Welcome!
I post book reviews as often as possible but at least once a week every Wednesday! I hope they help you to find some new books that you'll love as much as I did!
 Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Killer You Know by S. R. Masters! Thanks so much to Anne for organising the tour and don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops! The Synopsis You need to kill at least three people, right? So that's what I'll do. When Will jokes about becoming a serial killer, his friends just laugh it off. But Adeline can't help but feel there's something more sinister lurking behind his words. Fifteen years later, Adeline returns to Blythe for a reunion of the old gang - except Will doesn't show up. Reminiscing about old times, they look up the details of his supposed murder spree. But the mood soon changes when they discover two recent deaths that match. As the group attempts to track Will down, they realise that he is playing a sinister game that harks back to one they used to play as kids. Only this time there are lives at stake . . . My Review The way Masters has written The Killer You Know is simply excellent, the plotting is tight, well-paced and compelling while the combination of the present day and the childhood of the characters provides plenty of twists to keep you guessing as well as creating a real sense of nostalgia. (I thought that the film references were a really nice touch too.) While the premise seems simple at first, it’s a really original book and there’s a lot more going on than it first appears. It’s such an addictive and thrilling read and the twists had me questioning everything every time. Every single one of the characters is beautifully developed and multi-layered which was really impressive. What I loved most about the book though was that it has such an atmosphere and really got into my head, leaving me thinking about it for a long while after I’d finished it. Overall, I’m giving The Killer You Know 4.5 out of 5. It’s atmospheric, compelling and so original. A stunning debut. This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review The above is an affiliate link About the Author S. R. Masters studied Philosophy at Girton College, Cambridge before working in public health and health behaviour for the NHS. He is a regular contributor to UK short fiction anthology series The Fiction Desk, having won their Writer's Award for his short story Just Kids. His story Desert Walk was included in Penguin Random House USA's Press Start to Play collection and he continues to have short fiction published in a variety of magazines. He grew up around Birmingham but now lives in Oxford with his wife and son.
The Killer You Know is his first novel. You can find him on Twitter @SRMastersAuthor or on his website http://www.sr-masters.com/
2 Comments
 Today is my stop on the blog tour for Worst Case Scenario by Helen FitzGerald! Thanks so much to Anne for organising the tour and don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops! The Synopsis Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line. Imprisoned for murdering his wife, Liam Macdowall has published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that has made him an unlikely hero – a poster boy for Men’s Rights Activists. Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice ... with devastating consequences. My ReviewWhile I watched (and really enjoyed) The Cry when it was on tv, I’ve never actually read anything by Helen FitzGerald before, so I was really excited to get the chance to be on the blog tour for Worst Case Scenario and be able to read my first book by her! What I really loved about this book was Mary. There’s just something about her which makes her immensely likeable no matter how many questionable decisions she makes. She’s so well developed and memorable and I haven’t read such a character driven book for a while. Worst Case Scenario is so well written. It’s a short read so I absolutely sped through it, but it’s still got everything important in it. It’s got hilarious dark humour as well as heartbreak and sadness and FitzGerald balances these so brilliantly. It’s also an extremely addictive twisted read and a real rollercoaster ride. Overall I’m giving Worst Case Scenario 4 out of 5. It’s gritty, dark and outrageously funny. I can’t wait to read more from Helen FitzGerald! This ebook was provided free in exchange for an honest review The above is an affiliate link About the AuthorHelen FitzGerald is the bestselling author of ten adult and young adult thrillers, including The Donor (2011) and The Cry (2013), which was longlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and is now a major drama for BBC1. Helen worked as a criminal justice social worker for over fifteen years. She grew up in Victoria, Australia. She now lives in Glasgow with her husband.
The Synopsis Every marriage has secrets. Everyone has flaws. Your wife isn't perfect - you know that - but then again nor are you. But now a serial killer is on the loose in your small town, preying on young women. Fear is driving your well-behaved young daughter off the rails, and you find yourself in bed late at night, looking at the woman who lies asleep beside you. Because you thought you knew the worst about her. The truth is you know nothing at all. My Review It’s been a little while since I’ve flown through a book as fast as I flew through My Lovely Wife! I was gripped and absolutely raced through it, not wanting to put it down for a second. It was really riveting and intriguing, giving just enough away to keep me hooked and wanting more. Another thing which kept me reading on was the short chapters which kept the pace fast and unrelenting. I found it to be a really enjoyable read the whole way through and I was able to completely zone everything out while I was reading and keep my focus solely on the book, which to me indicates a real skill from the author. I’d usually discuss the main characters a little, but I’m worried I might give too much away if I do, due to the nature of the story. I started reading it after only having read the synopsis and I think that definitely helped me to have a really good experience with this book. While I did guess the main ‘twist’, this didn’t ruin the book at all and I really enjoyed the lead up to the finale. Furthermore, the final little twist sent my mind spinning and made the book really memorable. Overall, I’m giving My Lovely Wife 4.5 out of 5. It’s intriguing, suspenseful and has an unrelenting pace. A cracking debut. This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review The above is an affiliate link About the AuthorSamantha Downing was born in the Bay Area, and currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away on her next psychological thriller. My Lovely Wife is her first novel.
 Today is my stop on the blog tour for We All Fall Down by Daniel Kalla! Thanks so much to Anne for organising the tour and don’t forget to check out the rest of the stops! The Synopsis ...**THIS IS A GOVERNMENT ALERT**IF YOU EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS, STAY IN YOUR HOMES**PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND DO NOT ATTEMPT THE RESCUE OF OTHERS**THIS IS A GOVERNMENT ALERT**IF YOU EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS, STAY IN YOUR HOMES**PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND DO NOT ATTEMPT THE RESCUE OF OTHERS**THIS IS A GOVERNMENT ALERT**... IT STARTS WITH ONE PATIENT A woman is dying in an Italian hospital, coughing up blood, convulsing and barely conscious. BEFORE IT SPREADS TO THE TOWN Dr Alana Vaughn, an expert from NATO, confirms everyone’s worst fears: the woman has the highly infectious disease that swept through Europe eight hundred years ago. The Black Death. AND TAKES THE CITY The sickness is spreading so quickly that soon the outbreak becomes a global pandemic. Markets crash and governments fall as quickly as the citizens they govern. THEN THE COUNTRY As panic takes hold and the death toll climbs, the consequences become horrifically clear – Alana must discover a way to stop the disease or it will be the end of us all. THEN THE WORLD - AND WE ALL FALL DOWN My Review While I’ve read my fair share of thrillers, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a medical thriller before, and gosh this was an incredible introduction to the genre! Kalla’s medical background and knowledge of the subject really comes through, whilst still allowing the story to flow. He strikes a good balance between the medical aspect and the thriller aspect of the plot to create a scarily believable and extremely thought-provoking read which keeps you on the edge of your seat. The pace is fast and intense and when combined with the use of narratives from the past and present it creates a real atmosphere and feeling of suspense. I thought that Dr Alana Vaughn was a well developed and interesting character, as were all of her fellow characters in fact. Overall, I’m giving We All Fall Down 5 out of 5 and adding it to my five star favourites shelf! It’s thought-provoking, expertly written and frighteningly believable. I can’t wait to read more by Kalla and I’m shocked that I’ve never read anything by him before! This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review The above is an affiliate link About the AuthorDaniel Kalla is the internationally bestselling author of Pandemic, Resistance, Rage Therapy, Blood Lies, Cold Plague, and Of Flesh and Blood. His books have been translated into eleven languages, and two novels have been optioned for film. Kalla practices emergency medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia. Visit Daniel at DanielKalla.com or follow him on Twitter @DanielKalla.
 The Synopsis Dr Ruth Hartland rises to difficult tasks. She is the director of a highly respected trauma therapy unit. She is confident, capable and excellent at her job. Today she is preoccupied by her son Tom's disappearance. So when a new patient arrives at the unit - a young man who looks shockingly like Tom - she is floored. As a therapist, Ruth knows exactly what she should do in the best interests of her client, but as a mother she makes a very different choice - a decision that will have profound consequences. My Review I’ve always loved reading about anything remotely related to psychology and so I found the psychological element of A Good Enough Mother extremely fascinating. I feel like I’ve learnt so much about the therapeutic process without even realising it. The whole book is intelligently and insightfully written and while it was at a slower pace than I’m used to, it suited the story well and I really enjoyed reading it. The subtle foreshadowing gives the plot a suspenseful edge while Ruth as a main character is really engaging. Her nuances made her feel real and helped me to connect with her as she tried to help others overcome their trauma whilst battling her own loss privately. I also found this book rather moving at times as some of the patients’ stories were so emotional and their discussion of their lives in their therapy session so well written that it actually brought tears to my eyes. The ending felt poignant and memorable and I thought that it fitted the book perfectly. Overall, I’m giving A Good Enough Mother 5 out of 5 and adding it to my five star favourites shelf! It’s gripping, moving and insightful. A thoroughly compelling read. This book was provided free in exchange for an honest review The above is an affiliate link About the AuthorBev Thomas was a clinical psychologist in the NHS for many years. She currently works as an organizational consultant in mental health and other services. She lives in London with her family.
|
Categories
All
Archives
June 2019
Click here to visit my trusted affiliate partner.
 |
RSS Feed