Boys Who Hurt by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication Date: 20th June 2024

Genre: Nordic Noir

Summary:

Fresh from maternity leave, Detective Elma finds herself confronted with a complex case, when a man is found murdered in a holiday cottage in the depths of the Icelandic countryside – the victim of a frenzied knife attack, with a shocking message scrawled on the wall above him.
 
At home with their baby daughter, Sævar is finding it hard to let go of work, until the chance discovery in a discarded box provides him with a distraction. Could the diary of a young boy, detailing the events of a long-ago summer have a bearing on Elma’s case?
 
Once again, the team at West Iceland CID have to contend with local secrets in the small town of Akranes, where someone has a vested interest in preventing the truth from coming to light. And Sævar has secrets of his own that threaten to destroy his and Elma’s newfound happiness.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Random Things Blog Tours, Orenda books and Eva Björg Ægisdóttir for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

I absolutely love Nordic Noir and I truly think Scandinavian crime writers write the best crime fiction because they always take me til about 50 pages before the end before I think I'm 100% sure who the killer is, they just keep me guessing and intrigued from start to finish far more than most other authors. This is my first in the Fobbiden Iceland series and Eva Björg Ægisdóttir is a new author to me but I can defiantly tell you it won't be my last (the previous four books have magically ended up in my shopping basket) because I've adored her writing style like I said I have been kept intrigued the whole way through the book, the various threads of the case entangling with what Saevar finds was so brilliant to follow. I liked that we heard from different characters' points of view throughout the book, mostly we hear from Elma and Saevar but it was good to hear from their boss, Hordur, too and I really enjoyed the back-and-forth between the different time periods(before and after the murder and back to 1995) it both rounded out our information and at the same time gave nothing away, I spent most of the book wondering what was on the video camera tape for instance because we got glimpses of it being filmed or it being watched but never a full picture until almost the end. It really heightened my need to keep reading the book so I could find out what happened and I really loved that. I'm going to have to stop reviewing now before I give anything away because I really do want people to go out and read this for themselves, it's a fantastic book both in terms of its storyline and its writing style and if you love a bit of crime this should definitely be on your reading list this year.

Krystina xx

Hazard Night by Laura Vaughan~Blog tour

 Publisher:  Corvus

Publication Date: 1st February 2024

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Summary:

Cleeve College is not for everyone...

When Eve's husband is appointed housemaster at his old boarding school, Cleeve College, she gives up her life in London to join him. But the isolation and loss of autonomy threaten both her happiness and her marriage.

The arrival of Fen, an enigmatic artist and wife of the new Classics teacher, is a welcome distraction. Fen doesn't play by the rules, and she and Eve enter into a game of escalating dares, disrupting the delicate balance of school life.

Then, the morning after Hazard Night, a tradition that allows the students to run wild and play pranks for one day, a body is found. Someone has been murdered. And it seems everyone has something to hide...

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Corvus and Laura Vaughan for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I really loved the sound of this book, the blurb sounded intriguing and I was looking forward to reading
a good thriller. Unfortunately, I didn't really get the thriller aspect of this book, I mean the only bit that was thriller-like was not finding out who the murderer was until the last 5 pages and I get a murder to solve is crime/thriller but it didn't feel like an adult crime/thriller book. It sort of read like a YA thriller, the writing style and to some degree the content felt juvenile, maybe it was because it was set in a secondary school but it was missing something for me. I did enjoy getting the story told from the two different Points of View, Alice and Eve being in very different situations within the school meant they both had interesting perspectives of what was going on. I never really connected with either of our main characters though, I felt none of that need to keep reading to see what would happen to them next which meant that the drive to finish the book wasn't there. I did finish it and to be honest, quite quickly, I read the majority of it in a day as the writing style is quite an easy one to read. From the title and blurb I'd expected to have a lot more of the book focused on Hazard Night and I was slightly disappointed to find it took up such a small amount of the book.
It was an easy read but ultimately it wasn't really for me but if you like a hint of dark academia with your crime, this might just be for you.

Krystina xx

Blood on the Broadcast by SDW Hamilton~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Shannon Hamilton

Publication Date: 2nd February 2024

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Summary:

A Locked Room. An Improbable Murder.

When Private Investigator Jacob Kincaid is approached by mystery podcaster Natalie Amato, he senses a case that matters may have finally fallen across his desk.

The former journalist hires Jacob to investigate the death of a colleague, convinced what was initially written off by police as an accident, was actually murder.

With an unlikely crime and a cult of Ireland’s elite watching from the shadows, Jacob must navigate an increasingly deadly case to get the answers he needs and where every new truth uncovered puts his life, and Natalie's, at risk.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Love Books Tours and SDW Hamilton for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
I do enjoy a good locked-room mystery and I've really enjoyed reading this one, I mean it's also driven me mad for the majority of the book too. From chapter 3 I was trying to figure out how they might have killed her in a locked room, I even sat discussing it over dinner with my husband and we had various theories, most of which Jacob also had so that meant I sat trying to think of some he hadn't for a bit. I'm not going to give away any spoilers and tell you anything about how they did it but it wasn't what I expected and it was kind of a mix of some of the different ideas my husband and I had.
I loved the writing style, it kept me hooked i never read just a few pages it was always quite a few chapters and I pretty much sped-read it in a day and a half. I liked how Natalie and Jacob worked together and the chemistry they have with one another and I'm so glad that we get to see more of them and that working relationship in the next few books, I definitely will be keeping an eye out for them!

Krystina xx

A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer ~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Publication Date: 30th January 2024

Genre:Crime/Thriller

Summary:

The syndicate have taken everything from her. It’s time to take them down―or die trying.

DCI Kate Young never meant to shoot Superintendent John Dickson at the reservoir that night―even if, as a scheming corrupt cop and head of the shady syndicate, he probably had it coming. But now Kate has photographic evidence that someone else knows her terrible secret…

Tormented by guilt and the voices of the dead, Kate is desperate to unmask the rest of the corrupt officers before her own sins catch up with her. When DI Harriet Khatri, awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor, claims she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate, Kate reluctantly agrees to help in the hope of finding answers.

Meanwhile, DI Emma Donaldson finds herself on the hunt for a double murderer―a man who incapacitates his victims with a powerful narcotic called Devil’s Breath. Desperate to measure up to her role-model boss, Emma finds herself hurled into the deep end in more ways than one…

While Kate’s grip on reality wavers and the syndicate closes in, and with the mystery killer taking a special interest in Emma, could this be the case that defeats both detectives?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Zooloos Book Tours, Thomas & Mercer and Carol Wyer for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.

So I didn't realise this was the fifth book in the Detective Kate Young series, I assumed it was the first book of the series and when I realised it wasn't I did worry I might not have the context required to hit the ground running with this book. But I didn't need to worry everything I needed to know about Kate and her situation was brilliantly explained without me feeling like I was getting a full-on "what happened last episode" kind of moment. Now I have to admit I haven't completely finished this book so I can't comment on the end, not that I'd add in any spoilers anyway, but I can see myself easily finishing it this evening because it's just so engaging I really want to know if DI Khatri has been framed and if Kate will bring down the syndicate it's just got me hooked from the first few chapters. I've really enjoyed getting the multiple views so far, While Kate is clearly our MC I really like reading Emma's chapters, she's just such a likeable person and you're really cheering her on to get the outcome she wants from the case.
I've found Carol Wyer's writing style so easy to get caught up in, it's so free-flowing and immersive that the only way I've been jolted out of reading is by a member of my household interrupting me, there's not been a moment where something happens that seems out of place and brings me out of the world she's created.
I really can't wait to read the rest of this series, I know I'll be heading backwards and to some degree, I'll know what's going to happen but the writing is so fantastic that I don't mind that one bit.

Krystina xx

How Not To Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 1st December 2023

Genre:Crime Fiction

Summary:

It is 5:30 am on Clio's forty-fifth birthday and her hated ex is lying dead on her doorstep. Even worse, this is no accident. Someone’s killed him...

When single mum Clio’s ex Gary turns up dead on the doorstep of her caravan – the one she’s been forced to live in ever since he stole every penny she had – there’s only one suspect. Her.

What’s more, she doesn’t remember much about the night he was killed – not just because of the forgetfulness that’s been plaguing her along with the hot flushes – but because she definitely had one too many cocktails with her two best friends Amber and Jeanie.

Clio does remember them talking about how much they all hated him though. And, in the frame for murder, she has to ask herself – if she didn’t kill Gary, who did? One of his many enemies? Or someone a little closer to home? And can she and her friends find the real killer before it’s too late?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Katie Marsh for having me on this tour and for sending me the book.
I loved the idea of this book from the moment I read the blurb, it just sounded like it was going to be a fun read I could get lost in. I wasn't wrong its a very fun read that I've spent the majority of today reading, so much so that I lost track of time and almost forgot that I needed to write this review! It's a brilliantly written book and I loved that we had alternating chapters from a variety of characters, it was really good to get the different points of view.
I hated Gary from the first moment he stepped onto the page, I really think he got what he deserved, it couldn't have happened to a worse guy. And with each of his chapters I read the more I wish he'd had a more horrible ending, I know that sounds bad but he really was a toad of a man.
I adored the friendship of Clio, Amber and Jeanie they are exactly the kind of friends we all want to have, the kind that will help you get rid of a body if you need them too! The fact that they instantly don't question that Clio couldn't have done it and they need to find the real murderer is just brilliant, I loved them for it.
This review might just end up with a list of what I loved about this book if I'm not careful so let's just sum it up as this is a fantastic book, I'm so bloody glad it's part of a series and I can't wait for book two next year. Also, the cover is just so fun and bold, i love the block colour approach to book covers and I'm glad book two has a similar cover because they will look stunning on my bookcase.

Krystina xx

Pass The Cyanide by Karmen Spiljak~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Karmen Spiljak 

Publication Date: 17th November 2023

Genre: Fiction

Summary:

A deadly feast, a mobster restaurant and a family get-together with fatal results.

Savour the spicy tang of dark and twisted tales in Pass the Cyanide, a follow-up to the award-winning collection of culinary mysteries, Add Cyanide to Taste.

From an old friend hiding a deadly secret to a ravenous house with an appetite for friends, Špiljak masterfully blends the allure of food and the thrill of mystery. Each story is a rich and satisfying serving of crime, with a twist that will leave you wanting more.

A must-read for fans of culinary noir and foodies who love a pinch of danger with their suspense. All recipes included are cyanide-free.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources and Karmen Spiljack for having me on this tour and sending me the book.

I do like having a collection of short stories on my tbr, it's something you can happily dip in and out of when you need a break between genres. And I did bounce back to this one on a couple of occasions to try and read it because when I first sat down to read it I found it difficult to get into the first story so I purposely read something the polar opposite to see if that helped. Unfortunately, it didn't and whilst this is a brilliant set of short story ideas I struggled to get into it. I like a lot of the ideas behind each story, and I think if they were a little longer I might have enjoyed them more because the writing style is enjoyable and they are well-written. I think my problem is I could have done with them being more drawn out, especially the second story with Kathy and her husband. 
It's definitely a nice short story collection and if you love a bit of murder in your writing I think this could be for you. Personally, I'd love to see the author write a full crime/thriller novel because I think it'll be fantastic.

Krystina xx

Bone Rites by Natalie Bayley~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Aurora Metro Books

Publication Date: 1st November 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

“I collected the first bone when I was twelve... Such a tiny little bone, more like a tooth. I only kept it to keep him safe.” Kathryn Darkling, imprisoned in Holloway, is facing death by hanging for her vengeance killing. Haunted by a spirit, she still hopes to perform the ancient black magic that will free her soul, or her struggle to punish the mighty will have been in vain. Will the love of her life come to her aid? Or can she find a way to escape her fate?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Love Books Tours, Aurora Metro Books and Natalie Bayley for having me on this tour and for sending me the book.
I was drawn in from the first line of this book "I collected the first bone when I was twelve" and I found myself unable to put it down because I just needed to know Kathryn's story. It's a brilliantly written book, you flip back and forth between Kathryn in Holloway retelling her story as a confession to a reverend and the events as she retells them. And I really enjoyed that format, I liked seeing how her thoughts had changed slightly between those two time periods.
The arguments with the spirit were very interesting, they started off seemingly nice for lack of a better word and escalated fairly quickly. And I so liked the way that relationship of sorts ended, very well done. I enjoyed every page of the books and I've not read one recently that had me so captivated from beginning to end. The characters are so solid in the way they were written that I could almost believe that this was based loosely on some sort of truth and the settings were so vivid at times. I'm really struggling here to tell you how much I loved this book without giving anything away! I seriously don't want to add any spoilers, just trust me that this is a brilliant book.
I definitely want to read more by this author.

Krystina xx

Taken to the Hills by S J Richards~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Apple Loft Press 

Publication Date: 12th September 2023

Genre:Crime/Thriller

Summary:

Abductions and murder are not what ex-DCI Luke Sackville expected when he left the police after tragedy struck his family.

Luke’s return to the workplace was meant to be a soft landing but when a woman vanishes after being accused of taking bribes, he is assigned a disparate team and tasked with tracking her down.

Their search becomes more urgent when her disappearance is linked to the death of a second woman. When a third goes missing the hunt becomes a race against time. Luke’s return to work presents him with the most challenging case of his career as the murder victims mount.

Murder and intrigue are peppered with humour in this fast-paced crime thriller set in and around the beautiful city of Bath in the southwest of England.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Love Books Tours, Apple Loft Press and S J Richards for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
Another debut thriller that made it onto my reading list for this year has blown me away! I was hooked on needing to know what was happening from the first page and didn't put the book down til id found out, which meant I read this in a day! Let's start off in true me style by talking about the cover, it gives the perfect slightly creepy thriller vibes and, having had a quick peak at books two and three they have the same brilliant look to them, I already know they are going to look fab on my shelf(but shhh I'm a book buy ban so tell no one lol)
Chapter 1 had me hooked but then didn't make sense til later in the book and I loved that suddenly it just clicked into place, and that happened at various different spots throughout the book. I took the red herrings offered and ran with them thinking that I knew who the killer was but I did not see the actual killer coming at all, and looking back we had hints but they were tiny little sprinkles of a hint and I took the red herring instead!
I absolutely loved Luke's team, like he said on paper they make no sense but they work so well together it's fantastic and I can't wait for more cases for them to work on, I think they will just gel even more as time goes on and we'll get some fantastic workplace banter coming into play.
I'm now eagerly awaiting books 2 and 3 to see if I'm right and how they handle whatever gets thrown at them.

Krystina xx

Facing The Enemy by DiAnn Mills~Blog Tour

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Publication Date: 5th September 2023

Genre:Crime/Thriller

Summary:

For the past five years, FBI Special Agent Risa Jacobs has worked in the violent crimes against children division of the Houston FBI. She’s never had reason to believe there’s a target on her back . . . until now.

When the long-awaited reunion between Risa and her brother, Trenton, ends in tragedy, Risa is riddled with guilt, unable to cope with the responsibility she feels over his death. On leave from the FBI, Risa returns to her former career as an English teacher at a local college, only to see her past and present collide when one of her students, Carson Mercury, turns in an assignment that reads like an eyewitness account of her brother’s murder, with details never revealed publicly.

Alarmed by Carson’s inside knowledge of Trenton’s death, Risa reaches out to her former partner at the FBI. Special Agent Gage Patterson has been working a string of baby kidnappings, but he agrees to help look into Carson’s background. Risa and Gage soon discover their cases might be connected as a string of high-value thefts have occurred at properties where security systems were installed by Carson’s stepfather and children have gone missing. There’s a far more sinister plot at play than they ever imagined, and innocent lives are in danger.

Review:

 Firstly thank you to Partners In Crime, Tyndale House Publishers and DiAnn Mills for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I have to start by admitting that I've not quite finished the book so my review will be on what I've read so far and I will come back and edit the review when I've finished the book.
From reading the blurb I didn't realise that the book was classed as Christian crime fiction so the heavy amount of Christian religion in it from the first few pages took me by surprise and if I'm honest put me off the book a little and is why I'm still not finished reading it.
The story confuses me at times and I think it's because this feels like two separate books a romance and a crime, almost as if the author wasn't sure which she wanted to write and I'm not sure if they have been woven together as well as they could have been.
That being said I do like the crime element and the adoption/kidnapping crime ring and how Gage and Jack are trying to bring it down and aside from the religious elements I do like the writing style.
I feel like we haven't got to know Risa or Gage well enough, that this possibly feels like the midway book in a detective series rather than a stand-alone novel.
As I said I've not finished the book yet so my opinions may change but currently despite liking the writing style due to the religious elements being so heavy-handed I don't think I would pick up another book by this author.

Krystina xx

The Trail by M.A Hunter~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 8th September 2023

Genre:Crime

Summary:

Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...

Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.

So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.

They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.

Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...

Review:
Firstly thank you to Racehls Random Resources, Boldwood Books and M.A Hunter for having me on this tour and for sending me the book.
Now as this is a crime book I'm going to give as little away as possible in this review, you know I like to try not to spoil it so you all go buy and read the book!
This was such an easy-to-read book, I read it in a day because it kept me hooked I really wanted to know what happened to Nora and I had various ideas of what it could have been, but what did happen was not on my list.
 I enjoyed the alternating chapters but I have to say I enjoyed the Nora chapters far more than the Jess ones, I'm not sure I could say why but I think it's because I found Jess a tad annoying at times. Jess came across as very selfish and quite irresponsible from the off and whilst I can definitely understand her need to find out what happened to her mum her attitude left a lot to be desired.
Every Nora entry made me feel like the AT trail was getting creepier and I actually worried for her I knew she had gone missing from the off so it felt odd to worry. But I think that's just the mark of good writing.
I so enjoyed reading this but I didn't like the ending, it felt too neat and I don't know I think expected more drama to the ending.
I do know I'll be picking up more books by M.A. Hunter though, I very much enjoyed the writing style and it kept me reading even though I didn't like the MC most of the time.

Krystina xx

A Marriage to Murder For by E.V. Hunter~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 7th September 2023

Genre: Crime

Summary:

The high society wedding…

Social media influencer Crystabel Hughes is determined her wedding to Giles Preston Smythe will be the talk of the town. No matter the cost or the upset, nothing will stop this wedding!

A cheating groom…

But for Alexi Ellis and the rest of the staff at Hopgood Hall, Crystabel’s demands are becoming increasingly extreme. And when Alexi spots the groom getting up close and personal with one of the bridesmaids, she fears trouble is only a bouquet toss away.

A killer bride caught red-handed?

And Alexi’s fears are confirmed when the groom is found dead on the night before the wedding, stabbed through the heart - the person holding the dagger. his beloved bride-to be Crystabel.

Hopgood Hall doesn’t need any more bad press, but the race is on to find the killer and close the case before Crystable live streams her dilemma.

Can Alexi, Jack and Cosmo find out why Giles was killed? And, more importantly, can they stop the killer before they strike again?

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and EV Hunter for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I was completely hooked on this book before I had even got to the end of chapter one, I did not want to put it down(thankfully I had the day to read it uninterrupted) and I enjoyed reading every page.
It was really well written, I instantly connected with and loved Alexi, her relationship with Jack was lovely, I enjoyed reading from both perspectives. And they worked well together as a crime-solving team, they each had their strengths and both had opportunities to use them, and the fact that the local police seemed quite fine with them helping was amusing to read and see play out.
Shockingly I had no idea who the killer was! Normally I have some kind of inkling of who it might be but id dismissed the killer early on in favour of someone else stupidly, though I blame the good writing and not my being oblivious to the signs.
I had no idea it was part of a series when I started reading it, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it anything that I might have needed to know from the previous books was slipped into this one so you definitely don't need to read them in order. But I do plan on going back and reading the other two whilst I eagerly await more in this series.

Krystina xx

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 4th September 2023

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Summary:

Lambing season always brings the unexpected… But no one expected murder

Jude Gray never thought she’d find herself widowed and running a working farm full-time, but here she is, living in the small Malvern village her husband Adam spent most of his life in.

After a particularly gruelling lambing season, she is looking forward to some time off, but there’s no rest for the wicked, especially when she finds the body of one of Adam’s oldest friends on her farm.

Unimpressed with the local constabulary's efforts, Jude starts an investigation of her own. But as the body count rises, danger creeps ever closer to Malvern Farm.

A killer is on the prowl. And all that stands in their way is one woman – and her dog.

Review:
Firstly thank you to Rachels Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for having me on this tour and sending the book to me.
It was a very slow start to this book I actually read a few chapters and put it down again for a few days because it was such a slow start I didn't have that want to keep reading that I usually have with crime/thriller books.
It was a well-written book but I felt it lay a little flat, I kept reading but I had no want or need to know what was going to happen. Even in the bits where Jude was in jeopardy, I didn't feel worried if she would be fine, I had no sense of concern for her.
I did enjoy the puzzles throughout the story and the subplot of the stolen goods, I liked following that throughout the book. And I did like that the ending tied everything up nicely, we got everything explained and any loose threads were woven back in it felt like a good ending to what had happened.

Krystina xx

Blood Sisters by Rebecca Frost~Blog Tour

Publisher: Aesthetic Press

Publication Date: 22nd August 2023

Genre:  Thriller

Summary:

For almost a decade now, Brent Wright has been in prison for the killing of seven women - unless the surviving twin sister of one of his victims is right and Brent didn't kill anyone at all.

If the theory is true, a presumed survivor of his is more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. No one will be entirely satisfied or safe until they find out for certain.

Review:

 Firstly thank you to ZooLoos Book Tours, Aesthetic Press and Rebecca Frost for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I love a good thriller and this is definitely a good thriller!
As always I'll do my best to avoid spoilers so you have a reason to pick it up and read it.
I love the dynamic between Nessa and Josh and how you gradually learn about their relationship in a sort of drip-feed manner, getting bits of backstory filled in at just the right moment. It was nice to have bits from Josh's point of view at critical moments but there was no obvious subtitle or heading to let you know you'd changed the narrator it was just an easy flow from one to the other. I enjoyed the writing style a heck of a lot, Normally I don't like the switch without it being clearly mentioned but it just seemed to work so well.
It kept me on my toes, I kept getting left turns I wasn't expecting which made me so engrossed with the book that I didn't want to put it down. If it hadn't been for the school holidays I suspect this one have been a read-it-in-one-sitting kind of book.
The ending had everything tied up, which was really nice and I enjoyed the sort of sum-up created into one conversation between two characters, I also enjoyed their development together and how their relationship altered over the course of the book.
This was a really well-thought-out and written book and I definitely plan to read more by Rebecca Frost in the future.

Hopefully, I've said enough to make you want to pick this one up without giving anything away.

Krystina xx

The Killer's Wife by Susan Furlong~ Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

Publication Date: 18th July 2023

Genre:Crime/Thriller

Summary:

When a severed finger was found in her car four years ago, Kerry Grey was arrested as an accomplice to the brutal slayings of three young women. Unbeknownst to Kerry, her husband Lucas was not only missing, but a deranged serial killer. Finally out on parole, she is ready to start anew and reunite with her young son. However, when a vigilante group inflamed by fear and motivated by reward money sparks a fevered hunt for Lucas, the nightmares of her past return. Only one person can help Kerry evade the hysteria of the media her parole officer, Adam Nash. But can she trust him? Was his move to the backwoods town of Joy, Montana coincidental or does Nash have his own obsessive hidden agenda involving the Hatchet Killer mystery, her husband and sweet justice? It is not long before Kerry's new life turns dark when she discovers that Lucas has been secretly giving their son carvings made of bone. And when a freshly dismembered victim is uncovered in the forest, the law is after her once again. Left with nowhere else to run, Kerry escapes up a mountainous trail to find Lucas and, one way or another, put an end to the real-life nightmare. In a final twist of lies and betrayal, Kerry finds Lucas and the truth that will change everything.

Review:

Firstly thank you to Partners In Crime, Seventh Street Books and Susan Furlong for having me on this tour and sending me the book.
Now I'm going to do my best to not give a single thing away about this book if I can because of the twist at the end I did not see coming at all! I literally read this book in a day, picked it up when my small one was napping and couldn't bare to put it down. There was so much I really enjoyed about the way the book is set out, hearing from both Kerry and Adam's points of view was brilliant, especially as we often got to hear the same situation from both points of view but I have to say one of my favourite parts of the book was the transcripts. I loved reading them and getting to "watch" the episode that means so much to Adam and then how it switched to an upcoming episode about the Hatchet Killer, meaning we got to hear from other characters we've met in the book without having whole chapters devoted to essentially talking to the whole town.
I really didn't like Miranda, I thought she was quite the piece of work and the way she was with Adam made me feel so sorry for him but then we got little pockets of crazy appearing which I couldn't tell if they were because of the way his wife is with him or how his mother raised him. The way the characters were written was fantastic, you gradually got to see different sides of their personalities as we went through the book, and get teased with "what ifs". I did start to think I knew who the killer was around the halfway point, I was right but there was an extra twist that I did not see coming and I really loved that about the book.
I defiantly now need to go and find some more of Susan Furlongs' books, because if they are half as good as this one I've found a new auto-buy author.
I've popped the purchase links below in case you'd like to find the twist out for yourself, if you do read it let me know because id love to hear what you thought about it!

Krystina xx

The Purchase links;
Amazon
Waterstones
Barnes& Noble

Saving Grace by Cristina Slough~Blog Tour

 Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Publication Date: 15th Febuary 2023

Genre: psychological thriller

Summary:

An ambitious reporter seeks a window into an obsessed killer’s mind—and is forced to take a hard look in the mirror, in this dark psychological thriller.

It starts when a Cornwall fisherman finds a body in the ocean. The blood of the victim has washed away, but the angry message etched deep into the victim’s back is crystal clear: Grace—Number 1.

It’s the kind of story that could make local reporter Jennifer Mack’s career—if she can keep her hypercompetitive colleague, Hayley, from undermining her at every turn.

When the next body turns up far away in London, another carved message makes the link unmistakable—a serial killer is on the loose.

Then, Jennifer receives a package from the killer. As she begins to communicate directly and publicly with a murderer-at-large, it appears she’s been chosen to write the headline story.

But as lines between right and wrong start to blur, Jennifer is forced to come face-to-face with her own inner darkness . . .

Review:
Firstly Thank you to Love Books Tours, Bloodhound Books and Cristina Slough for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book.
Now I've been reading quite a few thrillers of late, you'd think I'd get fed up with them but with the brilliant authors, I've had the pleasure of reading it's not been the case. This is another cleverly written thriller that kept me reading even when I should have been putting it down to sleep/cleaning/do some work. I know that some people don't like the switching between characters each chapter but I really liked that, it kept giving me little clues as to who the killer was without ever letting me get a vaguely correct guess. Jennifer isn't an overly likeable MC, she constantly acts like working at the home town newspaper is beneath her rather than being thankful she actually has a job in the career she wanted, it may not be in at a big-name paper but at least she's a journalist.
All the characters are really well-written and you defiantly connect with some really well and there are others that just remind you of people you've met (Hayley for one), it's just another indicator of a cleverly written book!
The cover (you know I'm a cover magpie) is pretty and intrigues you to pick the book up and see what's inside, it doesn't give a lot away. 
I have to say I haven't read anything by Cristina Slough before but I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

Krystina xx

The Chemical Code by Fiona Erskine~Blog Tour

 

Publisher: Point Blank

Publication Date: 29th June 2023

Genre:Crime/Thriller

Summary:

Amid the heat of Brazil, explosives expert Jaq Silver has one goal – vengeance. When her enemies take what she treasures most, she will do anything to make them pay. But a series of betrayals leave Jaq unsure of those she can trust, and she realises she’ll need to complete the mission solo. And as everyone hunts down the same mysterious box, Jaq becomes increasingly embroiled in a web of far-reaching consequences. It seems there’s a hidden agenda, but can Jaq be sure she is chasing down the right target? And who is pursuing her?

Review:

Firstly thank you to Random Things Book Tours, Point Blank and Fiona Erskine for having me on this tour and sending me a copy of the book to review.
I really love the cover of the book, it just catches the attention, which made me want to read the blurb and then that made me want to read the book. I didn't realise it was book 4 of a series until I picked it up, and I haven't read any of the others but I feel I may have benefitted from doing so. Whilst it is a stand-alone I think I missed out on some information that I would have gained from reading the rest, but that just gives me a good excuse to get the rest and read the whole series.
I really enjoyed Jaq as our MP, she's clearly a brilliant woman and watching how her brain works was so fun to do. It had a few technical things in it that got me intrigued so I actually did google occasionally to feed that need to know but it didn't stop the flow of the book for me. It was so fantastically written that I found myself getting drawn in and losing time because I just didn't notice it was ticking by as I was so lost in the book.
I definitely want to read more of this series so i will be looking into getting the first 3 and ill probably reread this once I've gone back to the first 3.


Krystina xx