Seen to be Believed

by Louisa Scarr

Pub Date: 24 Nov 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 4 Jan 2023

My Recommendation

 

Butler and West are back when a mother and son are violently attacked on their doorstep for no apparently reason.  The enquiry leads them to victims husband and business partner of a cyber company.  All witnesses are uncooperative and only when the business partner is kidnapped do Butler and West make some progress in the case.
Entwined with Butler and West’s torn personal feelings, the book develops strong character relationships and you really want a happy ever after scenario.  Another great read from Louisa Scarr and can’t wait for the next instalment.

 

All the Dangerous Things

by Stacy Willingham

Pub Date: 2 Feb 2023

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 4 Jan 2023

My Recommendation

 

Isabelle Darke’s life falls apart when her toddler son, Mason is taken one night.  She now suffers from insomnia and has dedicated to giving talks to keeps Mason’s disappearance in the press and desperate to find him.  She encounters a true crime podcaster and finally agrees to talk to him about Mason.  She reflects back to events in her childhood and now starts to doubt the memories of what happened to her sister.
Isabelle is prompted to revisit the night of Mason’s disappearance and watches some nursery room surveillance footage and discovers a series of sinister occurrences and the people ,in her life are not as they seems.
A gritty thriller with an unpredictable twist that will keep those pages turning.

 

The Vanishing of Margaret Small

by Neil Alexander

Pub Date: 16 Nov 2022

Review by

Emily B, Reviewer

Last updated on 4 Jan 2023

My Recommendation

 

Margaret, 75, is a Cilla Black mega fan and when she starts receiving letters signed ‘C’, Margaret is convinced they are from Cilla.  The story reflects back of Margaret’s childhood where she is institutionalised or ‘vanished’ for being having learning difficulties.  The story depicts Margaret’s life events and friendships while institutionalised.  In the present day, her social worker, Wayne, encourages Margaret to think back over her life as to who ‘C’ could really be.
Such a pleasant, feel-good book, you really warm to Margaret and her innocence.  A cosy read with happy vibes.

 

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.