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The Missing Children - M. A. Comley

29/12/2017

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Book Description
"I want my mummy..."

The whisper seems to echo through the rooms of the abandoned house. DI Kayli Bright and her partner, DS Dave Chaplin, aren't strangers to dealing with bad cases, but no one can prepare for the emotional and mental anguish caused by the discovery of a child's remains.
 
 Determined to find the responsible culprit, several of the dead child's family members surface on their radar of suspects...until they learn of another child's abduction.

The investigation leads Kayli to the shocking conclusion that even more children in the area have been abducted. A race against time ensues to find the children before they get lost in a sinister, evil world.

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5/5

Being a huge fan of author Mel Comley, I was thrilled when she recently announced the publication of a brand new trilogy. I was curious to see what this mini-series would be like and to tell the truth a bit apprehensive about whether I would enjoy it or not. But in the end I needn't have worried. The Missing Children, the first book, is a corker, but I must warn readers that it's a much darker read than the author's previous books. 

A couple of youngsters make a gruesome discovery in the basement of an old derelict house. It's the decomposing body of a young girl. Who was this child? How did she end up there? What happened to her? 

DI Kyli Bright of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, together with her partner, DS Dave Chaplin, rush to the scene. From the body's condition it's evident that the victim was brutally murdered and dumped in the basement. What monster would do such a horrible thing to a young child? Why? With no time to lose, Kyli kicks off an investigation which leads her and her team to a trail of missing girls. When another girl is snatched from a park and another body turns up, Kyli and her team become desperate to catch the monster responsible. Where are the other missing children? Is it too late for them? How can Kyli solve this case with no leads or trace evidence? Will she be able to stop the killer before more girls are kidnapped and killed?

Well I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced book, following - no, more like, trying to keep up with - Kayli and her team through twists and turns to solve the case. Like the author's previous books, the plot is quite intriguing and well thought out, keeping me pinned to my kindle, rushing through the pages, desperate to find out if and how Kayli would bring the perpetrator to justice. 

Kyli is a fabulous character. She's feisty, determined and audacious, and won't leave one stone unturned to get the answers she needs. Some readers might be put off by the main theme of the book, but rest assured the author tackles this delicate subject sensitively and without being too graphic. 

Finally, one must not forget that this is book one in a trilogy, and the ending indicates a continuation of some of the secondary storylines leaving the reader yearning for more. Now I can't wait to meet Kayli Bright again in book 2.

The Missing Children is a brilliant start to a fab new mini-series and I highly recommend it. With thanks to the author for an ARC of the book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.

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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If you only knew - Cynthia Clark

26/12/2017

4 Comments

 
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Book Description
A wife, a mother, a killer.

One wrong decision, one terrifying night, leaves student Elizabeth with a stark choice – kill or be killed. And the consequences of that choice will shape her whole life.

Now a wife, a mother, and a lawyer, she must find a way to out run her past, protect her family and live with her secret. But is it really possible to live a happy life with such a huge shadow cast by the past? And as it becomes clear that someone else knows her secret and is hunting her down, time is running out for Elizabeth to keep her family safe.
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In the bestselling tradition of Clare Mackintosh and Jenny Blackhurst, Cynthia Clark has written a heart-stopping story about the choices we make and how far we'd go to protect our families. Even if it means deceiving the people we love most...


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4.5/5

I'd never heard of author Cynthia Clark till I came across the attractive cover of this book on Facebook. Reading the blurb I was immediately intrigued and wanted to know more. In no time I found myself going through the first chapter of this book and it didn't take me long to become completely absorbed by Elizabeth's terrifying ordeal.

This book is about secrets, how secrets can mold, dictate and even ruin one's life.

"And the longer you keep a secret, the more it crushes your soul, making you want to scream, scratch at your skin, tear your hair out."

Elizabeth Perkins is a successful lawyer, a wife and a mother. To the outside world and to her own family, Elizabeth is just another busy career woman struggling to balance her life between her job and family. But Elizabeth hides a terrible secret. Fifteen years earlier, when she was still a law student, she did something horrible, a mistake which she has regretted ever since and which she has never shared with anyone, not even her husband. Through the years, Elizabeth has locked herself up in a trap of her own making, desperate to share her burden with someone else but knowing that she would and could never be understood.

"What have I done?"

But someone, somewhere knows what she did back then and this person is getting closer to her, threatening to expose her secret and destroy the life she has so painstakingly built. Who is this person? Why would they want to do this to her? Will she be able to keep the secret locked for much longer? What would she do and what would happen to her and her family when the truth is exposed? 

In this book the victim is the killer and the killer is the victim. Try figure that one out!! Yes, just mind-blowing!

As I was reading, I was constantly on tenterhooks, biting my nails and rooting for Elizabeth, knowing that even though what she had done was wrong, she wasn't entirely guilty. I know that many people, including myself, would probably have done the same thing if found in her situation. But I'm not sure I would have been able to cover up such a secret for so long. We are told what happened at the beginning, so we're aware all along what Elizabeth feels guilty about. 

The bulk of the story concentrates on Elizabeth in the present day, as she's slowly but surely cracking under the pressure of harbouring such a terrible secret. As she lives constantly in fear, watching behind her shoulders, waiting for the day when someone completes the puzzle and she's made to pay for what she did. As she's secretly struggling to cope with her burden, avoiding the triggers that could make her lose control while at the same time keeping everything hidden from everyone, especially her ever more suspicious husband. 

This book is a very well-written, heart-pounding, nerve-racking read that kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. The plot may not be one of the fastest and there may not be any exceptional twists, however the tension is constant throughout and it keeps increasing till the end. I was desperate to find out how it will all end, what would happen to Elizabeth, whether she would be exposed or if she would be made to pay dearly for what she did. 

I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. I just can't believe this is the author's debut thriller!

About the Author
Cynthia Clark was born and brought up in Malta, where she graduated in Communications and went to work for a daily newspaper. She has since lived in the US, where she worked as a writer in online business journals. She and her husband now live in London with their twin daughters.

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Dark Skies - L J Ross

16/12/2017

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Book Description
Beware what lies beneath… 


One fateful, starry night, three friends embark on a secret camping trip but only two return home. Thirty years later, the body of a teenage boy rises from the depths of England’s biggest reservoir and threatens to expose a killer who has lain dormant…until now. 

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan returns from honeymoon to face danger from all sides. In the depths of Kielder Forest, a murderer has escaped justice before and will do anything to protect the secrets of the past. Meanwhile, back at Northumbria CID, an old foe has taken the helm as Superintendent and is determined to destroy Ryan at any cost. 

Who will prevail in Ryan’s most dangerous case yet? 

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape. 


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5/5

'Dark Skies' is the seventh book in the fantastic DCI Ryan series by L J Ross, and like the others, it's an atmospheric, well-written, captivating read that had me hooked from page 1. Once again, the author took me to a breathtakingly beautiful location in Northumberland - this time to Kielder Waterside, where she literally immersed me into a bone-chilling mystery spanning decades. 

"Secrets, he thought. There were secrets to uncover in this little corner of the world."

1981. Three teenagers are together in some desolate area, among the rubble of some demolished building. Something happens and one of the youths ends up brutally murdered. 

Fast forward three decades and the mummified body of a young man is accidentally dislodged from its resting place in the depths of Kielder reservoir. The injuries displayed by the surprisingly well-preserved remains indicate suspicious death. 

DCI Ryan is just back from his honeymoon when news of the body reach him, and together with his sidekick, DS Phillips, rushes to Kielder Waterside to start the investigation into what will evidently be a very awkward case. Who was this boy? When did he die? Who killed him? And why? How did he end up on the bottom of the reservoir and for how long has he been there? How can they identify him, let alone his killer? 

Back at the station, Ryan watches his close-knit team being literally dismembered by the new Superintendent, a ghost from his past who's vowed to invade and destroy the new life he has built. How will Ryan cope at work, taking orders from the same person he's escaped from years earlier?

Well, I've said it many times before, but I'll say it again, the DCI Ryan series is absolutely one of the best mystery series I've ever read. Every time I finish one of these fabulous books, I feel the urge to shout about it from the rooftops and start yearning for the next one. Reading the terrifying prologue of 'Dark Skies', I knew that this would be another unputdownable book, and in fact I found myself gripped from the get-go, following Ryan and the others as they embark on a deadly hunt for a demented, shrewd killer who's been enjoying freedom for decades, hiding in plain sight. With numerous suspects, I couldn't for the life of me work out the killer's identity, and when I thought I had guessed, I was proved wrong at the end.

The author's crisp prose and detailed, vivid descriptions brought this beauty spot to life in HD. Even though I've never visited Kielder Waterside, I could clearly imagine this huge man-made reservoir with its water rippling gently in the breeze, glittering in the sunshine, the ferry taking its passengers from one side of the lake to the other, the boats moored to the jetties, the surrounding dense forest and the small visitor centres, lodges and businesses scattered around the area. I really wish I could visit this place one day. 

Suspenseful from start to finish (oh that ending! Made me experience all sorts of emotions but above all desperate to read the next book, now!), but also peppered with humour and romance, and with a clever, intricate plot weaved around believable characters and breathtaking scenery, Dark Skies is yet another brilliant, engaging addition to the series and I highly recommend it. 

​This series is just AMAZING!!! ​Bring on the next one!

With thanks to the author for an ARC of this 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. 

​Its sequels, Sycamore Gap, Heavenfield, Angel and High Force were all top five UK best sellers and she recently hit the top of the charts again with her sixth book, Cragside, which was number one in the UK on pre-orders alone.

The novels are all 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. 

Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Bath. 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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Hell to Pay - Rachel Amphlett

10/12/2017

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Book Description
​When a road traffic accident on a dark autumn night uncovers a disturbing conspiracy, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter’s investigation exposes a ruthless serial killer exploiting vulnerable young women.

With her enemies unmasked and her career spiralling out of control, Kay’s determination to seek vengeance for the victims brings her dangerously close to those who want to silence her.

Undeterred, she uncovers the real reason behind a plot to destroy her career and sets in motion a terrifying chain of events.

Could Kay’s need for revenge be her undoing, or will she survive to see justice served?


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5/5

I can't believe this is already the fourth book in the astounding DS Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett. I've read and enjoyed them all. This series just gets better and better with each new instalment.

Like the others, this book starts off with a bang! A car veers off a motorway and ends up all crumpled up at the bottom of a steep embankment by the side of the road. The driver is rushed to hospital in critical condition. But that's not the reason why Kay is roused from sleep in the middle of the night. It's because of the contents of the car boot...
 
"A pale arm snaked out from the boot and over the rear licence plate at an impossible angle."

In the boot police find the body of a young woman. Who is this woman? Who is the driver of the car? Did he kill her? Or was she killed in the accident? What happened? Where was he taking her? Will the driver survive and answer these questions?

Initial investigations into this accident immediately lead Kay and her team on the trail of her arch nemesis, Jozef Demiri, the organised crime boss Kay Hunter had vowed revenge on for all the anguish and pain he had put her through in the past. Kay has been constantly on the lookout to catch and put Demiri away for good and this incident has just presented her with an opportunity to do so. But how can Kay catch him when the shrewd criminal is always one step ahead of the police? What the police find is evidence of underground business dealings far, far more horrifying than they had ever imagined. This makes Kay even more determined to put a stop to Demiri's reign. But will she manage to catch him and make him finally pay for all he did? 

Well, Hell to Pay is yet another well-written, fast-paced, nail-biting thriller that kept me interested and on the edge of my seat from start to finish. In this book internal police politics and corruption play a central role. Kay is a great character. She's a tenacious, bold and competent detective, but she's also a vulnerable woman who has had her fair share of heartache. In this book I felt really afraid for Kay's safety more than once. She has enemies both inside and outside the police station. And she's been waiting for a face-to-face confrontation with her arch enemy for so long, now it was happening I was curious to find out how it will all end, what would happen, who of the two would come out victor. I certainly was not prepared for that heart-pounding ending which left me literally holding my breath. 

The chapters about Kay's private life serve as a short respite from all the tension and brutality of her life at work. After a snake and a Great Dane, I was curious to see what creature Kay's veterinary husband Adam would bring home this time for temporary residence. 

Though this book can be read as a standalone, I would still advise readers to go through the series in order. With a clever, fast-paced, well-thought out plot, a bunch of realistic characters, several suspenseful, terrifying scenes and twists and turns galore, Hell to Pay is just another fabulous addition to the series and I highly recommend it. 

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

About the Author
Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza, Ken Follett, and Stuart MacBride.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.

Her novels are available in eBook, paperback and audiobook formats from worldwide retailers including Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. 

A keen traveller, Rachel holds both EU and Australian passports and can usually be found plotting her next trip two years in advance, usually with a crime fiction festival tacked on for good measure! You can stay in touch with Rachel via her Reader’s Group at www.rachelamphlett.com.
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White Out - Ragnar Jonasson

5/12/2017

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Book Description
Two days before Christmas, a young woman is found dead beneath the cliffs of the deserted village of Kálfshamarvík. Did she jump, or did something more sinister take place beneath the lighthouse and the abandoned old house on the remote rocky outcrop? With winter closing in and the snow falling relentlessly, Ari Thór Arason discovers that the victim's mother and young sister also lost their lives in this same spot, twenty-five years earlier. As the dark history and its secrets of the village are unveiled, and the death toll begins to rise, the Siglufjordur detectives must race against the clock to find the killer, before another tragedy takes place. Dark, chilling and complex, Whiteout is a haunting, atmospheric and stunningly plotted thriller from one of Iceland's bestselling crime writers.


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

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​4.5/5
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Though I had never read any books by Ragnar Jonasson, I'd read a lot of positive reviews and comments about his Icelandic crime thriller series, so I didn't think twice to accept the publisher's generous offer of a copy of White Out, the latest instalment, in exchange of an honest review.

Though fifth in the series, White Out can very well be read as a standalone. The author provides enough background information to help the reader understand who's who and what had happened before, so I found it very easy to settle in the story with the main characters.

It's almost Christmas and Ari Thor, a young detective and principle character of this series, is contacted by his ex-boss Tomas to travel with him to the North, to Kalfshamarsvik, to the scene of a suspicious death. A young woman has fallen off the cliffs and lost her life. There, the detectives are stunned to learn that decades earlier, both the woman's mother and younger sister had lost their lives at exactly the same spot. How could this be? What happened? Was this an unfortunate accident? Suicide? Murder? Or the deed of some supernatural entity said to be lurking in the area? Why did this woman felt she had to visit this place after twenty-five years away, only to end up dead at the bottom of the cliffs? The detectives must not only rebuild the last days and hours preceding this woman's death, but they also have to go back in time and dig deep in the past.

The plot is very atmospheric and intriguing and even though not very fast-paced, I ended up devouring this book pretty quickly as I found it very engrossing from the beginning. I was curious to find out what had really happened to Asta. 

Apart from the main characters, the story revolves around a handful of other dubious characters - mainly the occupants of the house at Kalfshamarsvik, who all seem to harbour disturbing secrets and act suspiciously. Someone knows what happened. Someone has seen something but is keeping quiet, but who? What's sure is that no one can be trusted to be telling the truth.

Thanks to the author's vivid descriptions (and the excellent translation) I could clearly imagine myself there surrounded by the white, cold, desolate snowy landscape, the magnificent lighthouse standing proud at the edge of the point and the old house perched high up on the cliffs. I Googled Kalfshamarsvik lighthouse and bay (the setting of the book) as I wanted to see this location for myself, and I have to say that it's a really beautiful spot. The lighthouse - a key element of this story - is really an impressive structure, as is the columnar basalt which is a natural wonder found in this bay. 

With vivid descriptions, a great central protagonist, an intriguing mystery, a bunch of possible perpetrators, twists, turns and shocking revelations, White Out is a brilliant, engrossing read and I highly recommend it.

This was my first book by this author, but it certainly won't be my last. In fact I've already downloaded the first one in the series, Snowblind as I want to start the series from the beginning.

With thanks to the fab Orenda publishers for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review and to the lovely Anne Cater for organising and inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

About the Author
Ragnar Jonasson is author of the international bestselling Dark Iceland series. His debut Snowblind went to number one in the kindle charts shortly after publication, and Nightblind, Blackout and Rupture soon followed suit, hitting the number one spot in five countries, and the series being sold in 20 countries and for TV. 
Ragnar was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he continues to work as a lawyer. He also teaches copyright law at Reykjavik University and has previously worked on radio and television, including as a TV-news reporter for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. Ragnar is a member of the UK Crime Writers' Association (CWA) and set up its first overseas chapter in Reykjavik. He is also the co-founder of the international crime-writing festival Iceland Noir. From the age of 17, Ragnar translated 14 Agatha Christie novels into Icelandic. He has appeared on festival panels worldwide, and lives in Reykjavik with his wife and young daughters.

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