BOOK REVIEW: Stranger Child by Rachel Abbott

One dark secret. One act of revenge.
When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six year old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.
Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie,
Then a stranger walks into their lives and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma's life no longer feels secure. Does she really know what happened all those years ago? Any why does she feel so frightened for herself and her baby?
When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all of their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.
They say you should never trust a stranger, maybe they're right. 

Publisher: Black Dot Publishing

Pages: 356 pages

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Abbott but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Emma is happily married to David and they have a baby son Ollie. David tragically lost his first wife in a car accident; the same accident that saw his daughter go missing, more than 6 years ago. Until now, when Natasha reappears in their kitchen with no explanation of where she's been or why she's back. Emma has so many conflicting emotions; she is overjoyed to see David reunited with his daughter but on the other hand she doesn't trust this girl who seems so full of anger and who realistically is a complete stranger. When Natasha's reappearance threatens the life of Ollie, Emma feels she has nowhere to turn; she feels her only option is to call DCI Tom Douglas, he's an old friend but she feels sure that he will know what to do. She has no idea of the danger she is about to place him in,
Rachel Abbott sets a relentless pace from the very first page. I was initially worried that it would nose-dive at some point but she sustained the tension and I really struggled to put this book down.
The author plays on every parent's fear of their child being threatened or taken from them. There were times when I found this book quite uncomfortable to read as thinking of the same thing happening to my own daughter made it all very realistic.
All of the characters in this book are battling with their emotions and this made it all the more interesting. All involved have something to gain and something to lose and you do wonder who is going to come out the worst off.
DCI Tom Douglas is a good, solid character and I liked the way his story was woven into the case. It is clear that the case is personal for him but you just know that he is one of the good guys who always goes above and beyond.
Stranger Child is a gritty, fast-paced read which I would highly recommend. I am definitely going to read more from this author in the future,

Many thanks to Alexandra for providing me with a review copy of this book. 

Book Review: The Unquiet Grave by Steven Dunne

The Cold Case Unit of Derby Constabulary feels like a morgue to DI Damen Brook. But in disgrace and recently back from suspension, his boos thinks it's the safest place for him.
But Brook isn't going down without a fight and when he uncovers a pattern in a series of murders that date back to 1963, he is forced to dig deeper. Howe could a killer stay undetected for so long? Could it be luck or are more sinister forced at work?
Applying his instincts and razor-sharp intelligence, Brook delves deep into the past of both suspects and colleagues, unsure where the hunt will lead him. What he does know for sure is that a significant date is approaching fast and the killer may be about to strike again...

This is the first book I have read by Steven Dunne but I thought it was brilliant. It's the third Damen Brook book but I still enjoyed this one without having read the others.
The Unquiet Grave is set in Derby which made for a refreshing change as I find that most crime novels are set in a large, well-known city. I am from the Midlands myself so it was good to hear familiar names of towns and villages.
DI Damen Brook is an interesting main character, he is obsessed and consumed by his job and he is very aware as to how much his career has impacted on his personal life. I liked the very human aspect of him; he openly discusses the way his job has affected the way he feels towards people and the way in which he views the world.
Brook's work in the Cold Case Unit becomes tangled up in the current investigation of a local teenage boy who is missing. Steven Dunne weaves a highly intricate plot between the past and the present and I was very quickly immersed in the plot and its many characters.
I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the police force. Dunne does not paint a rose-tinted picture. Brook as to fight against the force's hierarchical structure and the derision from lower ranked colleagues. The loyalty between police officers is also explored in great depth. Brook and his close colleagues look out for each other but it becomes clear that there are situations where this goes too far.
The Unquiet Grave is dark and intriguing. DI Damen Brook is a character you will want to invest your emotions and I'm really looking forward to reading more of this interesting and page-turning series.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Pages: 448

Publisher: Headline

Book Review: Poppet by Mo Hayder

The Maude is outside. It wants to come in.
It wants to sit on your chest.
The mentally ill patients in Beechway High Secure Unit are highly suggestible. A hallucination can spread like a virus. When unexplained power cuts lead to a series of horrifying incidents, fear spreads from the inmates to the staff. Amidst the growing hysteria, AJ, a senior psychiatric nurse, is desperate to protect  his charges.
Detective Inspector Jack Caffery is looking for the corpse of a missing woman. He knows all too well how it feels to fail to find a loved one's body. When AJ seeks Caffery's help in investigating the trouble at Beechway, each man must face a butter truth in his own life. Before staring pure evil in the eye. 

I have been trying to read more books in the crime/thriller genre but I've struggled as it's hard to find good authors  as I find many books in this genre extremely predictable. I have no such problem with Mo Hayder, I think she is extraordinary, Poppet absolutely terrified me! It is part of the Jack Caffery series, I have only read one other book involving this character but I think he is a very interesting creation.
Jack is trying to find the corpse of a missing person, her family think she may still be alive but Jack knows for certain that she's dead; he just needs the body to prove it. It is during this case that Jack gets a call from AJ, he is a senior psychiatric nurse at the Beechway High Secure Unit. AJ is used to dealing with extreme situations and complex characters but a number of incidents at the unit have led him to ask questions. There have been a series of power cuts and during these some patients have mutilated themselves or even died. They talk of a featureless figure called The Maude, she is apparently the ghost of the hospital's Victorian matron. She is a dwarf in a white dress who sits on their chests and makes then inflict terrible injuries on themselves. Whilst trying to calm the situation down, AJ begins to wonder whether the patients are really hallucinating or does The Maude really exist, when do you start taking the crazy people seriously?
Poppet had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up from the very beginning. Mo Hayder is a master of dropping in macabre and sinister details into her story which play on your mind, she is continually ramping up the tension. Hayder has obviously done her research, her presentation of Beechway and it's patients seems highly realistic. The patients' description of The Maude are chilling and I found myself constantly questioning whether they have any foundation or are they just the ramblings of the mentally ill?
I loved the plot twists towards the end of the book, Mo Hayder is certainly not predictable. I didn't see what was coming at all but when I thought back, I could see all of the clues that Mo Hayder had scattered the story with.
Poppet is a terrifying, gripping read which I highly would recommend, Mo Hayder has reminded me how much I enjoy reading this genre.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to the lovely Alison Barrow for sending me a copy of the book, Poppet is available now.

Book Review: Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer

'The dead can't speak to us.' Professor Madoc had said.
This was a lie.
Because the body Patrick Fort is examining in anatomy class is trying to tell him all kinds of things.
Life is already strange enough for the obsessive Patrick without having to solve a possible murder. Especially when no one believes that a crime has even taken place. Now he must stay out of danger long enough to unravel the mystery- while he dissects his own evidence.
But as Patrick learns one truth from a dead man, he discovers there have been many other lies rather closer to home. 

This is the second book by Belinda Bauer that I have read and I thought it was brilliant and completely different from other books in the crime genre.
Rubbernecker revolves around Patrick Fort, he has Aspergers so looks at the world in a totally different way to most people. He wants to know what happens when people die. He saw his father die in front of him and he needs to know what happens afterwards. So Patrick enrols on an anatomy course at a medical school in Wales. The story is then joined by other plots and characters. We have cadaver number 19 who Patrick and his fellow students are dissecting; Patrick is sure that this man was murdered by no one will believe him. Part of the book is also told on the neurological ward where cadaver number 19 came from; the reader is given the story from one of the terrified patient's perspectives and one of the ward nurses who is less interested in patient care and more interested in bagging one of her patient's husbands. These plot lines gradually come together as Patrick's actions become more and more drastic in order to prove that cadaver number 19 did not have a peaceful end.
Rubbernecker is extremely dark and macabre but hugely entertaining. Patrick is a fascinating character and it was so interesting to see the world through his eyes. Most of the characters in this book have secrets and the consequences are mixed as they are revealed. All Patrick wants to do is reveal the truth; I was left questioning whether this was due to his Aspergers or just the need in him to do the right thing.
Rubbernecker is a crime novel but it is so much more than your standard thriller. Belinda Bauer gives the reader so much to think about without losing humour and also providing a gripping plot. I highly recommend this book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

This book is published by Transworld is available now.

Book Review: Evil Water by Inger Wolf

Two women disappear without a trace, and the same autumn a farmer on the outskirts of Arhus finds them murdered in suitcases under a heap of stones.
The skin of one woman is filled with the letter 'Y' and the other has a rare flower in her hair. Inspector Daniel Trokic is leading the case which goes in several different directions: to a tribal population in Africa, religious insanity and a horrifying meeting with leeches. When a third woman disappears, Trokic is under pressure to find out what the killer wants to say with his macabre scenery and rituals. 

I really didn't know what to expect when I was sent this book to review. However, I was pleasantly surprised as this story completely gripped me.
Evil Water is set in Sweden; two bodies turn up in suitcases, they are the bodies of two women who have been missing for some time. Inspector Daniel Trokic is called in to investigate, all he knows is that these women suffered a terrible ordeal; they were bled to death in a bath full of leeches.
The search for the killer intensifies when another woman goes missing, Daniel knows he only has limited time to save another innocent woman's life.
Inger Wolf creates a terrifying atmosphere. The deaths of the women are described in detail, you get a real sense of their desperation to escape. The leeches were a particularly sinister element of the book; they literally suck the life out of their victim. The victim is aware of what is happening but they quickly become powerless to stop it.
As Daniel leads the team, many different avenues are explored. They have to get into the mind of the killer, they need to understand why the leeches are used; why women with a particular hair colour and what would make him stop?
It was very interesting to see how Daniel's team worked, they don't have much to go on so every possible lead has to be explored.
I had a couple of problems with Evil Water, I didn't feel as though I got to know Daniel Trokic very well which is a shame as I think he has the potential to be a very interesting character. My only other issue is that Inger Wolf makes several references to what song is playing in the background and who is singing it. I know it sounds petty but I found it a little annoying and I felt that it had no relevance.
Criticisms aside, I would very much recommend this book. Inger Wolf has written a gripping thriller, the plot has just the right pace and I would definitely read more by this author.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to Melanie from Black Cat for sending me a copy of the book to review, Evil Water is out now.

Book Review: Never Tell by Alafair Burke

When high school student Julia Whitmire is found dead in the bathtub of her family's Greenwich Village townhouse, her left wrist slashed  and a suicide note resting on her bed, Ellie Hatcher and her partner J.J. Rogan, initially write the case off as a suicide. Julia's parents insist that their daughter would never take her own life, but Ellie knows all too well that family members can be the last to accept the truth.
But when Julia's mother appeals to her with the evidence- including the hand-written suicide note she believes her daughter would never have composed- Ellie is confronted with the possibility of a troubled young girl's murder. 

This is the second book that I have read by Alafair Burke and it was just as good as the first. I particularly like how she presents you with the crime scene and the bare facts only; it feels like you almost go along collecting the clues with the detectives.

It appears that Julia Whitmire has slit her wrists in the bath, Detective Ellie Hatcher and her partner Rogan see it as a clear-cut suicide but Julia's mother is adamant that her daughter would not have taken her own life and would never have written the suicide note left behind.

The Whitmires have a lot of money and this means power, Ellie and Rogan have to investigate even though it goes against their instincts. They begin to discover that Julia may not have been as sweet and innocent as her parents believed but does this mean that she was murdered?

Alafair Burke writes with quite a fast pace and you are given a lot of information to take in and analyse. If you can keep up with it then it does add to the reading experience. You are only given a little bit of time to think about something before Burke is hitting you with something else. 

Never Tell is a good, solid thriller. I really enjoyed how the author set the story up, she has you intrigued from the very beginning to end and I look forward to reading more from Alafair Burke in the future.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Many thanks to Avon for sending me a copy of the book, Never Tell is out now.

Book Review: The Fall by Claire McGowan

What would you do if the man you love was accused of murder?
Bad things never happen to Charlotte. She's living the life she's always wanted and about to marry wealthy banker, Dan. But Dan's hiding a secret, and after he's arrested for the viscous killing of a nightclub owner, Charlotte's future is shattered.
Then she opens her door to Keisha,  an angry and frustrated stranger with a story to tell. But what Keisha knows threatens everyone she loves and puts her own life in danger.
DC Matthew Hegarty is finding it difficult to ignore his growing doubts as well as the beautiful and vulnerable Charlotte. Can he really risk it all for what's right?
Three stories. One truth. They all need to brace themselves for the fall.

I'm just beginning to get into crime books and The Fall by Claire McGowan is a great example of the genre. The book isn't overly long at 374 pages but I really took my time reading it as I enjoyed McGowan's story so much. Claire McGowan's writing style is extremely absorbing and vivid, it felt as though I was watching a gritty drama each time I picked the book up.
Charlotte is the central character, it is her fiance who is accused of murder and she is is the one left picking up the pieces. She is almost broken from the very beginning; over night she loses everything she has ever valued or known. However, as the book progresses, Charlotte has to find the strength in order to sort everything out. Nobody seems to want to fight for anything, including her fiance, so she quickly comes to the realisation that she is on her own.
Keisha, in many ways is the complete opposite to Charlotte; streetwise, uneducated and poor but the murder unexpectedly brings these two women together. I thought it was really interesting that both women are in the position they are because of the men they are with yet both know that only they can sort out the consequences.
The Fall is a dark and powerful book. Claire McGowan is not afraid to show the gritty and uncomfortable side of crime and the knock-on effects it has on peoples lives. It can take a long time to achieve something in life but it takes no time at all to fall to rock bottom.
This is Claire McGowan's debut book but I think she has a real talent an she will be an author to look out for in the future.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, The Fall is out now.

Book Review: Bereft by Chris Womersley

Australia, 1919. Quinn Walker returns from The Great War to the New South Wales town of Flint: the birthplace he fled ten years earlier when he was accused  of a heinous act.
Aware of the townsmen's vow to hang him, Quinn takes to the surrounding hills. Here, deciding upon his plan of action, and questioning just what he has returned for, he meets Sadie Fox.
This mysterious girl seems to know and share his darkest fear. And, as their bond greatens, Quinn learns what he must do to lay the ghosts of his past, and Sadie's present to rest.

I wasn't too sure about this book when it arrived but I'm extremely glad that I read it. It's part crime, part literary fiction and Chris Womersley's writing is brilliant.
Quinn Walker returns to the small town of Flint haunted by his experiences of The Great War. He fled the town 10 years ago when he was found cradling the body of his beloved sister Sarah who had been raped and murdered. Quinn knows that if anyone recognises his face then they will waste no time in hanging him but he knows that he must return. Whilst hiding above the village, he meets Sadie Fox, she is a curious girl; her parents are both dead but she is sure that her brother will return from the war to claim her. A bond between the two is quickly formed, especially when they are being hunted by the same person. They need each other in order to confront their pasts so that they have any chance of a future.
Quinn Walker is a particularly interesting character. I just wanted him to find some kind of peace; it seems as though he is continually haunted by his dead sister and his time in the war. Sadie is equally as interesting, she has a magical quality about her. There are several instances in the book where you are left to wonder whether she is real or not.
The pace of this book is good overall but I think I gave this book 4/5 due to a few parts feeling a little slow. Bereft is an excellent read though and I shall look out for Chris Womersley's other books.

Dot Scribbles Rating 4/5

Many thanks to Quercus for sending me a copy of the book to review, Bereft is out now!

Book Review: Keeping the Dead by Tess Gerritsen

When an ancient mummy is discovered in the basement of a museum in downtown Boston, excitement starts to mount. Under the glare of a media frenzy, the mummy is taken to hospital for a CT scan. Forensic pathologist Maura Isles is invited to attend.
As the CT scan proceeds everyone in the room leans in- and gasps in horror as an image of a bullet is revealed. Maura declares it a possible homicide, and calls in Detective Jane Rizzoli.
When the preserved body of a second victim is found, and then a third, it becomes clear that taking lives is not enough for this terrifying killer. And that unless Rizzoli and Isles can find and stop him, he will soon be adding yet another chilling piece to his monstrous collection. 

I hadn't read a book from this series for quite a while but the fact that I read this book in just over a day, shows how much I still enjoy them.
I wouldn't say that Keeping the Dead is one of my favourites but I flew through the pages, Tess Gerritsen had me hooked from the very beginning.
An ancient mummy wrapped in 2000 year old bandages is found to have a modern day bullet embedded in its leg. Where has the victim come from and why has someone taken so much care to preserve her in such a way?
Tess Gerritsen is definitely a master of this genre, her books are so well written and she provides constant twists and turns. There was a big plot twist at the end which I really was not expecting.
Keeping the Dead isn't just your standard crime/thriller book, it asks questions about what evil is, how far would you go to protect the ones you love and how long can you keep running from something until it finally catches up with you?
I think that Keeping the Dead focused much more on the plot than giving us anything new about Rizzoli and Isles which is maybe why it's not one of my favourites.
A I always say, this is an excellent series of books. I can't recommend Tess Gerritsen enough, I will be very sad to get to the final one.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Book Review: The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

Can you really see evil when you look into someone's eyes?
In a rundown house, a woman has been dismembered in an act of carnage that leaves veteran cops in shock.  Drawn on the wall, in blood, are ancient symbols, and a mirror-image word in Latin, that, transcribed says 'I have sinned'.
Then a second woman is found butchered on Beacon Hill, just outside the home of the leader of the Mephisto Club, a secret society dedicated to the study of evil. On the door yet more ancient symbols have been scrawled. This is evil that the Boston PD have never encountered before. And the only way Dr Maura Isles can defeat it is by turning to the people who understand the devil himself.

The Mephisto Club is the 6th book in the Rizzoli and Isles series and it is by far my favourite. I can't believe how much I have enjoyed this series of books, Tess Gerritsen just keeps on getting better and better! 

I think that this book is darker than the previous ones. I felt that parts of it were verging on horror rather than the crime/thriller genre. Tess Gerritsen does not hold back when describing murder scenes and in my opinion she is one of the best at creating and maintaining the tension throughout a book. 

Dr Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli team up once again but there is tension in the air as Rizzoli does not approve of Maura's developing relationship with Father Daniel Brophy. The discordance in their relationship affects the investigation in that Maura is drawn into the Mephisto Club more than she would normally have allowed herself to be. The club studies evil and the person that Isles and Rizzoli are chasing, could definitely be described as that. The victims are found in appalling states, surrounded by words and symbols that lead back to the devil himself. It is clear that the murderer has only just begun but how are they going to catch him when he may not even be human?

I have said in all of my reviews of this series how much I have enjoyed them. Each book has had me gripped from beginning to end; if you are looking for a new crime series to try then check out Tess Gerritsen, she's one of the best.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Book Review: Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

The beautiful woman appears to be  just another corpse in the morgue. But when Dr Maura Isles looks down at the body, she gets the fright of her life. The corpse opens it's eyes. Now very much alive, the woman is rushed to hospital, where she murders a security guars and seizes hostages, one of whom is the heavily pregnant detective, Jane Rizzoli. But who is this woman and what does she want? Only Jane can solve the mystery- if she survives the night.

Another absolute cracker from Tess Gerritsen! Honestly, this author just gets better with each book in my humble opinion. I read Vanish in just over a day and a half and I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.
I felt with this book, more than Gerritsen's others that you really got to know the victims, there are a lot of flashbacks and the story being told from the victim's perspective, I think this added another layer and made for a more interesting read.
Obviously Jane Rizzoli and Dr Isles feature heavily. Jane is actually in labour when she is taken hostage and Dr Isles is left feeling completely useless in helping her friend.
What follows is a seriously gripping plot, rape, blackmail, corrupt government officials and murder. I think that Vanish may be my favourite of the series so far, this book should come with a warning though, once you start it , you won't want to do anything else until you have reached the last page.

Dot Scribbles Rating 5/5

Book Review: Long Gone by Alafair Burke

After months of unemployment, Alice Humphrey lands her dream job managing a Manhattan art gallery in the trendy Meatpacking district. According to recruiter Drew Campbell, the gallery is a passion of its anonymous owner, who remains uninvolved in it's daily operations. 

When Alice arrives one morning, she walks into a nightmare: the gallery is empty, except for the dead body of Drew. Before she knows it, Alice finds herself at the centre of the police investigation.

With every thread of the investigation leading back to Alice, she knows she has been set up. But who is out to get her? 

I'm a little undecided about this book as it took me so long to get into. I really struggled at the beginning as it seemed like there were three totally separate story lines and a lot of different characters, I found myself confused as to how they were related and which character went with which story.
However, I loved the central idea that Alice has been set up as Drew's murderer. I liked Alice and really felt for her as the whole situation was like a bad nightmare that you just want to wake up from.
This is Alafair Burke's seventh book and her first stand alone novel. I would be interested to try one of her other books as I did like the plot and the characters she created.
Don't let my review put you off, some readers like multiple plot lines. I just found the beginning of the book frustrating as I couldn't see how everything was linked. But Alafair Burke is certainly very good at keeping you guessing.

Many thanks to Avon for sending me the book to review, it is available to buy now.

Book Review: Body Double by Tess Gerritsen

Dr Maura Isles started at the corpse in the car, at the face illuminated by Rizzoli's flashlight beam. It's me. That woman is me. 

Maura Isles deals with death. As a pathologist in downtown Boston, she has seen more than her share of corpses. But never before has the body on the medical examiner's table been her own.

There can be no denying the evidence though. The dead woman is the mirror image right down to the most intimate physical details. Even more chilling is the discovery that they share the same birth date and blood type.

Then a DNA test confirms that Maura's mysterious double is indeed her twin sister, and suddenly an already bizarre murder investigation becomes a disturbing  excursion into a past full of dark and deadly secrets...

Tess Gerritsen just gets better and better! Body Double is so hard to put down,  I was completely carried away with the plot and the characters.
Dr Maura Isles returns from a trip to Paris to discover the police outside her house. Everyone is looking at her like a ghost and she soon understands why when they reveal why they are there. Slumped over the steering wheel, a gun shot victim is parked in Maura's driveway and looks exactly like her. A heavily pregnant Jane Rizzoli is leading the case and whilst she is relieved that her friend is alive and well, she is is no way prepared for where this case will take the two of them.
After a DNA test confirms that the victim is actually Dr Isle's sister, a whole can of worms is opened. In her quest to find the truth, Maura discovers that she may have quite a macabre heritage and that she may not be the only member of her family interested in the dead.
As usual, Tess Gerritsen has delivered a story with a terrific pace, each chapter makes you want to read on. I really liked how this book focused on Dr Maura Isles and I thought that it was a very clever way to explore the idea of nature vs nurture. Are we really just a product of our shared DNA or can we shape our own lives?
I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in the series and I will be very sad when I get to the last one.

Book Review: Cold Kill by Neil White

When Jane Roberts is found dead in a woodland area, Detective Sergeant Laura McGanity is first on the scene. The body bears a chilling similarity to a woman- Deborah Corley- murdered three weeks earlier. Both have been stripped, strangled and defiled. 

When reporter Jack Garrett starts digging for dirt on the notorious Whitcroft Estate, he finds himself face-to-face with Jane's father and gangland boss, Don who will stop at nothing until justice is done. It seems that the two murdered women were linked in more ways than one and a dirty secret is about to surface that some would prefer to stay buried. 

As the killer circles once more, Jack and Laura must get to him before he strikes again. But his sights are set on his next victim and he's watching Laura's every move...

Cold Kill is a fantastic, page-turning thriller. We have two victims, one the daughter of a gangland boss and the other the daughter of a police officer. Detective Sergeant Laura McGanity is working on the case and is struggling to find how, if at all, these two women are connected.
Laura's fiance is free-lance reporter Jack Garrett. He cannot use the inside information that Laura tells him so she has to find his own angle on the story. However, he was not expecting to be contacted by the killer who makes it clear that Laura could be his next victim. Laura and Jack have to work together as much as possible but both of their careers create barriers that sees them having to go it alone.
Neil White has created a very interesting story by having Laura and Jack as the main characters. They both have very different reasons for pursuing the killer but they know he must be caught before he claims another victim or Laura herself.
The tension is steadily built up throughout the book and there are many twists and turns towards the end which I didn't see coming.
I think that Cold Kill is a really interesting and clever thriller. I found the characters and situation to be entirely believable. Neil White has written four previous books which I am pleased about and I think he is a writer that I want to read more of.

Many thanks to Avon for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Book Review: The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

Within the walls of a cloistered convent, a scene of unspeakable carnage is discovered. On the snow lie two nuns, one dead, one critically injured- victims of a seemingly motiveless, brutally savage attack. 

As medical examiner Maura Isles autopsy of the murder victim yields a shocking surprise, the case takes a sudden and disturbing twist. The body of another woman has been found. And someone has gone to a lot of trouble to remove her face, hands and feet. 

As long buried secrets are revealed so Dr Isles and homicide detective Jane Rizzoli find themselves part of an investigation that leads to an awful, dawning realisation of the killer's identity.

I only discovered Tess Gerritsen this year and I think that The Sinner is my favourite so far of the Rizzoli and Isles series. I read this on a 10 hour flight between Heathrow and Miami and it was the perfect book to keep me distracted.
I felt that The Sinner focused in more detail on Rizzoli and Isles and I learnt more about the two female characters in this book than I did in the previous two.
The murder at the convent is completely shocking, one nun is dead and another critically injured. The violence inflicted in to these two women of God shocks everybody. The fact that the attack took place in a cloistered convent is even more alarming, these two women should have felt completely safe but somebody got in and shattered that forever.
Jane Rizzoli is leading the case and feels the huge burden of catching this highly dangerous killer. She is sickened by the crime scene and cannot believe where her investigation takes her. Rizzoli's personal life infringes on the job too, Gabriel Dean makes an appearance in the last third of the book and Jane has to finally admit that he may be more than a passing interest.
Dr Maura Isles in many ways holds the key to the investigation. Her post-mortems reveal vital clues as to  what happened to the nuns. When the third body is found, Maura initially thinks that is bears no connection to the convent killing. When she investigates further, she could not begin to imagine the ways in which the victims are linked. Dr Isles also has her personal life to content with in the form of her ex-husband Victor turning up after three years apart. She has a real mix of emotions; she realises how much she has missed him but then begins to question why he has suddenly decided to make an appearance.
Tess Gerritsen once again impressed me with her powerful story-telling skills. I think that a lot of crime/thriller books can be quite predictable but Gerritsen keeps you guessing right to the very end. I have the next book in the series, Body Double to read soon and I can't wait to see what these two women get up to next.
As I have said before, I would highly recommend Tess Gerritsen's books, she is right up there as my Queen of Crime!

So Close the Hand of Death by J.T. Ellison

Across America, murders are being committed with all the twisted hallmarks of the Boston Strangler, the Zodiac Killer and Son of Sam. The medial frenzy explodes and Nashville homicide lieutenant, Taylor Jackson knows instantly that The Pretender is back...and he's got helpers.
As The Pretender's disciples perpetrate their sick tributes- stretching police and FBI dangerously thin- Taylor tries desperately to prepare for their inevitable showdown. And she must do it alone. To be close to her is to be in mortal danger, and she won't risk losing anyone she loves. But the isolation, the self-doubt and the rising body count are taking their toll: she's trip-wire tense and ready to snap.
The brilliant psychopath who both adores and despises her is drawing close. Close enough to touch...

So Close the Hand of Death is the 6th in the Taylor Jackson series by J.T. Ellison. I don't normally like reading books in a series unless I have started from the beginning but I don't think it caused too many problems this time.
Taylor Jackson is our protagonist, she is extremely feisty but she knows that she and those she holds dear are under threat. The Pretender is the threat, he has just tortured Taylor's colleague and father-figure Fitz and made it very clear that he is coming for Taylor next.

The Pretender is just that, he is a copy-cat killer, mimicking violent murderers from the past. He moves around the country, changing victims and modes of killing, making him near impossible to catch. In So Close the Hand of Death he has recruited three apprentices who kill on his instruction, he is merely the puppet master, holding all the strings.

As Taylor draws closer she understands that she has to catch him alone, if she involves anyone then she knows for sure that their lives will be in danger. The thing is, Taylor hasn't decided what she will do to The Pretender once she has him, does her deserve to live after the devastation he has caused?
So Close the Hand of Death is a gripping read. There is a lot going on in terms of different events and characters but I was very impressed with the way that J.T. Ellison brought it all together at the end. I think it is a clever book as the characters are extremely well developed, the author gives snippets here and there so we get a clear picture of the characters and the motives for their behavior.
J.T. Ellison builds the suspense from the very beginning and I was not disappointed by the last chapters. I would recommend So Close the Hand of Death , it is a series that I will be investigating further.

Many thanks to Mira for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Book Review: Birdman by Mo Hayder

Greenwich, south-east London. DI Jack Caffery- young, driven, unshockable- is called to one of the most gruesome crime scenes he has ever seen.
Five young women have bee ritualistically murdered and dumped on wasteland near the Dome. Subsequent post-mortems reveal a singular, horrific signature linking the victims.
Soon Caffery realises that he is on the trail of that most dangerous offender: a serial killer. Beset by animosity within the police force, haunted by the memory of a very personal death, long ago, Caffery employs every weapon forensic science can offer to hunt him down.
Because he knows that it is only a matter of time before this sadistic killer strikes again...

This book is the second that I have read for The Great Transworld Crime Caper. I have not read any of Mo Hayder's previous books but after reading Birdman, I am definitely a fan.
The book centres around DI Jack Caffery, he like many fictional detectives has some skeletons in his closet but he really is a good guy, I really warmed to him throughout the book and he is a character I would like to read more of in the future.
Jack's team uncover the bodies of five women who have been buried for different periods of time. they have all be ritualistically killed and it appears that a small, live bird was sewn into their chests. With a body count of five to begin with, Jack knows that they are looking for a sadistic serial killer and time is not on their side.
Mo Hayder scatters clues throughout the book and then ties all the strings together at the end. I was on the edge of my seat several times but I don't think I was ever able to guess what would happen next. There are some very gruesome descriptions in the book, highlighting the depravity of the killer.
The only negative thing I can say is that there is a lot of medical vocabulary used in the book. Luckily I am married to a doctor so I could ask a few questions; it does add to the feeling of authenticity but it may send a few readers searching on Google.
Birdman is a brilliant thriller which I would highly recommend. I really enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to trying others by the same author.

Many thanks to Transworld for sending me a copy of the book.

Book Review: You Are Next by Katia Lief

Detective Karin Schaeffer was a happily married mother until she got too close to catching a serial killer.
The press nickname him The Domino Killer because he systematically murders whole families leaving a trail of bloody dominoes as the only clues to his next victim. Having brutally slain Karin's husband and child, he had left her a chilling message written in her daughter's blood: You Are Next.
And now The Domino Killer has escaped prison and the police believe he's on his way to find her but Karin is waiting...

It has only taken me just over a day to read this book, it's not overly long but Katia Lief has the reader gripped.
Karin Schaeffer is almost an empty shell when we meet her; she has lost her husband and daughter, her family home and also the career that led to it all. The nightmare began when Karin uncovered the whereabouts of Martin Price when working as a detective Martin Price is The Domino Killer or JPP as the police describe him: Just Plain Psycho. He is a serial killer who wipes out whole families, leaving dominoes as the only clue to the fate of his next victim. He took his revenge on Karin by viciously murdering her husband and young daughter, vowing to come for her next. So when Karin learns that JPP has escaped from prison, she is waiting, does she want to finish him for good or is she hoping he will finish her so that she can be with her family again. JPP is always seemingly one step ahead, he is not just interested in Karin but her remaining family members. The game has changed and Karin knows that this time she cannot let him win.
I thought that Katia Lief created a great story. Martin Price is an extremely chilling character and I found the idea of the dominoes as calling cards to be very interesting and original. The book is gruesome in parts but we are dealing with a psychiatric serial killer so it is to be expected.
Katia Lief is very good at lulling the reader into a false sense of security. There were several points where I felt relied but then she ramped it up and the nightmare continued.
You Are Next is a great and highly recommended read, I will never look at a set of dominoes in the same way again.

Many thanks to Ebury Press for sending me a copy of the book to review.

Book Review: Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton

Moving to remote Shetland has been unsettling enough for consultant surgeon Tora Hamilton, even before the gruesome discovery she makes one rain-drenched afternoon...
Deep in the peat soil of her field she uncovers the body of a young woman. The heart has been removed, and marks etched into the skin bear an eerie resemblance to carvings Tora has seen in her own cellar.
But as Tora begins to ask questions, terrifying threats start rolling in like the cold island mists...

This is the first book that I have read for The Great Transworld Crime Caper and it's been a brilliant start. S.J. Bolton grabs you and literally does not let go, I just felt that the story got better and better.
Tora Hamilton discovers the body on her land in the first few pages of the book. The gruesome discovery is a shock but she could not have imagined what would happen next. The body which is a young woman has it's heart missing and symbols etched into the back. Tora alerts the police immediately but she cannot leave it alone and begins doing her own investigations. A whole can of worms is opened and Tora believes there are several more bodies buried on Shetland and that the local police, some of her medical colleagues and possibly her own husband are all in on it.
Setting the book on Shetland just adds to the overall atmosphere. The island is steeped in mythology and Tora has to question what is true and what is terrifyingly possible. The island setting also adds to Tora's desperation and isolation. Shetland is tiny and remote, Tora has no where to hide and no one to trust and now plenty of people would be quite happy if she disappeared.
Sacrifice is part thriller, part murder mystery. The pace is relentless, I was completely involved from start to finish. I would highly recommend this book and will definitely be looking up S.J. Bolton's others.

Many thanks to Transworld for sending me a review copy.

Book Review: The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

In Boston there's a killer on the loose. A killer who targets lone women, who breaks into their apartments and performs terrifying ritualistic acts of torture on his victims before finishing them off. His surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician- a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them.
But as homicide detective Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli begin their investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful medic with a mysterious past. Two years ago she was subjected to a horrifying rape and attempted murder but shot her attacker dead. Now she is being targeted by this new killer who appears to know all about her past, her work at the Pilgrim Medical Center and where she lives. The man she believes she killed seems to be stalking her once again, and this time he knows exactly where to find her...

The Surgeon is the first in the Rizzoli and Isles series and the first book by Tess Gerritsen that I have read, I thought it was brilliant.
I have been searching for a good thriller writer for ages, I wanted something similar to Sophie Hannah and I think I may have found it.
Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli are working on the case where the murderer tortures his victims while they are still awake  and then finishes them off with a single slit to the throat. They can see that the murderer is clean, tidy and methodical and almost certainly has some kind of medical knowledge.

Catherine Cordell becomes an integral part of their case. She escaped from a similar attack two years ago and killed her attacker so she is astounded to learn that someone else is torturing and killing women in the same way. It becomes personal as the killer communicates with her and it becomes clear that she is next on the list.
Tess Gerritsen has created very clear-cut , realistic characters. I really took to Thomas Moore, he is not the cliched detective that you find in many books of this genre which was extremely refreshing. The case takes on a whole new aspect when Thomas accepts that he has developed feelings for Catherine and she for him, I really enjoyed this part of the book.
We do not find out a massive amount about Jane Rizzoli in this book as the focus is more on Thomas but I do hope we learn more about her character as the series develops.
Tess Gerritsen writes some particularly chilling scenes in this book and the pace is just right, it only took me just over a day to read it as I was eager to find out what happened.
If you are after a good, page-turning thriller then I would very much recommend this book, it is a series I know I shall greatly enjoy.