Tag Suspense

Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt @AKalagianBlunt @RandomTTours @ultimopress #thriller #suspense #psychologicalthriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt. This is indeed a dark story and one that had me hooked. The story explores the dark side of the internet and it is so addictive.

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

Once you’re online, there’s nowhere to hide

Is it paranoia – or is someone watching?

For years, Reagan Carsen has kept her life offline. No socials. No internet presence. No photos. Safe.

Until the day she stumbles on a shocking murder in a Sydney laneway. The victim looks just like her.

Coincidence?

As more murders shake the city and she’s increasingly drawn out from hiding, Reagan is forced to confront her greatest fear.

She’s been found.

A riveting psychological thriller drawn from true events, Dark Mode delves into the terrifying reality of the dark web, and the price we pay for surrendering our privacy one click at a time.

MY REVIEW

The main character Reagan Carsen has good reason for keeping off the internet, not wanting to leave digital footprints in any way, shape or form. In this day and age, it is a hugely invasive part of our lives. We all use it, we are all reliant on it and it is becoming more and more difficult to avoid detection.

For Reagan though, as we discover, she has good reason for avoiding the web. She is running a business and the footfall is getting less and less as people are simply not aware that she is there. It takes her new boyfriend to help her set up online, he himself is not a fan but does have the internet for his own social media. She notices the benefits as her sales increase and her best friend Min is delighted that she has finally joined the technological age.

I did mention that Reagan has a past, it comes crashing at her feet when she discovers a body. There is something familiar about the body. It looks like her!

I have to say that this book was an amazing one, the author doesn’t hang around in getting the scenes laid out. From the opening pages, this is a fabulous well paced book. There is tension on every page as the author uses some wonderful atmospherics to show how on edge Reagan has become. Her story emerges in dribs and drabs and this suits her character a lot.

Having mentions of the dark web in the synopsis always tends me to stop and take notice. It is something I don’t know much about but it also terrifies me. I can imagine the fear that Reaan felt as she discovers what is starting to happen.

This is a book that made me feel on edge, it shows how a person’s ignorance of technology can be used against them in a startling and shocking way. This story has a strong psychological aspect to it and I have to say the author has done this so well.

There is a brilliant note from the author at the end about some of the books she has used for reference. One of these is on its way as I wrote this review!

If you are a fan of tense, stalker and psychological stories then this is one you really should pick up. It does have mentions of the dark but nothing that becomes over technical thank goodness. I adored this one a lot and I would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of How to Be Australian and
My Name Is Revenge. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning
Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books,
Australian Book Review, Kill Your Darlings and more. Ashley teaches
creative writing and co-hosts James and Ashley Stay at Home, a
podcast about writing, creativity and health. Originally from Canada,
she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico.

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You Can’t Hide by Emily Shiner @inkubatorbooks @ZooloosBookTours #crime #thriller #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for You Can’t Hide by Emily Shiner. This is a wonderfully twisted story and it had me gripped.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for the invite and for arranging my spot on the tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book from Inkubator Books.

Beth thought she’d escaped her past. But all this time, it’s been waiting for her…
 
Beth and Ian are desperate to have a child. So much so that they decide to sell his family cabin in upstate New York to pay for IVF.
 
When they arrive at the cabin, they meet Ryan, the caretaker. But Ryan is not who he says he is… He’s here because he knows Beth has a dark secret. And now he intends to use it against her.
 
He threatens to tell Ian everything about Beth’s past unless she does exactly what he says.
 
Beth finds herself caught in a nightmarish trap. If Ian discovers what she’s been hiding from him, she’s sure he’ll leave her. She’ll lose everything she cares about, including the chance to have a child of her own.
 
On the other hand, what Ryan wants her to do is so dark and twisted it’s beyond horrifying.
 
Either way, Beth is sure her life is over, she can see no way out. Unless…  Unless she digs deep and finds a part of herself that is willing to do something so awful it doesn’t even bear thinking about…

You Can’t Hide – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Freida McFadden, and Daniel Hurst.

MY REVIEW

Well, what an amazing introduction this book is to the author. This is a fabulous book that delves into the life of Beth and her husband Ian, but there is also another storyline and this one does take more of a prominent role at times. I am not going to divulge much about that one though!

Beth is nervous about going to visit the old cabin, it is isolated, and they can only access it on foot as the snowy weather isn’t exactly ideal for a visit. When they get there they discover that someone has been living in it, it must be the caretaker Ryan. Employed by Ian to come in and make sure that everything is ok. Beth isn’t so sure though, it looks like he has made himself very comfy in their cabin and not someone who may spend a night there to check things over.

This, as I mentioned, is one part of the story, the other is the one that has the biggest thriller factor to it, although when the dots begin to join the thrills are huge. You soon get to know the other storyline and the author does an amazing job with this and had me wanting to scream at the main character! Vague? Yep, this was always going to be as I am not going to reveal any spoilers.

The two stories are separate and they have a nervous energy to them. The characters are interesting and the predicaments they find themselves in are very edgy. As I said I wanted to scream at one of the characters, but then I could have quite easily done the same to the other as well!

This is a review that is very hard to write, but if you like very addictive and suspense-filled thrillers then this is a book that I would definitely recommend picking up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

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The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore #thriller #mystery @HQDigitalUK #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of The Wilderness Retreat by Jennifer Moore. I had a very nice email from HQ Digital asking me if I would like to read this one. A brilliantly twisty read and one that I really enjoyed. I would also like to wish the author a HappyPublication Day tomorrow 🙂

I release myself from the shackles of the outside world and embrace the wilderness within.

As Bella drops her son off at university, she’s devastated. It’s been the two of them ever since Asher was born. The only thing helping her through is the upcoming week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden. It’ll be her chance to reconnect and recharge.

At the retreat, Bella basks in the beauty of the modern lodge, with its luxury rooms and picture-perfect views, the glistening lake and the lush forest. For the full detox effect, everyone must surrender their phones.

The holiday seems idyllic until the person who ruined Bella’s life years ago arrives, threatening everything she’s worked hard for and will do anything to protect. Suddenly, a terrified Bella is trapped in the wild, knowing someone wants her dead…

MY REVIEW

I am a fan of thrillers and this one caught my eye when I saw it, being set in a Swedish wood, cut off from anyone else it gives the chance of a locked room mystery-style thriller. The room is not a room but an isolated setting, with guests who are strangers and not altogether likeable.

Bella is a single mum, her son has just gone to uni and her sister has arranged a break for her at a wilderness retreat. Having a life focused on her son, she has effectively cut herself off. It is while she is at the retreat that she discovers that she has lived her life so far through her son so she wants to try to cope without him. It is tough for her as she cannot get in touch with him, and while she thinks there are those that may show her some support, Bella isn’t actually making a great impression.

The author has taken the character of Bella and given her so much to deal with and you can start to see cracks appear as more and more stress and emotion are piled on. I did mention some of the other characters not being likeable, in fact, there is the odd one or two that did wind me up as much as they did Bella. The author uses paranoia to good effect, and at times it did feel a little too repetitive, while it does work for the story it did make it feel like Bella was a bit too many and whiny. To counteract this though there are some good twists and what I thought were red herrings, but not quite though!

I did enjoy this and I found myself quickly addicted to the story I definitely needed to know how things would eventually come to a conclusion. When it did, it was unexpected and also rather quick.

This is more of a mystery thriller and the mystery section of the book was great. If you like a remote setting with strangers in a setting that leaves the imagination to run wild then I do think you will like this one. Not quite as creepy as I thought it might be and still a very enjoyable read that I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Moore is a novelist, freelance writer and children’s author (writing as Jenny Moore) from Devon. Her short fiction has been widely published on both sides of the Atlantic and she was the first ever UK writer to win the Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

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The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris @HQDigitalUK #NetGalley #historicalfiction #WWII #PublicationDay #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris. This is a title I spotted on NetGalley and I was delighted when the publisher HQ Digital granted my request to read it.

I would also like to wish the author a very Happy Publication Day for this fabulous book 🙂

A secret big enough to destroy the Führer’s reputation. . .

January 1939:

When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor’s clinic, she doesn’t expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook.

At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . .

The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office – a secret that could destroy the Führer’s reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . .

With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script.

But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret hidden inside. . .

My Review

With many books set during World War II, I am always delighted to come across one that brings something different. The Paris Notebooks has something different, it is based on written accounts of a psychiatrist who treated Hitler after a gas attack during WWI. Can you imagine how important such documents would be and how they could be used? This story tells of what could have happened if the notebook eventually found its way into allied hands.

There are several characters in this book, the main one being Katja Heinz. A young girl looking after her mother has just been accepted for a job working as a PA for Doctor Viktor. The author tells of how Viktor treated Hilter and kept a medical notebook, he wants to let the world see the danger they are in as Hitler is just starting to show the world his idea of the future. Many are wary as they don’t want to rock the boat, Jews are being persecuted, Hitler is starting to advance and not everyone thinks he will do what we all know eventually he does.

Using Katja as the main protagonist was a fabulous move, having a heroine who is naive, but headstrong is great. The author uses her to show the fear that is instilled in people living in Germany at the time who are not fully supportive of this new regime. Having her put herself in the midst of things had me with my heart in my mouth hoping she would come through each incident unscathed. She does suffer loss as many at the time have and it is a stubborn streak and a sense of doing what is right that keeps her progressing forward.

This was a slower-paced story at the beginning and I liked this. It gave me a chance to understand the backgrounds of the characters and gave me more idea of their personalities so that when they did have to face something traumatic it felt right.

As well as having a huge amount of danger and suspense, this book also has some emotional scenes. I admit to having very tear-filled eyes while reading some of the scenes. Even though war is looming and eventually does happen, life still progresses. Unexpected meetings and chance events happen and knowing that there is someone that understands what you are going through makes things a little more bearable.

This is a fabulous story that I adored. The character of Katja and those she meets as she tries to deliver a notebook that could change the war is brilliant. This is a book that does contain some actual events and the author has included some insightful and useful additions at the end of the book, this makes great further reading on the internet.

If you are a fan of stories set during WWII that have some strong characters and very memorable scenes then this is one for you. A mix of danger, suspense, mystery, romance and heartbreaking choices make for a story I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From the author’s website: After studying History at Oxford University, I began my journalistic career on a newspaper in my home town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. I progressed onto a London newspaper, where I became women’s editor. From there I moved to become a feature writer on Best magazine. After two years I was made editor of a regional arts and listings publication. This was followed by another two years as deputy editor on Heritage magazine. Motherhood meant a spell as a freelance, contributing to several national magazines, such as Country Homes & Interiors, Perfect Home and Woman’s Journal, as well as newspapers such as The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian. During this time I also worked as a literary publicist and for a documentary-making company. In 2005 I was made editor of Berkshire Life magazine.

In 2000 I won a European-wide screenplay writing competition run by the London Screenwriters’ Workshop and the resulting screenplay was optioned by a film company. The script was set in 18th century London and my subsequent research led to the invention of Dr Thomas Silkstone, an American anatomist and the world’s first forensic scientist.

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Our Man in Kuwait by Louise Burfitt-Dons @LouiseBurfDons @RandomTTours #suspense #historicalfiction #spythriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Our Man in Kuwait by Louise Burfitt-Dons. This is a historical fiction story set in the 1960s and is one I really enjoyed.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for arranging my copy of the book for the Blog Tour.

A colonial-era thriller set against the background of big power conflict. The ultimate timepiece tinderbox of sun, sex and spies.

Kuwait 1960. With Soviet backing Iraq plans to invade.

Gordon Carlisle lives in the expat community of Ahmadi with little to worry about other than when to next don his dinner jacket.

Following contact by an MI6 agent everything changes.

Even marriage to his beautiful new wife Anita breaks down as he becomes a suspect in a chain of deaths in the Protectorate.

Ian Fleming’s time in Kuwait is recorded at first hand as Britain prepares to meet the Iraqi forces head on with Operation Vantage.

MY REVIEW

This is a book that is a little bit of a slow burner but one that slowly crept up on me. I did struggle a little in the beginning but once I got to know the characters I began to feel more effortless with the book. While it started as a slow burner it definitely picked up pace as the story unfolded, and, what an intriguing story it was!

This is set in 1960 in Kuwait, I am mostly aware of the recent history of this area, but I didn’t know much about it from the 60s, just a little before my time. The author has woven an interesting mix of fact with fiction to give a convincing and extremely twisted account of the roles of spies, governments, double agents and foreign powers in the region. It is focused on Gordon Carlisle.

Gordon is a bit of a non-descript man as such, goes to work, has friends, is married to Anita and carries on with his life in the Ahmadi ex-pat community. Talk between friends about potential problems in Kuwait, if the British government will send in troops and if those living there will have to flee.

With rumour running rife it doesn’t take much for suspicions to escalate. This means that one act can be seen as something more sinister. When the finger points in the direction of Gordon, he above all is surprised. In a world of espionage nothing and no one is completely innocent… are they?

I really enjoyed the weaving and intrigue the author built up around her characters. I did kind of like Gordon and I did feel for him as he did seem to be the innocent party. It is however that old saying of “there’s no smoke without fire” or that he surely must have known something. This constant state of suspicion makes everyone look guilty.

While the author told of Gordon, his friends, work and the politics of the area there is something else working in the background. This makes the story addictive and it did keep my interest. With mentions of anthrax, bombs, kidnapping and questioning by the police, there is enough of a tense atmosphere to create a dangerous scenario.

I liked this one and I did like the slower pace in the beginning as there are quite a few characters to get to know and also some history of the region and its main players. An enjoyable story and one that I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This book is a work of fiction but inspired by real events. Louise Burfitt-Dons was born and brought up in Kuwait during the threat of invasion by Iraq in 1960 and 1961. Her father Ian Byres was the Preventative Health Officer for the Kuwait Oil Company based in Ahmadi. At the end of 1960 Ian Fleming visited Kuwait to write a book. Louise is the author of the bestselling Karen Andersen Thriller series. Our Man in Kuwait is a stand alone novel.

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The Cruise by Catherine Cooper @catherinecooper @RandomTTours @fictionpubteam #mystery #suspense #NetGalley #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Cruise by Catherine Cooper. I have read one of her other books, The Chalet and her latest one is fabulous as well.

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 via NetGalley.

A glamorous ship. A mysterious cast of passengers. And a New Year’s Eve party that goes horribly wrong…

During a New Year’s Eve party on a large cruise ship in the Caribbean, the ship’s dancer, Lola, disappears. The ship is searched and the coastguard is called, but there is no sign of her, either dead or alive.

Lola was popular on the ship but secretive about her background, and as the mystery around her deepens, each passenger becomes a suspect. Who was she arguing with the night she vanished? Why did she come aboard the cruise in the first place? What was she running from?

Find out in the twisty new thriller from the queen of glamorous crime, Catherine Cooper.

MY REVIEW

The synopsis gives the basics for part of this novel, there is however another side to it that isn’t mentioned. So, I am going to focus on the part of the story that is mentioned in the synopsis.

The story has a brief intro with the death of a man, then there is a prologue then the story starts. The death of Lola a dancer on a large cruise ship is a shock. When she was last seen she was visibly upset, when she was last heard she was arguing. Why was she upset and who did she argue with?

The author has given a story that had me addicted as I discovered this was one that had a split timeline. The now part deals with Lola, the past is something else entirely. I didn’t work out the connections, yes not A connection, but several connections, until the author dropped the literal bombshells.

The idea of working on a cruise ship is one that has never appealed to me. Being close to people you work with and never having a moment to yourself, always being on call just never appeals to me. The author does give some great info about living aboard a cruise ship and also drops in some really interesting facts that I hadn’t even considered.

The story is one that flits between the timelines and it gradually builds up a picture but one that is not complete until much later in the book. There is a sense of distrust and when a certain few seem to be suspect in the death of Lola the suspicion and suspense of the story build.

There was a lot I didn’t see coming in this story, it is one that took me by surprise and had me eagerly turning the pages to discover the full truth. It soon became obvious to me that this would be a one-sitting read as I needed to know the answers to all the questions.

This is a fabulous story that I adored, full of mystery and intrigue, tension and suspense. It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catherine Cooper is a freelance journalist writing for many national newspapers and magazines,
specialising in travel. She also makes regular appearances as a talking head on daytime TV. She lives
in France with her husband and two teenage children.
Her debut thriller THE CHALET was a top five Sunday Times bestseller and spent three weeks in the
Kindle top 100. THE CRUISE is her third novel

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They Lie Here by NS Ford @nsfordwriter #mystery #thriller#suspense #fiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for They Lie Here by NS Ford. This Author is also a fabulous Book Blogger who I follow and I am always intrigued and interested by her book selections and reviews. It was an easy thing for me to agree to read her 2nd book when she kindly got in touch. When I read it, I had not even seen a synopsis. It is as I wrote my review that I realised how clever this title was!

This book is due for Publication tomorrow, so I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a wonderful Publication Day 🙂 xx

TWO MYSTERIES. ONE CITY. MANY LIES.

Kat Green has made a career out of tracking down reclusive former celebrities. When she moves to the quaint English city of Waelminster, she’s on the trail of enigmatic pop star Roskoe Darke, of the band Scorpio Hearts. He hasn’t been heard of since 1985, but she’s confident she’ll find him. However, as the clues become more bizarre and sinister, Kat has to confront the darkness of her own past. Who can she trust when everyone is hiding the truth?

MY REVIEW

After reading this author’s first book I was definitely looking forward to this second one. They Lie Here is such an addictive read and I did read this without looking at the synopsis, I only read that as I think about writing this review.

The synopsis is short and snappy and now I look at it I realise how it gives very little away. It does however have enough to suggest a mystery and secrets from the past.

The story is about Kat, and she has a very isolated life, she constantly moves as she goes from story to story. She researches each of her stories and her latest one is the whereabouts of Roskoe Darke, a member of an 80s band. He mysteriously disappeared and has not been seen, there have been several suggestions as to what happened and some of these do sound plausible. Kat, however, decides to dig deeper.

I adored how this started as a very interesting mystery about a disappearance, but after several chapters, this morphs into something more than I originally expected. Kat is a character who I really liked, a loner who fixates on one project at a time. But what is it about her past that will have relevance to the current timeline of her story? Well, I could tell you but then I would spoil the story so you are going to have to read it for yourself. I didn’t see this twist coming in the story, so it was a huge revelation.

As for what happened to the missing Roskoe, well again I never saw that one either. This was a little different to what I expected but it worked really well. The author injected a clever little side step and it was one that turned this into a much darker and more sinister story.

There are a few characters in this book, enough for the story but not any bystanders. Each of the characters has a purpose and I was never aware of just how or what the purpose was.

The story flits between the 1980s and present-day and this means you keep up to date with the present story while being given details and things from the past to give a larger overall picture. How the two timelines come together was something that I never saw, a lot of the plots and twists, I never saw until the author was ready to let me in on her secrets.

Secrets are quite a large part of this story and as they emerge I started to realise how cleverly the author has played out her storyline. Not all is as it seems with any part of the story, especially with the characters and this adds to the sense of suspicion.

This was a brilliant thriller that has a great mystery and suspense element to it, a great storyline and a wonderful set of interesting and different characters. I adored this book a huge amount, a one-sitting read for me and it is one I would absolutely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

N S Ford is a book fanatic, blogger and cat lover who lives in the UK with her family. She has a First Class degree in English. When not reading or blogging, she juggles her writing time with parenting, working in heritage and playing the piano. She is the author of two cross-genre psychological thrillers, ‘We Watch You’ and ‘They Lie Here’.

Find her on Twitter or her Website

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The Game by Scott Kershaw @HQstories #NetGalley #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Game by Scott Kershaw. The cover and the snappy synopsis definitely caught my eye when I requested it.

My huge thanks to HQ for granting my request to review this book via NetGalley.

The rules are simple. To save their life, you have to play.

[text message]

DEAR PLAYER,

THE PERSON YOU LOVE MOST IS IN DANGER.

TO SAVE THEM, YOU MUST PLAY THE GAME.

THE RULES ARE: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER.

IF YOU LOSE, YOUR LOVED ONE WILL DIE.

ALL PLAYERS ENTER ALONE.

DO NOT SHARE THIS MESSAGE. DO NOT SEEK HELP.

WELCOME TO THE GAME.

YOU’VE JUST STARTED PLAYING.

[end of message]

MY REVIEW

I have to admit it was the cover that first caught my eye with this book. Snappy title, simple graphic and the line – The rules are simple. To save their life, you have to play.

This is a mystery thriller, that does have a crime element to it, but it is more about the mystery of The Game. What is The Game, who runs it, why is this being done and what would you do to keep those you love safe and alive!

There are 5 players in this game, they are unconnected, they are oblivious to each other and they have travelled from the US, France and Uk to meet up so they can learn more about The Game. The consequences are not as clear cut as I originally thought they might be. There was a curiosity to both stories but I was never fully aware of what was occurring until further into the story. The author does pace this story so well, it is one where some players are on a time limit, and this increases the tension of the story.

There is a lot more to this story than the synopsis gives away. The suspense of wondering if any of the players will do something stupid or brave is an ever[present one.

The players are normal people, with normal lives. Because they have been drawn from different countries it makes any connection unlikely. I liked how the author introduced each player and then kept referring back to things in the past. I soon found that I got to know who was who especially when they do meet up to actually continue The Game.

This is intriguing, I liked the time element and the mystery that was underlying all the way through. It is a thriller and I really enjoyed the story. The characters are not all likeable, but this is down to how the author portrays them. I look forward to reading more by this author and I would happily recommend this book.

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

Codename Edelweiss by Justin Kerr-Smiley #JustinKerrSmiley @RandomTTours @UnicornPubGroup #action #histfic #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for Codename Edelweiss by Justin Kerr-Smiley. This is a brilliant book and is one for those who like a cracking action, adventure and mystery thriller story.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my PB copy of the book via the Publisher – Unicorn Publishing Group

In 1976, Argentina is governed by a military junta bankrolled by former Nazis. It is the anniversary of a mysterious village fire in the jungle. The lone survivor, a Guaraní boy, is now a Jesuit priest. A Jewish journalist, Ariel Guzman, interviews him at his mission. The man claims Adolf Hitler escaped from Berlin with Eva Braun and made a secret camp near the Iguaçu Falls. The Führer ordered the village’s destruction, but the priest refuses to say why. He mentions the codename Edelweiss and will only reveal the person’s identity if he dies.
Argentina’s most powerful man is billionaire and Waffen-SS veteran Tiago Hecht. He is searching for Edelweiss so that he can establish a Fourth Reich. Hecht now has confirmation Hitler’s son is alive. But so does the Mossad and they have sent an agent to eliminate him. The only sanctuary for ‘Edelweiss’ is at the Vatican, but time is running out.
The hunt is on… 

MY REVIEW

When I first saw this book I knew it was one I wanted to read, there have been many conspiracies and theories following the death of Hitler. Did he really die? Did he get out of Germany? I do love a good conspiracy book and this one sounded right up my street.

The author has taken the concept that Hitler and Eva Braun did indeed survive and made a voyage to start a new life in South America. Many made this journey some for survival and some to escape any repercussions. Many stories have circulated over the years and there is something about a conspiracy that intrigues me.

The story is one that sounds plausible and one that I found extremely addictive. From a journalist taking a statement from a priest to discovering the whereabouts of a secret camp, the political, religious and moral aspects are covered. Set over several years from WWII to the 1970s the story fills in an action-packed adventure style read.

As the synopsis suggests. this book takes in various organisations, including Mossad, the Vatican and a newspaper. Politics are also woven into this as you would expect as well. The author has created a story that flows so well between the many characters and locations. It is one that is taken through scenarios that have implications for the world and for those immediately involved. While the story is about the search for Hitler’s son, the author also includes life in Argentina in the 70s, the political stage.

I found this book to be very well-paced and the tension was amazing not everything turned out as I thought it might. I did like the way the author finished this story, it answered questions raised and felt right in some ways.

This is one for those who enjoy a proper action and adventure style read with conspiracies, secrets, and mysteries that need to be revealed. A fabulous book to read and one that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justin Kerr-Smiley was born in 1965 and educated at Newcastle University.
As a journalist, he has reported from the Balkans, Northern Ireland, the West
Bank and South America. He has also written for the Guardian, The Times
and The Spectator. He is the author of two previous novels, including Under
The Sun. He lives in London

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The Island by Adrian McKinty #NetGalley #PublicationDay #thriller #action @orionbooks #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Island by Adrian McKinty. This is one of those books that crosses many genres so I do think it will appeal to a great many readers.

My huge thanks to Orion Books who accepted my request to read and review this book via NetGalley.

IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VACATION.

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY.

After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.

When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.

But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.

When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.

Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.

Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.

SOON TO BE A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES 

MY REVIEW

It was the cover of this book that caught my eye, I am not going to point out exactly what it was. This is one for those of you who like an intense thriller story and it is one I really enjoyed.

Tom Baxter, his wife Heather and his two children from a previous marriage are hoping to spend some time together. Tom is a Doctor and is in Australia as a keynote speaker. Having the rest of the family join him means they can get some time together as a family.

This family is disjointed, Tom is a busy man and while he does spend time with his children it isn’t enough. Heather isn’t really accepted by the children and there are reasons for that. The children are not a barrel of laughs either, but again there are reasons.

To stop any squabbling Tom and Heather take the children out for a drive in the hope that they will see some of the country’s animals. Taking a trip to an island should be a chance for the children to get photos and also get some good tales, a chance for some family bonding maybe! They didn’t bargain for what they encountered on the island though.

This is a fabulous read and one that I really found myself drawn into. The setting of the Australian Outback is brilliant and having an island makes this an even better scene.

The characters are a mixed bag, they whine, they argue, they try their best and then they have their world turned upside down, and for some of them, this isn’t the first time that they will have to deal with some tough stuff.

I really like the way the author has used the character’s personalities, traits and nuances. This is a great way of keeping the reader on the hoof and I was never quite sure who was really what they appeared. They all have something to hide and some do it better than others, but eventually, things do become clear.

The story is one that I enjoyed, the basic bones of it are about a family that is getting through life but not really doing together. It is a snapshot of an American family that has found themselves in a situation that they never would have imagined themselves in. This is one of those stories that you can imagine a film being made of, and I am not sure that I would actually want to watch it (I don’t do creepy, horror style movies) but I have to say the book was brilliantly done.

From a slower start and getting to know the characters this book gradually built up the pace, it became more intense and it was one of those that had me frantically flipping pages. I thought this was brilliant and it is one I would definitely recommend. 

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