Shalini Boland

Another cracker from this author. I find her style very readable and very tension-inducing! 

The Child Next Door

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My review - 

Shalini Boland is the mistress of tension. Kirstie, on maternity leave, hears voices on her baby monitor which lead her to believe someone’s trying to kidnap her baby. The author ramps up the suspicion that Kirstie is suffering from post-natal depression, being tense, somewhat OCD and believing the worst of a number of her neighbours. The reader isn’t sure what’s going on but it’s easy to believe that the new mother is making heavy weather of things. We have a tendency to dismiss her fears in much the same way her husband does. But there’s more going on in the house next door than even she suspected. A very satisfying story.

Joel Hames

A long-awaited Sam Williams story. It was worth the wait!

Dead North

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My review -

Lawyer Sam Williams is called in as a consultant when two police officers are shot dead. It looks like an open-and-shut case but the chief suspect isn’t speaking at all. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t met Sam in previous books, as this story stands brilliantly alone. It’s fast-moving enough for any thriller reader and with believable twists. The last quarter of the book was so exciting I had to stop myself trying to skim-read to find out what happened. It’s worth savouring. It’s a fast and bumpy ride, so hold on tightly. Highly recommended.

Bill Todd

Another Danny Lancaster story. Part of a series but it'll stand alone.

Godlefe's Cuckoo

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My review -

After an explosion on a small boat eighteen months ago, Danny Lancaster is missing, presumed dead. He’s crossed a Russian who wants to make sure he is, and to pull him out of hiding if he isn’t, by killing his known friends.

This is a taut thriller with some nasty people. Danny has to remain focused to remove the threat. He knows that might mean some of those he cares for are put in harm’s way. The two people who found him after the explosion are resourceful people and their clear heads are vital in a hostage situation. I believe this story would work well as a stand-alone, not just another in a series. There are several points in the story where I wondered how it could possibly work out well for Danny. There’s some real heart-in-mouth stuff in this story and I enjoyed it very much.

Will Dean

A dark, unsettling story and a very impressive debut novel.

Dark Pines

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My review -

In a refreshing departure from the fashion for maverick detectives solving crime mysteries, here the main protagonist is a newspaper reporter. Tuva Moodyson is in the small town of Gavrik to be close to her dying mother. The town is in the dark pines of Utgard Forest and the whole story feels claustrophobic and enclosed. Modern murders take the same form as unsolved murders from twenty years ago. Tuva wants to find the truth because that’s what she deals in.

I found the characters really interesting, both good and bad. Tuva is a great protagonist as she’s young, keen, yet dogged by guilt about her mother. I found the pace of the story good and the ending very exciting. I highly recommend this to people who enjoy mystery stories but want a change from the usual police procedural. A great and confident debut novel.

Jane Harper

This crime/thriller is set during a drought in Australia and tensions are high. I couldn't put this one down.

The Dry

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My review - 

Aaron Falk returns to his childhood home – a small outback town – for the funeral of his school friend, Luke, brutally shot with his own gun. Luke’s wife and young son were also shot to death. That’s just the start. Murder/suicide? Can it be that simple? As we pick apart the toxic relationships in the town, anything could be possible. Jane Harper guides us through the web of deceit and enmity in a way which had me turning pages for dear life. I absolutely love this story. A hearty five stars.

S E Lynes

A third excellent book - S. E. Lynes is rapidly becoming a favourite author!

The Pact

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My review -

Two sisters who lived through abuse as children make a pact to protect one another. Toni, the younger, has a little girl and is very protective of her. They form a triangle. How far can we go to protect our families, our children? What do we worry about? Are we worried about the wrong things? Are we missing the real dangers? The story, told from different viewpoints, is exciting, and the themes are real food for thought. Susie Lynes writes elegantly and directly. I love her style and her ideas. I absolutely adored this book and I know it’ll stay with me for a long time.