Category Cosy Mystery

No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch @rcrouchauthor #crime #mystery #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch. I have read and enjoyed every book in this series and this latest one is the 10th. This one is another wonderful story and things are personal once again for Kent Fisher.

My huge thanks to Rob for inviting me to read and review this book. My review is my own and unbiased.

Can the wounds left by the past ever heal?
The decomposed remains of a murdered woman are found in a bedsit. Forced to confront a past he’s tried to forget, Kent Fisher discovers crimes that were brushed aside and hidden almost thirty years ago. Crimes that could destroy what’s left of his family.
When more murders silence those who know the truth, only one person remains to reveal what happened all those years ago.
Can Kent find her before the killer makes one final strike? Or will she die, taking the truth with her?

MY REVIEW

It is always great to pick up a new Kent Fisher book and this one is twisted, and devious and took me back into Kent’s past. If you have not read any of these books, I would suggest reading them in order, but they would work as stand-alone as the author does give background information.

Kent is a complex character and he has an interesting backstory, this is expanded upon in this latest book. As always Kent manages to find himself in an investigation, this one will test Kent more than some others have. He is still trying to sort out what he feels about Gemma while working out this latest murder and wondering what his future looks like.

The author really has nailed this one and there were more twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection. I will say that this is something that he does well, but this particular one seemed to take it up a notch. The murder victim comes with a whole load of questions and the answers do not come easily, when they do are they the answers Kent is looking for? He does have the help of Francis and Belinda and he does fall back on his contacts from his days working as an Environmental Health Officer.

As well as being an ex-environmental health officer, he also runs an animal sanctuary, it started small but then expanded and took on a different route. It has been run by various people and volunteers if you have read the previous books you will know how this has come about. He also solves murders and has done so since his time as an EHO, dead bodies and unhygienic premises seem to go hand in hand for Kent!

This story is intense for Kent and he does question what he knows against what he is discovering. He still needs to work out who is who, sort the truth from the lies and finally get to grips with what is going on. This one is a dangerous one for Kent and those around him and it has repercussions for many.

If you are a fan of crime and mystery books with a difference then have a look a this series, I have read and enjoyed each one and this is another that I would definitely recommend.

About the author…

Robert Crouch combined his love of murder mystery novels with his extensive experience as an environmental health officer to create a new kind of private detective.

Motivated. by desire for justice and fair play, Robert wanted to show how an ordinary person could solve complex murders. Inspired by Sue Grafton’s irreverent detective, Kinsey Millhone, Robert crafted an investigator who’s rooted in the classic whodunit, but firmly set in the contemporary world.

When he’s not creating complex mysteries, Robert can be found among the gentle hills and coastline of the South Downs with his camera.

You can find out more about Robert at his website, https://robertcrouch.co.uk, where you can also join his Readers Group for more news, insights and giveaways, including a free short story. 

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller @AtriaBooks #murder #mystery#NetGalley

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C. L Miller. This was a fun murder mystery and I do hope there will be more to come.

My thanks to Atria Books for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

In this irresistible and thrilling debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her back in the dangerous world of tracking stolen artifacts.

What antique would you kill for?

Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind.

Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues and her instincts to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast’s weekend. But not all is as it seems. It’s clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor reproductions and her fellow guests are secretive and menacing. What is going on at this estate and how was Arthur involved? More importantly, can Freya and Carole discover the truth before the killer strikes again?

MY REVIEW

Freya is estranged from Arthur, they worked together in the antique business until something affected their relationship. This is something that will make itself known during the story. The only problem is that Arthur has just died. He fell down the stairs of his antique shop. But his best friend Carole is suspicious and mentions this to her niece Freya.

The story gradually emerges that Arthur has left a series of clues, and has things in place just in case something does happen to him. Good job he did because there is definitely something amiss as Freya and Carole attend an antiques weekend, it is not something that the general public would be invited to or even aware of, but Arthur has arranged for the women to be there.

I really enjoyed the twisted and devious way the author has brought together several characters. The book definitely has a whodunnit feel as Freaya starts to follow clues, leads and hunches. Carole helps her, but Carole is a bit dramatic, she was once an actress. But, it does have its advantages.

With several characters being introduced gradually it was easy to keep up with who was who. I will say that not all of them are nice, some are needy, aloof or just very unlikeable. Like most murder mysteries, there has to be a few twists and this book certainly has plenty of them. Some things emerge quite quickly but the vast majority fall into place later. With the final pieces being answered in a grand finale.

This does have the feel of a Marple-style mystery and I enjoyed it. It was a fun read with some danger and plenty of adventure for our daring do of Freya and Carole. I liked these two and there is an interesting development that would make this the ideal opportunity to make another book or series. I do hope that this is something that happens because I really enjoyed this one.

The author does mention some interesting antiques and this is down to her background. She is the daughter of Judith Miller of Miller Antique Guides and she helped with editing the guides and other books.

This is for fans of murder mysteries, crime, sleuthing and whodunnits. I enjoyed it and would happily recommend it.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Carnelian Tree by Anne Pettigrew @pettigrew_anne @RandomTTours @ringwoodpublishing #murder #cosycrime #mystery #whodunnit #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Carnelian Tree by Anne Pettigrew. This 2was a wonderful murder mystery story that had a great whodunnit vibe to it.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy from the publisher Ringwood Publishing.

A dead body, a disappearance, and an epic lost in time. Unrelated incidents on the surface. Judith Fraser’s Oxford sabbatical quickly takes a sharp turn when she gets tangled in the mysterious murder of a colleague. With threads leading nowhere, conflicting impressions about people around her, and concern for increasing risk to her loved ones, whom can she trust? Her eccentric housemates? The CIA? Or, herself? Too many questions and insufficient answers.

A uniquely amusing and page-turning mystery novel set in 2003 on the eve of the Iraqi War, The Carnelian Tree follows the journey of Judith Fraser as she unravels mysteries of locked doors, missing computers, cat’s collars, and Reuter’s reports, with the help of DCI Keith Steadman, her potential love interest. Judith probes into people, power, politics, and sex, only to discover that some things remain unchanged. With a shady glimpse of the Oxford underbelly, this cross-genre novel will appeal to the full range of crime and mystery readers including Cosy Crime fans.

MY REVIEW

This is a murder mystery that is one that would have a certain Belgian Detective scratching his head I am sure. The story starts off as a professor is murdered, then a computer goes missing, along with a diary and the whereabouts of a manuscript and ancient relics are brought into the mix.

The main protagonist is Judith, she is already a teacher but is returning to Oxford to continue her studies. Judith lodges in one of the houses that is shared by various other people, one of which is the murdered professor. It is she who discovered his body and then finds that she is more interested in discovering what happened as there are a series of suspicious happenings, nothing she can particularly discover definitely evidence for but enough for her to voice her concerns to the Detective in charge, Keith Steadman.

In between drinks, studies, coursework, chats and getting together Judith along with some of the other house members and her friends, they start to piece together events themselves. This is a wonderful who-dun-it mystery and one that kept me on my toes as the author led me from one piece of information to another but kept the finishing line beyond my reach until she was ready.

At times this story felt almost like a comedy as some of the things did make me chuckle, it is a wonderful cosy crime and there is a good amount of tension but in a more friendly way. As I mostly read crime thrillers with more of a bloody or brutal aspect to them, it was really great to get rid of the macabre for something a bit lighter but still with a wonderful amount of suspense and tension.

I really enjoyed this one and if you like a more mysterious rather than bloody murder then this is definitely one for you. It is one I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Anne Pettigrew was a family doctor for 31 years and also has a degree in Medical Anthropology from Oxford. She wrote extensively in the national medical and lay press until retirement when she turned to penning novels about women doctors, discrimination, and crime. She was a Bloody Scotland Crime Fiction Festival 2019 Spotlight Author – ‘one to watch.’ Member of several writers’ groups and multiple short story competition winner, she lives in Ayrshire and enjoys good books, good wine, and good company.

Past novels: Apart from containing crime, Not The Life Imagined and Not The Deaths Imagined follow Dr Beth Slater’s career and challenges from the 1960s to the ‘80s. This latest stand-alone novel, The Carnelian Tree, charts the tribulations of Scots teacher Judith Fraser on sabbatical in Oxford at the time of the Iraq War.

Social Media – Twitter – Website – Amazon UK

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The World Cup Mystery by Peter Bartram @PeterFBartram @RandomTTours #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The World Cup Mystery by Peter Bartram. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed several of this author’s books and I always look forward to catching up with Crampton and Shirley in this mystery series.

My thanks to the author for sending me a copy of his latest book and to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour.

A KILLING BEFORE KICK-OFF…

It’s July 1966 – and England is football crazy as fans cheer their team on to win the World Cup.


There are millions who’d kill for a ticket to the final in London’s Wembley Stadium. Then café owner Sergio Parisi is found murdered in his own kitchen – and his World Cup Final ticket missing.


As Evening Chronicle crime reporter Colin Crampton chases down the story, he discovers the ticket theft could be part of an even deadlier crime.


There are laughs alongside the thrills as England closes in on victory – and Colin, with his feisty girlfriend Shirley Goldsmith, close in on the killer.

PURCHASE LINKS – AMAZON UK

MY REVIEW

Trouble follows Colin Crampton of the Chronicle newspaper no matter where he goes. Even when he and his girlfriend Shirley are on holiday trouble finds him. This leads to a shortened holiday and a rush back home to the UK.

Colin is an investigative journalist for a Brighton newspaper, Shirley is a model and together they are a great pair of characters. As much as I adore Colin, Shirleys ability to keep, well almost keep Colin in check, makes her another brilliant character.

This is a cosy mystery series and this story is set in 1966, the year of the World Cup. The author really does make it obvious of the football-mad time. As we have recently had a world cup, you are always aware of it in the news, in conversations and so it makes sense to have a good amount of references to it in the story, I will add that it is not overly done.

The story is a mix of murder, theft, cons and a certain rather famous Sicilian family. How the author has twisted all these threads together is great. Mentions of the theft of the World Cup trophy, the discovery of it have all been brilliantly woven together with the fictional to create an addictive murder mystery.

How Colin has not got into more scrapes than he has is beyond me, he definitely lives life by the edge of his pants, sometimes a little too close for comfort. Again Shirley has a part to play, after all, she is a model, and Australian so the author has given her the gift of the gab and she isn’t afraid to use her feminine wiles.

While this is firmly a murder mystery, it is also historical fiction but one that is almost light-hearted. Several times I find myself chuckling and this makes for such an enjoyable read. There are several twists, various threads and a nice array of characters that are not necessarily what they appear.

These books can be read as stand-alone books, but as with all series, they are better if read in order as you do get to build a relationship with the main or recurring characters. I do always enjoy catching up with Colin and Shirl, and this latest mystery is a fabulous one. It mixes fact and fiction giving an exciting and manic read, it is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle crime mystery series. His novels are fast-paced and humorous – the action is matched by the laughs. The books feature a host of colourful characters as befits stories set in Brighton, one of Britain’s most trend-setting towns.

You can download Murder in Capital Letters, a free book in the series, for your Kindle from http://www.colincrampton.com.

Peter began his career as a reporter on a local weekly newspaper before editing newspapers and magazines in London, England and, finally, becoming freelance. He has done most things in journalism from door-stepping for quotes to writing serious editorials. He’s pursued stories in locations as diverse as 700-feet down a coal mine and a courtier’s chambers at Buckingham Palace. Peter is a member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers’ Association.

Follow Peter on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/peterbartramauthor.

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Cornish Gold at Summer’s End by Laura Briggs @PaperDollWrites @rararesources #contemporaryfiction #Giveaway (open INT) #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Cornish Gold at Summer’s End by Laura Briggs. This was such a lovely book to sit and read and I adored it.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot today for the Publication Day of the book and for arranging my e-copy via NetGalley.

Rumors of a ghostly presence haunt Julianne’s Cornish autumn in the series’ charming fourth installment.

What began as a bit of teenage mischief in the village quickly became stories of spooky lights and ghost sightings in the wood. Being sensible, Julianne is more worried about whether she can finish her kids’ costumes in time for the annual Halloween contest—and whether husband Matt and his eager assistants will be selected for the exclusive Brookshire Garden Design Competition. So when everyone in town begins flocking to the local ‘ghost walk’ tours Julianne assures her wide-eyed children it’s just a case of imagination run wild…until she experiences her own brush with the supernatural, that is.

Real or imagined, Julianne can’t shrug off what she saw, or even bring herself to confide in sympathetic Matt for advice. Best friend Kitty is on hand to help, despite her usual family battles, including that of her cousins’ shady new scheme to profit from the town’s ghost mania. But even Julianne’s friends can’t fully understand her need to find a solution this time, one that leads her on a quirky quest from local lore, to meetings with the village’s ragtag paranormal club, and even a creepy abandoned cottage hiding secrets in the woods.

Join Julianne for suspense, surprises, and (of course) heartfelt moments as book four in the series brings an autumn like no other to sleepy Ceffylgwyn.

My Review…

This is the fourth book in the Return to Cornwall series, but it is the first one I have read. This does work well as a stand-alone, there is a sense of community and friendships that I think may have developed over previous books. This is certainly something that comes across.

Juli, or Julianne, is up to her armpits trying to get her children’s Halloween costumes finished as well as running a wedding business. Matt, her husband is trying to get his garden design finished and submitted for a competition that will give him and his students a huge boost. With their lives already full Juli is also dragged into the ghostly sightings in the village.

She is sceptical, as are some other residents. Must be the youngsters causing trouble, or someone having a prank. Others do think there are ghosts or some sort of paranormal activity. Who is right?

This was a really lovely story to sit and read over a couple of days. It is a mix of contemporary fiction and a sort of cosy mystery all wrapped up in a small and friendly sounding community. A place where people know your business before you do!

I really liked the characters the author created, a busy working mum and dad, older as well as younger characters and they all muddle along and help each other out. I do think this is a series that I would enjoy if I had started from the beginning rather than book 4!.

The ghostly goings-on are curious, some see this as being a good thing and the community seems to draw closer. I think this is a certain amount of trepidation as well as wanting to get to the bottom of the strange glowing orbs, flickering lights and strange shapes. The community definitely gets caught up in these happenings.

This was a story that also had quite an emotional twist to it. One I did see coming, the other, I definitely didn’t. This is a story that was easy to get on board with, the characters soon became memorable and the storyline had a nice mysterious edge to it. Not one to keep you awake at night quivering under the blankets, but one that worked well within the context of the story.

A book that I thoroughly enjoyed and one I would happily recommend.

Purchase Link – HERE

About the Author…

Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller ‘A Wedding in Cornwall’. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.

Social Media Links –

Find Laura on Facebook

Follow her on Twitter

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of Cornish Gold at Summer’s End (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

ENTER HERE

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No Going Back by Robert Crouch @robertcrouchuk #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for one of my favourite authors. No Going Back by Robert Crouch is the latest in the Kent Fisher Mystery Series.

I would like to thank the author for my e-copy of his book and for a spot on his blog Tour.

No Going Back (Kent Fisher Mysteries #7)

When journalist Harry Lawson is pulled from a private swimming pool, his drowning looks like a tragic accident, but for one small detail – he knew someone was going to kill him.

The three text messages he fired off to an old flame the night before confirm he’s a troubled man. But former friend and sleuth, Kent Fisher, believes the messages hint at something deeper and more sinister – an investigation that cost Harry his life.

When a second reporter dies, it’s clear there’s a killer with unfinished business. As Kent inches towards a breakthrough he clashes with close friend Detective Inspector Ashley Goodman. She instructs him to stop investigating, knowing full well he won’t.

For Kent there’s no going back. He has to finish what he started, even though he risks losing a friend, and maybe his own life.

In the seventh murder mystery of the series, Kent Fisher digs deep to complete an investigation that’s far removed from the one he started. 

My Review…

Oh my goodness, this series is just getting better and better and I think this is my favourite one to date. Things in this series have happened and it does help to have read the previous books. I think this is more important for this particular one as there are various things that occur that have ties to previous stories. There is of course a new case for Kent to work on. Has he bitten off more than he or Columbo can chew though!

Kent is questioning his actions after events in his last book, leaving his team, losing people close to him and yet he still seems to walk into impossible situations. The restructuring of the agency means that Kent has a little more time to spend at his animal sanctuary, which he does plan on doing. Well, until the death of an old acquaintance gets his sleuthing senses tingling. Mysterious texts, limited truths, curious coincidences and a whole load of questions that Kent is struggling to find all the answers to.

This has to be one of Kent’s toughest cases as far as how deep and involved it is. Even though he plays his feelings close to his chest, there is a gap between Niamh and also from the loss of Mike. He is not the only one who is missing them! Once again Kent and his love life have made an appearance, he is a man who doesn’t know what he wants. I’m not sure he ever has. He definitely cannot see what is in front of his eyes!

As I said, this is a deeply problematic case for Kent, it involves several people but even he isn’t aware of all the players. This very much kept me on my toes and I loved the intriguing and mysterious nature of this story. It is a story of many parts, many clues, some misdirection and things that I didn’t see coming. I did think I had got it sussed, well I did guess a very small part but nowhere near close to the major parts.

In the previous books, Kent has worked his sleuthing side-line around his day job as an Environmental Health Officer. As the role has been scaled back then so has that part of life. It is a natural progression that still sees some mentions and so keeps the uniqueness of the series. It will be interesting what Kent, or should I say, the author has in mind for the next step in the series.

The ending is also quite different to what I am used to, a cliffhanger and something that is may get very personal for Kent. I am so curious to see what comes next for Kent. There are a few options that I can see and I imagine the author will once again surprise with his vision for the future of Kent. Another wonderful instalment and one that had me hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this more in-depth sleuthing mystery and I would definitely recommend it to those who like their mysteries less gruesome and enjoy a whodunnit style murder mystery.

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No Love Lost by Robert Crouch @robertcrouchuk #mystery #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review today for No Love Lost by Robert Crouch. I am a big fan of this author and his Kent Fisher mystery series. I have read every book, and in order! Can you read his latest as a stand-alone… well I suppose you could… but why would you 🙂

Let me show you Robert’s latest book…

Synopsis…

How can a simple job interview end in complete carnage?

When Mandy Paige seeks Kent Fisher’s help to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby, he has no idea of the mayhem his investigation will unleash. With only a photograph of a woman he once knew, he discovers she left her office one Friday afternoon twenty years ago and never returned.

Did Helen Cassidy escape an abusive husband or was she abducted and murdered?

People connected to Helen begin to die in mysterious circumstances. An old foe returns, leaving cryptic messages on the windscreen of Kent’s car. He seems to know Kent’s every move, hounding and taunting the sleuth, attacking those who can help him solve the mystery.

When the main suspect dies, Kent’s investigation lies in tatters – until he realises he’s not the one pursuing the killer. The killer’s pursuing him.

You can order this and the other books on Robert’s Amazon Author Page – HERE is the link 🙂

My Review…

How can a simple job interview end in complete carnage?.. Well you would not believe me if I told you!!! This is the latest book in the Kent Fisher series, number 6 in fact. As someone who has read this series in order I would suggest that it is the best way of approaching the series. There are mentions of Kent’s past that do still come up in the books.

So, back to my first question, how can a simple job interview end in complete carnage?… Well, you would not believe me if I told you!!! This is the latest book in the Kent Fisher series, number 6 in fact. As someone who has read this series in order, I would suggest that it is the best way of approaching the series. There are mentions of Kent’s past that do still come up in the books.

So, how can an interview end in carnage?… Yeah, I am still in shock about this as I try to write my review, hence the third time of me trying to answer this question! 🙂 This story sees Kent right in the midst of things once again as he tries to juggle his job as an Environmental Health Officer, as well as helping run his Animal Sanctuary. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough he also solves crimes. This book, however, is so much more personal than the previous one especially when it comes to the crime part.

It also delves into how much of a lady’s man Kent was in his earlier days, yes we know he doesn’t do long term commitment but back in the day, it seems he was a lot worse. This is so vague as there are things from his younger days that really have come back to bite him in the behind.

The author really has woven a wonderful tale of mystery, revenge, deceit and also a tragedy. It was a brilliant book and I think it may be my favourite so far and also the one that shocked me the most with events. It draws things from the past and the present and they have been twisted and turned into such an addictive read.

Poor Kent, I did feel for him as he seemed to spend much of the time trying to work out the what if’s and chasing his tail. Now as much as I do like Kent’s multiple roles I also see that there is a possible change on the horizon.

I really do adore this series and the author does such a brilliant job giving his protagonist a hard time, juggling too many of the proverbial hats and also his love-life. Not only do I very definitely recommend this latest book I also very definitely recommend the series. It is a wonderful mystery and crime series that has a whole lot of other threads wonderfully interwoven to create an addictive mystery series. Brilliant from start to finish.

About the Author…

Robert Crouch is the author of the Kent Fisher murder mystery series. Set in today’s world, the books pay homage to the traditional murder mystery and classic whodunit.

Based on his career as an environmental health officer, Kent Fisher is a different kind of detective, described as ‘unique in crime fiction’ by one reviewer.

Having left environmental health, Robert now writes full time from his home on the East Sussex coast. He loves walking on the South Downs with his wife, Carol, and their Westie, Harvey, reading crime fiction and photography.

To find out more, you can visit his – Website – Amazon Page – Facebook

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The Hitman and The Thief by Richard Dee @RichardDockett1 @rararesources #bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to be one of the Book Bloggers openeing the Blog Tour and to share my review today for The Hitman and The Thief by Richard Dee. It has been quite a while since I read one of Richard’s books so I was looking forward to this one. My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for my e-copy of this book.

Synopsis…

Assassination can be a messy business, especially if you’re having a bad day.

Dan Jones is the ultimate problem solver, the hitman for crime boss Fliss Bauer.

Fliss has a rival, Kalindra Dallin. She runs a particularly unpleasant planet. Dan is told to arrange her demise. It’s just another job; until a random event means that it all goes horribly wrong.

To save his skin, Dan is forced to try again, only this time he has to work with a partner. He doesn’t want to but it’s the only chance he’s going to get; if he wants to put things right.

Can the hitman and the thief get the job done, more importantly, can they keep each other alive?

Beta Readers comments,

“Richard’s latest book, The Hitman and the Thief, takes the reader on a twisting journey through different worlds. The action moves swiftly, with unexpected twists and turns. As usual, Richard’s excellent technical knowledge conveys a gritty reality with ease. This is a fun read, hard to put down and I sure hope there is a sequel in the making.”

Purchase Link – HERE

My Review…

I really enjoyed this book, it is a mystery and crime read but with a sci-fi setting. The author wove a very addictive tale between Dan Jones a hitman and the thief… you will soon meet.

I really liked the feel of the storey with brief mentions of planets and their uses, it did give space and sci-fi feel but not full of convoluted jargon or tech-speak. This makes it a very accessible book for crime and mystery readers and especially those who prefer a cosy-mystery style read.

So, Dan, I do like this character who seems to have principles, well if an assassin can have principles. His latest job is to infiltrate another gang and kill their boss. It seems to be a simple plan, but, well, let’s just say that plans do not go according to plan!

There is a good amount of intrigue and it didn’t take me long to get into this book. It moves along at a reasonable pace and with a good amount of characters that are easy to remember I soon found myself turning the pages.

I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to follow and made for a relaxing read. A book that would fall in the genre of cosy mystery sci-fi – is there such a genre? AS I said earlier this is a book that is very accessible, yes it is sci-fi as such and this may put some readers off but it is also a very good mystery read that has an intriguing storyline and some interesting characters. I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Richard Dee is from Brixham in Devon. Leaving school at 16 he briefly worked in a supermarket, then he went to sea and travelled the world in the Merchant Navy, qualifying as a Master Mariner in 1986. 

He has also worked as an Insurance Surveyor, Lockmaster, Harbourmaster and Ships Pilot, taking over 3,500 vessels up and down the Thames, passing through the estuary, the Thames Barrier and Tower Bridge.

Since the publication of his first Science Fiction novel, Freefall, in 2013, Richard has written another twelve novels, a textbook and a selection of short stories. He has been featured in several anthologies, including 1066 Turned Upside Down and Tales from Deepest Darkest Devon.

He writes Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures and also chronicles the exploits of reluctant amateur detective Andorra Pett.

Richard is married with three adult children and three grandchildren.

Social Media Links –

If you’d like to know more about my writing, my website is richarddeescifi.co.uk. Head over there to see what I get up to, click the FREE STUFF tab or the My Novels and Short Stories tab to get all the details about my work and pick up a free short story. Why not join my newsletter and get a free short story, unavailable anywhere else.

I’m on Facebook at RichardDeeAuthor and Twitter at Richard Dee Sci-Fi

My Amazon author page is here.

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What Lies Beneath by Adam Croft @adamcroft #WhatLiesBeneath #crime #publicationday #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a new series by Adam Croft. The first book is called What Lies Beneath and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would also like to thank Joanne for my advance copy and to also wish Adam a very Happy Publication Day xx

Let me show you what it is all about…

A peaceful Sunday morning in Rutland is shattered when a dead body is discovered on the rocks at Normanton Church.  

The victim has been laid out in a crucifixion pose, facing the altar. DI Caroline Hills is certain there’s a religious connection — one which threatens the tranquility of life in the area. 

The killer has gone to extraordinary lengths to make the symbolism clear. And the deaths will continue until Caroline and DS Dexter Antoine uncover the truth behind the dark secret — and what lies beneath.

Purchase Link – Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

Also available on – Kobo – Apple – Nook – Google – Paperback

This is the first book in the Ruland series and I thoroughly enjoyed it a lot. Given that Rutland is a small area to police, the police force is also small, and fictional. When a body is found, its position and placement lead DI Caroline Hills to start looking into the history of the county she has recently moved to.

I did like Caroline a lot, her move from a city into a rural location has been done well and I am looking forward to her starting to find her feet with the squad she works with. Her main sidekick is Dexter and there is already a good working relationship and some good banter going on.

The case causes problems and involves stepping on a few toes, this doesn’t make Caroline popular, but her job is to catch a killer not be polite to people. Her city ways are soon commented on!

I liked the way the author mixed in the local history with the crime, it is an area that has a lot of history when a valley was flooded to create Rutland Water. A police procedural at its heart, but given the smaller scale of the police force it made it feel more like a cosy mystery and this I did really like.

This is a book that is easily one you can sit and read in an afternoon, it is a police procedural so one for the crime fans, but also one that I really do think cosy mystery readers would really enjoy. I liked it a lot and I would definitely recommend it.

With more than half a million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past year.

Following his 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, his psychological thrillers were bought by Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon Publishing. Prior to the Amazon deal, Her Last Tomorrow sold more than 150,000 copies across all platforms and became one of the bestselling books of the year, reaching the top 10 in the overall Amazon Kindle chart and peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

His Knight & Culverhouse crime thriller series has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, with his Kempston Hardwick mystery books being adapted as audio plays starring some of the biggest names in British TV.

In 2016, the Knight & Culverhouse Box Set reached number 1 in Canada, knocking J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also number 1 in Canada.

During the summer of 2016, two of Adam’s books hit the USA Today bestseller list only weeks apart, making them two of the most-purchased books in the United States over the summer.

Before writing full time, Adam had previously worked as an internet marketing consultant, delivery driver and professional actor.

Adam has been featured on BBC Radio, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and a number of other news and media outlets.

Follow Adam on – Twitter – Website

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat by Leighann Dobbs @leighanndobbs @bookouture #BooksOnTour @BOTBSPublicity #cosymystery #Bookreview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to be one of the Book Bloggers to open the Blog Tour today and share my review today for Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat by Leighann Dobbs. This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading more. My huge thanks to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side Publicity for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

FROM A NINE-TIMES USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR COMES A LIVELY AND FUN 1920s COZY MYSTERY WITH A BRAND-NEW DETECTIVE DUO. 

Nora elbowed her way up to the railing and looked down. The paddle wheel was making its last turn, dredging up a mass of turquoise chiffon made almost transparent by the water. A hand, its red lacquered fingernails a contrast to the pale white skin, stuck up from a bejeweled cuff… 

A relaxing cruise down the Mississippi on the Miss Delta Belle steamboat turns to tragedy when celebrity Delilah Dove falls from the deck and is swallowed by the river faster than you can say ‘man overboard!’

It’s touted as a tragic accident, but guests Miss Nora Marsh and her wily great-aunt Julia know a murder when they see one. Can they get justice for Delilah and crack the case without alerting the murderer to their suspicions?

As Nora and Julia hunt for clues it emerges that nearly everyone had a reason to want Delilah dead. And that’s bad news for the two sleuths—who want to solve the case pronto, before Mississippi police chief and Aunt Julia’s nemesis Artemis Leonard comes on board at the next port to launch the official investigation. She’s not letting him get the credit if she can help it.

With multiple suspects and a series of mysterious thefts onboard—not to mention the distractingly handsome Max Lawton turning Nora’s head—this is shaping up to be one tough case to crack. What started as a gentle river voyage is far from plain sailing.

A gripping and witty 1920s murder mystery from bestselling author Leighann Dobbs, perfect for fans of T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss. 

This is the first book I have read by this author and I am delighted to see that there are plenty more for me to read that have already been published.

This is a cosy murder mystery that is set in the 1920’s on a Steamboat, it is the maiden voyage of the boat and the lead singer Delihla Dove is found murdered. It is a good job Aunt Julia and her Niece Nora are aboard they like murders and it gives them a chance to solve one.

This was in some ways very similar to Murder on the Orient Express as it seemed that the main character or should I say suspects all seemed to have something to hide. It takes a while for all the secrets to come out, but not all of them are necessarily bad or evil.

I liked the setting of the steamboat as this gives the story that isolated backdrop, so that it had to be someone on the boat that committed the crime. Aunt Julia is wily in her working out and doesn’t let much slip, while Nora does have a good inquisitive nature she is just a couple of steps behind. It is not until the grand unveiling that all the questions are finally answered. I do like a grand unveiling by the way.

This is a good cosy mystery that had a compelling story-line, I was constantly curious and was quite an eager reader with this book. Ideal for fans who like a lighter whodunnit style murder mystery read and one I would recommend.

USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book “Dead Wrong” won the “Best Mystery Romance” award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book “Ghostly Paws” was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

Follow Leighann on Twitter – Website – Facebook

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx