False Dawn by D. V. Berkom

Required: a new book by your favourite author; a no-nonsense, kick-ass protagonist; fast-action thrills and spills that send your heart racing nineteen to the dozen; guaranteed entertainment. Solution: this book. (See About the Book below.)

Not that I ever doubted it. I have twenty-one Berkom novels under my belt, so it’s fair to say I’m not just a fan, I’m utterly besotted.

This one absolutely delivers. You have to stay sharp, mind. Mac trusts no one, and frankly neither should the reader. Every chapter keeps you second-guessing right up to the climactic end.

As ever, Berkom throws every ounce of her honed, high-octane storytelling into the mix: tight pacing, ruthless tension and action sequences that practically sizzle.

And the best part? There’s more to come.

See Also:

A Killing Truth
A One Way Ticket to Dead 
A Plague of Traitors
Absolution
Bad Spirits
Bad Traffick
Cargo
Claire Whitcombe Westerns, Books 1-3
Cruising for Death
Dakota Burn
Dark Return
Fatal Objective
Final Encounter
Kate Jones Thriller Series Vol. 1
Serial Date
Shadow of the Jaguar
Terminal Threat
The Body Market
The Last Deception
Vigilante Dead
Yucatán Dead

I Can Hear You by Rob Kaufman

 

Kaufman has delivered excellence once again*. But then, after eight books, I’ve come to expect nothing less. Quite a tall pedestal to be perched on, but he never wobbles off.

He has an amazing way of making you realise who the perpetrator is very early on. But instead of leaving you thinking, now what?, he pulls you right into that perpetrator’s wile and guile as he tests those around him—and those desperately seeking answers. It’s almost like reading a story backwards, and Kaufman manages it to perfection.

When a wife goes missing, the usual suspect is someone close to her, like, say the husband. Unless, of course, you’re Lucas, who thinks he’s very clever. Or is he just confused? And despite knowing what he knows, the reader is constantly made to doubt what they think they know. (See About the Book below.)

The biggest regret at the end of any Kaufman book is that you’ve finished it. You get sucked in by every single character and want to stay with them for a lot longer.

Bloody brilliant.

Again.

* Provided by BookSirens

The Match by Harlan Coben

I’m on a Coben merry-go-round at the moment, having only recently picked up his books. My fourth so far and I’m not getting off yet. He’s become one of my go-tos for that ‘getting lost in a good book’ session.

Having read the first Wilde book (The Boy from the Woods) , of course I was going to pick up #2*. The very enigmatic Wilde finally takes the plunge, in his third decade, to see if he can find out something about his origins and family, of which he knows absolutely nothing. (See About the Book below.) Sounds straightforward enough, but this is Coben. He hasn’t heard of a straight line. Twists, turns, off-roads, in-roads and wiggles and wriggles that steer you into a plot that keeps you guessing, with a pace that stays at a gallop till the end.

Another excellent and utterly absorbing book. I’m already lining up my next Coben!

*Provided by NetGalley

See Also:

I Will Find You
Run Away
The Boy From The Woods

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

 

Having read two of Coben’s books, I now know what to expect: the plot is never straightforward. Minor roads of twists and turns feed into the plot highway, confounding and confusing, while the suspense builds towards an explosive—and usually unexpected—ending. Magic.

Here*, a viciously bullied teenager goes missing. What could that possibly have to do with a controversial politician running for president and the man determined to stop him? Throw in Wilde, who had a decidedly unique and unusual start in life, and…well, who knows? (See About the Book below.)

Coben does. That’s his exceptional skill. He takes seemingly unrelated threads, tangles them up, throws in a few more twists for good measure and then, somehow, makes the whole lot come together. Clever, sharp and immensely readable.

I’m now on to my fourth Coben—Wilde #2. I think I can say quite emphatically, I’m absolutely hooked.

*Provided by NetGalley

See Also:

I Will Find You
Run Away

Run Away by Harlan Coben

 

I read my first Harlan Coben about two years ago (I Will Find You), which was enough to give me a voracious appetite for his books (especially after the Netflix dramatisation of the same book). So, I’m now on a bit of a Coben bender.

This* had the same maze of plot twists and turns. The same intensity and intrigue. And the same superb quality of writing. Coben makes it so easy to get completely immersed from the very beginning.

This is a story (See About the Book below) of the lengths parents will go to save and protect their daughter from the grip of drugs, addiction and extremely bad choices. But her (new) world is beyond anything they could have imagined and the discoveries are dangerous and life-changing.

Well plotted, well characterised and brilliantly executed with a ‘well, I wasn’t expecting that’ ending. Took me all of a nanosecond to open the third of my stops of my Coben tour.

*Provided by NetGalley

See Also:

I Will Find You

Drayton and Mackenzie by Alexander Starritt

I can’t believe I finished this*: finished isn't the right word. I suffered it. Why bother if it’s that bad?, you might ask. Well, I'm stubbornly, pedantically, a non-DNFer.

Tedious. Laborious. Mind-numbingly boring. Plotless, with a vague and unsatisfying ending. (See About the Book below.)

The two main characters are equally unengaging with not an ounce of personality between them: one a spoilt, lazy, rich kid, the other a socially awkward, robotic, rich kid. Together, after a few years in the finance industry, they start their own tidal-energy business.

Alexander Starritt is undeniably a very articulate writer, but polished prose can't save a novel that is double the length it needs to be. The dialogue is flat, every character is unrelatable, and then there was one other irritation: why does a British author use American spelling?

I'm now prescribing myself a few fast-paced thrillers to recover from this slow, joyless slog.

I'm sorry, Mr Starritt. This simply wasn't my cup of tea.

*Provided by NetGalley

Death Sentence by Rob Kaufman

 

Interesting question, isn’t it? What will people say about you at your funeral? That’s exactly what Ethan wonders. (See About the Book below.) Only, he decides to stop wondering and puts a very controversial, if not, as some might say...immoral...plan into action to find the answer to that very question. It’ll be fine, though. Once he’s heard what he wants to hear, he can put a stop to it all.

But dangerous plans have dangerous, unexpected and spiralling consequences.

Kaufman can’t put a foot wrong...ever. Or should I say, write a wrong word! He dragged me into the story* from the get-go, had me constantly guessing how the story would turn out (and I kept getting it awfully wrong, of course), glued me to my reading sofa and reminded me why he’s an absolute master, if not genius, of the tense, twisty, psychological thriller. Whether or not I liked Ethan is up for debate—but how much I loved the book is most certainly not.

*Provided by BookSirens

See also:

A Broken Reality
Altered
False Faces
One Last Lie
Silent Shadows
Twisted Truth

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 

I have two reading rules: firstly, to wait until the hype around a book has died down before picking it up. Secondly: to never read reviews until I've finished the book. Both rules have served me well, but this time, I sneaked a peek at the reviews and stumbled across some of the less favourable ones.

I know it would be a dull world if we all liked the same books, but I genuinely can’t understand how anyone could fail to like—no, absolutely love—this.

I fell for Nora from the beginning. Convinced life has dealt her one blow too many, she sees only one way out. Thank goodness for the library, the librarian...the wonderfully wise Mrs Elm...and the endless shelves of possibilities that help Nora realise what a terrible mistake that would be. (See About the Book below.)

Beautifully written, cleverly constructed and filled with heart, soul and emotion, this was an absolute joy from page one. Haig has shot straight to the top of my 'must read more of' list, and I fully intend to do just that.

Common Decency by Tom Allen

 

I didn’t need much persuasion to pick this* up. Allen is always hugely entertaining on TV, and his sharp observational humour comes through in his writing.

This was delightful and undemanding—ideal sun-lounger reading. The residents of Oak Drive are a wonderfully motley, but colourful, crew, each with their own little quirks, grudges and buried secrets. A majestic old oak tree becomes the catalyst for all those simmering tensions about to rise to the surface. (See About the Book below.)

I’ll be honest…it won’t win any literary awards; it’s a little bit silly and improbable, but it is warm, gentle and funny. It’s a story of suburban shenanigans.

Just one thing, Tom…you forgot to thank the readers in your acknowledgements. Do remember us—authors need readers just as much as readers need authors.

*Provided by Netgalley

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

You’re in for a long ride with the Atticus Pünd cases—they’re books within books, puzzles within puzzles, and the skill lies in keeping you avidly turning pages right to the end. Mission accomplished by Horowitz.

Susan Ryeland, now back from her Greek island life and trying to piece her life together, finds herself editing what is meant to be the final Pünd novel. The original author is long gone (Moonflower Murders fans will know the history), but a bright young—if rather troubled—writer steps in to take up the mantle. Naturally, nothing goes smoothly when an Atticus Pünd manuscript is involved. (See About the Book below.)

I’m a great admirer of Horowitz’s writing and everything of his I've read (so many more to read!) hasn’t disappointed me yet. If I have one teensy niggle, it’s that there were a lot of nods and acknowledgements at the end—even the bookseller got a wave, so I do hope the most important nod, which seemed to be missing...the one to the reader...was an accidental omission. It’s a tiny quibble in an otherwise hugely enjoyable read.

Clever, twisty, and hugely enjoyable. A must for Horowitz fans.

See Also:

Moonflower Murders
The Twist of a Knife

Tell the Truth by Karen Fitzgibbon

 

I've read and enjoyed two books by this author so I really didn't have to think hard about picking up a third.

What a corker this* is. About a quarter in, I was convinced I’d sussed the plot. Well, I absolutely hadn’t, of course. The twists, turns and just enough misdirection make this a superbly tense and compelling thriller.

It’s another case for the tenacious PI Lana Bowen. She’s sharp, persistent and impossible to ignore when something feels off. Fitzgibbon really knows how to build suspense and keep you gripping the edge of your seat. (See About the Book below.)

A slightly tighter edit wouldn’t have gone amiss (spelling errors/missing words/incorrect character name), but nonetheless, an edge-of-your-seat and thoroughly enjoyable read.

*Provided by BookSirens.

See also:

Never Look Back
The World's End

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

I didn’t realise this* was YA when I picked it up (not my usual go-to), but it hooked me straightaway.

One minute, Avery’s a normal (though financially disadvantaged) teen, the next she’s heir to a billionaire’s (Tobias Hawthorne) entire fortune and living in a mansion that’s basically a giant labyrinth—complete with four Hawthorne grandsons, who are less than impressed by her presence. (See About The Book below.) It’s fast, fun, and full of twisty riddles that make it very hard to put down.

My only real complaint is the cliff-hanger ending. I like a little pre-amble warning before I’m left dangling. However, the characters, plot and without doubt the writing, are intriguing enough to keep me going because I (along with the grandsons, their mother and anyone who was disinherited) need to know why Tobias Hawthorne chose Avery.

I’m looking forward to the sequel, but I would just say that while the author’s acknowledgements thanked everyone except the neighbour’s cat, the readers, without whom a book goes nowhere, didn’t get a mention. I hope that was just an oversight.

*Provided by NetGalley

The Woman with no Prints by Cai J. Patson

 

Oh my days. Oh. My. Days. That’s it, that’s my review.

Seriously, though, this* has you in its grasp from the very first paragraph: nail-biting, tense, suspenseful, gripping edge-of-your seat stuff. In short, first-class.

Melinda Forrester has endured trauma all her life, and she’s learnt not just to survive but to focus her fury on predators the law sometimes seems far too keen to protect. Enter Melinda with her own particular brand of justice. (See About the Book below.)

This is the first in a trilogy, so there are a few loose threads at the end. Normally, that annoys me if it’s sprung on the reader, but in this case, fair warning was given here, so no nasty surprises.

Patson is a seriously good writer. Her attention to detail is second to none, and while I’m waiting with bated breath for books #2 (and #3!), I can’t help thinking Melinda is destined for the big screen. 

Flippin’ brilliant.

*Provided by BookSirens

What We Carry Forward by Aithal

 

My first read  by this author (India Was One) was fifteen years ago, and every subsequent book since has delighted me in a different way—be it his fiction, science fiction, autobiography or now this short-story collection.

Here we have four novellas (See About the Book below): one compares two women, decades apart, and the lengths they go to in shaping their appearance to survive; another follows a young gay man in a deeply intolerant community (and family), who finds an ally in the most unexpected place; the third centres on a student facing a tough choice about his future—one that means choosing between continents. And then there’s the story about the orangutan. That’s all I’ll say about that one. It’s too much of a gem to spoil. Diverse though the stories are, they are connected by ‘what we carry forward.’

Each novella has something special. They’re emotional, poignant and quietly thought-provoking, clearly Aithal’s aim, achieved with exceptional skill.

See Also:

A Stroke of Luck: My Journey through a Traumatic Brain Injury
Beyond The Milky Way
Confessions of an Indian Immigrant

Blood Between Us by Lindsay Scott

 

I was hooked almost from the get-go. I love picking up a new-to-me author and realising, a few chapters in…actually, in this case, a few paragraphs in!...that you’re in very safe hands. The writing is sharp, the pacing tight, the characters well fleshed out. For most of the book, I was convinced this* was going to be one of my favourites of the year. 

And then I got to ninety percent.

With only ten percent left and a pile of loose ends waiting to be tidied up, I started to feel slightly anxious. We know who the culprit is from the start, so the tension hangs on how long s/he can stay undetected. (See About the Book below.) But when it was time to pull the threads together, the ending lands with a thud: abrupt, unfinished with so many questions without answers and quite at odds with how masterfully everything had been handled up to that point.)

I know Hep has another adventure in the pipeline, but I can’t help feeling a bit short-changed here. This was a gripping and enthralling read—right up until it wasn’t. A real shame, because it had all the makings of one of my top reads.

*Provided by BookSirens

A Cottage in the Country by Katie Fforde

 

Clichéd? Yes. Predictable. Of course. Implausible? Without doubt. And with an exasperating heroine. Classic chick lit and therefore, utterly and deliciously entertaining! 

I enjoyed Fforde’s Island in the Sun (another maddening proganist therein!), and she does know how to craft an easy and undemanding read, even if she is a little out of touch with modern-day romance. When my favourite genre is crime thrillers, some of which have a corpse or six, a lightweight like this* is a refreshing change. (See About the Book below.)

All the familiar ingredients are present: best friends who really ought to stop resisting being anything else, a wedding that very definitely shouldn’t take place, a very dear and with-it nonagenarian being steam-rollered by a grasping relative, some stiff-collared parents and a rather amiable nephew. 

None of it new, really, but it is warm and endearing. I wasn’t left with a ‘wow’, but smiling and uplifted.

*Provided by NetGalley

See also:

Fforde, Katie - Island in the Sun

Imminent Risk by S. Lee Manning

 

About eighteen months ago, I read Deadly Choice by Manning, which is an impressively paced, compelling novel, so I plunged into this* with great enthusiasm. Despite being the fourth in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone; any necessary context is woven in seamlessly without disrupting the flow of the story.

This is the very definition of unputdownable (See About the Book below). The writing is sharp and confident, the characters feel fully alive, and the tension never lets up. From page one to ‘The End’, it’s a gripping, edge-of-your-seat ride that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go.

An intensely absorbing and satisfying read, and one that’s persuaded me not to leave such a long time before returning to Manningland and certainly more Kolya Petrov thrillers.

*Provided by BookSirens

Shadows of Deceit by Timothy R. Baldwin

 

I really liked the sound of this* but, ultimately, felt that some of the impact was lost in the delivery.

The present-tense narrative didn’t work (I hate it whenever it’s used) and limited the scope of the plot (See About the Book below). In addition, while I’m more than comfortable with first-person POV, in this case, it reduced the depth of the story, and the main character, Cassie, came across as somewhat underdeveloped. There was rather too much ‘telling’ and little, if any, ‘showing’, giving a rather flat narrative.

The copy editing was mostly good, though a few minor errors slipped through (‘your welcome’ (oops) and confusion over lay/lie). The book would have benefited from stronger technical editing, particularly to address repetition. Certain phrases and ideas appeared frequently with little variation, which became distracting over time.

That said, the underlying plot was strong and engaging, and despite the aforementioned issues, the story was compelling.

*Provided by BookSirens

The Last Place You Look by Nikki Smith

I've read two of Nikki Smith’s books. Glossing quickly over my review of them, I discovered that whilst I rated them pretty highly, my enjoyment of them was shaved by the use of the present-tense narrative.

It would appear Smith has a fetish for it, because it is used, alas, here, to no advantage at all. However, it’s* a pretty gripping psychological thriller (See About the Book below). It had me asking all sorts of questions, wondering how on earth they’d be answered and making all sorts of guesses (all wrong!). The ending, however, was very abrupt, and I found myself wanting to turn non-existent pages and then thinking, is that it? There was no ‘The End’, and there were ends to tie up, so despite a fairly climactic finish, I was left dangling.

Smith certainly knows how to plot a book and create some intriguing characters, and it’s hard not to describe her books as unputdownable, despite the poor choice of tense, a rather inconclusive ending and just a few bad grammatical errors (editor please brush up on the use of sat/stood).

*Provided by NetGalley

A Detective's Dilemma by Peter J Charles

 

Oh, I did enjoy this*. And I love that it comes with such a degree of authenticity, as it’s written by an ex-detective who was in the drug squad and who very thoughtfully placed a glossary at the front explaining a lot of procedural acronyms and words/phrases. I’ve come across many ‘useful’ explanations…at the end of the book, at which point, they’re utterly useless, if you don't know they are there. Thank you, Mr Charles.

As you’d expect, the story centres around drug smuggling and the lengths a frustrated detective will go to put away a very slimy, cocky criminal for a very long time. (See About The Book below.)

Brilliantly written, well-paced, gritty, with well-rounded characters and compelling right to very end. I noticed in the title that this is a DC Tom Kessler #1. That ‘#1’ is hopeful, because it just may mean there’s a #2. And I’d really love to catch up with Tom.

An excellent read, but there was one more gem that had me laughing out loud. Be sure you don’t miss the brilliant line about the Pizza Express in Woking and someone formerly known as Prince. Priceless.

*Provided by BookSirens

Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks

I've read one other book by this author…Now You See Her…which I enjoyed but was disappointed by bad editing. Happily, the editing in this* book is much, much better. However, it is let down by the use of the present-tense narrative. It let the book down.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it (See About the Book below): it focuses on an intolerable dilemma a mother faces in order to protect her daughter.

Perks writes really well with credible and relatable characters. I found the ending delightfully unpredictable: I really didn't see it coming, despite all my guesses. This all ensures I'll pick up another book by this author, but please, oh please, avoid present-tense narrative!

* Provided by NetGalley

See Also:

Now You See Her

Twisted Truth by Rob Kaufman

Oh my giddy aunt.  I don't have enough wows for this*.

I didn't think Daniel could possibly face any more personal tragedies, but no, Kaufman plunges you (and Daniel!) into one more, the third and last in the Edge of Fear trilogy (See About the Book below). Another gripping ride, keeping you guessing throughout. And no, you won't guess. The ending is explosive and ineffable. 

The writing is, of course, as brilliant and splendid as ever (Kaufman isn't capable of anything else), which draws you in right from the very first page until the final full stop.

The first book I read by this author put him hastily into my 'read more of/one of my favourites' category, but now, after reading six of his books, he has without doubt exalted himself to My Favourite Author.  I've said it before, I'll say it again:  I will read anything he writes.

*Provided by Booksirens

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

 

I can't quite make up my mind about this story* about two best-friend podcasters, Benny and (narcoleptic) Joy. Though hugely successful at what they do, the sudden disappearance of Joy and her husband, Xander, becomes a national mystery and, of course, of intense interest to their many avid followers. See About the Book below.

It's written in the present-tense narrative (bad choice) and peppered with chapters of Joy's draft memoir, which chronologically recounts events leading up to the time of the disappearance. I found this messy, and it took a minute to realise where in the course of events you were. The flow was not smooth and sometimes rather overworded.

It's a decent enough story, but I couldn't engage with the characters. I found them slightly frustrating. The best-friend relationship hovered very annoyingly at the gate of something more serious, and it takes the whole book to establish where this relationship should (although obvious) be.

As a first novel, it's commendable, but I felt it needed ironing out.

*Provided by NetGalley

Silent Shadows by Rob Kaufman

 

I'm a mighty fan of Kaufman: his books have built-in excellence. There's never a, 'will this be as good as the last one?'. It will always, indubitably, exceed expectation. I can say that very confidently after reading five of his books.

This* is the second in the Edge of Fear trilogy. Poor Daniel Wright has enough trauma to deal with and a serial killer who is making it all rather personal just isn't helping him move forward. (See About the Book below.) As usual, Kaufman keeps you guessing (had me foxed this time, well and truly), but, as always, the ride is compelling, thrilling (and chilling!) and utterly entertaining.

The icing on the cake with all Kaufman's books is his huge respect for his readers, to whom he dedicates more than just a few words in his acknowledgements. The respect is mutual, because this reader has a lot of time for any author who remembers his audience.

If Kaufman writes something, you can bet your bottom dollar, I'll read it.

*Provided by BookSirens

See Also:

A Broken Reality
Altered
False Faces
One Last Lie

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I balked a bit when I saw how long this* book was, so I hoped it would keep me enthralled to the very distant end.

It didn't. It's a story (see About the Book below) encompassing nearly a hundred years, but it jumps about erratically. One minute we're in the early nineteen hundreds, and then we're in 2005. And back to 1975 and after that maybe back to 2005 or 1913 or even 1900. Or we could quite possibly not bother going back to any particular year and just read a fairy tale or two that the author decided we had to read because one of the main characters, Eliza Makepeace, was an authoress of fairy tales. All this was messy and frustrating and with a fair cast of characters you sometimes forgot who the heck was who.

None of the cardboard characters were in the least bit likeable or relatable, Eliza's sacrifice was beyond unbelievable, and the story just dragged on and on (and on) with just too many unneeded words. As for the included fairy tales, they are just a waste of your reading time.

I've reached the end of many books with 'oh no, I don't want this to end'. Ironically, this book never seemed to end, and I so wished it would. The misery was finally topped off by the author's acknowledgements that didn't even include a thank-you to her readers. They are the ones to whom any author owes his/her success the most.

*Provided by NetGalley