long time, escape seemed impossible. But now, something has changed. She has a reason to live and a reason to fight. Now, she is watching him, and waiting . . .

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4/5

Following all the hype surrounding the release of this book, I wanted to jump in feet first in this story and see for myself. Now having read it, I can say that I wasn't disappointed. The author held my interest and my knuckles pressed white throughout.

"I live in an open prison surrounded by wall-less fields and fence-less fens."

'Jane' is a foreigner, trafficked into the UK and held like a slave in a desolate English farm surrounded by acres and acres of open fields. She lives in fear of the man who has brought her there to serve him in every way imaginable. She's not bound in chains, but she can't go anywhere. She wouldn't try and do anything to upset Lenn. Escape is not an option. She knows it's impossible and if she were ever caught, the repercussions would be terrible and unimaginable. By the beginning of the story we're aware that she had already had more than just a taste of Lenn's brutal character.

Her thoughts are always with her sister who occasionally writes her a letter from where she's working in the UK. Jane draws courage from her sister's success in this foreign land. But she has to behave because if she were caught doing something serious, like escaping, her sister would suffer the consequences. She would be brought there in that hell in her place. So Jane suffers in silence, day by day, obeying Lenn's every command and dance to his music.

But then something unexpected happens and Jane becomes determined more than ever to escape from Lenn's clutches. But would she dare? How can she do it? What would happen if she were caught?

This book is a very well-written slow-burner, the tension present all the time, unrelenting, suffocating, but at the same levels almost throughout. The descriptions are amazing and vivid. I could clearly picture the vast fields surrounding the farm, the pig barn, the front room where Jane mostly spends her time. The dark, low, half-cellar beneath the house. The abuse scenes, though not too gruesome, may not be everyone's cup of tea.

I felt terrible for Jane. My heart went out to her. I wished I could help her in some way. How could a human being hold so much power over and inflict so much pain and horrific abuse onto another one like that? Though I knew this was a work of fiction, I also knew that there are many people subjected to such horrors throughout the world in real life, who suffer silently behind closed doors. This book serves as a shocking eye-opener on human trafficking and domestic abuse.

I thought this was a brilliant, intense, albeit at times uncomfortable and disturbing read, maybe a bit repetitive with respect to Jane's everyday life at the farm, but a memorable read nonetheless. I highly recommend it and I'll surely be looking for more books by Will Dean.

About the Author
Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying law at the LSE, and working many varied jobs in London, he settled in rural Sweden with his wife. He built a wooden house in a boggy forest clearing and it's from this base that he compulsively reads and writes.

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The Castaways - Lucy Clarke

7/3/2021

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A SECRET BEACH. A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
WISH YOU WERE HERE?
THINK AGAIN…

It should be like any other holiday.

Beautiful beaches.
Golden sunsets.
Nothing for miles.

You’ll never want to leave.
Until you can’t…

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4/5

I was immediately attracted to the beautiful exotic cover and intriguing short blurb of this book. I had never read anything by this author before, so I couldn't wait to 'dip' myself into the story.

Two very close sisters, Lori and Erin, decide to go on a holiday to Fiji, on one of its many beautiful islands. But tragedy strikes before they even make it to their final destination and the sisters are separated. Two years pass and after a startling news on the media, Erin returns to Fiji desperate to try and dig deep again into what happened to the plane that disappeared with Lori on board. Where has the plane crashed? Where is Lori?

The story is divided into two main timelines on alternate chapters. We have Lori at the time of the crash, literally trying to survive one day at a time on a deserted islet along with some other enigmatic passengers, faced by a desperate situation, a million difficulties and hazards imposed by the inhospitable land. And then we have Erin in the present day, two years later, back in Fiji, asking questions, wondering, trying just one more time to find out something that may lead her to her sister's whereabouts. It's as if the plane and its human cargo have simply disappeared from the face of the earth. The plane wreck has never been located and no word has ever reached Erin about her sister. But will she find what she's looking for here this time? Will she finally be able to put the two-year-old puzzle together at last? Why do the Fijian authorities seem reluctant to reopen the investigation? Was it really an accident? Or something more sinister? Is Lori still alive? Or has she been dead for two years?

The short, cryptic blurb succeeded in spiking my curiosity more than usual to find out what happens in the book. It filled my mind with a lot of questions before I have even began to read. I was drawn into this story from the beginning thanks to the author's beautiful, crisp writing and by the setting of the story. I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the island and of Fiji. It was as if I could close my eyes and find myself there, in that desolate paradise, feeling the sand under my bare toes and the sun beating down on my back. Looking out at the horizon at the endless sea and sky. But I could also feel the desperation of the survivors. My heart went out to them, I was afraid for Lori and Sonny's well-being as I could feel something dark and sinister lurking on the island and I just knew that something terrible was about to happen. The other characters are all quite mysterious and it's as if they all have a hidden agenda. This story reminded me of 'The Lord of the Flies'. Away from society and its elements for an extended period of time, humans change into entirely different beings. How can they ever survive this harsh environment? Will help ever come before it's too late?

Apart from one aspect which I thought was a bit far-fetched, I think this book is brilliant and I highly recommend it. With huge thanks to HarperCollins for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book through Netgalley.

About the Author
Lucy Clarke has a first class degree in English Literature, and is a passionate traveller and diarist. She has worked as a presenter of social enterprise events, a creative writing workshop leader, and she is now a full-time novelist. Lucy is married to James Cox, a professional windsurfer, and together they spend their winters travelling and their summers at their home on the south coast of England.

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Taste of Fury - M. A. Comley

27/2/2021

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​Does time ever truly heal an aching heart?

DI Katy Foster and her partner, DS Charlie Simpkins arrive at a crime scene where the victim has been torched in his own vehicle.

But who is the killer and what is their motive?

Over the course of a week, several more men are murdered and Katy is put under severe stress to find the culprit when clues are sparse and the crimes are happening frequently.

Until finally, a suspect emerges with a heartbreaking motive and a truly wicked agenda.

Giving up their weekend off to try to locate the suspect, leaves Katy and Charlie reeling when a child goes missing in connection with the investigation.

With a child’s fate in their hands, Katy and Charlie are thrust into a dangerous race against the clock.

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5/5

This is another fantastic book in the Justice Again series by M A Comley, a series that in my opinion is getting better and better which each new addition.

In this book Kate and Charlie are faced by a baffling, frustrating case in which a number of men are atrociously murdered over a number of days in different ways, ensuring maximum pain and terror before death. Due to the different MOs, Kate and Charlie find themselves out of their depth. They're not even sure this is actually the work of one killer or more. How can they ever solve these cases if the murders seem random and totally different? Apart from these murders, Kate has to deal with more problems arising in her personal life...

We are told who the killer is from the start, but that doesn't make the plot any less intriguing. When the reason for these killings became clear, I ended up understanding and feeling sorry for the killer as much as for the victims.

An intriguing, fast-paced plot, life-like characters and dialogues, ongoing banter and a built-up of suspense make this a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

About the Author
M A Comley is a KINDLE UNLIMITED ALL-STAR author as well as being a New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, she has topped the book charts on iBooks as a top 5 bestselling and reached #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over two and a half million copies sold world wide. She's a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when she turned her hobby into a career.

When she's not writing crime novels as well as caring for her elderly mother, she's either reading or going on long walks with her rescue pup Labrador, Dex.

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Dead Secret - Noelle Holten

18/2/2021

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​Psychopaths can take root in the unlikeliest soil…

DC Maggie Jamieson crosses paths once again with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood when a domestic violence survivor stumbles into her new refuge, unable to speak, desperate for help.

Then another case hits Maggie’s desk. A young man has been murdered, and a curious constellation of black dots has been inked onto his cheek.

That’s when DCI Hastings goes missing and Maggie uncovers a shocking connection that turns the case on its head.
​

Every family may hide secrets, but not every family buries them…


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5/5

​I've now read all four books in the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten and have to say that this series is getting better and more intriguing with each new installation. Dead Secret is full of twists and turns and kept me hooked from start to finish.

This book starts exactly where book three had left us but it can be read as a standalone just the same. An injured young woman in distress with her face all bruised and bloody arrives at Lucy Sherwood's new shelter for domestic abuse victims. This woman won't say a word and seems terrified of someone. It's evident that she's on the run from somewhere. Who is this woman? Where did she come from? What happened to her? Who did this to her?

DC Maggie Jamieson is faced with more than one baffling case in this book. First the body of a teenage boy is found in the woods. He's been bludgeoned to death. Who was this boy? Who has done this to him? Why did the killer leave their weapon behind? And what do the strange markings found on the body mean?

Then DCI Hastings and his family disappear without a trace. No one knows what happened to them, until a gruesome discovery is made at the DCI's home. With the clock ticking and fearing the DCI's and his family's well-being, Maggie, Nathan and the rest of the team, with the input of Dr Kate Moloney from Ireland, are drawn into a frenetic search for clues and evidence. But these two cases will prove a tough nut to crack and by the end no one will be the same.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout as we have so much going on: the murder, the disappearance of an entire family, the mysterious woman at the shelter. Plus we have Maggie finally and seriously thinking about her personal life, trying to decide what she really wants. The tension never stops and the plot's momentum is pacy. The characters are all life-like and the dialogues realistic. Though the plot is complex it is not confusing and with skill the author kept me guessing till the end where I came across a couple of mind-blowing surprises I wasn't expecting. Once again, this book ends with a massive cliffhanger and now I can only plead with the author to hurry up and publish her next 'Dead' book asap.

'Dead Secret' is yet another engrossing addition to the series and I highly recommend it. An intriguing plot, great characterisation, more than one baffling mystery, all in all an entertaining read. What more could a reader wish for?

With thanks to One More Chapter for approving my request to read an ARC of this book through Netgalley.

About the Author
Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering cases of domestic violence and abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Dead Inside is her debut novel and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.
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Song of the Psychopath - Mark Tilbury

14/2/2021

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​A year after going missing from home, Tommy Scarlett is found unconscious in an isolated country road. He has a fractured skull, broken wrist, and numerous other injuries. Recovering in hospital, Tommy has no recollection of the past. He doesn’t even recognize his own family.

After returning home, Tommy suffers severe headaches and acute depression. Desperate to help him, his father puts him into the care of a private therapist. But Tommy soon learns his troubles are far from over.

As the past is slowly unlocked, it becomes increasingly clear that Tommy has suffered an ordeal so horrendous it beggars belief. And those responsible are determined to silence him by any means possible.

Can Tommy find out what really happened to him and bring those responsible to justice?

Or will the past finally catch up with him and finish him off for good?

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5/5

​Whenever I start reading a book by Mark Tilbury I know that very soon I'll be plunged into a nightmare, a dark, dizzying and terrifying psychological abyss. This author's books are all brilliant and even though I know that they verge on horror (not my favourite genre), I find myself somehow attracted to them like a moth to a flame, yearning to take a little peep inside his twisted mind. 'Song of the Psychopath' made me bite my nails to the quick and I'm sure it will stay with me forever.

After a whole year missing, Tommy is found seriously injured in an alley. Waking up at the hospital after a week in a coma, he has no recollection of what happened to him. It's as though his memory has been wiped clean. He doesn't even recognise his parents and sister. Where has he been all this time? What happened to him? The police come and ask questions but if he can't give them any clues they can do nothing to find the persons responsible. It's evident that Tommy has been held somewhere, beaten and abused. But where? And who could do that to a teenager?

Soon Tommy starts having terrifying flashbacks that don't make any sense to him. Plied with painkillers, he becomes withdrawn and depressed. He starts having nightmares and hallucinations, episodes where he becomes aggressive towards his family. All he wants to do is die and put an end to his pain and misery.

In the meantime the sick bas***ds that had used and abused of Tommy and kept him prisoner know that they will be in deep trouble if he regained his memory. They have much to lose if that were to happen and so are desperate to get to him. But how can they do that when Tommy spends most days at home? One thing is for sure, they will stop at nothing to finish the job. How can Tommy in his confused state escape from their grasp a second time?

Well, this book must be one of the darkest books I've ever read. I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea as it treats a very delicate subject - child abuse. The story made me go through all sorts of emotions. I found myself flying through the pages, wanting to know if Tommy will remember what happened to him or not. If the villains will succeed in grabbing him once more. I felt terrible and sorry for Tommy, for what those people made him go through. I wanted to throttle the sick monsters with my own hands. The villains in this book must be the worst I've ever come across in all the years I've been reading. Yes, this author's mind must be seriously twisted to come up with such terrifying scenes and plots.

This book is very well-written with realistic dialogue and vivid (sometimes too much so) descriptions. Some scenes require a strong stomach to digest them. Some of the characters are demons disguised as humans. I liked Tommy's sister the most and her determination to help her brother.

To say I 'enjoyed' this book wouldn't be the right term to use this time due to the central theme of the story. I rather enjoyed the thrill of the ride, the feelings, the stimuli, the sensations provoked by this book, the goosebumps erupting on my skin. It was like watching a horror movie from behind the safety of a cushion with your feet tucked well away in case there's a monster under the bed.

'Song of the Psychopath' is an addictive, shocking page turner that will test your sanity. I can't remember how many times I uttered loudly OMG and WTF, gaining weird looks from my family members. One word of caution to the ladies: don't spend money on your nails before reading this book as you'll end up eating them.

Well done to the author and roll on the next one!!

About the Author
Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. After being published by an indie publisher Mark has now returned to self-publishing and is re-launching his back catalogue, before a new thriller is due out March 2021

When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

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Cry for Help - Wendy Dranfield

14/2/2021

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Shivering in the early morning chill, the caretaker flips the switch on the Ferris wheel and stumbles back in shock. The teenage girl’s body is slumped in a halo of pretty colored lights, long red hair spilling over her tear-stained cheeks, her eyes fixed forever on her dangling feet.

When teenager Nikki Jackson’s body is found at an amusement park, just hours after Fourth of July fireworks lit up the night sky, the Lost Creek police rule her death as suicide––a devastating final act from a girl who had lost all hope. But the absence of the knife used to make the wounds on her delicate wrists makes Detective Madison Harper think otherwise. And the partial fingerprint found on the girl’s face proves her right. Someone else was with Nikki in her final moments…

Back home in Colorado for the first time in seven years to investigate the murder of a woman with ties to the son she lost to the care system, the pressure is on for Madison to work both cases at once. Fearing the team has missed a vital clue, Madison searches the crime scene alone and finds the last thing she ever expected: a note proving the victims knew each other, and that the cases are linked. Is this a coincidence, proof a dangerous murderer is on the loose, or a trap set to lead Madison off the trail?

It’s only when Madison finally finds the knife used to harm Nikki, tucked in an almost impossible to find hiding place, that she knows she is closing in on a twisted killer. But the last person she expects to see dragged into the department in handcuffs is her own missing son…

An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will have you sleeping with the lights on. Addictive reading for anyone who loves Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Melinda Leigh.

​

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5/5

I had really enjoyed reading 'Shadow Falls', the first book in the Detective Madison Harper series by Wendy Dranfield, so as soon as I finished that I immediately started 'Cry for Help'. The second book kicks off exactly where book one ends and so I recommend reading the books in order.

Madison has arrived back at her hometown after a long absence which she spent in prison for a crime she didn't commit. But she's not given an exactly warm welcome back, neither by her ex colleagues nor by the people in town. Everyone believes her to be a cold-blooded killer.

She's back with Nate, her boss and private investigator, who's helping her find out the identity of the person who had framed her. But she's also back to find her son and to investigate the murder of her ex-girlfriend, Stephanie. However, Madison is no longer a detective, she has to leave the work to the local police, her ex-colleagues whom she doesn't trust. So she embarks on her own investigation. But how can she and Nate prove her innocence?

As soon as Madison arrives back in town, a teenage girl is found dead at the local amusement park. Everything points to an open-and-shut suicide case, but certain facts indicate possible suspicious circumstances. Someone was with the girl when she died or soon after. Someone knows what happened to her. But who? And what? Was it an assisted suicide perhaps? Or murder?

Well, there's a lot going on in this book and I found myself fully absorbed in the plot and entertained for hours. A myriad questions invaded my mind. I wanted to know who had framed Madison. Who killed Stephanie. And why. What happened to Madison's son? Was the girl at the amusement park murdered or had she had enough of her short sad life?

The plot is fast paced and suspenseful from start to finish. The author's writing crisp and full of vivid descriptions. Even though we have a number of different sub-plots and investigations going on: Stephanie's murder, the girl's death, the whereabouts of Madison's son and the search for the identity of the person who had framed Madison, the plot is not confusing at all. And that shows this author's skill in seamlessly taking the reader on a complex, intriguing, breath-taking journey full of twists and turns, surprises and red herrings and keep them entertained throughout. The ending made me wince and gasp... literally!

I thought book one in the series was great, but I enjoyed this one even more. It is a fabulous thriller and I highly recommend it! Well done to the author and huge thanks to Bookouture for an ARC of this book.

About the Author
Wendy is a former coroner's assistant turned crime writer who lives in the UK with her husband and 3 cats.
As well as her two crime series and the YA crime novel - The Girl Who Died - Wendy has several short stories published in UK and US anthologies. She has also been shortlisted and longlisted for various competitions, including the Mslexia Novel Competition.


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