Beautiful Remains

by Gwyn Bennett

Pub Date: 3 May 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 28 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Dr Harrison Lane, head of the Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit is called in when the body of man is discovered in mysterious circumstances, pinned down by horseshoes and a bone necklace around his neck.  Lane has his suspicions of who is behind this kill, which is confirmed when they find a white envelope containing horsehair in his possessions.  The work of the secret organisation, The Horsemen is at blame.  But being secret, Lane along with the detectives, need to work out who in the jockey world is behind these crimes.
Lane is also worried about colleague who is smitten with, who is being stalked.  The stalking begins to escalates and really worried for Tanya’s safety.
Lane has a complicated past which makes him an intriguing character.  Events take a turn with his and Tanya’s relationship which you are cheering him on.  An enjoyable read and likeable characters and looking forward to reading more in the series.

 

My Daughter's Boyfriend

by Daniel Hurst

Pub Date: 3 Jun 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 28 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

This whirlwind story is fast paced and easily read in one sitting.  As the title denotes, the story is about Dawn and her grown up daughter 
Ellie who Dawn would love Ellie to settle down with a boyfriend and move out of home.  Told from Dawn and Ellie’s point of view, the pair set off to LA to meet Ellie’s new online boyfriend.  Dawn going to ensure Ellie is safe.  They are met at the airport by boyfriend Daryl and his dad Harvey.  On the journey to their house, Dawn sees a lots of posters for a missing girl and gets blank responses when she questions Harvey.  Suffering with jet lag, Dawn is up early and explores the house, she goes into the basement and unearths some items clearly no one wanted her to see.  Including a photo of Daryl and the missing girl.  Alarm bells start ringing when Ellie isn’t in bed, and she learns Daryl has taken her to a secluded spot.  Is Ellie in danger?
A clearly written story, with the title making you wary of Daryl, but he wasn’t the only person with secrets and a dark side.
You won’t be let down by Daniel Hursts latest, delivering a punchy psychological thriller.

 

Fatal Secrets

by Anita Waller

Pub Date: 8 Feb 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 24 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

DI Matt Forrester receives a call from his dad in distress, who is former detective, but since he was shot on duty, is now a PI.  On arrival, Matt finds his dad dead, and his work partner fatally injured.  His nemesis, and person he caught his wife in bed with, Supt Brian ‘di@khead’ Davi’s, is put in charge of the case and refuses to allow Matt to investigate, resulting in Matts resignation.  He sets out to investigate what happened to his dad with the aid of his sister, Hermia, best friend Steve and DS Karen Nelson.  However, whoever killed his dad, also has a vendetta against Hermia and things take a dramatic personal twist.  They need to find the killer before someone else dies.
Anita Waller is a great story teller and the characters seemed very familiar.  You quickly came up to speed on their backgrounds and spurred them on to find the truth.  With full on action, the characters still found time for some romantic connections!  Can’t wait for more books in the series.  You won’t be disappointed with this read, and will soon divulge it.

 

Last Seen Alive (Detective Amanda Steele Book 6)

by Carolyn Arnold

Pub Date: 6 Oct 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 24 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Detective Amanda Steele is on date with old flame Logan and when they go back to his place, things come to a dramatic end when there is a dead body, clearly murdered on his bed.  The woman, is Logan’s wife, Claire, but her ID say otherwise.  With the proximity to the crime, Steele is not allowed to investigate but twists some arms to be allocated the case.  With partner, Trent, Steele tries to track down confirmation the body is actually Claire and how she ended up in town dead.  Logan is arrested and Steele needs to clear his name, believing his innocence.  Claire had a dark past and those close to her seem to be meeting with ‘accidents’.  Then the killer threatens Steele’s family.
A gripping police procedural, Carolyn Arnold always delivers an exciting reading with Steele.  It is beneficial to have read previous books to understand Steele’s character and her link to adopted daughter Zoe.

 

Good Bad Girl

by Alice Feeney

Pub Date: 3 Aug 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 24 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Another corker by Alice Feeney!  A story told by multiple characters, Patience, Frankie, Edith and Clio, starting with a baby going missing on Mother’s Day 20 years prior.  The plot centralises around young care worker Patience, working in a care home where Edith has been placed in without consent by her daughter, Clio.  Frankie’s daughter has runaway and is desperate to find her.  For some unknown reason, she is also seen at the care home.  Then the care home manager, miserable Joy is murdered and DCI Chapman investigates and is fixated on there being three suspects, two murders and one victim.  They are all liars, and the truth needs to be told.
In typical Alice Feeney style, the plot builds up and the characters lives are interlinked, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing and need to know more right until the end.

 

Pure Evil

by Lynda La Plante

Pub Date: 30 Mar 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 15 Jun 2023

My Recommendation

 

Detective Jack Warr is back preparing for trial for an assault offender, Rodney Middleton.  DCI Ridley has been removed from his post under mysterious circumstances but he reaches out to Warr to help him unofficially in his predicament.  Ridley indicates that the assault is only the tip of Middletons crimes.  Warr starts looking into Middleton and find 17 old Amanda in his flat and has been living with him since she was 12.  Suspicions point to Middleton having a link to several missing runaways but just needs to find the evidence to prove it.
Another epic instalment from Lynda La Plant.  Warr is a great detective, always trying to balance his work and personal life.  This can be read as a series or a stand alone book.

 

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.