Caroline

Crikey! What a roller coaster ride that was. I needed a few hours to get my thoughts straight, and so here we are. 🎢

It's hard to believe that You Are Fatally Invited is a debut novel. So complex is the plot, with its many twists and turns and obligatory red herrings, it certainly felt like the work of someone who has being turning out murder mysteries for quite some time. ✒

Six mystery writers are invited by another mystery writer, who has lived in anonymity for many years, to a writers retreat on an island. Overseeing the retreat is Mila, an events coordinator. Riddles, games and tropes are the order of the day. Until one of the guests is murdered. 🗡

You Are Fatally Invited is the locked room mystery turned on its head. There are locked rooms, and an island cut off from the mainland because of a storm. ⛈ The story has the feel of a game of Cluedo about it, indeed one of the games to be played by the writers is similar to Cluedo. 🗝

I loved this book. It was fun trying to work out who the anonymous mystery writer was, and sort out who amongst the guests did what. The various twists and turns, and the multiple POV's which threw out red herrings, made this nigh on impossible, but therein lay the fun.

You Are Fatally Invited won't be to everyone's taste, but for yours truly it was a little cracker of a book.

Thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What sorcery is this? How is it possible to turn a whole host of WhatsApp group messages and college intranet group chats into a twisty mystery, where nothing is as it seems? Once again, I have survived that particular rabbit hole.

The Examiner is the story of six students on a newly formed art course. Five of them are mature (I use the word mature in the loosest possible way) students, the sixth barely out of her teens. The most mismatched, volatile group you are ever likely to encounter.

Then, one of the group goes missing, but the others appear to be covering it up. One thing's for sure, all is not as it appears to be on this particular art course.

As with all of Hallett's books, nothing is straightforward in The Examiner. Just when I thought I had it sussed, the other shoe dropped, and then another, and another. 👞

None of the characters are particularly likeable, but even that made the whole experience enjoyable.

If you're looking for a riveting, fun read, go get yourself a copy of The Examiner. You'll be glad you did.

Meet Kitty Collins, influencer turned vegan serial killer. Yes, you read that correctly, serial killer. But Kitty isn't your common or garden variety serial killer. Like Dexter, Kitty only kills those who deserve it. Men who are misogynists, men who have hurt her friends, or hurt her. Men who hurt women and get away with it.
Kitty is an heiress. She's beautiful, she has friends who care about her, she has a boyfriend who adores her, and she now has a stalker of sorts, who appears to want to do her harm. Can Kitty get to him first?
I Bet You'd Look Good In A Coffin is actually the second Kitty Collins book, but it can be read as a standalone.
I loved this book. With its dark themes and black humour, it was a thrilling and fun read.
Thanks to HQ Stories and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This title will be available on 30/01/2025.

This is a little cracker of a book, which had me on the edge of my seat. Driscoll doesn't waste any time getting to the meat of the story; there's no slow build up, nope, it's straight in there with every parent's worst nightmare....child abduction.

Dark themes are the order of the day; child abduction, murder, religious mania, and brute control.
This is definitely not a book for the faint hearted.
Despite, or maybe because of, these themes, Close Your Eyes is a captivating, suspenseful read.

Antti Tuomainen has taken the concept of the whodunnit, and stood it on its ear with his signature brand of quirkiness. Outside of Midsomer Murders, I haven't come across such diverse methods of dispatching a person. Hats off to you Antti, for shaking things up.

This was my first time reading anything by Tom Hindle, and boy, what an introduction to him it was! To say that I enjoyed it would be a fair assessment. It really was a delightful read.
In Death in the Arctic, Hindle has taken the locked room, cosy mystery of the Christie era, and given it a modern spin. Not for him the isolated country mansion. Oh no, the locked room in this case is on an airship, and said airship is flying over the Arctic. Brrrr!!! ❄
As with every locked room mystery, one needs suspects, and there are no shortage of them here, with 8 guests and 8 crew aboard the airship. There is also the obligatory amateur sleuth, and red herrings aplenty.
The characters were likeable, even the killer. What I loved the most though, was the setting (Tromsø in Norway, and Longyearbyen, in Norway's Svalbard archipelago), and the whole concept of the airship.
All in all, Death in the Arctic was a very entertaining, exceedingly enjoyable read. ❄
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realise, until I was a couple of chapters in, that Helle's Hound is actually part of a series. As it is book #2 however, I didn't feel as though I'd missed anything crucial. I do really want to read book #1 though.
Back to Helle's Hound.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of For Our Sins in a competition back in February, but I couldn't read it straight away, as I was a few books behind. I was champing at the bit, but these things can't be rushed. My patience was finally rewarded peeps, and I am now fully caught up. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on For Our Sins.

I think those five stars at the top speak for themselves, don't you? I would give more if possible, because I loved it so much. Although it's marked up as Tony McLean #13, make no mistake, For Our Sins is very much a Janie Harrison vehicle, and boy does she deliver.

Don't worry, Tony is there, just not centre stage. There's also a new Detective Superintendent, who makes Dagwood look positively saintly.

Organised Crime, clerical abuse and misogyny are the central themes, and of course there are murders too.

Well paced and deftly plotted, For Our Sins is an engaging, gritty read.

There's so much I want to say about this book, but I just don't know where to begin. I'm going to assume that you've read the blurb, so I'm not going to give you a synopsis of the book. I am, however, going to tell you that this book may be triggering for you, dealing, as it does, with some sensitive subjects.

The Day of the Roaring is first and foremost a police procedural, but it also deals with the issues of racism, sexism, misogyny, and female genital mutilation (FGM) and the wall of silence that surrounds this barbaric practice.

This is quite a busy book, told from multiple POV's, and with quite the cast of characters. It can feel overwhelming at times, but trust me, it's worth sticking with this thought provoking, gritty read.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger are incredibly talented, established authors in their own right, but as the co-authors of the Blix and Ramm series, they are quite the dynamic duo, and oh my, what gripping, tension filled books they turn out.
Victim is the latest book in the Blix and Ramm series, and oh did it mess with my head. Blix has a new sidekick you see, a four legged one, and I always worry about the fate of the four legged characters. (Spoiler alert: he was fine. )

As debut novels go, The Dark Hours is a pretty compelling, gripping read. From the opening chapters the reader is sucked in, and once started, the compulsion to continue reading is strong.

The main protagonist is retired garda inspector Julia Harte. If that makes you think of retirement homes and amateur sleuths, then allow me to disabuse you of that notion. This is not a cosy mystery.

In 1994, Julia was part of a team on the hunt for a serial killer. In 2024 she is assisting Cork gardaí hunt down a killer whose crimes mirror those from 1994.

The Dark Hours is well paced, with an intricately woven plot. Unfortunately, the characters aren't very likeable, although 2024 Julia is far more agreeable than 1994 Julia. My favourite character was Mutt, who is, erm, a dog. 🐕

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more by Amy Jordan.

Thanks to HQ Stories and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

A new book from Yrsa Sigurðardóttir is always a much anticipated treat for me, and the lady never disappoints. Never, I tell you. This one was no exception.

Can't Run, Can't Hide has all the ingredients I've come to expect from Yrsa:
Rural/Isolated Setting: ✅
Winter/Blizzard/Darkness: ✅
Multiple Murders: ✅
Pervading Sense of Terror: ✅
Unpredictable: ✅
Major Twist: ✅
Well Paced: ✅

Four people are found dead in an isolated farmhouse, by a neighbour who hasn't seen them for some time. Policeman Týr and his colleague Karó, are sent from Reykjavík to assist their colleagues in Akranes with the investigation.
The story is told from two POV'S, across two timelines: Policeman Týr in present time, and Sóldís in the days preceding the murders. It is this latter POV that is the most unsettling, documenting as it does for the reader, the strange occurrences at the farmhouse.

Can't Run, Can't Hide is well paced, and the terror is almost palpable. The suspense oozes from the pages, and just when you think you know what happened, the rug is pulled from beneath you.

I love Alice Feeney's books. They're great psychological, domestic thrillers with a twisty twist at the end. You could say Alice is the queen of the twisty twist. She has outdone herself with this one.

On the day he discovers he is a New York Times bestselling author, Grady Green's wife, Abby, disappears. One year later, Abby is still missing, and Grady has been unable to write another book. His agent offers him the use of a cabin she owns on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. With his dog, Columbo, for company, Grady sets off for the island of Amberley.

Cue strange goings on that Grady attributes to his insomnia.

I'm not going to give away any more of the plot, except to say that all is not as it seems on the island.

Beautiful Ugly is compulsive reading. It's edge-of-your-seat stuff, and when that final twist comes it takes you by surprise. Nope, didn't see that one coming. 👀

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

To date, I had only read one other book by Caroline Mitchell; Paranormal Intruder, for those of you who are wondering. Having just finished The Survivors, I can see I'm going to have to add more of her books to the already lengthy want-to-read list.
The Survivors is a sinister, fast paced, psychological thriller that is heavy on atmosphere, and stirs every emotion.
Set in the coastal village of Doolin, Co. Clare, the location adds to the atmosphere, as does the aptly named Misery Hill, where the cottage at the heart of the story sits.
The main protagonist is Maura, and let me tell you folks, she's hard to like. Oh, you'll feel a little sympathy for her at first, but eventually you'll be comparing her to Annie Wilkes, Stephen King's terrifying nurse.
I flew through this book because it was just too good to put down. It's quite an emotional read, and has as many twists as the road up to Misery Hill, but it is a very satisfying read.
This title is part of Amazon's First Reads for November.

John Connolly; he's a masterful storyteller, isn't he? I enjoy his writing so much I'd probably give his shopping list five stars. But I'm not here to review his shopping list. Instead, allow me to tell you what I thought of Night and Day.

As you've probably guessed, I enjoyed this book immensely. Nine brand new short stories, and an essay on the old Hammer classic, Horror Express; what's not to like?
The short stories were superb, providing chills, a sense of unease, and a little humour. I loved The Bear, and The Mire at Fox Tor. The two stories set in the Caxton Lending Library and Book Depository were my favourites however.

I didn't expect to be entertained by the essay on Horror Express, but I was. I do love a Hammer Horror, but I must confess, I haven't seen Horror Express. I do plan to watch it sometime soon, and then I will read the essay again, and perhaps appreciate it a little more.

So there you have it folks. While Horror Express: Extended Edition might not appeal to everyone, if tales of ghosts and the supernatural are your bag, you can't go wrong with Night and Day.

I really wasn't expecting to get into the festive spirit so soon, but life is full of surprises. The Christmas Eve Murders was also a surprise, and quite a pleasant one at that. Also, check out the author's name; Noelle. If that doesn't scream Christmas, I don't know what does.🎄

And so to the book. Well, The Christmas Eve Murders does exactly what it says in the blurb. It's set on Christmas Eve, and there are indeed murders. This is in essence a cosy, locked room mystery. Allow me to set the scene for you. A quaint village in the Yorkshire Dales. A a young woman, Edinburgh bound, finds herself stranded in the village after her car breaks down. There is no mobile phone reception, and it's snowing heavily. A kindly old gentleman takes her to the village inn, where she will have to stay until the snow stops. ❄

Most of the characters are likeable although, as the murder investigation progresses, they provide quite the pool of suspects. (I have to confess that Barkley was my favourite. 🐕)

If you like your mysteries cosy and festive with, a dash of humour, then treat yourself to this book. You'll be glad you did. 🎄

Thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

The Terror is one of those books that you're either going to love or hate; there's no inbetween. I loved it. I started with mixed feelings because I had watched the TV adaptation (which I also loved ) and I wondered which I would love more....📖 vs. 📺 Turns out I love them equally.

The Terror is a wonderful mix of historical fact and supernatural fiction. It is also quite a lengthy tome, so if long books and nautical history aren't your thing, then perhaps this isn't the book for you. ⚓

I take my hat off to the author for his scene setting. I shivered my way through this book, as if I was stuck in the Arctic. ❄🌨

It's a tough read in places; the symptoms of scurvy, the attacks on the men, the living conditions, the betrayals; it's all harrowing, it's scary, and a lot of it is sadly true.

So there you have it; The Terror is a blend of fact and fiction that is nail biting, terrifying and sad. It raises your hopes, and just as quickly dashes them again.

This truly is a wonderful collection of long forgotten vampire (vampyre) stories, lovingly collected for this anthology in 2011.

Vintage Vampire Stories brings together a whole host of vampires; who knew there were so many variations!

Lovers of classic or gothic horror, will love this anthology. Those who like their vampires of the Twilight variety, probably won't.

My only problem with this anthology was the number of typos in the kindle edition. Otherwise, a most enjoyable read in the run up to Halloween. 👻🎃

Tuva Moodyson is back folks, and I'm not going to lie, I did a little dance when I was approved for this ARC....thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton.
In Ice Town we follow Tuva to Esseberg, otherwise known as Ice Town. There is only one way in and one way out of Esseberg....a tunnel, which closes every night.
An 18 year old boy, Peter Hedberg, is missing. Peter is deaf, and for this reason Tuva feels that she needs to write about his disappearance. It's not long before a body is found.
That's all I'm going to say regarding the plot. Anyone familiar with this series will know that things are never straightforward where Tuva is concerned.
Ice Town is a chilling story, and I don't just mean in the sense that it's set in deepest winter in the north of Sweden. Brrr!!!

I like short story collections, and I like seasonal anthologies. I've also been promising myself I will read more Agatha Christie. With Autumn Chills, I'm three for three.

Autumn Chills is a wonderful collection of short stories from the Queen of Crime Fiction, all with an autumnal theme, and all chilling reads.
Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Tommy and Tuppence all feature, alongside a veritable rogues gallery.
Autumn Chills is cosy mystery at its best, and is the perfect companion for these chilly autumn evenings.

Supposing, when you were younger, you and your friends saw what you believed was a great act of cruelty, and decided to mete out your own brand of justice. And further suppose that, as you all get a little older, your friends find themselves in difficult situations and turn to you for advice, advice which inevitably leads to death. What then, do you suppose, would happen if you told your friends that it is time for you all to face up to the consequences of your past actions?
That is exactly the situation Zachary Llewellyn finds himself in, in The Great Orme.
I loved this book, which is set in Llandudno. The Great Orme features extensively, and why not, it is a brooding presence in the town.
There is a sense of menace throughout the story. Some clever plot twists and shocking revelations make this a sinister but very gripping read.

I have read this book many times since it was first published, and enjoyed it each time.
This time around I chose to listen to it on Audible, and I loved it even more.
Jeff Harding is a wonderful narrator, and brought my favourite characters to life.
My favourite story in this collection has to be The Underbury Witches, with The Cancer Cowboy coming a close second.

Stuart MacBride is best known for his Ash Henderson and Logan MacRae series of books, set in Oldcastle and Aberdeen respectively.
Sawbones is something of a different beast. For one thing, it's a novella, but boy is it action packed. MacBride can cram a lot into just 68 pages, but let me assure you, it's not rushed.
There's a change of location too; Sawbones is set in the good old US of A.
Fast paced, action packed and pretty brutal, Sawbones is a thrilling read.

Horror fans will love this offering from KJK Publishing. The Horror Collection: Turquoise Edition contains 12 short stories of varying degrees of horror.
Be warned though, some of them are quite the gore fest, and unless you've got the constitution of an ox, you might want to give iBola a swerve. Even I felt a bit green reading it.

Ever wondered how the characters of Pride and Prejudice would cope with social media? Well wonder no more.
Pride and Prejudice on Social Media does exactly what it says on the tin, or the book cover in this instance. The Bennetts, Bingleys and Mr. D'Arcy are all to be found on various social media platforms.

This satirical retelling of the Jane Austen classic may be silly, but it's also hilarious. I remember having to study Pride and Prejudice for English Lit many years ago, and not enjoying it very much. Oh how my teenaged self would have loved this.