Two stories are intertwined. First, there’s the story of FBI Agents Roarke, Singh and Epps as they are sent to investigate threats against ‘fraternity’ boys in Santa Barbara. This rich student world was alien to me – full of privileged boys from wealthy families. The boys seem destined for high positions in commerce and government and they feel they can get away with anything during their student days – ie. drugs, rape, wild parties, gang rape etc. The local police are struggling with political hierarchies and all the boys have ‘friends in high places’. Anyway, cue Roarke and his team – who’ve been called in to find out about threats made against the boys by a cyber-group called ‘Bitch’. Bitch want rapes to be prosecuted. They want the rich boys to pay for their crimes. The second thread of the story involves Cara Lindstrom who is hiding out in the desert. There’s a price on her head and a group of men are out to hunt her down. I’m not up on all the backstory, but it seems Agent Roarke has fallen in love with serial killer Cara. Agent Singh (woman) feels great sympathies with Bitch, and her loyalties are going to be tested. Agents Roarke and Epps will have their loyalties tested in other ways. There is a great deal of bloodshed and throats are cut. The big question is - Are these deaths due to Cara? Or is there a copycat killer? Or is it Bitch? Cara is under threat and Roarke and his team will find their priorities turned around. Professional principles will vie with personal for all of the FBI team. This is a great story and well written. I loved the characters and felt engrossed in the plot. Even better, I got the feeling this wasn’t the strongest of the series. This was my first book by Sokoloff and I look forward to going back and catching up on the others. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review. To keep up-to-date with new book reviews follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnGirdharry
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This isn't a new series but it is new to me. The main character is Cork O'Connor, a sacked sheriff with Native American and Irish heritage. In this book, he must solve a series of murders threatening to bring out old hostilities.
The author has been recommended to me many times by my American book loving friends and I can see why. The story has great atmosphere - ice, snow, the winter closing in and the killings piling up. There is really nothing to fault. I particularly enjoyed our introduction to Cork and his memories of the incident between the town residents and the residents on the reservation. Cork's handling of this incident brought about his downfall as sheriff. We get a great picture of how events made him who he is and how each side views him with suspicion. There's a nice blending of Native American folklore in this story. In fact, it forms a backbone. The Native American characters are nicely drawn and I especially liked old Mr Melroux, who seemed to me a wonderful mix of old traditions and insight. The 'Windigo' is also a novel concept to me and I liked how this played on Cork's mind all the way from the time he was fourteen years old and went hunting in the woods... A complex murder mystery with small town politics, big ambitions and the honesty and treachery of ordinary people thrown into the mix. There's something special in how the author blends the landscape with the emotions of his characters. The suspense and tension crank up, as the killer, hiding in plain sight, makes his final moves. To give you an idea how much I enjoyed it - I shall be reading Cork O'Connor #2 as my Christmas holiday season treat. #5 Best New Crime Suspense Thrillers - Book Review ASIN B07462X1JX This is my second Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster book. (yes, you’re right, I haven’t read them in order at all!)
This one is fast, chilling and excellently written. The hub of the story involves two killers. We learn how they meet and how their relationship goes downhill. We learn about their obsessions, the pact they make together and the dynamics between them. It’s all complicated and gruesome/noir. Max is a deranged killer. Nina is hopelessly in love with him and will do all she can to keep him, even to the point of… (well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!) Then we have the police procedural side. Erika Foster spends large amounts of time battling her police bosses and fighting cut-backs in budgets. She is let-down by colleagues and feels lonely and middle-aged. I felt genuinely sorry for her. There didn’t seem to be much light on the horizon for Erika except her sister and her nephew and niece whom she visits in Slovakia during her recuperation. The passages around Erika and her boss, Marsh, were particularly sad because he is trying to get back with his wife and Erika has no one. There is also a heart-breaking passage where Erika is recovering in hospital and she has a memory of the child she decided not to have. For me, that passage showed the author’s real strength as a writer. The plot is addictive. I have to say, when I finished it, I wasn’t sure that I actually enjoyed the story. This doesn’t mean it’s not a good book, it really is. I think it’s simply that the killing duo were so ruthless and somehow depressing, and that, combined with Erika’s struggles made it a gritty read. As I said, it’s fast, chilling and excellently written. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy. This is my honest review. Valentina by S. E. Lynes ISBN 0993307086 This story is deceptively simple and surprisingly good.
There are three main characters - Shona, Mikey and Valentina. I liked Shona. She’s struggling with her new baby and with her lovely new house. She's moved to the Scottish countryside and she's hundreds of miles from her friends. She wants to make her marriage work. She’s proud and doesn’t want to admit her new life isn’t working for her. Doesn’t want her new husband, nor her old friends and family, to know how alone and isolated she feels. Shone is also no push-over, as we’ll see as the story progresses. Then there’s Valentina. Valentina is charismatic, charming and beautiful, and the new best friend Shona’s been longing for. But is Valentina really such a good friend? Mikey wasn’t someone I liked and, as the story progressed, I liked him even less. He thinks he can have everything, and, for a while, he does. The first part of this story was a bit slow for my liking. However, the author has a nice style of writing where Shona is talking directly to the reader and reflecting back on her choices. This feels very personal and deflects from, even makes up for, the slowish pace. The friendship/love/hate triangle between the Shona, Valentina and Mikey, plays itself out in unexpected ways. Toward the end of the book, we switch from Shona to Valentina’s view point, and the story really becomes enthralling. The tension builds throughout – going from innocent beginnings to disaster. Top picks. Looking for a summer read?
For a bit of madness, I decided to compare five of my favourite crime/thriller reads. They’re all start of series books - BLINDSIGHTED (Grant County #1) by Karin Slaughter 4 stars I liked most – the detailed back stories to the characters and how those stories come into the present. Strong tension and dynamics between police officer Lena and her murdered sister, Sara Linton the coroner and her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey. Didn’t like – the first murder which is bloody and graphic. Followed by graphic scenes at the autopsy. THE MERMAIDS SINGING (Tony Hill and Carol Jordan #1) by Val McDermid 4 stars I liked most – Tony Hill. Tony is a creepy criminal profiler who is working with the police (Carol) to bring down a serial killer. Didn’t like – the sadism and sexual gratification of the killer, which is described in detail for the first two killings. TRIPTYCH (Will Trent #1) by Karin Slaughter 5 stars I liked most – the storyline which weaves together the past and the present in twisty ways you’d never predict. Will Trent has his work cut out bringing down the killer, and the killer is always one step ahead. NOW YOU SEE ME (Lacey Flint #1) by SJ Bolton 5 stars I liked most - Detective Constable Lacey Flint’s secrets and her hidden past which gives this story its edge. A complex, intriguing plot. SILENT SCREAM (DI Kim Stone #1) by Angela Marsons 4.5 stars I liked most – great storytelling with plenty of layers. Didn’t like - a bit of a flat pace. Top picks – TRIPTYCH and NOW YOU SEE ME. Happy Reading. Links to my full reviews on Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1740228019 Triptych https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1595965133 Now You See Me https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1931304815 Mermaids Singing https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1912011932 Blindsighted https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2027028064 Silent Scream Void by David Staniforth ISBN 1523673362 Book Description A void in one’s memory is filled with more than the fear of not knowing, it swirls with the dread of what those missing memories might contain. When a young man wakens in a freezing car, his mind a complete blank, he embarks upon a journey that brings that very dread to the fore. Who is he? What has he done? Where does he belong? Why can he not remember? VOID: a psychological journey of discovery that forces the question: To what extent can our memories be trusted? My View What I liked best about this book was the atmosphere and tone. It stays grey throughout, as the author keeps us balanced on the edge of disaster. Everything is murky and the facts stay unclear and this is matched by the bleak world ‘Tom’ finds himself in - cold and foggy and lonely. There’s an intensity, as the main character pieces together the clues about who he might be and what sort of a man he’s been. It’s surprising, but there’s a strong romantic thread to this story too, because Tom discovers a memory of love and that there might be a woman who loves him. Despite his fears about himself, Tom shows himself to be sensitive and loyal and this made me like him a lot. One small thing which didn’t work for me, was the way the author writes about the importance of music to Tom and quotes lyrics. And since you know how I can be picky, I also thought there was a tad too much repetition which made the middle of the book a bit soggy.(These really were minor issues.) The ending was a tragic surprise and gave the whole story another perspective. I don’t want to spoil it by saying more. I can see why this is classed as a thriller but I think romantic thriller does it more justice – the story has a lot more subtlety and meaning than most thrillers on the shelf and I think that’s it’s strong point. Photoshot of David Staniforth
Five Things You Didn’t Know about David Staniforth - 1. At the age of eight, I took part in a school television programme with celebrated botanist, David Bellamy. I was on camera for around a minute, so I reckon I’m still owed four minutes of fame. 2. At the age of eighteen, I almost died from alcohol poisoning. 3. Had I performed better in my O Levels, I would likely have become an architect and my life would have followed a completely different course, one in which I probably would not have discovered my love of writing. 4. My favourite ever song is ‘Stone in Love’ by Journey. It reminds me of the early years with the girl I met when I was nineteen, who I’m still married to thirty-four years later. There’s a line that goes “burning love comes once in a lifetime” and for me it has. 5. I read my own books for pleasure, enjoying them as if they had been written by somebody else. Thanks for letting me review your book, David, and for telling us about yourself. You can check out more about David Staniforth here - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880127.David_Staniforth and here - http://www.davidstaniforth.co.uk/ Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl ISBN 1786972670 Book Description The greater the evil, the more deadly the game… When Emma awakens in total darkness, she is aware of her nakedness. Injuries. A bed not her own. A blindingly bright light suddenly pierces the blackness and a disembodied male voice calls her “Venus”. Venus – the goddess of love, beauty, sex and desire. He says she is "Venus Six". What does this predator want from her? Can she outwit the masked man who demands to be called “Master”? Or will he be looking for Venus Seven? Detective Inspector Gravel finds himself floundering when a local nineteen-year-old university student is abducted and imprisoned by a sadistic serial killer… My View This is dark fiction – we live each day with the incarcerated victim, the perpetrator is twisted, sick and clever. The icing on the cake is that there’s an unexpected accomplice supporting the perpetrator and doing a chunk of the thinking for him – I really enjoyed that accomplice. John Nicholl has a unique style. There’s immediacy in his writing and an informality. For instance, Emma’s internal dialogue takes you right into her mind. Another aspect that worked well for me was the banter and (darkish) humour between the DI Gravel and his long-time colleague, DS Rankin. Their exchanges made them very likeable. The downside of Nicholl’s style is that he uses plenty of long-winded sentences that run on far too long, but that was a minor irritation. I have to say too, this story didn’t shed that positive a light on the police, since the advances in the case seemed to be ad-hoc and come by circumstance rather than great detection. Some of the things the perpetrator made the victim do, turned my stomach, and since I’m a seasoned thriller reader (and writer), that’s saying something. The ending was abrupt but it worked for me. Maybe it sounds like I didn’t like this book, but I really did. This books works! It’s original. It’s got a punch. So forget any literary snobbery and enjoy it. (By the way, I gave it a rare Five Stars.) Photoshot of John Nicholl
Five Things You Didn’t Know about John Nicholl 1. Fifty-six year old John Nicholl is happily married with three adult children and one grandchild. He and his wife met when they were just sixteen. 2. He lives in beautiful West Wales where he grew up, and spent most of his working life as a police officer, child protection social worker, manager and lecturer. 3. He has written three Amazon # 1 bestselling darkly psychological suspense thrillers, and is currently working on a fourth, which he hopes to complete by the summer. Given his professional experiences, he feels the genre chose him. 4. John has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and fought in competition, but it’s yoga and swimming that interest him these days. 5. John is a big sports fan, and particularly enjoys watching boxing, rugby and football (if Wales or Swansea are playing). He can sometimes be found at the Swansea City ground with his youngest son. John has two other published books and they’re both thrillers (yay!) You can find more information here http://www.johnnicholl.com/ Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land ISBN 0718182928 My view Millie is struggling to build a new life and a new identity. Looming dark and menacing are memories of recent events which led her to leave her mother's house and finally go to the police for help. Looming even darker, are Millie's struggles with her own conscience. As a child, she has suffered terrible abuse at the hands of her mother, but can she ever escape the darkness she feels inside and feel like other girls? Will Millie manage to withstand the trial against her own mother, at which she will be the main witness? To make things worse, the situation is not straightforward with her temporary foster family. Millie is jealous of their teenage daughter. The two girls hate each other, though they are both pretty good at hiding it. This story is a brilliant insight into the mind of Millie as she builds her new future. The question is - what sort of future will she choose? I gave this book five stars for the story set-up and for the portrayal of Millie. However, constant hyphenations of ordinary words got on my nerves so much I almost gave it a four. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. |
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