Hi all!

To say I am thrilled to be a part of Mel Sherratt’s Hush Hush blog tour would be a massive understatement! I am SO excited to join in with the fun 🙂

WOW! What a fantastic start to a new series. Gripping is an understatement. The fact that I have read it in less than 48 hours says a lot. Not much else has been achieved over the last couple of days, I can tell you, and I’m not even sorry! Mel Sherratt’s books never disappoint, they just get better and better.

Hush Hush is an excellent police procedural in which we get to meet DS Grace Allendale for the first time. I have loved getting to know Grace. I take my hat off to her as I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to move back to my hometown with her family history. She is a dedicated professional though, determined not to let her family connections stand in the way of her new position. It was never going to be easy, but she’s a feisty character. We see a very personal side to Grace also, when we learn about the relatively recent death of her husband. She’s had more than her fair share of heartache.

She barely has her feet under her new desk before being faced with their first murder, and others following soon afterwards. The link to her past won’t make the investigation any easier and she hopes her new colleagues won’t judge her when they find out the truth of her past. She needs them to work as a team to piece together the clues and bring this murderer to justice.

This is an extremely fast-paced crime thriller with an intricately woven plot. Such clever writing! The characters are very real and believable and for me the fact that it is set is Stoke-on-Trent is a massive bonus. Reading about places I recognise in a book is always so cool.

I love how Mel Sherratt has a way of portraying the killer as cold and calculating, but at the same time damaged and vulnerable. I couldn’t help but feel some empathy towards them despite their horrific crimes.

This is a story full of suspense, twists and turns, secrets, lies and revenge. Short chapters add to the tension and pace of the story making it a true page-turner. As with most of Mel Sherratt’s books I found myself holding my breath towards the end and my heart was beating so fast as I was finding out the truth. Just brilliant! I highly recommend to anyone!

I love that Allie Shenton is still around also. If you haven’t read the Allie Shenton series yet then you really should.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for my gorgeous paperback copy for review and for the honour of being a part of this amazing blog tour.

‘Fans of MARTINA COLE will love this’ Katerina Diamond

A gripping new series from million-copy bestseller Mel Sherratt.

‘I love all Mel Sherratt’s books’ IAN RANKIN

‘Twists and turns and delivers a satisfying shot of tension’ RACHEL ABBOTT

A killer is on the loose, attacking people in places they feel most safe: their workplaces, their homes. It’s up to DS Grace Allendale to stop the murders, and prove herself to her new team.

All clues lead to local crime family the Steeles, but that’s where things get complicated. Because the Steeles aren’t just any family, they’re Grace’s family. Two brothers and two sisters, connected by the violent father only Grace and her mother escaped.

To catch the killer, Grace will have to choose between her team and her blood. But who do you trust, when both sides are out to get you?

An unforgettable thriller that fans of MARTINA COLE and CARA HUNTER won’t be able to put down.

Authors love HUSH HUSH:

‘On a thriller cocktail list, Hush Hush would be a Bloody Mary with a perfect twist…’ FIONA BARTON

‘Mel Sherratt is the new queen of gritty police procedurals’ C.L. TAYLOR

‘Gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go until the heart-stopping conclusion!’ ROBERT BRYNDZA

Rated FIVE STARS by real readers:

‘This book had me hooked from the start.
DS Grace Allendale is a great character.’

‘I have read nearly all of Mel Sherratt’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them. However, this one is my favourite!’

‘A brilliant police procedural: deliciously intense and addictive with a suspenseful storyline that didn’t disappoint!’

‘Couldn’t read fast enough!’

‘A riveting read and hopefully the first of many in this new series, 10 out of 10 and highly recommended!’

‘I loved this book. Mel Sherratt is a new author for me and I’m so glad I found her…’

Happy reading 🙂

My novels take you to the heart of the crime. I write police procedurals, psychological suspense and crime dramas – fiction with a punch. Shortlisted for the prestigious CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in Library Award, my inspiration comes from authors such as Martina Cole, Lynda la Plante, Mandasue Heller and Elizabeth Haynes.

Since 2012, I’ve sold over one million books. All eleven of my crime novels have been bestsellers, each one climbing into the Kindle UK top 10 and I’ve had several number ones. I’ve also had numerous Kindle All-star awards, for best read author and best titles.

My latest book, HUSH HUSH is the first in a new series featuring DS Grace Allendale. It’s a police procedural which finds Grace returning to her hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and coming face to face with her estranged family during her first murder investigation. It’s a story of ‘is blood thicker than water’ and being stuck between a rock and a hard place. And there’s a serial killer on the loose…

SHE DID IT is a standalone psychological thriller, and my first novel set in London. I wanted to write about a character who was nice to everyone using one persona but out for revenge with another side to her that she tries to keep hidden away. The reader knows exactly what she is up to – but not the reason why.

TAUNTING THE DEAD is my best selling book. It’s part police procedural/part psychological thriller. It was standalone for two years but I have now written two more books with Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton as the main character to create a trilogy. FOLLOW THE LEADER is book two and ONLY THE BRAVE is book three.

THE ESTATE SERIES is a mix of psychological suspense and family life with a sprinkling of grit and a dash of menace – where drama meets crime. There are four books, available individually or you can read the first three as a box set.

DETECTIVE EDEN BERRISFORD works in a community intelligence team and helps to gather information and intel for investigations. THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR is the first book, followed by DON’T LOOK BEHIND YOU.

WATCHING OVER YOU is another standalone psychological thriller. It’s dark in places, light in places, disturbing in places too – where obsession and friendship turn into murder.

I also write women’s fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele. Stirred with Love, The Little Market Stall of Hope and Heartbreak and The Second Chance Shoe Shop are out now.

I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and make liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books. You can find out more at my website http://www.melsherratt.co.uk or I’m on Twitter at @writermels

***Not tried The Estate Series yet? For a limited time, you can grab a copy of the ‘behind the scenes look’ at the series, Secrets on The Estate. Just copy and paste this link into your browser for your free book: http://bit.ly/1fFPgmD ***