Tag: Damp Pebbles

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An Eye for an Eye-Blog Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

I am huge fan of Carol Wyer’s writing; you can read any of my reviews of the Natalie Ward series for proof of that (just go to the search bar on my blog and type in “Natalie Ward” – there are too many to link here).

So, of course, I was very excited to see that she is introducing a new series with this book. It marks the debut of Detective Kate Young. Right off the bat, I could tell that she would be another great character to get behind.

Ms. Wyer specializes in main characters who are strong, intelligent, and good at their jobs, but who have messy personal lives and the same character flaws that real people exhibit. That’s one of the strengths of her multiple series: she writes characters who are relatable.

In some ways, I think that Kate is one of her most complex yet.

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2LdJpdV
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/35y4g2j

We know from the beginning that she experienced a traumatic event on the job, and the prologue sets up that there are several repercussions from that event.

What follows is an intricately plotted story in which Kate’s personal demons impact the investigation that she is called upon to undertake. Kate struggles but still knows she needs to do the job and do it well.

However, she soon realizes that there is more to both sides (personal and the investigation) and they actually may be intertwined. And that somebody may be manipulating both for their own personal reasons.

It was just sooooo good!

I liked the way that Ms. Wyer related the incident that affected Kate’s status in the department. The flashbacks throughout gave the reader the pieces of the puzzle but also illustrated Kate’s fragmented state of mind. It was very effective.

Likewise, I thought the investigation allowed for just enough guesswork to keep it interesting but still realistic and true to life. As it is a new series, there is the usual introduction of the main characters and laying groundwork for future books.

But it’s all very natural and doesn’t feel forced, as in “here’s another character and here’s their backstory.” That’s another strength of the author – the organic way that people are introduced, as if the reader is just dropped into a fully-realized world.

It was when the two paths crossed, and Kate put the pieces of the bigger puzzle together, that the author really showed her skill – it was truly woven together into a page-turning story.

Oh, and that title? Genius. You’ll know why when you read the book.

Honestly, it’s a helluva start to the new series and I cannot wait to follow Kate’s next case! Five stars, all the way.

About Carol Wyer:

USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction. 

A move from humour to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 750,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ”Irritable Male Syndrome’ and ‘Ageing Disgracefully’ and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’, featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy… who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media Links

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Deadline-Blog Tour (Review)-Thriller-Available Now

I really enjoyed the set up for this book. Seemingly disparate people are visited in different situations, but they all end up in the same result.

Dead.

It reminded me of the beginning of a television show or movie, because it set the stage for the reader to try to figure out what the victims had in common. I liked that challenge.

And there is a challenge in this book. There is a lot going on. Fair warning: do NOT try to read this when you are distracted or on the fly when you have time for a few pages.

The author has crafted a story that demands attention to detail as the plot twists its way from serial killers to political intrigue, from police procedural to morality story.

Trust me, it all works for one page-turner of a book.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2UAjMok 
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3kALBrp 
Waterstones: https://bit.ly/3kAt0Me 

I thought the pairing of a fallen WaPo writer (American) and a female officer with a secret she struggles to keep hidden (British) was unique. Their baggage both hinders them and gives them insights to the problems at hand.

They both also have something to prove which drives them to discover who the perpetrator is. I don’t know if it was just me, but there were a few times that I felt like they were competing against each other. Not overtly, but just…I dunno. Just a feeling.

I thought the use of red herrings and unexpected twists was well-done. They all seemed natural and none of them were of the “gotcha/wait what?” type. You know, the ones that come out of nowhere and leave you scratching your head?

Oh, and don’t get too attached to any of the characters. You can probably guess why, but I will neither confirm nor deny if your guess is accurate.

I really got into this book. It allowed me to sink into another world and be absorbed by a fast-moving plot with interesting characters.

Not a book vacation, but a definite brain-break that I enjoyed immensely.

Twitter: @GradusPrimus
Instagram: primusgradus

About Geoff Major:

A long time ago, Geoff Major had an idea for a story, whilst walking his girls to primary school. Two years ago, he decided he had the time and patience to try to write the story down. His wife was wholly supportive, so he turned from full-time to part-time for four months and now – 23 years after that idea first popped into his head – it has been published.

As a self-employed business consultant for 18 years and a fundraising adventurer for 10 years (including ski-trekking 50 miles, over 6 days and 6 nights, to the geographic North Pole), he now works for a debt charity whilst plotting his next three books.

Blog: https://lets-start-at-the-very-beginning.blogspot.com/

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Twenty Years a Stranger-Blog Tour (Review)-Fiction-Available Now

I have mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand it was an epic story with excellent examples of gaslighting that highlighted both the vulnerability and the resilience of women.

On the other hand, the male character was so vile that I had a difficult time with him. He was so unlikeable to me that parts were unenjoyable to read.

I guess in a way that’s a good thing, because he was that real to me. Fortunately, I have never had the pleasure of dealing with such a person in real life.

The story is told mainly from the perspective of Grace. But she receives an email that lets her know that her husband isn’t who she thinks he is. We then get a few chapters from the point of view of the girlfriend(s).

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/36JHKTQ Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ns1P83

That’s right, Daniel leads quite the double (triple? Quadruple?) life.

The author did a good job weaving the stories so that it was fairly easy to see where overlap was and how Daniel manipulated the women. It was also frustrating, though, because I wanted to yell at them for some of the more obvious instances.

I thought that there were moments where the prose got away from the author. There is such a thing as too much description. At times it felt like it bogged down a little bit.

While it was a fascinating look at mental manipulation, it does take a darker turn that some readers might find troubling.

I for one enjoyed it. I understand that this was both based on a true story and the first in a series. It will certainly be interesting to see how the author follows up.

Twitter: @Deborah_Twelves 
Facebook: debbie.twelves 
Instagram: deborahtwelvesauthor

About Deborah Twelves:

Deborah Twelves was born in Sheffield, but raised in Ponteland, Northumberland. She studied French and Spanish at Edinburgh University and taught languages for some years while living in France, Spain and Northern Quebec. She now divides her time between her  home in Pwllheli, on the Llyn Peninsula of North Wales and her family home in Northumberland but often travels abroad. She has a black Labrador called Nala and a black Lusitano horse called Recurso (Ric), who take up a lot of her spare time, although yacht racing, which she began at an early age with her father, remains her great passion.

Deborah has written many articles for the sailing press over the years and Twenty Years a Stranger is her debut novel, based on true events in her life. It is the first book in the Stranger Trilogy. The other two books, Ghost of a Stranger and The Boy Stranger will follow soon.

Here’s a bonus interview between Alison Pierse and Deborah Twelves:
https://vimeo.com/461365450?ref=em-share

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The Visitors-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

When a book starts with a character undergoing inspection at a jail, accused of murder, you know you’re going to be in for quite a read.

What’s even better is that you don’t know which character is featured in the prologue. Sometimes it becomes apparent right away, but not this time. It’s not a spoiler to say that you don’t find out until very late in the story.

And a lot happens in between the two points.

I thought the set up was effective. Hannah has transformed a derelict barn into a guest cottage. She needs something to keep her occupied because her husband, Daniel, is a big mucky much surgeon and is away at work at various hospitals quite often.

Or is he?

Hannah has only gotten her fledgling guest house running when her second customers (Mike, Nadia, and their daughter Kayleigh) appear, the titular visitors.

And that’s where everything goes south.

US Link: https://www.amazon.com/ok/dp/B08PP3C5F9/
UK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk//dp/B08PP3C5F9/

The author did a great job of establishing things without hitting the reader over the head, hinting just enough to make the reader think.

I knew something was off about Daniel.

I knew something was off about Mike and Nadia.

But I didn’t know what, and I didn’t know how (or even if) it all tied together. In fact, this was one instance where I truly had no idea where it was all going until the very end. I did have a suspicion, and I was partially right, but not entirely.

I though Hannah was an interesting character and was fairly relatable. Her desire to do something productive (in light of her husband’s constant absences) felt familiar. I think any woman who mostly a homemaker, taking care of the kids, wishes to do something for herself.

I couldn’t get a bead on Nadia, which I kind of enjoyed. She was the one character that I never quite knew if she was good or bad, going along to get along or controlling it all. The uncertainty kept me actively engaged.

I did think that the revelations towards the end felt a bit contrived, and there is a subplot about blackmail that kind of comes out of nowhere – but it is pivotal to the overall story arc. I would have liked for that to have a little more groundwork to be thoroughly believable.

But it was still a really good read. I read it in just two sittings and would certainly recommend checking it out.

Twitter: @MirandaRijks 
Facebook: MirandaRijksAuthor/ 
Website: https://mirandarijks.com/ 
Instagram: mirandarijksauthor/ 

About MirandaRijks:

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.

She is the author of The Arrangement, Roses are Red, and You Are Mine. The Visitors will be her ninth book with Inkubator Books. 

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The Other Couple-Blog Tour(Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

Flat out, being honest, I almost gave up on this one. I’ll explain why in a minute.  

It would have been a shame, though, because the end was one of the absolute best endings to a book I’ve read recently.

So, I’ll put the end of the review here. Give this one a chance; the payoff is worth it.

Now for the rest of the review. As usual with this author’s books (see The Good Neighbor, The Good Mother, The Guest, and The Assistant), there is a unique beginning and a different approach.

The premise was good. I knew right from the start that there was “something” about Joe and Skye. It took a bit to figure out what the something was, but the reveal of their motivation was well-plotted.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/33LjjoH
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2JkTHb3

Maggie and Brad were a different story. I didn’t think they were as well fleshed-out, for the most part. I did like how there was a little bit of role-reversal with them. It contributed to the plot in an important way.  

Brad writes a successful marriage blog, and a few of his posts are interspersed between chapters. This was effective because it gave insight to his character. Let’s pull no punches. Brad was a total hypocrite. Not saying more.

Less successful were Maggie’s continuous excuses for her behavior. While they may have been realistic, I didn’t feel that they were legitimate.

Again, I think role-reversal plays a huge part in this entire novel. There is a definite “gender-switch” in terms of motivations, actions, and attitudes.

In fact, the more that I think about it, the title even is ambiguous. Who exactly is “The Other Couple?”

Once you get to that ending, (and oh, that ending), you’ll be reflecting the same way I am right now.

So, again, give this one a chance. There are a lot of internal monologues and “deep thoughts” of the characters that bog it down periodically, but I promise you, the payoff is totally and completely worth it.

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 Good Mother, The Assistant and other psychological thrillers. The Other Couple will be Cathryn’s fifth novel with Inkubator books. 

Social Media:

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Ring of Spies (#3)-Blog Tour (Review)-Historical Spy Thriller-Available Now

Hands down, one of the best historical espionage thrillers I have ever read. I mean, not that I read a lot in that genre, but I’ve certainly done my share with Len Deighton and Phillip Kerr. I was really excited to find this author.

My love for historical fiction is known to anyone who has read even a few entries on this blog. Most of them are straight fiction, although a few have had a mystery involved. This is one of the first in my current reading streak that is straight-up espionage. And the timing couldn’t have been better.

Going off-track for a moment: My family and I recently found “Churchill’s Secret Agents ” on Netflix. It was a reality show where the participants went through the same training that SOE agents did during WWII. It was extremely well-done and very informative.

It also put me in an excellent frame of mind for this book.

In this third Richard Prince adventure, his task is more dangerous than previous ones (apparently – more on that in a minute). When British paratroopers are ambushed, it’s up to him to figure out how the enemy knew where they would be. Or is it the enemy? Is there a traitor in the midst, or is the espionage just that intricate?

Like I’m going to tell you any of those things.

The plot is extremely detailed, and the author knows how to build the tension that surrounds spying in a time of war while keeping it realistic and not verging into fantastical. It would have been easy for the author to go for the thriller and lose plausibility, but he didn’t.

As to be expected with an espionage thriller, there are intricacies, twists, and surprises. These were all well-done and kept me engaged through the entire book.

The only negative I have (and this is totally on me) is that I had not read the previous books. While the plot in this book is a standalone, there is an awful lot of backstory that is missing if you don’t have the first two books under your belt first.

I know that I would have enjoyed this book even more than I did if I had read the first two; there would have been more depth to the character, I think, and some of his motivations might have been clearer.

I’m going to remedy that by grabbing the first two but do yourself a favor and start with them. Read them in order. And don’t read them quickly. Allow yourself the time to sink into Richard Prince’s world. You won’t be sorry.

Twitter: @alex_gerlis 
Facebook: alexgerlisauthor/
Website: http://alexgerlis.com/ 
Instagram: alexgerlis/ 

About Alex Gerlis:

Alex Gerlis is the author of the acclaimed Spies series of four Second World War espionage thrillers which are noted for their detailed research and intricate plots and feature two great adversaries: the British spymaster Edgar and his Soviet counterpart Viktor. The television/film rights for The Best of Our Spies have been bought by a major production company.

Born in Lincolnshire, Alex was a BBC journalist for nearly 30 years. He lives in west London with his wife and family and three black cats, a breed which makes cameo appearances in his books. He’s a lifelong supporter of Grimsby Town, which has provided some preparation for the highs and lows of writing novels. When asked if he has worked in the field of espionage he declines to answer in the hope some people may think he has.

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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
Waterstones: https://bit.ly/3hnLO0b Book Depository: https://bit.ly/2Ewm2IQ
Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/2QksVPQ

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 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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Road to Mercy by TJ Brearton – Blog Tour (Review)

I really enjoyed the first book in the Shannon Ames series, Into Darkness, and I’m really excited to say that there is no Sophomore Slump in this series.

As with the last book, this one opens with an exciting scene (not saying what it is) that sets the tone for the rest of the story. We get people on the run, dead bodies, shady financial dealings, a twisty investigation…all the elements of page-turning, thrilling suspense.

The author does not let up the entire length of the book. Even during “down” times of the investigation, the plotting is tense, and the action is compelling.

I like that Shannon herself does not let up. She is an astute and no-nonsense investigator who expects others to live up to her standards. But she isn’t necessarily “tough-as-nails” annoying. Her character is a likable bad-ass.

I also appreciate how the author allows the story to unfold, switching to other characters periodically so that we get an “update” from their point of view. It makes the story more accessible. These are the easiest thrillers to read because they’re engaging, and the action is natural.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GY7X8QQ
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08GY7X8QQ

One of the other reasons that I like these two books (and I hope that there are a lot more) is they’re largely set in and around New York City, where I used to live. There is definitely something just more to a story when you can picture the streets and neighborhoods.

Truth though, as soon as I saw Woodbury Common, I was pretty much pre-disposed to like the book, because I’ve shopped there and know the area. I did have to laugh, though, when the characters mention Raytheon in Loudoun County, because that’s practically my backyard now. So yeah, locations that are relatable give it that extra oomph.

Not that this story needs it though, because as I mentioned, this plot has everything sNot that this story needs it though, because as I mentioned, this plot has everything someone could want in a thriller. It could be set anywhere and it would still be a winner.

I really do hope that Shannon continues her investigations, because I love “watching” her work. This is one gripping thriller series that truly lives up to its hype!  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BreartonTJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tjbreartonauthor/
Website: http://tjbrearton.net/

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. 

TJ is the author of Into Darkness, book 1 in the Shannon Ames series. ROAD TO MERCY will be his second novel published with Inkubator Books.

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Ritual Demise by Sally Rigby – Blog Tour (Review)

Writing reviews for crime procedurals can sometimes be difficult. The balance between wanting to give the plot justice while not giving away any plot points can be a difficult balance. That’s why you may find some of my reviews to be less detailed than others.

Just wanted to clear that up. Now, on to the review.

Ritual Demise is the seventh book in the Cavendish & Walker series. As such, there are a lot of references to past events and the characters are treated as if the reader already knows their backstories.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3awggm5  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2E3Pa9Y 

This can be a double-edged sword, because the author runs the risk of either boring readers who have read the other installments with too much explanation, or alienating and confusing readers new to the series, making them feel lost. I’m happy to report that the author does neither of these – it was perfectly fine to read as a stand-alone.

That’s not to say that knowing the backgrounds wouldn’t have added a bit more understanding, but that’s not vital to enjoying the story at hand.

One of the things that made this book enjoyable is that it reads like a tv procedural (no surprise, given the author’s background). Because of this the plot moves along quickly. The author has a firm grasp on policework and on the people who work in the field. Nothing jumped out at me as noticeably wrong (and I’m pretty picky about that). I like that the two lead characters are strong, smart women. More of that, please.

As to the plot itself, this is one of those things I mentioned at the beginning. I don’t want to give it away, because it would be easy to give a clue away. I’m a firm believer that crime procedurals (like mysteries) should be experienced by each reader. I thought that the ritualistic details of the murders was interesting and different. And that’s all you’re going to get from me on that!

This was an easy novel to read, and I highly recommend picking up this series.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SallyRigby4 
Website: https://sallyrigby.com 
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About Sally Rigby:

Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, in the UK. She has always had the travel bug, and after living in both Manchester and London, eventually moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand (apart from five years in Australia), which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world. After writing young adult fiction for many years, under a pen name, Sally decided to move into crime fiction. Her Cavendish & Walker series brings together two headstrong, and very different, women – DCI Whitney Walker, and forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish. Sally has a background in education, and has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.
Check out her website for a FREE prequel story….. www.sallyrigby.com

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