Review - The Blackout by Sarah Goodwin

 

You can't outrun the past…

Summer, 2022. When Meg and Cat are forced to take a dangerous shortcut home one night, they notice two men silently following them. Suddenly running for their lives, they scramble into an abandoned building to hide and wait for help.

…for what’s done in the dark will come to light…

One year later. Attempting to escape the horrors of that fateful night, Meg barricades herself into a safehouse at the edge of a crumbling sea cliff. As a storm rages outside, a blackout plunges the house into darkness. But Meg’s not alone.

…and someone wants revenge.

Wowzers! 

I loved this book, I really enjoyed that we were finding out the back story pinning the current story bit by bit. 

BUT what I loved was the back story BEFORE the back story which was really why everything was happening - just brilliant!!! 

I do still have a question even though I've finished it but I think that has been done on purpose!!

Review - Committed by Chris Merritt

 

Six days to stop a deadly attack. And no one else believes it's real.

Former CIA undercover operative Ellen McGinley is battling to overcome PTSD when she stumbles upon a domestic terror plot. The deadly attack is due to take place in six days and will strike at the very heart of her homeland.

For Ellen, it's a chance to find redemption for her greatest mistake - one she will never allow herself to forget.

But no sooner than she alerts the authorities, she finds herself diagnosed as delusional and locked in a psychiatric ward. No one believes her story.

She's the only one who thinks the danger is real, which means she's the only one who can stop it.

Ellen must draw on all her old skills to escape, stay alive, protect her family, and find those responsible - before all hell breaks loose.

This was just incredible! I couldn’t put it down! 

I’m not going to lie, I was like is Ellen making it up, is it actually a real thing? Who knew? Brilliantly written and unraveled at a perfect pace. I loved how we also learned a bit about Ellen's past which was also her motivation for wanting to succeed this time round.

There was one element that I guessed correctly but I won’t give any spoilers! 

And the best bit is I think there’s more to come & I can’t wait! 

Review: Twisted by Steve Cavanagh

BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:

1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.

After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...

WOW!! I literally couldn't put this book down... as a fan of Steve Cavanagh's other books I was excited to read this standalone book and I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed! 

I don't like giving too much away about storylines but what I can say is that this had me gripped.... I needed to find out what was going on and that meant that I had to keep reading as just as you think you know what's happening... things change. 

It's a fast paced novel which I liked, it definitely kept me guessing and it's not one of those books where one chapter in you know exactly how it's going to end but you carry on reading anyway!

I loved the fact that Steve even put a brief reference to Eddie Flynn in the book (that's his main character from his other books) and the book just felt really 'current' with other small references that were made. 

If I'm completely honest... I finished the book two days ago and I'm still wondering to myself how he came up with such a fantastic storyline and managed to write it so brilliantly! It definitely needs to be at the top of your to-read pile. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I enjoyed it that much that I'll be buying a hard copy when it's released.

Review: Day of theAccident by Nuala Ellwood

They say you killed...

BUT WHAT IF THEY'RE WRONG?

Sixty seconds after she wakes from a coma, Maggie's world is torn apart. 

The police tell her that her daughter Elspeth is dead. That she drowned when the car Maggie had been driving plunged into the river. Maggie remembers nothing.

When Maggie begs to see her husband Sean, the police tell her that he has disappeared. He was last seen on the day of her daughter's funeral.

What really happened that day at the river?

Where is Maggie's husband?

And why can't she shake the suspicion that somewhere, somehow, her daughter is still alive? 

I loved this book!!! At first I wasn't quite sure what was going on and then as the story unfolded things became clearer... I must admit though that I'd not quite got it all worked out until all was revealed. It really was a gripping read...… and I couldn't put it down. 

I don't want to give any spoilers away but what I will say is that you definitely need to read this book when it's released next year.

I was lucky to be given an advance digital copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion, and I can honestly say that it was brilliant!!

Review: No Time To Cry by James Oswald

Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.

Returning to their base of operations, an anonymous office in a shabby neighbourhood, she finds the bloodied body of her boss, and friend, DI Pete Copperthwaite. He's been executed - a single shot to the head.

In the aftermath, it seems someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the wrecked operation falls squarely on Con's shoulders. She is cut loose and cast out, angry and alone with her grief... right until the moment someone also tries to put a bullet through her head.

There's no place to hide, and no time to cry.

I don't think that I have read any of James Oswald's other series..... and I'm really wondering why not??

I loved this book. The storyline was great and the plot and ending wasn't obvious from the start. It had me gripped and I couldn't put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen next. Our main character Con is just perfect and I could really picture her thinking what to do next, I do hope that some of the other characters that we have met also make a reappearance in future books too.

I'm very excited that this is a new series and I cannot wait until the next instalment is out for me to read. In the meantime I think that I'll catch up on the other series as I really do love the way that this book is written, it flows so well.

Macbeth by Jo Nesbo

He’s the best cop they’ve got.

When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it’s up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess.

He’s also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past.

He’s rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. They’re all within reach.

But a man like him won’t get to the top.

Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He’s convinced he won’t get what is rightfully his.

Unless he kills for it. 

Absolutely brilliant...…. I'm a huge Jo Nesbo fan anyway but I just loved this! I couldn't put it down. the storyline was so fast paced I wasn't sure what was going to happen next and there's not many books these days that get me like that as I'm usually pretty good at working out what's going to happen!

I will admit that I've not read Macbeth by Shakespeare so have no idea how close the story is to that but it didn't matter, it literally had me gripped. 

Review: Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

WOW!!! I absolutely loved this book, I read it in less than 24 hours and just couldn't put it down - I almost considered not sleeping so that I could finish it quicker!!

So as the book suggests...… The serial killer isn't on trial - HE'S ON THE JURY

This was brilliantly written, the storyline just weaved and flowed easily with the picture of what had really happened building clue by clue. Kane is our criminal who has literally killed to get his seat on the jury, can he see the man convicted though?

Once again the star of the book is Eddie Flynn who ends up getting involved despite him not wanting too, once he realises that the client is innocent he takes matters into his own hands to help try and prove his innocence.

I don't want to give too much away about the rest of the storyline as I really think that everyone needs to read it themselves to find out. There were points when I was reading that I literally shouted out 'yes!, I'd forgotten about that' and 'oh my god' my friends who were with me told me that I couldn't tell them anymore as they wanted to read it!!

Review: Trust No One by Anthony Mosawi

I loved this book!! 

I couldn’t read it quick enough. It has a brilliantly written storyline when gets started right from the beginning... I quickly wanted to find out more. I loved the way that the story unfolded. Sara our main character was found aged 10 trapped in a bath full of water and the only thing she knew was her name.

There were only a couple of clues left but not much to go on. Her main problem...... who she could trust. The book really gripped me and I had to find out about Sara’s past. There are some other really great characters that were developed in the book and I would love to read more about them in another book.

It’s published on the 23rd August so grab a copy! It’s well worth it! 

I received an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Take me in by Sabine Durrant

I loved this book.... the storyline starts instantly and the more you read the more you realise is happening! I couldn't wait to finish it.

The story is written from two points of view - Marcus and Tessa, it starts on holiday where their son almost drowns on the beach and a stranger saves him..... but that stranger wants to be in their lives from now on. 

Both Marcus and Tessa are hiding their own secrets too and with all the pressure they are under they start to feel like someone is watching them.....but are they being watched?

I loved the way the story unfolded and I must admit I didn't see the ending coming and thought it was brilliant. Definitely a must read.

Review: The Curious Heart of Ailsa Rae by Stephanie Butland

I loved this book, it tells the story of Ailsa Rae, who has waited many years for a heart transplant..... she gets one but now she has to learn how to live a normal life.

I enjoyed the style that this book was written in, a mix of the past, present, blog posts and emails. all perfectly capturing the emotions that the author is trying to convey. There is happiness, sadness, family drama, romance and humour all brilliantly combined together - with a Tango thrown in too!!

It was great to see how Ailsa developed throughout the book and I must say that I'm sad that the story ended..... I'm hoping we get to hear more from her in a sequel.

Review: You We’re Gone by Tim Weaver

Well... I’m currently wondering where I’ve been!! How is this Raker #9 and I’ve only just discovered it!!! Absolutely brilliant... I need to go and read them all from the beginning now! 

Having no clue what the series was previously about I can safely say that you don’t need to read the others for it to make sense! The storyline had me gripped from early on and I loved how many layers there was to the story and finding the real culprit! 

It was well written and fast paced but didn’t feel rushed at any point and everything that was written was useful and contributed to the story.

Review: The Bone Keeper by Luca Veste

I can honestly say that I loved every word of this book! I received a copy to read and review via Netgalley. I was so excited to be able to read this early as I’ve been waiting for it for a while. I’ve only discovered Luca Veste earlier in the year and read his first novel so far but I loved that and as this is not part of the series I knew that I could read it without missing anything out.

Keep the lights on.

Remember to breathe.

This thriller will grip you like no other.

He’ll slice your flesh,

Your bones he’ll keep.

The Bone Keeper’s coming,

And he’ll make you weep.

This is based upon Louise Henderson who is all too familiar with the song from her childhood, where the woods are a place to be feared, now a detective she’s having to enter the woods and face her fears.

I couldn’t read this quick enough! I was convinced that I knew exactly what was going on and I was wrong!! This book kept throwing in twists and turns right up until the end....

Definitely a MUST READ