Book Review - A Whisker In The Dark by Leighann Dobbs

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Title: A Whisker In The Dark

Author: Leighann Dobbs

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 31st July 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Discovering the 300-year-old skeleton of shipping tycoon Jedediah Biddeford in the ballroom wall is a big old hassle for Josie Waters, owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. Especially when Biddeford’s descendants turn up, certain that a family legend about treasure buried nearby must be true.

Josie is too busy dreaming up the perfect cake for the Oyster Cove’s 250th anniversary celebration to worry about the Biddeford family – plus half the town – digging up her yard... until one of her guests is murdered in the guesthouse garden. 

With worries that her guesthouse will get a reputation for being the kind of place you only leave in a body bag, Josie must put her detective skills to work to find the killer. Lucky for her, Nero and Marlowe and their gang of cat sleuths are also on the case. 

From the old wharf, to the town common, to the guesthouse itself with its many nooks and crannies, the cats are sure to sniff out the killer… but can they help Josie stop the person behind the mysterious murder before they strike again?

A fantastic page-turner from a bestselling author, purrfeect for fans of Agatha Christie, Adele Abbott, cat lovers and everyone in between!

I'm really loving this Oyster Cove Guesthouse series, from Josie the incredibly bad at cooking guest house owner, to her mum and best friend show seem pride them selves on being amateur detectives , to the assorted people in town who are starting to become familiar to me.   

Oh and I can't not mention on a list of things I love about this book, Nero and Marlowe, two of the smartest cats I've ever seen, who along with the other others in the Cove, really are the brains behind any murder investigation and give a great insight into cat thoughts and behaviours. 

Watching Nero and Marlowe try to communicate key info to Josie is incredibly sweet and funny,  and I'm sure that if I had my own cat, I would be wondering just what sort of a double life it was leading. 

However I wasn't keen on the guests at the guesthouse this week, all from the same family, whose ancestors used to own the property.  There is an ancient curse and rumours of buried treasure which leads to people starting to wonder if a ghost really can murder a living person! 

The Biddeford family were horrible, loads of infighting between them and seemed like they all had it in for each other.  Despite not being keen on cheese, I was very curious about their cheese sculpting business, as I had no idea such a thing even existed, nor why you would want one!! 

I had even less clue than the useless town detective about who the murderer was, I just enjoyed seeing how it all would pan out.   I am really enjoying this authors writing style, it drew me in, and gave me a really quick to read and highly enjoyable story.  I can't wait to see who gets killed next and why! 

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - I Will Follow Him by Holly Tierney-Bedford

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Title: I Will Follow Him

Author: Holly Tierney-Bedford

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 15th July 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

A bachelor party on a cruise ship. What could go wrong?

When private detective Francie is hired to spy on a groom-to-be as he and his bachelor party set sail for the Caribbean, she thinks she's landed herself a week of paid vacation. Between lounging in the sun and sipping margaritas, she just needs to--best case scenario--report back that he's on the up and up, or--the unfortunate, more likely scenario--snap a few photos of her target in compromising positions, buy a box of sympathy chocolates for her client, and then collect her pay along with a nice golden suntan.

Blame it on the island breezes or the alcohol, but within hours of setting sail, Francie's leisurely vacation gets complicated when she starts making careless mistakes. Like accidentally becoming friends with the groom and falling for his best man.

Can she get herself and her mission back on track, or has she blown her cover and possibly even her career?

From the moment I discovered this series existed I knew I had to read them, and in fact pre-ordered all of the books - after all I love books with exotic locations, and I love cruising, so what could be better than romantic comedies set on a cruise ship.  

I Will Follow Him despite being the fifth book, is the first one I have sat down to read, and i have thoroughly enjoyed it.  It can easily be read as a standalone, as each book is written by a different author, with just  the theme in common, as far as I can tell.    

This is ideal for either holiday reading, getting yourself into the holiday mood, or generally when you want to read an amusing novella, that features a Caribbean cruise. 

It's a really quick book to read, took me about an hour, and i was enjoying every moment of it.  There isn't a great deal of depth, but given its a novella, and a light hearted one at that, it does exactly what the gorgeous cover promises, and gives an enjoyable story, some smiles and generally left me grinning. 

Francie is a likeable character who is a private investigator and potentially against her better judgement takes on a job to spy on a fiancee,  on his bachelor parry, which just happens to be a week long cruise. The bride is convinced that he is going to cheat  or why else would he be going away. 

Danielle, the bride comes across as ridiculous neurotic, who appears to  be addicted to texting and with an unstable personality.  I loved the group of bachelors though, and everything that happens on this cruise. 

I could easily have envisioned myself on the Oceanic Aphrodite, I recognise the itinerary, I've done part of it myself, and the ship felt really familiar to the sorts of ships I've been on.  Would have loved to have been on board myself.  

Overall a highly enjoyable book, that hit all the right notes for me with this sort of book.   And I can't wait to read the other 7 Oceanic Dreams books. 

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - No-One Ever Has Sex On Holiday by Tracy Bloom - Blog Tour

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Title: No-One Ever Has Sex On Holiday

Author: Tracy Bloom

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 29th July 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Get ready to enjoy your first holiday abroad with small children. Highlights include: being woken at 5 every morning and working a gruelling day in unbearable heat chasing kids around the pool with a bottle of sunscreen. Added features: screaming during mealtimes and toddlers moaning about sand. Absolutely no sex guaranteed or your money back! 

Katy and Ben and their four closest friends are going to Spain for a week with their kids. Sun, sex and sangria? Almost certainly not.

The couples think they are prepared for all the joys and trials a family holiday has to offer but they have a shock coming, and not only from the kids. Into their first day by the pool crashes Ollie, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, and Cassie, on her hen party holiday but having serious doubts about her impending marriage. A recipe for a relaxing week abroad? Let’s wait and see…

From the no. 1 bestselling author of No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday, this is the perfect book to read on the beach – either with or without small children. Perfect for fans of Nick Spalding, Marian Keyes and Gill Sims.

Completely fabulous, utterly funny and I think something parents everywhere will really be able to relate to. 

Even as a non parent I could recognise so much realism in the characters, as  Katy and Ben, Braindead and Abby, Daniel and Gabriel all go on a joint holiday to Spain.  Oh and between them there are two under ones, a two year old and a 6 year old.   So a family holiday shared amongst friends. 

From the first set of three chapters which catches you up with each of the couples, further on in time than the last book, and sees their preparations the night before this big holiday, and the first time they have taken any of the kids abroad. 

To say that Daniel is out of place on a budget airline, let alone package holiday is an understatement.  Yet I managed to fall even more in love with Gabriel than before, as his fluent Spanish speaking was incredibly helpful.  Abby wanted to spend all her time celebrating with the group of hens they were drinking with on the plane, and seems really not in a great place. 

It says a lot to anyone that knows these characters from the rest of the series, that Ben, Kary and Braindead all seemed relatively normal, although Braindead's legendary ability to speak before thinking resulted in some wonderful lines! 

We also get to know Cassie, the bride for this hen party who seems rather out of place amongst her friends, and Ollie who was dumped before his wedding, and is on his honeymoon by himself and appears to have been befriended by the boys. 

And the children, they are the key to the whole holiday, they were just doing what kids do, but its how the adults are attempting to adjust to parent hood and the fact that a family holiday is possibly more stressful than being at home with the kids that is what makes this book so lifelike and wonderful. 

There are hen party antics that will have you rolling your eyes and or rolling around on the floor in laughter - possibly both.  I  adored getting to see another side to all of these characters.  

As this is the fifth book in the series, I felt as though I was alongside old friends. However I do feel that it could work just as well as a standalone, although you would be missing out on 4 equally hilarious books, to not start at the beginning. 

A surprisingly quick book to read - I mean I knew I would find it a fast read, but besides 10% in the bath the night before I read the rest between two tube journeys and eating in a restaurant and still had a stop to spare before I was home - I was enjoying it that much that honestly I'm shocked I managed to get where I was going on either of those journeys, as I have no recollection of any of the stations! 

Utterly hilarious, completely compelling this is another inspired addition to this already wonderful series. My only question now, is please can we have some more?!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Perfect Betrayal by Lauren North

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Title: The Perfect Betrayal

Author: Lauren North

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 27th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

After the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief. All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.

When grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess through the hardest time of her life.

But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be . . .

Could not put this down even if i tried - was amazed and addicted by it from thee first to last page.   Just wow! 

I literally can't say anything about this tightly crafted plot, in part because I'm still reeling from the revelations, and also pondering how on earth I didn't see it coming.  I had various theories of course but on the whole I was believing what Tess was believing at the same time as her - as everything was so confusing. 

I couldn't work out how to second guess it all, and my strongest theory for one aspect of it was so far from the mark  its almost laughable. 

How do you review a book when everything you want to say may give part of the game away -  I find it so hard to believe this is the authors first book of this genre.  It is so accomplished and has completely messed with my head. 

It's a book full of suspense and tension, that keeps on ramping up,  It is addictive unputdownable writing at its very best. 

My only regret is that I've had the book on my kindle for 6 months, and it has taken me that long to get to it.  Utterly brilliant book that I whole heartedly recommend to psychological drama fans. 

Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Holiday by T.M. Logan - #HolidayReading Thailand

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Amazon UK

Title: The Holiday

Author: T. M. Logan

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication Date: 13th June 2019 

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Seven days. Three families. One killer.

It was supposed to be the perfect holiday, dreamed up by Kate as the ideal way to turn 40: four best friends and their husbands and children in a luxurious villa under the blazing sunshine of Languedoc-Roussillon. 

But there is trouble in paradise. Kate suspects that her husband is having an affair, and that the other woman is one of her best friends. 

One of these women is willing to sacrifice years of friendship and destroy her family. But which one? As Kate closes in on the truth in the stifling Mediterranean heat, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined. 

Because someone in the villa is prepared to kill to keep their secret hidden.

Well this is definitely a book about a holiday,  for four friends.  Right from the start you sense something epic is going to happen on this trip. 

What frustrated me was that we were given so many clues and red herrings about the truth,  and it seemed like Kate was going round in circles about some suspicious messages found on husband Sean's phone, that the real juicy action took until around 85% to get going. 

It may be that reading this on holiday myself and not checking the blurb,  meant that I was expecting it to be a different sort of book to what it was.

I enjoyed the writing style,  and once I got used to getting insights into almost all the characters through dedicated chapters,  it became easier to follow. 

I would happily read another book from this author in the future. He certainly kept me guessing throughout,  and I couldn't have predicted half of it. 

Thank you to Zaffre for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Circle In The Sand by Tracy Krimmer

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Amazon UK

Title:  Circle in the Sand

Author: Tracy Krimmer

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Self Published

Publication Date: 17th June 2019

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Follow the rules. Be reliable. Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.

Living by these words didn’t put librarian Isla Hunter any closer to the life she imagined at thirty. With her birthday in only a few days, she can’t wait to sail away on a week in the sun with her friends Asher and Charlotte. It may be just what she needs.

When an attractive woman takes a liking to Asher, Isla’s heart feels threatened in an unfamiliar way. She’s used to Asher flipping through women like a playbook without a second thought, but this time it’s different. As she tries to sort out her emotions, she struggles with Asher’s connection with this woman. Is it time for Isla to finally break the rules or will that only lead her into hot water?

Circle in the Sand is the third book in the Oceanic Dreams series. This is a multi-author series and each book can be read on its own.

I felt such an affinity with Isla. Like her I also went on a Caribbean cruise for my 30th birthday.

Like Isla, I also rode horses in Jamaica in my first port of call on the cruise. And we both spent the day of our 30th in Cozumel.

Although I was travelling alone and not with a gorgeous male, nor was I trying to flirt with anyone.

I am though loving this Oceanic Dreams series and the Oceanic Aphrodite cruise ship that forms the backdrop to this book.

It really is a sweet fun and flirty story that I read in my garden in about an hour. Its quick to read and such a fab introduction for me to the author's writing.

Highly recommend poolside reading!

Book Review - Sisters of Willow House by Susanne O'Leary - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Sisters of Willow House

Author: Susanne O'Leary

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 26th July 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

Roisin McKenna and her husband Cian are taking time apart. Unsure of what she wants, Roisin’s prayers are answered when she receives a call from her sister Maeve who is desperate for her help.

Roisin heads to Sandy Cove to help Maeve restore their aunt’s gorgeous tumbledown mansion Willow House and soon all she has time to focus on are its crumbling walls. Despite a shocking announcement from Maeve and hidden secrets in the house’s rafters, Roisin begins to feel a sense of self she’s been missing for years.

The ties that bind Roisin to her husband seem to be unfurling in the Irish wind, when she unexpectedly stumbles into a mysterious man on the beach. Suddenly, she’s swept up in the idea of another life she could lead…

The restoration may have brought the sisters back together, but as a storm rolls over the coast Roisin feels sure she must make a choice. Will her time at Willow House teach her the precious lessons she needs to return home or has the cove called to her in ways she’d never imagined it could?

Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe will be swept away by Sandy Cove.

It was lovely to return to Willow House and catch up with what has been happening with Maeve since the previous book. 

However the thrust of this book was the story between Roisin, Maeve's sister and Cian and how they are going to adjust to a new phase in their life.   Their children are at boarding school, they have sold their joint business and come into an inheritance but things just seem awkward between them. 

I really didn't have many feelings towards Cian at all, although key to the story he was also barely in most of the book.  He had bought a camper van and gone off around the coast of Ireland in it with his best friend, while Roisin moves down to Sandy Cove to help Maeve with the renovations to Willow House. 

So that all seems simple enough, married couple having an agreed break to discover new things about themselves, however things in fiction and in real life never go quiet according to plan, and there are other temptations at play. 

I loved seeing Roisin arguing with the Kerry builders and trying to get building work to progress on Willow House.  I also really enjoyed seeing the sister's dynamic up close - and this book is set a few years after the events of the previous one. 

It can though easily be read as a standalone without much problem, as the main characters are different.  

This is another enjoyable story from Susanne O'Leary, and I loved getting to know just what makes the area of Kerry in Ireland so different from the rest of the country! 

Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

Please follow along with the rest of the tour. 

Capital Crime Announces Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards Shortlists

I'm incredibly excited to say I will finally be going to my first book festival this autumn, the amazing sounding Capital Crime.  More on that later, and I'm also excited to share with you all the details of the awards shortlists that Capital Crime pass holders will be able to vote for the winners of.

I think you will agree there are some amazing sounding books nominated.

Capital Crime Announces Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards Shortlists

Capital Crime and Amazon Publishing have partnered to present innovative new awards that give readers the power to honour their favourite books, films & TV

London 25^th July 2019 - Capital Crime is pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2019 Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards. The awards are a celebration of the crime and thriller genre and in a UK festival first, recognise excellence in film and television as well as books. The shortlists were decided by Capital Crime’s advisory board of authors, industry leaders and reviewers, but readers will have the final say on who wins in each category.

David Headley, co-founder of Capital Crime said, ‘Capital Crime is all about the readers. With panels focused on entertaining and engaging, and events and parties that are open to all, it was only natural we give readers the ultimate say over who wins our awards.’

Capital Crime has invested in an innovative voting system which gives festival passholders the ability to decide their favourite books, film and TV series. The Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards are decided by real crime and thriller fans.

Adam Hamdy, author and screenwriter, and co-founder of Capital Crime said, ‘Amazon leads the way in technology innovation and it’s fitting that our awards make use of new technology to put the power in the hands of crime and thriller fans.’

Capital Crime festival pass holders will be able to vote for the winner in each category from today until 19 September 2019.

Hatty Stiles, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon Publishing, said, ‘We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Capital Crime Reader’s Awards, and excited to be part of this new festival that celebrates the crime and thriller community. As soon as we heard about Capital Crime’s innovative approach and stellar line-up, we were eager to be involved.’

The winners of the awards will be announced at Capital Crime on Saturday 26^th September at a gala reception that marks the close of the festival.

The 2019 Amazon Publishing Readers’ Award Nominees are:

BEST MYSTERY

Jane Casey – Cruel Acts

Anthony Horowitz – The Sentence is Death

Ragnar Jonasson – The Island

Philip Kerr – Metropolis

Ian Rankin – In A House of Lies

  

BEST THRILLER

Steve Cavanagh – Twisted

Mick Herron – London Rules

Gregg Hurwitz – Out of the Dark

Manda Scott – A Treachery of Spies

Matt Wesolowski – Changeling

BEST DEBUT

Oyinkan Braithwaite – My Sister, The Serial Killer

Lesley Kara – The Rumour

Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Blood & Sugar

Harriet Tyce – Blood Orange

Holly Watt – To The Lions

 BEST E-BOOK

Amer Anwar – Brothers in Blood

Mark Edwards – Last of the Magpies

Alex Michaelides – The Silent Patient

Liane Moriarty – Nine Perfect Strangers

CL Taylor – Sleep

BEST AUDIOBOOK

Robert Galbraith – Lethal White – Read by Robert Glenister

Anthony Horowitz – The Sentence is Death – Read by Rory Kinnear

Catherine Steadman – Something in the Water – Read by Catherine Steadman

Stuart Turton – The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – Read by Jot Davies

Harriet Tyce – Blood Orange – Read by Julie Teal

BEST INDEPENDENT VOICE

Edward Carey - Little

Will Carver - Good Samaritans

Will Dean – Red Snow

Jean Levy – What Was Lost

Matt Wesolowski – Changeling

BEST CRIME NOVEL

Louise Candlish – Our House

Ray Celestin – The Mobster’s Lament

MW Craven – The Puppet Show

Erin Kelly – Stone Mothers

Ian Rankin – In a House of Lies

BEST FEATURE FILM

American Animals

BlacKKKlansman

John Wick 3

The Sisters Brothers

Widows

 BEST TV SHOW

Bodyguard

Bosch

Killing Eve

Line of Duty

You

ABOUT CAPITAL CRIME

Capital Crime is an exciting new festival that celebrates all things crime and thriller. The inaugural festival takes place this September 26^th -28^th at the Connaught Rooms in London. Guests include Kate Atkinson, Robert Harris, David Baldacci, Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves, Robert Glenister, Leye Adenle, Denise Mina, Anthony Horowitz, Abir Mukherjee and many more prestigious authors.

Capital Crime offers fans unprecedented access to their favourite crime and thriller creatives. Capital Crime is a celebration of books, films and TV and the line-up is an unrivalled mix of world class talent, rising stars and newcomers. Capital Crime is a must for fans of all things crime and thriller.

Panels of note include The Interrogation of Mark Billingham. The bestselling author is put through his paces by Graham Bartlett, an experienced police interrogator. Ian Rankin discusses The Human Cost of Crime with Don Winslow. And attendees can also look out for John Connolly, David Baldacci, Kate Atkinson and Lynda La Plante and Peter James all being interviewed about their respective careers. 

The crime and thriller community is looking forward to Capital Crime. With many of them expressing their excitement about the upcoming festival.

Martina Cole (No Mercy – Headline – Autumn) said: ‘We have all been waiting for a London based festival like Capital Crime.  It’s fantastic to see such a diverse line up of crime and thriller writers taking part.  David Headley and Adam Hamdy have put together an amazing programme of events for the first crime festival in London and I’m thrilled to be part of it.’ 

Best-selling London based author Abir Mukherjee (Smoke and Ashes – Vintage - June) said: ‘London is one of the world’s great cities, the setting, and often the inspiration, for some most infamous true crimes and some of the world’s best loved fictional detectives. It’s the home of Scotland Yard, Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes and a natural location for a festival bringing together international fans and authors in a celebration of the very best and latest that crime fiction has to offer. It’s long overdue and I hope Capital Crime becomes a regular fixture in the crime fiction calendar.’

Capital Crime is a diverse, inclusive and socially responsible festival, running initiatives including social outreach to support students exploring a literary career, an innovative digital festival and the launch of their New Voices Writers Award. The festival is the brainchild of British screenwriter Adam Hamdy and Managing Director of Goldsboro Books, David Headley.

Tickets for the festival are now on sale here: https://www.capitalcrime.org/

Confirmed line-up: https://www.capitalcrime.org/guests/

So what do you think? Which books will win which categories? And are you going to be attending the festival? If so let me know, would be lovely to meet you.

Book Review - Someone We Know by Shari Lapena - Blog Tour

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Amazon UK

Title: Someone We Know

Author: Shari Lapena

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 25th July 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

It can be hard keeping secrets in a tight-knit neighbourhood.

In a tranquil, leafy suburb of ordinary streets – one where everyone is polite and friendly – an anonymous note has been left at some of the houses.

‘I’m so sorry. My son has been getting into people’s houses. He’s broken into yours.’

Who is this boy, and what might he have uncovered? As whispers start to circulate, suspicion mounts.

And when a missing local woman is found murdered, the tension reaches breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they’re telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their secrets?

Maybe you don’t know your neighbour as well as you thought you did . . .

That was a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon in a garden - you literally wouldn't have been able to tear my kindle out of my hands while I was reading this. Was hooked from the prologue - utterly convinced I knew all along who the murderer was - until I was blow away completely. 

To say this is a claustrophobic sort of a book where it focuses around four main families, and woman who has been broken into, and with every revelation you are drawn more and more into a dark web of secrets. 

It becomes clear you can't really trust what any of the characters are saying, or can you? There is after all suspicious behaviour everywhere. 

I was intrigued by the boy sneaking into people's houses that is mentioned in the blurb, but felt for at least a good part of the story that we would have heard more about it - but it is there for a very good reason, and I'm really glad of it, just shows how much people hide in other ways too. 

I enjoyed sitting in on the police interviews as they try to work out just who murdered the poor woman in such a brutal way. So much fun seeing how different people were reacting the questioning.  

This is the third book I've now read from this author, and I think they keep getting better and better, and I just love her writing style. Once you are used to focal points changing rapidly often within the chapter, which just adds to the pacing, I was completely drawn into the story and loved reading every moment of this. 

Another wonderfully addictive book from the always impressive Shari Lapena. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Transworld for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Please follow along with all the bloggers on this tour 

Book Review - Tell Me Your Secret by Dorothy Koomson

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Amazon UK

Title: Tell Me Your Secret

Author: Dorothy Koomson

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 27th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Pieta has a secret.
Ten years ago, Pieta was kidnapped by a man calling himself The Blindfolder who said he wouldn't kill her if she kept her eyes closed for 48 hours. She never told anyone what happened to her, vowing to move on with her life. But when The Blindfolder starts hunting down his past victims, Pieta realises she may finally be forced to tell her deepest secret to stay alive . . .

Jody has a secret.
Fifteen years ago, policewoman Jody made a terrible mistake that resulted in a serial killer known as The Blindfolder escaping justice. When Jody discovers journalist Pieta survived an attack by him, she realises she may finally have found a way to catch him. But that would mean endangering at least two innocent people . . .

They kept quiet to protect themselves.
Will telling all save or sacrifice each other?

What an utterly sick and twisted mind Dorothy Koomson must have, to have come up with this unputdownable and completely original book. 

I've never heard of, or read a crime just like this one, and it is rather horrific, and the amount of years The Blindfolder has been at it is staggering.  

Imagine you were kidnapped, told you would live but only if you could keep your eyes closes for 48 hours no matter what you may feel or hear. No matter what torture may occur or atrocities.  Well this is what this sick bastard of a villain does, or did. 

For it is now back, hunting down past victims, ones that had obeyed and then not gone to the police and had tried to move on with their lives, and killing at regular intervals. 

This is a police investigation on a clock before the next body appears like clockwork in a park either in London or Brighton. 

This is the story of three women, although we only get two perspectives.   There is Callie who we only really get to see from the other women, she is determined to put her experience out there, and to help other women to come forward to help the police with their investigations. 

But the main two focal points are Pieta, the journalist who is being asked to write the story, and Jody, the police detective who has been working on the case and is determined to solve it before anyone else is hurt. 

Let's just say that there are many many secrets in this book, some more deadly than others, some more chilling than others, and this is a story that has got under my skin and frankly terrified me that these sorts of crimes could be happening. 

I really can't say much else about the characters or plot other than it starts of feeling ominously creepy and the tension ramps up as the book progresses.  I don't want to risk giving away any vital hints as to even my opinions on the main people but will say keep your eyes open and take in everything. 

It is a masterpiece of a book, dark, thrilling, scary, incredibly well written, engaging, had me feeling great sympathy and shock at some points, while at others not really wanting to empathise with the characters, out of fear myself. 

I'm a massive fan of Dorothy Koomson's books, and have been reading them for many years and noticed that they appear to be getting darker with each release. And this must be the darkest, most despicable of crimes yet, but still with her trademark style of making you care deeply about the various characters. 

This is one amazing book, and I literally can't wait to see what the author writes next 

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.