Tag: Blog Tour

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The Dentist-Blog Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I’m always on the lookout for new detective/crime thrillers to latch onto, and my love for unique characters and settings is known to anyone who has read a few of my blog posts. I have to say, DS Cross is truly one of the most unique characters I have ever come across.

As you have (probably) seen elsewhere, Cross is on the spectrum. According to the book, he has a form of Asperger’s (which I believe has been absorbed into the full autistic spectrum). This results in him obsessing about the smallest details and minutiae.

While one would think that this is a good trait for a detective, his colleagues don’t always agree. To be sure, he is a bit off-putting at first, because you want him to get to the point. However, as you (the reader) gets to know him, you realize that these tics and habits are what enable him to be successful.

That being said, there were still times that I wished he would get on with it. But it became easier to accept the further I read.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ginNGt Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3gjS7AB
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The case itself is interesting, as it weaves a cold case with a current case. Due to his attention to detail, Cross notices similarities and picks up on things that were missed by the initial investigators. Of course, this doesn’t win him any favor in the department.

But no matter, because he is so focused that he doesn’t have time to worry about what people think about him. His sole focus is the case. I found that refreshing. I also liked the way the story read. It felt like watching a tv show (which is not surprising, given the author’s background)

It’s not a spoiler to say that the woven stories finally meld together it’s a really interesting case. I think it was made more so because OF the attention to detail.

I will say that Cross reminded me of the tv character Monk; they exhibited a lot of the same characteristics, and I got the same vibe. Ultimately, what makes both characters work is that their particular quirks are simply part of their personality.

Yeah, they’re different, but they get the job done, so who ultimately cares about the method? I really loved the humanity that was brought to this character.

This was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to more investigations with DS Cross.

Twitter: @TimJRSullivan
Facebook: timjrsullivan/
Website: https://timsullivan.uk/
Instagram: timsullivannovelist/

About Tim Sullivan:

TIM SULLIVAN made his first short film before graduating from Cambridge University. His ambition to become a screenwriter was formed not so much by this experience but as an attempt to foil his father’s determination to turn him into a lawyer.

Within weeks of leaving university armed with a law degree he had met the film maker Derek Jarman and persuaded him to commission an original screenplay from him entitled BOB UPADOWN and so a career was born.

A few months later he joined Granada Television as a researcher. Here he was commissioned to write the first of many television scripts for the company. Two sitcoms entitled THE TRAIN NOW LEAVING and THE GREASY SPOON followed by the crime dramas MYSTERIOUS WAYS and MAIGRET.

While at Granada he was selected for the prestigious Directors’ Training scheme when only 26. Previous encumbents had included Mike Newell, Roland Joffe, and Michael Apted, more recently Julian Farino. Among other credits he directed CORONATION STREET, MADE IN HEAVEN, THATCHER THE FINAL DAYS and THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES with Jeremy Brett.

During this time he also co wrote the screenplays for the movies A HANDFUL OF DUST starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness and WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, both with producer the legendary TV producer Derek Granger (BRIDESHEAD REVISITED).

Upon leaving the bosom of Granada and venturing into the wild wide world of the freelance film maker he wrote and directed the movie JACK AND SARAH starring Richard E Grant, Samantha Mathis, Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins. This led to a commission from New Line Pictures to write the screenplay WALKING PAPERS based on the Jay Cronley novel of the same name.

This screenplay came to the attention of execs at Universal and Imagine who then asked Tim to do a page one rewrite of a western for Ron Howard entitled THE PRETENDERS. Tim enjoyed working with Ron for over a year on this.

He then wrote an original screenplay, PERSONAL SHOPPING, which was promptly snapped up by Paramount for producer Scott Rudin.

He spent four months working for and with Jeffrey Katzenberg at Dreamworks animation as a production writer on the movie FLUSHED AWAY. Impressed by his work Katzenberg commissioned him to write a script for SHREK 4 which wasn’t used as a different storyline was decided upon as a director came on board.

During this time he was actively involved in British television directing the last ever ninety minute episode of the BAFTA award winning series COLD FEET. As well as a TV movie for ITV called CATWALK DOGS written by Simon Nye.

He was commissioned by the BBC to write a pilot for a TV series he invented called BACKSTORY as well as another pilot for the ITV network entitled OFFSPRING.

He also wrote HIS MASTER’S VOICE for the BBC as a radio play starring Rob Brydon which was broadcast in 2015.

He recently wrote the screenplay for LETTERS TO JULIET starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave.

Oscar winning producers of The King’s Speech, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman then commissioned an original screenplay from him entitled THE WEDDING DRESS.

Tim is writing and co-producing and co-writing an animated feature screenplay for Hasbro and Paramount which is in production and scheduled for release in 2021.

He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross. Set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. The DENTIST is in the first of a series.

Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN.

He is currently the UK chair of the Writers’ Guild of America (West).

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The Lost Children-Books on Tour (Review) WWII Historical Fiction-Available Now

I try and avoid sad books, because there’s enough sadness in real life and I read to escape.

Some authors like to wallow in the sadness of their stories, while others use the sadness to show fortitude and the resilience of the human spirit. In spite of being a book filled with tragedies, this one belongs in the latter category, and I am very glad that I read it.

As I have mentioned a few times, I find it interesting when my reading topics seem to follow patterns. I recently read another book that centered on the evacuation of young children to the countryside out of cities and strategic towns in WWII England.

This one has a similar setting, but I was pleased to find a different perspective on the experiences of the children. Molly and Jacob were fortunate to have found a town like Leadburn which proved that it really does take a village to raise children, especially in the face of war and uncertainty.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2Hm3yvP Apple: https://apple.co/2RO1I99
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3hSS9jS Google: https://bit.ly/2RQcg7F

I don’t want to go too much into the plot because I think that the reader needs to experience Molly and Jacob’s journey on their own; it will be much more powerful.

I liked how they befriended people who were in similar situations to them. Everybody in the town had lost somebody important, whether it was in the war, by natural causes, or (in Frieda’s case) by force. They all showed bravery in the face of adversity, especially Molly.

The author did a fantastic job of illustrating how loss doesn’t have to define the rest of one’s life and how good people can come together to support each other, maybe thereby lessening their feelings of loss. Isolation does nobody any good.

I also liked how the author showed the importance of making connections with other people. One never knows the influence a person can have on somebody else. Sometimes, it could even result in people who were kept apart coming back together.

Ultimately heartwarming and uplifting, I’m glad that I got through the sad parts (and yes, I did cry) because Molly and Jacob will stay with me for a long time.

Twitter: @ShirleyDWriter

Author Bio:

Shirley Dickson was born and grew up in the seaside town of South Shields. She left school at fifteen and can’t remember a time when she didn’t write. She entered her first short story competition in ‘School Friend’ when she was eleven. After Shirley retired from auxiliary nursing, she was able to devote her time to writing.

After living in various locations, she settled under the big skies of Northumberland and has lived with her husband in the same house for over forty years. Shirley has three daughters and four grandchildren and likes nothing better than family gatherings.

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The Assistant – Blog Tour (Review) – Psych Thriller-Available Now

I have read three of this author’s books (The Good Neighbor, The Good Mother, and The Guest), and I usually find them to be decent psychological thrillers. This one is no exception.

One of the hallmarks of a good psych thriller is keeping the reader guessing right up until the very last pages. There should also be a good number of twists and maybe even a few red herrings to keep that thrill going.

This book had both of those in spades.

From the title and description, I thought that it would be a completely different plot than what it ended up being, so that was pleasantly surprising. I enjoyed that aspect of it.

I liked the juxtaposition between Vanessa and Laura. In spite of their differences in jobs (and attitudes), they actually had more in common than either one realized, which made their conflict a little more interesting.

US Amazon: https://amzn.to/2G0glDK UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/32PD26z

While their interactions were realistic, I found each of them on their own to be a little bit more confusing. Vanessa ran very hot and cold about her working relationship with her boss. It wasn’t until very late in the book that it became clear as to why she was confused. It also took a couple of eye-opening events for her to see the truth.

Laura was more of an enigma to me. She started out as a seemingly bitchy workmate, but quickly revealed herself to be overambitious and driven. But to what detriment? Has she always been this way? And what really happened with her ex-husband?

That last question sat with me for a long time, because I felt like there was more to the story that we never got. Her memories of time with him seemed to stop abruptly when there was more to be mined.

I did feel like the plot lost focus a bit. It almost seemed like the author wanted to cover too much: workplace gossip, the drive to succeed, the struggle of women in the workplace, how simple moments can be misunderstood leading to bigger problems….there was a lot to unpack.

I did think the author used a unique way to show how much Laura’s fears preyed on her mind. And her obsession with running was a great metaphor for her work life. I thought that was particularly well-done.

All told, this story did have me guessing right up until the final pages. That wasn’t entirely because there was “edge of my seat” action, but because I kept trying to figure out where the main point of everything was. As I said, it got a bit muddled and unfocused.

I’m going to go with “ambition can be a killer and drive a person mad.” You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

Social Media:
Twitter: @CathrynGrant
Facebook: CathrynGrant.Writer/
Website: https://www.cathryngrant.com/
Instagram: cathryngrant_fiction/

About Cathryn Grant:

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.

Cathryn is the author of The Guest, The Good Mother and other psychological thrillers. THE ASSISTANT will be her fourth novel published with Inkubator Books.

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Dead Woman Crossing (Books On Tour Review-Crime Thriller-Available Now)

I’ve never hidden my excitement at finding a new detective/crime series. This time, it comes in the form of Kimberley King, a transplant from NYPD to Custer County, Oklahoma.

I thought the premise was timely, probably even more so than the author intended. Kimberley has decided to move to Oklahoma (where her mom lives) to be able to spend more time with her young daughter.

From the beginning, there are also hints of something that happened on the job, but the reader gets that in flashback form, as events in her new town lead Kimberley to remember a pivotal case in NYC.

I thought that the connection between the two could have been stronger. Kimberley’s memories and motivations didn’t seem to be pivotal as they could have been. Perhaps if the crimes had been more similar? The only it seems to work for me is if the author is laying the groundwork for a through-line for future book plots.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3bZOFdP Apple: https://apple.co/2ZFBUjH
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2NprQ7Z Google: https://bit.ly/2Yuajly

I liked Kimberley, for the most part. (Caveat: I’m picky of everything to do with NYC and NYPD due to my personal connections with both. So, some of this can probably be taken with a grain of salt). I thought her instincts were good, and I liked how she was torn between trying to fit into the confines of her new job but still maintain her self-imposed standards.

However, I also felt that her attitude didn’t always ring true. There were a few times where she seemed more caricature or stereotype rather than a legitimate person. Again, that’s a personal observation, not necessarily any fault of the author.

The case itself was decent, if a little underbaked. I liked how the author laid everything out, but kept some facts hidden which caused me to suspect more people than I needed to; I like it when an author does that.

I did also like that there was an uneasy feeling about a couple of characters from the start. It was an effective way to make the reader suspicious, but without being able to pinpoint exactly why or what to be suspicious about. It made the resolution just a bit more interesting as well, which was good, because at the same time it kind of came out of nowhere.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the personalities of the sheriff’s department, and hope that future books continue to explore the different officers and their backgrounds. I think there is enough there to keep this series going for a while.  

Instagram: jradlerauthor/
Twitter: @jradlerauthor

Author Bio:
Originally from Wisconsin, J.R. Adler currently lives in Ithaca, New York with her husband, Drew, and her English Bulldog, Winston. When not writing, you can find her reading, playing board games, travelling, and binge watching The Office for the umpteenth time. 

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The Faithfuls by Cecilia Lyra – Books On Tour (Review)

I’m not going to lie, I had very mixed feelings about this book. I ultimately chose to look at it as a book about family secrets, even though there were some aspects that drew my focus (more on that later).

I do want to start by saying that I absolutely loved the first book in this series, The Sunset Sisters. The characters were strong, the story was plausible, and there were several heartwarming moments. I was hoping for the same from this one.

I did get a story of intrigue and family secrets. I liked the premise of a small town built around a factory. And I definitely did not see a few of the twists coming.

I thought the style of writing was effective, especially how the author used “interviews” interspersed among the chapters to give the reader commentary on actions that are in the past, but have yet to be told in the plot. They served as a Greek Chorus and were effective.

The action also shifts between multiple perspectives, which works well. It’s never confusing, and the different points of view give a more holistic view of the events at hand. It also gives the reader more insight into the characters.

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Kobo: https://bit.ly/2VbB2RH Google Play: https://bit.ly/319joly

I liked Gina. She was the most level-headed character in the entire book. In spite of everything she went through, she still remained relatively strong. I also liked her son, Calan, and Malaika. They were interesting characters, and their journey was a bit touching.

I did not like Alice. In fact, I think she is one of the ugliest characters I have ever “met” and that goes for serial killers and psychotic kidnappers. Every time she had a chapter, I had to keep myself from skipping through, because she annoyed me that much.

I couldn’t decide whether the author was writing her to be representative and make a statement or as a commentary on her particular point of view. There were times that I felt like I was being yelled at rather than enjoying a story, as some of the “opinions” were heavy-handed. I was disappointed in how Alice’s story ended. I don’t think it was deserved, and there was nothing uplifting or motivating about it.

I wish there had been more of a tie to the first book with more similar characters. The connection tying the two books together was tenuous at best and seemed more contrived than realistic.

All of that being said, though, it was still a decent book and was a great illustration of how secrets can work from the inside to destroy, but how a little faith and trust can go a long way. If there’s a third in the series, I hope it returns to the tone of the first book.

Author Bio:
Cecilia is an author with a reading addiction — a serious one. She is a lover of wine and all things chocolate, and the proud mother of Babaganoush, an English Bulldog. She is also a recovering lawyer, but asks that you do not hold that against her. 

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Into the Burning Dawn by Natalie Meg Evans – Books On Tour (Review)

If you’re like me, you enjoy different genres of books. But I have recently found that even within a genre, there can be different approaches. I know that seems obvious but bear with me for a minute.

Take historical fiction, for example, and let’s use WWII. There are some books that set the action smack dab in the middle of the war, and others that use a dual storyline of modern day to historical, tying threads together. Of course, there are multiple approaches, but those are two of the most common that I have come across.

Then there are books like Into the Burning Dawn, that use the war more as a backdrop. Now, I know there’s more to this book than that, but I found the perspective of an English nanny in Naples pre-WWII during the rise of Mussolini (and further into the war) to be fascinating and informative.

It was apparent that the author already had a background in this era or had completed copious amounts of research, because the details of the region were plentiful and well-described. In the early pages, I could practically smell the lavender and garlic as well as the sea air.

Actually, the amazing descriptions continued, but later on it became petrol burning, smoke, and dust. That’s how talented this author was when it came to creating full scenes.

 BUY LINK: https://geni.us/B08FMWPPDNSocial 

In the beginning, I also got a definite “Sound of Music” vibe, with the young nanny brought up in a convent, seeing to the kids of a stern, older landowner. There were more parallels as well. Imogene’s war with herself over who and how to love, her care for children even at the peril of her own life, and her desire to do the right thing all felt very “Maria-ish.” That’s not a bad thing.

I found the juxtaposition between the two brothers to be interesting as well. Fabrizio was the dashing, dangerous cad, while Giancarlo was the level-headed leader of business. I do think Imogene was blinded by “bad boy” vibe of Fabrizio (which is logical, given her upbringing). (There was a touch of Captain Von Trapp in Giancarlo as well).

I did find Imogene to be inconsistent at times. In the early days of the war, when people referred to the British soldiers, planes, and ships as “her Army/Navy/etc.” she made a distinct point of correcting them and saying that they weren’t “hers.” But at the same time, she thought of them as hers.

I suppose that would be logical confusion given the climate and culture, but it made her seem a bit weak-minded. Which is actually interesting, because I think she saw herself the same way a lot of the time. But she still managed to persevere and survive. And it wasn’t at all easy for her at any point.

Out of all of the secondary characters, I especially liked Annabella. She was down to earth, but also practical and realistic about situations. There were times when it seemed like she was Imogene’s conscience.

I’m not going to tell you how everything turns out, because that would ruin the story for you. Suffice to say that the author continues her realistic portrayal of war and the path of havoc it wreaks all the way until the last pages.

For an epic story of family and loyalties and accurate retellings of wartime, look no further than this one – you’ll be engrossed from beginning to end.  

TWITTER:  @natmegevans
FACEBOOK: NatalieMegEvans  

Author Bio:

Natalie is a RITA nominated, USA Today Bestselling author of six novels: The Dress Thief, The Milliner’s Secret (re-titled “The Girl who Dreamed of Paris”), The Wardrobe Mistress, Summer in the Vineyards, The Secret Vow and most recently, The Paris Girl. Look out for a heartwrenching WW2 inspired novel set in Italy, due out Autumn 2020.

Visit her website at https://www.nataliemegevans.uk

Natalie Meg Evans has had a varied career, first as an actor in London’s fringe theatre, then as a PR exec and company director and finally, dream achieved, as a full-time writer. She lives with two very lively dogs in rural mid Suffolk.

Natalie has collected numerous awards for her writing including the UK’s Harry Bowling Prize (2012). The Dress Thief was nominated for a coveted RITA Award by Romance Writers of America and it won the Greek Public Book award for the best foreign novel; also, the UK’s Festival of Romance readers award (where readers rather than industry professionals select and judge). The Milliner’s Secret was shortlisted for the same award.

Natalie was also nominated for the coveted Daphne du Maurier award and was named a finalist for a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award.

Natalie’s titles are available as Spoken Word. She loves to hear from readers.

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Their Silent Graves by Carla Kovach – Books On Tour (Review)

In my review of the previous book, Her Last Mistake, I wrote that “there were a few times I felt that Gina’s memories bogged the plot down. I wanted to get back to the action of the story.”

Well, I got my wish. This time Gina’s past actually becomes more of the story (more on that in just a minute).

As with previous books, the author jumps right into the action, giving the reader a peek into an event in the past, 24 year ago…but of whose past we’re not quite sure. We then jump forward 12 years to another incident, but still with no real clue as to the connections.

I love the way this author set all of that up, because when we get to present day, we have some sort of background on current events; we know more than the police do, anyway. Not that it helps too much, because as always, this is a clever plot that keeps the reader guessing.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08B1LJ5YSSocial Apple: http://ow.ly/YMmO50A5OCV
Kobo: http://ow.ly/gd7350A5Oz Google: http://ow.ly/Xe5850A5OFC

I will also mention now that it’s set around the end of October, so it’s excellent reading for this time of year. While it’s still a cracking good investigation, there’s a spooky element to it that fits the season perfectly.

As always, the team works together smoothly. We get a few more insights into their dynamics, but for the most part, it’s just good, steady investigative work from everyone.

As to Gina’s personal matter, we know from past books that Gina has some traumas that have left her scarred and shaken. This time, one surfaces in the most unexpected way. As she is busy with the case at hand, she also has to determine what the truth is about this new twist from her past.

It all weaves together for a page-turning crime thriller. And a special shout out to the title which has an awesome double meaning.

Sometimes it’s difficult to write a review about a series, especially when it gets to later books, because the “newness” may wear off. When that happens, later books can seem repetitive.

However, there is something to be said about knowing that you are going to get a solid criminal investigation with interesting plot points (and twists), engaging characters, and a ruthless killer.

That’s what you get here, and it’s another winner.

Facebook: CarlaKovachAuthor/
Twitter: @CKovachAuthor
Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/

Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.

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The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox – Blog Tour (Review)

I thought this book would be a great read for this time of year, and I wasn’t wrong. But it was so much more than a spooky story. It was poetically dark yet uplifting. I know that sounds counter-intuitive, but I found it riveting.

As you can read from the blurbs, Tabby has the ability to communicate with the dead. She and her sister, Alice, were orphaned at a young age, but then Alice also disappeared once they got to Boston, so Tabby has been on her own for many years.

Taken in by Eli, who tends a local cemetery, she only uses her gift (she doesn’t see it as such) sparingly, and usually to try to communicate with Alice (who she assumes is dead).

Through a chance encounter when she is young, her life becomes intertwined with that of Caleb, who is of a different station than she is, and they meet again later in life, striking up an undefined friendship. But they are still worlds apart.

However, events shortly occur that upend both of their lives. Bodies are being stolen from the cemetery and Tabby soon finds out that there is much more than your normal, everyday grave robbing occurring. The reality is much darker and nefarious than she can imagine.

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I found Tabby’s story to be intriguing and realistic. I really liked the setting of 1844 Boston; it was a look at a pre-Civil War city, where the rich had frivolous interests and the poor stuck to the shadows.

The story was strongest at the beginning while Tabby was in Boston and it seemed a little muddled when Caleb and Tabby’s storylines diverged from each other. But it became apparent as to why that plot point was necessary. That being said, time was very fluid, and some of the sequential events didn’t seem to match up.

I thought the author did a great job detailing customs of the time, especially those centering around the dead and dying. “Watchers” and “layers” were essential. And I thought the concept of the resurrectionists was especially fascinating.

I also liked the connections that Tabby had with the various characters. I don’t want to give anything away but there were subtle similarities in the actions of a few of them that were nicely done.

I hesitate to call it gothic fiction (although several do) because I just can’t reconcile “gothic” and “pre-Civil War” in my mind. Regardless, I would definitely recommend this book, especially heading into a spooky season.

And I will certainly be looking for more books by this author.

Author Website: http://hesterfox.com/
TWITTER: @HesterBFox
Insta: @trotfoxwrite
Goodreads: Hester_Fox

Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. Most weekends you can find Hester exploring one of the many historic cemeteries in the area, browsing bookshops, or enjoying a seasonal latte while writing at a café. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and their son.

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First Girl Gone by L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain – Books on Tour (Review)

This new crime thriller series is not your normal run-of-the-mill for one simple reason: its main character has a shall we call it…unique sidekick who also acts as her conscience.

Charlie always swore she would not return to Salem Island after her twin sister disappeared, tearing her family apart. But her uncle, a private investigator, is battling cancer, and Charlie is back to help out.

The story jumps off to a very quick start when Kara Dawkins goes missing. Charlie takes the case, but the investigation is off to a fairly slow start, with very few clues. Until another girl goes missing.

As Charlie tries to draw parallels and make connections, events happen that bring her past to the forefront, making the investigation even more challenging.

I’m not going to tell you anymore because that would be giving away the plot (which I don’t like to do). Suffice to say that it is well-plotted, well-written, drew me in, and kept my attention. That’s no easy feat these days.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3m81ebE Apple: https://apple.co/2NQmRh3
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2BNOBzU Google Play: https://bit.ly/2YEEhmW

Now, let’s talk characters.  

I really liked Charlie. She was human, with fears and foibles. Being back in her hometown, she meets up with a lot of ex-classmates, including Will who was an unrequited high school crush…or was he?

I also liked the interactions that Charlie had with pretty much everyone. As a private detective, she doesn’t have quite the authority of the police, which allowed her to be a little bit more relaxed in her investigation. I enjoyed that about her.

As for her Jiminy Cricket – her sister Allie is the one who keeps a running commentary in Charlie’s head. It was a super twist to a sidekick, and it allowed Charlie to have random thoughts and argue with herself (which we’ve all done).

She’s also the yin to Charlie’s yang, providing balance, levity, and a dose of tough love when Charlie needs to hear it the most. I loved their “conversations” and Allie’s monologues. They were a welcome aspect that gave a special twist to the story.

Just one more thing, though, and it’s totally nitpicky. A key character has the name Leroy Gibbs. Now, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m a huge “NCIS” fan. And, of course, the main character is Leroy Jethro Gibbs (better known as just “Gibbs.”)

Every time the character in the book was mentioned, I thought of the TV character – and they couldn’t have been more different. It was an unfortunate distraction. But as I said, that was for me. If you don’t watch the show, it won’t bother you one bit.

I truly enjoyed this book, and I hope there are more Charlotte Winters investigations to come.   

Author Bio:
L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain are the authors of the Violet Darger series and The Scattered and the Dead series among others, which have collectively tallied over a million downloads. Their book, Dead End Girl, peaked at #3 in the US Kindle charts and has remained in the top 10 in multiple sub-categories since it was published in 2017.  

Website: https://ltvargus.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltvargusbooks/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ltvargus  
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The Mistress by Jill Childs – Books On Tour (Review)

This book zigged when I thought it was going to zag and kept me guessing (for the most part) right up until the very end.

The story is told in two halves. The first is from the perspective of Laura Dixon, the titular mistress. We only get a small glimpse into her relationship with Ralph before everything goes horribly wrong.

From there, the readers are taken through Laura’s confusion “post-incident.” We’re never quite sure if she is totally losing it, or if there is a reason that she is reacting so strongly to her situation. Did she love Ralph that much? Did he have another secret that she knew about? And what’s with the weird text messages she begins to receive?

The tension builds as she becomes more erratic, finally climaxing in another incident. However, we don’t know exactly what happens, because the book abruptly switches point of view.

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The second half is from Helen’s point of view. She’s the long-suffering wife of Ralph. She has to keep everything together for the sake of her daughter. She’s calm and collected where Laura is spinning off the rails.

Is there a method to why she is so cool in the face of her husband’s betrayal? What does she know that she’s not sharing? The author drops a few asides that let the reader know there’s more going on.

I thought that both characters were interesting in their own rights, and well-written to represent the two sides of an affair. The mistress blames the wife for the husband straying…until she’s forced to really take a look at her own behavior.

The wife knows how charming her husband could be, but how many times would she put up with betrayal? And having a daughter to look after and protect makes for a mean Mama Bear to come out.

This book is well-plotted. Even though I said that the switch in point of view was abrupt, it wasn’t jarring. It was obvious that Laura’s part in the story was pretty much over (we do get a few mentions of what happened to her), and that it was time for Helen to take over the narrative. It was effective story-telling.

I mentioned it kept me guessing “for the most part.” I like to play a game when I read psych thrillers, trying to think of the most outrageous plot twist, seeing if I can outguess the author. Sometimes I’m successful. This time I had an inkling, but not a full theory until late in the story. Even then, I didn’t get it completely right.

I’d definitely recommend this one for insight into the minds of females on both sides of an affair…and that killer twist (literally).

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_jill

Author Bio:
Jill always loved writing – real and imaginary – and spent thirty years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She’s now made her home in south-west London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she’s covered everything from earthquakes and floods, wars and riots, she’s decided some of the most extraordinary stories are right here at home – in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets just like yours. 

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