Tag: Crime Thriller

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Blog Tour (Review): Into Darkness by T.J. Brearton

With a chilling start that I knew was NOT going to end well, this book had me riveted from the very beginning.

I can’t describe how well the plot rolled out. It didn’t feel like anything was forced for the sake of the story. Instead, it felt like an actual investigation, with moments of extreme excitement, followed by periods of investigation. Those “down times” would lull me into the steadiness of fact-finding, and then there would be a break in the case. It was all realistic to how an investigation proceeds.

I really liked the main character, Shannon. She was kick-ass and good at her job but didn’t come across as the obnoxious female trying to make a name for herself. She just did good investigative work. I also appreciated that the author didn’t feel the need to give her a traumatic back story to make the reader feel overly sympathetic towards her (I’ve read a few books like that lately). Being able to follow her through the investigation was easy because there were no other hang-ups or distractions.

One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was the setting. I read a lot of books set in various parts of the UK, and while I find the differences in their police work to be informative, I get excited (and a little wary) when I see one that takes place in the US.

(You may ask why I am wary of US policework? A husband who has 30+ years of LE – over 20 with NYPD. I’ve learned how to sniff out faulty facts and unrealistic investigative steps).

I’m happy to say that this book rang true to me from start to finish. Having lived in the city (most of the time in Queens), it was especially engaging to see areas and specific locations that were familiar (Kew Gardens and Ditmars-Steinway are particularly familiar to me). I also enjoyed Shannon’s memories of upstate NY, as we lived there for a number of years as well (but more in the central area).

I also think that the author did an admirable job of capturing the speech patterns of the residents of the area. In fact, pretty sure that I worked with the secretary/receptionist at the construction site and lived next door to the eyewitness to Monica’s abduction.

The plot itself was also intriguing and covered a lot of ground. It illustrated just how twisted an investigation can be and how pulling the right thread at the right time can make all of the difference. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the author.

About T.J. Brearton

T.J. Brearton’s books have reached half a million readers around the world and have topped the Amazon charts in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. A graduate of the New York Film Academy in Manhattan, Brearton first worked in film before focusing on novels. His books are visually descriptive with sharp dialog and underdog heroes. When not writing, Brearton does whatever his wife and three children tell him to do. They live happily in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate, New York. Yes, there are bears in the Adirondacks. But it’s really quite beautiful when you’re not running for your life.T.J. is the author of Dead Gone and many other crime thrillers. INTO DARKNESS will be his first novel published with Inkubator Books.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BreartonTJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tjbreartonauthor/
Website: http://tjbrearton.net/
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Blog Tour (Review): Blood on the Tyne-Body Parts

What a departure from my usual genres this book was!

The description caught my eye, so I thought I would give it a go. I’ve always enjoyed “older” mysteries from Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. I love the whole “noir” genre. Imagine my surprise to find that Blood on the Tyne fits right in with them.

I loved the setting from the time period to the location. The mid-50s is a ripe playground for exciting characters, and the author gets them all in there: the chanteuse, the homebody sister, the gangster, the bad boy ex…it’s a great gallery of personalities.

The premise is good also. Rosie has returned home from London for her mam’s funeral. While she is there, she gets embroiled in a police investigation. Young ladies are missing and then found murdered. And they all have a connection to the very places and people Rosie is around. (Don’t want to give too much detail and give anything away).

One thing I especially appreciated was the way the author wrote dialectically. I think it takes great talent to portray an accent or lexicon accurately. When an author takes the time to do so, it adds a whole new layer to the story for me. It also usually takes me longer to read because I read all of it as written to get the full effect. (Plus, the theater-geek in me still likes to work on accents).

I was pleased to see that this is the first in what might be a series, or at least there will be a book two. I enjoyed this one very much, and I look forward to the further adventures of Rosie Robson.

About Colin Garrow

True-born Geordie Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. Colin has published three stage plays, six adventures for middle grade readers, two books of short stories, the Watson Letters series and the Terry Bell Mysteries. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. These days he lives in a humble cottage in North East Scotland where he writes novels, stories. poems and the occasional song.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer

I have a confession to make.

After the bombshell events of The Blossom Twins, I was a little bit concerned as to where the author would go with Detective Natalie Ward. Ms. Wyer set a high bar, and it was difficult to see where she would be able to go with the narrative.

Spoiler alert: I shouldn’t have worried.

Not only did the author meet expectations set from the previous book, but she also exceeded them.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3bCi78y

The tension begins in the very first chapter with a vicious attack and never lets up. The reader knows that Natalie will be on the case. However, as she is still reeling from personal tragedy, there is a natural curiosity as to whether she will give the investigation her full attention.

Again, no need to worry. Natalie is a consummate professional.

One of the strengths of this series, as I have mentioned in past reviews, is how well the author balances Natalies personal and professional lives. The transitions between the two are seamless and allow the reader to glimpse insights into the thought process of a woman struggling with a significant loss. As you know from the blurb, these two storylines converge, which leads to even more personal turmoil for Natalie.

Another strength is the accuracy of the investigation undertaken by Natalie and her team. Finding clues, following leads, and taking nothing for granted, this is one of the most realistic portrayals of police work I have ever come across. I especially liked how the focus of the investigation changed as new evidence came to light.

I also thought that the author’s portrayal of college students was especially astute. She captured that lack of self-responsibility that some millennials exhibit – nothing is ever their fault, it’s always somebody else’s. This just added to the realism of the plot and its characters.

I absolutely tore through this book! Just know that Ms. Wyer has outdone herself once again, and I can’t wait for the next Detective Natalie Ward investigation.

Author Bio

Carol Wyer garnered a loyal following as an author of romantic comedies, and won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015). In 2017 she stepped from comedy to the “dark side” and embarked on a series of thrillers, featuring the popular DI Robyn Carter, which earned her recognition as a crime writer.

The Staffordshire-based writer now has more crime novels in the pipeline, although she can still sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

Website: https://www.carolwyer.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolEWyer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolewyer
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14925467.Carol_Wyer

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Blog Tour (Review): I May Kill You by Keith Dixon

Warning: This book is not for the faint of heart. And I loved every minute of it.

The author begins with “The Note.” You don’t know quite what it is, other than a lot of personal information. But by the end of the note, you see the purpose. And then we’re off and running.

I loved how this story rolled out. After the introduction of the note, the author switches focus to the hero, Ben, and we take some time getting to know him. I liked that he was flawed and not a super-hero. He was just an average guy who tried to do right, was good at his job, and made some bad choices. We’ve all been there.

Shortly, we learn more about the person who sent the note. And then the killings begin. And some are brutal. I found the killer’s choices to be interesting, and thought the author did a great job of giving us hints into the motivations while also allowing to see the killer as they went about their everyday business. This illustrated how even psychopaths can appear normal.

I thought it was also smart to make the hunt for the killer personal for Ben. It would have still been interesting if he had been helping Serena out, but that personal connection added a layer of desperation and determination to Ben’s investigation.

The whole book was well-paced and held my attention. In today’s atmosphere, that’s sometimes difficult to do. I would definitely recommend picking this one up.

About Keith Dixon

Keith Dixon was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the Midlands. He’s been writing since he was thirteen years old in a number of different genres: thriller, espionage, science fiction, literary. Two-time winner of the Chanticleer Reviews CLUE First in Category award for Private Eye/Noir novel, he’s the author of ten books in the Sam Dyke Investigations series and two other non-crime works, as well as two collections of blog posts on the craft of writing. His new series of Paul Storey Thrillers began in 2016.

When he’s not writing he enjoys reading, learning the guitar, watching movies and binge-inhaling great TV series. He’s currently a resident in France.

Social Media:
Website: www.keithdixonnovels.com
Blog: www.cwconfidential.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IMayKillYou
Twitter: https://twitter.com/keithyd6
Email: keith@keithdixonnovels.com
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Blog Tour w/ Review: Rage and Retribution by Lorraine Mace

Reading this book (the fourth in the DI Sterling series) was like coming into the fourth episode of crime procedural on television. The case itself is stand-alone, but you know you are missing some background to the main characters. Fortunately, the author does a great job of focusing on the matter at hand. And boy, is it a good one.

It hardly needs to be said that you can get plot points from blurbs and other reviews. Suffice to say that this story has everything you can want in a crime novel: blackmail, torture, revenge, vigilantism – it’s all there. The opening scene alone is not for the faint of heart.

I wouldn’t say that this is a page-turner as much as it is a steady investigation with lots of twists that seem natural to the arc of a story. I thought the author did an admirable job of relating accurate info in terms of the investigation.

I also liked the balance between Sterling’s homelife and job. The offer that gets thrown at him about midway through was realistic, and I appreciated how he didn’t let it overtake his focus but thought about it when he could. That may sound weird, but it just seemed very…human.

I will say that for some people, the topics addressed and the activities of some characters might be unsavory. They didn’t bother me, because I’ve read worse, but as I mentioned earlier, this gets gritty and dark in places.

As for me, I liked the characters, and the plot was engaging. I will definitely be looking for DI Sterling books in the future.

About Lorraine Mace

Born and raised in South East London, Lorraine lived and worked in South Africa, on the Island of Gozo and in France before settling on the Costa del Sol in Spain. She lives with her partner in a traditional Spanish village inland from the coast and enjoys sampling the regional dishes and ever-changing tapas in the local bars. Her knowledge of Spanish is expanding. To stop her waistline from doing the same, she runs five times a week. 

When not working on the D.I. Sterling series of crime novels, Lorraine is engaged in many writing-related activities. She is a columnist for both Writing Magazine and Writers’ Forum and is head judge for Writers’ Forum monthly fiction competitions. A tutor for Writers Bureau, she also runs her own private critique and author mentoring service.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.mace.52 
Website: www.lorrainemace.com 
Blog: http://thewritersabcchecklist.blogspot.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mace_lorraine/
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Books On Tour (Review): Flowers On Her Grave by Jennifer Chase

I found the last book in this series (Her Last Whisper) entertaining, so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed, and the author keeps getting better as the series continues.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/39a7hVs
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2U7txv9
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2U4MJcP
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2wfPMpC

The first scene is gruesome but sets the tone for what is yet to come. There are also a couple of gut punches along the way.

I like the way Katie and her co-workers, especially her partner in the cold cases (McGaven), relate to each other. There is a natural camaraderie, and their interactions are natural. The relationship between the undersheriff and Katie is also realistic; everybody has had a supervisor like him at one point or another.

I did think that Chad got the short end of the stick in this book, as their relationship didn’t seem to go anywhere. I understand that under the circumstances (and due to events), that isn’t where Katie’s focus was, but it still felt like he was extraneous. At the same time, it seemed as if the relationship between Katie and Nick grew. I’m not sure if that is where the author is going, but it gave me pause.

I also wish that there was more background on the motivations of the killer. I would have liked to had a few more scenes to be able to grasp why they did what they did. Oh, and I realize that this was an ARC (and it doesn’t affect my review at all), but there were an awful lot of grammatical errors that I hope an editor caught.

But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I like Katie as a protagonist, and that the author has her maturing and addressing her PTSD. That shows growth, and I look forward to reading more as Katie progresses.

Author Bio

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

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Books On Tour (Review): Knock Knock by Chris Merritt

For once, the tag line of “pulse-racing” and “heart-stopping” is 100% accurate. I could not put this book down. What a bang-up job for the first in a new series!

BUY LINK: 
https://geni.us/B0848XBLB3Social

As always, in an initial entry to a series, there is a lot to unpack. Right off the bat, we meet the main characters, Dan Lockhart and Lexi Green, whose jobs (DI and clinical psychologist, respectively) bring them together on both a personal and, later, professional level.

She is his therapist as he works his way through all sorts of issues, from PTSD (military service) to his missing wife (vanished, still missing). He brings her on to the case at hand to try to analyze the perpetrator to help them narrow down suspects. She jumps in and gets more than she bargained for (no spoilers).

I thought the introduction of the two was very smooth, as was the background for both of them, as well as for the rest of the Major Investigation Team (MIT). Sometimes introductions can weigh down the plot, as the author wants to build a solid foundation for the rest of the series. This author manages to build that foundation while keeping the plot skipping along at a rapid pace.

The crimes in this book are unique and chilling. There were just enough hints dropped that I found myself wildly guessing at “whodunit” early on, but kept changing my mind as I proceeded to read more. I appreciated how the author gave us a real insight into the killer’s motivations. There was almost as much background for the killer as there were for the lead investigators.

Very often, the perpetrator gets a perfunctory mention of past trauma or personal history that sets them on their murderous path. In this book, however, we get treated to a real deep dive into the world the killer inhabits. It makes the story so much more well-rounded.

The investigation unfolds in an entirely natural way, and I thought the author did an excellent job of illustrating how police “connect the dots,” as well as allowing the members of the MIT to disagree (which often happens in real life). The plotting was astute and well-written and did have me turning pages late into the night to get to the resolution. I was not disappointed!

Although this is the first in a new series, there is a brief mention of a character from another series by the same author (I guess to denote a tie-in?). It’s pretty inconsequential to the plot overall, but it does illustrate that the author is working within a known and detailed world, which makes it an overall more enjoyable read. I will absolutely be looking for the next books in this series!

Author Bio

Chris Merritt is a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All his novels are set in London, where he lives. He began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. He specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked his interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now he spends most of his time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When he’s not writing, he loves climbing and playing basketball.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCJMerritt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17558172.Chris_Merritt
Website: www.cjmerritt.co.uk

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Blog Tour (Review): The Harlech Beach Killings by Simon McCleave

Book series are interesting to me. Individual books in a series can be read as standalones, as the author drops enough references to understand past events without having to read the previous books. Other series require full knowledge of earlier books to understand the current plot. The Harlech Beach Killings fell somewhere in the middle for me.

The story itself was stand alone, and it was a pretty good one. I liked how the investigation unfolded; it was natural and seemed true to real-life police work (i.e., following leads, making connections between victims and suspects, etc.) The focus of the investigation (murderous drug dealers) is always a timely one as well.

There were also a few twists along the way that propelled the narrative. I thought the author waited almost too long for one of them, as it was a good one, but came about very late in the story. That’s a risky maneuver, as it seemed a little contrived by that point. There were clues to it earlier, however, the reader just doesn’t know that they’re clues. (How’s that for cryptic?)

I also appreciated the two seemingly disparate investigators. Both Ruth and Nick had their personal demons to deal with as they pursued the case. But this is where the narrative faltered for me. Having both characters with such albatrosses (alcoholism and a missing person) seemed forced – almost like the author was trying to make them more interesting.

I didn’t think they both needed the embellishment. I will say, though, that everything I know about UK police work I know from reading novels. Someone with the severity of Nick’s issues would not last long on a force, or (at the very least) would be put on desk duty for repeated violations. Maybe it’s different in the UK? And I never quite got where Ruth’s personal life fed into her police work. I prefer it when the two have a bearing on each other, and I never got that feeling here.

I think that’s why this book was in between a “standalone” and a “must read in order” for me. Maybe if I had read the first book, I would have had a better grasp of Ruth, which might have improved my perspective.

Regardless, it was a good book. I’m just not sure that I got everything I could have out of it. My suggestion would be to read the first book before this one to avoid any confusion.

About Simon McCleave

Simon McCleave was born in South London.

When leaving University, Simon worked in television and film development. He was a Script Editor at the BBC, a producer at Channel 4 before working as a Story Analyst in Los Angeles. He worked on films such as ‘The Full Monty’ and television series such as ‘Our Friends In The North’. 

Simon then became a script writer for television and film. He wrote on series such as Silent Witness, Murder In Suburbia, Teachers, Attachments, The Bill, Eastenders and many more. His film, ‘Out of the Game’ for Channel 4 was critically acclaimed – ‘An unflinching portrayal of male friendship.’ (Time Out)

‘The Harlech Beach Killings’ is his second novel.

Simon lives in North Wales with his wife and two children.

Social Media:

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Cover Reveal: Knock Knock by Chris Merritt

Okay, this is a good one…ready?

Who’s there?

Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal Who?

Cover Reveal of a new crime thriller series that’s coming soon!

Okay, that was kind of lame, but CHECK OUT THAT COVER!!!!!

Intrigued yet? Here’s a blurb to whet your appetite a little bit more.

Natasha Mayston wasn’t expecting anyone to knock on her door so late at night and she has no idea that the face staring back at her is the last one she’ll ever see…

As Detective Dan Lockhart is called to a wealthy London street to investigate Natasha’s death, he’s startled by the similarity to another case. Noticing the cable-tie restraints and the tiny scratches on Natasha’s wedding finger, Dan already knows what he will find if he looks in her throat – the small metal ball which choked her to death. He knows for sure that this isn’t the killer’s first victim and that he will strike again.

Months earlier, Kim Hardy was found in the same position in a hotel across the city – the same cable ties around her wrists, lacerations on her left hand and the same silver ball in her throat. But Kim’s murderer was caught and sent to prison – did they arrest the wrong man? Fearing that he’s dealing with a serial killer, Dan calls in psychologist Lexi Green to help with the case.

Then another body is discovered just days later, just as Lexi finds a clue online leading to the killer. Dan and his team aren’t convinced she’s found the right man, but Lexi reaches out to the suspect, putting herself in unthinkable danger. Dan thinks he knows who’s next on the killer’s list. But can he reach her before it’s too late?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Cara Hunter will love this thrilling new series from Chris Merritt. From an explosive start to a heart-stopping finale, you will not want to put this book down!

Still not convinced? Check out what others are saying about the author!

‘Eeee. OMG! Ahhh! Where do I start? I have a new favourite author… a belter of a book!… I was so impressed, gripped, hooked and immersed. I don’t have the words to describe how much I loved this book!’ Between the Pages Book Club, 5 stars

‘Brilliant…  I absolutely loved… Addictive reading… You can’t tear your eyes away … I was totally gripped… Absolutely blew me away… One of my top reads of 2018.’ Ginger Book Geek

‘Chris Merritt can add me to his list of fans, as I loved this book, the plot, characters and most of all his writing… I couldn’t put the book down, even when I was tired and wanted sleep, so sign of a terrific book!’ Zoo Loo Book Blog

‘Wow… A fast paced, captivating thriller that will have you hooked throughout. What an opening to this story! Poor Zac!… made me keep reading, kept me intrigued.’ Between the Pages Book Club

‘A fast-paced, action packed and exciting novel… if you like Tania Carver, Stuart MacBride or Jane Casey then you must read this!’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘Exhilarating… a pacy and tense ride… hugely gripping and exciting… If you enjoy dark crime thrillers with plenty of suspense and intrigue then I highly recommend this book.’ Hooked From Page One 

‘Fast-paced and exciting… I fell into this story and finished it in two days.  After getting through this book so fast I really want to read more… A must read.’ Two Girls and a Book Obsession, 5 stars

And a little about the author himself…

Hello! I’m a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.

My second series features detective Dan Lockhart – an ex-soldier with a missing wife – and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.

I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When I’m not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.

You can find out more about my work at www.cjmerritt.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @DrCJMerritt

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Books On Tour (Review): Her Daughter's Cry by M.M. Chouinard

I read a lot, as those of you who have followed me for a while can tell.  Many of the series are crime or psychological thrillers. Over time, I have found a few favorite characters, and I get more excited when a new book in the series is released. M.M. Chouinard’s Detective Jo Fournier is one of those. Even though it’s only the third book, there are several reasons I like her so much.  

Amazon: https://geni.us/B081RQX56RSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/338xC3h
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2KHLATk
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2s7LSfW

I appreciate that Jo is a fully-realized character, and the author does a fantastic job of balancing Jo’s work and personal life. Everything about her seems real. In the last book, she had to deal with her dad’s cancer. The curveball she gets thrown in this book is a real doozy. The thoughts she ponders and some of her concerns made her more relatable in this book (at least to me) because we are of a similar age, and I could understand her thought process.

In spite of the complications, she still gives total focus to the case at hand, which is realistic as well. And this case is a good one. It starts as a simple memory loss/Jane Doe (even though she is covered in blood – so maybe not so simple). But it quickly becomes apparent that there is more depth to the case than there initially appears to be.

I liked the structure and varying points of view the author used. There were no indicators on the individual chapters to tell whose perspective it is from, but it was always evident. I think the narrative flowed smoothly without the abrupt changes from person to person.

Another reason this worked is that the book is divided into sections. Part One is mostly establishing the case and is from Jo’s point of view. Part Two switches to the Jane Doe – and this is where it gets interesting. We learn a lot more background since she focuses on trying to track down her memories. There are a few interspersed chapters from another perspective, but I’m not going to give that one away.

The second half of the book picks up speed as clues are followed (both by the Jane Doe and by Jo and her squad). It turned into a page-turner, especially since I was waffling about who the culprit actually was. That’s another strength of the author: giving just enough information that I questioned what I already knew.

Her Daughter’s Cry was a great read, and I would recommend the whole series (just to get caught up).

Author Bio

M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millennium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them. She’s currently at work on her seventh novel.

Website: www.mmchouinard.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmchouinardauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/m_m_chouinard
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