Tag: fiction reviews

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Fiction Thriller

The Couple in the Photo, Helen Cooper

Lucy and Adam do everything with their closest family friends Cora and Scott. They’ve even bought a beach house together to enjoy summers with their kids.

One day a colleague passes around photographs of her honeymoon in the Maldives and Lucy is stunned to see Scott in one of them, his arm is around another woman.

If that isn’t bad enough, the news then breaks and the woman from the photograph has mysteriously vanished.

As Lucy looks for answers first her life begins to unravel around her, just how much can you trust your best friends?

The Couple in the Photo is a compelling thriller, which keeps you guessing all the way through.  Just when you thought you had guessed it another twist would happen and ultimately, I did not see the ending coming.

At the heart of the book are two families, what seems to be an idyllic friendship is actually a masterful construction of lies. The characterisation is mostly believable, and I really enjoyed the dynamics of friendship between the two couple as well as the dysfunction of it.

I enjoyed the fact that photographs were a continuous theme throughout the book – how one photo can unravel lies and/or how one photo can be edited to create a whole other narrative. I thought this focus was very thought-provoking.

Overall, 4 stars, a compelling thriller based on friendship and deceit and will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Couple in the Photo is out on the 22nd June.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Fiction Thriller

Stay Buried, Kate Webb

Detective Matt Lockyer receives a call from Hedy Lambert- a woman he put inside for murder fourteen years ago. She informs him that the man she was originally accused of killing has turned up alive and well and begs him to reopen her case. Lockyer had been the one who secured Hedy’s conviction, but he never truly wanted to believe she was guilty. This new information makes him question whether he got the outcome right -is he being manipulated or was he responsible for jailing an innocent woman?

Stay Buried is a slow burning mystery which had me hooked right to the very end. There were several layers to uncover, and around half way through the momentum really steps up as we have a number of suspects lined up with potential motives. I couldn’t stop switching from one to the other and enjoyed that we kept on uncovering new things throughout.

I thought the characterisation was spot on in this book. They were all very well thought out and even some of the most annoying characters you felt sorry for, as the author told us enough about their history for us to develop an understanding of them. I have read some people thought the main protagonist was ‘boring’, but you can feel the weight he is carrying. The grief, the guilt, the responsibility; you could truly emphasise with his pain.

Themes in the book include inequalities, injustice, loyalty, grief, and one which particularly resonated with me and was delivered well was the subject of sibling loss. This related to many of the characters in the book and Kate Webb did it sensitively and realistically!

Overall, a fantastic book for thriller lovers. Pleased it is the first in the series and we will be seeing more of Detective Matt Lockyer!

Categories
Fiction

The Sh!te Before Christmas, Serena Terry

Tara is a mum of three, with another baby on the way. Like most parents, she wants a perfect Christmas for all her family, but as many of us can relate things get in the way.

From her daughter being suspended to potty training her youngest, to her husband out of character and her usually absent mother returning for Christmas, Tara is up against it all!


Can Tara pull off the holly jolly Christmas of her dreams? Or is this a Christmas catastrophe waiting to happen?

The Sh!te Before Christmas is a sequel to Mammy Banter: The Secret Life of An Uncool Mum. However, I didn’t realise until the end and I got to the acknowledgements (so don’t worry if you haven’t read the prequel. The book is written by Serena Terry, who many may know as TikTok sensation @MammyBanter, who again I only followed having read this book, but shines through this novel.

The book is a light-hearted and hilarious read about family life in the lead up to Christmas. Whilst not a parent myself, I’ve seen elements of Tara in other parents and the authenticity really comes through in the novel. I’ve seen in other reviews of this book that some people question whether they would like this book if they weren’t a parent. If you are wondering this then I would say if like me you enjoy comedies centred around family life (think TV series such as Outnumbered and Gavin & Stacey), then this book will have you laughing.

Despite being a comedy The Sh!te Before Christmas also touches upon some very serious themes. These include discrimination against women in the workplace, the #MeToo Movement and how the place of women has changed over time. All of these are touched upon respectfully and highlight some of the issues we have faced and continue to face within our society.

Overall, The Sh!te Before Christmas is funny, relatable and will have you laughing out loud this festive season. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Sh!te Before Christmas is out now.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

My Husband’s Killer, Laura Marshall

Liz, her husband Andrew, and their friends spend the weekend at the Amalfi Coast. By the end of the weekend Andrew is dead.

On the day of the funeral Liz discovers Andrew was having an affair, but the only suspects are the women they went on holiday with, Liz’s closest friends.

As more and more secrets begin to unravel, the question begs, was Andrew’s death really an accident?

My Husband’s Killer is fast-paced psychological thriller which is full of twists and turns. The plot is gripping and the author has a way of writing which keeps you hooked right through to the end. As soon as I saw that this book was written by Laura Marshall, I had no doubt that I would love it and I can confirm that theory was tested and proven once again.

In terms of characters, what I particularly loved about them was the fact that they had known each other a long time (since university). I felt that this added so much depth to each of them. Despite them not all being likeable it was interesting to uncover so many layers which had built up over the years and made them appear very credible.

Themes in the book included but were not limited to, friendship, love, power, class, widowhood, and grief. Some of the grief related quotes in the book really touched me and felt very authentic. It was only at the end of the book that I realised Laura Marshall herself was widowed young and she admitted to reflecting on some of her own experiences in the book. This came through sincerely.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I thought I had uncovered all the secrets there was more to uncover, when I thought I understood the twist it twisted again. My Husband’s Killer is a truly compelling read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. My Husband’s Killer is out on the 29th November 2022