Category P.I Investigations

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

Holmes, Marple and Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts @@cstone_press #NetGalley #crime #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Holmes, Marple and Poe by James Patterson & Brian Sitts. This is a crime, mystery thriller that was great fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My huge thanks to Random House and Cornerstone Press for granting my request to read this book via NetGalley.

Crime! Murder! Who are you going to call?

In New York City, three intriguing, smart, and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts?

Brendan Holmes—The Brain: Identifies suspects via deduction and logic.

Margaret Marple—The Eyes: Possesses powers of observation too often underestimated.

Auguste Poe—The Muscle: Chases down every lead no matter how dangerous or dark.

The agency’s daring methodology and headline-making solves attract the attention of NYPD Detective Helene Grey. Her solo investigation into her three unknowable competitors rivals the best mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe.

MY REVIEW

I have read the odd Patterson book before and enjoyed them. When I saw this one I knew it was one I wanted to read, I mean having three characters named after some of classic literature’s famous names, who would not want to give it a go?

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. As the synopsis shows, they are unique in their own field of enquiry. They are also a fun bunch to get to know. There are some quirks and traits that you will recognise and these add to the charm of the characters.

With one case being solved and put in the spotlight, although well-staged, they now appear to have made a name for themselves and the cases are starting to come in. They do have a Detective that comes to their side and they soon find themselves in need of someone to organise them and their office.

With missing art, remains and other intriguing mysteries to solve they have their work cut out, not only keeping their reputation going but also keeping one another on the straight and narrow!

This was a really fun book to read, while I did think it was going to be a crime thriller, it is also quite a quick read and I really enjoyed it. It didn’t feel like it was a serious crime thriller but it was definitely entertaining and would suit readers who don’t like their crime and mystery books to be too bloody or gory.

The chemistry between the characters is good, they each have their own characteristics and they have their own sense of purpose as well as being part of a team. I would like to see more of these characters so it will be interesting to see if this does indeed become a series.

Ideal for fans of crime and mystery books and one that I would definitely recommend.

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

The Ice Angel by Misha Herwin @MishaHerwin #fantasy #fiction #youngadult #publicationday #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for The Ice Angel by Misha Herwin. This is the 6th book in the Letty Parker series and it is fabulous, to be honest, the whole series is fabulous.

I would like to thank the author for sending me the latest copy of her book for me to review. My opinion is my own and unbiased. I would also like to wish Misha a very Happy Publication Day 🙂

A frantic message from her absent Ma sets Letty on a perilous course to the northern lands, pursued every step of the way by vengeful Dark Ones. Once again her life is in danger – except that this time even Gabriel seems to have deserted her. Marooned and alone, in a land of ice and snow that is ruled by the cold and callous Ice Angel, Letty must rely on her wits and courage to survive. In Bristol, her fellow investigators at Letty Parker & Associates have problems of their own as Hepzibah battles Mr Murkstone, her sinister new guardian, for control of both her business and her beloved Aunt. Hepzibah’s entire world could be lost as she joins forces with Jeb and Mango in a desperate race to foil Mr Murkstone’s evil plans. Two friends a continent apart – both fighting the Dark Ones with everything at stake and so little time left to succeed.

MY REVIEW

This is the 6th book in this series and it is another absolutely fabulous story. This series is aimed at Young Adults, but Older Adult adores it. A mix of fantasy, mystery, action and adventure.

Letty Parher & Associates is a group that investigates mysteries and they have had some corkers over the previous books. This latest one though takes the danger up a notch as the Dark Ones have more of a sinister role to play.

Letty is sent a message that her mother needs help, this will involve her sailing to another country. Meanwhile, Hepzibah has her own troubles with her Aunt as a stranger seems to have got his foot well and truly in the door, and his nose into Hepzibah’s family business.

With the help of Mango, Jeb and others the group are trying their hardest to discover what exactly is going on. With the investigating teens split between two countries and with forces that they still need to understand, they certainly have their work cut out for them.

From the outset this book is action-packed, there are quick re-caps where necessary but the story flows from the first page right through. The Bristol of the author’s stories is one that has a whole range of creatures lurking, skulking and generally being a nuisance. There are also friendlies such as the dragons, Bears and a certain Gabriel.

The story flows back and forth from one case to the other, filling in important information and keeping up a breakneck pace. If you have read any of these books then you will be aware of the various phrases and characters, they are still around and more villains have been brought in. Such as the Ice Angel!

Having read and loved each of the books, this one is another fabulous episode. Full of drama, tension, danger, slinking, lurking and creeping. I know that young adult readers who pick this series up will enjoy it as much as I have. This is another book I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misha Herwin is a writer of books for adults and children.
They vary from time-slip to contemporary women’s fiction, family saga and children’s fantasy adventures.
All her books are set in Bristol, whether real, imaginary or remembered from her childhood.

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

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud #fantasy #fiction #youngadult #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud. This is the 2nd book in the Lockwood and Co series and it is a fabulous follow-up for this Young Adult fantasy series.

When the dead return to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in.

A series of grisly thefts have been taking place across the capital: powerful supernatural artefacts have been stolen, and their warders murdered. In an atmosphere of mounting panic, a mysterious skull in an iron box is unearthed in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Witnesses hear it whispering urgently, but the words cannot be understood. Lockwood & Co. will have to use all their ingenuity and skill to uncover the secret of the whispering skull.

MY REVIEW

Having read the first book not so long ago, I decided it was time to continue with the second book. I have been told that the Netflix series is good but to be honest I am enjoying the books so I won’t probably watch the series.

As this second book gets off to a great start. Things have been slightly easier for Lockwood & Co when it comes to getting cases to solve and therefore being paid. Their latest one is of an old relic or artefact that had been removed from a recently discovered lead coffin. The artefact is extremely dangerous and Lockwood & Co, as well as their rivals Fittes Agency, have been called in to work this case together. If you have read the previous book then you will know that these two agencies do not see eye to eye when it comes down to working together.

I really enjoyed this one as much, if not more so than the first. I think this is because I was already aware of the characters and also the feel of the story. It meant I was able to get straight into the story and plot as I knew who was who. The author has once again created a superb story that has mystery, suspense, and danger and it is a thriller that has some great humour to it as well.

While this is aimed at a younger adult audience, I have to say it also works so well for grown-up readers! It does have an almost gothic feel to it and I wouldn’t be surprised if carriages, police with whistles and truncheons and lamplighters were seen. It is when the author mentions phones, cabs and the more modern items that I realise this is not a Victorian gothic fiction story, but a modern-day one. It has the right vibes and then there is the atmospherics that the author injects into it as well.

As the characters creep around there are orbs of light, glimmers, ghosts, lurkers and various other spectre and creepy things hovering around. It does give it a gentle horror feel but for me, it feels more suspense based.

If you are looking for a fantasy, mystery thriller series and you also enjoy reading YA fiction then this is a series that you should read, if you haven’t already. I have only recently started it and it has been around for quite a few years already. A brilliant book and it is one I would definitely recommend reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children’s novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children’s books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children’s books.

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

No Easy Answers by Robert Crouch @robertcrouchuk #mystery #crime #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for No Easy Answers by Robert Crouch. This is the 9th book in the series and it is a series that I have adored from the very beginning. This is such an appropriate title for this book and there really are No Easy Answers for Kent Fisher.

My huge thanks to Rob for asking me to be part of his Book Launch and providing me with an e-copy of his book for my unbiased review.

Confronting the past can be deadly.
As Christmas approaches, murder is the last thing on Kent Fisher’s mind.
When contractors employed by local entrepreneur Stephen Fox discover the remains of a woman on the site of Kent’s original animal sanctuary, old family secrets come to light, threatening those closest to him.
Fox believes it’s his missing wife. Despite intense pressure and a lucrative fee, Kent still refuses to investigate, having promised not to take on more cases. But when the police launch a murder inquiry, can he keep his promise?
Or will he investigate?
If he does, he risks interfering with a criminal investigation and losing the woman he loves.
If he doesn’t, the wrong person could be accused of murder.

‘A fantastic series that just gets better and better.’

MY REVIEW

I have to say I really enjoyed this latest in the Kent Fisher Mysteries. While Kent is still trying to come to terms with the fact that his wife, Gemma, had disappeared and then found she still is not ready to come home to him. The previous book was one that was emotional for Kent and this left Gemma feeling betrayed. One thing he has agreed to do is to stop his investigating, it is something this retired Environmental Health Officer had done at the same time as running the Animal Sanctuary and working. Trying to focus more on the sanctuary is not as easy as it once was.

The sanctuary was literally Kent’s sanctuary, it grounded him and while he only just made ends meet, the animals were looked out for. The sanctuary has moved and morphed into something more financial. Over the series, I have come to know Kent and he really isn’t a people person but he has staff, volunteers and visitors coming at him from all directions. One visitor wants his help, it means breaking his word to Gemma.

The tension and stress of this story is one that is evident throughout. Kent is struggling to keep to his word but when a missing person becomes a victim then the rules change. Especially when it is somewhere close to his heart. With the police trying to tell him to back off, but also knowing how he can be of use, they have an understanding.

The mystery of the body is one that had me hooked, with so many twists it gives it that whodunnit feel, not enough to be a crime thriller but also too much to be a cosy mystery. I do like the balance that the author has found with his characters, there is an element of danger which keeps you on your toes, but not the massive blood and guts that you can get.

What the author does bring is a tale and investigation that is quite complex but not while you are reading it. It has a great flow and just rolls along at the right pace. There are so many red herrings but also lots of clues. I did wonder if I had guessed the identity of the killer, but I had no real idea as to how things were linked until a lot later in the story when the author allowed me to slot the pieces together.

The story is one that does focus on Kent and the investigation but also on his personal life. He is trying to juggle two and not always well. Kent has some tough decisions in this one, while he may not be a huge people person he also doesn’t like to upset them. He is going to have to do this though. Who it is and why is revealed in this fabulously addictive story. The ending that the author came up with for this book made me grin and I cannot think of a better one.

This is a brilliant series that I have followed from the beginning, I do like Kent and various other regular characters, and yes there is one or maybe two that do wind me up. Then life is made up of people like that!

This is another addictive read for fans of crime mystery novels that have a big sleuthing feel to them. This is one, well I think I say this for all the books in the series, it is one that is better read as part of the series to understand the larger picture that has been developed over each one. Fabulous story and series that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert wanted to bring something fresh and original to the murder mystery novel.
He drew on his own extensive experience to create environmental health officer Kent Fisher, a different kind of sleuth to appeal to today’s readers. While neither a police officer nor a private detective, Kent has the enforcement skills, contacts and determination needed to tackle the most complex murders.
While Robert taps into his early experiences of injustice to explore the motivations that drive people to kill, he tempers this with irreverent humour and a hint of romance. A love of wildlife, nature and the environment help add a contemporary slant to the stories.
When not writing, Robert can be found walking among the gentle hills and the coast of the South Downs with his wife. Armed with a camera, or two, he likes to photograph the local wildlife and seek out settings for the next novel.
You can find out more about 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.

Keep an eye out for the other stops on the book launch…

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

A Gathering of Gargoyles My Misha Herwin @MishaHerwin #mystery #youngreaders #adventure #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for A Gathering of Gargoyles by Misha Herwin. This is the 5th book in The Adventures of Letty Parker series. It is aimed towards around 8 to12-year-olds, but I adore this series and would have loved to have been able to read when I was a lot younger than I am now! A brilliant way of introducing a younger audience to the mystery genre, full action and daring deeds.

I would like to send a big thank you to Misha for my advanced copy of the book, my review is my own and unbiased. I would also like to wish her a very wonderful Publication Day for 11th November2022 xx

The city’s air has turned foul; fights break out among the closest of friends; rats attack in broad daylight, and the very bricks and stones of the city are crumbling to dust. When the gargoyles and dragons – guardians of the rooftops – begin tumbling to the ground and shattering into pieces, the Night Creatures turn to Letty Parker and Associates to discover its cause. The only problem is that neither Letty, nor her friends, have the slightest idea where to start.

Is a cure to be found in magic or will science save the day? And do Newton and Copernica Clifford, newly arrived in Belvedere Terrace, hold the key to it all?

MY REVIEW

This is the 5th book in the series and yes you should read them in order as you get to understand who the characters are and also what they are. There are humans, but then there are slightly non-human, Bear, vicious rats, and hungry eels that haven’t been seen around the Bristol area for a while now. When the author then decides to write a story around dragons and gargoyles I am already loving it.

Letty is a young girl who with her friends, Jeb, Mango and Hepzibah solve mysteries in the port city of Bristol. This is their day job, and it is the gargoyles and dragons that need Letty’s help. There is a smell to the city, the air is not as clear and clear as it used to be and even the witches are fearful that the magic is starting to disappear. The one change is that there is a new business, their aim is to bring gas lights to the city. Progress may be one thing, but there is something more sinister here than people realise.

Every time I join up again with Letty and the gang I am thrilled to follow in this Victorian and Gothic-style mystery that the author conjures up. Yes, it is aimed at a younger reader than I am, but I really don’t care as I thoroughly enjoy reading about their escapades and adventures, and it would have been a perfect read for me when I was younger.

The author does such a brilliant job with the characters, they are cheeky, at times boisterous and stubborn and also loyal and strong-willed. As a group they are close and they all have their own specialities. This latest case is one that has them investigating the crumbling gargoyles and also the disappearance of a man.

This is full of mystery and red herrings that kept the story moving and evolving. This book is aimed at 8 to 12 year old and there is some cheekiness and terms that would appeal. The author does actually have a message behind it and this is how chemicals can pollute the atmosphere and alter the surrounding environment. It is done in such a way that it blends nicely into the story. Even though this is a story set in a Victorian-style era it also draws in a modern problem that many younger people will be aware of.

This is a brilliant book and I adored it. Yet again I think I have just read my favourite Letty Parker book and this is one that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misha Herwin is a writer of books for adults and children.
They vary from time-slip to contemporary women’s fiction, family saga and children’s fantasy adventures.
All her books are set in Bristol, whether real, imaginary or remembered from her childhood.

Follow Misha on – Twitter – Website – Amazon Author Page – Goodreads Author Page

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

Fair Game by R.D. Nixon @TerriNixon @RandomTTours @HobeckBooks #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Fair Game by R.D. Nixon. This is the second book I have read in this Clifford & MacKenzie series. It’s nice to occasionally step away from police procedurals and read a book about an Investigating Agency.

My full review for the first book Crossfire can be found HERE

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this book from the publisher Hobeck Books.

It’s autumn in Abergarry.
The nights lengthen, the weather turns, and the atmosphere darkens as the community is rocked by a brutal roadside murder: a loan shark’s ‘bag man’, Craig Lumsden, is found bludgeoned to death in his car in the early hours of the morning.

The season for murder.
The case seems simple enough. and the fingers quickly point to the most obvious suspect. But things are rarely as simple as they seem…

A murder that’s too close to home.
Too close for comfort, and definitely too close for complacency for private investigators Maddie Clifford and Paul Mackenzie. Delving into the case brings at least one of them face-to-face with danger… Will life in Abergarry ever be the same again?

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Maddie Clifford and Paul Mackenzie series, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the previous book, Crossfire. While Maddie and Paul are part of an investigation agency, they are also caught up in something closer to home. A 25-year-old prank with fatal consequences starts this story off. It then gets dangerous and lives are on the line as the author turns up the tension.

This is a story that I really enjoyed, but I did need my wits about me for the many characters in this one. I did occasionally forget who was who, and thankfully I could remember the name Paul MacKenzie as he is referred to in both his first name and surname.

The other thing that kept me on my toes with this story was the complexity of the plot, it was one I could follow while I was reading it, but given the larger cast, it would be very confusing trying to summarise it. This is not a bad thing as it meant for me I had to concentrate more and therefore found myself more immersed in the story.

The storyline is mainly present day, it involves close friends, relatives, family and acquaintances. Thinking back on the story I do believe pretty much everyone has a part to play and I there is one or two characters that I really did have a soft spot for. Not main characters as such, but very definitely important to the story.

You will have to forgive my vagueness for this review, I did mention that it was complex but at the same time I don’t want to give anything away.

The author has created a wonderfully tense story, it is full of danger, apprehension, doubt, mistrust and it takes time for the whole truth to come out. The storyline itself is slow to completely reveal itself, but the pacing increases as I got further and further into it.

The ending was interesting, it did answer the questions and also raised eyebrows. I really enjoyed this one, as I write this review I can see this one being very good if it was made into a TV mini-series. I do think that there are many details that would transfer so well. This is an atmospheric crime thriller, tense, dark, devious and one that I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R.D. (Terri) Nixon is a prolific writer, with thirteen books under her belt now. In
addition to this crime series, she also writes historical fiction, family sagas and
mythical fiction. When she’s not writing, Terri works in the Faculty of Arts,
Humanities, and Business at Plymouth University, where she is constantly
baffled by the number of students who don’t possess pens.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour

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

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardener @CenturyBooksUK @rachel90kennedy #crime #mystery #thriller #FrankieElkin #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardener. This is the 2nd book in the Frankie Elkin series and I would suggest picking up and reading the first book as it does give an insight into Frankie.

My huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy for my copy of this fabulous book via the publisher Century Books.

A young man disappears during a stag weekend in the woods. Years later, he’s still missing.

But his friends who were with him that day are still searching for him. Still hunting.

They hike deep into the wilderness.

With them is missing person specialist Frankie Elkin.

What they don’t know is that they are putting their own lives in terrifying danger, and may not come back alive . . . 

MY REVIEW

This is the 2nd book in the Frankie Elkin series and WOW! A one-sitting read for me, I really was unable to put this one down.

Frankie Elkin has her demons, she constantly battles to keep them at bay, but she manages and is 10+ years sober. She is such an interesting character and I am so glad that I had read the previous book Before She Disappeared.

Frankie lives a transient lifestyle, she has a job but it does not pay. She has no car, no possessions apart from what she can carry with her and she looks for people who are lost or missing. She decides to help in the search for a young man who went missing several years ago.

This is such a dark book and one that had me absolutely riveted. The way the author gradually increases the tension is great, but to be honest there is tension from the outset as Frankie joins the search. This isn’t a walk in the park, this is more dangerous and extreme than that. The territory is harsh, has no phone signal is rugged and only those with experience tackle the area.

Having to prove herself to be fit for the week-long search shows how tough this job will be. A gruelling hike, camping out, wild animals and bitterly cold nights are just the beginning. The author does a brilliant job of describing the area and instilling the dangers as I read. At the same time, there is a mystery to solve, one that nags at Frankie as she learns more about the other people in the group and more about the missing man.

This is a story that is dark, it is devious and I did sort of twig on to the “who” but it was more of an ” I wonder if it could be…” but I never saw the complete picture until the author was good and ready to fill in the details.

This is a fabulous read and one that makes me want to read more and more in this series. Gradually learning more about Frankie and her drive to search for the missing. If you like suspense and nerve-jangling thrillers then this is one you should definitely look out for. I would suggest reading the first book as it helps to see the journey Frankie has taken and about her past. Brilliant book and one I would definitely recommend.

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

Crossfire by RD Nixon @TerriNixon @RandomTTours @HobeckBooks #crime #mystery #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Crossfire by R.D. Nixon. This is a wonderful crime thriller read that kept me entertained for a couple of days. This is the first book in The Clifford-Mackenzie series.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my paperback of this fab book from the publisher, Hobeck Books.

To what depths would you sink to protect your own?

Hogmanay 1987

A prank robbery has fatal consequences.

Five Years Later

Highlands town Abergarry is shaken by the seemingly gratuitous murder of a local man. The case is unsolved.

Present Day

Ten-year-old Jamie, while on holiday in Abergarry with his mum Charis, overhears a conversation. To him, it is all part of a game. But this is no game and the consequences are far more serious than Jamie ever imagined.

Old wounds are about to be reopened

Struggling PI team Maddy Clifford and Paul Mackenzie find themselves involved by a chance meeting. How deep into those wounds will they have to delve to unravel the mystery?

Purchase Link – Amazon

My Review…

This was such an interesting book full of much intrigue. Charis and her son Jamie are on holiday in Scotland, Jamie overhears a conversation and his curiosity gets the better of him. An old robbery, followed years later by a murder, now this random conversation overheard by a young boy! What is the connection and why are the Private Investigators Clifford and Mackenzie interested?

I will say that this story took me a while to get going with. There are a few characters to get to know and then there are the differing timelines. It was several chapters before I felt I got to grips with it. By then I was already more than intrigued and I wanted to know more, what the links were, what was hidden, why the crimes were committed and also what all the players were doing.

The author weaves quite a complex story, but as I mentioned, once I started to get an idea who was who then I was able to settle into the story much more and found a gripping mystery, crime and thriller. I found the pace picked up and so did the feeling of suspense.

The characters are a really interesting bunch, some you get a good feeling about, others definitely give off bad vibes and then there are those that you are not so sure about. This range of characters have their roles, there is a surprise or two in store and there is a feeling of something much bigger afoot as the story progresses.

Because the story flits across the timelines it adds a real air of mystery and towards the later stage of the book, there is a really tense atmosphere that you have been gradually been drawn towards. Part of the synopsis mentions what a person would do to protect their family, this is something that is really put to the test for a couple of the characters.

This is a story for those who like a more grittier mystery, it is a procedural in some respects but not police based as such. The Investigating team of Clifford and Mackenzie I really liked, and I am glad to see there is going to be more from them in future books.

A complex story to start with but then it soon became addictive and I needed to know how things would resolve. It is a crime, thriller, mystery and it is one I would definitely recommend.

About the Author…

Writing as R. D. Nixon. Terri Nixon was born in Plymouth, Devon, but during her childhood her family moved to the moorland village of North Hill in Cornwall. There, at the age of nine, Terri discovered a love of writing that has stayed with her ever since. She also discovered apple-scrumping, and how to jump out of a hayloft without breaking any bones, but no-one’s ever offered to pay her for doing those. Terri’s first commercially published novel was Maid of Oaklands Manor, in 2013, and since then she has published a further ten novels, with a twelfth due out December 2020. Terri also writes under the name T Nixon, and has contributed to anthologies under the names Terri Pine and Teresa Nixon. She has returned to Plymouth, and works in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Business at Plymouth University… where she is constantly baffled by the number of students who don’t possess pens.

Twitter @TerriNixon

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