The Missing Girls - Carol Wyer

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 17/09/17 Pages: 389 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

One girl found dead. Another girl gone...

Long shadows danced on the tin walls. Inside the trunk lay Carrie Miller, wrapped in plastic, arms folded across her ribcage, lips sealed tight forever...

When a girl’s body is found at a Midlands storage unit, it is too decomposed for Detective Robyn Carter to read the signs left by the killer.

No one knows the woman in blue who rented the unit; her hire van can’t be traced. But as the leads run dry another body is uncovered. This time the killer’s distinctive mark is plain to see, and matching scratches on the first victim’s skeleton make Robyn suspect she’s searching for a serial-killer.

As Robyn closes in on the killer’s shocking hunting ground, another girl goes missing, and this time it’s someone close to her own heart.

Robyn can’t lose another loved one. Can she find the sickest individual she has ever faced, before it’s too late?

My Thoughts

This is the third book in the DI Robyn Carter series and boy does it pack a punch on every level.

I have reviewed the previous two books in this series this year and loved them both. The second book Secrets of the Dead is one of my favourite books of this year, surely The Missing Girls couldn't match that? Well, Yeah, and some.

The thing that makes me love these books are that they are so believable, The plot, The characters all of it. Carol Wyer has yet again created a rather disturbed yet lucid killer and the plot has been so well thought out and executed that you get dragged right into the world that has been created and I really didnt want to leave. At the end of the book I felt like Sam Tyler from Life on Mars (and what a series that was by the way.) when he finally woke up, he missed the world his mind had created and jumped off a building to get back to Gene Hunts world. Turning my kindle round and round hoping to find a portal to the world of Robyn Carter was unfortunately a waste of time as this being a rather boring real world where nothing exciting happens, I couldnt find it, guess I will have to wait for the 4th book instead.

Now I know I havent really told you much about the book, I never really do, because I dont want to ruin any of the story for you. I mean I could do an essay with accompanying Power Point presentation covering all the plot points but why would you want to read the book after that?

What I will say is that the ending is totally unexpected and left me open mouthed and very excited for the next book.

Fantastic book that quite rightly shoots its way well into my Top 12 books of the year.

Holding - Graham Norton

Kindle Edition Publisher: Atria Books Published: 04/08/17 Pages: 310 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama; and yet its inhabitants are troubled. Sergeant PJ Collins hasn't always been this overweight; mother of two Brid Riordan hasn't always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn't always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains are discovered on an old farm, suspected to be that of Tommy Burke - a former love of both Brid and Evelyn - the village's dark past begins to unravel.

As the frustrated PJ struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his life, he unearths a community's worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regret.

Darkly comic, touching and at times profoundly sad. Graham Norton employs his acerbic wit to breathe life into a host of lovable characters, and explore - with searing honesty - the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

My Thoughts

Who would of thought a celebrity could write a good book. Surely no one could beat the brilliance of Katie Price and her fantastic contribution to the fiction world?
Well surprisingly, for me anyway, Graham Norton has done just that. Holding isnt my normal type of book, I like fast paced in your face Serial Killers, so Holding couldnt have been more differnt.

The chapters are told through different people making this a more character based thriller than a plot driven one. Some people may find it a bit slow and the ending felt a tiny bit forced but that aside its a good book that I enjoyed and would read more of Mr Nortons books.

Perfect Pray - Helen Fields

Kindle Edition Publisher: Avon Published: 26/07/17 Pages: 465 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

Welcome to Edinburgh. Murder capital of Europe.

In the middle of a rock festival, a charity worker is sliced across the stomach. He dies minutes later. In a crowd of thousands, no one saw his attacker.

The following week, the body of a primary school teacher is found in a dumpster in an Edinburgh alley, strangled with her own woollen scarf.

D.I. Ava Turner and D.I. Luc Callanach have no leads and no motive – until around the city, graffitied on buildings, words appear describing each victim.

It’s only when they realise the words are being written before rather than after the murders, that they understand the killer is announcing his next victim…and the more innocent the better.

My Thoughts

There are lots of Thriller series, some are better than others; The D.I Callanach series is without doubt one of the best.

Undeniably my favourite series at the moment. The two lead characters in D.I Callanach and D.I Ava Turner are superbly written the chemistry between the two really works and rarely seems forced. Although I did find Ava in the background for a large amount of the book, but I suppose that was the point.

As with the first book I found the story unique and fasinating. I do wonder what kind of a mind the Authour has to come up with such gruesome and dare I say clever ways to commit murder. The whole story was well thought out kept me reading and wanting more. Sleep who needs it?
As with all my reviews I wont go into the plot for fear of giving anything away but I was getting very frustrated with Avas behaviour and couldn't work out which way it was going, but I was so relieved by the end of the book.

A Fantastic plot with fantastic characters, Highly recommended and I cant wait for book 3.

The Lying Game - Ruth Ware

Kindle Edition Publisher: Vintage Digital Published: 15/06/16 Pages: 372 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

The text message is just three words: I need you.

Isa drops everything, takes her baby daughter and heads straight to Salten. She spent the most significant days of her life at boarding school on the marshes there, days which still cast their shadow over her now.

Something terrible has been found on the beach. Something which will force Isa to confront her past, together with the three best friends she hasn't seen for years, but has never forgotten. Theirs is no cosy reunion: Salten isn't a safe place for them, after what they did.

At school the girls used to play the Lying Game. They competed to convince people of the most outrageous stories. But for some, did the boundary between fact and fantasy become too blurred?

And how much can you really trust your friends?

My Thoughts

I enjoyed a previous book by Ruth Ware so I thought I would give this a go. Unfortunatly I found very little I liked about the book.

The story is told from Isa’s perspective and the chapters alternate between the past and present and Isa's need to feed her daughter. Inbetween feeds we find out about that the girls have a secret that keeps them connected and after 17 years their lies and secrets look like being uncovered. This is a slow burner of a book, too slow for me. I got bored with the flowery descriptions and by the time it did warm up, around 3/4 of the way in, I had guessed the outcome and didnt really care by that point as the book had lost me way before.

More Chick-lit than Thriller.

Fire Damage - Kate Medina

Kindle Edition Publisher: HarperCollins Published: 24/03/16 Pages: 362 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

To find a killer, she must unlock a child’s terror…

The first in an exciting new crime series featuring psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn – a brilliantly complex character who struggles with a dark past of her own. Perfect for fans of Nicci French and Val McDermid.

A traumatized little boy

Four years old, terrified, disturbed – Sami is a child in need of help. Now it’s up to psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn to find the cause of his suffering and unlock his darkest memories, before it’s too late.

A psychologist with a secret

Meanwhile Jessie is haunted by an awful truth of her own. She works alongside former patient, Captain Ben Callan, to investigate a violent death – but the ghosts of her past refuse to leave her.

A body washed up on the beach

When a burnt corpse is found on the Sussex coast, Jessie begins to uncover a link between her two cases – and a desperate killer will do anything to keep it buried…

My Thoughts

A year ago I wouldnt have got half way through this book but at 45 and finally having learnt the important life skill of patience I am glad I am a year late reviewing this fantastic book.

The story is full of messed up and traumatised people and probably the most in need of a psychologist is Jessie Flynn herself. Throughout the book we find out about her background and what has made her into the person she is.

Jessie is trying to help 4 year old Sami who appears to be suffering from PTSD after seeing his father, a burns victim in Afghanistan, for the first time after his injury. Jessie is also asked by a former patient and equally as messed up Captain Ben Callan to help with a case he is working on of a soldier dying in suspicious circumstances in Afghanistan. Add to this a washed up decomposed body that was killed by severe blunt trauma to the back of the head being investigated by Bobby "Marilyn" Simmons and we have an exciting slow burning thriller of a book that although seems a bit confusing and complicated really isnt.

The pay off at the end is worth it and really left me wanting to read the next book in the series.

A Room Full Of Killers - Michael Wood

Kindle Edition Publisher: Killer Reads Published: 17/02/17 Pages: 373 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

Eight killers. One house. And the almost perfect murder…

Starling House is home to some of Britain’s deadliest teenagers, still too young for prison.

When the latest arrival is found brutally murdered, DCI Matilda Darke and her team investigate, and discover a prison manager falling apart and a sabotaged security system. Neither the staff nor the inmates can be trusted.

The only person Matilda believes is innocent is facing prison for the rest of his life. With time running out, she must solve the unsolvable to save a young man from his fate, and find a murderer in a house full of killers…

My Thoughts

Starling House is a secure unit for young offenders, not your average everyday offender, Killers. When a new inmate arrives he is murdered within 2 days, a few days later another inmate is murdered. DCI Matilda Darke has the job of finding out who did it. Not only does she have to solve the mystery but she also has a feeling that one of the inmates is innocent and goes off piste to try to prove his innocence or not.

The story is interspersed with the stories of the inmates and their crimes. I loved these chapters, thought they were fantastically well written and gave the book another dimension, something different. The story reminded me of an updated version of the old fashioned Whodunits that would have been on a Sunday early evening when I was a child, which is a good thing.

Oh and I loved the very ending of the book really wasnt expecting it and what a fantastic way to end a fantastic book.

Highly recommended.

The Serial Killer's Daughter - Lesley Welsh

Kindle Edition Publisher: Bookouture Published: 14/06/17 Pages: 336 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

Charmer, liar, father… Killer.
Suzanne’s life changes forever the day she receives a visit from Rose Anderson, the woman who has been living with her estranged father, Don.

Don is dead, but Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions – including a series of intimate diaries and a mysterious collection of photographs of women.

To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.

But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death... So why did he have a picture of her?

Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his journals? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?

My Thoughts

What it says about me im not sure but I love books about Serial Killers in both real life and fiction.
The character of Don is a grubby, dark, disturbing and possibly one of the most hideous of Killers.
I felt physically dirty reading him, I am no prude but found that the conversations Don had with his daughter about sex with her mother very hard to read. What makes this book even harder to read is knowing that there are real people like Don.

But what about the story?
Well its a well written steady paced story that will have your emotions in turmoil, not so much a rollercoaster of twists and turns but then with such well written characters it didnt need to be.

Face Behind The Mask - Helen Phifer

Kindle Edition Publisher: HQ Published: 14/04/17 Pages: 224 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

he greatest show on earth may pose the greatest danger…
1950: Tufty the clown is a circus favourite, drawing fans from miles around. But behind the painted white face, the upturned red lips and bouncy wig, there lurks something far more sinister…

Present Day: When Walter discovers an old clown suit, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to it. Putting on the suit feels electric, but that’s when the voices in his head get louder, and suddenly, he finds himself acting in ways he never would have imagined.

Police officer Annie Ashworth is enjoying her maternity leave spending time with baby Alfie. Until there is a new serial killer on the loose in Barrow, which might explain the cold presence she senses in her house. She’s sure a spirit needs to be put to rest, and she’s always been right in the past. But who is the man in the mask who haunts her nightmares? And why is he wearing a clown suit…

My Thoughts

Hard for me to review this book as I didnt realise it was part of a series and so as I started reading I felt like I had just walked into a party late without a clue who was who, what had happened or why. The first few chapters had so many names and people and references to other stories that I lost interest pretty quickly. Also didnt realise it was a paranormal story, which in my opinion very rarely make good books.

Obviously this is down me not reading the blurb or doing my research on the book before requesting.

Just not for me

The Fourth Monkey - J.D.Barker

Kindle Edition Publisher: HQ Published: 27/06/17 Pages: 421 Amazon Uk Link: Here GoodReads Link: Here Given for an honest review via Netgalley

The Blurb

Brilliant. Complicated. Psychopath.

That’s the Four Monkey Killer or ‘4MK’. A murderer with a twisted vision and absolutely no mercy.

Detective Sam Porter has hunted him for five long years, the recipient of box after box of grisly trinkets carved from the bodies of 4MK’s victims.

But now Porter has learnt the killer’s twisted history and is racing to do the seemingly impossible – find 4MK’s latest victim before it’s too late…

My Thoughts

I love a good serial killer and the 4MK is certainly that. A well constructed book with some great twists and some great characters that make it a fantastic read which you will fly through. The book is written across 2 time frames, the present with Sam Porter continuing his 5 year chase of the 4MK Killer and a undetermined time frame of the killers diary. This book will be a huge hit and doubtlessly sell millions and deservedly so. My only gripe was the diary segments, not nearly as good as the hunt for the killer and rather "hammy", I had Mr Burns from the Simpsons as my narrator reading those chapters.

Enjoyable book. Recommended.