Tag: crime fiction

books, reviews

Book Review: Henry Crowne Paying the Price Books 1&2: Collapse & Breaking Point – Freddie P Peters

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He is a secret IRA operative.

He is one of the most successful City banker in London …

Now he is accused of murder.

Henry Crowne’s case seems decided from the very beginning. His Irish background, financial terrorist connections and City reputation inexorably tilt the scales against until Nancy Wu, former eminent Queen’s Counsel accepts to mount Henry’s defence. Will she manage to unpick the devious manipulations of a most twisted case before the shadows of her own past swallow her down?

Collapse is a political and espionage thriller, the first book in the Henry Crowne: Paying the Price series. If you like The Big Short by Michael Lewis, The Fear Index by Robert Harris and A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks you will enjoy the twists and turns of Freddie P Peters’ latest fast-paced thriller.

Discover Collapse now…

One financial terrorist in prison,

Two City bankers dead,

And … a $350 trillion banking scandal called LIBOR.

The suspicious suicide of two high-profile City bankers brings former QC Nancy Wu and Inspector Jonathan Pole together again in an investigation that implicates the UK government, the Bank of England, and London’s top banking executives.

As the true motive of the deaths continues to elude them, Nancy persuades a reluctant Inspector Pole to involve Henry Crowne. Once a brilliant financier, Henry is now serving a 30-year sentence in the obscure High Security Unit of HMP Belmarsh for financial terrorism.

A $350 trillion scandal is about to explode, rocking the fragile beginnings of the global recovery. Can the unlikely team unravel this complex puzzle before a dark plan destroys it all?

‘Breaking Point’ is a political and espionage thriller, the second book in the ‘Henry Crowne: Paying the Price series. If you liked The Big Short, The Fear Index or the TV series The Body Guard, you will enjoy the twists and turns of Freddie P Peters’ latest fast-paced thriller.

My thoughts: the author got in touch a while ago and very kindly sent me these books for an honest review.

I know virtually nothing about the finance world – I graduated into the mess of the 2008 crisis when all the jobs dried up, and I still don’t fully understand what happened. But these clever thrillers do a good job of explaining the financial skullduggery behind a series of murders and supposed accidents.

I really like Nancy Wu, former barrister, art collector and now advisor to Scotland Yard. She’s smart, connected and a bit scary, I think if you came up against her in court you’d think twice. I also really liked Inspector Pole, he was a fascinating figure and I want more about his back story.

Henry is a bit of an anti-hero, he’s done some terrible things, but is trying to pay for them by helping Pole investigate some highly suspicious deaths in the City. Even though Pole is the one who arrested him. They respect each other’s expertise and insights, even if they’re not exactly friends.

There are lots of twists and turns in Henry’s eventual downfall, some of which he causes himself (don’t walk into your boss’ office and point a gun at him as armed police are storming the building!) But somehow Henry escapes unscathed enough to accept his punishment.

Join me in December for books 3 and 4, and check out the author’s website for exclusive short stories related to the series and more.

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Blog Tour: High Pressure – Sam Blake

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As temperatures soar across Europe during the hottest summer for forty years, a series of hoax terrorist attacks is generating panic in London. Then a bus blows up on Oxford Street and the hoaxes have suddenly become real. 

Student Brioni O’Brien has been desperately trying to contact her older sister since she unexpectedly returned early from travelling, so when Marissa’s bag is found near the site of the explosion, she fears the worst.

Teaming up with terrorism expert Anna Lockharte to search for Marissa, Brioni discovers that her sister had

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Sam Blake’s debut novel, Little Bones, was No 1 in Ireland for four weeks, and was nominated for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. It launched the bestselling Cat Connolly trilogy. Her first standalone psychological thriller, Keep Your Eyes On Me, went straight to No 1 and its follow-up, The Dark Room was an Eason Ireland No 1 for three weeks. Sam is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow mountains for more years than she lived in the UK.

Follow her on social @samblakebooks. Visit http://www.samblakebooks.com for news and events and get a bonus free short story in audio & text when you subscribe to her newsletter.

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My thoughts: this was a clever and complex thriller that goes in directions that aren’t as predictable as it might first appear. Marissa and Brioni are Irish sisters who get caught up in a plot to cause terror in central London by terrorists. Luckily there’s a whole team of experts looking out for them after Marissa disappears and Brioni goes looking for her.

I liked Brioni a lot, she was pretty smart and determined not to let her sister’s disappearance go ignored, even with all the other things happening. I also really liked Anna, who even though she didn’t know Marissa and had only just met Brioni, she was more then willing to help out and stick by Brioni as she hunts for her sister.

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

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Blog Tour: The Kidnapper’s Word – E.J. Wood

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AN ABDUCTED CHILD. AN INNOCENT DINNER PARTY.

When nine year old Emily disappears, Detective Chief Inspector Clarence Landon knows time isn’t on his side.

It’s the 1960s. Child abductions are rare.

Her mother, Ava blames herself. What mother would leave their child alone?

Behind twitching curtains, an unsettling truth of what happened is revealed. A story of family secrets and a chilling tale of deception is unravelled.

What would you be capable of when pushed to your limits?

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She’s just a storyteller! E.J. Wood is a thriller writer from England. Although British born, she now resides in Spain, speaks English, and Spanish, and is currently learning German.
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My thoughts: I found this book a bit confusing at times, there seems to be a lot more going on that has nothing to do with the missing child. Her mother is very strange, and seems to have managed to pull the wool over DCI Landon’s eyes, he had no idea who he was living with.

The neighbours who seem to be up to something are also rather odd, and it’s only towards the end that things start to fall into place and their role is explained.

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

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Blog Tour: Psychopaths Anonymous – Will Carver

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When AA meetings make her want to drink more, alcoholic murderess Maeve sets up a group for psychopaths. Maeve has everything. A high-powered job, a beautiful home, a string of uncomplicated one-night encounters. She’s also an addict: a functioning alcoholic with a dependence on sex and an insatiable appetite for killing men. When she can’t find a support group to share her obsession, she creates her own. And Psychopaths Anonymous is born. Friends of Maeve. Now in a serious relationship, Maeve wants to keep the group a secret. But not everyone in the group adheres to the rules, and when a reckless member raises suspicions with the police, Maeve’s drinking spirals out of control. She needs to stop killing. She needs to close the group. But Maeve can’t seem to quit the things that are bad for her, including her new man… Will Carver returns with the electrifying and original Psychopaths Anonymous, a scathing, violent and darkly funny thriller about love, connection, obsessions and sex – and the aspects of human nature we’d prefer to hide.

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series. He spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He turned down a professional rugby contract to study theatre and television at King Alfred’s, Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition company, and lives in Reading with his two children. Will’s latest title published by Orenda Books, The Beresford was published in July. His previous title Hinton Hollow Death Trip was longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize, while Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Good Samaritans was book of the year in Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Express, and hit number one on the ebook charts.

My thoughts: Will Carver is a terrifying genius, and if you’ve read Good Samaritans, you’ll be familiar with Maeve and Seth. If not, you’re in for a treat.

Maeve really is a psychopathic serial killer, although she doesn’t see why that’s a problem, she’s trying to make amends, to find a way to make it up to all the dead bodies she’s left along the way. And manage her alcohol intake. But things keep happening to her. And people just need killing sometimes.

This is a very blackly comic book, I have a perverse sense of humour that this appeals to. I loved Maeve and her schemes, her complete disregard for the lives of other people and her slightly bonkers way of making amends. It was great seeing where it all started, and who she and Seth were to begin with. Another cracking read from Mr Carver’s dark, twisted mind.

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

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Blog Tour: Buried Lies – Jenny O’Brien

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Read my review of the previous book in the series – Lost Souls

HER PARTNER. HER SON. SHE’S NEXT.

Hannah Thomas returns home one morning to every mother’s worst nightmare: a missing child and a dead fiancé. When DI Gaby Darin questions her, Hannah insists she can’t think of anyone who’d want to hurt her family – and yet it all feels disturbingly personal. 

But when Gaby stumbles upon Hannah’s tragic secret, it doesn’t bring her any closer to the truth. Can she connect the dots before the killer strikes again?

Mere hours into the investigation, a second body is found. As Gaby and her team dig into the victims’ lives, they hit dead ends at every turn – particularly when it comes to Hannah’s past. What is the grieving woman hiding? 

My thoughts: I was involved in the cover reveal for this book so I was already looking forward to, and having gone and read all of the previous books in the series, I was sure I wouldn’t be let down.

The deaths of both Hannah’s son and partner are horrific, brutal and tragic, but whoever killed them isn’t done with Hannah yet. Something must have sparked this campaign of hate but what? Hannah doesn’t have any family, and there’s only one incident in her past that might make someone come after her.

As Gaby and the team prepare for Amy’s wedding, they must work quickly to solve the case and find a dangerous person with revenge in mind.

Fast paced, gripping and very clever, this is one of those books that keeps you guessing, there’s red herrings a plenty and a lot of digging needed to locate the truth. But can they get there in time? I’m not telling!

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

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Blog Tour: Behind Her Smile – J.A. Andrews

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There are two sides to every story…
Grace Thomas and her husband Cameron live busy urban lifestyles and decided to take a short break away in the countryside to reconnect as a family with their two children. Suspecting her husband of
having an affair, the trip is ruined when Cameron’s personal assistant Chantelle, arrives unannounced with some devastating news. Chantelle appears to be everywhere Grace turns, and her instincts can’t all be wrong.
Not only does Chantelle resemble Grace, It soon becomes clear that she is desperate for Cameron’s attention, but at what lengths would she go to get it?
Determined to save her marriage, Grace begins to unravel all the secrets in her relationship by scrutinising the clues. Chantelle is always in the background, but behind her smile is a dangerous lie that has devastating consequences for everyone.

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JA Andrews is from Devon in the UK and the author of gripping twisty psychological
thrillers. As well as writing fiction, he enjoys reading a mix of genres, watching reality TV and spending time with family and friends. He is a member of the Crime Writers Association and is often plotting his next novel…
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My thoughts: I found the dual timelines a bit confusing at first, especially as I wasn’t clear who was narrating what, but as the plot unravelled and Chantelle’s true nature started to be revealed it all made a lot more sense, horrifying and terrible sense. Grace is absolutely right not to trust her an inch, shame Cameron can’t see the same. He feels sorry for her and wants to help, which is bad news all round.

The cruise sections are a mass of strange events and death, what is going on? Where’s the missing suitcase? Why is Sarah insisting that’s not her name?

A dizzying set of twists and turns, is Grace going crazy? Or is something far more sinister going on?

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

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Blog Tour: Murder at the Abbey – Frances Evesham

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The Brand NEW instalment in the bestselling Exham-on-Sea series.
An unsolved murder echoes down the corridors of Cleeve Abbey for years.
The Exham-on-Sea’s History Society’s annual summer picnic comes to an abrupt end when human bones are discovered in Washford River, beside historic Cleeve Abbey.
Thrilled to find evidence of a possible centuries-old murder mystery, the members of the society organise a ghost-hunting night in the ruins of Cleeve Abbey, despite amateur sleuth Libby Forest’s reservations.
Libby is a woman of many talents, a baker, chocolatier, even a reluctant sleuth, but she’s no fan of the supernatural and her doubts are justified when a friend is attacked under cover of darkness at
the ghost-hunt.
Distressed and angry, Libby sets out with her new husband Max and their two dogs Bear and Shipley to uncover the connection between the murder of a sixteenth century monk and a present-day
attack in picturesque Somerset.
With friends and neighbours as suspects, Libby and Max close in on the culprit only to find that others are still in danger.
There’s no time to lose as the sins of the past threaten lives in the community.
Murder at the Abbey is the eighth in a series of Exham-on-Sea Murder Mysteries from the small English seaside town full of quirky characters, sea air, and gossip.
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Frances Evesham is the author of the hugely successful Exham-on-Sea mysteries set in her home county of Somerset. Boldwood has republished the complete series. Frances has also started a new cosy crime series set in rural Herefordshire, the first of which was published in June 2020.

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My thoughts: I really like this series, while there’s always at least one terrible crime to solve, there’s also lots of gentle humour, cakes, huge feasts and lovely dogs (and a slightly grumpy cat) as well as the personalities that make up the Historical Society. Libby and Max are excellent as working out all the details of whodunnit, assisting the police and in this case figuring out a 400 year old murder mystery – who killed the monk?

Tremendous fun and highly enjoyable, with lots of intrigue – and that’s just the romantic entanglements of the society’s members!

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

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Blog Tour: A Three Dog Problem – S.J. Bennett

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Queen Elizabeth II is having a royal nightmare.

A referendum divides the nation, a tumultuous election grips the United States – and the body of a staff member is found dead beside Buckingham Palace swimming pool.

Is it a tragic accident, as the police think? Or is something more sinister going on?

As Her Majesty looks for answers, her trusted assistant, Rozie, is on the trail of a treasured painting that once hung outside the Queen’s bedroom.

But when Rozie receives a threatening anonymous letter, Elizabeth knows dark forces are at work – and far too close to home. After all, though the staff and public may not realise it, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen’s eye to see connections where no one else can . . .

Agatha Christie meets The Crown in A THREE DOG PROBLEM, the much-anticipated second book in the ‘Her Majesty The Queen Investigates’ mystery series by SJ Bennett – for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin.

My thoughts: this is a very funny, wryly observed book with a gentle fondness for Her Majesty and a cast of highly entertaining characters. I love the idea of the Queen solving mysteries, as she says at one point, since she was a child, accompanied everywhere by her beloved dogs. My mum met her once (and the late Queen Mum) and says she was very pleasant, with beautiful violet eyes and a charming smile.

I liked Rozie, the Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary, and right hand woman to the longest reigning Monarch. She can go where Lilibet (HM’s childhood nickname) can’t and carry out investigations. She’s an Army Captain and doesn’t take kindly to any nonsense. I really enjoyed her.

The murders, poison pen letters, thefts and other schemes carrying on beneath the noses of the Royals, and their staff, and various small dogs, are pretty shocking. I hope it’s all fictional though I imagine that all the people working for The Estate can be tricky, too many adverse personalities, lots of nepotism and people who really aren’t qualified for their jobs. Some of them may even be crooks.

Set in 2016, during a very weird year (Brexit vote, lots of famous deaths, Harry started dating Meghan, a turd in a wig became US President), and before recent scandals and fallings out, Prince Philip features and the affectionate teasing between them is lovely, I love the idea that he calls his wife, the actual Queen, Cabbage. I imagine that they were very fond of one another and that his death this year was incredibly hard. I hope there’s more mysteries for the Queen to solve with Rozie and Inspector Strong aka Bogroll. I wonder if the real Queen has read this, I think she’d like it!

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

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Blog Tour: The Replacement – Melanie Golding

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When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn’t take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn’t dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing truths start to come to light that connect the man to the mother and child, and suddenly it’s not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it’s too late…

Weaving together the trademark folklore inspiration that readers loved in Little Darlings, with the procedural narrative force of a brilliant mystery, this is the excellent and unnerving new novel from Melanie Golding.

My thoughts: Melanie Golding’s previous book was super creepy (Little Darlings) but this one is more sad than sinister. Constance is a selkie – a seal-woman from the Outer Hebrides and a world away from 21st Century living. When Ruby finds her kept as a prisoner, along with her daughter Leonie, she promises to help them escape their awful captor.

The meshing of ancient folklore and modern world is beautifully done, Ruby at first believes Gregor’s story that Constance is mentally ill and that her “skin” is nonsense. But she gradually comes to see the truth in the tale. Perhaps the selkies, long a feature of Northern Scottish, Icelandic and Scandinavian stories do live beyond the islands in the cold North Sea. What is certain, Gregor is not a good man and escaping from him is vital. With Ruby’s police officer sister on the case, the women don’t have long to run.

Really enjoyable, magical stuff. Made me go hunting out my book of Celtic myths for more tales of the seal folk.

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

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Blog Tour: The Hideout – Camilla Grebe, translated by Sarah Clyne Sundberg

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After eighteen-year-old Samuel finds himself in the middle of a drug deal gone wrong, he is forced to leave home in a hurry. Heading south, he finds refuge in a sleepy coastal town, working as a live-in assistant to the son of a wealthy family.

When the body of a young man washes up in Stockholm’s southern archipelago, investigator Manfred Olsson is called in to work the case. With his two-year-old daughter in a coma, he is reluctant to leave her bedside – but once another body is discovered, his search for the killer intensifies.

As Samuel adjusts to life under the radar, he begins to feel safe, even with a gang out for blood and the police on his trail. But it isn’t long before he realises that his sanctuary may be home to a deadly secret.

My thoughts: first off, Samuel is a bit of an idiot – he gets involved with criminals and he keeps turning the phone they gave him on, clearly he doesn’t watch many crime dramas! But he does find somewhere supposedly safe to hide out from them. Unfortunately it’s the home of a completely disturbing situation. And he’s lined himself up to be the next victim.

The cops are on the case, Manfred might have a lot going on at home, with his young daughter in a coma, but he still manages to commit himself to the case and starts to put together the clues. The bodies and then the information Samuel’s loving if conflicted mother, Pernilla, gives them. She and her friend go off on their own investigation, almost jeopardising Samuel’s life. Not the most helpful thing to do, but a worried parent will do whatever they can.

I liked Pernilla, especially when she grew a backbone, told the creepy pastor off, and set out to save her son. She worried about being a bad parent, but she loves her son and lets nothing stop her in her quest to find him. I also liked Manfred and his team, they were smart and funny, working through the evidence and gathering information as they hunted for the killer leaving bodies wrapped in chains.

This was really clever and compelling, the reveals shocking and horrifying, a real “who would do that?” feel. The role of social media was interesting and smartly done, especially the way it connected Rachel and Afshana, the fact Manfred was so ignorant of it. A very enjoyable, twisted thriller.

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