Tag: Thriller

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Blog Tour (Review): The Last Wife by Karen Hamilton

I want to start this review with a disclaimer. I read this book when a LOT was going on around me. Some significant changes were occurring, and my time was split, so I was not able to dedicate extended periods of reading time to this book. I had to read it when I could catch a few minutes here and there. I think that had a significant bearing on why I struggled with this book.

I was intrigued by the set-up. Marie looks after her best friend Nina’s family in honor of Nina’s last wishes. But there’s more to it because Marie has always been jealous of Nina’s life. Is she altruistic, or does she have ulterior motives?

What she doesn’t know, but quickly finds out, is that Nina may have had ulterior motives of her own. She certainly kept a lot of secrets from Marie. As Marie uncovers hidden truths, little by little, her plan for the perfect life starts to fall apart.

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As I said, it’s a great premise. My problem was continuity. Again, it could be due to the timing and how I had to read the book. But I felt like it was disjointed, and things did not flow smoothly.

I also never got a good grasp on Marie. Frankly, I didn’t like her. I thought she was manipulative and an opportunist. Perhaps that was the point, to have an unlikeable main character, but as everything was from her perspective, it made it difficult to get behind her. I found myself rooting for other characters to realize her duplicity.

There were some twists and curves, and the book did pick up after a while. It turns out that everyone Marie comes in contact with has secrets of their own. Ultimately everything is out in the open, and (no spoiler) Marie gets the ending she pretty much deserves.

I wish that I had been able to devote more attention to the book because I think I would have appreciated it a lot more. As it was, it was just okay. But give it a try if you have the time to devote to reading it.  You may have a completely different experience.  

Author Bio:

Social Links: Author Website Twitter: @KJHAuthor Instagram: @karenhamiltonauthor
Facebook: @KarenHamiltonWriter Goodreads

Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. Karen is a recent graduate of the Faber Academy and, having now put down roots in Hampshire to raise her young family with her husband, she satisfies her wanderlust by exploring the world through her writing. She is also the author of the international bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend.

Thanks for stopping by my stop on the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Mystery & Thriller Summer Blog Tour. Be sure to check back over the next couple of months for more reviews!

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Book Review: The Vacation by T. M. Logan

My first introduction to this author was Lies.

Loved it.

Then came 29 seconds.

Another winner.

Now we have The Vacation, and I think it might be his best yet.

Logan is the King of Misdirection. Just when you think you know what’s going on, you don’t.

I absolutely love how he relates his stories. In this book, there is a slow build that follows one main character, with sporadic chapters from other characters’ points of view. There is no set “back and forth” switching; instead, the action moves seamlessly between the different perspectives.

The story belongs to Kate, who is vacationing with three college friends (and their families) at a villa in France. But secrets abound, and not even the youngest (5-year-old Odette) is immune. By the way, she’s also one of the brattiest kids I’ve ever read in a book. A lot is going on, but the author handles it all deftly. I felt Kate’s uncertainty, Rowan’s stress, and Jennifer’s worry (she’s quite the helicopter parent).

As with his other books, everything is laid out nicely, like place settings.  But then, like a magician, he pulls the tablecloth out from under them. Everything is still standing, but maybe slightly moved or altered. The last quarter of this book flew by. All of the revelations started to come to light, and the truth emerged shockingly. I honestly gasped a few times.

Do yourself a favor and grab this one as soon as it’s released (July 21). It’s the perfect summer thriller.    

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Books On Tour (Review): Somebody’s Daughter by Carol Wyer

With every new book that comes out in this series, I always wonder how the author is going to top the last one. After the events of the past two, I couldn’t imagine what Natalie would have to face next.

I should really learn NOT to worry about these things. As always, Ms. Wyer has things deftly in hand.

What she has done with this book is not only very smart, but it is effective. With the shocking events of The Blossom Twins and The Secret Admirer, one could see Natalie coming very close to the edge of falling apart (naturally so). Ms. Wyer gives everyone the chance to take a breath and reset as Somebody’s Daughter takes place a year after The Secret Admirer.

It works well because it gives the characters a chance to have advanced in their personal and professional lives. It’s a fantastic way to reboot but keep the same characters on their trajectories. I’m not going to spoil who is in what position or exactly how things have changed. You’ll have to read for yourself!

Amazon: https://bit.ly/31Bnumx

Natalie and her team have quite the investigation this time. I particularly liked how it started as one thing, but then there was an unexpected event that sent the investigation in a different direction. After a few more twists and turns, it wrapped up quite neatly.

Again, contrary to the past couple of books, the investigation seemed more realistic. I think that was because Natalie was not personally involved. Don’t get me wrong; they’re always good, and the author certainly does her homework. Her forensics and techniques are spot on. But having it NOT be personal to Natalie actually gives the police work a chance to shine. The author conveys the difficulty of an investigation, so it’s nice to see it center stage.

I also like how this book seemed to have a “cinematic” feel to it. The cutaways and interspersed chapters from multiple points of view flowed smoothly. The transitions are never jarring, but this time I could picture the action like I was watching it on television. I love that the world Ms. Wyer creates feels this way.    

There is also a message to be learned that is woven into the investigation. This time, the author offers a subtle but searing commentary on the homeless. It’s useful both within the investigation and as a real-life reminder.

Even as the characters are in a “fresh start” position, Ms. Wyer lays the groundwork for where possible conflicts may arise. What does David want to tell Natalie that has to be mentioned in person? There’s obviously more to that story. What does Frances really want? Will Lucy go down the same path as Natalie, putting the job before family? Will Natalie finally back off and enjoy her second chance?

I devoured this book in one sitting (thank goodness for lazy Saturdays and understanding family members). Natalie is back and better than ever, and I can’t wait to see where the future leads her.

Author Bio
Winner of The People’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer is a best-selling author and stand up comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST, the #2 best-selling book on Amazon, #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible and Top 150 USA Today best-seller.

A second series featuring DI Natalie Ward quickly followed and to date her novels have sold over 750,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets, including into Norwegian, Italian, Turkish, Hungarian Slovak, Czech and Polish.

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.

To learn more about Carol, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer.
Carol also blogs at www.carolwyer.com 
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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): Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon

This book had me running the gamut of emotions. I wasn’t sure who to trust at any given time, my loyalties to individual characters switched, and I was left feeling disturbed. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Buy Links:  Harlequin  Barnes & Noble Amazon
Books-A-Million Powell’s

The author did an admirable job of creating sympathy for Eleanor in the beginning. She had been beaten down by life (literally and physically), and she was losing the one person she could rely on…until she couldn’t anymore. I related to her early on, because her feelings about her father brought back memories of my dad’s illness. I could feel her pain.

I was fortunate, however, to not have a vile mother like Sylvia. It was easy to see why Eleanor was as insecure as she was. Both her mother and sister, Amy, were horrible people in general and specifically to Eleanor.

Eleanor finds out a secret that she isn’t meant to know, and at that point, I thought the book took an odd turn. I understand the point that desperate people can be led to do desperate things, but it felt a little off. I’m not sure why, but because Eleanor got a little dark, I felt less sympathy for her.

I don’t want to give away the rest of the book, because it all flowed well after that, and I found myself going back and forth between disliking Eleanor for her duplicity and feeling sorry for her because she obviously had severe issues that compelled her decisions.

I also don’t want to give away anything, because there are a few twists that I did not see coming. There were also a few I thought would happen and didn’t. I like it when an author can balance the tension like that. I did think that the middle was drawn out, and then an awful lot happened in the last quarter of the book. Some of it was even just described instead of actually occurring within the plot. There were some surprises, but I think I would have enjoyed the action of them instead of a description. (hope that makes sense).

In the end, I was left feeling…I’m not sure of the word? Empty, maybe. A little angry or disappointed that people can be so evil to each other? Psychopathy is real, and it is certainly exhibited in spades in this book. Human nature can be the most harmful of all forces.

Kudos to the author for creating memorable characters that left me feeling disturbed and unsettled. And very glad that I don’t have a sister (to my knowledge).  

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 and Her Secret Son. She lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband and three sons, and is delighted by her twenty-second commute.

Social Links: Author Website Goodreads
Twitter: @HannahMMcKinnon
Instagram: @hannahmarymckinnon
Facebook: @HannahMaryMcKinnon
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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 w/Review: Going Rogue by Neil Lancaster

Holy heck, what an action-packed page-turner this one was!

From the opening scene, I could tell that this was a book that was going to pull no punches both in terms of subject matter and general action, and I was right. It did not let up from beginning to end.

I liked how the author wove different plotlines into a cohesive story. Every event fed into the greater narrative and made sense. The story seemed entirely plausible, especially in today’s world of political turmoil and shifting alliances.

I thought that the characters were well-developed also. I had a difficult time keeping everyone straight at first because there were a lot of players. Novak is a hero to get behind, even as he skirts the limits of legal and moral boundaries. I found that to be one of his most realistic traits because real life (especially in the situation he found himself in) sometimes requires ambiguity for survival.

The descriptions of post-event analysis, risk assessments, and other law-enforcement/military actions were accurate and well-described. I appreciate it when an author shows knowledge in an area beyond the “oh, this would be interesting, I’ll do a Google search” mentions. It was clear to me that this author knows his stuff and knows it well.

The timeliness of subject matter may be touchy for some people, and I did feel that there were a few times that the author veered into more opinionated territory that was not warranted by the plot (case in point: Muslims are not a race, they belong to a religion, so while starting a “race war” with Muslims is a prevalent talking point in some countries real life, it is not factual). Fortunately, moments like this were few and far between.

Going Rogue is the second in the Tom Novak series. While it is not necessary to have read the first one to understand and enjoy this one, there are a few returning characters and references to events from the previous book. I would recommend picking up Going Dark first if only to get in on Novak’s story from the very beginning.

About Neil Lancaster:

Neil was born in Liverpool in the 1960s. He recently left the Metropolitan Police where he served for over twenty-five years, predominantly as a detective, leading and conducting investigations into some of the most serious criminals across the UK and beyond.

Neil acted as a surveillance and covert policing specialist, using all types of techniques to arrest and prosecute drug dealers, human traffickers, fraudsters, and murderers. During his career, he successfully prosecuted several wealthy and corrupt members of the legal profession who were involved in organised immigration crime. These prosecutions led to jail sentences, multi-million pound asset confiscations and disbarments.

Since retiring from the Metropolitan Police, Neil has relocated to the Scottish Highlands with his wife and son, where he mixes freelance investigations with writing.

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Blog Tour: Good Girls Lie

What a way to start a new year of reading! From a body hanging at the entrance to an elite girls’ school (literally the first sentence of the book) to the shocking finale, this book was filled with twists galore and had me engrossed the entire time.

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The plot on its own was intriguing because the author sets up from the beginning that not everything is as it appears; this goes for situations as well as people. I loved the way the author put little hints into the narrative to nudge the reader that something might be relevant.

Now, I realize that several authors do this, as they guide their characters and the reader through the story. What makes this author stand out, however,  is how the hints are dropped. They are rarely overt and never scream out obviously. Instead, they are almost throwaways or asides that only a careful and clever reader will catch.

As an example, I re-read the first few chapters before writing this review (to refresh my memory). Having finished the story, I was amazed to see how many little hints were scattered within the first chapter alone. To me, this is just genius.

Because the plot was so twisty, I really can’t get into details (if you have read any of my reviews, you know that I loathe spoilers and book report reviews). I thought that the characters were fully realized, and I could imagine the action taking place in real life – nothing seemed too far-fetched. Given that the author had experience within an all-girls school, this makes sense.

I also liked that the chapter titles gave a hint of what would be revealed in the chapter. And that is what made this book so good; each chapter gave the reader just a little bit more of the bigger picture until the climax (or is it?) of the story. And just when you think everything is resolved…well, you’re wrong – it isn’t. Keep reading until the very last word.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author.

Oh, and if this book is any indication of how my reading year will go, I cannot WAIT to jump in!

Author Bio

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 novels, and the EMMY-award winning co-host of A WORD ON WORDS, Nashville’s premier literary show. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 26 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @thrillerchick
Facebook: @JTEllison14
Instagram: @thrillerchick
Goodreads
BookBub

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Books On Tour: The Quiet Girls

As someone who reads a lot of psychological thrillers, I tend to get a little complacent about the plots and think I have things figured out fairly early. Sometimes, I end up being right; still can make for a good read.

The Quiet Girls went in the opposite direction from where I thought it was going to go, and for that reason, it was truly an addicting story (as the tagline promised). I read it in one sitting.

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The story starts with a bad dream, follows quickly with the adventure of three girls in a seemingly abandoned house, and never really lets up until the very last page.

I thought that there were some unique character choices, which added depth to the story. The allusions to Harry’s past illness, followed by his relapse, gave the whole plot an added dimension and allowed it to make sense. Without his issues, the decisions he made would have seemed farfetched.

There was not a lot of depth to the characters, although we did get a lot of backstory for Carrie, which was suitable for the character but stood out because other characters did not have the same details.  For the most part, this worked because it kept the plot skimming along.

About mid-way through, there were a couple of twists that really got the story going.  That being said, there were a few parts that seemed a little bit too convenient as well. Carrie’s backstory is one of them.

The messages that the devil is sometimes closer than you think, and in spite of our best intentions we might still make crucial mistakes come through loud and clear and ultimately drive the narrative to a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book.

Author Bio

J.M. Hewitt writes crime fiction and is the author of three previous crime fiction novels and has been published in two short story publications. Her work usually incorporates twentieth and twenty-first century events and far-flung locations, and her novels explore the darker side of human behaviour.
In contrast to the sometimes dark content of her books, she lives in a seaside town in Suffolk with her dog, Marley. 

When she was ten years old she’d read all the books she owned, all those on her mother’s bookcase and everything the library had to offer. She decided the only course of action to take was to write her own stories. Thirty years later, she is still writing them.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/j.mhewittauthor/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/jmhewitt
WEBSITE: www.jeanettehewitt.com
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Blog Tour w/Review: The Demons Beneath

Every so often, I come across a book that doesn’t exactly fit into the typical mold of a genre. The Demons Beneath is one of those books.

Part-demonic possession/horror, part crime-procedural, ALL interesting, this is a tightly written page-turner. From the introduction of the characters that read like a television show to the final twist literally on the last page, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The author did a fantastic job of creating tension in both plot-lines and keeping the reader guessing. The way the book is written made me feel (at first) as if I was reading two different books, which was unique. When the plot lines seemingly merged (no spoilers) it was natural but done in a way that ratcheted up the tension.

I liked how the main character, DI Daniel Graves, was not entirely put together. He wasn’t the perfect policeman; he had doubts and fears like any typical law-enforcement officer would. I appreciate when an author seems to understand law enforcement and the pressures they face.

I also have to say that the title is brilliant. There is so much in the book that is covered by the title but in different ways. It’s hard to explain without giving away plot points. Some people believe that demons do exist and are the cause of evil, but it also alludes to the personal “demons” that guide peoples’ actions or make them feel inadequate.

It’s challenging to write a review of a book this twisty without giving anything away. But I will say that while the rest of the book was very good, the end had a twist I did not see coming and made me want more of the story right away. Too bad I have to wait until the next installment in the series.

The Demons Beneath is a perfect book for the upcoming fall season, especially close to Halloween. I highly recommend it.

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