Blog Tour: Truth or Dare – M.J. Arlidge

Thank you to Tracy Fenton for the tour invitation and to Orion for the ARC copy.

A crimewave sweeps through the city and no one is safe.
A murderous arson attack at the docks.
A brutal carjacking in a deserted car park.
A fatal hammer attack in a lonely country park.

Crimes without motive, without suspects, without leads.
Each crime is a piece of a puzzle – with many more pieces still to come. And as they gradually fall into place, Detective Inspector Helen Grace comes to realise just how twisted and devious this web of crime is – and how impossible it will be to stop it . . .

My Review

This is now the book 10^th in the Helen Grace series. The first few books were absolutely fantastic, Eeny Meeny (book 1) remains my firm favourite.

DI Grace seems to have in excess of nine lives due to the amount of times she’s managed to break free from the trappings of a serial killer or at the very least be taunted by one.

In my honest opinion her escapades are too far-fetched and even though I’m a massive fan of MJ Arlidge, and after having spoken to other fans, they are also of the same opinion that for Helen Grace I think it’s time for her to retire, or sadly, be killed off. Although, that being said I’d like to see her to take on a role that would involve her working all across the country, maybe in the National Crime Agency?

However, I do want to see how the relationship with DS Joseph Hudson pans out, I think this will be very interesting. I love the way the book was left on a cliffhanger so I’m looking forward to see what happens next…

Rating as a stand-alone: 4/5

Rating as 10^th of the series: 3/5

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Blog Tour: Judas Horse – Lynda La Plante

Thank you to Tracy Fenton for the tour invitation and to Bonnier Books for the ARC copy.

‘Do you know what a Judas Horse is? When the wild mustangs are running free, you corral one and train it. When he’s ready, you release him and he’ll bring his team back into the corral – like Judas betraying them…’

Violent burglars have been terrorising residents across the English countryside. But when a mutilated body is discovered in a Cotswolds house, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary group of opportunist thieves.

As Detective Jack Warr investigates, he discovers locals with dark secrets, unearths hidden crimes – and hits countless dead ends. With few leads and the violent attacks escalating, he will have to act as audaciously as the criminals if he hopes to stop them.

When Warr meets Charlotte Miles, a terrified woman with links to the group, he must use her to lure the unsuspecting killers into one last job, and into his trap. But with the law already stretched to breaking point, any failure will be on Warr’s head – and any more blood spilled, on his hands… ­

My Review

The combination of the rakish charm of Harry Rawlins (his biological father and gangster) and the loving nature of Charlie Warr (his adoptive father) makes for an excellent character in Jack Warr. I love his girlfriend Maggie. She understands the trials and tribulations that go with Jack’s job. She doesn’t ask questions when maybe she should. I can see it getting worse for them as the series goes on. Right now it’s great with them just having had the baby but I get the feeling that Jack may get in too deep. We shall see!

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series and seeing how Jack Warr develops as a character.

No doubt Ms La Plante has already been approached for the Jack Warr books to become a TV series which I can certainly see happening.

Rating: 4/5

About the author

Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National theatre and RDC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing – and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. Her novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect won awards from BAFTA, Emmy, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Lynda has written and produced over 170 hours of international television. Lynda is one of only three screenwriters to have been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Best Writer Award in 2000. In 2008, she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to Literature, Drama and Charity. If you would like to hear from Lynda, please sign up at http://www.bit.ly/ LyndaLaPlanteClub or you can visit http://www.lyndalaplante.com for further information. You can also follow Lynda on Facebook and Twitter @LaPlanteLynda.

BLOG TOUR: Trust Me – T.M. Logan

Thank you to Tracy Fenton for the invitation to the tour and to Zaffre for my ARC.

Two strangers, a child, and a split second choice that will change everything . . . . . Ellen was just trying to help a stranger. That was how it started: giving a few minutes respite to a flustered young mother sitting opposite her on the train. A few minutes holding her baby while the mother makes an urgent call. The weight of the child in her arms making Ellen’s heart ache for what she can never have.

Five minutes pass. Ten.

The train pulls into a station and Ellen is stunned to see the mother hurrying away down the platform, without looking back. Leaving her baby behind. Ellen is about to raise the alarm when she discovers a note in the baby’s bag, three desperate lines scrawled hastily on a piece of paper:

Please protect Mia
Don’t trust the police
Don’t trust anyone

Why would a mother abandon her child to a stranger? Ellen is about to discover that the baby in her arms might hold the key to an unspeakable crime. And doing the right thing might just cost her everything . . .

My Review

I love TM Logan’s books. The Holiday being a firm favourite; and when I was invited review his latest I just couldn’t say no!

Sitting on a train, Ellen is already in turmoil after receiving some upsetting news when a young woman, Kathryn, asks her to look after her baby, Mia, while she takes a phone call. All seems perfectly normal right? When Ellen sees Kathryn leave the train without her baby she is confused. Why would a mother leave her baby? Why has she chosen me? But she finds a note in Mia’s bag saying not to trust the police. But surely the police are there to help aren’t they? After leaving the train Ellen decides to go to the nearest police station via a coffee shop so she can feed Mia. From this point on Ellen’s day and weeks afterwards do not pan out how she expected.

It was a very easy read with the chapters being told from a different parts of the story. I much prefer this as some books have chapters that are pretty much in the same scene which can get very boring very quickly which can result in a DNF…but certainly not in this case.

A great read.

Rating: 3.5/5

About the author

T.M. Logan‘s thrillers have sold more than 900,000 copies in the UK and are published in 18 countries around the world. His novel The Holiday was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and became a Sunday Times bestseller in paperback. Formerly a national newspaper journalist, he now writes full time and lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children. Follow him on Twitter @TMLoganAuthor

*** New Cover Reveal *** The Abattoir of Dreams – Mark Tilbury

It is with great thanks to Mark Tilbury who has asked me to be a part of the new cover reveal for The Abattoir of Dreams.

Myself and my lovely friend Ali, over at The Sunday Feeling always recommend this book to anyone who asks “have you read any good books lately?”

I read this in early 2019, two years after its initial release in 2017 and I still maintain, hand on heart, that this is the best book I have ever read.

I have been lucky enough to read and review advanced reading copies of Mark’s books since reading this and they never fail to astound me.

If you haven’t had a chance to read one of his yet, I urge you to, you will not be disappointed!

 

My Review

Michael Tate wakes up from a coma to realise he’s been arrested for his girlfriend’s murder, with no feeling from the waist down because he also tried to kill himself. And he has no recollection of anything that led to this moment. But then strange things start to happen…

This tale is spooky, chilling, funny and heart-breaking right up to the last chapter.

This is my first read by Mark Tilbury and never has a book made me want to laugh and weep all at the same time.

I’m now going to see what other books of his I’m yet to adore.

Absolutely fantastic 10/10!!

About the author

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and when he’s not, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

 

 

Blog Tour: Stranded – Stuart James

Huge thanks to Sarah at Book on the Bright Side for my invitation to this tour and the ARC.

A family trapped. A psychopath on the loose. Let the game begin…

What could be more innocent than going on holiday?

As a family drive along a quiet country lane on their way to the airport, they meet a stranger standing alone in the middle of the road. Steering them along another path, he tells the driver, Ben, that a tree has fallen and there’s no way through. But as they make their way along the diverted route, they come across a coach blocking the road. Getting out of the car Ben goes to investigate and is horrified to find the passengers tied to their seats. Then a discarded phone starts to ring…

If Ben calls the police, everyone on board will die. Let the horrific game begin…

 

My Review

An absolute cracker once again from Stuart James. 

This is a tale about a group of people kidnapped, tied to their seats on a coach with absolutely no idea of why they’re there. What could they possibly have done to warrant their situation? They are innocent aren’t they? 

Ben, together with his wife Laura and daughter Milly are on their way to the airport for a long-deserved trip to Barcelona. They stumble upon the coach and thereon in ensues the storys of each passenger and their will to survive. 

I flew through this in a matter of hours. So many thrillers end with a predictable finale, not this one! 

This is Stuart James’ best novel yet. 

Rating 4/5

About the author

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.

There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.

I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns.

My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.

This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

I started writing three years ago, penning The House On Rectory Lane which has just won The International Book Award in horror fiction. I got the idea from something that has often seemed scary to me. I know that a terrifying story has to be something that you’re frightened of doing, something that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, something that fills you with dread, yet also with excitement.

To me, the thought of going to a house in the middle of nowhere, upping and leaving a busy town and moving to the country is something that scares lots of people and me: the seclusion, the quiet, the darkness. That’s what inspired me to write my first novel.

My second thriller is called Turn The Other Way, which was a world wide number 1 best seller and stayed at number 1 for 19 weeks in the US.

I have multiple stories running, past and present. A family who want answers from the surgeon responsible for their daughter’s death. A young woman looking for her parents after they go missing from a party. A couple driving home and hearing screams for help from the back of the van in front of them. A serial killer on the loose in North London, dragging victims off the street.

I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.

My third thriller, Apartment Six, was published in January of this year and was a number 1 hot new release on Amazon for 4 weeks.

Stranded goes on pre-order Monday October 12th on Amazon and is released October 19th.

I’m 47, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.

stuartjamesthrillers.com

@StuartJames73

https://www.facebook.com/stuartjamesauthor/

Blog Tour: A Prayer for the Broken – Mark Tilbury

Huge thanks to Mark Tilbury for my invitation to this tour and the ARC.

They promised him he’d be safe – they lied!

When eleven-year-old John McCormack’s mother is murdered, he is placed in the care of Pastor Ian Stone and his family. Clearwater House is a far cry from the squalid flats he’s been used to, but John soon learns that Pastor Stone’s perverted form of religion is anything but compassionate. As Stone attempts to purify John’s soul of “dangerous levels of toxicity”, it becomes increasingly clear that he’s at the mercy of a madman.

Who can John tell when no one wants to listen? Who can he trust when all he knows is betrayal?

A Prayer for the Broken is a story of loss, pain, and one child’s fight to escape a sadistic killer who has complete control of him.

My Review

Another corker from Mark Tilbury.

In A Prayer for the Broken we see John McCormack having to leave the care, compassion and love of the Johnsons to live with new carers, the Stones. Ian, a Pastor and his wife Sally are now his guardians. They’ll look after him and see he gets the attention, nurture and kindness that every 11 year old orphaned boy needs right? Wrong!

They run a tight household alongside their 17 year old, brainwashed son Timothy. John makes friends with Brendan who is also in their ‘care’. The boys hate the police and so together they plot a way to escape the clutches of Ian Stone.

This is a tale of evil, friendship, love and hate, and everything in between. It’s a fantastically compelling read, one of which I will think of for some time to come.

Rating: 4/5

About the author

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had seven novels published by Bloodhound Books. When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

Blog Tour: The Last One to See Her – Mark Tilbury

Huge thanks to Mark Tilbury for my invitation to this tour and the ARC.

He says he is innocent. So why did he lie?

Mathew Hillock was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive. When her dead body turns up four days later in his garden shed, the police think he’s guilty of her murder. So do most people in the town. But there’s no DNA evidence to link him to the crime.

Battling the weight of public opinion and mental illness due to a childhood head trauma, he sinks into a deep depression.

Can Mathew do what the police failed to do and find evidence linking the real killer to the crime?

The Last One to See Her is a terrifying story of what happens when you’re accused of a crime and no one believes you are innocent.

My Review

Mathew had a head injury in his early years which left him with issues to his mental health. Jim is a womaniser, a drunk and a violent bully. Jodie is an eleven year old girl whose body is later found in Mathew’s shed. This is story of both men wondering if they had something to do with her death.

It was extremely tense not knowing who the culprit was until the very end. You’re led to believe it’s one person and then something happens, and you’re left thinking the opposite. I love how the author does this. You’re just compelled to keep reading until you get the answer.

An absolutely fantastic read from an equally fantastic author.

Oh and one more thing; this tale will stay with you for a very long time.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the author

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had seven novels published by Bloodhound Books. His latest novel, The Last One To See Her will be published 4th June 2020. When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

Blog Tour: The House on Rectory Lane – Stuart James

Thank you to Sarah at Book on the Bright Side for the tour invitation.

Jake and Kate live in London but after an altercation with a stranger who threatens Jake with a knife, they take their son and move to a house in the woods.
It’s their dream home, or so they think until people in the village warn them they shouldn’t have come.
Their neighbours are strange and when Kate sees a face at the window, the family realise they might be in danger.
When they find a tape hidden in the loft of the house, a video recording of the previous family who once lived there, it chills them to the bone.
They soon realise that the family living there before them have disappeared and they too could now be next.

What is the mystery surrounding the house on Rectory Lane?  Jake and Kate are about to find out…

My Review

I absolutely love Stuart James’ books. They are easy to read and extremely ‘unputdownable’ and this one is no exception.

Jake and Kate are likeable and you feel yourself really rooting for them in their bid to find out what happened to the family who lived in the house prior to them.

The House On Rectory Lane is 100% a page-turner which leaves you guessing right until the very last sentence. I think the ending leaves it open to a sequel which I would love to read. 

Rating: 4/5

About the author

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.
There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.
I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns.
My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.
This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

I started writing two years ago, penning The House On Rectory Lane.
I got the idea from something that has often seemed scary to me. I know that a terrifying story has to be something that you’re frightened of doing, something that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, something that fills you with dread, yet also with excitement.
To me, the thought of going to a house in the middle of nowhere, upping and leaving a busy town and moving to the country is something that scares lots of people and me: the seclusion, the quiet, the darkness.
That’s what inspired me to write my first novel.

My second thriller is called Turn The Other Way.
I have multiple stories running, past and present. A family who want answers from the surgeon responsible for their daughter’s death.
A young woman looking for her parents after they go missing from a party.
A couple driving home and hearing screams for help from the back of the van in front of them.
A serial killer on the loose in North London, dragging victims off the street.

I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.
My third thriller, Apartment Six, was published in January of this year.

I’m 45, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing.
I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.

Blog Tour: Buried – Lynda La Plante

Thank you to Tracy Fenton for the tour invitation and to Bonnier Books for the ARC copy.

Jack Warr is a young DC with the Metropolitan Police. Charming but aimless, Jack can’t seem to find his place in the world – until he’s drawn into an investigation that turns his life upside down.

In the aftermath of a fire at a derelict cottage, a badly charred body is discovered, along with the burnt remnants of millions of stolen, untraceable bank notes – the hidden legacy of Dolly Rawlins and her gang of Widows.

Jack’s assignment to the case coincides with an investigation into his own past. As he searches for the truth about his identity, Jack finds himself increasingly drawn into a murky underworld of corruption and crime. Those millions have not been forgotten – and Jack will stop at nothing to find the truth. ­

My Review

I remember back in the early 80’s not being allowed to read or watch Widows but it was all I heard about as my parents and their friends all talked about it. Fast forward 37 years and I’m doing the same. Thankfully Amazon Prime Video now have this to stream so I can put all the names to the faces.

Buried is the first in a new series introducing Jack Warr. A fledgling Met Officer who is a bit out of sorts and isn’t sure where his loyalties lie. It also sees the reintroduction of the original Widows; Connie, Ester and of course Dolly. Even though this has a lot of references back to the old Widows case it is easily a standalone novel. A badly charred body found in a derelict house with millions of pounds found burned in the fireplace, what’s not to like!? There is where DC Warr comes into his own. He’s trying to piece together the crime committed alongside working out his way in life with the help from his girlfriend Maggie.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series and seeing how Jack Warr develops as a character.

No doubt Ms La Plante has already been approached for this to become a TV series which I can certainly see it becoming. As I think this book is as good as the original Widows and Prime Suspect series there’s no reason why this couldn’t be up there on a pedestal with them.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the author

Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National theatre and RDC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing – and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. Her novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect won awards from BAFTA, Emmy, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Lynda has written and produced over 170 hours of international television. Lynda is one of only three screenwriters to have been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Best Writer Award in 2000. In 2008, she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to Literature, Drama and Charity. If you would like to hear from Lynda, please sign up at http://www.bit.ly/ LyndaLaPlanteClub or you can visit http://www.lyndalaplante.com for further information. You can also follow Lynda on Facebook and Twitter @LaPlanteLynda.

BLOG TOUR: Apartment Six – Stuart James

Thank you to Sarah at BOTBS for the invitation to the tour and to Bloodhound Books for an ARC copy.

Be careful what you wish for…

When Meagan was five years old her mother was viciously attacked and murdered.

Now an adult, she herself is the victim of an abusive relationship. Meagan is desperate to escape but doesn’t have the courage to leave.

So, when Meagan meets Oliver, a decent guy who is on the rebound after a failed relationship, the two strike up a connection. But when Meagan confesses that her husband is abusive, it leads Oliver down a dark and dangerous path.

Just how far would you go to protect someone?

Oliver is about to find out and be pushed to his very limits…

My Review

I like to read novels that realistically could happen and even though I found this a little far-fetched I had to stop thinking like that. Life isn’t always plain sailing and some things can and do happen that others just would or couldn’t believe. Apartment Six is no exception.

Meagan is an abused wife without a hope of ever leaving her aggressive and violent husband. Then by chance she meets Oliver. They continue to meet secretly and after gaining his trust Meagan asks Oliver the incomprehensible. This one question takes them both on a scary, sinister and turbulent ride.

I love stories with two timelines. This one sees Meagan as a child which describes the abuse she and her mother endured at the hands of her father. When you read about her childhood and then forward the present day, in which both periods of time are horrendous leads you to think “will she ever catch a break?”

And the ending, wow! It blew me away.

I’ve not read anything by Stuart James before but will certainly be looking up his other books which I’m sure will not disappoint.

Rating: 4/5

About the author

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.
There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.
I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns.
My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.
This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

I started writing two years ago, penning The House On Rectory Lane.
I got the idea from something that has often seemed scary to me. I know that a terrifying story has to be something that you’re frightened of doing, something that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, something that fills you with dread, yet also with excitement.
To me, the thought of going to a house in the middle of nowhere, upping and leaving a busy town and moving to the country is something that scares lots of people and me: the seclusion, the quiet, the darkness.
That’s what inspired me to write my first novel.

My second thriller is called Turn The Other Way.
I have multiple stories running, past and present. A family who want answers from the surgeon responsible for their daughter’s death.
A young woman looking for her parents after they go missing from a party.
A couple driving home and hearing screams for help from the back of the van in front of them.
A serial killer on the loose in North London, dragging victims off the street.

I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.

I’m currently working on my new thriller, Apartment Six, which Will be released 29th of January.

I’m 45, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing.
I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.
stuartjamesthrillers.com

@StuartJames73

https://www.facebook.com/stuartjamesauthor/