Tag: Book Review

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Historical Fiction-The Secret Diary-Available Now

When it comes to historical fiction novels, I love reading about new perspectives. Fortunately, I have been on a run of luck in that regard.

The historical, in this case, centers around four friends who worked as gunner girls in England during WWII. I learned a lot about their tasks and about the perspective of smaller towns during the war.

Books set in this period often center around major cities (Berlin, London, Paris), or in the smaller towns of France and Germany. Since a majority of the fighting was in and around the countries of those cities, it makes sense.

But it’s easy to forget that the war was much more widespread and even though there wasn’t actual land combat on a grand scale in England, there was a very real fear of German invasion.

I thought the author did a good job of relating the gunner girls’ lives. A simple diary entry followed by a detailed scene is an effective storytelling method. The chapters are an introduction followed by a tale.

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The diary is Nancy’s (which we know right away) and details her struggle with re-entering society after being de-mobbed. Once again, the author breaks fresh ground, because the difficulty women had after the war is often overlooked.

Come to think of it, that is a major theme of this book. England went to war as one country, but after the war, everything had changed. Societal expectations were the same, but different. And women who had responsibilities in the war were all of a sudden thrust back into traditional roles – but they knew they were capable of more.

I did feel like the “feminist” point of view verged on preachy a few times, but the author stayed just on the side of non-annoying. Nancy’s struggles felt real.

And in a strange way, they paralleled Lorna’s struggles as she tried to figure out her life without her husband. Both women were facing bold new worlds that they had to find their footing in. That was a nice connection between the two eras.

There’s a touch of mystery as well, as Lorna reads the diary and realizes that something must have happened to change the lives of the four gunner girls. I really enjoyed Lorna’s “sleuthing” as she tried to get more answers.

In fact, there is a great balance between the two eras. That’s not always the case. But this one had me eager to get back to each one as they alternated. They were separate stories but cleverly intertwined.

I would definitely recommend this book for a unique perspective on the roles of women in post-WWII England. There is a strong message that strength is in even the smallest things and moving forward is worth the struggle.

Additional Historical Fiction from this author: The Berlin Zookeeper

Facebook: @annastuartauthor
Twitter: @annastuartbooks.

Author Bio:
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers.

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Such a Good Wife (Nova Glass)-Blog Tour-Mystery Thriller-Available Now

I have read this author before, so I was predisposed to pick up this book, but I really wasn’t sure what to expect as I started reading. What I got was a cross between a family drama and a psych thriller with a little touch of mystery. It all worked together to make one page-turner of a read for most of the book.

With Mel, the author was successful in creating a character that many women could immediately sympathize with. I would venture to say that every mom, at one point or another, has lost their sense of self because they are so wrapped up in the rest of the family.

Mel was a well-developed character with motivations that made her sympathetic, even when she made choices that many women wouldn’t. It made for an interesting juxtaposition because I felt the reader could still disapprove of Mel’s actions while also relating to her. Strange, but effective.

The plot itself was thought out and detailed enough to keep a reader’s attention. There are a few twists, although not in the traditional sense that some people might expect, as well as some red herrings. I’m not sure if the author meant for them to be red herrings, though.

It seemed as if there was a point where the author gave up on subplots and decided to focus just on Mel and her situation. I was fine with that, but in retrospect, there was an awful lot of detail at the beginning that just seemed to be pushed away or ignored in the latter part of the book.

Other parts seemed to be used more as manipulation to move the plot rather than to be of great importance. For example, Mel’s son is on the spectrum. I thought the author did a good job of making him authentic – she either did her homework or has experience with people in the same situation.

But beyond him being a tenuous connection to another main character, there didn’t seem to be much purpose to him being written that way. I guess maybe to cement the fact that Mel had a lot of stress so that she was more sympathetic? The same could be said for Collin’s mother.

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In fact, now that I think about it, there were quite a few moments that seemed as if they meant more in the plot but didn’t pan out at all. The writing group, the reaction of Liz at one of the fake book club meetings, the mother’s moment of lucidity …unless I missed it, those all went nowhere. Likewise, the blackmail aspect seemed shaky – especially when other connections were made.

I do have an issue with the blurb as well. As I have mentioned before, I rarely read the full blurbs of books and if I do it’s only once. I prefer to come into a book without knowing much about it so I can discover it on my own. In this case, the blurb gives away what is arguably the biggest plot point.

I’m glad I didn’t read it before because I would have had a different perspective on the story, and I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. I think there has to be a way to generate interest in the story without giving away the farm.

The opening chapter sets up a major plot point – but the blurb gives that away. So, if you’ve read the blurb, there is no mystery. At least until after it occurs and things start to happen to Mel. And because the surprise was ruined, the big reveal toward the end sort of fell flat for me.

Anyway, I guess it’s a teeny gripe, but I’m sure glad that I read the book without having read the blurb. Ultimately, this was a story about the lengths a woman may go to so she can feel whole, but also what she would do to protect her family. It’s an ongoing, inner battle that readers will probably be able to relate to, and the book is a good read because of it.

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Author Bio: 

Seraphina Nova Glass is a professor and playwright-in-residence at the University of Texas, Arlington, where she teaches film studies and playwriting. She holds an MFA in playwriting from Smith College, and she’s also a screenwriter and award-winning playwright. Seraphina has traveled the world using theatre and film as a teaching tool, living in South Africa, Guam and Kenya as a volunteer teacher, AIDS relief worker, and documentary filmmaker.

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Cozy Mystery-“Death at the Gates”-Available Now

This is the third cozy mystery featuring Pip and it firmly cements the series as one of my all-time favorites.

I can’t speak highly enough about these books (you can read my reviews of the first two here and here). There is so much cleverness and attention to detail that it’s difficult to know where to start.

I like how Pip is fallible. She is not necessarily the sharpest tool in the box, but she gets things done – sometimes in spite of herself. She also finds herself in the most amusing situations…again, mostly of her own doing.

An ill-planned event at the museum from the last book causes her to lose her job. Again. I like how the authors have established this pattern. Pip is always on to the next thing. This time she inserts herself into the middle of a school cheating scandal.

Anyone who pays attention to pop culture even a little will find it reminiscent of the college cheating scandal that rocked Hollywood a couple of years ago. It doesn’t exactly parallel but there are similarities.

Until a dead body pops up. Or rather, face down? And then Detective Pip really has a dilemma on her hands. As has been the case in the other books, Pip is more a beneficiary of luck rather than actual skill, although she does have a knack for talking to the right person at the right time and recognizing important things when necessary.

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Pip’s affinity for pop culture helps her along the way. However, she is woefully underprepared in some areas (her rabbit hole search for sports facts was particularly amusing). Flis also has an uncanny knowledge of pop culture. But hers often seems to be more luck of the draw due to her constant malapropisms.

Honestly, I think Flis is one of my favorite characters ever. I especially liked how her long-suffering husband has apparently figured out a way to get around her horrid attempts at new recipes

My absolute favorite part of these books, however, is the sheer intelligence of the authors. Their command of the language, wordplay, clever alliterations all make for a most enjoyable read. I almost feel like I have to read the books twice: once for the plot and a second time to just enjoy the love of words.

I hope Pip will be around for many books to come because I thoroughly enjoy reading about her escapades.  

Other cozy mystery reviews from this author:

FB: KatieGayleWriter
Twitter: @KatieGayleBooks

Author Bio:
Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats. Unlike their sleuth Epiphany Bloom, neither of them have ever stolen a cat from the vet.

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The Irish Nanny (Taylor)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I had high hopes for this book, as it seemed that it would be a unique perspective on WWII on an Irish woman in London. While that is partially true, the larger story is much more than that.

In fact, and to be perfectly honest, the war actually serves as a minuscule backdrop to Rose’s story. It’s there only to provide a couple of plot points and not much else.

That doesn’t mean that the story itself is bad (it’s not). But if you’re looking for heroics in the face of war, or detailed scenes about London in wartime, this is not the place to find them.

I felt like this story was more of a lyrical retelling of a young girl’s journey – one that takes her from her small town in Ireland to places she never dreamed she would visit. If looked at through this lens, the book is highly successful.

I liked how the author used Polly and Rose as the differing opinions on their small town, and I especially liked the message that opportunity finds us when we least expect it. I can’t say more about Polly and Rose’s outcomes without giving the plot away, but it did follow in an orderly telling. The story is very linear.

There were parts of it that reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Quiet Man. Sure, it might be mostly because of the setting, but I think it’s more that the story seemed like it could be retold in an Irish Pub. There was a quality that just made it float along easily, moving from one part to the next.

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I liked the characters. I thought that Rose was enjoyable, and the author really hit on how a young girl might have felt leaving home and going to a big city. I also liked Bridgy – she was a hoot, and Agnes was also interesting. I didn’t get much of a feel for the third sister. (I actually had to go back into the book to even remember her name – she didn’t figure highly in the story).

Where the story faltered for me was in the details. I never felt like I got a good enough answer for why Alice was the way she was. Raffi just seemed like an impertinent brat. David was a mystery. None of it seemed to jibe together very well. I particularly did not like the resolution for Alice and Raffi. It was contrived and answered no questions.

There were also places where the writing became tedious. I got very tired of reading “darling girl” or “dear child.” It was repetitive and frankly annoying. And don’t get me started on the scenes set in Brooklyn. I thought those were the most manipulative of all.

In fact, upon reflection, it kind of felt like this was Forrest Gump for the Irish nanny population. Rose is buffeted from one “event” to the next and just happens to be there for whatever occurs.

But I did like the messages of hope and resilience, as well as following the path that God may have laid out for you, even if you can’t figure out why that is the case. Rose certainly grew up (as did Polly). It was a sweet story.

Facebook: SandyTaylorAuthor/
Twitter: @SandyTaylorAuth 

Author Bio:

Sandy Taylor grew up on a council estate near Brighton. There were no books in the house, so Sandy’s love of the written word was nurtured in the little local library. Leaving school at fifteen, Sandy worked in a series of factories before landing a job at Butlins in Minehead. This career change led her to becoming a singer, a stand up comic and eventually a playwright and novelist.

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One Night Only (Walsh)-BoT-Romantic Comedy-Available Now

One of the things I look for when I read a romantic comedy is how easily I can cast and visualize a movie version of it in my head. If it’s easy to do, it’s a winner of a story. If I have difficulty, there may still be good parts, but it also may come up lacking.

I’m happy to say that One Night Only fell firmly in the former category. From the opening to closing scenes, I was taken by the characters and their trajectory. I knew right away that this was going to be a good one, and I hoped that the author would be able to sustain it.

Spoiler alert: It was really good all the way through!

I liked the whole setup. Even though I had an idea of what was going to happen in the early pages (I mean, it’s in the blurb and book description!), I still literally laughed out loud at how it all went down.

The wedding that made up the opening chapters was not only a great way to start the book and set the tone, but it was a lot of fun as well. Call it “My Big Fat Irish Wedding,” complete with obnoxious family members, unseasonal weather, and members of the wedding party who indulge in too much Guinness.

Honestly, what’s not to like about that.

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As to the two main characters, I got a better feeling for Declan than I did for Sarah, or so I thought. She was prickly (for her own reasons) and he was brooding and charming. Certainly, a perfect case of “opposites attract.”

Sometimes, in between the initial meet and the final kiss, the relationship flags and it can seem drawn out. That wasn’t the case here. The author put enough in about the characters’ personal lives that it stayed interesting.

As I have mentioned in past reviews, I like to take notes in the books as I read. It makes it easier to write reviews later on. A recurring note in this book was “real.” I used it to describe emotions, reactions, statements, situations…it just all came across as plausible life experiences.

I did think that some of Sarah’s reasoning was a little suspect, and there were times that she seemed inconsistent, but I think that might have been on purpose. She wasn’t always honest with herself, so it was natural that she would appear so to the reader as well.

I really liked the way Declan handled her. I expected a little bit more out of her job revelations, and wanted a better resolution to the Matthias situation, especially in light of what she found out. But (again) I understand why the author wrote it the way she did.

All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that made me laugh in all the right places and gave me those little swoops of “real love” recognition. For once, the tag of “hilarious romantic comedy” is 100% accurate. I’d highly recommend it as a light, fun, beachy read.

Oh, and as to the casting – I’m not totally sold on my decisions, but I could see Adam Weafer or Eoin Macken as Declan and Anna Kendrick or Hailee Steinfeld as Sarah. But what do I know? 😊

Twitter: @CatWalshWriter
Instagram: catwalshwriter/

Author Bio:

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She has a degree in Popular Literature and the only prize she ever won for writing was at the age of 14 in school (but she still cherishes it.) 

She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

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A Light in the Window (Kummerow)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

This was one of the more interesting historical fiction novels I have read lately, not necessarily because of a unique setting but more because of the story itself.

Let me see if I can explain without giving the plot away, but I will say that you can actually get a big chunk of it from the blurb itself.

At the very start of the book, Margarete is given a Hobson’s choice. I found her instantly relatable in this regard because I think many people would make a choice to live – even if it meant undertaking dangerous subterfuge.

What follows is a story focused on the role she must play and the things she must be aware of in order to survive. She soon realizes that the seemingly simple choice at the beginning was in fact only the beginning of her journey, not the pass to freedom that she might have initially thought it to be.

Interspersed with her chapters are those from the perspective of Wilhelm, a relation of those who suffered a terrible fate in the opening chapter – an event that Margarete has arguably taken advantage of for her own interests.

I’m not sure what else to write about, because the story itself relies on Wilhelm’s perspective of his family (not very favorable) and Margarete’s cunning to propel itself to the conclusion.

In some ways, Margarete’s choices validate Wilhelm’s opinion of “her kind.” But that’s too simplistic, because it really was a matter of life or death, especially as Margarete had found out what was to become of her had the tragic event not happened.

What I have not mentioned in this review is that Margarete is a Jew and Wilhelm is an SS officer, and the time is 1941 Europe. You can see where this is going.

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I think what I found most strange was that the story itself could really have been set at any time and place. The identities of the two, and the situation, seemed to be more of a plot ploy instead of actually meaning something. I’m not quite sure why I feel that way.

I just kept thinking that everything was skimming along and seemed contrived in more than a few places, instead of having some actual depth to it. Characters came and went, some had one role to play and then disappeared.

A major plot twist occurred late in the book, which led to another twist. Neither of them seemed plausible to me. And in fact, almost derailed the story.

I realize this sounds like I didn’t like it, but I did. What kept me reading was that I was eager to see how Wilhelm and Margarete “ended” – if they would stay true to form or if they would buck tradition and expectations to forge a new path.

There was character growth from both of them, and that I enjoyed. And I seriously did NOT see the end coming – that was an interesting and bold choice by the author. I guess it ended up being about the sacrifices we are willing to make to protect the ones we love.

And that’s certainly enough to make a book worth the read.

Facebook: AutorinKummerow
Twitter: @MarionKummerow
Instagram: marionkummerow

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty, and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemmas, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

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What She knew (Rijks)-Book Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I’m of a mixed mind with this book.

On the other hand, it had all of the hallmarks of an excellent psych thriller. But just where everything should have exploded and had me gasping, instead I was just kind of…meh.

Let me try to explain.

For a majority of the book, I’d say at least 85-90%, the author spun a twisted story of secrets, traps, and a pretty darn good mystery.

Stephanie’s university roommate went missing several years prior. Stephanie is now married with two kids and living (what she thinks is) a happy life. Until something happens and the old tragedy becomes new again, bringing up all kinds of memories.

And then things get really weird.

The author does a great job of moving from section to section of the story seamlessly. There are flashbacks throughout the first half of the book that give the reader the backstory of Stephanie and her roommate, Allison.

It’s an effective way of storytelling, as we get to see the action as it happened then, rather than Stephanie just remembering it all. I do like it when an author shows us instead of telling us.

Ostensibly, old wounds are reopened by a documentary filmmaker who is researching cold cases/unsolved crimes. When forced to remember that time period, Stephanie regresses – with nightmares and suspicions hitting her often.

Then a few things occur that turn the story more sinister. This was still well-done. I suspected every character at one point or another, so the author definitely kept me guessing. I even thought there was a touch of gaslighting going on.

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Where the book failed to deliver (for me at least) was in the climax. The big reveal should have been shocking and breathless. The author had laid such an amazing groundwork, that I expected it to be like a rollercoaster swooping around to the end of the ride.

But right when Stephanie found out what had really been happening, it all just kind of fizzled. What should have been pulse-pounding was just briefly described, and then the wrap-ups were tossed off with a sort “oh well, this happened.”

It’s such a shame because I couldn’t put the book down throughout most of it. But so much was just skimmed over at the end, the villain didn’t even really get to be enough of a villain. And other characters were dealt with in a very abrupt fashion.

I will say that I guessed one of the “twists” fairly early on, but the author did enough to dance around it that I was never quite sure that I was correct until the big reveal. And I’m not sure how I feel about the revelation of a pivotal character.

There was also a character that appeared in a flashback (albeit at a vital moment) who remained in the background until the end. That part didn’t exactly ring true to me but didn’t entirely bother me either.

Overall, I would still recommend this book, because 90% of it was one of the best psych thrillers that I have read this year. I just wish the ending had more oomph to it.

But I will continue to read this author because I think she is solid, and her writing keeps me engaged.

Author Bio:

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.

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The Woman in the Water (Heard)-BoT-Mystery Suspense-Available Now

This is the second book I have read in as many days that has a character “returning home” in search of the truth about what happened to her sister. Interesting how reading sometimes goes in genres and themes like that.

Anyway, this book is a mystery thriller that verges on the spooky at times. It is atmospheric, the writing is evocative and very descriptive, and there are multi-layered incidents and relationships that are unraveled.

Due to a tragedy, Felicity has to return to the home that she left as a teenager. Her reasons for leaving are slowly revealed throughout the story via flashbacks. The chapters were clearly labeled, and I was never confused as to whether the action was occurring in the past or the present.

I thought she was a complex character. She obviously has a chip (or several of them) on her shoulder due to past events. She felt that her family betrayed her just as her friends did, so she has chosen to forge through life pretty much on her own.

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But how much of that is reality and how much of that is her perception – or her self-fulfilling prophecy – is what really makes this story so interesting. There were times that it was difficult to feel sorry for her because she was sometimes her own worst enemy when it came to doing the right thing.

Admittedly, she doesn’t have the easiest time of it. She feels guilty for not being able to talk to her sister more (due to past events) and when she arrives home, it soon becomes apparent that somebody (or more than one person) doesn’t want her there.

Is it because of the current events, or does it have something to do with the past that she ran away from several years prior?

Yeah….no. Not going to tell you.

But her realization about the people who have remained in or returned to town is believable and natural. The author does a fantastic job of dropping hints here and there keeping both Felicity and the reader guessing – and very off balance.

I thought the imagery of water and what a big part it plays in the plot was particularly effective. Whether it is murky and used to hide secrets or a violent but cleansing storm, a placid lake, or a swamp, it is used to great effect throughout the story.

I highly recommend this taut, atmospheric mystery thriller.

Twitter: @kheardbooks
Facebook: kellyheardbooks

Author Bio: Kelly Heard is a novelist from Afton, Virginia. She published poetry in literary magazines before signing her debut novel, Before You Go, with Bookouture.

Kelly prefers writing to most other pastimes, but you’ll occasionally find her in the garden, hiking, or exploring antique shops.

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Radar Girls (Ackerman)-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I picked this book up for a few reasons.

1) I like historical fiction.

2) I like new perspectives in historical fiction – learning about known events from a different point of view.

3) I have a soft spot and many fond memories of Hawaii.

One of my strongest memories of my first visit to Hawaii actually involves the memorial at Pearl Harbor, and it’s a place that I always associate with WWII. This made the book even more interesting to me.

The WARD (Women’s Air Raid Defense) program was vital to the War in the Pacific and the author certainly did her research to fully explain the jobs the women were tasked with. This was one of the strongest areas of the narrative. The historical parts were fascinating.

The author also did a nice job with the descriptions of the different women who joined the WARD program. The islands were rife with distrust (for good reason) and it is not unrealistic to believe that the women didn’t always get along, but understood the importance of being able to rely on each other.

I thought that the author captured “old Hawaii” in a very authentic manner. The words were correct (at least from my memory and the few that I looked up). That’s important because I remember how my friends’ grandparents stressed using Hawaiian as much as possible, so it didn’t get lost among new generations.

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I realize I kind of skipped a beat there, but the Hawaiian language has always been magical to me. The words and phrases I learned still resonate in my head often. The same could be said with the locations.

That’s another area where the author did her homework. I could easily picture the different places where the action took place – even though some of the areas have become much more commercial and developed since the 1940s, the relation to each other remains clear.

Less successful in the book were smaller subplots about a horse that went missing the day Pearl Harbor was bombed and some of Daisy’s other personal issues (like with her dad). While they weren’t awful, I thought they were unnecessarily distracting from the main story at hand.

Especially the horse. Pretty sure there were more important things to worry about at the time. But I do understand the importance of a touchstone, as that’s what its purpose seemed to be.

There were also places where the writing didn’t exactly feel polished. I felt that this author’s Red Sky Over Hawaii was slightly more…advanced? That’s not exactly the correct word. Maybe the story in the previous one flowed better?

That’s not to say that this one was bad in any way. In fact, reading both of them will certainly give the reader an excellent feel for World War II Hawaii. It’s a place that was pivotal in U.S. involvement but is often overlooked beyond the one fateful day.

I’m thankful that there are authors like this who work to keep history alive.

Facebook: @ackermanbooks
Twitter: @AckermanBooks
Instagram: @saraackermanbooks

About the author: USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii. She studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals.

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One Left Behind (Kovach)-BoT-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I’ve read several of the books in this series, so I thought I knew what to expect in this one (book #9). I was partially right about some of it, totally wrong in my expectations in other ways.

I like how the author picks right up where the action left off from the previous book but also doesn’t dwell too much on detailing past plot points. There are enough references that somebody new to the series wouldn’t be too lost. Usually.

In this case, however, there are some things from Gina’s past that make reappearances and take more of a central focus. In fact, pretty much most of Gina’s personal life is wrapped up in these points in this book.

In some ways, it felt a little bit long in the tooth, because the event in question has been examined at length in past books. And Gina is still dealing with it.

I think I understand the reasons that the author brought it back into focus in a particular manner because there were similarities with the police case Gina was working on. The things that kept occurring made for blurred lines between professional and personal, and caused Gina to steer her investigation in several directions.

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US: zpr.io/2diGSZPZegZF

The case itself was okay. I don’t know if it was because teenagers were the main characters or if the story just didn’t grab me, but I didn’t feel the pop that I have felt from past cases with Gina.

Maybe because teenagers always seem to have so many secrets from adults to begin with, it was difficult to understand and get behind the lies and secrets from this group? I’m not sure. Maybe it would have been better if they were adults.

I did like how the characters were human. For example, PC Kapoor still has scars from the last story but is working through them, and the visual scars are lasting longer than the mental ones (supposedly). There is great continuity to be found in these characters and their work.

All in all, I suppose this is a good entry in the series, but not the best of stories. I’ll still look forward to the next outing by Gina Harte, though, because I want to see where her relationship goes with her daughter, and I have become invested in the characters.  

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Author Bio: Carla Kovach is a crime and horror author from Worcestershire. Her most popular work, the DI Gina Harte series is published by Bookouture. As well as books, she also writes stage and screenplays

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