Tag: New Release

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Ten Days (Sherratt)-BoT-Psych Thriller-Available Now

What makes a person a psychopath? Can childhood trauma permanently warp a person’s perceptions? What constitutes revenge…and is it ever enough?

All of these questions came to mind, and most were answered, in this page turning thriller. It’s one that you truly have to experience to appreciate the thought that went into crafting this story.

So, as I hate spoilers, this review is going to seem a little cagey as I dance around specifics to get my own points across.

The method of storytelling was very effective. There was a lot of time jumping and several different characters’ points of view. Some were only one chapter long, but they were vital in the course of the story.

If you read the headings at the beginning of each chapter, you won’t be lost. They are a virtual map of where you should be in the story.

I really liked the characters, both Alex and Eva. I know that sounds odd, as one of them is a super-villain, but that’s part of what made this book so good.

Two people, who each experienced a horrific event as a child, who each took a different path to adulthood. The stark differences were clarified repeatedly without the author hitting you over the head.

The psychopathy of making victims feel how the villain felt was one of the most interesting aspects of the story and really made the book unique.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B091FNX2K5cover
Apple: http://ow.ly/c1f250EdnVD
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Google: http://ow.ly/PFp750Ee9Kg  

The claustrophobia felt by one of the characters was palpable for the reader. I could feel the closed in space, the darkness, the feeling of helplessness. Very atmospheric and another aspect that was very well-done.

There were several “whoa!” moments that I didn’t see coming. In fact, after the prologue, I had an idea in my head, but then the author went in a different direction, and I totally followed along. Turns out my initial reaction was correct. Kudos for that red herring, as it lasted for at least a third of the book!

I did think there were a few things left a bit unfinished. Milly seemed to be extraneous, for the most part. I mean, I get why she was included, but I couldn’t quite grasp what Alex wanted from her, unless it was normalcy.

I guess maybe that’s it.

In the course of relating backstory, the author also gives a voice to other invisible victims – children who suffer from horrific abuse and then get lost in the care system. Even though the story takes place in the UK, the same could be said for the US as well.

It is easy to see how a person, desperate for a normal life and people to love, could become warped and misinterpret any perceived slight as a great wrong.

This is a thriller that was well-written with sympathetic characters (even the psychopath). It kept me guessing, had many surprises, and is an excellent page-turner, perfect for a thrilling summer read.

Instagram: mel_sherratt/
Facebook:  MelSherrattauthor
Twitter:  @writermels

Author Bio:My novels take you to the heart of the crime. I write police procedurals, psychological suspense and crime dramas – fiction with a punch. Shortlisted for the prestigious CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in Library Award, my inspiration comes from authors such as Martina Cole, Lisa Jewell, Mandasue Heller and Clare Mackintosh.

To date, I’ve sold 1.7 million books. All sixteen of my crime novels have been bestsellers, each one climbing into the Kindle UK top 10 and I’ve had several number ones. I’ve also had numerous Kindle All-star awards, for best read author and best titles.

I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and make liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books. You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk 

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A Cut for a Cut (Wyer)-Blog Tour-Crime Thriller-Available Now

Just when I think Natalie Ward is my favorite investigator, along comes Detective Kate Young. I thought the introduction of this character in a new series was excellent and was excited to read the second installment.

I expected to be wowed, and boy, was I! No sophomore slump for Kate.

One of the things that I love most about this author’s books is the way the author creates characters who are real. They’re never caricatures or composites or seem fake in any way.

Honestly, when I read her books, I feel like she must have just followed a person around and simply wrote what they did throughout the day. That’s how realistic her characters are.

I also like how they’re intelligent women. They’re not ball-breaking feminists who think they have to be like a man to be respected – they get there on their own merits. But, at the same time, they’re vulnerable and subject to the emotions that go along with being female.

I know that might seem like an odd thing to say, but with gender such a subject of discussion, I think it’s important to recognize that women are unique and what some people may see as weakness may actually be a woman’s strengths.

For example, in this book, Kate is still getting advice from her husband Chris – you’ll know why this is important if you read the first one.

And if you haven’t read the first one, stop reading this right now and go read An Eye for an Eye; it will also give you a better idea of why these books are amazing.

Then read this one. Then you can come back to the review.  

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3pCnXyX
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2TXmOGn

Anyway, back to Kate. Some would see her need to still talk to him as that she is losing a grip on reality, but I think it actually shows the importance of bonds between people and how they can remain strong, even when people are apart. (No spoilers).

The author weaves an intricate story, continuing with the investigation started by Chris that Kate has now picked up. The ins and outs of this plot line are multiple and masterfully related in the context of the immediate investigation.

This one has a personal angle for Kate as well. I’m not going to say much more on it, but in the course of investigating both threads, Kate realizes that the web being woven by certain characters is much bigger than she imagined.

She also realizes that the number of people she can trust is dwindling, which makes for some very tense moments.

As I have mentioned in the past, crime thrillers are difficult to review because I hate to give away any plot points that could ruin the investigation for other readers. At the same time, I want to convey how good a book is and why someone should read it. Quite a tightrope to walk.

I hope that I have done enough to convince you to read both books featuring Detective Kate Young. It’s early in the series and there is still time to get in on the bottom floor. Now is a good time before the through plot gets more complicated, which I’m sure will happen.

Reading this series is like watching a movie, and a great way to spend a few hours of your summer. You won’t want to put it down.

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.

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You Will Remember Me (McKinnon)-Blog Tour-Thriller-Coming Soon

Holy crap.

There’s no other way to voice my reaction to this book other than with a lot more words that would probably have my blog shut down.

This book was that much of a mind twist (insert other word here).

What initially seemed like a simple misper story with a few twists quickly evolved (devolved) into a story of jealousy, lies, misconceptions, and just about every other synonym for deceit you can think of.

I really liked how the author lulled the reader in with a simplistic story. There was enough of a hook in the beginning to get me invested and trying to figure out who was who – and if people really were who they said they were.

I thought that Lily was an interesting character. I had a different picture of her in my head than how other characters described her. I’m not sure if that’s due to her backstory or what. But she changed the most in my eyes over the course of the story.

Maya, on the other hand. Wow, what a character she was, and not necessarily in a good way. I don’t want to give anything away, but I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that she takes part in one of the most twisted plot threads I’ve read in recent memory.

And I’m not going to say what that is or what her part in it is.

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I did guess some of what was going on early in the novel. But I had no idea the depths to which the author would go to get to the shocking ending.

And make no mistake, if you think you know how it’s going to finish, I can assure you that you most certainly do not.

I’ve read quite a few good books this year, but I can’t remember one that had me reading it as it was written. I read slowly at first, but as the action picked up, I read faster. By the middle of the book, I was turning pages and couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened next.

I wouldn’t say it was a gradual type of story. It was more like a roller coaster where you slowly climb to the top of a big hill before racing down through twists and turns at breakneck speed before you’re jerked to a stop at the end.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

Don’t miss this one.

Twitter: @HannahMMcKinnon
Instagram: @hannahmarymckinnon
Facebook: @HannahMaryMcKinnon

Author Bio: 

Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. After a successful career in recruitment, she quit the corporate world in favor of writing, and is now the author of The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, and Sister Dear. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons, and is delighted by her twenty-second commute.

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The Clover Girls (Shipman)-Blog Tour-Fiction-Available Now

This book had me hooked from the very first dateline. Summer 1985 was a pivotal time in my life, so I knew that at the very least there would be some relatable items in the story.

But it ended up being much more than relatable. This book hit me on so many different levels that I often had to stop reading to reflect, which often brought back my own memories.

In fact, I can’t remember the last time a book spoke to me the way this one did.

You can read blurbs and other reviews that recount the premise of the story. In a nutshell, the Clover Girls are four friends who met at summer camp in 1985, but who have lost touch with other over the years.

They are brought back together under sad circumstances. Truths come out, lies are revealed, and a whole lot of hurt is addressed.

That simplifies it almost too much, because a LOT more happens than that.

Each of the women, Veronica, Rachel, and Liz, took very different paths from each other, but I found something that I could identify in each one. I could actually write an essay on what each character meant to me and how I felt like I knew them intimately.

Big kudos to the author for creating characters who were so lifelike.

Each woman’s journey of self-discovery was interesting on its own, but even more touching when woven with the other women’s stories. Together, they made a powerful statement about how important friendship is, especially if the parties are true to themselves and each other.

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In addition, the author offers some searing commentary on several contemporary topics. Some were more necessary and useful than others. For example, I thought some of the feminist views sounded stilted and like soundbites. They weren’t natural.

On the other hand, the realization that society doesn’t treasure the past anymore and only sees it as negative was impactful. As it continues to be ignored or misinterpreted, important continuity and respect for people and places will continue to deteriorate.

The author also offers a lot of insight on the transition from child to adult – how we lose friendships and ourselves as we age – including some pretty raw and powerful observations on human nature in general.

Yes, that seems like a lot to unpack, but it’s all done in a thoughtful and entertaining manner.

But what really had me loving this book was the accuracy of the 80s – from fashion to pop culture references (we all wanted someone to be our Jake) the author nailed it. It was all so accurate either they lived it and went by memory or picked the brain of somebody who did.

Every time there was a mention of friendship pins or Walkmans, or the description of clothes (like leotards and legwarmers), my brain immediately accessed my own memories of those things.

It was a unique way to feel like I was a part of the book, which in turn made me more empathetic to the characters.

Couldn’t be that they were all pushing 50 as well, could it? Naaaahhhhhh….

Anyway, this is an excellent book about lost friendships and what it takes to find them (and ourselves) again.

I highly recommend it, and it is at the top of my list for the year.

P.S. I also really enjoyed The Heirloom Garden from this author. Check that one out as well.

TWITTER: @viola_shipman
FB: @authorviolashipman
Insta: @viola_shipman

BIO: Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist. Rouse chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his writing. Rouse is the author of The Summer Cottage, as well as The Charm Bracelet and The Hope Chest which have been translated into more than a dozen languages and become international bestsellers. He lives in Saugatuck, Michigan and Palm Springs, California, and has written for People, Coastal Living, Good Housekeeping, and Taste of Home, along with other publications, and is a contributor to All Things Considered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Kobo: https://bit.ly/2BNOBzU Google Play: https://bit.ly/2YEEhmW

Now, let’s talk characters.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author_jill

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

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The Runaway Sisters by Ann Bennett – Books On Tour (Review)

As anyone who has read this blog even in passing knows I read a lot, and historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Many of the books often have “heartbreaking” or “unforgettable” in the taglines.

This is one of the first ones in recent memory where the story actually lives up to the “heartbreaking” part. Even though anything having to do with war is tough to read, this one was especially so.

I thought the entire set up, from present time to the past was well done. The way that Helen and Laura found “clues” to their mom’s past little by little felt natural, especially in light of what that past entailed.

I think Daisy is illustrative of many people who lived during WWII. Their experiences were so harsh that they don’t want to talk about it, and even hide it. My mom said her father was that way when he came back from the South Pacific; she knew that he had changed, but he never talked about the things that he had seen and done.

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What makes Daisy’s situation unique, of course, is that she was a young girl and wasn’t actually “in” the war in the truest sense. However, she was a victim of it just the same. In some ways, her experiences were harsher than some others possibly were.

I have studied the program that sent children who were evacuated from the cities to farms for safety, but it honestly never occurred to me how that could be manipulated. The author did a fantastic job of relating the issues in a realistic way that really hit home.

In war, you can’t always rely on people to have the best interests of children in mind. That’s a sad realization.

Aside from the situation itself, Daisy had a very hard life (really, because of the situation as well). It seemed at one point that the hits just kept on coming. There were a few passages that were difficult to get through. I felt so bad for her.

But I thought the way that Helen and Laura bonded over discovering their mother’s past was heartfelt, and I particularly liked how learning about Daisy’s history shined light on their perceptions (especially Helen’s) of their relationship with Daisy. That was a great touch to include.

This book was extremely well-written. I learned a lot and it made me think. That’s all I can ask for in a historical fiction novel. Don’t miss this one.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annbennett71
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annbennettauthor/

Author Bio:

Ann Bennett was born in a small village in Northamptonshire and now lives in Surrey. Her first book, A Daughter’s Quest, originally published as Bamboo Heart, was inspired by her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. The Planter’s Wife (originally published as Bamboo Island) a Daughter’s Promise and The Homecoming, (formerly Bamboo Road) are also about the war in South East Asia.

Ann is married with three grown up sons and works as a lawyer. For more details please visit www.bambooheart.co.uk

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Close to the Bone by Susan Wilkins – Books On Tour (Review)

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Buried Deep, so I was looking forward to this one. I’m pleased to say that Detective Megan Thomas is still in fine form.

She’s still somewhat of a mess, but she is trying to work through it. It helps that she has not one, but two seemingly disparate investigations – are they somehow linked or is that just a reflection of normal casework. And is her past making her too jaded to be objective?

Megan herself wonders this more than once, which adds an interesting dimension to her character. Her self-doubt comes close to making her an unreliable investigator. She knows that she should be trusting her gut and just “going with it,” but she constantly second-guesses herself.

It doesn’t help that she’s still living with her sister, Debbie, and Debbie’s family. This adds to her sense of loss from the past traumas. I’m not going to rehash that, but I stand by what I said in my previous review (see link above).

The author writes about her past as if the reader experienced it with Megan, but we didn’t; it’s all been exposition. It still feels more manipulative than character driven. Even actual flashbacks would be beneficial to a greater understanding of Megan’s current state.

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As to the investigations, Megan has a lot to deal with here as well. The team, whose personalities were established in book one, continue to work well together in spite of the conflicts they have. I think these are the most real parts of the story.

No unit gets along 100% of the time. They snipe at each other, get angry, disagree with next steps…but ultimately work together to solve the case(s). However, sometimes it’s difficult to see behind the façade of a person, especially when you work closely. Megan has to face this a couple of times.

We do get the addition of a couple of interesting characters from the National Crime Agency (NCA). I liked these two, as I think they both had a positive impact on Megan…although for very different reasons. It will be interesting to see if those connections continue in future books.

The action was well-plotted and retained my interest for the most part. It did drag a little bit in the middle, but that’s typical of an investigation…sometimes there’s just a brick wall in the way until another piece chips away and the whole thing comes tumbling down, breaking the case wide open. That was certainly what happened with this investigation.  

I did have a suspicion about a character fairly early on that proved to be true, although not exactly in the way that I thought. I liked that the author surprised me with that. She also handled the timely topic of human trafficking (no spoiler) with sensitivity and insight.

All in all, it’s another solid investigation from Megan and the team. I’ll be interested to see where she goes from here.     

Website: https://susanwilkins.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanwilkinsauthor/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SusanWilkins32

Author Bio:

Susan Wilkins also writes as S.J. Wilkins. Susan worked for years in television drama, wrote for shows including Casualty, Heartbeat, Coronation Street, and Eastenders, and created the London-based detective drama South of the Border.

Her gritty, Essex-based gangster trilogy – THE INFORMANT, THE MOURNER and THE KILLER – has been compared to Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers and described as “blazingly brilliant” (Sunday Mirror). IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME, her fourth book, is a twisty psychological thriller, featuring police detective Jo Boden, an ambitious cop still grieving for a murdered sister.

For 2020 a completely gripping new series from Susan introduces the tough and determined Detective Megan Thomas. For fans of Ann Cleeves, LJ Ross and Mari Hannah, this will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. Writing as S.J. Wilkins, A KILLER’S HEART – a tense and timely political thriller, is now available on Kindle.

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Who’s Next by Chris Merritt – Books On Tour (Review)

Writers have been stepping up their games, making me one happy reader. Why?

Let me explain.

I’ve often talked about how the first book in a series can be a grabber, and that’s great!

The question (for me) is always the same though: once the scene is set (so to speak), can an author maintain the interest into a second book, especially when they don’t need to spend as much time on introducing characters?

This is at least the fourth book I’ve read in the past week or so that is second in a series. And, as with the others, the answer to the above question is a resounding “yes!”

Now, I know some of you may say, “but the author has written other series, so it’s really not the same thing as a potential Sophomore Slump.” I disagree, because I look at each series as a new opportunity, and think it would be quite easy to slough off – even if there were successful past series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s Knock Knock. It had a winning combination of compelling characters, unique perspectives, and page-turning action. All continue in Who’s Next.

BUY LINK:   https://geni.us/B08CH9H7YDSocial

I particularly like how the author gives us periodic insights into the killer’s mind, dropping hints about motivation. The clues are there, but only the reader is privy to them directly from the killer…the team has to find them another way. This makes it different from books that only allow readers to see the clues that the investigators find. It’s a welcome addition.

The two protagonists, Lockhart and Green, are still grappling with their past baggage (his missing wife, her experiences from the last book) while also trying to define their relationship. Therapist/patient? Co-workers/friends? Something more? I like how they’re both real people with real issues.

The case itself is another good one. The initial murder is treated as a standalone homicide, and only the reader knows that there is more to come. I love this “I know something you don’t know” feeling that I get over the investigators. Especially as the bodies start appearing and the team has to connect the dots to figure out what they all have in common

Additionally, one of the team is working on a parallel investigation of a serial rapist. Are the two cases related? Is there some connection that they keep missing? (You know you have to read it to find out).

Suffice to say that in spite of having “inside info” from the killer, you won’t see this one coming. While this can certainly be standalone, I definitely recommend starting with the first book, if just to get background on the Lockhart and Green. It will make this one even more enjoyable than it already is.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCJMerritt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/chris_merritt
Website: www.cjmerritt.co.uk

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.

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The Wife by Shalini Boland – Books On Tour (Review)

I remember reading early books from this author. I am pleased to say that the plotting, character development, and overall feel of the books have improved over time.

This one starts with a brief flashback from someone’s perspective, but we have no idea which character it belongs to. That’s followed by a scene in the past at Zoe and Toby’s wedding – and then we’re off on an intelligent and twisty plot.

The author effectively moves back and forth between “then” and “now” chapters, which are roughly 10 years apart. Through Zoe’s eyes, we experience strange events in the present time as she plans her 10th wedding anniversary party. These events may (or may not) have something to do with things that happened around her wedding.

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I liked how the author tied the two together. It was interesting to try to figure out what past conversations and interactions had bearing on the present day. The author also did a good job of throwing in a few things that seemed to be inocuous, but only later were revealed to be pertinent.

I do think that there could have been a stronger tie with the behavior of the characters in current day. In hindsight, I would have liked a few more “clues” to have been dropped…things that would have either whetted my curiosity or made me think “Oh! So THAT’s what all of that meant.” I think it might have made the big reveal a little more impactful.

There was also one major plot point that wasn’t cleared up for me, and that had to do with Zoe’s memory. Given how the story turned out, I remain unsure as to whether or not others had a direct bearing on that over 10 years or if it was solely a defensive mechanism.

But I really enjoyed the book. I think this author keeps getting better and I look forward to the next one!

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Website: http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk
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Author Bio:
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing psychological thrillers (in between school runs and sorting endless baskets of laundry).

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