Category: book review

4*, blog tours, book review

#BlogTour #BookReview Last Light by Helen Phifer.

if only I could read faster

Last Light - Blog Tour

I’m so excited about being part of this blog blitz for Last Light by Helen Phifer. It has been about a year since the last book in the Lucy Harwin series and it has been too long a wait!

My Review:

I really like Helen Phifer and her Lucy Harwin series and so when I saw that there was a new one coming out I knew that I had to read it.

I was happily reading Last Light but I have to admit that I was getting a bit confused, some of what Lucy was saying just wasn’t making sense and I was worrying that my memory was failing me. After a few more times of this happening I decided to read the blurb, something that I rarely do before I read a book. It was then that I realised that this was, in fact, a prequel. Once I knew that I got right back into the book and it all made sense.

So if you have read the previous books in the Lucy Harwin series then you will love this book. If you haven’t read any then you will also love this book but perhaps you should read it before you read the other books in the series.

I really like Lucy Harwin, she isn’t perfect, far from it, but she’s real and she isn’t a hugely amazingly talented detective that manages to solve crimes that would stump any other detective, as can often be the case in detective books. She’s real, she struggles, she has self doubt and she really, really cares.

The author also has a great way of coming up with crimes that are really rather unpleasant, which adds to the story and the tension and the urgency. With this one, I worked out who the killer was very early on but that didn’t impact the read for me at all as I often doubted what I’d thought. I really liked how we got the back story of the killer so we understood why he was killing those that he was, and a kind of understanding of how he became a killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Last Light by Helen Phifer, if you like your female detective series then this is a great series for you to try!

Thank you to Bookouture for a copy of Last Light by Helen Phifer. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

 

Blurb:

Last-Light-KindleLucy watches the pathologist leave, then turns to the nameless victim on the table. ‘I promise I will catch whoever did this to you,’ she whispers.

In charge of a new team, Detective Lucy Harwin is called out to attend the discovery of a woman’s body in an abandoned, crumbling church, and is quickly plunged into a case that will test her leadership skills to the limit.

With no leads except the crudely-fashioned crucifix the victim was displayed on, Lucy is at a complete loss. That is, until another body turns up: an elderly woman who devoted her life to the church.

Faced with a killer stalking the streets of her small coastal town, while also throwing herself into work to forget the love of her life, Lucy’s first case is turning into a nightmare.

Linking the killer to the church where her own teenage daughter volunteers, it seems the threat is quickly drawing closer to Lucy and those she loves. Can she catch this monster and prevent a tragedy that will tear her world apart?

An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller that will hook fans of Patricia Gibney, LJ Ross and Angela Marsons from the very first page.

About The Author:

Helen Phifer author pictureHelen Phifer lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children.

Helen has always loved writing and reading. Her love of horror films and novels is legendary. Helen adores reading books which make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Unable to find enough scary stories to read she decided to write her own.

 

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Helenphifer1

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helenphifer

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/helenphifer1

Website:     https://www.helenphifer.com

Last Light by Helen Phifer is out on 16th November 2018 and is available from Amazon, iBooks, Kobo and Google Books.

4*, blog tours, book review

#BlogTour #BookReview The Night Visitor by Patrick Redmond. @PRedmondAuthor @BooksManatee #TheNightVisitor

if only I could read faster

The-Night-Visitor-(NEW)

I’m very excited to be on the blog tour for The Night Visitor by Patrick Redmond today.

My Review:

Well, where do I start with this review? I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started to read The Night Visitor by Patrick Redmond, I’m not really a fan of supernatural books but this one sounded interesting and I was keen to read it.

The book starts with Meg as a young girl, she loves her sister and her mum, she loves her dad too but she knows a bit more about what he’s going to do in the future than most people and so isn’t quite so keen on him.

I absolutely loved this part of the book, Meg was a brilliant character and the love that she had for her sister and Mother shone through every page and I have to admit that I was sad when the book moved forward to when Meg was an adult.

I’d had no doubt that Meg would do well for herself, and sure enough, she had. Well on paper anyway but in reality, she was incredibly sad and lonely and kept trying to run from her troubles.

She moves from bustling London to a small village in Cornwall and soon starts to feel at home. She befriends her neighbour, Dan, and they unexpectedly become friends. But soon enough creepy things start happening to Meg as her past starts to catch up with her. Unable to ignore it Meg decides to go with it and see where it takes her, not knowing that her life was going to change dramatically as a result.

I have to admit that I wasn’t always sure about Dan and Meg’s relationship, their friendship happened so quickly and sometimes it felt a little bit convenient for the story. But that is my only gripe as I really enjoyed reading The Night Visitor, I desperately wanted Meg to solve the puzzle and most of all, I wanted her to be happy. Clever writing makes you care like that about a character, and I really did care.

If you like your thrillers to have some added creepiness then this book is for you, even if you’re not so sure about the creepy element then go with it, it works in this story and it fits and it makes for a different read but one that makes you think and that was really fun to read.

Thank you to Manatee Books for a copy of The Night Visitor by Patrick Redmond. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

The Night Visitor CoverWhen does a gift become a curse?

Meg has a gift. She can change lives. But when tragedy strikes in childhood she vows never to use it again.
Now an adult, she is living in Cornwall; a place where the elements themselves have a life of their own. When they call she refuses to listen, fearful of the dark places where her gift can lead.

But the dead will not be silenced. They are stronger than her. And now they have chosen she is powerless to escape…

 

The Night Visitor by Patrick Redmond is out now and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

5*, book review

#BookReview The Crying Season by DK Hood. @bookouture @DKHood_Author #TheCryingSeason

if only I could read faster
thecryingseason
The Crying Season by D.K. Hood.

Wow!!! Book 4 of the Detective Alton and Kane series might just be the best one yet!

My Review:

Woah!!!! I have read and loved the previous three books by DK Hood in the Detectives Alton and Kane series and I’ve really, really enjoyed every one of them. So book four had to be read as quickly as I could and boy, I’m pleased that I didn’t wait.

I love reading about Sherrif Alton and her Deputy Kane, they’re great characters with good chemistry and for a small town in Montana, they sure have a lot of crime to deal with. DK Hood doesn’t hold back when describing the crimes, murders and crime scenes, that suits me fine but boy she does come up with some pretty awful stuff. I’m for one very pleased that these books are fiction!

I read The Crying Season in a few days, I just couldn’t put it down and had to keep reading. When I got to the end I remember taking a deep breath and I think that I’d been holding my breath for the last few chapters. What a climax it was!!! And boy I was not impressed when I thought that it had finished but thankfully the epilogue tied things up and made me feel better.

But since finishing I have thought about this book a lot, to say that I loved it would be an understatement and I just keep thinking ‘Wow’. I’ve loved all the books in the series but I think that this one has to be the best. If you haven’t read the others then do, you won’t regret it and you’ve got some brilliant books to read! I, for one, will be eagerly and impatiently waiting for book five. This series really does get better and better.

Thank you to Bookouture for a copy of The Crying Season by DK Hood. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

The light fades as she runs for her life, the forest now becoming quieter around her. The only noise she hears is the sound of footsteps following her…

It’s hiking season in Black Rock Falls and the small town in Montana is flooded with visitors. But when a hiker finds a human skull on a deserted trail in the woods that surround the town, Detective Jenna Alton is called in to investigate.

With no missing persons reported, Jenna has no leads. Then her team makes a shocking discovery – the body of another hiker, a young man, tied to a tree and riddled with bullets. Could the two murders be linked?

As more bodies are found, Jenna and her deputy David Kane know that they must venture deep into the forest to find and face the killer. But nothing can prepare them for what awaits them there…

If you love Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott you’ll love this nail-biting thriller from D.K. Hood.

About The Author:

17096652

I’ve always had a wicked sense of humour and was the kid who told the ghost stories around the campfire. I am lucky to have family all over the world and have spent many vacations in places from Paris France to Montana USA and Australia. I use the wonderful memories from these visits to enhance my stories.
My interest in the development of forensic science to solve crime goes back many years. I enjoy writing crime, mystery and thrillers. With many stories, waiting for me to write I’ll look forward to sharing many spine-tingling stories with you.

D.K. Hood is an active member of International Thriller Writers.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: www.dkhood.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkhoodauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DKHood_Author

You can read my reviews for the other books in the series: Don’t Tell a Soul, Bring Me Flowers and Follow Me Home.

The Crying Season by DK Hood is out now and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

blog tours, book review, psychological thriller

#BlogTour #BookReview One Dark Night by Tom Bale. @t0mbale @bookouture

if only I could read faster

One Dark Night - Blog Tour Today I’m thrilled to be part of the blog tour for One Dark Night by Tom Bale and published by Bookouture, especially as today is publication day.

My Review:

There is one thing that you can always count on with Tom Bale and his book and that’s that the opening chapter will grab you and hook you in. One Dark Night is no different.

This book really gripped me from the start, the thought of stopping to confront a driver who cut you up and then realising that all is not as it seems and that your family is now at risk and at the mercy of some crazy criminals just because you wouldn’t let it go.

The first half of the book was a really thrilling read, the criminals really were crazy and I was never quite sure whether all or any of the family would escape. I was gripped and didn’t want to stop reading.

The second half kept the pace up but I felt that it just went too far into being not just unlikely but implausible. Many thrilling reads tread a fine line between realism and irrealism and that’s fine by me, I’m quite happy to suspend belief a bit if I’m going to get a book that twists and turns and keeps me hooked, but I felt that One Dark Night took it just a bit too far and at times it felt just a little bit silly.

But it was still a very enjoyable read and one that I have thought about quite a lot since finishing it. If you like your books fast paced and filled with danger then One Dark Night is a book for you.

Thank you to Bookouture for a copy of One Dark Night by Tom Bale. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

 Blurb:

One-Dark-Night-KindleHe sees his wife’s eyes watching him in the rear-view mirror, the kids up on their knees to get a better look. That’s when he hears the scream…

You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.

But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…

What would you do?

An addictive thriller with plenty of twists – fans of Harlan Coben, James Patterson and Robert Dugoni will be completely hooked. 

 

About the Author:

Tom BaleTom Bale is the author of nine books, including the bestsellers SEE HOW THEY RUN and ALL FALL DOWN. His latest book, ONE DARK NIGHT, is out October 23rd 2018.

 

Social Media Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/t0mbale

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tombalewriter/

Website: http://www.tombale.net/

One Dark Night by Tom Bale is out today and is available from Amazon, iBooks, kobo and Google Play.

5*, book review

#BookReview Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons. @WriteAngie @bookouture #KimStone #FatalPromise #book

if only I could read faster
fatalpromise
Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons.

My Review:

Regular readers of my book blog will know that I am a huge fan of Angela Marsons and her Kim Stone books. Book nine in the series is out today and the series is as strong as ever and shows absolutely no sign of burning out. Pretty impressive really.

The end of book eight was shocking, it threw readers into shock and increased sales in tissues, so I was interested to see how Marsons was going to deal with the aftermath of that. Of course, it was dealt with perfectly, not too much time had passed between the two books and so the readers got to see how the characters were coping. The main case featured in Fatal Promise also related to the case that had dominated book eight. Very clever.

The only minor thing that I could say about Fatal Promise was the smaller side investigation, it just didn’t seem necessary and detracted from the main story. It was also an interesting case that could have had its own book. And I couldn’t help but think that the character involved with that case really should have learnt their lesson from last time they did something like that!

I don’t really need to say anything more, the millions of books sales that Angela Marsons books have had speak for themselves. These books are brilliant and well worth reading. But do start with book one, although I’m sure that you could pick the series up at any point and enjoy it, you will miss out on some blooming good books!

Roll on book ten!

Thank you to Bookouture for a copy of Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

Eeeny meeny, miney, moe. Who lives, who dies only I know.

When the body of a doctor is discovered brutally murdered in local woodland, Detective Kim Stone is shocked to discover the victim is Gordon Cordell – a man linked to a previous case she worked on involving the death of a young school girl. Gordon has a chequered past, but who would want him dead?

As the investigation gets underway, Gordon’s son is involved in a horrific car crash which leaves him fighting for his life. Kim’s sure this was no accident.

Then the body of a woman is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Kim makes a disturbing link between the victims and Russells Hall Hospital. The same hospital where Gordon worked.

With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim?

The killer is picking off his victims at a terrifying pace, and he’s not finished yet.

Buying Links:

Amazon: http://geni.us/B07GD4XSX7Social
iBooks: http://ow.ly/VGer30mhiyF
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Dsgo30mhiuD
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/sDks30mhizA

4.5*, blog tours, book review

#BlogTour #BookReview Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer. @KelRimmerWrites @headlinepg #BeforeILetYouGo #KellyRimmer #addiction #book

if only I could read faster

Before I let you go

I’m so pleased to be part of the blog tour for the paperback release of Before I Let You Go by the fabulous Kelly Rimmer.

My Review:

I’m a big Kelly Rimmer fan, every book of hers that I have read have been a brilliant read and one of them in particular completely blew me away.

So I was excited to read her latest book Before I Let You Go, and wanted to read it based only on who wrote it, the blurb really didn’t matter. As it turned out if I had read the blurb then it would have been a book that I wanted to read. Although there might have been some hesitation because when a book features someone in active addiction it can often misrepresent addiction or even glamourise it.

Not that that happens here, one of the best parts of the book is the accurate portrayal of addiction, how hard it is the break and the heartbreaking consequences that it can bring.

The relationship between sisters Lexie and Annie is delightfully complex, when they were young they both needed each other and had a wonderful relationship, but Lexie moved out and was unable to have contact with Annie for a few years. In that time both girls changed and things between them were never quite the same again.

Lexie still feels responsible for her sister and tries, again and again, to help Annie to break her addiction. Finally, Lexie must cut ties in order to keep herself safe and allow her to live her life, which she is finally getting back when Annie contacts her again.

It is hard to say no to family when they need help, and when Lexie finds out that Annie is pregnant she becomes determined to do everything that she can to support Annie to get clean and so that she can keep her baby. But what will the consequences be for Lexie?

I really did enjoy reading Before I Let You Go, the characters were realistic and I cared about what was going to happen for them. Kelly Rimmer really is a skilled author whose books I will continue to read, enjoy and possibly shed a tear over.

Thank you to Kelly Rimmer and Headline for a copy of Before I Let You Go. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

Before I Let You Go CoverYour sister or her baby. Who do you choose? A moving page-turner with a heart-pounding dilemma. As children, Lexie and Annie were incredibly close. Bonded by the death of their beloved father, they weathered the storms of life together. When Lexie leaves home to follow her dream, Annie is forced to turn to her leatherbound journal as the only place she can confide her deepest secrets and fears… As adults, sisters Lexie and Annie could not be more different. Lexie is a successful doctor and happily engaged. Annie is an addict – a thief, a liar and unable to remain clean. When Annie’s newborn baby is in danger of being placed in foster care, Annie picks up the phone to beg her sister for help. Will Lexie agree to take in her young niece? And how will Annie survive, losing the only thing in her life worth living for?

About The Author:

Kelly Rimmer Author Picture

Kelly Rimmer is the USA Today bestselling women’s fiction author of five novels, including Me Without You and The Secret Daughter. She lives in rural Australia with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages.

 

 

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer is out now in ebook and paperback and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

4.5*, blog tours, book review

#BlogTour #BookReview The Dark Place by Stephanie Rogers. @steph2rogers1 @BooksManatee @Tr4cyF3nt0n #TheDarkPlace

if only I could read faster

Dark-Place-Blogtour

Today it is my stop on the blog tour for The Dark Place by Stephanie Rogers. I had no idea what I was in for when I started reading the book but what a ride it turned out to be.

My Review:

I’m a bit unsure about where to start with this review, there is a lot that I want to say about the book but I don’t want to give any spoilers! Which I won’t do so you are safe to read on.

The story is told to us by Jon and Mel, a couple who clearly have their struggles, not least three year old Noah who lives with them while his mum, and Jon and Mel’s daughter, goes to University.

It is clear from the start that Mel struggles with Noah, understandably she felt that her days of parenting a toddler were over and she missed her job and the life that she had before Issy got pregnant at 15. Jon, on the other hand, appears to be happier with his life and he is especially excited that Issy is coming back from University for a visit, he can’t wait to see her.

We hear briefly from Issy at the start, but we don’t really understand why she is doing what she is doing. That is a puzzle that continues throughout the book as Issy’s parents try to work out why their daughter apparently killed herself.

I felt that this book was really well written, the grief that Jon and Mel went through felt so real and raw and painful. They both knew that they needed to find out more, and so they set about finding out about Issy’s life and realised how little they knew their daughter.

Some of it was hard to read, as it became clear just how unhappy Issy had been the pain that caused her parents, and especially her dad was immense. I worked out right near the start why she had done it, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book and when Mel and Jon finally worked it out I gave a cheer that they’ finally got there.

I really enjoyed this book, the relationship between Mel and Jon really was great to read, and I loved that how things ended up for them wasn’t what you’d necessarily expect but it felt so right.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Stephanie Rogers but it certainly won’t be the last!

Thank you to Manatee Books for a copy of The Dark Place by Stephanie Rogers. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

The Dark Place

When you look at those you love, what do you see?

When Issy, young mother and beloved daughter, seemingly kills herself her family is devastated.

Believing she would never leave son Noah willingly, Jon and Mel determine to discover what really happened to Issy. As they and the rest of the family struggle to come to terms with tragedy, Jon and Mel start to realise Issy’s secrets come from a very dark place…

 

About The Author:

 

I have always lived in Yorkshire, migrating a whole three miles over the border from South to North Yorkshire and have always loved reading. As a kid, I was always reading when I should have been doing something else and nothing has changed (uncooked or burnt dinners being commonplace in my house – cooking’s overrated anyway). For most of my adult life I’ve worked as a dog groomer, interspersed with bouts of working as a musician, playing drums and saxophone, which has taken me to Germany and Israel. They’re not that compatible really, dog grooming and music – dogs hate the noises saxes and drums make (well mine do; or maybe it’s how I play them.) I have been and always will be, unashamedly, a rock chick.

After ignoring the urge to write for a long time (too busy, no time, kids to feed, books to read) I finally did a creative writing course with Writers’ Bureau, which I loved. I’ve written two thrillers, which is my favourite genre to read, and a couple of children’s books. I’ve also sold short stories to Take-A-Break’s Fiction Feast.

The Dark Place by Stephanie Rogers is out now and available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

4.5*, blog tours, book review, debut author, psychological thriller

#BlogTour #BookReview Lies Between Us by Ronnie Turner. #LiesBetweenUs #whereisbonnie @HQDigitalUK @Ronnie__Turner

if only I could read faster

LiesBetweenUs_BlogTourBanner3

How exciting is this?!!! Ronnie Turner, a fabulous book blogger has written a book! I can’t begin to say how happy I am for her that she not only wrote the book and finished it (something that I am struggling with) but also got it published with the rather brilliant HQDigital. When Ronnie asked whether her fellow book bloggers wanted to be part of the blog tour for her book we all jumped at the chance, I think that there are about 70 blogs taking part which is pretty crazy! But I’m delighted to be one of them.

My Review:

I really, really wanted to like Lies Between Us by Ronnie Turner but was a little bit scared that I wouldn’t. Thankfully from about page five, I was sucked into the story and for the rest of the book, I was hooked.

The story is told from different points of view with each chapter told by one person. I have to admit that I struggle with multiple characters like that and when there are more than about three or four it takes me a while to get into it and remember who everyone is. I suspect that might be because of my dyslexia but I’m not sure. So although I was enjoying the book and the characters it did take me some time to put it all together.

Some of the chapters were set in the past and others in the current, we have no idea how these stories connect, but we know that they do.

I really liked Maisie, the intensive care nurse who gives everything to her patients and their families, she seemed really nice but there was a vulnerability to her, we knew that there was a sadness there but it takes a while for us to work out the cause.

Miller is a young boy who is, quite frankly, deeply disturbing. I quite enjoyed reading about him because I just knew that he would grow up to be a really evil man and the twisted part of me wanted to know what he was going to do.

And then there was John, a man who loves his wife but is besotted with his daughter Bonnie. John’s world falls apart when Bonnie goes missing, vanishing from their front room. John and his wife are tortured with photos of Bonnie hurt, the police have no idea where she is or who might have her, will they find her in time? I have to admit that at times when reading about Bonnie (and Miller), I wondered about the author and how she had managed to come up with some of it, let alone write about it and put her characters through it.

I have to say that I loved The Lies Between Us, it kept me guessing the whole way through and for a debut novel, it is incredibly accomplished. I cannot wait to read what Ronnie Turner writes next.

Thank you to Ronnie Turner and HQDigital for a copy of Lies Between Us, I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

Lies Between UsWill they ever learn the truth?

Three people, leading very different lives, are about to be brought together – with devastating consequences . . .

John has a perfect life, until the day his daughter goes missing.

Maisie cares for her patients, but hides her own traumatic past.

Miller should be an innocent child, but is obsessed with something he can’t have.

They all have something in common, though none of them know it – and the truth won’t stay hidden for long . . .

A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Clare Mackintosh, Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.

Lies Between Us by Ronnie Turner is out now and is available from Amazon UK, Google Play, Kobo and iTunes.

About The Author:

Author Photo 2Ronnie Turner grew up in Cornwall, the youngest in a large family. At an early age, she discovered a love of literature and dreamed of being a published author. Ronnie now lives in Dorset with her family and three dogs. In her spare time, she reviews books on her blog and enjoys long walks on the coast. She is currently working on her second novel.

Ronnie’s debut novel, Lies Between Us, will be published by HQ Digital in October 2018.

Twitter:@Ronnie_ _Turner

Facebook: @RonnieTurnerAuthor

Instagram: @ronnieturner8702

Website: www.ronnieturner.wordpress.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/RonnieTurner

4*, blog blast, blog tours, book review

#BlogTour #Book`Review Malignant by Anita Waller. @anitamayw @Bloodhoundbook #malignant

if only I could read faster

Malignant Blitz Banner

I’m delighted to be rounding off the blog tour for Malignant by Anita Waller, I really like the authors’ book and this one did not disappoint!

My Review:

I’ve read most of Anita Waller’s books and I’ve enjoyed them all, some more than others but they’ve all been good reads. I think that Malignant is one of my favourites.

I love a good murder in a book, but what I love about Waller is that she always gives reason for the murder, it isn’t random killings or psychopaths on a killing spree and this makes it all feel a bit more realistic. I can understand how the characters got themselves to where they are and why they take the actions that they take. Well, actually that second bit isn’t always true, especially in Malignant when one of the characters makes some decisions that don’t make a lot of sense to me.

But Waller’s books are still very different from the majority, and I really like that. Waller also creates great characters that are realistic and her writing is easy to read, I find myself immediately drawn into the story and compelled to keep reading.

I really do like Anita Waller and will now read her books without knowing a thing about them, she’s an author to add to your reading list, that’s for sure, and Malignant is a great place to start!

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for a copy of Malignant by Anita Waller. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

Anita Waller - Malignant_coverWhat if someone set you limits?

Claudia and Heather have been friends and neighbours for many years and both women decide it is the right time for them to leave their husbands. Together they get a flat but their peace is short lived when Claudia is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Being a good friend, Heather takes on caring for Claudia but a lethal meeting with James, Claudia’s ex-husband, results in someone dying.

As life for Claudia and Heather begins to unravel, the answer to their problems becomes clear… it’s murder.

About The Author:

anitawallerAnita Waller was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1946. She married Dave in 1967 and they have three adult children.

She began writing when she was around 8 years of age, writing ‘compositions’ at junior school that became books with chapters.

In 1995 she sent Beautiful to a publisher and as they reached the contract stage the publisher went into liquidation. As a result, the book was consigned to the attic in dejected disgust but in 2013 it was dragged out again for an enforced complete re-type. The original was written on an Amstrad 8256 and the only thing that remained was one hard copy.

Anita is not a typist and it was painfully reworked over two years, submitted to Bloodhound Books who, within three days of reading it, offered her a contract. 31 August 2015 saw its release into the wide world.

Following the outstanding success of Beautiful, she began a sequel on 27 December 2015, finishing it on 19 March 2016. The new novel, Angel, was launched on 7 May 2016.

34 Days followed, with its launch in October 2016. This was a huge success, particularly in the United States. While this, her third book in the psychological thriller genre, was flying out in all directions, she began work on her fourth book.

Winterscroft was a change in genre. It is a supernatural tale, set in Castleton, Derbyshire, and its release date was February 2017.

While she was writing Winterscroft, it became very clear from reading reviews that a sequel to 34 days was needed, and she began work on that. Bloodhound Books launched Strategy, on 10 August 2017.

Her next book, launched February 2018 and entitled Captor, is a psychological thriller, set exclusively in Sheffield. It was an instant success, both in the UK and the US.

Then along came Game Players… once more set in Sheffield, the story involves a group of six children who have each other’s backs to a remarkable extent. The darker, criminal side of Sheffield is explored, with the book launching 18 May 2018.

Malignant arrives in the world on 10 October 2018, her eighth book in three years.

In her life away from the computer in the corner of her kitchen, she is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter with blue blood in her veins! The club was particularly helpful during the writing of 34 Days, as a couple of matches feature in the novel, along with Ross Wallace. Information was needed, and they provided it.

Her genre is murder – necessary murder.

Email: anitamayw@yahoo.co.uk 
Website: www.anitamayw.wixsite.com/anitawaller
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/anitawaller2015/ @anitawaller2015
Amazon page: www.amazon.co.uk/Anita-Waller/e/B014RQFCRS/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anitamayw @anitamayw

Malignant by Anita Waller is out now and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

4*, blog tours, book review, debut author, psychological thriller

#BlogTour #BookReview The Dream Wife by Louisa De Lange. @paperclipgirl @orionbooks #psychologicalthriller

if only I could read faster

BLOG-TOUR-POSTER (1)

I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for The Dream Wife by Louisa De Lange, a very impressive debut novel. Although I must admit that I have been slightly stressed about writing my review!

My Review:

Ok, so it’s hard to know where to start with this review and there are two reasons for that. Firstly I do not want to give any spoilers away and I think that could be easy with this book, and secondly because I’m slightly confused about the book and the ending.

That probably doesn’t sound very good, but that’s not the case. So many psychological thrillers are hyped up about the clever twist and it becomes a little bit boring, how can every book have the most amazing twist of any book this year? But here we have a book that says that it has a clever twist and, amazingly, it really does.

The Dream Wife was, for me, a bit slow to get going and I did wonder where on earth it was going, especially when Annie started having these strange dreams. I had a look at other reviews and came to the conclusion that the book is a little bit like marmite, but the reviews sounded intriguing and so I carried on.

Annie’s husband David is a truly horrible person, there is absolutely nothing likeable about the man and some readers might find some of the scenes with him difficult to read. A total opposite are the scenes with Annie and her little boy Jonnie, he sounds so adorable and the love that Annie has for him shines through every page.

And then we have the ending. I got to the end and thought that I had got it and I knew what was going on, but then I thought about it a little bit and the questions started to come and in the end, I’m not really sure about any of it. I think that I have it right but it’s an ending that probably needs rereading, or a long discussion with a friend who has also read the book. It is so unexpected, very clever and makes for a very impressive debut. Although writing this I’m still a bit confused.

Thank you to Orion for a copy of The Dream Wife via Netgalley. I was under no obligation to review and all thoughts are my own.

Blurb:

9781409180197

A debut novel from an exciting new voice in the thriller market. A compulsive read with a clever twist.

Annie is the dream wife. Supportive, respectful, mild-mannered. She’s given up her job to focus on running her home, meticulously cleaning and cooking the meals she knows her husband likes. She is everything her husband wants her to be.

Annie is a prisoner in her own home. Her finances, her routine and her contact with the outside world are all controlled by him. Only her love for her little boy keeps her going. At night she escapes into her dreams, which are starting to become more and more vivid.

But Annie is about to do a very bad thing.

About The Author:

Louisa-045Louisa de Lange is a freelance copywriter, mum of a little boy and a keen runner, blogger and photographer. She is currently training to take on her first ever Olympic triathlon. She studied Psychology at university and it turns out the combination of psychology and motherhood is a potent one. You can follow Louisa on Twitter: @paperclipgirl

 

 

 

The Dream Wife by Louisa De Lange is out today in paperback and is already available in ebook, it is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US.