The Santa Killer

by Ross Greenwood

Pub Date: 12 Sep 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Dec 2022

My Recommendation

 

DI John Barton and team are back when a woman is brutally attacked on her doorstep.  Her daughter who rarely communicates says it was Bad Santa that attacked her.  Soon, another woman is also attacked in similar circumstances.  Barton needs to figure out who is Bad Santa and what the motive is behind these attacks. 
Plenty of twists and red herrings for the team to decipher and the clock is ticking before someone else falls victim.
Another great book by Ross Greenwood.  This can be read in isolation but a really enjoyable series.  Lots of background detail on Barton, his home life and his team that adds to the brilliance of the book.

 

One Deadly Lesson

by Jay Nadal

Pub Date: 4 Dec 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Dec 2022

My Recommendation

 

DI Scott Baker is called to a boarding school when a body is discovered, a PE teacher in nearby woods.  There is a note and white feather.  Soon another teacher is discovered in similar circumstances.  The race is on for Baker and team to solve who is behind this series of attacks.  The school is filled with secrets and dark corners.  
This is the third book in the series, but a first for me.  I didn’t feel like I have missed any background story but not reading the previous books, but will read them anyhow now as a truly enjoyed the plot and characters

 

Their Burning Graves (Detective Morgan Brookes Book 8)

by Helen Phifer

Pub Date: 19 Dec 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Dec 2022

My Recommendation

 

DC Morgan Brooks and the team are back!  A house has been set on fire and inside an entire family are found sitting around the dining table bound, suffocated by plastic bags over their heads and their right hands severed.  Their are religious connotations to this case and the time is ticking to find out who killed this family and why .
A fast paced episode, with Brooks as intuitive as ever, together her and the team piece the clues together to solve this heinous crime.  Another brilliant masterpiece by Helen Phifer.

 

Sleeping Dolls (Detective Morgan Brookes Book 6)

by Helen Phifer

Pub Date: 13 Jun 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Dec 2022

My Recommendation

 

DC Morgan Brooks is back at work following a previous serial killer case.  Soon a call comes in of a death of an elderly lady alone in her flat.  On the scene, Brooks surmises that something is off with the scene and it is finally agreed to be murder.  Soon another body is founds, killed with a knife from the first victims house.  With other similar characteristics at the scene, Brooks and the team are hunting down another killer against the clock.
This is my first instalment, this being book 6, but will be going back to read the books in order.  A great team and love story on the side.  The crimes scenes are descriptive and gritty to keep you wanting to know who could possibly be behind the killings.  A really enjoyable read.

 

Her First Child

by Sheryl Browne

Pub Date: 24 Nov 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Dec 2022

My Recommendation

 

Eve, new mother to son Kai, had a very unhappy childhood and is disturbed when her mother she has had no contact with for years, turns up again.  Then Kai is taken to hospital and Eva relives her childhood, when her baby brother is in and out of hospital then tragically dies.
Told from various points of view including friend from childhood, Chloe, the book did jump around quite and lot and sometimes difficult to grasp the timeline.  Lots of secrets and not everyone are quite as they seem.