All the Wicked Games

by Lauren North

Pub Date: 01 Sep 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 29 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

5 years earlier, best friends and housemates, Cleo and Rachael, like to spend Friday nights on Camchat, an online chat room.  They starts playing ‘games’ by pretending to be other characters.  Rachael starts obsessing with Camchat.  
In present day Cleo is called from Rachael’s sister to advise she has gone missing and needs her help to trace her down. Despite not seeing or contacting Rachael in those 5 years, Cleo has a sense of guilt and obligation to help Rachael.  Unbeknown to Cleo, someone wants to play a game with her and events soon take a sinister twist.
A really enjoyable and engaging plot, the different timeline and person perspectives were easy to follow and really felt an emotional attachment towards the characters.  5 stars to Lauren North.

 

Lying Beside You

by Michael Robotham

Pub Date: 23 Jun 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 27 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

The next instalment with Cyrus Haven, a forensic psychologist and Evie McCormack, his lodger with a troubled past.  It was be beneficial to have read the first two books to understand the past of these two characters and the bond they have.  Cyrus is brought into to help when Maya goes missing for her home where her father is found murdered.  Then Mayas body turns up and now the plot thickens when there is a deeper meaning behind this attack and a similar one from 6 years earlier.  Meanwhile, Cyrus has to deal with the thought of his schizophrenic brother, who murdered their parents and twins sisters, being realised from the psychiatric hospital when he has been held for the last 20 years.
Another masterpiece from Michael Robotham, already looking forward to the next instalment!

 

Do No Harm

by Jack Jordan

Pub Date: 26 May 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 27 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

Do No Harm is told from the perspectives of Anna, a heart surgeon, whose son has been kidnapped to force her to kill a high profile patient.  Margot, a nurse who assists Anna in the operation theatre, who is also an opportunist thief under pressure to raise money.  Then Rachael, detective investigating the death of Anna’s neighbour..  The viewpoints and back stories intertwine putting together a rather intriguing plot.  A dark and twisty ending and the whole book will keep those pages turning!!

by Jack Jordan

Pub Date: 26 May 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 27 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

Do No Harm is told from the perspectives of Anna, a heart surgeon, whose son has been kidnapped to force her to kill a high profile patient.  Margot, a nurse who assists Anna in the operation theatre, who is also an opportunist thief under pressure to raise money.  Then Rachael, detective investigatin the death of Anna’s neighbour..  The viewpoints and back stories intertwine putting together a rather intriguing plot.  A dark and twisty ending and the whole book will keep those pages turning!!

 

The Last Girl to Die

by Helen Fields

Pub Date: 01 Sep 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 22 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

A standalone from Helen Fields.  Adriana Clark is 16 years old and her family has recently moved from America to the Isle of Mull, Scotland.  Adriana has gone missing and local police have not been able to find her. The Clark family calls in the help of private investigator Sadie Lavesque.  Sadie searches the island and finds Adriana’s body, her mouth has been filled with sand.  It turns out another local girl met a similar end 40 years ago and the killer was never found.  Is it the same killer, or a copycat.  When a second girl goes missing, police and Sadie try all they can to find out who is responsible.
A great book, but found the last few chapters took a different dialogue to the rest of the book and found it let the ending down.

 

Girl, Forgotten

by Karin Slaughter

Pub Date: 23 Jun 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 22 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

Newly qualified US Marshall, Andrea Oliver is sent on a placement but with a secret ulterior motive - to see if her criminal father was responsible for the death of pregnant school girl Emily Vaughn in his home town 40 years ago.  Her real mission is to investigate desth threats to Emily’s mother, Judge Esther Vaughan.  With her new US Marshall partner, Bible, investigations of past events and the present situation start to intertwine.
Quite different to Pieces of Her, but found the plot and pace of the book more gripping  and thoroughly enjoyable.
Another Karin Slaughter masterpiece.

 

The Devil's Playground

by Charly Cox

Pub Date: 14 Apr 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 22 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

Skye, Elena and London are enjoying their usual Thursday night meet up.  London is reading to Skye’s children when the hear blood curdling screams.  London and the children hide and when London thinks the coast is clear to call the police, the intruders kidnap her and takes her to the ‘Devils Playground’ and is tortured.
Detective Alyssa Wyatt investigates and the team start to link the murders with an old cult movement.  Are they able to find London in time.
A gritty plot, full of gruesome details, but entirely gripping.  This is the fourth instalment of Alyssa Wyatt and each book better than the last.  It can be read as a standalone as well.  Can’t wait for next in the series!

 

by C.L. Taylor

Pub Date: 23 Jun 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 13 Apr 2022

My Recommendation

 

5 years ago, Olivia Sutherland was framed for plotting to kill her husband.  Now she is out of prison, Olivia is determined to take revenge.  The more she looks into her husband, Dominic and the joint friend, Dani, the bigger the web of deception.
I found I couldn’t put this book down.  As the story develops, it’s became harder to put down.  Really enjoyed the plot, with great twists.  Another  masterpiece by CL Taylor.