Tag: crime fiction

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Beautiful Liars – Isabel Ashdown

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Liar, Liar

In the photograph Martha Benn has kept for two decades, three girls lounge on the grass during a school field trip. Beside Martha, there’s Liv, petite and wickedly funny, and Juliet, their unofficial leader, brave, kind, and effortlessly beautiful. Back then, they meant the world to each other. But when Juliet disappeared, the bond between Martha and Liv unravelled too.
 
Martha was the last known person to see Juliet alive, and she still has no idea what happened after the two said goodnight on a towpath beside London’s Regent’s Canal. The next day, Juliet’s abandoned bicycle was discovered, but no sign of Juliet. Without witnesses or clues, the investigation fell apart.
 
Martha, now a TV celebrity preparing to host a show investigating cold cases, finally has a chance to get answers. As Martha tries to piece together what happened to Juliet, she realizes that her memories of those long-ago bonds may not tell the whole story. And someone else may know more about Juliet’s fate, and their friendship, than she could ever have imagined . . .

My thoughts: Friendship is a weird thing, it changes over time, sometimes getting stronger, sometimes it just falls away. But we never forget, not really.

Martha is trying to put the pieces together about the disappearance of her friend Juliet, years after the fact. The third member of their group, Liv, might have some idea but it’s been tricky getting in touch, she’s vague over email, and Martha is desperate to meet up and compare notes.

But there seems to be more to all this, and maybe one of the few witnesses, someone always on the sidelines, in the background, knows the truth.

It’s a bit creepy, with a stalker’s perspective on the events around Juliet’s disappearance and on Martha’s attempts to figure it all out. I imagine we don’t notice those people, the ones on the fringes of our lives, very often, and that’s certainly the case here, with a controlling and manipulative person who seems incredibly innocent as well.

Isabel’s books just get better, and more sinister, this is definitely the darkest one yet I reckon. I really enjoyed reading it, she has a brilliant knack at getting you to understand the characters and their strange minds without being put off or disturbed. I felt for Martha, and for Casey, both held in place by something that happened so long ago that many people have forgotten.

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

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Blog Tour: Something More to Say – Tony J. Forder

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BLISS IS BACK… AND THIS TIME HE’S TWICE THE THREAT.

Jimmy Bliss’s first unsolved case is proving to be a puzzle. Despite an original investigation and subsequent case reviews, the police still do not have a suspect in the 1999 murder of a local
authority worker. The only lead Bliss and his three new colleagues have is the recent unearthing of the murder weapon. But when that takes them no further, they realise their only chance of success is
to find fresh evidence missed in the original case.

The reinvestigation is starting to look hopeless when in steps a shadowy figure from Jimmy’s past.
The man has a favour to ask, and Bliss a debt to repay. With his loyalty put to the test, can he be convinced the request is genuinely for the greater good?

Meanwhile, the violent executions of two young drug runners are the first lethal blows in a war between organised county lines drug gangs. Bliss is asked to act as the Senior Investigating Officer.
Working with his Major Crime Unit colleagues, he professes to align himself with one of the gangs to ensure a peaceful end to hostilities. But will they call his bluff and see his act for what it is?

Bliss’s strategy prompts an unexpected reaction in one psychopathic loose cannon, resulting in threats of violence and the spread of fear. And when those threats become actions, will Jimmy and
his colleagues be caught in the line of fire…?

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Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, Slow Slicing, The Autumn Tree, Darker Days to Come, The Lightning Rod, and What Dies Inside Us will be joined in autumn 2024 by Something More to Say. There is also a prequel novella available called Bliss
Uncovered.

Tony’s other books include two action-adventure thrillers, Scream Blue Murder and Cold Winter Sun, featuring reluctant hero Mike Lynch. Also, The Huntsmen and The Predators, feature DS Royston Chase, DC Claire Laney, and PCSO Alison May, both police procedural novels set in Wiltshire. In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of
Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, Fifteen Coffins.

Tony’s first 8 novels were originally released by a publisher specialising in crime fiction. In 2020, Tony decided to strike out on his own, and subsequently negotiated the return of all publishing rights to himself. Each of those 8 books has subsequently been re-released under his own imprint, Spare Nib Books.Tony lives with his wife in West Sussex, UK, and is a full-time author. He is currently working on book  #12 in his bestselling Jimmy Bliss series.

His first love was music, and he is currently gobbling up as many remastered vinyl albums as he can. Tony has played guitar since his early childhood, and
despite selling off his collection at one point he has somehow managed to reacquire a new range and  is up to 5 without knowing how.

All of Tony’s links can be found on Linktree

My thoughts: this was very, very good. I’m planning on getting my dad (who is very particular) the series for Christmas, I think he’d love the Jimmy Bliss books.

Bliss is working with a team of retired experts, including former detectives, on cold cases, putting their years of knowledge and experience to use reviewing cases the police couldn’t solve at the time, along with new technology like DNA. But this murder seems to have some very old school reasons as the motive – greed and power. Bliss just needs to connect all the dots so his tip off from an old “friend” is legitimate for the courts.

He’s also been asked to act as SIO on the murders of two teenage drug dealers, probably part of a county lines operation, and the three gangs that want control of the city are headed for war if Bliss can’t sort it all out.

The writing is compelling, the story gripping and the characters brilliantly drawn, it was one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read recently. Add it to your tbr, you won’t be sorry!

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

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Blog Tour: Death at the Old Curiosity Shop –

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When Alice Carroll steps into Curiosity Cottage, a picture-perfect former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, she thinks she’s found the perfect place to start the new phase of her
life. Freshly separated from her collector long-term boyfriend, she’s excited to embrace her new, minimalist existence.

All Alice needs to do is sell off the left-behind stock, and settle in. But the villagers of Little Pride have other ideas, and Alice quickly realises they won’t give up their beloved shop without a fight.
Then a dead body is found buried in her neighbour’s compost heap, and Alice realises there’s much more to Little Pride, and its residents, than meets the eye.

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Debbie Young is the much-loved author of the Sophie Sayers and St Brides cosy crime mysteries. She lives in a Cotswold village, where she runs the local literary festival, and has worked at Westonbirt School, both of which provide inspiration for her writing

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My thoughts: This was a great start to a new series with a new protagonist from the marvellous Debbie Young.

Alice Carroll (yes, she was named after that Alice) has found a lovely Cotswold cottage to buy after her long term relationship comes to an end and she has to sell her home. Unfortunately she’s just been made redundant on top of that. So now she needs a new job.

The previous owner of her cottage used to run an antiques/junk shop from her front room and Alice is expected to carry that on, at least until she can get the local council to let her turn it into a home completely. But maybe this could be the new job?

Horrible local developer Bolt is planning to plonk some horrible new homes on the donkey paddock next door and he also wants her cottage. But a discovery in the field might just put paid to that.

There’s also the murder of a local builder and the almost murder of the council archaeologist to sort out, with the help of her friend, and former colleague, Danny. Can Alice restore the village’s peace and quiet, make a go of the curiosity shop and get rid of Bolt?

Fun, clever and really enjoyable, I can’t wait for more from this new series.

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

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Blog Tour: Dark as Night – Lilja Sigurđardóttir, translated by Lorenza Garcia

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When Áróra receives a call telling her that a child she’s never met is claiming to be her missing sister reincarnated, she is devastated … as ridiculous as the allegations might seem. For three years she has been searching for her sister without finding a single clue, and now this strange child seems to have new information. 

On the same day, Icelandic detective Daníel returns home to find a note from his tenant, drag queen Lady Gúgúlú, giving notice on her flat and explaining that she has to leave the country. Daníel is immediately suspicious, and when three threatening men appear, looking for Lady, it’s clear to him that something is very wrong…

And as Iceland’s long dark nights continue into springtime, that is just the very beginning…

Bestselling crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland.

An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide and been long- and shortlisted for multiple awards. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California, and the An Áróra Investigation series is now in production for a major TV series.

Cold as Hell was published in the UK in 2021 and reprinted twice, followed by Red as Blood and White as Snow, both number-one digital bestsellers.

Lilja lives outside of Reykjavík with her partner and a brood of chickens.

My thoughts: I don’t believe in reincarnation – so I was very sceptical of the claim that a child could be Áróra’s lost sister, although she does pass on some rather detailed information that there is no other way she could have, three year olds don’t tend to hang out with murderers. Áróra is put through the wringer with this situation but it might finally give her resolution. Daniel takes over the case, to give her breathing space, and asks Áróra to find his suddenly missing lodger – drag queen Lady Gúgúlú.

This second case is incredibly convoluted and provides an entirely new back story to the colourful and sequined world created in Daniel’s garage. It seems the man Daniel knows is not entirely who he claimed to be – and he has multiple names too.

Áróra’s investigation takes her away from Iceland, and away from the peculiar case Daniel is dealing with. But will he get answers or just more questions?

I found Lady’s story, aka Robert, the reason he’s been hiding and has kept his past a tightly guarded secret really fascinating and compelling. It also provided a contrast to the hunt for Áróra’s sister that kept that plot from becoming too woo woo. Another excellent slice of Icelandic noir, and a great set up for further stories. 

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

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Blog Tour: The Aftermath – Paul Gitsham

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The Fire. The Fallout. The Aftermath.

Seamus Monaghan is still haunted by the unexplained fire that killed his vibrant but troubled wife, Carole, three years ago. Why was she taken from him in such a horrific way?

Dominic has protected his brother, Seamus, since they were orphaned as young boys. But is that bond strong enough to survive the fallout from the fire?

Andrea loves her fiancé Seamus, but will the fire’s aftermath destroy their future together?

Time moves on, but can the embers of the past ever be truly extinguished?

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Paul Gitsham started his career as a biologist, working in such exotic locales as Manchester and Toronto. After stints as the world’s most over-qualified receptionist and a spell making sure that
international terrorists and other ne’er do wells hadn’t opened a Junior Savings Account at a major UK bank (a job even less exciting than being a receptionist) he retrained as a Science Teacher. He now
spends his time passing on his bad habits and sloppy lab-skills to the next generation of enquiring minds.

Paul has always wanted to be a writer and his final report on leaving primary school predicted he’d be the next Roald Dahl! For the sake of balance it should be pointed out that it also said “he’ll never get anywhere in life if his handwriting doesn’t improve”. Twenty five years later and his handwriting is worse than ever but millions of children around the world love him.*
*This is a lie, just ask any of the pupils he has taught.

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My thoughts: This was an intense, complex thriller, with twists left, right, and centre. Family is everything to Seamus and his brother Dominic – mostly as it’s just the two of them. Seamus met his wife Carole at college and her death in a fire at their home was a terrible tragedy.

Three years on Seamus and Andrea are expecting their first baby, but Andrea is worried that something’s not right. Did Seamus have something to do with Carole’s death? 

Paul Gitsham always crafts such clever and gripping reads, and this is no different. I was hooked from the off, and all the twists. The cops and I were looking in the wrong direction a lot of the time!

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

blog tour, books, reviews

Blogathon: Cold Reckoning Russ Thomas

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THE DARKNESS FROM HIS PAST WILL FINALLY COME TO LIGHT

The death of DS Tyler’s father irrevocably changed his life. As a child, he believed Richard had killed himself but, as the years have passed, Tyler has grown convinced he was murdered.   

When a cold case lands on Tyler’s desk, there’s nothing immediately notable about it, apart from the link it has to his father. Richard was investigating the same case shortly before he died.

Finally, Tyler has a tangible link to the past, one that could give him the answers he has been looking for. And while there are dangerous people who will do anything to keep him quiet, he knows he has to keep digging.

Because you’d risk anything for your family – even your life.

Russ Thomas grew up in the 80s reading anything he could get his hands on, writing stories, watching television, and playing videogames: in short, anything that avoided the Great Outdoors. After a few ‘proper’ jobs, he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. Now a full-time writer, he also teaches creative writing classes and mentors new authors.

My thoughts: Tyler is getting closer to answers about his father’s death and the seam of corruption running through the city. He’s getting info from crooks as well as his father’s former colleagues. He knows his father’s suicide wasn’t right and he’s sure he’ll prove it.

There’s a frozen body in the lake, frozen before it even hit the water, and a teenage girl to protect. So it’s business as usual in that regard. But Tyler is also looking for his missing boss/godmother, sure Stevens has done something terrible to her.

As some of the storylines running through the series finally come to a conclusion with answers that Tyler (and I) finally get as the evidence and events combine in shocking twists. 

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

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Blog Tour: A Random Kill – Andrew Barrett

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DS Regan Carter never imagined she would end up in the Major Crime Unit, surrounded by the one thing she despises most: death. But when a young mother is brutally killed and her baby kidnapped, Regan is thrown into a terrifying battle with a local organized crime group. As she closes in on the gang-members, she must also face the horror of her own past. Regan struggles to keep her head above water.

But this is just the beginning. As the OCG begins to crumble and secrets are revealed, Regan finds herself facing a threat that hits dangerously close to home. With her job, her reputation, and her life on the line, she must use all her skills and ferocity to take down the criminals before they take her down first.

For fans of gripping police procedurals, and crime thrillers with strong female leads, A Random Kill is a must-read. Don’t miss out on this heart-pounding debut in the DS Regan Carter series.

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Andrew Barrett has been a CSI since 1996, and one way or another, his life has revolved around crime ever since.

In 1997 he finished his first crime thriller, A Long Time Dead, and it’s still a readers’ favourite today, some 150,000 copies later, topping the Amazon charts several times. Two more books featuring SOCO Roger Conniston completed the trilogy.

Today, Andrew still produces authentic crime thrillers with a forensic flavour that attract attention from readers worldwide. He’s also attracted attention from the Yorkshire media, having been featured in the Yorkshire Post and interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds a couple of times.

He’s best known for his lead character, CSI Eddie Collins, and the acerbic way in which he roots out criminals, and administers justice. Eddie’s series is seven books and five novellas in length, and there’s still more to come.

There’s a new trilogy featuring feisty DS Regan Carter due out soon.

He’s a proud Yorkshireman and sets his novels there, using his home city of Leeds as another major, and complementary, character in each of the stories.

You can find out more about him and his writing at http://www.andrewbarrett.co.uk

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My thoughts: Regan Carter has been reassigned following her divorce (from her senior officer  – oops) to the Major Crime Unit where she’ll have to deal with the one thing she hates – death and dead bodies.

Called out to the scene of a terrible incident – a murdered young woman and her baby missing, taken by the person who killed her, Regan has to prove herself to her new team and to her new bosses.

The case gets more and more complicated, as the detectives dig into it, nothing is as straightforward as it seems and there are more bodies to come, the gang at the centre of the case is unravelling, and someone in the police might be passing on info.

Smart and fast paced, this book cracks along, with twists and turns at every step.

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

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Blog Tour: The Plague Doctor Murders – Ellis Blackwood

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A killer dressed as a plague doctor is prowling London’s docks.

Able seaman Humphrey Wilkes is dead, shot between the eyes by the murderer known as the Plague Doctor. When Samuel Pepys’s naval colleague, Robert Drake, finds a black cross daubed on his door, it marks him out as the next victim.

Pepys dispatches his inquisitors, Abby Harcourt and Jacob Standish, to the docks. Can they unmask the killer and save Drake’s life before he strikes again?

Death is a way of life to hardened seafarers. The dockyard is theirs – a dangerous domain of secrets, lies and grudges dating back to the grim days of the plague. Anyone could be the Plague Doctor. But who lurks beneath that ghastly disguise?

When the Plague Doctor targets Jacob himself, the battle to save Drake becomes personal.

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Ellis Blackwood fell in love with the writings of Samuel Pepys, and the 17th-century England he inhabited, through the great man’s published diaries. The Samuel Pepys Mysteries are the result of that literary love affair.

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My thoughts: The Great Fire of London is cooling, the buildings are smouldering and Samuel Pepys has a problem he needs his two inquisitors to look into.

Down in Deptford, at the docks, a world away from Pepys’ home and life at court, a murderer dressed as a plague doctor has been at work. Abby and Jacob are sent to investigate. It’s something of a closed world at the dockyard and hard work to get anything out of the residents. Life at sea and on the docks is hard and death happens suddenly, but even here, a murderer is a strange event.

Clever and full of historical detail – one of my favourite historical facts is that Pepys buried his cheese in the garden to save it from the Fire, and the flavour of 17th Century London, both familiar and completely alien at the same time.

This series just gets better with every book and Abby is really coming to the fore as a crack investigator, despite regarding herself as just a house maid. She really needs to talk to Pepys about a proper promotion and pay rise! Jacob is still a bit wet, and needs to stop worrying about what people think of him – Samuel Pepys clearly thinks he’s a man who’s going places. 

It’s a good plot too, lots of suspects and twists and the duo find more than they expected in a dockside pub, clever little tattoos that lead them to gambling and other secrets.

Don’t forget to head to the author’s website for the free short story that started it all, when Samuel Pepys’ famous diaries go missing.

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

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Blogathon: Do No Harm – Jack Jordan

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As part of this Jack Jordan blogathon, I’m re-posting my review of his book Do No Harm.

MY CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN.
AND I’VE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE . . .
KILL A PATIENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE
OR LOSE MY SON FOREVER.

The man lies on the table in front of me.
As a surgeon, it’s my job to save him.
As a mother, I know I must kill him.
You might think that I’m a monster.
But there really is only one choice.
I must get away with murder.
Or I will never see my son again.

I’VE SAVED MANY LIVES.
WOULD YOU TRUST ME WITH YOURS?

My thoughts: I don’t have kids but I do know a fair few mums and I completely understand how dedicated and how much they love their children.

I don’t know however if they’d actually be able to kill for them as Anna is blackmailed into doing here. The people who took her little boy will kill him if the local MP makes it off her table. Doctors pledge to do no harm, but mothers will say they’d do anything for their child.

This is such a delicious and chilling set up and Anna can’t just leave it there. Especially when she doesn’t get her terrified son back straight away. Something else is in play here and it’s only by following every tiny lead (and dodgy nurse Margot) that she can finally get Zack back.

The cops are on the case so she also needs to throw them off the scent, survive a review at work, and keep her ex-husband from finding anything out. Easy peasy. Not like it’s oh, open heart surgery or anything.

I was totally hooked, the way the story plays out, the alternating viewpoints from Anna and Margot, as they’re pulled into a deadly world of crime and politics, it’s dark and clever and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Blog Tour: A Death of Fresh Air – Helen Golden

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In a charming seaside town, secrets don’t stay buried for long…

Body of Chef Found in Wall Three Years After He ‘Left to go to Australia’

Human remains found inside the wall of a disused building have now been identified as those of Victor Blackwell. He was the head chef at Windstanton’s The Seaside Lounge until just over three years ago, when, according his friends, he left for a job in Australia. Detective Inspector Albert Finch from Fenshire’s Cold Case Unit has asked for anyone who has information about the chef’s movements three years ago to come forward.

We have no choice! With only three weeks until the Grand Opening, the last thing Bea and Perry need is the grim discovery of a skeleton in the wall of Simon and Ryan’s soon-to-open restaurant, SaltAir. But when it’s designated a crime scene, and the policeman in charge of the investigation into Vic’s murder refuses to let them have access to continue the refurbishment, they have no other option than to investigate the murder themselves or risk letting Simon and Ryan down.

But in a town where everyone harbours secrets, can they uncover the truth in time or will SaltAir’s opening be a damp squib?

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Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two
dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a
lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes.

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My thoughts: We’re back in Fenshire with Lady Beatrice and the gang getting ready for the opening of Simon and Ryan’s new restaurant. Bea and Perry are handling the makeover and as a false wall is knocked down to reveal the sea view – a grisly find is discovered. The remains of the former head chef, supposedly in Australia for the last three years. Grim. And totally against hygiene rules.

Time is short and the detective assigned the case, head of the cold case unit, Finch, doesn’t seem too inclined to investigate. So, despite promising to stay out of murders, Bea and Perry (along with Simon, Rich and Ryan, not to mention Daisy the dog) have no choice but to run their own investigation.

They uncover a rather different version of events to those that supposedly happened when the chef first went missing. There’s an ex-girlfriend, former colleagues and a rather panicked ex-boss, running for local MP, to interview. But something isn’t quite right. Luckily Bea’s brother Fred has a good eye for dodgy accounting.

Bea and Rich are also about to go public, Bea’s grandmother, aka the Dowager Queen, is keen to meet him and Bea’s son is home for the holidays, so it’s all happy families at the royal estate.

Daisy does her canine detective best and finds a vital clue – dogs (and cats) often make excellent crime busters. And there’s lots of very tasty sounding food being eaten. Fun as ever and highly entertaining.

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