Tag Definitely Recommend

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff #fantasy #horror #thriller #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. This is the first book in the series and one that I bought last year but just got to. I do have the second book to read from NetGalley so I wanted to read these in order.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hands sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order couldn’t stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I can definitely say it will not be the last. This is the first book in the Empire of the Vampire series, the second book is due at the end of this month(Feb 2024).

The story is about Gabriel de León, Gabe is a half-breed and is taken from his home to train as a Silversaint. His mother was human and his father was a vampire. He is not the only half-breed in this book but he is slightly different to the others. Most have a special gift, yet, Gabe doesn’t seem to have one. He is looked down upon, and he must make an extra effort every stage of his training. He is deemed to be worthless and from peasant stock.

The story of Gabe, his time before going to the Silver Order Brotherhood, and his battles against monsters and other enemies. It is not told in the usual way, instead he is relating history to another. The scribe he is dictating to is a vampire, they are enemies but Gabe has no choice but to divulge his story.

This was a fabulous read and I am so glad I eventually came to reading this one. The story is of family, friendship and serving a higher order. This is a story of how Gabe found and then lost his faith but also of how he has become the feared man he is known as.

The author gives a huge amount of detail to Gabe and those he gradually befriends. A mix of mystery and murder with horror and paranormal aspects to it. It is not a straightforward fantasy novel but one that mixes a lot of things into it. This in some ways gives it a historical fiction feel but it is obviously fantasy as there are the vampires! Mentions of knights, grail, secret orders, and inquisition, give it knights templar-style, but a darker and definitely a lot more dangerous.

The vampires do have some things that are an accepted version of how they can be killed but the author takes it a lot further. The world in which he sets this story is one where the darkness is taking over, the sun is not as bright as it used to be and the tie of dark days and darker nights give vampires an extra edge. This does not mean that the silver order is without power, they have their own powers, and they can fight and kill.

Gabe is a character who comes across as a loner, secretive and also an angry character. There is not much about him that you like as such, but that does not mean he is completely unlikeable. The further I read about him the more I was able to get to understand him. His story is one of fights, flights, battles, and secrets and every step of his journey is full of action, adventure, revenge, determination and there is a lot more as well.

After reading this first book I cannot wait to get to the next one. I will also be looking at other books by this author and I am so happy to add another fantasy author to my list. A brilliant start to a series and if you are a fan of high fantasy then this is one you should have a look at. I adored this and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over two million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.

He does not believe in happy endings.

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

Golden Fox by Wilbur Smith @thewilbursmith @Tr4cyF3nt0n @ZaffreBooks #historicalfiction #teamwilbur #TheCourtneys #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review of Golden Fox by Wilbur Smith. This is the 8th book in The Courtney series and brings the series into the 1970s.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for arranging my books for the ongoing marketing campaign with Zaffre Books.

It was in Mexico that he first learnt how to exploit his extraordinary good looks and to develop his natural winning ways with women. By the age of seventeen his companions had nicknamed him ‘The Golden Fox’, and his reputation as an irresistible lover was established.

A country in conflict. A family torn apart.

Isabella, Shasa Courtney’s beloved daughter, enjoys all the freedoms London in the sixties can offer. So when a beautiful, charming man appears and sweeps her off her feet, why would she resist? But her lover is no simple admirer – he is Ramon de Santiago y Machado, a KGB operative known as Golden Fox, and his mission is to recruit her as an agent, and uncover her father’s secret business dealings.

With this knowledge, Ramon and his comrades plan to end white rule in Africa, whatever the cost. Isabella must make a choice about who she will betray – her father and her country, or her son and the man she loves . . .

MY REVIEW

This is another fabulous, action-packed story in the Courtney series. It is set in the 1970s and there are several references to political figures to help keep you in the time. Mentions of Castro, Haile Selassie, the KGB and Russia’s influence in Africa, apartheid and many other events in the world at the time. The story is woven around events but focuses on Isabella Courtney.

Isabella is living with her father in London in the African Embassy, she is a courteous daughter and helpful. She is also enjoying her life in London with parties and other events. One of which she meets Ramon, the Marques de Santiago y Machado. He is suave, and mysterious, and does not fall at Isabella’s feet as most men seem to. It makes him an intriguing character, but one that will cause her so much heartache and conflict.

As they become closer she is gradually sucked into his world, she is unaware of just who he is and what he does. It is not until he uses their child to coerce Isabella into doing things that she understands just how far she is going to go.

This story is about Isabella, a mother and a daughter. She has access to information on policies, technology and so much more. Her role in politics is pushed by Ramon but this tests her loyalty to her family, but when she is denied access to her child, she has to do what is best for him as well.

The way the story plays out is great, the tensions between Isabella and what she must do is tense. While I do think the author does tend to stereotype his women, I do like her character and Isabella’s role, it does work well and fits with what she is asked to do.

Africa as a nation is still divided and some countries are engaged in civil wars. It is this time when other world powers are interfering and tweaking the strings to better their positions. Russia and Cuba have a strong presence in the story and on the world stage at the time. Using Isabella as a tool to join the links and keep the story moving.

If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is another fabulous book in the series. It is full of espionage, spies, conflict, heartache and family loyalties. Brilliant, addictive and full of action and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Wilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.

His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.

Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.

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

Just Between Us by Adele Parks @HQDigitalUK #NetGalley #crime #mystery #domesticthriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Just Between Us by Adele Parks. This is a brilliantly twisted story that had me hooked from the beginning.

My huge thanks to HQ for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

Just Between Us by Adele Parks

Lost. Missing. Murdered?
How do you find a woman who didn’t exist?

Kylie Gillingham’s disappearance has gripped the nation: the woman with a shocking secret – married to two men at the same time – is missing, presumed dead. And both her husbands are suspects.

DCI Clements knows the dark side of human nature and that you can’t presume anything when it comes to crimes of the heart. Until a body is found, this scandalous and sad case remains wide open.

Stacie Jones lives a quiet life in a small village, shielded by her father from any upsetting news as she recovers from illness.

But when these two very different worlds collide, can anyone ever rebuild their lives in the wake of tragedy?

This explosive thriller from Number One bestseller Adele Parks examines what it is to be a family and the dangerous lengths that people will go to for those they love.

MY REVIEW

This book is the sequel to Both of Us, I have not read it and didn’t realise that Just Between Us was a sequel. As a stand-alone, it works incredibly well and I did not feel I was missing out or confused. I do imagine the first book would have been an excellent read though.

Kylie is dead, there is no body and her husband, yes she has two of them, are both being looked at for her murder. She is married to Mark, a man with two boys Seb and Oli, a gardener and she is stepmum as well as wife. Then there is her second husband Daan, wealth a banker who is currently in his home in the Netherlands and conducting his police interviews online. The setting for this is during Covid which gives the reasons for some of the events.

Along with this, there is a second storyline, that of Stacy. She is recovering from an illness and has very patchy memories, her father Kenneth is filling in the blanks for her and doing all he can to prevent her from falling ill from Covid. This is easy to do as they live in a somewhat isolated position in Lyme Regis.

While there is the hunt for the body of Kylie, the police are desperately searching for signs of where she went, who was involved and what exactly happened. The lives of the characters continue as best they can. The author tells the story from the perspective of her characters and this is great for getting into their heads. It is also a great way of keeping the story moving as you flip from one voice to another.

The pacing of the story starts steady and gradually builds momentum, along with this the suspense and mystery also ramp up. Never quite sure how the author saw this panning out and only being given titbits along the way it was a story filled with intrigue.

As the story got going some shocks are dropped into the reader’s lap, sort of being told who was who and who did what. But, never sure why. Understanding the motivation behind crime is just as interesting as the the events leading up to it and the twists and turns of the investigation.

I really enjoyed this story and it was such a fabulously twisted one. Mystery, intrigue and suspense all the way. A brilliant book that I would definitely recommend.

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

Three Sisters by O.J Mullen @OwenMullen6 @BoldwoodBooks #thriller #mystery #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Three Sisters by O.J. Mullen. I have read several of this author’s books before under the name Owen Mullen, he is an author whose book si will automatically read without looking at the synopsis first.

My huge thanks to Boldwood Books for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Three Sisters by Owen Mullen

One chance meeting. A night that changes everything. The Kennedy sisters, Molly, Alex and Sam, have a Christmas tradition – a night out, just the three of them, sisters together. Lewis Stone can’t face the work Christmas party, but as he’s one of the bosses, he has to put in an appearance. He leaves as soon as he can politely get away, ready for the holidays to begin. When Lewis Stone meets the Kennedy sisters, a train of events begins that engulfs them all. One sister is left fighting for her life. One sister is left fighting for her marriage. And one sister is hellbent on revenge… 

MY REVIEW

I do adore this author’s books and this one is an absolutely cracking read. A night out leaves one sister dead and the aftermath of this becomes the story. The story is told from the perspective of the characters so I was able to get a viewpoint from the remaining two sisters, the driver of the car and what he was dealing with and also some other characters. This book was engaging from start to finish and it did not end anywhere near where I thought it would!

The sisters, Molly, Alex and Sam. The driver of the car that hit and killed one of the sisters is Lewis Stone. This story is one that was woven in and out of the lives of these characters and also a husband, business partner and solicitor. As with this author’s previous books, nothing is straightforward forward and to try to explain the story… well I would make it confusing, which it definitely was not as I read it.

The story has highs and lows, of grieving and also of revenge. Lives have changed as you would expect and the strain of events shows on certain people. For some, it is a case of not being able to move forward for another feeling guilty, for some a way to change and try to come to terms with things and all in all how one incident altered people’s futures.

Accidents are not nice and while the author does mention the accident it is the aftermath that he focuses on. Getting to know the characters and understanding their lives and what drives them to do the things they do becomes a story. Understanding the dynamics between people is another part of the story. Then there is the psychological side of the story and that is where the author for me really worked his magic. Not necessarily obvious but there are mentions of how people react to heartbreaking changes.

The story took a route I really did not expect, there were hints along the way but the finale! Well! That was something else. The shocks, twists and surprises fell one after another and they fitted so well within the story. It is not until you got to these revelations that you suddenly changed your view about a person or remembered something mentioned earlier in the book. It makes for fabulous reading!

In case you had not worked it out, I adored this book a huge amount. If you are a fan of thrillers that are mysterious have a domestic thriller feel to them, are compelling and full of suspense then this is one you should pick up. Yeah, I would definitely recommend it.

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

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Matthew Hattersley @matt_hattersley @ZooloosBT #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Darkness on the Edge of Town by Matthew Hattersley. This is the first time I have read anything by this author so what better way to start than with the first book in a new series.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous book.

They thought John Beckett would be an easy target. They thought wrong.

Deep undercover as the right-hand man of a ruthless crime lord, secret service officer John Beckett’s mission suddenly takes a deadly turn.

When a mysterious data leak puts his life on the line, he must make a choice that will change his life forever.


On the run and with danger tailing him, Beckett races against time to save his niece, Amber, from vicious kidnappers. But with deadly threats closing in, he comes to the startling revelation he can trust no one… not even his closest allies.


The streets of London become a battlefield as Beckett struggles to stay one step ahead of his enemies and protect Amber – all the while confronting the dark truth about The Consortium, a shadowy organization that will stop at nothing to maintain its grip on power.


Can Beckett save Amber and bring down those intent on destroying him?

Or will he become the ultimate pawn in their deadly game?

Only one thing is certain… danger lurks in every shadow and time is not on Beckett’s side.


Darkness On The Edge Of Town is a fast-paced thrill ride that’s perfect for fans of  David Baldacci, Lee Child, David Silva and Mark Dawson

MY REVIEW

Well, this was an excellent introduction to this author for me. Darkness on the Edge of Town is one of those books that crosses many genres, it is a mix of crime, thriller, political thriller, gangland and fiction and is full of action and adventure.

When undercover agent John Beckett has his identity released he has to get out of danger quickly. He had been working for a gangland crime syndicate and was the number two for a London gang. Its leader Delaney will kill Beckett without a second thought. He also discovers that his past is also not as secure as it should be and that his niece is also in danger.

A race against time to find his niece, get her to safety and also discover where the leak came from, talk about being a fast-paced storyline or what!

Whenever I see mentions of the secret service I automatically associate it with political wrangling and double-crossing and this book certainly brings that into the mix. Quite who and why though are not so easy to work out, in fact, I didn’t work it out. I had an idea but it was only the tip of a long list of “who it could be”.

The character of Beckett is one that worked really well, a professional, cold, calculated and not averse to doing what is deemed necessary. There is however more to him than that but it doesn’t come across immediately, there are glimpses of a conscience, but it is not until much later that we start to see who the man behind the cover story is. This means that the author has some interesting options that can be used in the books that will follow from this first book in the series.

Working out who Beckett can trust and who is trying to use him or kill him made for an interesting cat-and-mouse game. Keeping the story moving at a relentless pace made for great reading. There are several characters in this story but they are introduced in such a way as it made it easier to remember who was who and also how they operated.

This is an action-packed story that is full of red herrings, mysteries and chases. A matter of life and death and getting to the truth keep this story racing along and it is one that fans of crime, thriller and government agency stories will get on really well with. I am definitely looking forward to reading more in this series and I would definitely recommend this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matthew Hattersley was born in Yorkshire, in the UK. Over the last twenty years, he has toured Europe in a rock n roll band, trained as a professional actor and founded a theatre and media company.

Now we write fast-paced thrillers and crime fiction. His bestselling Acid Vanilla Series follows a wily but flawed ex-assassin who, whilst on a bloody mission of vengeance, realises helping people might provide the salvation she seeks.

He lives with his wife and daughter in Derbyshire, UK.

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

Judgement by Edie Baylis @ediebaylis @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #crime #thriller #gangland #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Judgment by Edie Baylis. This is a fabulous series and if you are a fan of gritty gangland crime thriller then check out this author.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and my e-copy of the book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.

Judgement
Samantha Reynold and Seb Stoker are looking forward to the future together. With all the recent trials and tribulations from the past seemingly over, their new life together looks brighter than ever…or does it?
Because unbeknownst to them both, danger is circling….
Marina Devlin wants to destroy her sister Samantha once and for all and will stop at nothing to have her revenge. And judgment day is looming.
In this final encounter…only one can survive.
A gripping new gangland story perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Heather Atkinson and Caz Finlay.
Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW

When Sam Reynolds first discovered what her father did for a living, it was an eye-opener to say the least. Not one to shy away, she decided to follow in his footsteps. Along the way, she met Seb Stoker from a rival family. Together they have made themselves an unstoppable force. Over the series, the lives of Sam, Seb, family, friends, acquaintances and enemies have all been wrapped in together. The two of them are well-matched, but things are going to get more tense in this story than they have ever been before.

Family come in all shapes and sizes and with different temperaments and personalities. Marina is not the same as Sam, but she does have ruthlessness to her. Seb has his brothers and even they are going to be stretched to breaking point if they are not careful. Tina is trying her best, Linda still has work to do and Vera is waiting to put things to rest. In case you may have not realised, this book marks “the final encounter” and the author has pulled all the stops out for this book.

She has woven characters and storylines into and around each other. There have been strands and threads left tantalisingly to be pulled together. How this is done for this story is brilliant. It does make it a more complex story compared to some of the other books, but my goodness it is done so well! With so many things being juggled and characters that had to have their say, the author has worked wonders.

This is a gangland thriller and there is a certain sense of loyalty and family is important. Family is something that has been a focus of the story and it is more prominent in this one as everyone is being caught up and being pulled like puppets by other characters. It really is a story that leaves you breathless, well it did me as I was racing through the book to find out what was going to happen.

With gangland crime, you are going to get some brutality at some point. Yes, you get it in this book and it is indeed brutal, but also in keeping with how the characters have developed over the previous books. This is where I am going to say that yes, you really should read this series in order as there are some references that go back to the first book that are finally acknowledged and brought out in the open in the story.

A fabulous book, fabulous series and if you love gangland crime and thriller then I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Edie Baylis a successful self-published author of dark gritty thrillers with violent background settings. She lives in Worcestershire, has a history of owning daft cars and several motorbikes and is licensed to run a pub. She has signed a five-book deal with Boldwood and the first book in her new ganglit series, set in Birmingham, was published in January 2022.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share woudl 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

Death on Cromer Beach by Ross Greenwood @greenwoodross @BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #crime #thriller #policeprocedural #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Death on Cromer Beach by Ross Greenwood. I am a big fan of this author and have read several of his books over the years. Death on Cromer Beach is the start of a new series and it is a brilliant way to start!

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

Publication Date – 26th April 2023

The first in a new series from bestselling author, Ross Greenwood!

A brutal double murder on a Norfolk beach horrifies the town of Cromer. The way the victims died is chilling and so Norfolk’s Major Investigation Team task DS Ashley Knight to manage the case.

It soon becomes clear that the murders were carefully planned and the finger of suspicion points to an organised crime gang, but as the evidence mounts, a far more sinister theory emerges. 

Ashley has been allocated a young but opinionated partner in Hector Fade, and sparks soon fly. Annoyingly for Ashley, Hector is no pushover and looks destined for great things.  When the pair delve into the case, they struggle to understand who would inflict such suffering on their victims and hope the crime is a one-off from a deranged and dangerous individual. But then another body is found.

There’s a killer on the loose who must be caught, or other victims will meet their fate by the sea.

MY REVIEW

I have read several of this author’s books and when I saw he had a new series I definitely needed to check it out.

DS Ashley Knight, loner, single, middle-aged, has just been asked to investigate a double death on Cromer beach. She has also been saddled with one of the fast-track detectives, Hector Fade.

Finding a double murder on her local beach is not something Ashley would have expected to get a call out to, especially when there is more to this than meets the eye. She has a bad feeling and she is not wrong as more bodies surface.

This first book in this new series is so good, it has such a tense and atmospheric feel to it. Having to deal with a double murder and then more as another and another body turns up is tough on the whole team. What makes this case even harder is that the link is tenuous but it is a link. Those connected are so varied and have many problems and this also makes trying to work out events, truths and lies very difficult.

In between the questioning and interviews, the author takes the time to have Ashley and Hector get to know each other, a great way to fill in some details about them. They are very opposite and so their differences can show. Discovering more about them helps to understand their characters a little more, there is more to each than you first imagine.

Having more to it than first expected also goes for the case. There are reasons for it to have a connection to an event from years ago. What this connection is and how it is worked into this story is such a good one. There are twists and misdirections and an overall sense of danger and of something lurking and waiting.

This is a fabulous first book in the series and I do hope that Hector is not fast-tracked out too soon as I do kind of like him. Ashley is a tough one, and she does get on well with her younger colleague, Between them, I do think they would make a great team, but then I am not writing the books 🙂

If you are looking for a new series then this is one you need to look at if you are a fan of tough, gritty crime thrillers. There are so many unexpected things that occur and this adds to the mystery and the suspense. Excellent storyline and great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King’s School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I’m still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, I randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

I’ve now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought-provoking and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.

The first three books are stand-alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.

Abel’s Revenge is something a bit different. It’s a modern-day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There’s a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.

Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women’s side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won’t have read a book like it.

I hope you enjoy reading them.

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

The Monk by Tim Sullivan @AriesFiction @HOZ_Books #policeprocedural #murder #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of The Monk by Tim Sullivan. This is part of the DS Cross series, I have not read them all but I am aware of the uniqueness of Cross and how he applies it to his work.

My huge thanks to Aries & Aria Fiction for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

Publication Date – 27th April 2023

To find a murderer, you need a motive . . .

THE DETECTIVE
DS George Cross has always wondered why his mother left him when he was a child. Now she is back in his life, he suddenly has answers. But this unexpected reunion is not anything he’s used to dealing with. When a disturbing case lands on his desk, he is almost thankful for the return to normality.

THE QUESTION
The body of a monk is found savagely beaten to death in a woodland near Bristol. Nothing is known about Brother Dominic’s past, which makes investigating difficult. How can Cross unpick a crime when they don’t know anything about the victim? And why would someone want to harm a monk?

THE PAST
Discovering who Brother Dominic once was only makes the picture more puzzling. He was a much-loved and respected friend, brother, son – he had no enemies. Or, at least, none that are obvious. But looking into his past reveals that he was a very wealthy man, that he sacrificed it all for his faith. For a man who has nothing, it seems strange that greed could be the motive for his murder. But greed is a sin after all . . .

Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Peter James and Joy Ellis, The Monk is part of the DS George Cross thriller series, which can be read in any order.

MY REVIEW

I have not read all the books in this series, but I have read one of them and found it an easy series to get into. I then seem to have missed a couple more and now come across this latest one. again another one that is easy to pick up given that it is a series. The character of DS George Cross was very easy to remember as he is socially awkward and has a very specific way of dealing with his life, those of people he knows and of the crimes he is investigating.

He is tenacious and it is this tenacity that has helped him navigate his way through tricky investigations before and will do so again this time as well. While he has always been able to look at crimes from the outside, this time he discovers a connection that makes one of his friendships a little strained.

Luckily for him, he has people around him who know how he works and he has built up a level of respect. He really is a character I like given his very literal understanding of everyday conversations, sarcasm, joking and general banter.

When the body of a monk is discovered it leads Cross and the team along a route that even surprises them. Everyone comes from somewhere and even a monk has a past, even one that has been left behind. As the team investigate there seems to be something more than first meets the eye.

Having different threads in this story the author is able to weave what would seem like a complex case. If I was to try to explain it, well it would be complex, but the way the author lays it out makes sense. Leads are followed, but not always successfully or with full understanding. Progress is slow and is hampered by not having knowledge of all the facts.

While this is a police procedural first and foremost, the author does bring in the out-of-hours or off-the-job aspect to his main characters. It is a chance to get to know more about Cross and what happened to his mum and dad when he was younger and they went their separate ways.

Being on the spectrum, Cross is shown to struggle with changes in his routines and these revelations do up skittle him. He is however a professional and is able to departmentalise so his focus is where it needs to be. Being a stickler for having every ‘I’ dotted and ‘T’ crossed he will always keep working at things that niggle him.

This is a fabulous story and as I mentioned this does not have to be read in order. It does mention this is the book blurb so I will be going back to read the previous ones I have missed. If you are a fan of crime, thriller and police procedural stories then this is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim Sullivan is an acclaimed screenwriter. He originally read English and Law at university – the latter forced on him by his Dad – but instead, he wriggled free of those parental ambitions and pursued his own, to make films. His writing credits include A HANDFUL OF DUST, starring Kristen Scott Thomas, WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, JACK AND SARAH (which he also directed) starring Richard E Grant, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen and LETTERS TO JULIET, with Amanda Seyfried. He is also a Television director whose credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES and COLD FEET and CORONATIONS STREET. He has written extensively in Hollywood in both live-action and animation, working with Ron Howard, Scott Rudin and Jeffrey Katzenberg on the fourth SHREK movie.

He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.

He self-published the first two books and once they’d achieved over 200,000 downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. So thanks to all his readers for this success and their shared love of George.

The novels are set in Bristol in the southwest of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. Tim has now written the first four in the series with The Patient being published on March 3rd 2022.

Tim feels confident in his claim that he is the only crime writer around who has also co-produced and written a My Little Pony movie for Hasbro. MY LITTLE PONY – A NEW GENERATION is now available on Netflix.

Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN. Their daughters live nearby.

For more stuff about Tim visit his website http://www.timsullivan.co.uk

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

Go As A River by Shelley Read @RandomTTours @DoubledayUK #GoAsARiver #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Go As A River by Shelley Read. This is a stunning book and the story was such an amazing one to read.

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

In this soaring, compassionate novel, a breathtaking picture of our natural world – its trees and mountains and light – emerges. But more than this, it is the tale of female resilience and becoming that gives Go As A River its strength, its soul, and its possibility.


Nestled in the foothills of the Elk Mountains and surrounded by sprawling forests, wandering bears and porcupines, the Gunnison River rushes by the tiny town of Iola.


On a cool autumn morning, seventeen-year-old Torie Nash heads into her village pulling a rickety wagon filled with late-season peaches from her farm. As she nears an intersection, a mysterious young drifter with eyes dark and shiny as a raven’s wing, grimy thumbs and smudged cheeks, stops to ask her the way. She could have turned left or crossed over, but she did not. She stayed. ‘Go as a river,’ he whispers to her.


So begins a mesmerising story that unfolds over a lifetime, as Torie attempts to absorb and follow his words.
Gathering all the pieces of her small, extraordinary life, spinning through the eddies of desire, heartbreak and betrayal, embracing and challenged by the landscape she calls home, Torie arrives at a single rocky decision that changes her life forever.


“What I’ve learnt about becoming is that it takes a long time”

MY REVIEW

Oh my goodness, this is an absolutely heartbreaking yet gorgeously written story. This is a historical fiction story that does have some roots that are based around an actual event. The tale the author has brought is of a young woman who discovers life as she gets older and that things can have consequences.

Set in the 1950s through to the 70s the author tells of a small town, Iola in Colorado. Her family grow peach trees and the main voice of this story is that of Victoria Nash. Victoria has a younger brother and her father, after the death of her mother it has gradually fallen to her to take over the house chores.

It is a random meeting with a young man that alters her life in a way she could never have dreamed of. Realising she needed to get away she goes into the mountains, this is an area the author knows well and she describes the terrain and the conditions so well. I should also add other is also a good amount of detail regarding the peaches.

The town of Iola is destined to be lost under the waters when a new dam is to be built. Taking courage and initiative Victoria decides to make a huge move and make one of the biggest gambles of her life.

This is a book that enthralled me and captured my attention from the very first pages. A story of growing up in the US with references to the war in Vietnam kept me rooted in the time. The author brings the hardships and also the hard work required to live and work on a farm and also some of the politics of the time. Not too much, but enough that is relevant and to the point.

The story is one that is of life, love and loss. It is part and parcel of most people’s lives no matter what time they live or where they live. Bringing the humdrum and mundane world of Victoria, as she sees it, to life in such a way as to make such a compelling story was fabulous. The author really nailed this for me. Completely riveting.

There is much more to this story than the synopsis or this review lets on. The story does flow as a river with highs and lows, rapids and quiet pools but it is forever moving. I was so surprised when I read the synopsis after reading the book, this is a debut! Wow!

This is one for those who like their fiction to lean a little towards literary fiction but also have a feel of a classic. It is imaginative and thought-provoking but above all extremely readable and an addictive historical fiction story. I adored this book so much and I am excited to see where the author goes next. It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Read is a fifth generation Coloradoan who lives with her family in the Elk Mountains of the Western Slope. She was a Senior Lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and Honours, and was a founder of the Environment & Sustainability major and a support program for first-generation and at-risk students. Shelley holds degrees in writing and literary studies from the University of Denver and Temple University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing. She is a regular contributor to Crested Butte Magazine and Gunnison Valley Journal, and has written for the Denver Post and a variety of publications.
Go As A River, her first novel, is inspired by the landscape she comes from and will be published in over thirty territories.

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