Thursday 28 March 2024

Day One

 


Day One by Abigail Dean- Crime thriller

A book written in a very different way but one that kept me between the pages. Day one is a performance at a primary school so that when the youngest children begin term they don’t feel quite so new as it's now their second day. At the performance a man appears with a gun and there are several victims before he turns the gun on himself. Most of the narrative is from Martha’s (Marty) point of view as she was in the room at the time although each section is headed by different main characters. A short time after the incident there are rumours and gossip that it didn't happen quite as first thought and there's the start of a witch hunt to find out if the whole thing was a hoax or that there is more to it and the survivors know more than they are letting on.

I found this rather a staccato read which to me it comes across as rather choppy and disjointed which takes a little more than normal concentration. Although the descriptions are wonderful, I didn't get any warmth (or loathe) of character so felt like an outsider looking in- maybe this is the point? It is however very character driven as much is about them both before and after the incident rather than the pace of a thriller where more is happening both action and narrative wise. A complex, un-perspicuous read. 

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Tuesday 26 March 2024

Dying To Bake by Helen Golden - cozy crime

 

Dying To Bake by Helen Golden - cozy crime

We are back with Lady Beatrice and Perry who have found themselves at the doorstep of another murder. There’s a TV programme being filmed in the grounds of Francis court and the place is buzzing. When Bea’s brother's love interest Summer becomes a suspect in a murder of one of the presenters, Bea and Perry decide they have to intervene, not least of all because their usual friendly DCI is still on sick leave and has been ordered not to interfere, but also because his replacement is hap-hazard to say the least. Can they find the real perpetrator whilst saving Summer and not getting on the wrong side of the new DCI?

I love Helens books and have to mention her intro which makes me smile each and every time. This is one of a series and will stand alone however the relationships will make more sense if at least some of the series has been read prior. It's a great cast of characters I can't help but love, making for a looked forward to, comfortable and easy read. It's a plot with a twist or two that kept me interested right the way through. I very much look forward to more.

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Dying To Bake Bake Off Wars is back! Get your aprons on and let the sleuthing begin!   Vera Bolt, Queen of Bakes, dies unexpectedly aged 66   In a shocking announcement this afternoon, Vera Bolt’s agent confirmed that the Bake Off Wars judge and national treasure died yesterday. Ms Bolt was in the process of filming the next series of the hugely popular television show at Francis Court, the home of the King’s sister and her family. It’s believed that the renowned pastry chef was stabbed in the heart, and the main suspect is rumoured new royal girlfriend, Summer York. What am I supposed to do? Lady Beatrice has promised DCI Richard Fitzwilliam that she won’t get involved in the investigation into Vera Bolt’s death. But when her brother’s new love interest, Summer York, becomes the top suspect for Vera’s murder, Fred begs Bea to find out who the real killer is. In a race against time, can Bea navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies, evade danger, and safeguard her friendship with Fitzwilliam? The answer may determine not only Summer’s innocence but also the fate of Bea’s and Fitzwilliam’s burgeoning feelings for each other. Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Right-Royal-Investigation-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CBNBBFT5 https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Right-Royal-Investigation-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CBNBBFT5

Author Bio – Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise. I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It's very early in my life as an author, but so far I'm loving it. It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes Social Media Links – Insta: www.instragram.com/helengolden_author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helengoldenauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helengoldenauthor https://twitter.com/HelenGoldenAuth





Monday 25 March 2024

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin


 How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin- crime

Annie lives with her artist mother Laura in the heart of London. The house belongs to an aunt of Laura’s who lives on a country estate. The aunt, Frances, has always been convinced that she will be murdered, ever since the 1960’s when she had her fortune told and couldn't let it go. She lived her life trying to solve the clues that were in the reading and doing her best to find out who it would be. When Annie is called to a will reading as things have been changed, there is rather a shock when Frances is found dead, seemingly her prediction has come true albeit sixty years later. Chapters alternate telling the story of around the fortune reading and then in present day when Annie goes to the will reading. The will has been left so that the estate and fortune go to who can solve the crime within the time limit. Can Annie find things out before it’s too late and save the estate from being flattened.

This is a wonderful premise and one I quickly got into. Annie is a likeable character and curious by nature which helps when sifting through the vast amounts of information her great aunt had amassed. It's a cozy type mystery and one I loved. I liked Annie, she came across as well rounded if a little daring at times. Its captivating and draws the reader into the fold of the country house and surroundings where both timelines play out. It's entertaining, it's intriguing and its brilliantly written. If you enjoy an enveloping crime read with wonderful characters and a plot to keep you thinking, this could be one for you. Loved it.

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Saturday 23 March 2024

DIG TWO GRAVES (Detective Hedley Sharpe #1) by Helen H Durrant-Crime

 

DIG TWO GRAVES (Detective Hedley Sharpe #1) by Helen H Durrant-Crime

A body is found having been shot, however the person has been dead a good long while. What makes it interesting is that he is found to be a known felon and those around him are just as dangerous. Hedley wants to find who did this as this could lead to a whole lot more. Chloe hates her controlling husband however maybe she knows more than she lets on? When her baby disappears her new neighbour calls it in and Hedley begins to join up the dots. Chloe’s husband is one of the known associates of the dead man. Could he have killed him, what was going on and why?

I love Helen’s books. There’s just something magical about them. A great cast of characters and Hedley is already growing on me, I'm just hoping with his health issues he can last the course. He’s a down to earth character who calls a spade a shovel and gets on with things, rank be damned! A gripping story with lots of twists and one I thoroughly enjoyed. A clever, excellent, engrossing police procedural. Can’t wait for the next one.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog

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Description MEET DETECTIVE HEDLEY SHARPE IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS.  A brand-new mystery from #1 bestselling author Helen H. Durrant that will have you gripped from start to explosive finish.  Day 1. Chloe Todd believes her baby daughter is sleeping peacefully in her pram in the back garden. She lifts away the blanket to check on her — and gasps in shock.  Chloe’s neighbour calls the police. But all is not as it seems . . .  Day 2. Superintendent Hedley Sharpe is called to a murder scene in the city centre. A body is discovered in a cellar beneath an empty shop. A single shot to the head. The victim has been dead at least a year.  Day 3. A second body is found in the cellar next door. Again a single bullet wound in the head. But this time the body is fresh.  Hedley Sharpe doesn’t believe in coincidence. The two murders must be linked. Then he uncovers a connection to young mother Chloe Todd — and the case takes an extraordinary twist.  Hedley’s investigations will unearth a series of dark secrets. Secrets that reach back into his own troubled past.  Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean, Joy Ellis, J.D. Kirk, Rachel Abbott, Elly Griffiths or J.M. Dalgliesh.  READERS LOVE HELEN H. DURRANT’S ADDICTIVE POLICE PROCEDURALS:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Full of suspense with a storyline that kept me guessing right up until the end.’ Annette T.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A really good read . . . the perfect balance of investigation versus personal drama for the lead.’ Linda B.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The start of a fabulous new series from Helen H. Durrant . . . Brilliant book — I loved it!’ Charlotte M.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A very enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.’ Sandra G.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you turning page after page all the way to the end. Absolutely brilliant.’ Jill B. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another stunningly good police procedural from Helen H. Durrant. Fabulous plot and great characters, with everything I want from a whodunnit.’ Amanda P.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Thoroughly gripping and suspenseful with an astonishing surprise. Not one to be missed.’ Carol S.  THE DETECTIVE  Superintendent Hedley Sharpe is a long-serving detective working for Manchester’s Major Crime Division. He is something of a rough diamond, but has an excellent clear-up rate.  A widower, Hedley lives a lonely life, existing on fast-food takeaways. His wife Emily was murdered some years previously. Her killer was never caught. 

HELEN H. DURRANT


OVER 1.5 MILLION BOOKS SOLD! Helen is one of the ‘baby boomer’ generation and began writing when she retired from her job at a local college. Born in Edinburgh to an English father and Scottish mother the family settled in a Pennine village between the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is an environment which has shaped her stories. Writing is a second career and, despite having a bus pass, keeps her busy, and tuned in. Helen’s children are all grown-up and she has five grandchildren. BOOKS BY HELEN H. DURRANT CALLADINE & BAYLISS SERIES: DEAD WRONG DEAD SILENT DEAD LIST DEAD LOST DEAD & BURIED DEAD NASTY DEAD JEALOUS DEAD BAD DEAD GUILTY DEAD WICKED DEAD SORRY DEAD REAL DI GRECO SERIES: DARK MURDER DARK HOUSES DARK TRADE DARK ANGEL DI MATHEW BRINDLE SERIES: HIS THIRD VICTIM THE OTHER VICTIM DCI RACHEL KING SERIES: NEXT VICTIM TWO VICTIMS WRONG VICTIM FORGOTTEN VICTIM LAST VICTIM DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE SERIES: THE GUILTY MAN THE FACELESS MAN THE WRONG WOMAN DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE BOOKS 1-2 DETECTIVE ALICE ROSSI MYSTERY SERIES: THE ASH LAKE MURDERS BOX SETS: DETECTIVES CALLADINE & BAYLISS BOOKS 1-3 THE DETECTIVE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES BOOKS 1-9 BOX SET DETECTIVE STEPHEN GRECO BOOKS 1-3 THE COMPLETE DETECTIVE STEPHEN GRECO BOX SET THE DETECTIVE RACHEL KING BOOKS 1-3 DETECTIVE MATT BRINDLE DOUBLE-BOOK BOX SET JOFFE BOOKS MURDER MYSTERY & SUSPENSE SHORT STORY COLLECTION FOLLOW HELEN ON FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM GOODREADS





Thursday 21 March 2024

The Last Resort by T.J. Emerson

 


The Last Resort by T. J. Emerson-Psychological Thriller

This begins telling of a commune type group who were on the brink of financial collapse in Cyprus a few years ago. The members are awaiting the arrival of a young woman Sofia, now extremely wealthy, who left but was brought up within the community. Sofia has a gift for the group, however it comes with a condition, one of justice for her mothers death. Eva, her mother, committed suicide however Sofia believes one of the group was responsible for her demise and wants the balance restored. It turns out each of the group have secrets one way or another, some from their past , others from time on the island. When Sofia places her ultimatum things are brought to light.

This is a very descriptive read which puts the reader in the heart of the drama and of the scenery of beautiful Cyprus. It's chilling at times and shows the varying facets of human nature and how things can turn rather quickly. A brilliant premise and one executed incredibly well. More twists and turns than you can shake a stick at, and a clever ending make this a read to keep the reader interested until the very end. Clever, twisty, nicely done!

 For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog


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The Last Resort The unputdownable new thriller from the bestselling author of The Perfect Holiday, which will have fans of Lucy Clarke and T M Logan gripped. As soon as you first see the house, a former hotel in a picturesque enclave of the Cypriot hills, you know it's the perfect home for you – with breath-taking views, a refreshing pool, and peace and quiet, away from the rest of the world. A private resort in paradise. A place to recover and grow. But paradise isn’t cheap, and as the debts mount, you could lose everything you've worked so hard for. Until someone makes you an offer: to keep your home, all you have to do is take a life. But you could never do that… could you? You’d die to stay here. But would you kill to? Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/lastresortsocial

Author Bio –

Tracey lives in Scotland and writes psychological thrillers. Her short stories have been widely published in anthologies and literary magazines, and her feature writing has appeared in Stella magazine, Woman’s Own and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her first psychological thriller for Boldwood, The Perfect Holiday, was published in April 2022 and was an Amazon bestseller. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJEmersonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/TraceyJEmerson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjemersonwrites/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TJEmersonNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/t-j-emerson




Tuesday 19 March 2024

The Bordeaux Book club by Gillian Harvey

 


The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey-women’s fiction

A group of expats get together to form a book club in a small village outside Bordeaux. None of them know each other and each have their own stories. Leah, her husband Nathan and their daughter Scarlett dreamed of the good life and being self-sufficient only its proving harder work than they anticipated. Nathan keeps taking out “ me time” and Leah suspects something else is going on. Monica has been left holding the baby, literally as her husband, a pilot, is away for weeks at a time and she can't get why the life she dreamed of isn't quite what she expected. Grace is divorced and thinks she has things sorted, only she hasn't really. The two men are keeping their cards rather close to their chests but each have their own issues. This tells of how the group helps each other to see the things in life they are all missing in different ways not least of all through the books they read which they discover perhaps have life messages within the pages.

I really enjoyed this. It's a reflection on life in many differing ways and things I feel we may all relate to one way or another. About being who you are and not what you are as we get older, the reflection in the mirror doesn't tell of the true person inside. There is humour and drama, and even wisdom and so much more in characters many will relate to, and there are also reflections on life through the books the group reads. An uplifting, life affirming read with a smile and drama. One I would highly recommend.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog

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The Bordeaux Book Club
Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yields a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.
So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.
But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…
As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…
A gorgeously escapist read from the bestselling author of A Year at the French Farmhouse, perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Jo Thomas and Fiona Valpy.
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bookclubsocial
Author Bio –
Internationally best-selling author of contemporary, emotionally compelling and humorous commercial fiction.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gharveyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillPlusFive
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillplusfive/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gillianharveyauthor?lang=en
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/GillianHarveyNews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gillian-harvey





Friday 15 March 2024

Time Wait For No-one by M.W Arnold

 


Time waits For No-One by MW Arnold- Historical mystery/Saga

 We are back with the ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary service who deliver planes all over the UK before they go into service in the second world war. They have a knack of solving mysteries and of being in such a position that they overhear or see things without being conspicuous. They get in all manner of scrapes and adventures both in delivering the planes and in their daily lives. There is everything from drama, to a little romance and a war based  mystery. Life is not easy during the war and the women tackle pretty most everything head on, sometimes at their peril.

I really enjoy this series, they are a wonderful, relaxing easy read. There’s always a great plot and the characters are heart-warming, with several threads of what is going on around their lives and of course solving whatever mystery springs itself upon them. This is a series, they do stand alone, but why miss out on other terrific reads? I've enjoyed each and every one and love the simplistic nature of the time before technology and the bravery of those living through the war era. A story of determination and bravery, of being kind and thoughtful to those around you. A wonderful, evocative read I most thoroughly enjoyed.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog

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Time Waits for No One – Broken Wings book 5
It's April 1944, England is preparing to take the war back into Europe and the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club become mixed up in a desperate fight to save a dear friend from forces who would threaten the very existance of the country.
The girls find solace in their deep friendship, even though the presence of a Nazi spy ring threatens their essential war work and their very lives.
Can love blossom through a fortunate meeting, and will they survive a period where life seems determined to put them in mortal danger? The girls find the strength to battle through all the war throws at them, whilst still keeping a stiff upper lip, a witty repartee, and unbreakable spirit.
Purchase Links
Amazon Universal link - mybook.to/TWFNO
iBook - tinyurl.com/3krdtr8r
Nook - tinyurl.com/ppra6


Author Bio – Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of HM Queen Elisabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots and realizing how much he missed the travel. This, he’s replaced somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.
He’s the proud keeper of two cats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humoring his Manchester Utd supporting wife. Finally, and most importantly, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association.
His previous books published with The Wild Rose Press include A Wing and a Prayer, Wild Blue Yonder, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and In the Mood, all part of his Broken Wings series on the ATA of WW2, and The Lumberjills.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/MWArnoldAuthor
Twitter – Mick859
Instagram – Mick859
YouTube Channel –tinyurl.com/cymt5zea



The Note

The Note- Andrew Barrett- 5* A short story written in the first person by CSI Eddie Collins. Eddie is the sort of bloke who calls a s...