Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month, I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! xx

Here are my reviews from November 2022 + a link to previous November FBFs….

I.C.Y.M.I

Have you read any of the above?

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the crime, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth … ?

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Book 1) 

by Holly Jackson 

My review

This book is my first ever Buddy Read with a group of Bookstagram friends and, although I failed spectacularly at reading it within the time frame, I have absolutely loved it! I totally get the hype!

Pip is an awesome character. I liked her immediately. We meet her five years on from the murder of fellow schoolgirl, Andie Bell. The whole town is convinced Andie’s boyfriend, Sal, was responsible for her death but Pip isn’t, and she’s determined to prove his innocence. She makes her investigation the subject of her EPQ. I love this! I love that an EPQ can be pretty much anything you want it to be. My daughter’s was on serial killers in the media and a friend of mine wrote and self-published a book for hers.

Anyway, Pip’s enthusiasm is infectious. I really, really wanted her to be right. Partially for the sake of her sanity. Also, for Ravi (Sal’s brother) and his parents. I can’t even imagine losing my son let alone in such horrific circumstances.

Little did Pip know of the danger she was putting herself and her family in by persisting with her project though. (Chapter 35 is particularly heartbreaking.)

This book is such a rollercoaster of emotions, and it is so full twists and turns I had no idea what I thought for the most part, but I was totally invested. It left me gobsmacked on more than one occasion.

I can’t recommend it highly enough and I’m looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy.

Happy reading! 🙂

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month, I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! xx

Here are my reviews from October 2022 + a link to previous October FBFs….

I.C.Y.M.I

Have you read any of the above?

An ordinary outing takes Greta, Alex, and four-year-old Smilla across Sweden’s mythical Lake Malice to a tiny, isolated island. While father and daughter tramp into the trees, Greta stays behind in the boat, lulled into a reverie by the misty, moody lake…only later to discover that the two haven’t returned. Her frantic search proves futile. They’ve disappeared without a trace.

Greta struggles to understand their eerie vanishing. She desperately needs to call Alex, to be reassured that Smilla is safe, or contact the police. But now her cell phone is missing too. Back at her cottage, she finds it hidden away under the bedsheets. Had she done that? Or had someone else been in the cottage? But who, and why? As Greta struggles to put the pieces together, she fears that her past has come back to torment her, or she’s finally lost her grip on reality?

In this dark psychological thrill ride—with more twists than a labyrinth and more breathless moments than a roller coaster—Greta must confront what she’s always kept hidden if she has any hope of untangling the truth.

The Missing

by Caroline Eriksson (Author), Tiina Nunnally (Translator) 

My review

The Missing was one of many books waiting patiently on my kindle. I’m so glad I finally got the chance to read it.

I had no idea what to expect from this book. Caroline Eriksson is a new-to-me author and I’m not sure I’ve ever read a translated book before. I dived straight in, without reminding myself of the blurb, and soon found myself completely transfixed by Greta.

I didn’t understand Greta at first. I’m not sure I even liked Greta. She confused me a lot to begin with (why would you not contact the police immediately!?), but as the story progressed I began to understand her a little more and I became more and more invested in her story.

This is a dark, mysterious, compelling psychological thriller which kept me intrigued throughout and surprised me on more than one occasion. I definitely recommend.

**I purchased the kindle edition of The Missing on 4^th December 2016**

I’ve now added The Watcher to my Wishlist.

Happy reading!

The first in a stunning new crime series from 2m+ international bestseller Adam Croft.

A peaceful Sunday morning in Rutland is shattered when a dead body is discovered on the rocks at Normanton Church.

The victim has been laid out in a crucifixion pose, facing the altar. DI Caroline Hills is certain there’s a religious connection — one which threatens the tranquility of life in the area.

The killer has gone to extraordinary lengths to make the symbolism clear. And the deaths will continue until Caroline and DS Dexter Antoine uncover the truth behind the dark secret — and what lies beneath.

What Lies Beneath (Rutland crime series Book 1)

by Adam Croft 

My review

What Lies Beneath is an excellent start to a new series!

This is the first book I’ve read by Adam Croft, but I will most certainly be adding his other books to my list.

Rutland is generally a quiet place, where nothing much happens crime wise, so when a dead body is found laid out on the rocks outside the church one morning the police are suddenly thrown into the deep end of a murder case.

DI Caroline Hills has moved to Rutland from London. These sorts of cases are nothing new to her. She is keen to get stuck in despite some colleagues wanting to hand the case over to a bigger team.

Caroline is an intriguing character. She throws herself into her work. We know she is dealing with something personally too, although we don’t know what at first. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better throughout the series. Her team also.

I do love a police procedural, and this ticked all the boxes for me. It’s fairly fast paced and full of suspense. It kept me guessing throughout.

There is also the bonus of learning a bit of the history of Rutland too. A place I’ve never been to but I do have a friend who lives there now so we’re hoping to visit sometime, hopefully soon.

I look forward to reading book two!

** I purchased the Kindle edition of What Lies Beneath on Amazon on 2^nd March 2023 **

Get your copy here….

Happy reading!

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.
They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

A sweet romantic comedy with a cosy mystery at its heart. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Freeman, Laura Jane Williams and Katie Fforde.

Book Three in the Love in the Comptons series. These are standalone romcoms with recurring characters and locations and can be read in any order.

1. Art and Soul (Becky and Charlie)
2. The Only Exception (Lucinda and Alex)
3. Clues to You (Kate and Max)

Clues to You

by Claire Huston

My review

Oh, my goodness, what an absolute joy of a read this book is!

I love the idea of a murder mystery weekend in a posh hotel. I’ve never been to a murder mystery event, but I do love a posh hotel!

I immediately liked Kate. Her enthusiasm for the event is infectious and I so wanted her to have the best weekend to take her mind off other stresses for a while.

Max is an extremely likeable character. The tetchiness between him and Kate was quite amusing. I love how they are forced to work together for most of the weekend. They make a great team, even if they don’t realise it, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

I think this is a brilliant idea for a story and such a fabulous setting. It made me want to pack a bag and join them.

This book is funny, it’s sweet, it’s highly entertaining and I LOVED it!

** Many thanks to Claire Huston for my review copy **

I.C.Y.M.I

Happy reading!

The billionaire…she shouldn’t fall for!

In this How to Win a Monroe story… I’ve always been drawn to heiress Avery Monroe, but I know how completely off-limits she is! We haven’t spoken since I rejected her kiss three years ago. Now her brother’s meddling means Avery’s spending the summer with me at my castle in Croatia. I’ve promised to protect her, but as I uncover Avery’s secret battles I can’t keep my true feelings hidden. Will our passion finally be unlocked?

Off-Limits Fling With The Heiress (How to Win a Monroe, Book 1)

by Rachael Stewart 

My review

Off-Limits Fling With The Heiress is another lovely read by Rachael Stewart. If you enjoy a good romance, with characters you’ll love, then look no further.

I absolutely loved Avery and Gabe’s story.

I could totally understand Gabe’s reluctance to give in to his attraction to his best friend’s younger sister, Avery. I could also completely understand Avery being so smitten with Gabe and not wanting to admit it, even to herself. They have both had difficult pasts and are struggling with grief. Neither of them wants to rock the boat with Avery’s brother, but why should they deny their chance for happiness for the sake of trying to keep others happy!? The chemistry between them is off the chart and they are just perfect for each other.

I was rooting for them from the start!

Yet another one of Rachael Stewart’s books I was completely captivated by, from the very first page to the very last. They always make me smile.

I can’t wait for book two!

** Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for my review copy **

OUT NOW!

I.C.Y.M.I

Happy reading!

Hi, and welcome to my Flashback Friday feature!

On the first Friday of each month, I like to look back at the books I was reading the previous year during the same month.

Please do join in if you have the time, I’d love to see your posts 🙂

A big thank you to those who already join in regularly! xx

Here are my reviews from September 2022 + a link to previous September FBFs….

I.C.Y.M.I

Have you read any of the above?

Cuckoos on the Mersey follows the child protection teams in social services and the PVPU (protecting vulnerable people unit- Merseyside Police) on Merseyside. They are in a constant battle to protect the most vulnerable in society. Leo is a sixteen-year-old in the grip of a violent OCG, struggling to kick his addiction to ketamine. When his neighbour Angela is visited by social services, the social workers can’t get an answer. They persuade her children to open the door for them and Angela is found unconscious on her settee. A police investigation is launched and an evil criminal network is uncovered. A race against time begins as witnesses are silenced or vanish completely.

Cuckooing is exploitation carried out by criminal gangs who take over the homes of vulnerable people to use as a base for their activities. Addicts, the elderly, the disabled and the young are targeted and threatened with violence to force them to comply.

Cuckoos on the Mersey

by Conrad Jones 

My review

Cuckoos on the Mersey is a great start to a new series! It isn’t the easiest of reads given the subject matter, but it is certainly a compelling one.

There is so much going on throughout this book it was hard to keep up. It’s very emotional at times and frankly quite frightening at others.

Leo has had a rough start in life, and he hasn’t made the best decisions for himself so far, but I couldn’t help but like him. He is obviously besotted with his girlfriend, but I could fully understand her mother’s interference in their relationship. He’s hardly the reliable type. You can’t help who you fall in love with though and I did really feel for him as the story progressed.

I take my hat off to anyone working with social services or the police to help protect vulnerable people like Leo. It must be so difficult, disheartening at times, and presumably thankless at lot of the time. Thank God we have people who do though.

This is such a brilliant read with so many fascinating characters. I look forward to book two!

**Many thanks to Conrad Jones for my review copy**

Treat yourself

Happy reading!

It’s always darkest before the dawn . . .
________

After Mike loses Pia, his partner of seventeen years, best friends Vicky and Zaza rally round.

But the truth is, in Pia’s absence, they all need more than a little help . . .

Just-engaged Zaza fears the next step. Mum Vicky has lost sight of herself. And Mike can’t figure out how to start again.

Luckily, Pia left a list of loving instructions to help them cope.

Which is why they find themselves trekking in Peru. Stumbling up mountains. Lost in sweltering rainforests. As friendships and hope fray, they cling to their faith in Pia.

Soon they learn anything is possible when you’re walking on sunshine.

Walking on Sunshine

by Giovanna Fletcher 

My review

This is such an emotional read but one which is heart-warming and utterly uplifting.

Pia has recently passed away, far too young, leaving her partner, Mike, and her two best friends bereft. I can’t even imagine being widowed so young, I don’t want to even consider the heart-breaking possibility at any age if I’m honest, but when someone is so young it is so incredibly cruel. How do you begin to move on from such heartache?

Pia helps them all by leaving a set of rules.

I loved how very present Pia is throughout this book considering she isn’t there in person. This is a testament to beautiful writing and the love Mike, Vicky, and Zaza have for her.

Three very different characters with very different lives, trying to come to terms with their grief, support each other, and honour Pia’s wishes.

I absolutely loved this story even though it did make me cry (more than once).

It also made me smile, and laugh, a lot!

Thank you to my lovely Mum-in-law, Hazel, for passing on her copy of this to me. I will now be passing it on to my Mum.

Treat yourself

Happy reading!