First, I need to start by apologising to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this incredibly late review. When I first joined NetGalley it was all very exciting (it still is to be fair) and I didn’t then know how to say no. I was very new to book blogging and didn’t want to refuse any arcs or let anyone down. I soon realised though that there are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, etc. etc. I’m much better at not over committing myself now. However, it has left me with a significant number of archived books still on my NetGalley shelf. I have now set myself the challenge of clearing my unread shelf entirely before I read any other Kindle books.
When I Was Ten is an incredibly compelling psychological thriller. I went in totally blind with no idea what I was letting myself in for.
A dual timeline story. 21 years ago, a ten-year-old girl murders both of her parents. Parents who were pillars of the community, or so it would seem.
Catherine served eight years in a secure children’s unit and is now living under a different identity with a husband and a daughter of her own. A family who know nothing about her past.
When a documentary team start sniffing around her sister for a story, Catherine realises her previous identity may about to be revealed to the world. How the story progresses from this point is jaw-dropping. I was totally not prepared for this disturbingly dark, emotional rollercoaster of a book. And that ending! Wow!
Very cleverly written, fast paced, full of suspense and an underlying tension. I loved it!
This is my first introduction to Fiona Cummins’ writing. I will now be adding all her other books to my wishlist!
Twenty-one years ago, Dr Richard Carter and his wife Pamela were killed in what has become the most infamous double murder of the modern age.
Their ten year-old daughter – nicknamed the Angel of Death – spent eight years in a children’s secure unit and is living quietly under an assumed name with a family of her own.
Now, on the anniversary of the trial, a documentary team has tracked down her older sister, compelling her to break two decades of silence.
Her explosive interview sparks national headlines and journalist Brinley Booth, a childhood friend of the Carter sisters, is tasked with covering the news story.
For the first time, the three women are forced to confront what really happened that night – with devastating consequences for them all.
I love the TV series and apparently this book has been on my TBR since March 2022, so it is probably about time I got around to reading it.
I promised myself some time ago that if book one of a series was chosen by my wheel, then I would see the series through to the end. So, just to throw me in at the deep end it chose Reacher, book 1 of 31! Lol!
Reacher finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. A stranger in a small town it’s easy to see why law enforcement would assume he must be responsible for their first murder in years. They are wrong though, of course, and they soon see the error of their ways.
An excellent start to the series, as expected, and I now understand why everyone was so up in arms about Tom Cruise playing the part of Reacher way back when. Alan Ritchson suits the role perfectly. He plays him exactly as he is written as well as totally looking the part.
I’m already reading, and loving, book two, Die Trying.
Jack Reacher jumps off a bus and walks fourteen miles down a country road into Margrave, Georgia. An arbitrary decision he’s about to regret.
Reacher is the only stranger in town on the day they have had their first homicide in thirty years. The cops arrest Reacher and the police chief turns eyewitness to place him at the scene. As nasty secrets leak out, and the body count mounts, one thing is for sure.
First, I need to start by apologising to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this incredibly late review. When I first joined NetGalley it was all very exciting (it still is to be fair) and I didn’t then know how to say no. I was very new to book blogging and didn’t want to refuse any arcs or let anyone down. I soon realised though that there are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, etc. etc. I’m much better at not over committing myself now. However, it has left me with a significant number of archived books still on my NetGalley shelf. I have now set myself the challenge of clearing my unread shelf entirely before I read any other Kindle books. They’re all on a separate wheel on my spin-the-wheel app. This was chosen at random.
Have You Seen Me? is a compelling read. I was immediately intrigued by the mystery surrounding Ally’s ordeal. Not remembering an entire two days of your life must be terrifying. I can’t even imagine. How would you even know where to start!?
I found her husband to be an odd character, but I enjoyed following the story as it progressed as I was keen to find out how it was all going to pan out. I’m not sure what I really expected, but it was not at all the conclusion I expected.
I was so excited to finally be catching back up with Ryan and Phillips (and the team). It had been far too long!
I thoroughly enjoyed the story behind Lady’s Well. An interesting tale historically as well as being a suspenseful murder mystery.
It was great to be back in the northeast again. It seemed like only yesterday since I’d read Bamburgh and that was 2022! (I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get back on track with this series. I feel quite ashamed! Sorry, Louise!)
Returning to these characters feels a lot like catching up with old friends. Once again, they have made me smile, laugh, and admire their professionalism and friendships.
I was thrilled to be able to jump straight into book 21, Death Rocks….
THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER…
When the ancient waters of Lady’s Well in the rural village of Holystone begin to run red, it seems to be a nasty Hallowe’en prank and nothing more. But things take a sinister turn when the entire village suffers severe poisoning, and one old man turns up dead.
Accusations abound in the small, close-knit community, and ‘old’ religions spar against ‘new’ while fear runs like wildfire through the streets. With so many potential motives and countless opportunities, there’s only one man who can help solve this particular mystery…
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
Death Rocks: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 21)
Death Rocks treats us an extremely complex and fascinating case. I had absolutely no idea how these seemingly random murders could possibly be linked. This is possibly one of the cleverest plot lines to date. I raced through this book as I couldn’t wait to see what the team would uncover next. I was absolutely not prepared for what they eventually discover. Traumatic would be an understatement!
Again, I was thankful to be able to jump straight into book 22, Poison Garden….
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A COINCIDENCE…
When the body of a talented photographer is found on the rocks beneath the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, DCI Ryan and his team of detectives immediately suspect the worst. But, since none of their potential suspects seems to have a motive, the case runs cold.
Then, when another body is found dead on a lonely stretch of road near Hadrian’s Wall and their only suspect has an airtight alibi, the team are faced with another crime without a perpetrator.
With the number of unexplained deaths in the area increasing rapidly and only a series of coincidences to work from, Ryan and his team must find the invisible link between them to crack the case—before it’s too late.
Can Ryan solve his most dangerous case yet?
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
Poison Garden: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 22)
Poison Garden carries on where Death Rocks left off and I’m so glad I had it ready to read straight away as I don’t think I could have rested again until I did. I think this might be the tensest book of this series so far and my heart went out to Frank in particular. I do love Frank. He’s my favourite character of the series. I’ve even named my highland cow (soft toy) after him. Lol!
I find the whole Poison Garden thing fascinating too. I’m not sure if I’d like to actually visit or not. Knowing my luck I’d do Lowerson. Lol! (I.Y.K.Y.K). It’s quite scary how easily it is for people to find out, a – how to poison someone and b – where to find what you need to do so.
Another gripping story with the most fabulous cast of characters. If you haven’t started this series yet, you really should. You won’t be disappointed!
I can’t wait to continue with book 23, Belsay….
Watch this space!
The clock is ticking…
For Detective Chief Inspector Ryan, the stakes have never been higher. Most of the world thinks he’s dead, killed by an assasin’s rifle in his own home. But another man took the bullet intended for him, and now Ryan’s living on borrowed time. As long as he stays ‘dead’, in the sanctuary of his parents’ home in Devon, there’s a chance to find the people behind the deadly killing network. It’s only a matter of time before his secret’s uncovered, and nowhere will be safe.
Back in Northumberland, Ryan’s team are called in to investigate the mysterious death of a man in Alnwick, who collapsed yards from the walls of its Mediaeval castle. When a second person is rushed to hospital with the same symptoms, her life hangs in the balance unless they can discover the toxic substance that’s killing her. For DCs Lowerson and Reed, there’s only one place to look for inspiration—the Poison Garden…
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
First, I need to start by apologising to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this incredibly late review. When I first joined NetGalley it was all very exciting (it still is to be fair) and I didn’t then know how to say no. I was very new to book blogging and didn’t want to refuse any arcs or let anyone down. I soon realised though that there are only so many hours in a day, days in a week, etc. etc. I’m much better at not over committing myself now. However, it has left me with a fairly significant number of archived books still on my NetGalley shelf. I have now set myself the challenge of clearing my unread shelf entirely before I read any other Kindle books. They’re all on a separate wheel on my spin-the-wheel app. This was the first, chosen at random.
If you know me well, you will know that I really don’t like reading a series out of order and I did break out into a cold sweat when I realised this was book three of a series. Lol! A challenge is a challenge though, so I went in blind and I must admit I didn’t find any problem having not read books one and two yet.
What I found was a very well written, fast paced thriller with an extremely inspiring main character. Mac Ambrose is definitely someone who you would want on your side.
I’m assuming she wasn’t in a relationship for the first two books as the relationship she is in now seems to have left her questioning her career. She now has other priorities which only serve to further highlight how dangerous her work can be. When a friend needs help though she’s there.
A complicated case ensues and I had no idea what or who to believe for the most part. One thing I did notice, which is more than relevant today still, is how much power the media have. Scary, but true. They often have a lot to answer for!
I really enjoyed this intriguing and compelling story, full of action and suspense. I will be adding the rest of the series to my regular TBR and hope to get to them soon.
A Senator. A blackmail plot. The dark side of cable news.
Former CIA operative Mac Ambrose has spent twenty years protecting her country from overseas threats. Now she’s focused on adjusting to civilian life and her new relationship in Philadelphia. The last thing she needs is to get pulled in to ‘fix’ another domestic problem.
But events conspire against her. A friend begs for help: a popular Senator’s troubles threaten the democratic institutions Mac has defended. A reluctant Mac soon uncovers a menacing blackmail plot emanating from a media conglomerate in Times Square.
In a New York neighborhood, an unflappable FBI agent stumbles across a disturbing discovery—a private investigator has started surveilling a 24-hour cable news network.
Unnerved by Mac’s unofficial homecoming, the Mandarins in Langley dispatch a sinister tracker.
Mac’s operation, the FBI investigation, and Langley’s hunt are swiftly entangled in a complex conspiracy with dire consequences.
If you like Jack Ryan, Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, andLisbeth Salander, you will love Mac Ambrose.
If you enjoy page-turning thrillers loaded with satisfyingly complex twists, sabotage, and intrigue, then the Mac Ambrose series is for you.
What Readers Say About Mac Ambrose:
***** “Mac Ambrose is smart, confident, audacious and tough.” ***** “Yes! Just yes! We have a new badass heroine!” ***** “So, so, so much more than a spy novel.” ***** “Loaded with suspense, taut pacing.” ***** “I simply couldn’t put it down.” ***** “THAT REALLY WAS a fun ride!” ***** “Mac is a consummate spy, but her flaws make her interesting and human.”
If, like me, you would prefer to read the series in order, start here….
I was very much looking forward to reading The Blitz Secret having really enjoyed books one and two in this series.
John Cook is a brilliant, no-nonsense character. A bloke I would definitely want on my side. He reminds me of Reacher. I picture Alan Ritchson when I read these books.
In this book we see Cook spending most of his time in London. Now, I didn’t live through the blitz, but I feel like I did after reading this book. I’m glad I really didn’t. It must have been terrifying. I was particularly disturbed by the cutting of corners where building air raid shelters was concerned. I would not be at all surprised if that actually happened!
I was mortified by the behaviours of some of the characters in this book. People who should have been safe to trust. It just goes to show, you never know what might go on behind closed doors. What Ruby goes through is nothing short of horrific!
I’m impressed by Cook’s determination to succeed in everything he does. He’s like a dog with a bone who won’t let go. I admire this so much, as so many other people would take the easy way out and just give up at the first hurdle. He will not rest until he gets satisfactory results. A man on a mission!
Lady Margaret is brave. I couldn’t do what she does. I’d be useless!
There is so much tension throughout this book, I don’t think I relaxed once. Fast paced and full of suspense it kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending left me well and truly intrigued for book four!
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**
What a fabulous, feel-good story this is! I absolutely loved it!
I love Atticus. My heart went out to him at the start. He doesn’t find much joy in life since he lost the love of his life. His son has taken over his farm and turned it into a thriving business, but Arnott just isn’t interested in it much. He takes himself off for walks with his dog, Ness, and generally just tries to stay out of everyone’s way. So sad.
One day though his grandson convinces him to renovate his old campervan, giving it a new lease of life. Atticus decides to bite the bullet and drive it to Spain. I’m not sure I’d be that brave at my age, let along 70. Little did he know just how much this was going to change the rest of his life.
His daughter welcomes the change in him and supports his sense of adventure.
His son, not so much. He’s not the most likable of characters although I can understand how some children, however old they are, find it difficult to accept a parent moving on after the death of the other. Brother and sister couldn’t be any different to each other.
I loved joining Atticus on his travels, meeting his new friends, letting his hair down, and learning to embrace life again. I would absolutely follow his Instagram account!
A beautifully written, heart-warming read which left me with a smile and happy tear.
** Many thanks to Caroline James for my gifted Kindle copy **
When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott drives his beloved campervan from the rainy hills of Cumbria to the golden coast of Spain, his village is left reeling. With only his loyal collie, Ness, by his side, Atticus sets out in search of sunshine and serenity—but his journey of travel and self-discovery in Spain soon brings surprises he never imagined.
Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.
From a later in life romance to an uplifting women’s fiction story about family, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a heartwarming travel romance story perfect for fans of escapist holiday read fiction. Proof that it’s never too late to start over, this delightful romcom will inspire readers to embrace the unknown with open arms.
I am SO behind with writing reviews I thought I would write one overview for the rest of the DS Harbinder Kaur series which I have listened to consecutively on Audible recently….
When an elderly lady with a heart condition dies suddenly, as sad as it is, you’d be forgiven for assuming there’s nothing suspicious with that. Peggy is a fascinating character, and Harbinder soon realises that not all is as it first seems.
Another excellent crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
I really enjoyed the unusual storyline of this book. Centred around DS Caitlin Fitzgerald. A detective with a secret of her own. A secret she’s had to bury in order to function and live a ‘normal’ life. I can’t even imagine how anyone would begin to do that. Thirty years later, she finds herself attending a school reunion where things take a sinister turn and I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to end. Shocked!
This book focuses more on characters featured in book two, The Postscript Murders, Natalka and Edwin, with Harbinder more of a featured character. Natalka and Edwin now run a private detective agency and Natalka now lives with Benedict.
I like that these characters are awarded their own book in the series, although I did miss Harbinder.
Another enjoyable whodunnit which reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club in a way.
I really like Harbinder as a person and a detective. This book/series is full of fabulous characters and compelling storylines. I really liked the narrator of this series too. Does anyone know if there will be a book five?
What a fascinating lady who led a remarkable life! I admit that I didn’t know who she was before I read this book. I must have picked it up at a book sale somewhere as I love a good memoir and I’m glad I did as it was highly entertaining!
Told with candour and wit it very much reads like you’re sitting with her over tea and cake whilst she regales you with stories from her life. And what a life! A mostly charmed childhood, a land girl followed by work at Bletchley Park. A successful marriage, motherhood, a political career, and a stint as the mayor. There isn’t much she didn’t pack in to her 96 years! This book takes us past her 90th Birthday as she determines to continue to enjoy her life to the max whilst she can. Quite the inspiration with a cracking character! She also loved Staffordshire pottery so she’s alright by me 😉
I hope she is resting in peace after her very long and full life.
Forthright, witty and deliciously opinionated, Jean Trumpington’s Coming Up Trumps is a wonderfully readable account of a life very well lived.
In this characteristically trenchant memoir, the indomitable Jean Trumpington looks back on her long and remarkable life. The daughter of an officer in the Bengal Lancers and an American heiress, Jean Campbell-Harris was born into a world of considerable privilege, but the Wall Street Crash entirely wiped out her mother’s fortune.
At fifteen the young Jean Campbell-Harris was sent to Paris to study but two years later, with the outbreak of the Second World War, she became a land girl. However, she quickly changed direction, joining naval intelligence at Bletchley Park, where she stayed for the rest of the war. After the war she worked first in Paris and then on Madison Avenue, New York, with advertising’s ‘mad men’. It was here that she met her husband, the historian Alan Barker, and their marriage, in 1954, ushered in the happiest period of her life before embarking on her distinguished political career, as a Cambridge City councillor, Mayor of Cambridge and, then, in 1980, a life peer.
“Thirty years ago the dominant voice in PI fiction was Robert B. Parker. His ‘Spenser’ novels are probably the best thing since sliced Chandler. Ever since I first read a Spenser novel I’ve wondered about an English Spenser to no particular conclusion, but in Graeme Cumming’s ‘Rand’ Scott (yes, that really is his name) I think we have a contender. Rand is the Spenser mix of borderline criminal and white knight, the hard-case with a heart of gold. That said, Cumming doesn’t pretend to copy Parker’s style, his voice is his own, his dialogue crisp, his sense of place superb … and he doesn’t give a flying F about food (sorry, Robert B.) Borderline is the first book in what I hope becomes a regular series.” – John Lawton, best-selling author of the Inspector Troy and the Joe Wilderness series
“Gritty, sharp-witted, and packing a serious emotional punch! And Rand is a hero worth turning the pages for.” – Lauren North, Author of CLICKBAIT & I’M HER MOTHER
“What an incredible novel. Cumming’s strong and authentic writing explores the murkiest worlds of covert policing in the most gripping and compelling way. Exquisitely plotted and expertly told.” – Graham Bartlett, former detective and Sunday Times bestselling author
“Rand Scott is a character I invested in, he is a man who is pretty complex, with hidden depths for sure. He surprised me at times as the story unfolded.A cracker of a thriller that has the perfect ingredients for a great read!! Gritty, dark and twists that are perfectly placed.” – Beyond the Books, Book Blogger
