Tag: Damp Pebbles

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The Arrangement by Miranda Rijks – Blog Tour (Review)

As I started this book, I expected it to go in one direction, but it was actually a character study of a different kind. It was definitely a page-turner.

When Grace learns that her daughter, Abi, was killed in another country, her entire life spirals out of control. But as she pushes to find out what really happened to Abi, strange things start to happen. Is Grace self-destructing or is there something more sinister in play?  

I liked how the initial crime was in a different country from the rest of the story. It added to the frustration that Grace felt that she couldn’t find answers. I don’t think the tension would have worked as well if it had been run of the mill “happened at home.” The lack of answers would have seemed like shoddy police work. But the lack of answers is vital to the rest of the plot.

I thought the author did a great job with Grace’s character. Severe trauma can trigger the worst parts of a person as old habits die hard. As Grace spirals, she becomes more unreliable – both as a person (errors on the job) and as a narrator. This was the strongest part of the book.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3j3hEQj Amazon US: https://amzn.to/32gyvs7

As Grace asks more questions, she finds out that her daughter was hiding some pretty dark secrets. I thought that some of them were good plot twists, but others were a little bit too much “red herring.” It’s hard to describe – more like they were used as a mechanism to get to the next scene, but didn’t have any bearing on the rest of the story and were forgotten.

I also wish that the author had dropped some more hints leading to the finale. It sort of came out of nowhere, and there wasn’t a moment of “oh I should have seen that coming.” You know what I mean, right? Where you get to the “big reveal” and all of a sudden, certain events all of a sudden make much more sense? This one just didn’t have enough impact.

That being said, I didn’t figure it out until about three-quarters of the way through, so the author did do a good job of keeping me guessing. The gaslighting was effective.

If you’re looking for a good thriller that will keep you in the dark, pick this one up. It’s worth it for the portrait of Grace’s grief.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandaRijks 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MirandaRijksAuthor/ 
Website: https://mirandarijks.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandarijksauthor/ 

About Miranda Rijks:

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.

Miranda is the author of Roses Are Red and I Want You Gone. THE ARRANGEMENT will be her eighth novel published with Inkubator Books.

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Echo Hall by Virginia Moffatt – Blog Tour (Review)

Atmospheric doesn’t even begin to describe this book. Gothic comes a little closer. Epic Gothic? Gothic Epic? Page-turning?

All of the above.

Spanning the lives of three women and three different wars, the author has created a story that spans time while pulling out the common threads of each of the women. Echo Hall, the house, binds them together – and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

I thought the author did a great job of making sure that each woman’s story was told succinctly. That was important because it was easier to see where the parallels were as the story proceeded. There wasn’t any guesswork involved, as sometimes happens with historical novels (especially ones that undertake the time span this one did).

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ggdZxJ Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39IOFOn
Blackwells: https://bit.ly/3ffdouO Waterstones: https://bit.ly/3gfNjgw
Hive.co.uk: https://bit.ly/3fiaV2C

I liked how the house was a character unto itself. It had almost as much to do with the life trajectories of the women as their personal choices did. I know that sounds a little bit odd, but there is nothing magical about it – the house just “is.” What I do believe, and what this author captured was that misery and sorrow can remain in a location and affect people who visit or live in the place.

I remember when my husband and I were house hunting a few years ago, there was one place that we walked through that just felt sad. Like there was no joy to be found. It was decorated nicely and looked homey, but there was just a bad feeling about it. We asked the realtor, and found out that the wife had nursed the husband in his final days of an illness, and he had died in the house. Sad, to be sure, but it was like it had gotten into the walls.

This is what came to mind as I read Echo Hall. But I digress.

Not only were the women ultimately unhappy, but the stresses of war played a part in each of their lives. It was just a whole lot of sad and kind of eerie, but all expertly woven together.

It’s hard to say whether someone would enjoy this book because it is definitely Gothic (that word again) in feeling (and by definition, I don’t think Gothic can be joyful in the traditional sense). But I would certainly recommend it.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aroomofmyown1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiamoffattauthor/
Website: https://virginiamoffattwriter.wordpress.com/

About the author: Virginia Moffatt was born in London, one of eight children, several of whom are writers. ‘The Wave’ is her second novel. Her previous publications are ‘Echo Hall’ (Unbound) and ‘Rapture and what comes after’ (Flash fiction collection published by Gumbo Press). She also writes non fiction. Virginia is married to Chris Cole, Director of Drone Wars UK. They have two daughters at University and a son still living with them in Oxford.

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Blog Tour (Review): Deadly Vengeance by OMJ Ryan

Deadly Silence was good; Deadly Waters was better. In Deadly Vengeance, the author really hits his stride.

I am deadly serious; I love these books.

The author knows how to grab a reader’s attention and weave a plot that keeps the action flowing and the pages turning.

This time, DCI Jane Phillips and her team have to find the kidnapped daughter of a munitions dealer before it’s too late. What could be a run-of-the-mill “teen held for ransom” story turns into so much more under this author’s guidance.

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3glPeQ6 Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2AolDGu

Sure, there are the usual bits: huge ransoms, shady secrets, and a lot more going on than meets the eye. That’s all to be expected.

But the author adds in a unique tie to the military which gives the investigation depth. AND, there is a huge roadblock to the form of a hostage negotiator who is sent to “work with” DCI Phillips and her team as a result of the munitions dealer’s call to London.

Yeah, he’s a downright snob, and honestly, not so good at his job, if you ask me. But that is very apparent early on. Still, he serves as a distraction to the investigation which makes it more interesting.

As for the whole plot, you know that I’m not going to give you anything there. Suffice to say that you can expect a few gasps and lots of excitement, especially if you are familiar with the series.

Honestly, I don’t know how OMJ Ryan does it, but the books keep coming and maintain high standards of creativity. There’s no let-up. I think they keep getting better and better.

It’s early in the series, so jump in and read them all to catch up!

About OMJ Ryan:

Hailing from Yorkshire, OMJ Ryan worked in radio and entertainment for over twenty years, collaborating with household names and accumulating a host of international writing and radio awards. In 2018 he followed his passion to become a full-time novelist, writing stories for people who devour exciting, fast-paced thrillers by the pool, on their commute – or those rare moments of downtime before bed. Owen’s mission is to entertain from the first page to the last. 

Deadly Vengeance is the third Detective Jane Phillips book in the series and OMJ’s fourth book with Inkubator Books. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OMJRYAN1 @OMJRYAN1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OMJ-Ryan-2449880305025779/
Website: https://www.omjryan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omjryan/
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Blog Tour (Review): When Love Lies Bleeding by Candy Denman

The timeliness of this book is uncanny, as it was published at the end of February. You can see from the blurb what the plot is, but reading it is like reliving the last three months, although in noir form.

I’m a big fan of film noir, so as I was reading, I could hear Humphrey Bogart doing the voice over in my head. The author did a fantastic job of creating that type of atmosphere. It made for an interesting juxtaposition, because the plot itself is all modern.

I actually think this happened to work in favor of the book. It softened the reality of the topic. If the book had been written straightforward, I don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable, because it would have felt too real, too much like reading a post on Facebook or a news article turned into a story. For me, the sense of noir made it more palatable.

I did also like the setting, because I’m a born and raised San Francisco Bay Area gal. I grew up just south of Oakland, so the locations were all familiar. Plus, where better to set a foggy noir story than in Fog City, right? I only wish that the author had been a little more detailed, though, as there are a lot of buildings and businesses that could have added to the mood.

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Love-Lies-Bleeding-Nostalgia/dp/1910040347/ref=sr_1_1?crid=G9YQOKD5IIT7&dchild=1&keywords=when+love+lies+bleeding&qid=1590231983&sprefix=when+love+lies+bl%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/When-Love-Lies-Bleeding-Nostalgia-ebook/dp/B084Z691L5/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=when+love+lies+bleeding&qid=1590232057&sr=8-1

And back to that noir style; I’m glad that it was a novella. Because even though I loved it, I think that a full-length novel in that tone might have been a tad much. I would have needed to give Humphrey a break somewhere along the way.

As it was, it was a timely topic written into a story that was told in a unique way and it was the perfect length. I would definitely recommend this quick read. Maybe I’ll start listening to the news and imagining it in Humphrey’s voice as well. It’s a thought.

About Candy Denman:

Candy Denman spent most of her life as an NHS nurse but now concentrates on writing full time. She has written extensively for television programmes such as The Bill, Doctors and Heartbeat but now writes novels. She lives in Hertfordshire with her large extended family and a football crazy Cockapoo called Dennis. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrimeCandy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimeCandy/
Website: https://www.candydenman.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candydenman/
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Blog Tour (Review): Everything to Lose by Gordon Bickerstaff

Hands down one of the most action-packed plots I have read recently (and I’ve read a few), this book is not just a roller coaster of a read. Think the fastest roller coaster with switchbacks and loops where you never know which thrill is coming next.

There is sort of dual plot going, because Gavin (a scientist) is trying to stop the launch of a deadly drug. But when he disappears, Zoe has to find him before it’s too late. But too late for what? Just about everything.

I liked the chemistry between Zoe and Gavin. They were individuals who knew their place but also knew how they had to rely on each other. Well, maybe Gavin has to rely on Zoe a little bit more than vice versa. But she’s a badass to be reckoned with.

There is amazing science, but the author does a good job of making it easily understood. I’m not a science person and sometimes shut down if things get too technical. But that didn’t happen with this book. I was able to follow it and I learned a lot in the process.

There was also political intrigue, which is always a favorite of mine. I liked how the author made me uncertain as to whether or not I should trust a character, and what their motives actually were. None of it felt contrived but natural to the story. A revelation towards the end was especially interesting (no spoilers).

AMAZON UK: https://tinyurl.com/EverythingToLose-AmazonUK
AMAZON US: https://tinyurl.com/EverythingToLose-AmazonUS
BOOK DEPOSITORY: https://tinyurl.com/EverythingToLose-BookDeposit

I will say that this is not a book that you can read casually. I almost felt like I should be taking notes, because there were many intricate details, connections and plot points. Trust me when I say you need to be paying attention when you read this one.

I did not read the first book in the series, so I don’t know if I missed anything. I have seen reviews that mention the action flows from one book to this one. I didn’t feel like I came in at the middle of anything, so I would say that it is okay to read this as a standalone. I really enjoyed it.

That being said, there is a major cliffhanger that will lead to book three, so if you have the time, I would suggest going back and starting with the first book, just so you get the whole story. I have a feeling that strung together, it’s all going to be pretty epic.

About Gordon Bickerstaff:

I was born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland. I studied biochemistry, and I’ve worked in several Scottish universities where I did research on enzymes, and taught biochemistry. After thirty years of teaching and research I retired my academic pen, and took of a mightier fiction pen. 

I live in central Scotland with my wife and we enjoy reading, writing, and walking in the hills.

The Lambeth Group books follow the secret government investigations of agent Zoe Tampsin. A strong female protagonist with courage, determination, and guile. She is assisted by specialist consultant, Gavin Shawlens.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GFBickerstaff 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012357701552 
Website: http://bit.ly/1g4gEoa
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gordon-bickerstaff 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5776209.Gordon_Bickerstaff
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Blog Tour (Review): The Closer You Get by Mary Torjusssen

I’m back on a psych thriller kick. I just came off of a fantastic roller coaster of a read, so I was a little leery about jumping into another one. Fortunately, this one completely surprised me as well. (Two for two ain’t bad!)

Complete honesty here: The first few chapters had me worried. Ruby took action for a few good reasons (or so she thought), but it seemed like it all dragged on. I thought that the book was going to be more of that, and it was frankly getting a little tiresome.

But about a third of the way through, it zigged when I thought it was going to zag, and we were off to the races.

The chapters then move seamlessly back and forth between Ruby and Emma, and the depths of sinister motives are slowly revealed. There is A LOT more going on than what is on the surface. It is only at the very end that the reader gets a chance to reflect on events and put all of the pieces together.

I thought Emma and Ruby were interesting counterparts. Both appeared to be strong at some points and weak at others, but their strengths came out at different times. I also thought that both women showed tremendous growth, both internal and in terms of each other. Emma’s realizations were especially truthful, as she was brutally honest with herself (sometimes lacking in characters). She realized that nobody was blameless in the whole situation.

(I know that sounds a little convoluted, but I don’t want to give away any plot points).

I also think that Tom was one of the best-written characters I have “met.” He is complex and unpredictable. I was always off-balance with him, so the characters’ interactions felt especially “lifelike.” He was one twisted bastard. You should definitely give this one a try. Stick with it through the set up because it takes off and keeps you guessing to the very end.

About Mary Torjussen

Mary Torjussen has an MA in Creative Writing from Liverpool John Moores University and worked for several years as a teacher. She is the author of two novels, Gone Without a Trace and The Girl I Used to Be, and her new novel will be published in 2020. She writes dark, gripping thrillers and her debut novel, published in several international territories, has been optioned for television by Ecosse Productions.

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Blog Tour (Review): Roses Are Red by Miranda Rijks

When I read a book, I make notes and write the review in my head as I proceed. The final result that you see on this blog is usually a mixture of the highlights of each mental review I complete. I can’t remember the last time I had a review change in my mind as much as it did for Roses Are Red.

At the beginning of the book, I thought it would be a psych thriller in flashbacks, illustrating the reasons leading up to the shocking first chapter. That was wrong.

Then, I thought it would be about a woman putting herself back together after trauma. That was partially right.  

As I reached a little under halfway, I was positive I had it all figured out. I was disappointed that it seemed so simple and that I still had lots more in the book to go. But I kept reading because I wanted to see how it all played out.

Can I just say that the last third of the book had me turning pages as the action ratcheted up and some of what I thought I knew got thrown out the window?

In other words, if you think that you know what is happening, you probably don’t. I don’t want to say much more than this, because it is kind of pointless to go into character development and things like that without giving away plot points, and I definitely don’t want to do that.

Suffice to say that this is a great psych thriller that can also serve as a cautionary tale (you’ll figure that one out as you read), and was compelling enough for me to read it in one sitting. That’s difficult to do. So, grab it and give yourself a whirlwind treat of a read. This is a psychological thriller with lots of suspense and you will not be disappointed.

About Miranda Rijks

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.
Miranda is the author of YOU ARE MINE and I WANT YOU GONE. ROSES ARE RED will be her seventh novel published with Inkubator Books.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandaRijks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MirandaRijksAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandarijksauthor/
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Blog Tour (Review): The Terror Within by Linda Regan

Some books have intriguing plots that wind their way to the end, hooking you with just enough information to keep you interested. And some books take off like a rocket, shooting you into the action that continues at such a rapid pace it is nearly impossible to turn pages fast enough to keep up.

The Terror Within is squarely and solidly in the latter category. It quite literally left me breathless.

The author chose to start the story with a happy event before things went south, and that happened very quickly. Almost immediately, the reader is catapulted into the middle of riots that morph into something much more insidious and dangerous. And watch out for the twists (mini-spoiler?)

I thought that the author did an incredible job of keeping the plot moving with action flipping between three different locations. It was so seamless I felt like I was watching a movie – the cuts to each character or location happened that quickly.

I was also impressed with the level of detail the author had regarding the subject matter. Not just about police-work and hostage negotiation but about the perpetrators’ motivations as well.

And that is what I think stood out to me the most about this book. Aside from the pulse-pounding action, the bravery of the author to choose this topic in today’s overly-PC world was bold and unforgettable. The details of the perps’ past crimes and their reasons for their actions were both well-researched and accurate. I commend the author for daring to anger the “righteous indignation” crowd.

Brutality exists in the world. Better to shine a light on it and be aware than be afraid of offending someone. And these guys are brutal. Be forewarned, there is graphic detail of injuries and harming of other people. But for me, this made it all the more realistic and gritty and put it into my top reads of the year.

About Linda Regan

Linda is a successful actress, still best known for her portrayal of April, the sweet yellow-coat, in the BBC award winning comedy Hi-De-Hi. Other programmes she has appeared in include: The Bafta nominated Channel five series: Harry and Cosh, The Bill, London’s Burning, Minder, Gentle Touch, The Knock, a Lynda La Plante series: Framed, to name but a few. Also many films, a season with the RSC, and many good theatre roles. To date she has appeared in nearly a hundred commercials.

She has been writing all her life: short stories, radio, fact and fiction. Her first crime novel was published in 2006, and her subsequent novels have all received excellent reviews.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Linda_Regan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaReganAuthor/
Website: https://lindareganonline.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linda.regan.01/
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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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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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