Today I’m on the tour for Singapore 52 by Murray Bailey, thank you to Murray for organising it and inviting me to take part and also for my copy.
Before I get started with the review Murray has a giveaway running on his Twitter.. If you download a copy of Singapore 52 (here – ITS FREE!)share This tweet and tag a friend to be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of Singapore Girl, the 2nd book in the Ash Carter series. – giveaway ends 15th July!
Pages: 412
Synopsis: Chinese New Year 1952 Ash Carter had to leave the Middle East in a hurry. But when he arrives in Singapore he finds himself in the middle of a much bigger problem. No one knows where, or when, or who but someone is planning an attack. Carter is told to make sure it doesn’t happen. With pressure from politicians and the army and with Chinese Secret Societies watching his every move, he has other plans. He is more interested in finding out who killed his friend.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: now I’m no stranger to Murray’s writing and I have a soft spot for Ash Carter, but this is my first dive into this book!
It was nice to see and experience Ash from the beginning so to speak, the story line was slightly tamer than what I’m used to from Murray and there was less action but I felt that was what was needed for this book!
We’re following Ash as he arrives in Singapore, he’s received a message from a friend asking for help. It seems like an urgent message so he gets there as soon as he can but when he gets there his friend is already dead, in what is believed to be a straight forward car crash, however Ash being the perfectionist and the sceptic that he is doesn’t believe that… what will his investigations uncover?
Whilst in Singapore he also works with the police, the army and the navy to get to the bottom of a black market scandal.
I felt this story was more character based than the other books in the series that I’ve read previously, but it really opened my eyes to why Ash is the way he is sometimes!
Thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait to carry on with the series and see what he gets up to next.
Today I’m on the tour for Good Cop Bad Cop by Simon Kernick, thank you Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 405
Synopsis: Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery.
But someone is convinced Sketty is a liar. A criminal mastermind. A murderer.
Blackmailed into revealing the truth, Sketty will share a twisting tale of betrayal, deception and murder…with a revelation so shocking that nothing will be the same again.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: this is my first dive into Simons work and I can assure you that it won’t be the last, this was so fast paced that before I knew it I was over half way through.
We’re following Chris who is an undercover cop, working to try and find info on his partner who the higher ups think is dirty, little did he know that he would be dragged into something that goes a lot deeper than he ever imagined.
The story from the perspective of Sketty looking back, he’s telling the story to someone who was there the night his life changed completely.
As you’re reading the doubts start to creep in about Skettys true intentions and I absolutely loved the fact that we didn’t know who we could trust.
Lots of action, lots of secrets, lots of doubts & lots of intrigue.
I definitely didn’t see the twists coming and will be shouting about this book from the rooftops!
Today I’m on the tour for He is not worthy by Lis McDermott, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for copy.
Pages: 270
Synopsis: Rhi Dobbs is head of the art department in a secondary school in Whittingbury, a small town on the south west coast of England. She has her dream job and lives in her own idyllic cottage by the sea with her cat Tibbs. Her life is more than she could ever hope for.
Ben Brooks is a loner who cares for his mum, who always makes him feel worthless. He is obsessed with a red-headed girl who he met several years ago, just once, on what was the worst day of his life. He lives his life vicariously through hers, until she does the unspeakable…
Tragic events and an inappropriate love affair mean that both of their lives will be changed forever.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5
My Thoughts: I love a book about a taboo relationship so this sounded right up my street!
Although it didn’t quite hit the mark for me on that part, although the smut we did get was spicy I couldn’t help but feel there wasn’t enough of it 😂
The main bulk of the story was about Rhi’s stalker, he starts with flowers and it soon escalates from there…
The story is told from lots of different perspectives, we have Rhi, Josh, Ben, Ali. I really enjoy a book from multiple perspectives and this one has the added element of showing is the same scene from the perspective of different characters which I loved, it really felt like we got a well rounded look at everything!
The chapters told from the perspective of Rhi’s stalker actually gave me goosebumps. Lis definitely writes a good stalker 😂
This book had funny moments, heart breaking moments, moments that had my heart in my mouth and moments that made me want to throw the book across the room.
Today I’m helping to close the tour for Just For Today by Nell Hudson, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 304
Synopsis: The party has to end sometime
It all starts on New Year’s Eve. A night that has to be a success, whatever the cost. For Joni and her friends, it’ll be a party that promises all the high stakes and glamour of any other, but by sunrise they’ll be dealing with something darker than the usual post-party comedown.
Not that they let this stand in their way. For this is their year to revel in all that the playground of London has to offer: sneaking into places they shouldn’t, breaking every rule, falling in love with the wrong people. All the while avoiding one undeniable truth: it’s not if the party ends, it’s how.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: for a debut novel this was brilliant, Nell really pulled it out of the bag.
The perfect mix of narration and character led story telling.
We’re following Joni, she’s in her early twenties and works as a nanny, but what she really wants is to become a writer.
She lives a carefree life for the most part with a close knit group of friends, the book opens on New Year’s Eve, they’re all attending a party together there’s drink, drugs, dancing and people just generally having a good time. But the night ends in a shocking way that sends a lot of other things in motion.
I really enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put it down, the writing was beautiful & gripping but in a way that made you feel like you were being held and looked after rather than shaken by lots of action.
There’s a lot of secrets being kept and emotions being hidden, this book made me realise that just being open and talking about the things that are bothering you it can sometimes change the path of your journey completely.
I actually think this could be an important read for a lot of people as it puts a lot of things into perspective and might help some people realise that they’re not alone.
The book takes place over the space of 12 months and let’s just say that by the time the year is up none of the main characters will be the same as they were at the start of it. – it really is incredible the difference a year can make!
Today I’m posting my review as part of the tour for The Gone And The Forgotten by Clare Whitfield, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Before I get into posting about the book I want to apologise to the author and the publisher that my review is a day late, life ran away with me and I just didn’t finish the book in time to post a review yesterday.
Pages: 384
Synopsis:
An absent father. A missing girl. Buried family secrets. Is the truth worth searching for?
Sixteen-year-old Prue has grown up around secrets. Her gran’s stern silence, her mother’s teary breakdowns, her aunt’s whispered assurances. But now, in the aftermath of her mum’s latest ‘episode’, Prue’s decided she’s old enough for the truth. She wants to know what it is that makes the adults around her turn tight-lipped and distracted. She wants to know why her mum can’t cope. Most of all, she wants to know who her dad is.
Forced to spend the summer in the Shetlands with her aunt, Ruth, and new uncle, Archie, Prue arrives determined to find some answers. But she soon finds herself caught up in a web of family secrets, betrayals and – perhaps – even murder…
Set during one long summer in Shetland, this is a beautifully drawn, psychologically astute novel about a young woman’s search for truth, even as she realises the lies that surround her have been keeping her safe.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: now this is another book that I went into completely blind l read enough of the synopsis to know I was intrigued but I didn’t read it all.
The writing doesn’t strike me as a thriller to begin with, but it was weirdly poetic, it flowed so easily and I found myself constantly thinking “just one more chapter” putting it down to go to work yesterday wasn’t easy 😂
Prue wasn’t an easy character to like at first, she came across as a bit whiney and was difficult to connect with but as the story goes on you start to realise there are reasons for her being the way she is & I started to empathise with her, she just wants to be loved, wants to feel like she belongs, the only problem with that is that it leads her to make some very poor decisions along the way.
All of the characters were hiding something apart from James. I felt he was the only truly honest character in the book, he had Prue’s best interests at heart most of the time and always seemed to remember the little things.
We soon learn that some secrets go deeper than others and that the guilty party can hide in plain sight, I worked out both reveals about 2/3 of the way through but the author very cleverly threw in a twist or a red herring to throw you off the scent it to make you doubt yourself completely.
A very cleverly written book with very immersive characters who I found myself thinking about last night as I tried to sleep & that doesn’t happen often!
Absolutely recommend this book to fans of coming of age books and thrillers, I promise you won’t be disappointed by this one.
Today I’m on the tour for The Girl From Jonestown by Sharon Maas, thank you to Sarah at Bookouture for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 418
Synopsis: The woman looked at me, anguish brimming in her eyes. I picked up the note she’d left and read the scrawl: HELP!!! Then: Mom. Followed by a number.
A gripping and heartbreaking read, based on the true story of the Jonestown cult, one of the darkest chapters in American history.
When journalist Zoe Quint loses her husband and child in a tragic accident, she returns home to Guyana to heal. But when she hears cries and music floating through the trees, her curiosity compels her to learn more about the Americans who have set up camp in a run-down village nearby. Their leader, Jim Jones, dark eyed and charismatic, claims to be a peaceful man who has promised his followers paradise.
But everything changes when Zoe meets one of his followers, a young woman called Lucy, in a ramshackle grocery store. Lucy grabs Zoe’s arm, raw terror in her eyes, and passes her a note with a phone number, begging her to call her mother in America.
Zoe is determined to help Lucy, but locals warn her to stay away from the camp, and as sirens and gunshots echo through the jungle at nightfall, she knows they are right. But she can’t shake the frightened woman’s face from her mind, and when she discovers that there are young children kept in the camp, she has to act fast.
Zoe’s only route to the lost people is to get close to their leader, Jim Jones. But if she is accepted, will she be able to persuade the frightened followers to risk their lives and embark on a perilous escape under the cover of darkness? And when Jim Jones hears of her plans, could she pay the highest price of all?
A powerful and unputdownable novel inspired by the true story of Jonestown, about a woman’s brave attempt to save people who were promised paradise but found only lies. Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Before We Were Yours and The Girls will be captivated by The Girl from Jonestown.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: I went into this book completely blind, I’d never heard of Jonestown before 🤦🏻♀️ and now I feel like I’ve been hiding under a rock.
Wow this book took me on a journey, chewed me up & spat me out and I feel like it’s safe to say I’ll never be the same again!
I know this book is only based on true events and shouldn’t be taken as verbatim but bloody hell, it’s chilling & gripping in equal measure. My heart broke for the ‘residents’ of Jonestown most of them had been truly brainwashed, they knew deep down that things weren’t right but genuinely believed it was for the best.
There were parts in this story where I was turning the pages almost quicker than I could read them because I just needed to know the outcome.
Religious cults are something that fascinate me and baffle me in equal measure and as far as novels about them go, this one was fantastic – just maybe have some tissues at the ready if you’re going to read it!
Today I’m on the tour for Twenty Sixteen by Lee Bullman, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 270
Synopsis: Two murders, committed over three decades apart, set in motion a modern noir detective story that plays out against the chaos of a Britain at odds with itself.
As Brexit bites and Britain begins to tear itself apart, DI Reider returns from a manhunt in Europe with a bullet hole in his shoulder and decides it’s time to retire from the force. But Reider hasn’t counted on his first case coming back to haunt him. He hasn’t counted on his career going full circle and he definitely hasn’t counted on Sasha Haye.
Angry and heartbroken, Sasha is seeking answers about the death of her boyfriend and Reider might just be the only person who can help her find them.
Against the backdrop of the referendum and its aftermath, the pair embark on a journey that brings them into contact with extremism, celebrity, politicsand the world of vintage porn, as they attempt to unravel a murderous knot with threads that lead into the dark heart of the establishment, and a past which has a cold and unrelenting grip on the present.
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5
My Thoughts: This book was definitely a slow burn crime story, it kind of felt in places like the murder/suicide at the beginning of the book was mentioned and then forgotten, but you do start to realise after a while that it’s actually a big very important part of the story..
Alec Reider is just starting his policing career when the body of a young woman is found dead in her flat, unfortunately that night there is a lot of crime in the area so he is given the job of checking out the scene, making notes, reporting back.. but he ends up staying the night because they all forget he’s there and no one picks him up. In the time he had he really feels like he’s got to know her & notices the little things that point towards this being a murder, unfortunately all his “higher ups” have already decided it’s a suicide and that’s it. Little does he know at the time that he will always carry this woman around in his heart.
Then we meet Sasha, 35, single, jobless and homeless but she has a great group of friends who rally round and help her out. One night she meets Jonny and they begin a whirlwind romance, they plan on spending the rest of their lives together, but Sasha comes back to their flat after a night out and finds Jonny dead in the chair seemingly from an overdose, but she knows that’s not him. unfortunately no one believes her.
Alec Reider is the one to interview Sasha on that night about her boyfriends death.. that one meeting would change both of their lives forever.
What follows is a story with so many twists and turns that half the time you don’t know which way is up. It reveals sordid secrets that some very famous people would kill it keep secret & corruption in places you would least expect.
I have a soft spot for Solly, he reminded me very much of men I have in my life who would just do whatever they can to help, he always had Sasha’s best interests at heart, he was looking after her even when she didn’t know it.
Crime books don’t often make me feel the emotions that this one did, I laughed, I was shocked but I also shed a tear once or twice.
I do have to say though that I can’t make out much on the cover, I have MS & eye problems as a result so although I know there must be writing on the cover, the colours used are too similar and my eyes can’t make the words out, it just looks like one big pink strip 😂
That in no way takes away from the book at all. If you like your crime books slightly slower paced with a big emphasis on characters and their development as well as the story itself then I can highly recommend this one!
Today I’m on the tour for Living is Losing by Cassius Cox, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for having me.
I have an extract for you today, but before I post it let me tell you about the book and the author.
Pages: 399
Synopsis: His thirst for revenge could cost him everything .
Jack Stone was just 13 years old when he witnessed the brutal death of his older brother.
As he enters adulthood Jack is filled with anger, unresolved trauma and suicidal thoughts plague his every waking moment.
Supported by his parents he seeks help and forms a close bond with his psychotherapist, Roisin. Together they explore the crippling guilt he feels surrounding his brother’s death.
To manage his aggression Jack joins a boxing gym where his trainer, Pete, believes he has potential and guides him to success.
He finds love with childhood friend Kirsten. His world is complete at the birth of his son.
But when the unthinkable happens Jack is forced to return to his dark past and confront his demons once and for all.
About the Author: Born in Dorking, Surrey England.
I love stories, whether it be in film, book, or music. If it moves me emotionally, then I am sold. As a child I used books or films to escape reality, in fact I probably still do. My happy place is the cinema.
My favourite genre is psychological thriller, I prefer a story that is emotionally driven, the darker the better. But I am happy to be recommended a good book in any genre. My favourite work of fiction is One Day by David Nicholls and my favourite non-fiction is Stephen King’s On Writing.
I am a huge sports fan. I love boxing, MMA and football. These days I am coaching football rather than playing. I love watching live sport, you might see me at the Meadowbank stadium watching my local team Dorking Wanderers, The London stadium watching West Ham or at Wembley watching England.
Favourite holiday destinations are Woolacombe in Devon, Florida, Vegas and Thailand.
I enjoy going jogging and going the gym, but I also like a drink and a takeaway so the two probably count each other out. I’m far from perfect.
Now time for the extract!!
Jack sat in his usual seat. He felt comfortable in front of Roisin. As hard as their conversations were, Jack loved being in her company. He was relaxed and ready to talk.
Roisin sat back, pen in hand, note pad on her lap and crossed one leg over the other. ‘We had another tough session last time. How did you feel afterwards?’ she asked.
‘I was tired. I slept for hours when I got home but I was fine.’
‘Can I ask you about your parents?’
Jack nodded.
‘Do you go home and tell your parents what we’ve spoken about?’
Jack shook his head. ‘Not the tough bits. I don’t like upsetting them. They’ve been through so much.’
‘I don’t know your parents, but I think they might like to hear how you’re doing. I think it would help you. Is this something you could try?’
‘I could. I’d find it difficult. We don’t really do feelings in my house. We all love each other but it’s not said out loud.’
‘You could instigate it and then they might do the same. From what you’ve told me about your parents, they want the best for you. They sound like they’re being supportive and if they thought you were happy being open with them, they might open up to you.’
Jack thought about it and didn’t think it would hurt to try.
‘Just something to think about. You don’t have to do that straight away but in time you might feel able to.’ Roisin went back to her notes and twiddled her pen between her fingers.
Jack was looking at her, in awe. Once he realised he was staring, he looked out of the window instead. He started thinking how nice it must be, to be like her. She appeared so well organised. Jack assumed she had it all figured out. She was smart and beautiful. He truly trusted her and had never respected anyone in such a way.
‘I have my first proper fight soon, at boxing,’ he said.
He noticed a different facial expression on Roisin, one he had not seen before. Her normal smile had turned to a frown.
‘Are you OK?’ Jack asked.
‘Boxing? You’ll ruin your good looks doing that,’ she said.
Jack felt his face burning. ‘I really enjoy it. And I believe it helps.’
‘Helps in what way?’
‘I feel alive in the gym. I feel happy. I think I could do well, maybe achieve something.’
Roisin smiled. ‘That’s good, Jack. I tell you what, if you fight for the world title, I’ll come and watch.’
‘I’d like that.’ Jack was excited at the idea. He’d love to show Roisin he was good at something. And for the first timein a long time, he didn’t doubt himself. He believed he could go all the way in boxing.
Roisin smiled. ‘We have a deal, I’ll come to your fight. I’ve never been to a boxing match before, or any fight come to think of it.’
‘You will one day,’ he said and grinned.
If you like the sound of this then it can be bought here!
Today I have a spotlight for Living is Losing by Cassius Cox (posting 3 days early to shout about the book again 😂)
Pages: 399
Synopsis: His thirst for revenge could cost him everything .
Jack Stone was just 13 years old when he witnessed the brutal death of his older brother.
As he enters adulthood Jack is filled with anger, unresolved trauma and suicidal thoughts plague his every waking moment.
Supported by his parents he seeks help and forms a close bond with his psychotherapist, Roisin. Together they explore the crippling guilt he feels surrounding his brother’s death.
To manage his aggression Jack joins a boxing gym where his trainer, Pete, believes he has potential and guides him to success.
He finds love with childhood friend Kirsten. His world is complete at the birth of his son.
But when the unthinkable happens Jack is forced to return to his dark past and confront his demons once and for all.
About the Author: Born in Dorking, Surrey England.
I love stories, whether it be in film, book, or music. If it moves me emotionally, then I am sold. As a child I used books or films to escape reality, in fact I probably still do. My happy place is the cinema.
My favourite genre is psychological thriller, I prefer a story that is emotionally driven, the darker the better. But I am happy to be recommended a good book in any genre. My favourite work of fiction is One Day by David Nicholls and my favourite non-fiction is Stephen King’s On Writing.
I am a huge sports fan. I love boxing, MMA and football. These days I am coaching football rather than playing. I love watching live sport, you might see me at the Meadowbank stadium watching my local team Dorking Wanderers, The London stadium watching West Ham or at Wembley watching England.
Favourite holiday destinations are Woolacombe in Devon, Florida, Vegas and Thailand.
I enjoy going jogging and going the gym, but I also like a drink and a takeaway so the two probably count each other out. I’m far from perfect.
This book is a little too raw for me at the moment but I will definitely be reading it when I’m feeling a little more able because I think it sounds brilliant!
If you like the sound of it it can be bought here! And is also available on kindle unlimited!
Come back to me on Sunday for an exclusive extract of the book!
Today I’m on the tour for Best Served Cold by Gabriel Galletti, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.
Pages: 379
Synopsis: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Grudges harboured and hatreds hidden but not forgotten.
Then a catalyst ignites the flame… Someone in Leeds is settling old scores.
The Police ask Chad Hilton, an ex-pro footballer turned criminal profiler, for help. But his wife’s infidelity and his addiction to painkillers are pushing him close to the edge.
As the body count rises, can Chad uncover the murderer before his demons destroy him?
My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧
My Thoughts: this is possibly my favourite crime book of the year. It was fast paced & the action was unrelenting.
Maybe it helps that I am from Harrogate and my boyfriend is from Bramley which in his words is the”Arse End” of Leeds so I was able to picture a lot of the places it was talking about, which made it feel more real.
Chad Hilton is an amazing character, I loved him from the start. He’s tough & knows his stuff. He’s clever and he knows it too, but also isn’t afraid to show his vulnerability. The parts where we got an insight into the workings of his mind and his inner thoughts were definitely some of my favourite.
There is a part in this where someone is describing one of the suspects as having a “posh Yorkshire accent, possibly from Harrogate” which actually made me laugh out loud because my boyfriend regularly tells me I’m not ‘proper Yorkshire’ because I’m too posh 🤣
The friendship between Lee, Chad and Freddie really shone through & I have to be honest this is the first time I’ve found myself rooting for the drug dealer in a book!
People are missing, the death toll is ramping up and other people are keeping secrets! – can they all work together to find out what’s happening before it’s too late and someone close to them all dies?
So much happens in this story that it almost feels like too much as you’re reading it, but the deeper you get into it, it all starts to make sense and you realise that actually it’s all tied together!
Quite often I’ll tell people that my favourite part about being a book blogger/reviewer is discovering debut authors Gabriel is absolutely no exception & I’m sat here hoping that this is the first book in a series and that we will see Chad, Lee and Freddie again!
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