Another Chris Hammer book, another 5 star read. This man can do no wrong. Ever since picking up Scrublands when it first came out, I have been a greatAnother Chris Hammer book, another 5 star read. This man can do no wrong. Ever since picking up Scrublands when it first came out, I have been a great admirer of this author. He has away of drawing the reader into his multi timelines and layered mysteries. The Valley is another absolute cracker of a story,filled with twists and turns that nobody could imagine.
We are back in country NSW with Ivan and Nell, investigating the murder of local entrepreneur, Wolfgang Burnside. It is soon revealed through DNA, that Nell has a family connection to the victim and the case becomes increasingly personal for her. Through seamless tales from each timeline, we follow the case today, and what happened here in the past that has a huge bearing on what is going on now.
What I love so much about Chris Hammers writing is his wonderful character development through the book and series. We are quite involved in the lives of these detectives now, and learning more about Nell’s biological family was just a joy. There are also various past characters who make an appearance in The Valley, which is always fun. He also has a wonderful way of bringing the location and the environment into his stories and they are vivid and a hug part of the narrative, almost like another character.
The Valley is going to make readers of this series so very happy like it did me. We have so much happening all the time and ai didn’t want to stop reading.
Thank you so very much Allen and Unwin for the advanced copy to read. Publishes in Australia on October 1st.
I have been a fan of Phoebe Morgan since I read The Girl Next Door 5 years ago, so I was thrilled when a copy of The Trip arrived on my doorstep. ThanI have been a fan of Phoebe Morgan since I read The Girl Next Door 5 years ago, so I was thrilled when a copy of The Trip arrived on my doorstep. Thank you so much to Harlequin Australia for sending it my way.
Now you might think you know what is going to happen here, but trust me, you can’t predict this one. 2 couples on a dream trip to a Thailand to escape the English winter. Sun, cocktails, beaches.. what more could they want. But of course, there are secrets in this group, you know there has to be. Bad things keep happening to them, of course they do. And who is Caleb, the lone British traveller who comes to their rescue and then won’t leave them alone. Well, if you want to know, read this book.
The Trip will have to hankering for a holiday by the beach. It is fast paced, full of shocking twists and has an ending that will really surprise you. Always a pleasure to read this author. Out in Australia on October 2nd....more
This was such a fun, dark read. I do like to have a laugh in my books, despite the content usually being quite disturbing. These 3 women were hilariouThis was such a fun, dark read. I do like to have a laugh in my books, despite the content usually being quite disturbing. These 3 women were hilarious and so relatable. I loved that one was a librarian and book lover, so much of what she said made total sense.
Go into this without knowing too much. It is a story of women, and their power, their friendships and what they can achieve individually and collectively. Even with what they get up to, you will love them and be cheering them on.
Now I really need to grab this author’s previous book from my TBR, I loved the way she writes, so vivid. Great characters, great story with plenty of the darkness that I live.
Thanks so much to Bonnier Books UK on NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on October 24th....more
Another fabulously twisted family drama and thriller from AJ McDine. I read this book in 2 sittings, which easily could have been one if I didn’t starAnother fabulously twisted family drama and thriller from AJ McDine. I read this book in 2 sittings, which easily could have been one if I didn’t start it so late at night. As a parent it hit me close to home as what happens at this party could very easily happen. I really felt for the mother, Eve and her situation.
A 16 year olds birthday party and disaster strikes. Just like that, the lives all there and their families are changed for ever. For Eve, it is the start of her seemingly perfect life imploding. She is happy, a great husband, a clever son, the house she always dreamed of and a job she loves. But the more she tries to discover what really happened at the party, the more secrets and lies threatened to take all that away from her.
I am being deliberately vague here and I feel you just want to read this without knowing too much. This is a page turner that will draw you in and not let you go until the very last page.
Thanks so much to the author and Bookouture for my advanced copy to read. Published on October 21st.
What a dark and creepy book this was, perfect for spooky season. Be warned though, it is very long. It took me a little to get into this story and 5 dWhat a dark and creepy book this was, perfect for spooky season. Be warned though, it is very long. It took me a little to get into this story and 5 days to read which is a long time for me. Once I got into the story I was hooked and wondering what direction it would take us. It did not disappoint.
I loved the 1980s setting, no social media, no internet, no mobile phones. Research was done at the library, you had to use the home phone or a phone box to call people. It was a different time and I loved the step back.
This is a story of 3 college kids who embark on a road trip to visit roadside memorials and film them for a documentary for their American studies class. All. 3 of them have lost someone close to them and they bond over their grief. They learn more about each other as the days go on, and really they learn a lot about themselves. None of them will be the same after this trip. As their journey through the back roads continues, they start to feel they are. Being watched, and notice strange symbols appearing at the sites.
It is eerie and very much a book that will give you nightmares. It is very well,written and has characters that you will have strong feelings about one way or another.
Thank you to Gallery Books for my early copy of this book to read. Out on October 22, it would be the perfect Halloween read. ...more
Dan Clements is back in another page turner crime book set in the northern part of Western Australia. Book 4 of this brilliant series and this may be Dan Clements is back in another page turner crime book set in the northern part of Western Australia. Book 4 of this brilliant series and this may be my favourite yet. These books have such great characters and the setting is amazing. If you haven’t read them yet you are missing out.
When it Rains opens with a bang… or should I say a snap! ...more
It is always a pleasure to back in Brighton with Grace and the team. This is book 20, and the series shows absolutely no sign of getting old. This is It is always a pleasure to back in Brighton with Grace and the team. This is book 20, and the series shows absolutely no sign of getting old. This is a twisty and complex case that is so very cleverly written. Will keep you guessing until that very last page. Who can be trusted? Is there a connection? Who is involved? So many questions, and as always, Peter James delivers in a big way!
I can’t help but see the characters in the story as the actors from the TV series now.. and I am not mad about that all! I have always been a big John Sims fan, and he is the perfect Roy Grace.
This time, we have a dead man attending the funeral of an old school friend, only to be spotted by another school friend who attended his funeral! We also have killer mushrooms, the dark web, crypto currency, and a spate of suspicious deaths in the area. It keeps the team busy, that is for sure. For a book with 400 plus pages, it was such a fast read for me.
Thank you so much to Macmillan Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. Out in Australia on September 24th....more
A female Dexter is always going to have me picking up a book. I know this has become a more common theme in books lately but I just love a strong womaA female Dexter is always going to have me picking up a book. I know this has become a more common theme in books lately but I just love a strong woman who rids the world of bad men. How can you not want to read about that.
Emma C Wells debut novel is just fabulous!! It is so much to read and had me laughing so many times. Yes it is a dark story but told so well. Cordelia was a badass! a successful pharmaceutical sales rep with amazing taste is clothes and shoes. She loves her bestie and her goddaughter and will do anything to protect them…anything. And that is when things start to go wrong, and keep going wrong.
This book will keep you turning those pages well into the night, who needs sleep when there are bad men to be disposed of!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy t read. Publishes on October 29th, you don’t want to miss this one....more
The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan will appeal to readers of cozy mystery’s, in the style of Agatha Christie. In essence it is a locked room story, whereThe Busy Body by Kemper Donovan will appeal to readers of cozy mystery’s, in the style of Agatha Christie. In essence it is a locked room story, where a neighbour is said to have taken her own life, but noisy neighbours have their suspicions and start their own investigations.
This was a quick and easy ready, but I did find that it was a bit slow and drawn out at times. The ghost writer, who’s name you never learn, and the US senator made an interesting duo, and came out with some cracking one liners, usually when alcohol was involved. I liked the banter between them a lot. The setting was great, in rural Maine, with most people either being house staff or wealthy.
It was a fun escape from reality with an ending that I didn’t see coming. 3.5*
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group I’ll for my copy of this book to read.
It is always fun to pick up a new Shana Merchant book. This was a Sunday afternoon binge read, completely lost in this fast pace murder mystery. The sIt is always fun to pick up a new Shana Merchant book. This was a Sunday afternoon binge read, completely lost in this fast pace murder mystery. The setting of an isolated island with so much snow and ice was great and amped up the tension.
Shana is. Is 7 months pregnant and easing herself back from physical duty, much to her disgust. But when a witness asks for her especially she can’t refuse. A social media influencer has gone missing Running alone island and his girlfriend wants Shana’s help. At the same time we have a cold case that Shana has never been able to let go come to its conclusion with very surprising results.
If you haven’t read this series you need to change that immediately. Each book I feel can be read as a stand alone but why would you do that when this is such a great series.
Out on November 5th, thanks to Severn House for my advanced copy to read. ...more
First of all, how great is that cover!! Love the bright, vibrant colours on a book that is so dark. A great debut novel that had me entertained from tFirst of all, how great is that cover!! Love the bright, vibrant colours on a book that is so dark. A great debut novel that had me entertained from the very beginning. Whilst being a dark, it was also a lot of fun but very emotional. Full of action and drama, this is an author to watch out for.
Olivia is a business woman, mother and wife with a dark secret. When tragedy strikes her family, she knows that she must once again become that Olivia. Before she met her husband, Olivia worked for a Spanish crime syndicate as a hit woman. She moved to Australia for a fresh start but she seeks revenge on those that dare to harm her nearest and dearest.
What sparks Olivia’s wrath was shocking and tough to read, and did bring me to tears. There is quite a lot of violence and bad language that even for me was hard to read. But a highly addictive and fun read nonetheless.
Thanks to Affirm Press for sending me a surprise copy of this book to read....more
Our 23rd trip to serial killer central is an absolute blast!! It is cold, snow constantly falling and blocking roads and pathways in the woods. Which Our 23rd trip to serial killer central is an absolute blast!! It is cold, snow constantly falling and blocking roads and pathways in the woods. Which is not helpful when a plane has crashed with the daughter of one of their own on board, and a serial killer leaving the naked bodies of women tied to trees in the woods. Always so much happening in Black Rock Falls.
Another page turning, fast paced crime thriller that I stayed up well into the night to finish. I love this team and their stories just keep getting better, after 23 books so many series get old and tired but not this one. The author keeps you guessing right until the end. I really enjoyed having a different character in the middle of the action this time.
Thanks so much to Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. So early once again. Publishes on October 1st....more
This was not the book that I was expecting. It felt a little YA to me and ai really am not a fan of those books. The characters were hard to keep tracThis was not the book that I was expecting. It felt a little YA to me and ai really am not a fan of those books. The characters were hard to keep track of, there were so many.
I feel that the story jumped around quite a bit and I struggled to believe the headmaster character in this day and age.
I wanted to enjoy this one more. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the chance to read this book....more
Wow, this book absolutely took me by surprise. When Pantera Press reached out and asked if I would like a copy to read I thought it sounded good so I Wow, this book absolutely took me by surprise. When Pantera Press reached out and asked if I would like a copy to read I thought it sounded good so I said yes. I did. It expect to get so deeply invested in the story. If you are sitting on the fence I say grab it, you will be pleasantly surprised.
A dual timeline story of motherhood. There is Emily in 2027, who is having a baby and is considering the new controversial health service, gene editing. You can change pretty much anything you want to have the perfect baby. Make they stronger, make them have a beautiful singing voice, whatever you want. But it is not a popular choice. People are protesting against these clinics, believing nature should be left alone. Then we have Adelaide in 2057 who is desperate to have a baby. She will do anything, but will she push too far?
This book makes you think about what you might do given this choice. Will this be our future? Would you want to change anything? What this story shows that even a child with edits won’t be perfect. It is emotional and addictive.
Thank you Pantera Press for having me along on this tour and the chance to read this book....more
Christian White never fails to amaze me with his intense and twisty thrillers, and The Ledge may be a new favourite for me. I could not put this book Christian White never fails to amaze me with his intense and twisty thrillers, and The Ledge may be a new favourite for me. I could not put this book down, I was completely drawn into the dual timelines and just had to know what happened back then and what was going to happen now. Do not pick this book up and expect to just read a few chapters, you are going to need to block everything out and devour this one.
Human remains are found in a forest in country Victoria, bringing 3 childhood friends back to their hometown. Something happened in 1999, and a pact was made to tell no one. The police investigation is make the 3 now men very nervous, are their secrets about to be exposed?
This book is brilliant, just brilliant. It is a slow burning start while the scene is set both now and in 1999. You will soon be so invested that you will lose track of time. If you have read anything by this author before you will know that he can write a killer twist and you will not see it coming. This book gave me Stand By Me vibes, one of my all time favourite movies so I loved that,
Just read it, Published in Australia on September 24th. Thank you so much to Affirm Press for my gorgeous ARC....more
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