A BLOODSTAINED COAT

by Stephen Williams

Pub Date: 15 Jun 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 15 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

A spectacular sequel for Stephen Williams.  Ex-police, now PI Raine is back in fully rogue action when she enters a club she had a tip that was selling young girls as sex slaves.  Back up arrives and Detective Mary Humes and DS Echo become involved in looking into the dark activities at this club.  Meanwhile, a body of an unidentified male is found at the bottom of a lift shaft on the building site.  When the blood on his coat is ran through the DNA database, they find three other sets of blood on coat.  One belonging to a missing person Raine was investigating before her body was found.  Rain e is determined to find out what happened to Julie and whose blood they also found.
A fast paced plot, with two likeable characters that are completely chalk and cheese.  With a strong personal connection, Mary is always looking out for Raine and her unconventional methods.  With lots of complex plots, this book comes together nicely with the obligatory twists.  Another fantastic read and looking forward to the next instalment.

 

The Rule of Three

by Sam Ripley

Pub Date: 20 Sep 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Three girls that have experience family grief and sorrow tell the story of The Rule of Three.
The synopsis of the book was rather gripping, but as I was reading through, I struggled to retain interest in the plot as it become quite slow in places and hard to connect with the main character.

 

First Born

by Will Dean

Pub Date: 14 Apr 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 9 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Molly lives a quiet life, very orderly and safe.  Her twin, Kate is polar opposite, and the life and soul of the room.  They were inseparable until Kate decided to move to New York where she had settled into a gear lifestyle.  Then Molly gets a call from her parents who are visiting Kate, to tell her Kate has been killed.  Travel phobic Molly does her best to over come her fears to be with her parents in New York and determined to find out what really happened to Kate.
An interesting suspense thriller, with an amazing twist at the end.  A steady paced read with Molly as a strong character.  Plausibility goes slightly out the window but worthy of perseverance.

 

The Last Holiday

by Amy Sheppard

Pub Date: 30 May 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 24 May 2023

My Recommendation

No one wanted to be there, but a group of college friends and their children are camping on Cornwall to celebrate Rose’s 18th birthday.  Rose is there with her mum Annie, Jack and new wife Kelly and his son Oliver.  There is Stella and fiancé Nate and Charlotte with husband Tristan and young son Theo.  
The groups have been friends for a lifetime but there are some dark secrets holding them together and seems this weekend they will all come bubbling to the surface.  One of them will never leave the camp alive.
A really intriguing plot, with many layers of twists and secrets that lead up to a spectacular finale.  Just when you guess what happened that night, the twists keep on twisting!!! Another triumphant read by Amy Sheppard!

 

Listen To Me

by Tess Gerritsen

Pub Date: 7 Jul 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 19 May 2023

My Recommendation

 

Boston based homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are back when the body of nurse Sofia Suarez is found in her home.  Investigating the scene, Rizzoli finds Sofia made a number of calls before her fatal attack.  It seems the killer wanted to certain secrets hidden.  Meanwhile, Rizzoli’s mum has some new suspicious neighbours and is keeping them under her radar.  
Great addition to the series, Rizzoli and Isles never fail to impress.  A brilliant series which two realistic characters.

 

The Girl in the Photo

by Sam Carrington

Pub Date: 20 Jul 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 19 May 2023

My Recommendation

 

Erica Fielding is in the supermarket when a frantic woman, Mercy approaches her, asking if she has seen her missing daughter.  The staff remove Mercy as they see her as a nuisance, in every week asking customers the same thing.  They remember the day Mercy accused her daughter from being taken, but no CCTV or witnesses caught any evidence of the girl.
Erica, although wary, becomes engrossed in helping Mercy much to her husbands resistance.  She even seeks the help of her neighbour across the road.  But Erica becomes suspicious of Mercy having an affair with her husband and events start to spiral out of control.
A refreshing read, with twist upon twist towards the end.  Erica is a likeable character and can understand her emotional rollercoaster ride.

 

The Isle of Wight Murders

by Pauline Rowson

Pub Date: 25 May 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 19 May 2023

My Recommendation

 

DI Andy Horton is taking a break on the Isle of Wight, which turns out to be more of a busman’s holiday when he discovers a young women in a disused bunker, holding a gun, standing over the corpse of a young man.  It turns out, the man is her brother.  Horton, much to the disgust of local police, becomes enwrapped in the investigation and the body count starts to rise.
A new series to me, I found Horton a bit of a loner and down on his luck in his personal life but a good detective.  The pace of the story was a bit erratic in places, where lots happen followed by a long lull.  Still an enjoyable read overall.