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Watching You - J.A. Schneider

29/4/2017

Book Description
A serial killer texts his victims first. A detective vows revenge. He comes after her.

In the chill of an October night, Detective Kerri Blasco is called to a bizarre murder scene. Leda Winfield, a young volunteer for the homeless, has been shot. Her cell phone displays the frightening text, WATCHING YOU, and into her back, hideously pushed with a hat pin, is a note with the same awful message. Leda's socialite family and friends insist that no one would have wanted to harm her, but Detective Kerri isn't convinced.

Until another random young woman is killed in exactly the same way. Kerri and her team profile a monstrous killer who enjoys terrifying his victims before stalking and killing them. But how does he get their phone numbers?

Kerri soon finds that the killer is after her, too, and that the key to finding him may just be in the homeless shelter. When the body count rises, she vows to stop the madman - even if it means battling her own personal trauma, risking her job, her love relationship with her boss Alex Brand, and her life.

I've participated in the blog tour of this book!

5/5

J.A. Schneider's 'Her Last Breath' was one of my top reads of 2016, so I've been eagerly waiting for the author to write the next Kerri Blasco book ever since. Now that I've read it, I can confidently say that the author has done it again. 'Watching You' is a top-notch chiller!

The story starts with a murder in this Manhattan area:

"Everyone loved Leda."

Yes, everyone... except her killer. This young woman, known for her kind heart and altruism, is murdered in cold blood one night in a dark alley. Despite coming from a well-respected, wealthy family, Leda chose to live and work as a volunteer among the homeless, providing them with food and clothes through the local City Rescue Mission. So who would do such a horrible thing to her? Why?

The girl has been shot at point-blank and a note with the words 'Watching You' has been cruelly pinned to her back. The same note is also found in her phone, having been texted to her two days previously. Kerri is affected badly by this case and together with her boss (and secret lover) Alex Brand immediately starts the investigation, vowing to bring this killer to justice. But with no leads, trace evidence and reliable witnesses, and with countless people having access to Leda's phone number, the investigation soon hits a brick wall. Her killer could be anyone!

When another woman is killed in the same way with the same note thumbtacked to her back shortly after, Kerri and Alex find themselves back to the drawing board, starting from scratch and on a desperate race against time to try and stop this monster from killing more innocent victims. Will Kerri catch this killer before more victims are made? Well... she must first escape his clutches herself!

Schneider has once again pinned me to my kindle with "a crazy, complicated, too many suspects, where to start case" - just my kind of book - a totally gripping, chilling, intriguing thriller. She has drawn up a tense, fast-paced read that literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself devouring huge chunks of the book per sitting, all the time trying hard to ignore the chill running up and down my spine.

Though third in a series, this book can very well be read as a standalone. The plot is brilliant, well-thought out and peppered with twists and turns throughout. And with numerous hints planted here and there by the author my curiosity was kept high at all times. I wanted to know who the killer was, who the next victim will be, how will it all end.

All characters are realistic, flawed and suspicious, and like New York City's sights and sounds they're brought to life in vivid colour. I just love Kerri, haunted by her painful past and hiding her secret love story with the equally likeable Alex. These are both unforgettable characters I wish to meet again and again in future books.

Chapters from the pov of the killer are just disturbing. I was amazed by the ingenious way the killer worked his way from one victim to the next. Well done Ms. Schneider! What a brilliant idea! The author has given life to a demented psychopath who enjoys killing people and taunting the police right under their noses. He's diabolically clever, capable of striking anywhere and anytime and loving nothing more than making the headlines. I can say that I was left open-mouthed when the killer's identity was finally revealed.

This is another fantastic addition to the series. I really enjoyed it and am already looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended!

With thanks to the author for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.

About the Author:
J.A. (Joyce Anne) Schneider is a former staffer at Newsweek Magazine. She is the author of the Embryo medical thriller series, and of the Detective Kerri Blasco Police/Psychological Thrillers: Fear Dreams, Her Last Breath, and Watching You.

She loves to hear from her readers. Her website is jaschneiderauthor.net, her email address is joyce (at) jaschneiderauthor.net, and come say hi on Facebook tinyurl.com/7fm44mk. She lives with her family in Connecticut, loves gardening, and is working on her next Detective Kerri Blasco thriller.

Website: http://jaschneiderauthor.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832782.J_A_Schneider
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyceSchneider1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyce.schneider.142?fref=ts

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Sleep Tight - Caroline Mitchell

27/4/2017

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Book Description
Close your eyes … Just pray you don’t wake up.
A killer stalks the streets of East London. All over the area, murdered young women are discovered, their bodies posed into a sickening recreation of fairytale princesses.
Detective Ruby Preston is determined to hunt down a disturbed individual who is using the women to realise their twisted fantasies. But when body parts are found at the home of her lover, Nathan Crosby, Ruby is torn between her job and her heart.
Convinced that he is being framed, Ruby must catch the killer before Nathan becomes the number one suspect. But as more victims are found, it becomes harder to prove his innocence.
Ruby is in too deep, knowing that the cruel individual is getting ever closer, looking for his next beautiful victim. But can she stop a killer hell-bent on fulfilling their horrific desires – before it’s too late? And how well does she really know the man she loves?

I participated in the blog tour of this fab book!

5/5

Made my skin crawl...

Fairy tales turn into horror stories in 'Sleep Tight', the second DS Ruby Preston thriller by Caroline Mitchell. Having read and enjoyed 'Love You to Death', the first gripping book in the series, I couldn't wait to lay my hands on a copy of this book. Now that I've finished it, I can only say WOW! What a corker!!

I'm always astonished by the warped imagination of crime writers. From where do they get these ideas? This time Ms. Mitchell has let loose a terrifying monster that turns victims into 'works of art'.

"It was as if Ruby had stepped into a scene of a fairy tale."

When the naked body of a University student is found in a park, Ruby wastes no time in starting her investigation. But having barely established murder, she is called to yet another murder scene. Another dead woman is found in a graveyard. This time the body is not naked... on the contrary, the woman has been ornately dressed in a beautiful Snow White outfit, complete with wig, tiara and full make-up. What sick mind would do this? Both murders have nothing in common. But could this be connected to the first one? Is it the work of the same killer?

When another body, dressed in an equally elaborate fairy-tale outfit, is found soon after, a link between the victims is made. Ruby is sure the killer is working through a list and is desperate to find and remove this monster from the streets before more victims are claimed. Her desperation to track down this killer intensifies when body parts from the second victim are found in her crime boss fiance, Nathan Crosby's house. Even though he's no stranger to violence, Ruby is sure that Nathan would never commit such heinous crimes, would he? She's certain someone is trying to frame him, but who? But does she really know him well enough?

Serial killer thriller lovers like me will revel in this book. The author wastes no time in gripping the readers from the get-go with a chilling scene reminiscent of dark Victorian tales, like Frankenstein - this creepy killer is 'working' on one of his victims in some rundown place. Early on in the book we are told who the killer is, what his background is, but his description only serves to chill the reader to the bone. From then on, as the number of fairy-tale victims escalates further, the reader is thrown into a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat race against time alongside Ruby as she tries to solve the puzzle, identify the murderer and clear her fiance's name.

Though second in a series, 'Sleep Tight' can be read as a standalone. The author gives us enough information to know who's who, so that's not a problem. All characters and police procedures are true to life and clearly show that the author draws much from her experience as a police officer. Ruby is bold, intelligent and strong-headed. Her love story with a wealthy crime boss holds many advantages but it's not something to go boasting about at work when you're a detective sergeant. But Ruby doesn't give a damn and is not afraid to bend the rules and get information from dubious sources if needed to achieve results. Her boss, Inspector Downes is a likeable character who is willing to cover up for her at work. And what about detective Ash Baker? Well, this character plays an important role in this book, but better not reveal anything about him here...

With a creepy killer out of nightmares, a great protagonist, non-stop tension, unexpected twists and nail-biting scenes, the author kept me entertained and on my toes throughout. Thanks to her vivid descriptions in setting scenes, it was as if I was there, in the killer's lair, on the crime scenes or in Ruby's apartment. The final confrontation with the killer just made me hold my breath. Great book! Highly recommended! Go, get it!!

With thanks to Bookouture for an ARC of this book and to Ms Noelle Holten of #crimebookjunkie for organising and inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

About the Author
A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences.
Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family in a pretty village on the coast of Essex. She now writes full time.

www.caroline-writes.com
https://www.facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor/
https://twitter.com/Caroline_writes

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Will to Live - Rachel Amphlett

8/4/2017

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Book Description
Reputation is everything.

When a packed commuter train runs over a body on a stretch of track known to locals as ‘Suicide Mile’, it soon transpires that the man was a victim of a calculated murder.

As the investigation evolves and a pattern of murders is uncovered, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter realises the railway’s recent reputation may be the work of a brutal serial killer.

With a backlog of cold cases to investigate and attempting to uncover who is behind a professional vendetta against her, Kay must keep one step ahead of both the killer and her own adversaries.

When a second murder takes place within a week of the first, she realises the killer’s timetable has changed, and she’s running out of time to stop him…

Will to Live is the second book in a new crime thriller series featuring Kay Hunter – a detective with a hidden past and an uncertain future…

I took part in the blog tour of this book!

5/5

Having read and enjoyed 'Scared to Death', the first DS Kay Hunter thriller by Rachel Amphlett, I was ecstatic when I was offered an advanced copy of her second one, 'Will to Live', to read and review.

This book's cover is beautiful, intriguing and attractive, clearly illustrating the story's theme. Yes, we have trains involved in this book but also a sick mind loving nothing more than seeing helpless victims reduced to pulp on railway tracks.

As for the first book in the series, the author wastes no time in shaking up the reader with a terrifying, heart-in-mouth opening chapter. When a dog walker goes to investigate a cry for help, she's faced with a horrific scene. A man is helplessly sprawled on the train tracks, terrified and shouting for help. He's unable to get up, and from behind the wire fence that runs along the tracks, the woman is unable to do anything to save him from being crushed by the fast-approaching train right in front of her eyes.

When Kay and her team are called to the scene, evidence shows this wasn't a case of a person wanting to commit suicide and changing mind at the last moment. This was murder. Who was this poor man? What monster would do such a thing to another human being?

When another person is murdered in the same grisly way soon after, Kay is sure the killer is working through a list but in order to solve the case, she must find a link between the victims.

Apart from this baffling case, Kay finds herself battling against an unknown enemy within the force. Someone is determined to stop her from further investigating a case that had nearly resulted in her dismissal from the force. Who is this unknown person? Why are they doing this to her?

Well, once again Ms Amphlett didn't disappoint and has written another intriguing, fast-paced book that kept me on my toes and interested throughout. Although second in a series, 'Will to Live' can very well be read as a standalone.

This was the first time I've read a book where a serial killer uses trains as weapons of choice and I think this is a brilliant, original idea and a welcome departure from what we're usually used to expect in such books.

Kay is quickly becoming one of my favourite fictional characters. She's so realistic, interesting and likeable. She's a competent detective who has had her fair share of heartache. But despite this, her incessant hunger for justice keeps her going on. I like the strong camaraderie that exists between her team members. But why does the obnoxious Superintendent Larch hate Kay so much?

'Will to Live' is a hair-raising thriller that made me wince and bite my knuckles numerous times. The author's vivid descriptions give a clear sense of the surroundings, especially around the railway tracks, putting the reader right there, at the scene. But the author's words also bring to life the unspeakable horror experienced by the helpless victims. OMG! Just imagine yourself lying in the path of an oncoming high-speed train and unable to do anything about it other than close your eyes and scream! Luckily, the relaxed atmosphere at Kay's home, where she lives with her vet husband, Adam, serves as a welcome reprieve from the suspense oozing out of the rest of the book.

Amidst the investigation and all the tension and drama, the author skilfully tackles sensitive subjects like depression and suicide. As the plot thickens we're given a hint as to why the killer is doing what they're doing and even though I had my suspicions, there was no way I could have guessed the killer's identity. The author reveals it only in the last heart-pounding scene.

With 'Will to Live', the author has awarded her readers with yet another thrilling, adrenaline-pumping ride. It is a fab, engrossing book full of twists and turns and goosebump-inducing scenes. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it. Ms Amphlett, bring on the next one!

With thanks to the author for a review copy of this book that I voluntarily accepted to read and review and to Ms Emma Mitchell for inviting me to take part in the blog tour of this book.

About the Author

Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Michael Crichton.

She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint in 2014.

An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.

You can keep in touch with Rachel by signing up to her mailing list via her website (http://www.rachelamphlett.com), or via Facebook (http://on.fb.me/TN7rpu) and Twitter: @RachelAmphlett

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The Missing Ones - Patricia Gibney

1/4/2017

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Book Description
The hole they dug was not deep. A white flour bag encased the little body. Three small faces watched from the window, eyes black with terror.

The child in the middle spoke without turning his head. ‘I wonder which one of us will be next?’

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger?

Lottie is about to come face to face with a twisted soul who has a very warped idea of justice.

4/5

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I wanted to read it. The blurb just increased my intrigue and curiosity. Now that I've finished it, I can say that this is a great book and the brilliant start of a fantastic new crime series.

Set in the fictional town of Ragmullin, in Ireland, this book kicks off with a very unnerving prologue, set in the past. Three kids are watching down from a window as two men bury a child's body underneath a tree in the garden. Who are these children? What is this place? What happened to the dead child? Why are they burying the small body in the garden?

This is immediately followed by the first chapter set in the present day. A woman goes out to meet someone in the town's cathedral. There she is murdered in cold blood by this unknown person. Who killed her? And why would anyone want this woman dead?

At this point we meet DI Lottie Parker and her team, as they are given the task of investigating and solving this murder. But without even a chance to start, a man's body is found dangling from a tree. A connection between both victims is quickly made, but this won't be enough to solve the case. Who's killed these people and why? Were they killed by the same killer? When the number of victims increases further, Lottie realises that the case is far more complex and multi-layered than she first thought. Lottie will need to dig in the past to find the answers she's looking for. But why does she have a personal interest in the case? And whose unsolved case file does she keep in her desk drawer?

This book is very well written and makes for some great reading. I really enjoyed it and I couldn't believe that it's the author's debut thriller. The plot did feel a bit complex at times, with many characters involved, but on the whole I found it very engrossing, twisted and knotted with many possible suspects. The author skilfully brings past and present together, slowly painting one complete multi-coloured picture.

The author's vivid descriptions set the scene and bring all characters to life in high definition. I instantly loved Lottie with her ballsy no-nonsense attitude and sarcastic comments and retorts. She's a very strong character, an intelligent police officer and a force to be reckoned with. She's a human tornado, never idle and always going about determined to find answers, sweeping anything and anyone getting in her way. But Lottie has a soft, fragile side too and the more I read, the more I grew fond of her. She's a widow still grieving for her husband but craving love and affection. She's also a mother struggling to cope with her three teenagers. I loved her interesting close relationship with her colleague Mark Boyde, another likeable character that adds spice and laughs to Lottie's otherwise miserable life.

Balancing these likeable characters are a bunch of unsavoury, powerful, scheming individuals. Who are they? What are they plotting? And why do they meet in secret, away from prying eyes?

With great characterisation, a very intriguing, strongly woven storyline full of twists, turns, red herrings, scandals, secrets and depravity, this book kept me on my toes throughout. I wanted to know who has killed those people and why, but the author satisfied my curiosity only at the very end.

If you, like me, love books by Angela Marsons and Robert Bryndza, you'll definitely enjoy this one. Ms Gibney is a new author to watch. Now I already can't wait to meet Lottie again in book two.

With thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read and review this book through NetGalley.

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Watching You - J.A. Schneider

Sleep Tight - Caroline Mitchell

Will to Live - Rachel Amphlett

The Missing Ones - Patricia Gibney

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