Book 28 - Song of the Dead - Douglas Lindsay

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgallery Publisher: Freight Books Published: 24/03/16 Amazon uk link:Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

From the author of The Legend of Barney Thomson, recently released as a major motion picture starring two times Academy award-winner Emma Thompson, comes a dark, brooding new crime series.

Police detective Ben Westphall is burnt out and leading a quiet life in the North of Scotland. Things change when he is assigned to investigate the cold case of a UK national who disappeared in Eastern Europe under mysterious circumstances and who, despite being declared dead, has re-appeared, claiming to have been held for over a decade, various body parts having been harvested during that time. Westphall travels to Estonia, chasing leads and shadows that may lead to an international drugs and organ trafficking conspiracy.

My Thoughts

I like DI Ben Westphall. We could be friends. Being inside his head for a few hours was a joy, like being in a tumble dryer on intense setting. That’s good by the way. Of course he has his flaws and backstory, all of which are bearable and believable.
It’s a Dark and Atmospheric story with a splattering of dark humour. Whilst the pace is not a non stop rollercoaster, it is well paced with a few story arcs that are all brilliantly crafted that kept me reading and wanting more.
I loved the Dorothy storyline , really loved it. I hope it is an arc throughout the books in this new series. This is a series of Books I will defiantly be following.

“And then it happened. I cant think. I cant think what it was about, that moment. Why then? I was dozing on the couch, Gabriella sitting next to me watching Scooby Doo. That ordinary day. And it just happened. I went back in time.”


Next Book - The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh.

Book 28 - Song of the Dead - Douglas Lindsay

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgallery Publisher: Freight Books Published: 24/03/16 Amazon uk link:Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

From the author of The Legend of Barney Thomson, recently released as a major motion picture starring two times Academy award-winner Emma Thompson, comes a dark, brooding new crime series.

Police detective Ben Westphall is burnt out and leading a quiet life in the North of Scotland. Things change when he is assigned to investigate the cold case of a UK national who disappeared in Eastern Europe under mysterious circumstances and who, despite being declared dead, has re-appeared, claiming to have been held for over a decade, various body parts having been harvested during that time. Westphall travels to Estonia, chasing leads and shadows that may lead to an international drugs and organ trafficking conspiracy.

My Thoughts

I like DI Ben Westphall. We could be friends. Being inside his head for a few hours was a joy, like being in a tumble dryer on intense setting. That’s good by the way. Of course he has his flaws and backstory, all of which are bearable and believable.
It’s a Dark and Atmospheric story with a splattering of dark humour. Whilst the pace is not a non stop rollercoaster, it is well paced with a few story arcs that are all brilliantly crafted that kept me reading and wanting more.
I loved the Dorothy storyline , really loved it. I hope it is an arc throughout the books in this new series. This is a series of Books I will defiantly be following.

“And then it happened. I cant think. I cant think what it was about, that moment. Why then? I was dozing on the couch, Gabriella sitting next to me watching Scooby Doo. That ordinary day. And it just happened. I went back in time.”


Next Book - The Missing Hours by Emma Kavanagh.

Book 27 - The Dead House - Harry Bingham

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgallery Publisher: Orion Published: 28/07/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads link: Here

The Blurb

When the body of a young woman is found in an old 'dead house' - the annexe where the dead were stored before burial in medieval times - of a tiny Welsh church, it seems that past and present have come together in a bizarre and horrifying way. For DC Fiona Griffiths, the girl - a murder victim whose corpse was laid out with obvious tenderness - represents an irresistibly intriguing puzzle, given Fiona's unusual empathy with the dead. And when her investigations lead her to an obscure and secretive monastery hidden in a remote valley, she finds that the dead girl is far from the only victim of a sinister melding of modern crime and medieval religious practices. Only Fiona is capable of putting the mismatched pieces together in this disturbing puzzle, but immersing herself in this dark and obsessive world could threaten her fragile grip on her own sanity.

My Thoughts

This is the 5th instalment in the Fiona Griffiths series of books. I have to admit that I hadn’t read any of the previous books, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this one.
Fiona Griffiths is unlike any character I have ever read before. If I am being honest it took me around 20% of the book until I understood her and the authors writing style, but then BOOM, I was hooked. You always feel that there is a great sadness behind her character but at the same time she is happy. She is funny, loyal, and clever. I felt she could go over the edge at any moment but her work kept her from falling. She reminds me of Tony Hill in many respects. The supporting characters were well written and believable.
It’s a well knitted story with many strands that are all brought together at the end. There are two parts in particular that stand out for me and without giving too much away the Cave had me literally holding my breath and made me feel as if the walls were closing in on me. I really felt as if I was down there. The climax to the book is great reading and unexpected. Another Author I need to add to my read all pile.

Book 27 - The Dead House - Harry Bingham

Kindle Edition Cost: Netgallery Publisher: Orion Published: 28/07/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads link: Here

The Blurb

When the body of a young woman is found in an old 'dead house' - the annexe where the dead were stored before burial in medieval times - of a tiny Welsh church, it seems that past and present have come together in a bizarre and horrifying way. For DC Fiona Griffiths, the girl - a murder victim whose corpse was laid out with obvious tenderness - represents an irresistibly intriguing puzzle, given Fiona's unusual empathy with the dead. And when her investigations lead her to an obscure and secretive monastery hidden in a remote valley, she finds that the dead girl is far from the only victim of a sinister melding of modern crime and medieval religious practices. Only Fiona is capable of putting the mismatched pieces together in this disturbing puzzle, but immersing herself in this dark and obsessive world could threaten her fragile grip on her own sanity.

My Thoughts

This is the 5th instalment in the Fiona Griffiths series of books. I have to admit that I hadn’t read any of the previous books, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this one.
Fiona Griffiths is unlike any character I have ever read before. If I am being honest it took me around 20% of the book until I understood her and the authors writing style, but then BOOM, I was hooked. You always feel that there is a great sadness behind her character but at the same time she is happy. She is funny, loyal, and clever. I felt she could go over the edge at any moment but her work kept her from falling. She reminds me of Tony Hill in many respects. The supporting characters were well written and believable.
It’s a well knitted story with many strands that are all brought together at the end. There are two parts in particular that stand out for me and without giving too much away the Cave had me literally holding my breath and made me feel as if the walls were closing in on me. I really felt as if I was down there. The climax to the book is great reading and unexpected. Another Author I need to add to my read all pile.

Book 26 - Lost Girls - Angela Marsons

Kindle Edition Cost: £1.99 Publisher: Bookouture Published: 06/11/15 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads link: Here

The Blurb

Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.

When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.

And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.

Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…

Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?

My Thoughts

Angela Marsons is fast becoming one of my favourite contemporary Crime/Thriller writers. This is the 3rd in the D.I. Kim Stone series, with a 4th coming very soon, and the stories are getting better and better. Kim Stone can be irritating to read sometimes, I just want her to be a bit more human when interacting with people, but that’s what makes her special.

This story, as most involving children, hit hard and I so wanted to find out the outcome and the ending was the one I had hoped for. I cheered at one point, the kids found it hard to believe that a book could garner such emotion in the reader. When the writing is as good as this it’s hard not to get involved and I cannot wait to read the new book.

Book 26 - Lost Girls - Angela Marsons

Kindle Edition Cost: £1.99 Publisher: Bookouture Published: 06/11/15 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads link: Here

The Blurb

Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.

When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.

And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.

Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…

Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?

My Thoughts

Angela Marsons is fast becoming one of my favourite contemporary Crime/Thriller writers. This is the 3rd in the D.I. Kim Stone series, with a 4th coming very soon, and the stories are getting better and better. Kim Stone can be irritating to read sometimes, I just want her to be a bit more human when interacting with people, but that’s what makes her special.

This story, as most involving children, hit hard and I so wanted to find out the outcome and the ending was the one I had hoped for. I cheered at one point, the kids found it hard to believe that a book could garner such emotion in the reader. When the writing is as good as this it’s hard not to get involved and I cannot wait to read the new book.

Book 25 - Between You and Me - Lisa Hall

Kindle Edition Cost: 0.99 Publisher: Carina Published: 28/04/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

They say every marriage has its secrets.
But no one sees what happens behind closed doors.
And sometimes those doors should never be opened…
Sal and Charlie are married. They love each other. But they aren’t happy. Sal cannot leave, no matter what Charlie does – no matter how much it hurts.

My Thoughts

Written in a type of diary entry of both Sal & Charlie to each other, Between you and Me is supposed to be “A psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming”, It’s not. You can see the twist from the first few chapters if you pay attention.

It’s a repetitive story which led me to skipping over a lot of it, you get to see both sides of the story, but it’s the same story and I didn’t really think it was necessary after the 5th time. I got it, one was bad and one was good, and that in its self was another problem.
The characters were flat, predictable and dull. When I read the dialogue it felt like the character was reading from an autocue machine, bit like the One Show.

At 82% this line confused the hell out of me.
“I march out of the utility room, not noticing Sal's clenched fists...”
How can you not notice something then tell us you did but didn’t?.

The story could have been a good one but I obviously didn’t get on with the style of writing.

Book 25 - Between You and Me - Lisa Hall

Kindle Edition Cost: 0.99 Publisher: Carina Published: 28/04/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

They say every marriage has its secrets.
But no one sees what happens behind closed doors.
And sometimes those doors should never be opened…
Sal and Charlie are married. They love each other. But they aren’t happy. Sal cannot leave, no matter what Charlie does – no matter how much it hurts.

My Thoughts

Written in a type of diary entry of both Sal & Charlie to each other, Between you and Me is supposed to be “A psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming”, It’s not. You can see the twist from the first few chapters if you pay attention.

It’s a repetitive story which led me to skipping over a lot of it, you get to see both sides of the story, but it’s the same story and I didn’t really think it was necessary after the 5th time. I got it, one was bad and one was good, and that in its self was another problem.
The characters were flat, predictable and dull. When I read the dialogue it felt like the character was reading from an autocue machine, bit like the One Show.

At 82% this line confused the hell out of me.
“I march out of the utility room, not noticing Sal's clenched fists...”
How can you not notice something then tell us you did but didn’t?.

The story could have been a good one but I obviously didn’t get on with the style of writing.

Book 24 - Flawed - Cecelia Ahern

Kindle Edition Cost: NetGallery Publisher: Harper Collins Childrens Books Published: 24/03/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In this stunning novel, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

My Thoughts

I have never been a fan of dystopian stories; I find them a bit dull and lacking originality, there are so many of them.
This makes my decision to read this book a strange one. But read it I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story made me angry, nervous, tense and wanting to know how it was all going to end.
I felt an almost unreasonable hate for the leader of the guild Crevan and really wanted Celestine to bring the whole flawed system down. I enjoyed reading how Celestine changed through the book from a perfect unflawed model into what I hope will become a fighter who knows that just because you are told something is right, it doesn’t mean it is.
My only negative point is that I have to wait a year to find out how it all ends.

Book 24 - Flawed - Cecelia Ahern

Kindle Edition Cost: NetGallery Publisher: Harper Collins Childrens Books Published: 24/03/16 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In this stunning novel, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society in which perfection is paramount and mistakes are punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.

My Thoughts

I have never been a fan of dystopian stories; I find them a bit dull and lacking originality, there are so many of them.
This makes my decision to read this book a strange one. But read it I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story made me angry, nervous, tense and wanting to know how it was all going to end.
I felt an almost unreasonable hate for the leader of the guild Crevan and really wanted Celestine to bring the whole flawed system down. I enjoyed reading how Celestine changed through the book from a perfect unflawed model into what I hope will become a fighter who knows that just because you are told something is right, it doesn’t mean it is.
My only negative point is that I have to wait a year to find out how it all ends.

Book 23 - Time Travelling with a Hamster - Ross Welford

Kindle Edition Cost: 4.99 Publisher: Harper Collins Published: 31/12/15 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

“My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again four years later when he was twelve.

The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did, but I would never even have been there if it hadn’t been for his ‘time machine’…”

When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad’s time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary, and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer…

My Bit

I needed a break from Thrillers and another favourite genre of mine is YA books and Time Travel. So when I saw this I thought it would be perfect for a little light relief.
It’s a heart warming story about family and change with the main character, Al, getting into all kinds of scrapes that Kids will enjoy reading. The ending is great and it’s an altogether well plotted and well written book, It’s one that I shall keep for my kids to read when they are a few years older, I would rather they read this than a Roald Dahl ripoff.

Book 23 - Time Travelling with a Hamster - Ross Welford

Kindle Edition Cost: 4.99 Publisher: Harper Collins Published: 31/12/15 Amazon uk link: Here Goodreads Link: Here

The Blurb

“My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again four years later when he was twelve.

The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did, but I would never even have been there if it hadn’t been for his ‘time machine’…”

When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad’s time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary, and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer…

My Bit

I needed a break from Thrillers and another favourite genre of mine is YA books and Time Travel. So when I saw this I thought it would be perfect for a little light relief.
It’s a heart warming story about family and change with the main character, Al, getting into all kinds of scrapes that Kids will enjoy reading. The ending is great and it’s an altogether well plotted and well written book, It’s one that I shall keep for my kids to read when they are a few years older, I would rather they read this than a Roald Dahl ripoff.