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.

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: Body and Soul by John Harvey

Well..... 

I don’t know where I’ve been - this is the first book that I’ve read and it’s the last in the Elder cases!! Clearly I’m going to have to go back now and catch up on what I’ve missed.

I loved the storyline to this book, two separate criminals to catch but it was written brilliantly so there was no confusion. I loved that I got to meet the characters and find out more about them - had I have read the full series then I probably would already know who was who in some of our cast. However it wasn’t one of those series that I felt that I’d missed out but not having read the previous books and it can clearly be read as a stand alone too..... for me however I would love to go back to the beginning to find out more!

Review: Slow Horses by Mick Herron

I’ve only just discovered this series by Mick Herron..... I’m wondering where I’ve been!! 

Slow horses are MI5’s ‘rejects’ that aren’t good enough to remain in the main squad but are unable to be fired due to different reasons. Whilst they may be rejects in MI5’s eyes they are still very talented and capable individuals.... given the opportunity to work together actually having a case to work.. they show they are a formidable team.

I loved getting to know the characters that appear in this book, there is a great balance between storyline & character background so that you feel like you are bonding with the ‘Slow Horses’. It’s a fast paced book and the storyline isn’t one that you can work out straightaway from the beginning. 

Great read and I cannot wait to read more from this series... luckily for me I was behind on discovering it so I can read #2 straightaway.

Review: Family Jewels by N.L.Wilson

Absolutely Brilliant - A MUST Read

I enjoyed the first book of this series - The Case of The Flashing Fashion Queen and to be honest although I was eager to read the next instalment I was hesitant as I sometimes find that the second one just isn’t as good.

I’m glad to say that I was wrong - this book was brilliant!! I was up until 4am reading this as I just needed to see Dix Dodd our wonderful Private Investigator unfold the mystery.

We start off with Dix in her new office with all new modern gadgets, still with the delightful Dylan as her trusty sidekick. Her new fax machine brings news that her Mother, Katt Dodd is a person of interest in recent jewel thefts at the Wildoh retirement community!! Not to mention the disappearance of Katt’s boyfriend Frankie!

Dix and Dylan set off for Florida - with Mrs P in tow - I laughed so much at the car journey to Florida with Mrs P and her ‘crossword’ clues. There was lots of wit in these scenes, very well written. And also a theme which re-occurs later on in the book.

Once we meet Katt and some of the other resident’s of the Wildoh things really started to get good - plenty of undercover work from both Dix and Dylan - although Dix wasn’t expecting to go undercover on this occasion, I think she did well! There are some great scenes in this book - one of my favourite one’s is Dix in the restaurant with Deputy No Nuts - just brilliant!

As I was reading I was convinced who the jewellery thief was, then changed my mind, and then changed it again!! Maybe its just me assessing each and every one of the new characters with scrutiny but I could see motives in them all!! I did however guess correctly how they were disappearing (once I knew who it was!) So I felt a bit better for that!

I loved the fact that Dix and Dylan get close in the book - I really do hope that they get together soon!!

I was literally laughing out loud towards the end - and at 4am in the morning you know that it’s a good book!! The only problem I have is that I have to wait for the next book in the series - I hope I don’t have to wait long because I’m missing Dix Dodd already!

Go and buy yourself a copy now: http://www.amazon.com/Family-Jewels-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B005DRWOEK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323993660&sr=8-1

Review: Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian Meeks

Henry Wood is a detective, we see him bringing in the New Year with more of a groan than a bang! His cases are predictable and safe. Heading to his office on New Years Day with nothing to do but needing somewhere to go and nurse his vodka fuelled hangover his fireworks are just about to start!

We are introduced to Luna, a lady who is looking for her father who's strict routine has been broken - and he seems to have disappeared! I instantly liked Luna, there seemed to be an 'air' around her and her instant trust in Henry - I knew it was going to be good.

I liked the fact that we find out that Henry enjoys making things out of wood - things that he doesn't know what they are called or what they are for but he just enjoys making them, usually in books when they go off the main subject it bugs me, in this book however I found it quite endearing and enjoyed reading about it as much as the main storyline.

Henry is a good detective and soon finds some clues, but he is surprised to discover that he is not the only person wanting to find Luna's father.

We see Sylvia who has lost her own father trying to save her fathers name. Henry is reluctant to trust that everything is as it seems when it comes to Sylvia but that all changes.

Henry receives some clues in quite an unorthodox manner - that in itself is a mystery (one which I'm sure we will discover more about in future books) and again this had me quite hooked.

I won't give anymore away about the actual storyline itself - you'll have to read to find out! I will however say that it had me intrigued throughout, it is one of those books that the more you read, the more you want to find out.

As well as wanting to read about what's next for Henry, I'm also intrigued about the other characters and where they're stories will end up.

To buy a copy visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ED65AM/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Review: Steps to Heaven by Wendy Cartmell

Sergeant Major Crane is a Special Investigations Branch Investigator in the Armed Forces, based at Aldershot Garrison. The military detail in this book is superb, even down to the smallest of details.

I liked Crane instantly, his no-nonsense approach is just fantastic - bordering on comical at times. I liked the way that I also got an insight into his personal life as well, it really helped to build him as a character.

His team - Billy and Kim seem to have differences between them but both strive to do a good job for Crane - doing whatever it takes!

The incident that they are called out to is so horrific that Crane just can’t let it go, it is deemed as case closed and he is sent to investigate another incident. Only to find himself called back to that first case after another incident occurs miles away.

He enlists the help of Padre Symonds and ’civvy’ police Detective Anderson determined to get to the bottom of these incidents. I liked both of these characters and loved the way that the Padre was loving playing ‘detective’!! Anderson on the other hand had his hands full - trying to stop Crane who sometimes was a little harsh with people!

The story was great, as I started piecing bits together something else would appear or not quite add up - to be honest at one point I thought that we were never going to catch up with ‘Zachariah’. It was a bit slow starting but once I got into the storyline I was hooked.

I think the final showdown scene was fantastic and was so happy with the ending! It’ll be nice to ‘catch up’ with Crane in the next instalment of the series

To get your copy visit: http://www.amazon.com/Steps-to-Heaven-ebook/dp/B005U9T20A

Review: The Case of The Flashing Fashion Queen by N.L.Wilson

Loved this, a perfect balance of a good detective story, murder mystery, humour and even a little romance.

Dix Dodd is a Private Investigator who has stepped away from being ‘the girl’ to the men at the office and has branched out on her own, now specialising in discovering cheating spouses with a kick-ass attitude.

I immediately liked Dix, she is a determined lady, determined to prove everyone that doubted her wrong.

The storyline was good and it was fast paced which just made me want to read more and more, I couldn’t reach the end quick enough - I needed to find out!

And I really enjoyed the ending - it was a true Poirot style with everyone gathered together and the wonderful Dix centre stage. Not forgetting her trusted side-kick Dylan. I am left with the question as to whether romance will blossom, and just who was he on the phone to?!!

I liked the quick-witted humour in the book, not only from Dix and Dylan but from some of the other characters too. Each of the characters all played an integral part to the book and I hope that we get to see most of them again.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I will have to continue reading the rest of the Dix Dodd Series

To get your copy visit:  http://amzn.com/B004XT6L8E