Trick or Treat

by Katerina Diamond

Pub Date: 14 Oct 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 23 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

Jason is determined to enact some revenge after being jilted by his girlfriend.  When in her house he sees a van pull up and masked men kidnap the little boy on his bike outside.  He reports the incident anonymously to the police.  When the police knock on the parents door they deny the boy is missing??
DI Imogen Grey perseveres and the parent admit they received a ransom call and scared for Marcus’s safety.  As Grey and the team delve deeper into the parents history, there is something that doesn’t add up.
A great crime thriller with plenty of twists that keep you guessing until the end which I really enjoyed.  Having not read any of the previous books, the characters and their past events were described so could easily read this as a stand alone book.  However I am now going to start with book 1 and start from the beginning!

 

The Last Time She Died (Blake and Byron Thrillers Book 1)

by Zoë Sharp

Pub Date: 20 Oct 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 17 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

On the day of Gideon Fitzroys funeral, a shadowy character makes and appearance, who then claims to be Blake, Gideons daughter who went missing 10 earlier.  There are some very shocked faces, especially from those that were involved in burying her body all those years ago.
Detective Byron is a force to be reckoned with and nothing gets in his way of discovering the truth, who is ‘Blake’ , what was Gideon involved in and what happened 10 years ago.
A thoroughly enjoyable debut for Byron, a character with a past I’m sure we will discover more as the series develops.

 

The Killer in the Snow

by Alex Pine

Pub Date: 28 Oct 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 17 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

DI James Walker returns as a killer is loose again in his sleepy village at Christmas time.  A farmer, his wife and grown up daughter are discovered dead in a suspected murder/suicide.  However, the more Walker and his team investigate into this family, the more interesting the case becomes.   For starters, a similar fate met the previous owners over 20 years earlier.  There are unaccounted footprints and a mystery peephole with fresh crumbs nearby.  All is not what it seems.
I enjoyed this latest instalment, so many twists and subplots really kept the suspense going.  Walker is such a likeable character too.  Well done Alex Pine, 5 stars!

 

The Dollhouse

by Sara Ennis

Pub Date: 01 Jun 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 17 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

14 year old Twins Angel and Bud are taken by a mysterious lady after their mothers leaves them alone for a weekend.  Jennifer gives Angel and Bud a tour of the ‘dollhouse’ and meet original ‘doll’ Olivia, who was taken from her family over a year ago.  They are threatened to abide by the rules or face the wraith of Alfred and his violent temper.  They are forced to reenact photos from Alfreds past, but as the number of photos left dwindle, the trio fear their own safety.  Meanwhile, Olivias dad and FBI agent, Nick are following a trail and homing in on Alfred and Jennifer.
A great thriller, plenty of twists, some you see coming and others you don’t.  I really enjoyed this and will be looking to read more by Sara Ennis.

 

Hide

by Nell Pattison

Pub Date: 09 Dec 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 10 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

7 friends join each other for a walk around a nature reserve on Boxing Day on a special arrangement.  No one else is allowed in.  So when 1 member of the group is killed, it means one of the group is the killer.  But who?
An enjoyable read with the story told by each member of the groups perspective which I felt helped build up the suspense of the book.  Many of the groups had secrets they did not want to get out.  Another superb book by Nell Pattison.

 

Dead Man’s Grave

by Neil Lancaster

Pub Date: 16 Jul 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 05 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

DS Max Craigie and DC Janie Calder are brought in to investigate the disappearance of local crime lord Tam Hardie.  They are pointed towards an old grave where they see it has been disturbed.  Inside the grave is the body of Hardie.  There is a 200 year old feud between the Hardies and the Leith family which apparently is still active today.  The body count soon starts to mount up as the families continue this fued.
An enjoyable book, a little slow in places and enjoyed the ending.  You never know who you should trust!

 

THE BOX HILL KILLER

by Biba Pearce

Pub Date: 21 Jul 2021

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 05 Aug 2021

My Recommendation

 

16 year old Rachael gets caught up in a high street robbery as she passes by.  The police take her DNA and it has a familial match to a series of cold cases of the Boxhill Murders.  12 years earlier, Noah Palmer goes for a cycle ride and never returns.  His body is found at Boxhill, in a white circle, with a pentagram carved into his chest.  The killer has never been caught.
DCI Rob Miller reopens the case and realises not everything about the original case tallies up.  
This is the first book in the series I have read and didn’t feel I needed to have read the previous.  The characters are well described and learn lots of their past and home life’s too.  I really enjoyed this book and read in one sitting!  Look forward to reading more in the series.