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Aug 11

We Were Never Here By Andrea Bartz

We Were Never Here‘We Were Never Here’ is the latest book by Andrea Bartz.

It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime. Until Emily found their hotel suite covered in blood. Her friend Kristen claims a backpacker attacked her . . . she had no option but to kill him. And with no evidence of the assault, Emily must help her hide the body. But back home, as the walls close in around the events of that night, Emily is forced to ask herself: Can her closest friend be trusted?

There’s no surprise that ‘We Were Never Here’ has been chosen for Reese Witherspoon’s book club and is now being adapted as a Netflix movie, this book is addictive with a capital A.

The story is seen through the narrative of Emily, who’s best friends with Kristen. They take themselves away to Chile on an adventure, only for tragedy to strike and Emily to come back a nervous wreck and fearing that the body that herself and Kristen buried will be discovered. Now settled back in Milwaukee and starting a new relationship with Aaron, Emily can relax until Kristen comes back from Australia for a surprise visit and Emily finds herself wondering if she really truly knows her best friend.

This story is dark, gritty and really gets under your skin. Right from the offset, we see that this isn’t a normal friendship. Kristen is the leader and Emily follows and the story is incredibly claustrophobic as Emily looks for space to start her new relationship but Kristen is there at every turn.

The toxicity of the friendship drips from the pages as Emily tries to distance herself from Kristen but the more she tries, the more Kristen tangles herself into Emily’s life.

An immersive and original story that was impossible to put down. ‘We Were Never Seen’, is an intense psychological thriller about obsession, deceit and manipulation and delves into intense female friendships and false memories. With suspense building with every page and twists that left me reeling, this book is an cinematic experience and it’s not even hit the screens yet!

You can buy ‘We Were Never Here’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jul 22

Lies At Her Door By AA Abbott

Lies At Her Door‘Lies At Her Door’ is the latest book by AA Abbott.

Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton. Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth. Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?

‘Lies At Her Door’ is an intriguing story with a fascinating protagonist that kept me on my toes with her mystery and innocence.

The story is primarily seen through the narrative of Lucy, a woman who lives with her parents and cares for her mother. One day, a sink hole appears at their house and a body is discovered. The detectives Neil Slater and Sheridan Duffy are investigating the case and Neil knows Lucy from a former life.

Lucy is a complex character, she’s lived in older brother’s shadow for years, a member of a successful boy band called Dr. Sweet. She has a naivety about her, a simple sweetness that makes you warm to her. There is also the perspective from Neil and this give the police procedural slant to the story, as himself and Sheridan played good cop/bad cop whilst interesting the residents of Jackson Crescent. An influential area that is shocked by the discovery of a dead body.

I really enjoyed this story, it’s really relatively short with quick chapters so could easily be consumed in one sitting. I think the main reason I really enjoyed the story, was the complexity of Lucy and how unpredictable of a character she was. ‘Lies At Her Door’ is a cleverly crafted story with underlying suspense and tension threaded throughout.

You can buy ‘Lies At Her Door’ from Amazon.

Jul 21

From The Ashes By Deborah Masson

From The Ashes‘From The Ashes’ is the third book in the ‘DI Eve Hunter’ series by Deborah Masson.

In the dead of night someone starts a fire in a home for underprivileged children in Aberdeen. The flames spread quickly, and one person doesn’t make it out alive. But the victim wasn’t found in their bedroom; they were discovered locked inside a secret basement underground. As DI Eve Hunter and her team search the blackened ruins, the case takes them into even darker territory. Soon Eve unearths a horrific discovery at the heart of the property – one that turns the whole investigation on its head. Everyone in this home has something to hide, but who has a secret worth killing for?

Although this book is the third book in a series, it’s actually the first one that I’ve read and if you’re a fan of police procedural books then the ‘DI Eve Hunter’ series is for you.

The story is about a fire that takes place at a children’s home and one little boy tragically dies. Whilst investigating this case, DI Eve Hunter’s partner DI Scott Ferguson sees an accident with a homeless teenage boy that’s left him in a coma and is determined to find out his identity.

This story is a terribly sad one, about a place where children are offered sanctuary and a second chance only for it to be cruelly taken away. And as DI Hunter delves into the dark and grisly history of the home, they discover murky secrets that were never wanted to be found. As well as the current investigation around the fire, the accident, there is also the inclusion of a back story about previous residents in the home and this is quite interesting reading as it’s seen from the perspective of an unknown person.

Set against the bleak and poverty stricken backdrop of Scotland, Deborah has written a taunt, police procedural novel that really tugs on the reader’s heartstrings, the death of a child, children without a home and this cleverly crafted plot line makes for gripping reading with regular twists along the way that hooks your attention.

Packed with tension, suspense and an underlying sadness throughout, ‘From The Ashes’ is a pacy thriller and great introduction to a new crime series.

You can buy ‘From The Ashes’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jul 7

One Last Secret By Adele Parks

One Last Secret‘Sunday Times’ best-selling author, Adele Parks is back with a new book called ‘One Last Secret’

A week at a beautiful chateau in the south of France – it should be a straightforward final job for Dora. She’s a smart, stunning and discreet escort and Daniel has paid for her services before. This time, all she has to do is to convince the assembled guests that she is his girlfriend. Dora is used to playing roles and being whatever men want her to be. It’s all about putting on a front. One last chance. It will be a last, luxurious look at how the other half lives, before Dora turns her back on the escort world and all its dangers. She has found someone she loves and trusts. With him, she can escape the life she’s trapped in. But when Dora arrives at the chateau it quickly becomes obvious that nothing is what it seems…

One last secret. Dora finds herself face-to-face with a man she has never forgotten, the one man who really knows her. And as old secrets surface, it becomes terrifyingly apparent that one last secret could cost Dora her life…

It’s publication day for Adele’s latest book and it’s another gripping thriller with a fantastic protagonist.

Becoming an escort wasn’t Dora’s first career choice but it was a way of making a regular income. But when a client decides to take it one step too far in a vicious attack, with the encouragement from her best friend Evan, Dora decides to give it all up. Dora decides to do one last job, which leaves her in terrible danger.

I’m a huge fan of Adele’s, even before when she wrote female fiction, her books were something that I gobbled up greedily and this latest book was racing thriller that pulled me in.

I always worry that when reviewing Adele’s books that I’ll give something away because in her books, things are never what they seem. And this latest book is exactly that. Dora is a great character, she’s sassy and enjoys the lavish lifestyle that being an escort provides. She’s quick and a chameleon with having to adapt to different characters and personalities. And it’s interesting to see her so confident and assertive suddenly seem unsure in her new settings, surrounded by people that seem very suspicious.

Unsettling, deeply dark and wonderfully escaping ‘One Last Secret’ is another glorious book by delivered Adele, that’s fast paced and riddled with suspense.

You can buy ‘One Last Secret’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Jul 6

Hostage By Clare Mackintosh

Hostage‘Hostage’ is the latest book by Clare Mackintosh.

You’re on board the first non-stop flight from London to Sydney. It’s a landmark journey, and the world is watching. Shortly after take-off, you receive a chilling anonymous note. There are people on this plane intent on bringing it down – and you’re the key to their plan. You’d never help them, even if your life depended on it.But they have your daughter . . . So now you have to choose.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Clare so ‘Hostage’ was a fantastic return to the author.

Set thousands of miles above the ground, Mina has been chosen for the first flight direct from London to Sydney, a momentous moment in her career. But right from the moment that she steps on the plane, she felt that something was wrong and when her daughter’s life is put in danger leaving her with no option but to help hijacker’s take over the plane.

I loved this story, it’s adrenaline inducing, fast paced and written in a style that the reader also feels stuck on the claustrophobic plane.

The story is written through the narrative of Mina and her ex husband Adam. Mina had a childhood dream of becoming a pilot but becomes a cabin crew member instead. Adam has messed up his marriage and is trying to repair it. He wishes that he had the same close relationship with Sophia that Mina has and finds himself always in the sidelines of the family. Sophia is the daughter that they always longed for and even though she wasn’t conceived naturally and isn’t a blood relative. Mina adores her like she’s her own flesh and blood. Sophia is a complex little girl, wise and full of energy, she likes order and routine.

There’s also the inclusion of narratives from the passengers on this famous flight, their background and reasoning behind their trip to Sydney. This is really interesting and was a clever addition by the author, as it keeps the reader on their toes as they try to figure out who the hijackers are.

Thrilling from the first page, ‘Hostage’ is a suspenseful story that pardon the pun – I flew through it! Packed with drama, deceit and focusing on real hard hitting topics such as environment and climate change, this book is about the strength and bond of a mother’s love, whether they are blood related or not.

You can buy ‘Hostage’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

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