Category Psychological Fiction

A Psychic Subterfuge by J.P Alters @RandomTTours #horror #paranormal #psychologicalthriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for A Psychic Subterfuge by J.P Alters. This is a fabulous book and I absolutely adored it.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my copy of the book and my spot on the tour.

Everything has a plan…

Mary Obosa Jameson, a diagnosed schizophrenic, attempts to take her own life and is admitted to a state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital.


Mary hears voices and has friends that nobody else can see… but what she does not know, is that she is actually a powerful medium and that everything, has a plan.


Whilst admitted to the hospital, Mary makes friends who uncover a fiendish conspiracy. Mary’s life, and the lives of her friends are in great danger and only she can save them, but does she believe?


They are her friends. However, when you are diagnosed with schizophrenia, how do you know what is real, and what is not?


A Psychic Subterfuge is the first book in a series of paranormal thrillers featuring protagonist Mary Jameson, by debut author: JP Alters.

MY REVIEW

I was really intrigued when I read the synopsis for this book and it was one I decided I really fancied. I am so glad I gave this a chance because it was brilliant right the way through. From an addictive and emotional start going through some amazing scenes, events, mysteries, terrors and suspicions to an amazing ending. It has left me wanting to read more in this series as soon as possible.

Mary has non-treatable schizophrenia, she has just been admitted to a world-class treatment centre after trying to end her life. This is top of the art, full of luxurious surroundings and a small group of residents that are helped by staff and nurses. All under the watchful eye of Dr Adelia Sinclair, she has been working on alternative treatments and therapies that allow her patients to go on to live lives out in the community.

Mary is nervous when she arrives, it is so different to the usual mental health units she3 has been in, it is quiet, and clean and she has her own room with nice clothes. There is one thing that she is missing though, and that is the voices of those who have followed her around, some for years. Many think Mary is crazy, but she isn’t. She has a gift and hasn’t yet realised it.

This is such an amazing book to read, it was emotional but not necessarily in the way you would think. The story focuses on Mary, her life, how she came to be in this unit and the people she meets there. In some ways, the author plays on some of the stereotypes of how people with serious mental illnesses are perceived. This works very well with how previous treatments were used. The approach that Adelia takes with her patients in this book shows of progressive modern thinking. This is where again the stereotype comes in, conspiracy theorists. Again it is something that fits with stereotypes and perceptions along with muttering, mumbling, rocking and unacceptable behaviours.

This is a mix of several genres, for me, the mystery was the main one along with a good thriller vibe. I would say this has a strong paranormal element, but within the context of the story, it is one that works incredibly well. I know some people will look at the genres and turn away from this style, but for me, it is the mystery of what is happening and why that makes this book so very good. But then I do lie the odd paranormal read from time to time.

This book delves into some tough issues that people have gone through, they can be tough at times but they are part of the story and one or two are particularly heartbreaking. By the end of the book, I was caught up in emotions that I didn’t expect from this genre. An amazing feeling, with many positives and a definite interest in wanting to read more in this series. It is one I would definitely recommend and I look forward to reading what the author comes up with next.

I also have to mention how brilliant the title is for this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A debut, indie author, J.P. loves writing, and in December 2022, self-published the first in her series of paranormal thrillers: A Psychic Subterfuge.
J.P. Alters writes under a pen name. A people person, J.P. has enjoyed many jobs throughout the years, working in either social care or mental health. Currently, she has two jobs, sharing her time between being a mum to three children, her role as a mentor, and working for a homeless charity.
J.P. hopes to write books that are accessible and appealing to many. Most of all, she plans to continue to enjoy the writing ride, and hopes her readers will too!
Subscribe to http://www.jpaltersauthor.com to stay updated, and follow J.P. Alters author on Tik Tok, Facebook or Instagram.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

If She Wakes by Erik Therme @ErikTherme @ZooloosBT #crime #mystery #domesticthriller #psychologicalthriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for If She Wakes by Erik Therme. This is the second book in the Harlow series and it works as a standalone very well indeed.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous mystery, crime, thriller story.

Who do you trust when everyone is lying?


My name is Tess Parker.
Two days ago, I was in a car accident with my sister-in-law, Torrie. Before she slipped into a coma, she asked my husband and me to care for her four-month-old son, Levi.


Yesterday, a woman claiming to be Torrie’s estranged sister knocked on our door. But Torrie has no siblings . . . or so she said. She and my brother were only together a short time before he left, and Torrie has clearly been keeping secrets.


Today, another of Torrie’s “sisters” has come to town. Both say the other is lying about who they are.


Neither of them is telling the truth.
Both of them want Levi.

MY REVIEW

This is my first time reading this author and what a really good twisted crime, thriller mystery this book was. It also had a very good psychological edge to it.

The life of Tess hasn’t been the happiest, it has left her mentally and emotionally scarred. She has the support of her husband, and together they are existing in their marriage. When an accident leaves Tess’s sister in law in hospital it is down to Tess and her husband Josh to look after 4-month-old Levi until Torrie is able to leave the hospital.

This started well and the author quickly engaged me with a pretty fast-paced story. What appeared to be a simple story of an accident soon developed into something more twisted. The story of Tess is gradually incorporated into the story and it was definitely needed to explain her state of mind and also the dynamics of her relationship with Josh, Torrie and also baby Levi.

Tess comes across as quite emotionless but as I learnt more about her I realised why. It gave reason to her cold attitude and also to her mental health. This story does touch onto the mental health side of things in various forms and the author has done a wonderful job with this. It gives the overall story a psychological edge to it that makes for a gripping read. It also added several twists, some I saw coming but others I didn’t expect at all.

This is a fast-paced story, it is intriguing and one that I read in one sitting. I was able to see a different side to several of the characters and for some it made me change my view of them. Not everyone is as you think they are.

This is one for those who like a twisted crime thriller and mystery read. It is one I would recommend reading and I look forward to reading more by this author. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harboured runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering on his youngest daughter’s volleyball team or watching horror movies with his oldest. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty-eight places in the world that UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature. Join Erik’s mailing list to be notified of new releases and author giveaways – HERE

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour

Follow him at – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Website

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

The Memories We Bury by Helene Leuschel @HALeuschel #PublicationDay #PsychologicalFiction #BookReview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Happy Publication Day to you Helene Leuschel for The Memories We Bury, and many thanks for my review copy for an unbiased review xx

Let me show you what this book is all about…

An emotionally charged and captivating novel about the complexities of female friendship and motherhood, from the author of Manipulated Lives.

Lizzie Thomson has landed her first job as a music teacher, and after a whirlwind romance with Markus, the newlywed couple move into a beautiful new home in the outskirts of Edinburgh. Lizzie quickly befriends their neighbour Morag, an elderly, resourceful yet lonely widow, who’s own children rarely visit her. Everything seems perfect in Lizzie’s life until she finds out she is pregnant and her relationship with both Morag and Markus change beyond her control. 

Can Lizzie really trust Morag and why is Markus keeping secrets from her? 

In The Memories We Bury the author explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.

As the title indicates, this book is about memories, and particularly memories that have been buried been mis-remembered.

The author has taken this story and woven such a compelling read. Lizzie had not had the best of childhoods and her memories are not the best. his leaves her vulnerable to stronger personalities like that of her husband Markus. The couple move next door to Morag, a woman who is lonely and who is eager to help out Lizzie. Her help is invaluable as Lizzie gives birth to her son Jamie.

Over the next few weeks Lizzie and Jamie find the help that Morag gives them to be wonderful, but gradually this help progresses into more. Lizzie is struggling with being a new mum, feeling insecure and it doesn’t help that her husband works away. While the help Morag provides is good, Lizzie would like more time with her son alone.

This is such a deceptive novel and starts quite innocently enough, a neighbour willing to help out and provide aupport when needed, but then the author does something quite special and adds such a good psychological twist to it.

The story alternates between Lizzie and Morag, it delves into their past and their present lives. It builds a bigger picture over the story and had me completely and utterly hooked.

If you are a fan of family life and relationship reads that have secrets and mistrust, deception and manipulation then you are going to love this one. I did! A fabulous read that I would definitely recommend.

Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a Master in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specializing in the study of the mind. 

Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the dangers of interacting with narcissists. 

She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal.

Follow Helene on Twitter

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