Caroline

The Gathering Dark is book 8 in the Inspector McLean series, and is by far the darkest in the series.
A lorry bearing a tanker of aggregate waste, crashes into a crowded bus stop whereupon the tanker splits and spills its toxic load. Tony is witness to the carnage, and ends up leading the investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
In separate incidents, people with tenuous connections to the waste company responsible for filling the tanker, are dying of fright. Who, or what, is scaring them to death?
Madame Rose makes a welcome return. The feline army also return, and we all know what that means.
The ending is quite sad, and I can't help but wonder what the future has in store for Tony on a personal level. The guy deserves some luck and happiness, methinks.
The Gathering Dark is a dark and gritty read, just the way I like my crime thrillers. It is my favourite book in the series to date.

I like a book that gets me thinking. The Appeal certainly did that. I felt like Hercule Poirot, exercising my little grey cells. Unlike Monsieur Poirot, I didn't get the correct killer. It was fun trying though.
The Appeal is told through the medium of emails and WhatsApp messages. The cast of characters is large; there is a grand total of 15 murder suspects. Yes, you read that right, 15!
There's quite a bit of misdirection, which is probably why I got the killer's identity so wrong.
The format of the book won't be for everyone, but it made it all the more engaging for me. I found this book riveting.

Murder at the Monastery continues from where its predecessor left off. Following his friend Neil's revelation, Daniel heads off to the monastery in Yorkshire where he was once a novice.
As per the title, there is a murder, and it is in a monastery, but it takes a back seat, as the bulk of the book is taken up with Daniel trying to sort out his feelings, and Mrs. Clements trying to sort out repairs to the vicarage while temporarily living at Champton hall.
That's not to say this isn't an enjoyable read, because it is, and there are many humourous moments. It is a little heavy on the religion, but the protagonist is a clergyman so this should come as no surprise.
Love the mention of The Communards. Those of us of a certain age will remember them fondly.

And now for something completely different....a book that doesn't have a murder, or indeed any crime to speak of, unless you count lying.
The Guests is a short read, with just four characters and no action per se. More psychological drama than thriller, the reader can feel the tension between the characters.
As to those characters, none of them are especially likeable, least of all Karin, who comes across as neurotic and pathologically jealous.
There's a nice little twist at the end that I didn't foresee. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Well now, that was a little bundle of weirdness hiding behind a pretty cover. Highly addictive weirdness though, because once I'd started reading it, I didn't have the willpower to stop.
The Night Guest practically pulsates with tension and suspense, and I don't think it would be unfair to say it is downright creepy.
The only thing stopping me giving it another star is the abrupt ending. It left me a little confused. A second reading has, I think, clarified things.
As I have friends who are cat lovers I feel I should warn them that several cats die in this book; off the page, but we learn of their demise towards the end.
Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Playdate is the story of Sara who, along with her husband Adam and daughter Lexie, has relocated from London to Dublin, Adam's place of birth.
Sara tries to make friends with some of the mums she meets at the gates of her daughter's new school every morning. It's specifically the yummy mummies that she'd like to befriend, and one in particular; Vanessa, mother of Polly whom Lexie is in awe of.
This is the story of what can go wrong when you host a playdate in an attempt to impress a yummy mummy, the repercussions for all involved.
The Playdate is a thrilling, suspenseful, psychological read that really packs a punch.

The Cuckoo marks the welcome return to the coastal town of Fjällbacka, and two of its residents, Patrik and Erica.
Patrik finds himself investigating the murders of Rolf, a photographer, and those of Peter and his young sons Max and William.
Erica meanwhile, is looking into the unsolved murder of a trans woman and her young daughter in Stockholm in 1980, with a view to writing a book about it. It soon becomes clear that there is a link between Patrik's cases and the cold case.
The story is slow to begin with, but as soon as the murders begin, the pace quickens.
There are lots of plot twists, but despite these I had figured out whodunnit before the big reveal.
A dark, gripping read.

The Stranger's Companion is an historical mystery, set on the island of Sark, and is based on true events on the island in the same time period. The year is 1933, the month is October. Two sets of clothes, belonging to a man and a woman, are found on a cliff top. Of their owners, there is no sign.
The story has two timelines, 10 years apart. The narrative contains newspaper headlines from the real life Sark mystery, and excerpts from a guidebook of Sark. It is written in the first person, but we never learn the identity of the narrator.
What I loved about this book was the sense of foreboding throughout the story, and the superstitions that seemed to abound on the island, not to mention the possibility of witches abroad. Who doesn't love superstitions and witchcraft? I also loved the expert weaving together of fact and fiction.
I devoured this book. It was an engaging and easy read. It has made me very curious about Sark and its history, something I hope to look up at a later date.
Thanks to John Murray Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You Like It Darker is a collection of 12 stories by Stephen King, some previously unpublished, and boy what a collection. They come in varying lengths, from the very short to the very long. They also see the welcome return of the author of yore.
Three stories stood out for me. Danny Coughlin's Dream, which was really more of a novella, dealt with obsession, the obsession of a KBI agent in this instance.
Rattlesnakes is a sequel to King's earlier bestseller, Cujo.
The Answer Man was, for me, the most poignant story in the compilation.
I've been a fan of Stephen King since I first read Carrie nearly 40 years ago. I have to confess though, that it's his collections of short stories that I re-read the most. I enjoyed this collection immensely and know that I will read it again some day.

Victim 2117 is the eighth book in the Department Q series, but it is more Assad's story than Department Q ‘s. We've known from the very first book that Assad had a back story that we weren't privy to. This is where we learn who Assad really is, and what actually happened to his family.
I'm not going to give the story away. Suffice to say it makes for grim reading, given that the plot centres around acts of terrorism.
The story begins in Barcelona, then moves to Cyprus and Germany.
Back in Copenhagen, Rose is now back at work in Department Q, where she is helping Carl with a separate investigation.
Victim 2117 is a grim but gripping read.

This Is Why We Lied is book 12 in the Will Trent series, and if I thought its predecessor was as dark a book as one could possibly read, well I seriously underestimated Ms. Slaughter. The depravity of some of the characters is off the scale.
Will and Sara have finally tied the knot, and are now about to start their honeymoon at a cabin retreat in the mountains. Will has arranged everything, from their luxury cabin to a variety of outdoor activities. What he didn't anticipate was a murder. The victim is Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the retreat, daughter of the owners.
It seems just about everyone in Mercy's family had a motive for murdering Mercy, and all of the guests at the retreat appear to have something to hide.
As usual there are more twists and turns than a mountain road, and a red herring or two to contend with. The final reveal, when it came, left me reeling. I did NOT see that one coming.
This book is deeply unsettling and upsetting. I found myself crying for Mercy at one point.
My only peeve is the “tender” moments between Will and Sara. More thrills, less mushy moments please.
Thanks to Karin Slaughter, HarperCollins UK, and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I only know Rob Brydon as host of Would I Lie To You, and sometime panellist on QI, but I like him and decided to read this autobiography. Unfortunately, the book ends before he was cast as Bryn in Gavin and Stacey.
It was an interesting read with some funny moments. Rob had a happy childhood and adolescence. Following his dream to become an actor/comedian seemed like it was doomed to failure, but Rob didn't give up. His impatience shows in the narrative though. You don't get the same exuberance that is present when recounting his childhood years.
Worth a read if you're a fan.

I totally love this series. How could I not? It's got everything I could ask for; a maverick detective and his loyal sidekicks, weird cases to investigate, and supernatural undertones. Most of the characters are likeable, and there are some humorous moments.
Written in Bones is the seventh book in the series, and I was instantly hooked. Opening with a body in a tree is definitely going to grab my attention.
This quirky series just gets better and better, and I can't wait to read the next book.

When it came to subject matter, Ms. Slaughter really went dark and disturbing. Not satisfied with just having one rapist, nope, it had to be a club. A club where the participants tried to induct their offspring.
After That Night is one heck of a creepy read. It's definitely not one for the faint hearted and should really come with a trigger warning.
The only bone of contention for me is the soppy moments between Will and Sara. I get that they're crazy about each other, but less romance more dastardly deeds please.

I love dogs. I love their quirks, I love their unconditional love, I love their loyalty, and I love their resilience. I'm also a sucker for books and movies about dogs.
Arthur and Friends is the sequel to Arthur: The Dog Who Travelled the World to Find a Home. In this book we learn about how Arthur settled into his new life in Sweden with Mikael and his family, how Mikael came to write the first book, and how he and Arthur dealt with being celebrities. There was also a bout of ill health for Arthur to contend with.
Interspersed between the accounts of Arthur's new life, are stories of other dogs rescued by people and living their best lives.
This is a heartwarming book that has restored some of my faith in humanity. The world desperately needs more people like Mikael and the others who shared their stories of the dogs they rescued.
I hope these dogs all had long, happy lives in their forever homes. I'm sure Arthur and his friends made their families as happy as my dog makes me.

Well now, that wasn't at all what I expected, and I mean that in the best possible way. I opened the book expecting a thriller, and I got a thriller, but I also got local superstition and sinister goings on.
Lucy Foley sure knows how to weave a good story, creating tension and atmosphere, all designed to grab the reader and not let go.
There are many POV's in the story, but not so many that the reader loses the plot, if you'll pardon the pun.
There are also many plot twists, but that reveal towards the end, I did not see that coming!
I really enjoyed this book, and I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-five years ago I stumbled across a copy of a book called Every Dead Thing in my local library. According to the blurb, it was the debut novel by a young man named John Connolly. I was intrigued by the rest of the blurb but, I must confess, it was the cover that caught my eye initially. I checked out that book, and so began my love affair with Charlie Parker.
Here we are, twenty-five years later, and my love for Charlie hasn't diminished. If anything, it's grown stronger. I missed him while he was having his little break last year, but absence has made my heart grow fonder.
The Instruments of Darkness is the 21st book in the Charlie Parker series and sees Charlie working for lawyer Moxie Castin, who is defense lawyer for a woman accused of murdering her child. The subsequent investigation will take Charlie deep into Maine, and bring him into contact with evil once again.
The Fulci brothers, Paulie and Tony, make a welcome return, as do Angel and Louis. Like Charlie, Angel and Louis have become a little slower, but they still answer the call to assist Charlie.
The supernatural element I have come to expect is present in the form of a wendigo, and a woman who hears the voices of the dead.
The Instruments of Darkness is a gripping, but poignant read. It engages the reader, and triggers many emotions.
For me it is also a reunion with old, much loved friends.

Stella Blómkvist is back and she's very busy indeed. She's been hired to look into the disappearance of a Scottish geology student, who disappeared whilst on a trip to Iceland 10 years previously. The girl's mother is terminally ill and would like to know what befell her daughter.
As if this isn't enough to contend with, Stella finds a dismembered limb, and finds herself representing a man believed to have murdered his father-in-law.
Murder Under the Midnight Sun hits the ground running. The multi-plot story moves on at a fast pace, with twists and turns aplenty.
There is quite a cast of characters, but not so many that the reader becomes confused.
Murder Under the Midnight Sun was translated into English by Quentin Bates, who once again did a sterling job.

There have been many theories put forward over the years, as to the identity of Jack the Ripper. He was believed to have been a doctor, a butcher, even a member of the royal family. A diary surfaced in the 1990's, allegedly written by Manchester businessman James Maybrick, in which he claimed to be the Ripper.
The Man Who Would Be Jack introduces a new candidate: Thomas Cutbush.
Bullock makes a good argument for Cutbush, and Cutbush is a plausible suspect.
The Man Who Would Be Jack is a compelling, read, interesting and informative.

Well that was a weird one. Definitely one of those “what the hell did I just read?” books.
The blurb reels you in, and once it has its hooks in you, you're compelled to continue reading. Like the protagonist, you have to find out what happened.
Ah yes, the protagonist. Beth. She just won't give up. She's like a dog with a bone. She is annoying at times, and can come across as neurotic. That said, you have to admire her tenacity.
There are more twists and turns than your average roller coaster has. There is also a lot of repetition; Beth does like to share her concerns.
On the whole, Haven't They Grown is compulsive reading.

I have read, and enjoyed, all of CJ Tudor's books to date. Not so The Gathering. I absolutely loved it. It was probably the most bizarre book I've read so far this year, and that's exactly why I loved it.
Set in present day Alaska, the book starts off with Detective Barbara Atkins being sent from New York to the small Alaskan town of Deadhart to investigate the murder of a teenage boy. Before you can say From Dusk Til Dawn, the reader soon realises that this is no ordinary police procedural, and Detective Atkins is no ordinary detective.
I'm not going to give too much away, but I'll give you a small clue: Vampyrs.
The Gathering has some very interesting characters. It's big on atmosphere and suspense, and there are one or two surprises. It is, dare I say it, fang-tastic.

Note: If you're a fan of the Twilight series, this is NOT the book for you.

The only new year's resolution I made this year was to introduce nonfiction to my reading list for the year. It seems my preferred type of nonfiction is music related, but I can live with that.
This was an interesting book, chronicling as it did, the birth of rock music as we know it, and it's death. Of course, as long as there are mediums through which to play that good old rock and roll music, then I would argue that it will never die. But I digress.
Hepworth takes us through 50 years of rock, with the spotlight on one act from each year. Whilst I liked most of his choices, I confess to skipping two as I'm not a fan. (No, I'm not telling you who.)
Fun, factual and well worth a read.

Halfway House is the first book by Helen Fitzgerald that I have read to date, and I think it was a good choice. The premise certainly appealed to me, and the dark humour satisfied my dark side.

With the possible exception of the protagonist's mother, there aren't many likeable characters. Our protagonist, Lou, is 23 years old and unbelievably selfish. She treats her family and friends abominably, casting them aside when they are no longer of use to her. She makes endless bad decisions, and then wonders how it all went so wrong. I really wanted to shake some sense into her, as she bumbled along from one disaster to another. I just knew things weren't going to end well for her.
I genuinely liked Tim, even when I realised all was not as it seemed with him, and he wasn't as innocent as he purported.
The fact that I wanted to shake (and slap) Lou, and mother Tim, shows how engaging this book was. The tension towards the end had me on the edge of my seat.

Despite the despicable characters, I enjoyed this book immensely.
Thanks to Orenda Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Declan Miller is back, and he's every bit as irreverent and mildly childish as he was when I first made his acquaintance last year. He still attends dance practice. He still has his pet rats, Fred and Ginger. And he's still talking to his dead wife, and hoping he will find out who killed her.
In the meantime, there are other crimes to solve. The book opens with a couple of conmen stealing a briefcase in the public toilets of Blackpool Railway Station. Unknown to them, the briefcase belongs to a contract killer who will stop at nothing to get it back, as it contains proof that he carried out a hit for one of Blackpool's crime bosses.
Murder and mayhem soon follow, with Miller inevitably at the centre of the mayhem.
The Wrong Hands is an hilarious romp. The black humour won't be to everyone's taste, but I love it. The Detective Miller books are a breath of fresh air, and I sincerely hope that this isn't the last we hear of Declan Miller.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this review.

The Damage Done is the sixth book in the Inspector McLean series. McClean is back, working in the SCU again, and unsurprisingly, things aren't going well. A raid on an alleged brothel leaves the team with egg on their facse as it appears their tip-off was way off the mark.
There's the usual run-ins with Brooks and Spence, both of whom have been promoted, and a transfer to the newly founded Cold Case Unit.
This is quite a dark read, given that it features prostitution and child abuse. There's an air of menace throughout and a subtle supernatural undertone.
I highly recommend this series.