Sarah
When I was approved for this book I don't know why I didn't realise that it was the 19th book in the series! I was hoping that I wasn't missing way too much back story into it. I needn't have worried.
There was enough information to move the story and to get some background on the characters without being bogged down or confused.
Was a good read but I think I'd need to start at the beginning as this felt a little slow for me, a very slow build up and a very quick ending.
Huge thanks to Laurien Berenson, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is, obviously, the first book in this series, I started with the 3rd and I enjoyed this just as much as that one!
The characters are likeable, fun and well rounded, the mystery is well written and the job the main character does is interesting.
I liked the burgeoning romances and the relationships between all the characters.
Definitely need to get the 2nd book now as it will bug me if I can't read it and see what trouble comes up!
Huge thanks to Shawn Reilly Simmons, Henery Press and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
Book 10 in a series and it works very well as a stand alone, you don't really need too much information about the other books to enjoy it.
To told from the perspectives of both the main protag Liss and her friend Sherri, who works for the Sheriffs department.
There's arson, vandalism, murder and lies woven through this book really well, along with an obnoxious man you just want to slap and quirky and fun supporting characters who live in the town.
A really fast and fun read.
Huge thanks to Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
It's took me a while to pick this up and read it but once I did I couldn't put it down!
It flashes back in time and to articles about the Fen Tigers, it's a slow build but there's murder and secrets, humour, a dash of what could be romance and all of that culminating in bloody showdown.
There's also a hint of a sequel but I'll keep my fingers crossed for that.
Highly recommend this, give it a go and I hope you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Huge thanks to R.S. Bristowe, Troubador Publishing LTD and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a beautifully written book, the descriptions of the Arctic and life on the Aether are wonderfully done as are the relationships and interactions between the crew and Augie and Iris.
I still want to know what happened in the world, why there was no contact and why no-one seems to be alive but that is part of the unease of the book, it could've been anything.
To be in the silence of space or the frozen beauty of the Arctic without being able to find out what's happening with the rest of the people on earth must be terrifying, knowing your family is, most likely, gone.
Although I found this slow in parts and the ending was quite abrupt I did really enjoy it.
Huge thanks to Lily Brooks-Dalton, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
Wonderful start to a series!
Quirky and fun characters, well written mystery, food that always makes me hungry and get into arguments with myself about making sandwiches at 2am and a humorous story.
Dodie juggles her job as manager of the Windjammer restaurant with helping out her friend Lola in the towns theatre and solving the murder of her friend Jerome. It doesn't hurt that the new Chief is gorgeous and doesn't seem to mind her helping him out.
I will definitely continue on with this series, just waiting for the second book now!
Huge thanks to Suzanne Trauth, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is the 10th book in the series and they continue to get better!
For me Beverley see-saws between likeable and horrible and I don't know which way in going to be able to take her from one minute to another. John, however, is as awesome as ever, still incredibly good at what he does and when he finds something he's on it like a dog with a bone.
They work well off each other and their relationship is as complicated as before. The mystery and how it's worked out are very good and the main and supporting characters are well written.
I do hope there's more to this series as I really am enjoying it.
Huge thanks to Keith McCarthy, Endeavour Press and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is the first book in a new series about a professional organiser who, along with her husband, 2 boys and a dog called Belle, move into a new house and the mysteries and murder they stumble upon.
I really enjoyed this cosy, the characters are well written and fun, the house is described wonderfully and is one I'd move into straight away! And the mystery is done well.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Huge thanks to Mary Feliz, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
After reading some other reviews of this I have to agree on the confusion surrounding the other contestants on the show, called both by actual name and the nicknames given by the show it can be confusing as to who is who exactly and you spend some of your time while reading trying to work out who's who. It takes you away from the story.
That being said I did really enjoy this, it's the second book I've read this year that has ‘reality tv' as a plot and it does it well, you see the actual events in the camp and then are told what the edited version will cut out, the cut scenes and many things being taken out of context.
It switches between when they first get to camp and when Zoo and the rest are on their solo challenges, we follow Zoo exclusively for the latter but see all of the for the former and make our minds up as to who is going to win and who is going to lose (as orchestrated by the producers).
But then things start to go wrong, you see it in the before. Zoo doesn't know what's happening and you follow her as she starts to see. She's hungry, thirsty, tired and just wants to win the game and go home.
I'm not saying anything more because of spoilers but I did really like this book and I hope that people pick it up and read it.
Huge thanks to Alexandra Oliva, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
Book 2 in the Yellowthread Street series and it's just as good as the first!
Murder and mayhem abound with some humour dotted about to form together to make a great read.
The character development is slow and steady, with 19(?) books in the series you can understand why it's at a steady pace but you still have all the information needed to enjoy the book as it is.
I'm enjoying this series and I'm glad I have the 3rd, Gelignite, to jump into soon.
Huge thanks to William Marshall, Prelude Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
I'm soooo glad I'm not a teacher! My mum and my best friends work in education and I don't know how they do it! The amount of planning and grading and after school clubs etc, im surprised they manage to have a life outside of work.
This is a very good book for teachers and teachers in training to read, gives you a heads up about things that have changed throughout the years and what to expect now.
Huge thanks to Jane Morris, Truth Be Told Publishing and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters are fun and funny, the banter and relationships between them are really good, the mystery was well written and the ghosts are awesome.
It's the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely be reading more of this series to see what other trouble they can get themselves into and what other treats Marina's grandmother makes!
Huge thanks to Kitty French, Bookouture and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
I absolutely love this series! It keeps getting better and better. I'm devouring them and cannot wait for the next one.
The development of all the characters is done extremely well, the crimes are more twisty and turny and the settings are just as good as they've always been.
I'm glad that Rae is still an important member of the team and hasn't been given the back seat treatment and I enjoyed the parts with Neil and his prickish behaviour and how they were dealt with. I can see him becoming a vicious and disturbing villain pretty soon.
Patiently waiting for the next book as I write this.
Huge thanks to Michael Hambling, Joffe Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
If I put myself into these sorts of situations then I can imagine that this book would be essential. However that's not the case for me in the slightest.
I found the stories the most interesting part and that's all I really wanted to read.
It's my own fault for wanting to read a book without reading the synopsis properly, it's not a bad book, just not what I wanted or expected.
Huge thanks to Debi Chestnut, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
The first cosy I've read set in South Africa and it's pretty good.
I enjoyed the character development and the mystery plus the setting is gorgeous. As are the recipes!
I will be trying to get my hands on the first book in the series to see how it all started.
Huge thanks to Sally Andrew, Canongate Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
Well this was a strange book, strange in a good way, told from multiple perspectives both from 1979 and 1999, it's a mystery wrapped in a huge disco ball and spun slowly and steadily, gradually picking up speed until the last furious couple of chapters.
What happened to Rose in 1979? Was her death a murder or an accident? Did Johnny Bender have anything to do with it or is he just blamed because he's different?
The story weaves through time, sometimes it takes a few seconds to work out which year we're currently in but apart from that, it's a good read. There's also flashes of the original founder of the town which bring an extra level to the story.
Secrets and lies are laid out for us as we try and solve the mystery with an awesome soundtrack of 70's music. Wonderful.
Huge thanks to Dean Lilleyman, Urbane Publications and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
I bloody love this book!! Spiders don't really bother me that much, unless they're the really friendly ones that like to jump on you to say hello and then you have a mini heart attack.
I have two sneaky ones in my bathroom at the moment, one is just chilling in the corner but the other one looks shifty and stares at me when I'm in there, anywho.
The build up is nice and steady, things happening all over the world as you're introduced to the people who will become main players in the rest of the story, a hint of romance too maybe. There's spiders eating people and burrowing into skin to make more spiders, there's panic, bloodshed, humour and, for those of you who find spiders creepy/terrifying/have too many legs, there's creepy and terrifying happenings.
I am hugely looking forward to the second book, I want to see what these spiders are gonna be upto next and see the continuing development of both story and characters.
Huge thanks to Ezekiel Boone, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
Set in Hong Kong when it was still part of the British Empire, we are introduced to Chief Inspector Feiffer and his rag tag team of a department as they try to solve crimes and arrest the perpetrators.
It's funny and gruesome and the names of some of the people are wonderful like The Disemboweller, Shotgun Shen and The Chopper to name but a few.
It's a fast and frenetic read, not much in the way of quiet time for this group and I want to see what other situations they get themselves into!!
I have The Hatchet Man and Gelignite ready to go in my kindle so as soon as I've finished the 3 I need to read for this week, I'll be on it!
Huge thanks to William Marshall, Farrago and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is the second book in the Bridget Sway series and it continues to get better.
The humour is just as sarcastic and wonderful as before, the characters are well drawn out and you begin to understand why Bridget has been acting as she has and the friendships evolve between her and her housemates.
The mystery is engaging and the situations they find themselves in are really funny, I'm still laughing at what happens in chapter 3!
I am so looking forward to the next book in the series, I devour these books, I can't put them down so I will always be waiting for the next one to come! Write, write like the wind!!
Huge thanks to the author for a copy of this book for an honest review
This is the first book I've read in this series so have no idea what's really been happening in the others, some of the back stories are explained enough to move the story on but some made me think I'm missing a lot of information.
The characters are well written and the relationships are developed well, the story is heart breaking at times and infuriating but it makes you care more about the situations.
I definitely need to read the rest in this series and I will be reading the next one when its out because how this ended, makes me wanna read more!
Huge thanks to Nicci French, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
3.75 stars
I hated the majority of the characters in this book, they were selfish, despicable and should never have children!
It's the story of what really happened to Coco all those years ago, on her fathers 50th birthday weekend. It's told from multiple perspectives and goes back and forth in time, giving small pieces of info and clues as you go.
The mystery was alright, as I said, the characters are horrible (that's how they were written, I'm not saying they were badly written) and the twists I worked out very quickly.
It's a good story, just shy of 4 stars, I will be looking to read more by this author.
Huge thanks to Alex Marwood, Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
The 3rd book in this series sees Val and Pops trying to solve the murder of a bridesmaid who's renting a room from them for the weekend.
Although it's the 3rd in the series you don't feel like you're missing anything or out of the loop, you get just enough information to move the story along and not get bogged down with extraneous details.
The characters are fun, interesting and quirky, the mystery with as many twists and turns as you'd expect and the recipes are ones I'm sure to try, will have to pick up some toblerones sometime this week!
Huge thanks to Maya Corrigan, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
I was a little apprehensive about this book because of the structure of it, with it being told backwards, but I needn't have worried because it worked very well, was a little confusing at first but when you get into it you see that it still flows well.
You learn about the characters but not enough to make you really engaged in them, you're meant to be unsure about them all and have your doubts.
The information and clues you get as you read build up the bigger picture on what happened to both Corinne and Annaleise with some twists in there.
I really enjoyed this book but the ending was a little off for me, not all questions were answered (maybe they were and I just missed them) and that's why it's not a 5 star book.
Huge thanks to Megan Miranda, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
I'm unsure what to think about this book. On one hand I understand the characters wanting to move past what happened and Lily wanting to reclaim her old life but on the other hand no-one really seems to recognise exactly what happened, except Abby, who seems to be the most traumatised of them all.
Lily seems to be suffering from major PTSD but it takes a while before anyone realises that. Rick is an absolute arsehole so I'm very glad about the end.
I like it but I'm still unsure what to think, will have to give it a re-read later this year and see if I can pinpoint what it is that's bugging me about it.
Huge thanks to Holly Overton, Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review