Caroline

I love a good mystery, me. The twistier and more suspenseful, the better. Now, I haven't read many books by Sophie Hannah, but I've read enough to know that she writes good, twisty mysteries, and that's what I expected when I settled down to read No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done.
How best to describe this book? Quirky? Sure. Totally bonkers? Yes indeed. The most bizarre story I've read this year? Definitely. And it's for all of these reasons that I absolutely loved it. Of course the other selling point for me was the fact it features a dog.

I didn't realise just how much I wanted to read this book, until I started to read it. Confused? Allow me to explain. I've been reading the Erika Foster series since the very first book was published. I always wondered about Erika's backstory. I knew some of it, but not the whole story. Now, at last, I do.

A new book from Karin Slaughter is always something to look forward to, but a new book that is also the start of a new series is something to get excited about. It means new characters to meet and, maybe, fall in love with, and new villains to loathe with all your might.

We Are All Guilty Here is Slaughter's new book, and what a stellar start to the new series it is. Our new protagonist is Emmy Lou Clifton, Chief Deputy in the North Falls Sheriff's Department. 12 years ago, alongside the Sheriff, Gerald Clifton, she investigated the disappearance and subsequent murder of two teenagers. A man was eventually tried and convicted. But was he really guilty? 🔨

As you may have guessed, this is not a cosy mystery. This is dark territory, folks. When it comes to the more unsavoury characters, it appears Slaughter plumbed the very depths of depravity. 🔨

The story is told across two timelines,12 years ago and the present day, and from two POV's, Emmy, and FBI psychologist Jude Archer. There are revelations aplenty, and twists that had me gasping in surprise. 🔨

We Are All Guilty here is a steady paced police procedural, with a darkness at its core. It gets that fifth star from me for not having any soppy romantic interludes. 🔨

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Dark as Night, the 4th book in the Áróra series, sees Áróra finally have her suspicions about the whereabouts of her sister, Ísafold, confirmed. That said, there's still a loose end or two in that particular investigation, but there's one more book to come. 😔

There were some surprising revelations about drag queen Lady Gúgúlu. Talk about hiding in plain sight. 😮

I've quite enjoyed this series to date. It's dark, it's twisty, nothing is ever as it seems, and there are some great characters. Needless to say I'm looking forward to reading book 5, and having some loose ends tied up.

A word of advice to anyone thinking of reading this series; start at the beginning, otherwise you won't have context and you will flounder.

I feel the need for a lie down after reading this. Nothing, but nothing, could have prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster that is What the Night Brings, and that ending that nearly blew my mind.

Hard to believe this is the 23rd book in the series. Also hard to believe I haven't grown bored with it. What can I say, except that I like Tempe. I (like to) think we'd get along well. She's smart, she's sassy, she's tenacious, she gets things done. She's all the things I'd like to be.

But you're not here to read my ramblings. No, you want to know what I thought of the book, don't you? Well, I've given it 4 ⭐, so that can only mean one thing. Yep, I enjoyed it, very much. Well paced, with nice short chapters and plenty of ah-ha moments.

Washington D.C is the location this time, and Tempe has been asked to assist in the search for possible victims of a fire in a building. Needless to say things aren't straightforward. Well this is Tempe Brennan we're talking about. 🔥

Reichs doesn't go too heavy on the forensic details, but does go into detail on the history of bootlegging in D.C. This won't appeal to everyone, but I found it interesting. There's a nice little twist towards the end too. 🔥

So there you have it. Fire and Bones is a most satisfying read. 🔥

All rise. Have you, the jury reached a verdict?"

Yes indeed, I have reached a verdict. This book is thoroughly engrossing, and I hereby recommend that each and every one of you to go out and buy/borrow a copy as soon as it is released. (UK release is June 19th.)

I expect you want to know why I think you should buy/borrow it. Well, I'll tell you. Because it's oh so good. There's quite a lot going on in it. An art retrospective at the Royal Academy, a "Stop the War" protest at said retrospective, which culminates in a murder.

Needless to say, our young hero Adam Green, finds himself on the defense team for what proves to be a high profile trial. ⚖

As with previous books in the series, Adam is working more than one trial. Bobby enlists his help in the defense of a young soldier at a court martial. This is a new experience for Adam. ⚖

The Protest has a more serious tone than The Suspect, although Adam's mum does provide some light relief. All the usual characters are present at Stag Court, with Jonathan as obnoxious as ever. ⚖

The Protest ended on something of a cliffhanger. Setting things up for book 4 perhaps? We'll just have to wait and see. ⚖

So there you have it. The Protest is a well paced, intriguing, engrossing read. But don't take my word for it. See for yourself on June 19th. ⚖

Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

I knew, as soon as I read the synopsis, that this book would put me through the wringer emotionally, but I requested an ARC anyway. I wasn't wrong folks. I read parts of this book through eyes that were blurry with tears. By the end of the book, I was bawling like a baby. 😪

When the Cranes Fly South is a far cry from the type of books I usually read. (If you follow my reviews you'll know what I mean.)

This is a story of growing old, losing your independence and slowly losing control of your own body. Having nothing but time on your hands to reflect on your past life, the things you did, and the things you wish you had done. It's a tale of love and loss, through dementia rather than death. And it's the tale of one man's love for his dog and the sense of loss he feels when his dog is taken away from him. 😔

On a personal level, this book made me realise just how important it is to let those around us know how we feel about them so that we have no regrets come end time. I'm glad I got the chance to do that with my father before he passed. 😔

This book won't be everyone's cup of tea. I'm a sucker for books with dogs in them, even when I know they're going to make me cry like this one did. For all my tears though, I still enjoyed this beautifully written book, which read like an inner monologue interspersed with notes from the old man's caregivers.

Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Well now, that was a most satisfying read. Ticked lots of boxes for me:
- Dark ✅
- Twisty ✅
- Creepy ✅
- Suspenseful ✅
- Fast Paced ✅
- Nasty People Getting Their Comeuppance ✅

There's a slight Virginia Andrews vibe about the story, and I'm talking original Ms. Andrews, not the ghost writer who followed. But make no mistake, The Wife's Silence is in a class of its own, a true gem.
Told from three POV'S (it was nice to see things from the bad guy's perspective), across two timelines, The Wife's Silence is deeply unsettling. Plot twist follows plot twist; some you can see coming, but there's one huge one near the end that took me completely by surprise.

Once again I started reading a book only to discover, after a few chapters, that said book is part of a series. The 4th book in the series to be precise.

How to Seal Your Own Fate sees the welcome return of amateur sleuth Annie Adams.

A few months have passed since Annie solved the mystery of her great aunt's murder. She is now living in Gravesdown Hall, but life in Castle Knoll is very different to her previous life in London. It's quieter, and lonlier. Then one day, whilst out for a walk, Annie meets Peony Lane, the fortune teller who gave Frances Gravesdown her chilling fortune. Suffice to say Annie's life is far from quiet following that encounter. 🗡

Once again the story is told across two timelines, from two POV's: the present day from Annie's POV, and the 1967 timeline from Frances' POV, through entries from her diary. 🗡

I enjoyed How to Seal Your Own Fate more than its predecessor. There were a lot of twists and turns, and try as I might, I failed to guess the killer. 🗡

How to Seal Your Own Fate is a well paced, entertaining, cosy mystery. I would however recommend that you read How to Solve Your Own Murder first, as it will provide context for events mentioned in this sequel, and because many of the characters return. 🗡

Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for my digital edition.

This was a tough read, not because it was badly written (would I be giving it 5⭐ if it was?), but because of it's themes:
- Domestic Abuse
- Rape
- Bullying, both in school and on social media
- Teenage Suicide
- Eating Disorders
- Misogyny
- Murder
It's dark, and it's emoitve, it's sinister and it's unsettling, but it's also gripping, and no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel, I simply could not put it down.
There are some pretty unpleasant characters in this book, not least the incel in training and his bullying father.
The final revelation, when it came, was a shocker. Nope, I did NOT expect that!

Finally got my Tony McLean fix, and I'm a happy camper. There's nothing like a couple of mysterious deaths and some of Madame Rose's "woo woo nonsense" to set you up for the week.

The Rest is Death is the 14th book in the series, and just like its predecessors, it is a darkly gripping read.

The opening chapter, which describes a mystical ritual, sets the tone for the rest of the book. The reader knows there's going to be strange forces at work, just as they know that the appearance of Madame Rose means good will vanquish evil.

I love this series, and not just for the "woo woo nonsense". It has some great characters, Dagwood, Jo Dalglish, Madame Rose and Grumpy Bob, to name just a few.

The baddies are always particularly unsavoury....just seeing the name Mrs. Saifre, makes me shudder. Thankfully, she was only alluded to in this one.

"Nobody sees. Nobody cares." The words seem innocuous, until you realise they are being said by a child killer, as he leads a young boy through a motorway services. Then, they take on a sinister meaning, and that sets the tone for this intense psychological thriller.

If you've read the blurb you'll know that when the protagonist, Daniel Garvie, was a child he had an encounter with the serial killer known as the Pied Piper. Adult Daniel, now a psychologist, finds himself caught up in an unofficial investigation begun by his father John, a retired police officer.

The story is told across multiple timelines, from multiple POV's. While it starts off slow, rest assured the pace soon picks up, and from that point on, it's edge-of-your-seat reading. There's a sense of menace throughout, but there's a poignancy too.

Anyone familiar with my reviews will know that I like my books dark and disturbing. This one ticked those boxes perfectly. I'm now going to have to circle back and read Alex North's back catalogue.

Thanks to Michael Joseph Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this when I started to read it. Although not a total luddite, and capable of navigating around various social media platforms, I will admit to not understanding the whole influencer/branding concept. And that's what this book is about: "Mom" influencers. I don't know if that is actually a thing. If it is, I hope the reality is better than the fictional representation.

The story centres around Chiara and Adrienne, twins who had been close, but drifted apart after Chiara married and became a mother. After one of her posts on Instagram goes viral, Chiara is invited to a weekend summit hosted by a mommy influencer. She fails to return home.

Determined to succeed where she believes the police have failed, Adrienne buys a ticket for the next summit, to find out what really happened to Chiara.

It took me a while to warm to Adrienne, but I found myself rooting for her by the halfway point. Those mommy influencers though, nope. I didn't care for them at all. They were like a cross between the Stepford Wives and the Midwich Cuckoos.

Bizarre characters aside, Follow Me was a well paced, entertaining read.

This book is part of Amazon's March First Reads.

I hadn't previously read anything by Emily Organ, so this was a good introduction to her writing.

The Whitechapel Widow is an historical mystery, and a wonderful blend of fact and fiction.

Having just wed four months previously, Emma Langley is looking forward to starting a new life with her husband William, in the Suffolk countryside. However, on the morning they are due to depart, William disappears. He is later found dead near Whitechapel. As she attempts to find out what William was doing in the East End, Emma realises she really didn't know her husband at all.

I loved this book, set as it is against the backdrop of Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. There are several references to the Ripper, and the funeral of Mary Kelly is mentioned. This combination of real events alongside the fictional tale of Emma Langley, makes for an engaging read.

The story is fast paced and twisty, and there are a host of unsavoury characters. Emma Langley comes across as quite naive, but she proves to have hidden strengths.

If historical crime fiction is your cup of tea, I would recommend The Whitechapel Widow.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This title will be available on 27/03/2025.

I like Lee Child and his Jack Reacher series, but now, after reading Eleven Numbers, I also like Lee Child stories that don't feature Jack Reacher.

Eleven Numbers is a clever little short story, a tale of present day espionage with a mathematician as its central character.

If you like short stories and espionage, you could do worse than this. At 50 pages, it's the perfect way to while away half an hour.

I picked this book as part of my January First Reads on Kindle.

I really enjoyed this madcap tale of four couples who, thanks to a bad investment, find their retirement plans up in smoke and their marriages all but over. Now, they have plans of a different kind, the wives independently of their husbands. Crossed wires and miscommunication follow.🍸

The story is told from several POV's; the men, the women, the casino boss and the barber. All but one of the characters are likeable, but as always, the dog (Elmer) was my favourite. 🐶

Fast paced, funny, and at times ridiculous, The Retirement Plan is a book you will either love or hate. I loved it because it made me laugh out loud, but don't take my word for it. Read it for yourself. Go on, you know you want to. 🍸

Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC. 🍸

I love a good psychological thriller, especially if it's a twisty psychological thriller, one that keeps me guessing right to the end. Believe ticked those boxes perfectly.
This is a fast paced thriller, with an intricate plot and complex characters. Cleverly placed red herrings deceive the reader time after time. The big reveal, when it came, took me by surprise.

Murder Most Fab was everything I expected from Julian Clary, slutty, smutty, laugh-out-loud funny, and camp as Christmas. What I didn't expect was that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. 🍾💷

The story is told from the POV of the killer. It was a little slow to start off, I was starting to wonder if there was ever going to be a murder. Patience is not one of my virtues, and I almost called it a day, but I persevered and was rewarded handsomely. 🍾💷

The main characters are Johnny Debonair, ex rent boy turned TV star, and his flatmate Catherine, ex nurse, ex escort, and Johnny's manager. Where Johnny is extremely likeable, Catherine is loathsome.

The supporting cast of characters is made up of assorted queens, as you'd expect, and Johnny's family and colleagues. 🍾💷

Murder Most Fab is an hilarious romp which I highly recommend. Do yourself a favour and buy or borrow it. You won't regret it. 🍾💷

This Is Not a Game is a very promising debut from Kelly Mullen. A cosy-ish mystery, reminiscent of those locked room mysteries from the Golden Age. 🗝🍸

This is not so much locked room as locked mansion. Throw in a party, a blizzard, a moat and drawbridge, secret passages, and a killer and you get a rather fun whodunnit. 🗝🔪

I loved Mimi, our Gibson drinking central character. Think sassy Jessica Fletcher, who likes a cocktail or three. 🍸

The rest of the dramatis personae are a mix of likeable and loathsome characters. All have secrets, and all of them are suspects. 🗝🔪

It took me a while to figure out who did it, thanks to a couple of well placed red herrings, but therein lay the fun. 🗝🔪

I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted, cosy mystery. Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

This title will be available on 24/04/2025.

Constance Fairchild is my new favourite heroine. She may come from aristocratic stock, but she's one kick ass woman.

Nothing to Hide sees Con still on suspension, and vilified by her colleagues. The tabloid press have also taken a keen interest in her, so once again Con finds herself hiding out in Scotland. Edinburgh is the destination this time, but it's not long before trouble comes a calling. Well, trouble is her middle name.

I loved the little crossover between this series and that of Inspector McLean. Although we didn't meet Tony himself, Janie Harris and Grumpy Bob put in an appearance. Madame Rose was on hand to provide sanctuary for Con.

As with all of Oswald's books, this was quite dark, and of course there was an element of the supernatural.

A very enjoyable, entertaining read.

Open Season is book 41 in the Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series. Yep, you read that right, book 41. Hard to believe I know, because the series is as fresh now as it was when I first started reading it, way back when. Alex and Milo are like old friends now, and each new book like an annual reunion.

The thing I like about this series is the straightforwardness of it all. Murders are committed, murders are investigated, all leads are followed until the perpetrator is caught. Not a red herring in sight. The only fish worthy of mention are Alex's. 🐠

The central characters are likeable, and Alex and Milo are a perfect team. And then there's Blanche. I can never resist a dog. 🐶

Open Season is an enjoyable, gripping read, with an intricate plot that will keep you guessing.

This was a nice little psychological thriller. Maybe a little slow to start off, but when the pace picks up, it's game on.
Our protagonist is Alexandra, an aesthetics practitioner. She has it all; a successful business, a townhouse in Brighton, a husband and two children. She also has a secret past, and someone is keen to remind her of it.
There are one or two creepy moments in the book, such as the arrival of the first origami bird, and that constant feeling Alexandra has of being watched.

Wow! That was intense. And gripping. And dark. I'd even go so far as to say it was edge-of-your-seat stuff. But enough with the clichés.
The Friday Girl is a fine example of Scottish Noir. Dundee is the setting, 1978 is the year. The Friday Girl of the title is Elizabeth Burnet, the pretty face of Tayside Police, newest addition to CID.
Her first major investigation as a DS appears to be a violent murder, but someone doesn't want her to investigate it, and the case is eventually buried.
Burnet soon discovers that police corruption is rife in CID, and misogyny is the order of the day.