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Fiction Thriller

The Lost Daughter, Jane Adams

Three years ago Ashley Summers watched the love of her life drop dead in a supermarket. She has no idea how to ever move on from this but then she meets Tim Bennett, who is kind and caring.

It all appears perfect, until one day Ashley is gone. The family turn to ex-detective Ray Flowers who quickly can confirm that Tim Bennett is not who he says he is – after all Tim Bennett is a good friend of his.

So who is Ashley’s boyfriend?

The Lost Daughter is book five in the Ray Flowers series. I personally have not read the first four, and whilst this didn’t hinder my experience, I think reading the others may have been beneficial in terms of understanding some of the characters a bit more.

The premise of the book starts with a missing woman but quickly develops to so much more than that! I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the book, there is a lot of action and many characters which meant the book had many layers too and kept it exciting. The only disappointing bit was the end felt a bit of anti-climax -having had so much action I expected something slightly more jaw-dropping.

Overall a fast paced, action thriller, four stars.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Stay, Jane Bailey

Spending the summer travelling seemed like the perfect idea after flunking her exams, but when those closest to Caitlin betray her, she finds herself hitchhiking home alone, heartbroken and penniless.

A smiling family pull up on the roadside and offer her to stay with them for the night. One night soon turns into two and with the country being put into lockdown, it is impossible to turn down their offer to tutor their children, especially when they are so nice. It all seems perfect.

But then a member of the household warns Caitlin to leave, and then her phone suddenly goes missing, is this family perfect after all, but by the time she realises not all may be as it seems, it may be too difficult to leave.

Stay is a suspenseful psychological thriller which will have you turning the pages right until you reach the very end. The book is set around the Covid-19 lockdown which worked very well as it foreshadowed what it means to be trapped and added an extra layer of claustrophobia to the story.

The characters are depicted in believable way; Mimi and Marcus are manipulatively evil, Caitlin’s mother was motherly and warm and had put aside so much for her family and that is just touching the tip of the iceberg- Jane Bailey maintains this level of realistic characterisation through and through. Like many other readers was I screaming at Caitlin to not be so stupid? Absolutely yes! However, she was a naive nineteen year old in trouble so the storyline is absolutely plausible.

Overall a very startling read, I was totally engrossed.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

A Game of Lies, Clare Mackintosh

In the Welsh mountains, new reality series ‘Exposure’ is being filmed- but the seven reality show contestants have no idea what they truly signed up for. Once locked in the camp they discover they are competing to keep their secrets from being exposed live on air.

When one of the contestants escapes from the camp Detective Ffion Moran is called in but the stakes are raised when a murder- leaving the detective to uncover who’s secret was worth killing for?

A Game of Lies is the second book in the Ffion Morgan series. This time the plot surrounds a reality TV show which is very similar to I’m A Celebrity with the added twist of dark truths being exposed as people are eliminated. A Game of Lies could be read as a standalone book however I would suggest reading The Last Party if you want to fully understand the characters and their back stories- especially as Clare is a very thorough and detailed author.

In terms of characters, it was great to see how some of the characters and the relationships between them developed from the first novel- Ffion Morgan remains a strong protagonist! Equally it was interesting to meet some new faces – I was particularly interested in George, a new character who I believe we will be seeing and learning a lot more about in the next instalment.

As with all Clare Mackintosh books the detail is superb; the characters are multifaceted which makes them all the more interesting, the way Clare describes the scenes instantly bring the tight-knit community to life – despite me not knowing Wales very well, and despite being a work of fiction it brings to light some very real issues including the manipulation of the media, impacts of reality TV, misogyny, power and betrayal.

Whilst, A Game of Lies is a thriller, full of mystery and twists and turns, it also has an element of romance whilst Ffion’s attitude and Dave the Dog will have you laughing which make it a real all-rounder. All in all, 5 stars, already awaiting the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Game of lies will be published on the 20th July.

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Fiction Thriller

The Playground, Michelle Frances

In an attempt to escape her old life, Nancy and her ten year old daughter Lara move to Ripton. A beautiful, quiet village in the Derbyshire countryside- perfect for a fresh start.

Everything seems like it’ll be perfect, Nancy now lives closer to her best friend Beth who is an incredible source of support, the fresh countryside air is better for Lara’s asthma than the city polluted air they lived amongst before, and the new house is what one could only dream of.

However, when Lara starts her new school, Nancy quickly finds that beneath the quaint village atmosphere is a minefield of playground politics and if you think the children are bad at school, the mothers are another level!

I absolutely love books by Michelle Frances and so was thrilled when I got the chance to read The Playground. I really enjoyed the setting – as I remember my own mum complaining about ‘playground politics’ and it is an area I haven’t seen crop up in many other thrillers. Whilst it may appear a bit of a mundane setting- it is so relatable to many and was intriguing to see how something which appears so pedantic can become so nasty and vicious.

The book is written in really short chapters. This worked incredibly well as it gave the story a fast and sharp pace which are key for a thriller, and it also meant I could not stop turning the pages – ”Just one more chapter- they’re short!’ I also liked the added addition of the WhatsApp group messages, which helped amplify the story.

There are lots of characters in the book and at first I feared I would not be able to keep up. However, the characters and their stories all intertwine and the character development is spot on. There are some you grow to love, some you hate, and some you feel sorry for- they are all incredibly realistic.

Overall, a very absorbing read, I could not put it down- 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Playground is out now!

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Doctor, Annie Payne

Ready for a clean break, Dr Alison Wilson has moved from London to a small seaside town to take up a new a post as Medical Director at failing hospital, St Margaret’s.

With a higher-than-average fatality rate Alison is tasked to turn things around – a challenge she is keen to get her teeth into- but the odds are not in her favour and some of those factors are far darker than she could have even possibly imagined.

The Doctor is a fast-paced medical thriller. The hospital setting made it different to many other thrillers I have read before, and it was evident the author knew what she was talking about (having worked in the NHS herself) and therefore the details were spot on.  I found the start slightly slow but once the suspense started building, I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough as I was so eager to find out who was behind everything.

Th characters in the book were very well developed–from the main protagonist herself right to the extras in the story- I could imagine each and everyone of them and emphasise with the emotions they were feeling.

One thing I found confusing was that the narrative of the suspect was added at the end of some chapters and there was a lack of differentiation which meant I sometimes had to go back and re-read it in the correct context. This may be clearer in a printed version but on Kindle it was just a new paragraph in the same font.

Overall four stars. A great medical mystery.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Doctor is out on Thursday 25th May 2023.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Little Ghosts, Gregg Dunnett

One moment Rachel’s daughter Layla was waiting in line at the beach for an ice cream, the next she was gone.

It’s two years on and still no one has been charged with Layla’s murder. The police have searched tirelessly but have found nothing.

Understandably Layla’s younger brother Gale is struggling. He’s secretive and keeps staring past his mother at something he can’t see. And then one day he tells Rachel, ‘I know who killed Layla’, ‘she told me.’

Will the family finally get justice?

Having never read anything by Gregg Dunnett before, I started reading this book with no expectations and was surprisingly very quickly gripped. This is not just your average psychological murder mystery; the supernatural element makes it refreshingly different from anything I have read before and yet is small enough to make the story authentic.

The twists in this book make it a thrilling read. Without giving away any spoilers- there is one particular twist in part 2 which I never saw coming in a million years and from here on I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens.

I thought the portrayal of grief and the aftermath of what had happened was well executed- the differing opinions between parents on where to go next, the pressure on different relationships and the mollycoddling of their only living child- really emphasised how trauma and grief causes a tidal wave through every aspect of a family and their life. The relationship between the two siblings was also beautifully depicted and added even more emotion to such a sad storyline.

Overall an emotional rollercoaster of a read; an exhilarating thriller with a supernatural twist. Five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Little Ghosts is published tomorrow!

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Bride To Be, Daniel Hurst

Kate is getting married and whilst it should be an exciting time she is having some serious doubts about her finance Mark and the way he  psychologically mistreats her.

Whilst shopping for her wedding dress, Kate spots a ridiculously happy couple- she wonders why her and Mark are not just like them and becomes infatuated by them.

However, as Kate’s obsession leads to her finding out more and more about this couple- are they really as perfect as they seem? Or will she uncover some deep dark secrets?

As a crime fiction thriller lover who is also a bride to be in less than 8 weeks there was no way I was passing up a chance to read The Bride To Be. I’ve not read a crime fiction thriller which surrounds a wedding before so I have to say  so it was great to read a book with this premise.

The  short chapters written by the author really gave the book a nice fast paced which meant I couldn’t stop turning the pages and got through it very quickly.

I wasn’t a lover of the characters- their actions weren’t always believable but then again neither was the storyline, despite this I enjoyed the overall plot of the story and the suspense maintained throughout the book. 

Overall, four stars! If you liked the ‘Girl on the Train’ then you are sure to enjoy this as I could definitely draw upon some similarities.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Bride To Be is out on the 7th May 2023.

Categories
Fiction Romance

Thirty Days in Paris, Veronica Henry

Over thirty years ago Juliet left a piece of her heart in Paris and now that her children have flown the nest, her marriage has come to an amicable end and the house is sold, it is time to go back.

Juliet rents a cosy little apartment with the aim to spend thirty days in Paris, as a writer this is her chance to write her own story.

As the memories come gushing back Juliet realises that to move forward sometimes you must face the past.

I’ve read a couple of books by Veronica Henry before and have found them to be the type of book you can absolutely lose yourself in. Thirty Days in Paris is no different! I fully immersed myself into this story and forgot the outside world; the seamless descriptions fully transform your thinking into believing you are breathing the same air as the main protagonist, Juliet.

The narrative of the book flashes between the past when Juliet was in Paris as a young girl and the present day. This works well as we can delve deep into the joys and pains of Juliet’s past and understand the truth behind why she left behind her desirable Parisian life.

In terms of characters, I found it inspiring and refreshing having a middle-aged protagonist who was so full of life. As someone in their 20’s I don’t know many people at this stage of their life and often when I hear about divorce or children leaving it is often depicted in quite a negative way. As a result, it was really enlightening to read about Juliet experiencing these changes in a more neutral way and those things not being the end of her life but instead she has moved on to a new stage. All the supporting characters were also well written but especially the female character’s – I wanted Corinne’s dress sense with Nathalie’s contagious energy and Juliet’s energy for life.

The book touches upon many themes including love (and the many different forms that comes in), the power of forgiveness and facing your demons, the devastating impact of post-natal depression and finally courage and the fact it is never too late to do something different or start something new.

Not only did this book make me want to book a trip to Paris immediately, it also left me feeling inspired to live, and I mean wholly and authentically live!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thirty Days in Paris will be published on 13th April.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Murder in the Family, Cara Hunter

In December 2003, Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of his family home in London, leaving behind his wealthy older widow and three stepchildren. No one was charged.

It’s now twenty years later and the case is being re-examined by a team of experts as part of a true crime series- but do those involved in the show know more than they are letting on or does the truth lie closer to home?

Murder in the Family is Cara Hunter’s first standalone novel and seeing as I absolutely love the DI Fawley series, I was excited to read this thriller.

The book is written in a script format, which I found off-putting initially, however I soon got used to it and by the time I finished I appreciated it for being different. You experience the story as a viewer would with each chapter marking an episode of the series and ending with reviews, emails, messages, and online discussions (the latter was impossible to read on Kindle format), all of which added depth to the story.

Whilst the format was different and felt modern one drawback was that it was very difficult to warm to the characters. This is because whereas in usual novels you would experience individual thoughts/emotions, the lack of narrative didn’t allow for this. As a result, I didn’t particularly think a lot of the characters- however I liked the way they all fitted into the story and thought the plot was well thought out.

As for the statement in the blurb of the book ‘the truth will blow your mind’, unfortunately I wasn’t left feeling that way. There was something at the beginning which already narrowed down my suspects so already that took many of them out of the equation. I felt like the clues were there- however on the cover of the book it does say ‘Can you solve the case before they do?’ so perhaps that was the intentions of the author for us to work it out as opposed to being shocked at the end?

Overall, whilst I enjoyed the different format of the book and the fact the mixed media made it feel modern- in terms of thrillers I have read this was very mediocre hence why I am giving it three stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Murder in the Family will be published on the 20th July 2023.

Categories
crime fiction Fiction

She Had It Coming, Carys Jones

In the middle of a school cross country run a girl goes missing. It’s Pippa’s best friend, Heather. Heather is pretty, popular, and your stereotypical ‘mean girl’.

Most people think Heather ran away for the attention… Others say girls like her always get what’s coming to them.

Firstly, to set expectations She Had It Coming isn’t an exhilarating thriller – more a slow burning crime journey. It’s not full of twists and turns but instead has a predictable storyline. However, aside from something at the end which I cannot understand, the plot is easy to follow and addictive.

The characters were so well written – I could almost feel myself sitting back at school myself. The typical popular/mean girls, the girls who always come top of everything, the gossiping mums at the gates- stereotypical but so realistic! Not only was the day-to-day portrayal of the teenage girls written exceptionally (which is reinforced through the letter writing) but I also loved the dynamics between the characters, particularly that of the two best friends- I am sure many of us have had a ‘toxic’ friendship in our life and can relate to the love/hate relationship.

Key themes in the book include how far people are willing to go for their children, which I found particularly intriguing, as well as female friendships and the ugliness which can hide under the complexities of them.

Overall, four stars.