Happy Publication Day to Alison Lingwood! 🙂

On the afternoon of 15th July 2018 sport, firstly tennis and then football, dominated the television coverage and millions of fans stayed indoors on one of the hottest days for years. A hit-and-run incident in a quiet residential road in Newcastle under Lyme was witnessed only by a small boy, and the police investigation made little progress until, in nearby Stoke on Trent, the murder of a young woman raised new questions. Was somebody trying to annihilate the whole family and, if so, why?

Out now!

Read the series in order…..

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day1 #BookReview Portal to Murder (DI Christopher Timothy book 1) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day2 #BookReview The Bridport Dagger (DI Christopher Timothy book 2) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day3 #BookReview A Wild Kind of Justice (DI Christopher Timothy book 3) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day4 #BookReview Stains of Suspicion (DCI Christopher Timothy book 4) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day5 #BookReview The Calibre of Death (DCI Christopher Timothy book 5) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day6 #BookReview Immersed in Murder (DCI Christopher Timothy Book 6) by Alison Lingwood

happy reading 🙂

Toxic Triangles (DCI Christopher Timothy book 7) is out tomorrow!

As part of the countdown to publication day I’m re-sharing my review for Book 6, Immersed in Murder…..

(originally published on 3rd February 2020)

I finished Immersed in Murder this morning and found it every bit as gripping as all the previous books in the series. This is book six in the DCI Timothy series and I’ve probably said this before, but this series just gets better and better which is quite something because Portal to Murder is a pretty epic debut, in my opinion.

When a family return home from their holiday to find a dead woman, unknown to them, in their bath a new investigation begins. When that woman is eventually linked to a devastating case from thirty years earlier the investigation becomes even more complicated until the hard work and dedication of DCI Timothy and his team starts to unravel the mystery.

This is yet another excellent police procedural, involving both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent police, which is fast paced and full of suspense. Each chapter ends in a way that makes it very difficult to put down. I had to know where this story was going. The truth is chilling and, in part, quite sad.

I highly recommend to all and I’m very much looking forward to Book 7!

If you haven’t read this series yet, you really should. Why not catch up before book 7 is published??

purchase your copy…..

Original post

Immersed in Murder (DCI Timothy book 6) by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

As part of the countdown to publication day for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I am re-sharing my review for book 5, The Calibre of Death.

(originally published on 13th September 2019)

The Calibre Of Death is book 5 in the DCI Timothy mystery series and I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole series!

In this book we are treated to another suspenseful murder mystery. The story is set in Staffordshire when the HS2 rail link is becoming a very real possibility and not everyone is pleased about it. Aasa Heald is visiting from London for a meeting which has to be cancelled, so she finds herself having coffee with a local elderly lady by the name of Thelma Hodgson. Thelma has found herself in a very difficult situation having been deceived out of all she owns by two less than honest excuses for human beings claiming to be long lost family. Maybe Aasa would be able to help? She doesn’t get a chance though as she is shot dead right there at their table in the café. No-one is able to save her, and no-one knows where the bullets were fired from. I can’t even imagine witnessing such an horrific act of violence.

DCI Christopher Timothy and his team have their work cut out trying to piece together a very confusing puzzle. Who locally would want this woman dead? Was she even the intended target?

As well as investigating murder, Chris has his teenager sister-in-law, Florence, staying with them as her alcoholic mother has gone to a clinic for help. This brings its own challenges for their little family, especially as Florence seems to have befriended their main suspect!

Nothing is ever straight forward, but it all comes together with dedication and determination. Another excellent police procedural.

I LOVED the last chapter, although tinged with sadness. Exciting times ahead for the Timothy family. I can’t wait to read book 6!

purchase your copy…..

Original post

The Calibre Of Death (A DCI Timothy mystery, Book 5) by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Killer Shadow Thieves I was very much looking forward to catching up with Tom Blake again in book 2, A Place of Reckoning. I can assure you this has been another thoroughly entertaining read!

First of all, I love that these books are set in Stoke-on-Trent. This always makes it that little bit more exciting for me as I love it when I recognise street names and public places etc. mentioned throughout the story.

I have to warn you, this isn’t a story for the feint hearted. It really is quite gruesome at times and often makes for uncomfortable reading due to the nature of some of the crimes committed and some seriously disturbed characters.

The story begins with the kidnapping of a very wealthy pottery tycoon’s wife. Annabelle is kept locked away and subjected to all manner of horrific abuse whilst her kidnapper attempts to extort money from her husband, Charles Lancaster. The team are confident they know who is responsible though and hope to resolve the situation quickly and find Annabelle alive. However, when a headless body is discovered in a remote spot, in the peak district, their investigation is blown wide open. This woman has a mysterious tattoo on the small of her back. What does that mean? They have their work cut out finding out who this woman is as every attempt has been made to obscure her identity. DI Tom Blake and Lucy Stryker (an FBI profiler) work together with the rest of the team to try to piece together the clues before anyone else gets hurt. The investigation gradually reveals all sorts of sadistic secrets which truly made my skin crawl, but I had no choice but to keep reading as I was desperate to find out the truth! A truth that I did not see coming at all!!

Oh, on a happier note, I loved that Tom and Lucy have found a little bit of romance in their lives! I like a bit of happiness in amongst all the murder and mayhem. 😊 These people deserve a bit of respite from their day-to-day dealings with the dregs of society!

Overall, this book a quite horrifying, but absolutely gripping and I won’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves an excellent psychological murder mystery/police procedural/thriller. It ticks all the boxes for me, once again, and I can’t wait for book 3! I really, really hope there is going to be a book 3!??

Many thanks to J.F. Burgess for my review copy.

Out now!

ICYMI

The Killer Shadow Thieves (DI Tom Blake book 1) by J.F.Burgess @burgess1012 #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

I am delighted to be sharing in the cover reveal love for Gillian McAllister’s forthcoming release, How to Disappear!

Pre-order now: the gripping new psychological suspense from the Sunday Times bestselling author of No Further Questions and The Evidence Against You

‘Bravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional – a cracking read’ Clare Mackintosh

‘A relentless drumroll of suspense . . . ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years’ A. J. Finn

What do you do when you can’t run, and you can’t hide?

Lauren’s daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara’s identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

To keep Zara safe Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband.

There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.

The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake – a text, an Instagram like – could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

They can never assume someone isn’t watching, waiting.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy. Staying hidden is harder…

‘Totally addictive, with twists that repeatedly pulled the rug from under my feet.’ Erin Kelly

‘Tense and unpredictable. I couldn’t put it down.’ Claire Douglas

‘If Jodi Picoult wrote psychological thrillers, they would look like this. A compulsive read with a jaw-dropping twist, I read it in a day’ Rosamund Lupton

‘An intricate and spellbinding exploration of the devastating ripples that spread from a terrible crime.’ Holly Seddon

‘I read How to Disappear with my heart in my mouth.’ Lia Louis

Praise for Gillian McAllister

‘I read it in a breathless day and a half’ Lisa Jewell

‘Perfection. Intriguing and compelling’ Clare Mackintosh

‘As tense as a piano string’ Sunday Times

‘Addictive, clever, twisty’ Sun

Check this out!

Pre-order now!

https://smarturl.it/HowToDisappear

happy reading 🙂

As part of the countdown to publication day for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I am re-sharing my review for book 4, Stains of Suspicion.

(originally published on 3rd September 2019)

Ooooo, I didn’t see that coming!

It has been so great to catch up with DCI Timothy again. Due to other blogging commitments this is the first chance I’ve had to continue with this excellent series and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this story. I think this has been my favourite book yet, but I’ll probably say that about them all!

Timothy is back within a team having recovered from being attacked (read the previous books first, if you haven’t already!). He’s still not 100% though and it shows at times. It’s also having an impact on his marriage. I enjoy that we see this personal side to the character’s story. It makes them all the more real.

In Stains of Suspicion a body is found under a tarpaulin in a carpark and it’s assumed by the witness that it is the body of a child but, is in fact a tiny older lady. The family are located and informed and an investigation begins. It soon transpires that the lady has died of a heart attack, but how did she covered herself up?? Her car is also missing. It doesn’t make much sense and the team have their work cut out if they are to prove this lady was indeed murdered.

To add further intrigue to the story, a man they believed to be the victim’s brother insists that this lady isn’t his sister. So, who is this woman and whatever happened to his real sister??

The victim’s family are interesting to say the least. There are four children, one of whom was adopted and all as different as they can be. They have odd relationships. The (older) husband is suffering with dementia and is now in a care home but seems to have been quite controlling and abusive in the past. This woman’s life is quite a mystery. I enjoyed following the team as they put the pieces of the puzzle together and figured out the facts.

The suspense had me completely gripped and I was totally shocked when the truth was revealed. This killer is nothing short of brutal! Their matter of fact attitude made my blood run cold. Another brilliant murder mystery, full of surprises and intriguing characters. I highly recommend.

I’ve already started the next book in the series, The Calibre of Death.

Watch this space for my review!

purchase your copy…..

original post

Stains of Suspicion by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

As part of the publication day countdown for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I am re-sharing my review of book 3, A Wild Kind of Justice.

(originally published on 17th May 2018)

I love Alison Lingwood’s style of writing. I know I’m in for a treat when I start one her books and A Wild Kind of Justice was no exception. I read a lot of crime fiction books, but most tend to be a lot more gruesome than Alison Lingwood’s much more gentle (for want of a better word) murder mysteries. I enjoy both kinds and this has been a pleasure to read.

A Wild Kind of Justice is Alison Lingwood’s third book and I would recommend you read them in order as they do feature the same detective and some of the character’s story lines follow on from the previous books. I don’t think you’d find yourself totally lost if you read this as a standalone though.

In this story DCI Christopher Timothy finds himself in charge of a new mystery when part of a human body is found at the site of a disused mine in Staffordshire. Unfortunately he doesn’t get much of a chance to investigate before losing a close friend to murder and ending up in hospital himself. His team battle to piece together the evidence and try to find any links between the two murders, but nothing much seems to make sense to start with. They miss Chris’ expertise but are determined to solve the case before anyone else gets hurt. With the help of vital witnesses things eventually start falling in to place.

This is a very cleverly written police procedural which is very much plot driven, but also focusses heavily on the character’s.

I really felt for Chris’ wife. It must be terrifying being married to a policeman, especially when your worst fears seem to be coming true. I also felt for his colleagues, desperate to uncover the truth. It just goes to show though, do you ever really know those who you should be able to trust?

I love that this book is set in Newcastle-under-Lyme (my hometown). It’s great when you can picture the places mentioned!

Full of suspense, as always. I’m looking forward to catching up with DCI Christopher Timothy, and others, in the next book.

purchase your copy…..

original post

A Wild Kind of Justice by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

As part of the countdown to publication day for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I am re-sharing my review for book 2, The Bridport Dagger.

(originally published on 4th April 2016)

As I write this we’re on a train heading back to London, Waterloo. We have spent the last few days in Yeovil (featured in The Bridport Dagger) visiting friends.

Alison is another lovely author local to me. She has very kindly agreed to be the guest speaker at our Women’s Fellowship meeting this month, which I am very much looking forward to. I’m hoping Alison will agree to sign my books for me 😉

The Bridport Dagger hooks you in gently as the first few chapters set the scene and introduce us to the characters. It seems unlikely that the characters are linked in any way so straight away I found myself intrigued as to where the story would lead.

DI Christopher Timothy and his wife Pippa, from Staffordshire, are expecting their first baby and decide to take a relaxing holiday in Dorset before the baby is born. They hire a cottage from Beatrice Roper and all is well until Beatrice’s twin brother, Benedick, is found murdered. On the same night, in Ellesmere Port, Harry Greatorex is found dead at his bungalow and foul play is suspected. DI Timothy soon finds himself involved in the investigation which is far from straight forward. How can these two murders be connected? The secrets that unfold as a result of this investigation are quite shocking. I thought I had it sussed a few times, but I was totally wrong! It all made sense in the end though.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. I love Alison Lingwood’s writing, I find it a very easy style to get on with. If you like a good crime thriller with interesting characters and a captivating story line then I’m sure you will enjoy this book. It is the second of Alison’s I have read, so I have met DI Timothy before, but you could easily enjoy this as a standalone. I would highly recommend Portal To Murder though, if you haven’t read it already.

purchase your copy…..

original post

The Bridport Dagger by Alison Lingwood

happy reading 🙂

As part of the countdown to publication day for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I will be re-sharing my reviews for the first six books in the series! I read Portal to Murder before I started my blog so here is my short, but sweet (I think!), review which I posted to AmazonUK on 22nd July 2014!

Kerry Parsons

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2014

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Brilliant! Excellent story, characters and setting! (I am from Newcastle-under-Lyme!) Definitely my kind of read. A good example of how easily the internet can be misused, but also how helpful it can be to a police investigation. Angela is an odd character, but I didn’t see the ending coming! Looking forward to reading Alison’s other two books.

purchase your copy…..

happy reading 🙂