ramblingmads

DETECTIVE KATE HAMBLIN IS FIGHTING FOR HER CAREER – AND MAYBE HER LIFE – IN THE GRIPPING CRIME THRILLER FROM A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.

Elderly Agnes Everard never stood a chance. The car slams into her at breakneck speed, then vanishes in a cloud of billowing smoke and burned rubber.

Hours later, two officers knock on Detective Kate’s door. A witness swears it was Kate’s vehicle that hit Agnes Everard – and the evidence agrees.
Kate knows it’s a lie. But before she can fight back, she’s suspended, her badge stripped away, her reputation in tatters.

With the help of her loyal husband Hayden – the only person who believes she’s innocent – Kate sets out to investigate. A tip-off leads to a rented flat in Highbridge – and a body at the foot of the stairs, neck snapped, eyes staring. Kate realizes Agnes wasn’t the only target.

Someone is orchestrating this. Someone who’s watching Kate closely.

Someone who knows exactly how to destroy her – and is prepared to kill anyone who gets in the way.

With her career on the line and the net tightening, Kate must uncover who wants her ruined – before she becomes the next body on the floor.

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David Hodges served in the Thames Valley Police, from the rank of Constable to
Superintendent, retiring after thirty years with the force. During that time, he gained
wide experience in numerous operational and management roles, including both urban and rural policing, membership of the tactical Support Group, an authorised firearms and public order unit, and departmental and operational command. Prior to his retirement, he was appointed the force Press, Public Relations Officer and completed his career as the head of Corporate Communication.

A prolific writer, with fifteen crime novels published so far, including ten in his
Somerset Murder Series, David is a member of the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers and Crime Readers Associations and International Thriller Writers.

An active supporter of public libraries, and keenly interested in wildlife and the
countryside, he is married, with two daughters and four grandchildren, and now lives in beautiful Pembrokeshire, where he can fully indulge his passion for writing.

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My thoughts: Framing a police officer for the hit and run of an elderly lady was never really going to work. Detective Inspector Kate Lewis is too clever and too determined to just roll over and take the blame. She knows she’s innocent, and she’ll do whatever it takes to prove it.

With the help of her loyal husband (and fellow police officer) Hayden, she’s soon tracking down answers, even if some of her senior officers would rather see her go down for it.

There’s lots of twists and turns as Kate digs into the case, determined to prove her innocence and stop whoever it is that’s out to destroy her. They don’t seem to want her dead, but her career and life in ruins. Who could be so motivated?

A smart and engaging investigation, a clever and dogged protagonist, a psychopathic criminal, it’s a heady mix and a great read.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

When the local fish and chip shop owner is found dead next to the fryer, is it a case of wrong plaice, wrong time or is a killer on the loose in the village?

Judy is reading late one night when a knock at the door disturbs her. Local teenager Megan has discovered her boss Colin, owner of local fish and chip shop The Codfather, lying dead next to the fryer. Found with the book club pick of the month at his side, surely Judy and her crime-loving book group can help?

The local police haven’t a clue, but as Judy gathers her bookish friends, they soon uncover more suspects than they bargained for. Was it John from rival fish and chip shop Salty Towers, the estranged brother who stands to inherit the family business? Or is there something fishy about Dazza, the new handyman who carries an empty toolbox? But when they both appear to have solid alibis, the book club are worried there are more red herrings in this case than they had counted on.

When another body is found, Judy realises that time is running out to crack the case before the killer strikes again. Can Judy and her book club follow in the footsteps of their fictional detective heroes to uncover the murderer before someone else is found sleeping with the fishes?

An absolutely hilarious and unputdownable new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.

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Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job – shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks – to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.
It went on to become a No 1 bestseller and publishing phenomenon. So now Tracy has a new dream job, making people laugh and sometimes cry through her writing and has had many more novels published successfully around the world. She now lives back in Derbyshire with her now wonderful husband and two children!

Maggie Allswell is a pen name.

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My thoughts: This was a really fun crime romp with the rather obsessive crime fans of the Serial Killers Book Club (where they read crime fiction, not kill people!). 

When chip shop employee Megan knocks on Judy’s door clutching a book soaked copy of The Hound of the Baskervilles, having found her boss dead in his shop, Judy first of all has to convince the police she isn’t the killer, then ropes the book club members into solving it, having decided the police are useless.

With some undercover work for a few of the team, and a lot of text messages in the group chat as they try to sort out their prime suspects, they uncover a drug dealing money laundering business right under the town’s noses, serve up some rather sad sandwiches at a wake, and hopefully catch a killer.

Lots of fun, funny and a bit silly, this is crime fiction’s lighter side, yes there’s murder but there’s also puns and cake.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.