REVIEW: One Perfect Morning by Pamela Crane

I'm pleased to share my review of the latest psychological thriller by US author Pamela Crane. A genius twist but too much drama and too many unlikable characters in my opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Published: 20 August 2020

The blurb 

She’s made her bed, and now he’s lying dead in it…

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been inseparable since college. Twenty years on, they all live in the same neighbourhood with their perfect homes, perfect families, perfect lives.

But in their idyllic suburban town, no one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors. For each of these women is crumbling under the weight of a secret, a betrayal, a lie.

And when the worst happens, will the unbreakable bond of their friendship survive, though it’s started to fray at the edges?

One dead husband. Three women with motives. And they’re all best friends who have each other’s backs – or do they…?

The review

This had a bit of a 'Desperate Housewives' feel to it....three women all with glossy exteriors but hiding inner secrets, friends on the surface but loyal only to themselves. It starts with one of the women murdering their husband as he sleeps but we don't find out the identity of either. The book then sets revisits the preceding days establishing that they all have reasons to want somebody else dead - so literally anyone could be the victim and anyone the murderer. The action is also interspersed with flashbacks to the 1990s when the women met and where one particular event was kept secret until today.

And that's part of the problem with everyone having motives and secrets in the past and present there's just too much going on at times. Also what does go on is all fairly heavy covering rape, underage sex, domestic abuse, drug addiction and of course murder. None of it is particularly graphic or upsetting but it's just continuous.

It's hard to believe that one group of friends can have that much drama. And, also that after so much drama and betrayal, the characters are seemingly unaffected and forgive and forget a liitle too easily.

The other problem is that it's full of unlikable characters, not just because nobody in this story can be trusted but also because they are truly toxic particularly to each other. I would not want to be friends with any of these women.

I did absolutely love the clever twist though whereby the 'murderer' didn't actually kill the victim at all. Genius. Overall though a 3.5 rating, sadly rounded down to 3 stars. 

The author

Pamela Crane is a North Carolinian writer of psychological thriller, and wannabe psychologist. Follow @MentalMommyPam on Twitter or find out more at www.pamelacrane.com

REVIEW: Precious You by Helen Monks Takhar

Here's my latest review of the debut novel by new author Helen Monks Takhar. I was really looking forward to this from the blurb but sadly I just didn’t really like or get it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 23 July 2020

The blurb 
She’s got your job. She wants your life…

When Katherine first meets her new intern Lily, she’s immediately captivated. Young, beautiful and confident, Lily reminds Katherine of everything she once was – and it’s not long before she develops a dark fascination with her new colleague.

But is Lily as perfect as she seems, or does she have a sinister hidden agenda? As Katherine is drawn into an obsessive power struggle with the intern, a disturbing picture emerges of two women hiding dark secrets – and who are desperate enough to do anything to come out on top…

The review
“She’s got your job. She wants your life.” This sounded great but sadly I just didn’t really like or get it.

It’s a really dark psychological thriller full of destructive characters – not least main character Katherine or KR. Katherine is or was a talented journalist, a girl done good despite hints of a difficult upbringing but she’s also inappropriately offensive (slightly racist, disparaging about anti millennials or ‘snowflakes’ as she calls them and swears profusely) and slightly toxic leading a drink, drug and sex fuelled existence, abusing her position to get what she can where she can. She brings a lot of things upon herself which didn’t resonate with me because she was supposedly smart, and is truly unlikeable which makes it hard to really care.  

There’s also Lily – the life stealer - another disturbed, dark character. The book is mostly Katherine’s point of view with much shorter chapters from Lily every so often. And, perhaps because of this bias I just didn’t really get Lily, there wasn’t enough to help me understand her motivations. 

This was also a slow unravel. There were a few twists towards the end but by then I didn’t really care because unlike with most thrillers I wasn’t actually rooting for anyone, invested in the story or hoping for a particular outcome. 

A totally toxic, screwed up thriller that many have loved but sadly I just didn’t. 

The author
Follow @HelenMTakhar or find out more at www.helenmonkstakhar.co.uk

REVIEW: No Regrets by Tabitha Webb

Here's my review of the debut novel by Tabitha Webb, an acclaimed designer and entrepreneur. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 9 July 2020

The blurb 
Good friends. Bad Choices. No Regrets.

Best friends Stella, Ana and Dixie have always lived life to the full. But now they’re approaching their forties, reality is starting to kill the mood…

Stella loves her children, but misses her glittering career. Plus she can’t even remember the last time she had sex.

Ana is trying for a baby with her partner Rex. So why can’t she stop thinking about the one that got away?

Dixie is the wildest of them all. A Tinder addict who’ll never settle down. But has she accidentally found Mr Right…?

It’s time for the friends to shake things up and start having some fun. Because you only regret the things you don’t do, right?

The Review
This was full of promise - the promise of a fabulously funny and naughty tale of friendship. The story is that of three very different friends as they approach the crossroads of their 40s. My favourite was feisty Stella who adores her children but is struggling with the monotony of being a stay-at-home mum. There's also sensible Ana who's chosen her baby-daddy with her head rather than heart and good-time girl Dixie who may have to re-evaluate after unexpectedly falling for someone.

It started well with the introduction of Stella and her vague and uncomfortable feeling that her children might be better off with a nanny as at least they'd be clean and on time. "Maybe someone else could be a better waitress and Uber driver. These were not her skills." Another hilarious musing was Stella thinking about the constant need to keep tabs on her wandering two-year-old "sometimes she wondered what would happen if she let him go. Would he return in 16 years, all grown up, a veteran of several wars...thankful to Stella for her trust in his abilities, or would he be taken in by social services....thank God Jake (her husband) was a lawyer."

But, then nothing much actually happened. Well that's not strictly true - there was a lot of sex, a little humour (mostly involving Stella) and not a lot else. What did happen was predictable even from the blurb in that Stella gets her mojo back, Ana's drawn to her ex and Dixie settles down. The sex was also a bit much for me. It's not that I'm a prude (well maybe a bit) but I don't need graphic details, preferring subtle suggestion instead, and I like the action to be part of the story, not just there for the sake of it.

So, in my opinion this was sex over substance. I didn't hate it but didn't love it either so a 3.5 stars rounded down from me unfortunately.

The author
Tabitha Webb is a designer, her luxury British brand was launched in 2013, who has now turned her talented hand to writing. Follow @tabithawebbuk to find out more.

REVIEW: Safe by SK Barnett

Here's my review of a dark psychological thriller written under a pseudonym. Warning this won't be for everyone due to the nature of the content.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 11 June 2020

The blurb 
A kidnapped girl survived twelve nightmarish years. Now she's safely back home . . . or is she?

Jenny Kristal was six years old when she was snatched off the sidewalk from her quiet suburban neighborhood. Twelve years later, she's miraculously returned home after escaping her kidnappers— but as her parents and younger brother welcome her back, the questions begin to mount. Where has she been all these years? Why is she back now? And is home really the safest place for her or for any of them?

The Review
I really wish books came with some sort of classification rating similar to films to give an idea of the content and help you choose what's right for you and avoid what's not. Without wanting to spoil the plot, this book had a heavy theme of sexual child abuse - when I say heavy it wasn't overtly graphic but it was the main theme and it was constant throughout. I read on but for me personally it was uncomfortable reading at times and not a book I would've chosen had I been pre-warned.

That said if you can get past that it's a good read and plot. It's an interesting concept of what happens when a now grown-up child is reunited with their family after being abducted twelve years earlier. But, is she actually safe back home and/or are her family safe from her? There's plenty of twists and turns and with each answer comes just as many new questions. You would never guess from the beginning where/how this was going to end up.

The author
SK Barnett is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author whose previous book was turned into a major motion picture.

REVIEW: The First Date by Zara Stoneley

Here's my review of the latest romantic comedy by Zara Stoneley - an author I've been meaning to read for ages. This was full of promise but unfortunately fell a bit flat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Harper Collins UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 24 April 2020

The blurb 
Right place. Right time. Wrong guy …

After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up in person.

Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Stood up.

Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …

The Review
Zara Stoneley is described as an author of sex, scandal, live, lust and laughter. I was really looking forward to this expecting a witty, racy romcom but sadly found it a bit flat and a struggle to finish. I guess it had the sex, love and lust but was certainly missing the scandal and laughter.

The two main problems were the repetitiveness and the fact that nothing really happens. Newly single Rosie meets flirty, casual water Noah after her first date in fifteen years stands her up. Both obviously like each other, despite really not wanting to, and so run with the idea of Noah giving Rosie dating lessons pretty much as a reason to see each other again and again.

From the first meeting until the end, where they predictably and eventually get together, it's just a series of nice dates (aka lessons) between the same people, with the same feelings and intentions just a different setting/date activity each time. And, with no real drama, comedy or sub-plots it unfortunately starts to drag.

Also Rosie's dad is a cheater, Rosie's newly single, Rosie doesn't want to fall for a charmer and Rosie's pretty direct - I got it. I got it within the first few chapters yet the author felt the need to reiterate these things over and over again which was super repetitive and annoying.

Unfortunately, Rosie herself was also quite annoying as a character, moaning constantly about her Dad issues and wanting Noah to make all the moves or apologise even when she was the one in the wrong.

So, as much as I hate to say it disappointingly I just didn't really enjoy this - it definitely didn't live up to the blurb.

The author
Follow @ZaraStoneley on Twitter or find out more at www.zarastoneley.com

REVIEW: Aria's Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisin

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by self-confessed bibliophile Rebecca Raisin. An easy, light-hearted read with a nice storyline but slightly repetitive and lacking something special.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 8 April 2020

The blurb 
Aria Summers knows what she wants. A life on the road with best friend Rosie and her beloved camper-van-cum-book-shop, and definitely, definitely, no romance.

But when Aria finds herself falling – after one too many glasses of wine, from a karaoke stage – into the arms of Jonathan, a part of her comes back to life for the first time in years.

Since her beloved husband died Aria has sworn off love, unless it’s the kind you can find in the pages of a book. One love of her life is quite enough. And so Aria tries to forget Jonathan and sets off for a summer to remember in France. But could this trip change Aria’s life forever…?

The Review
Consisting of all my favourite ingredients - love, friendship, adventure and entrepreneurship - this could've/should've been my perfect book but it just wasn't. 

Rather than inspiring this was very repetitive. Main character Aria lost her beloved husband to cancer and now lives and works in a camper van travelling wherever and whenever she pleases selling her books along the way. These were two main themes to the storyline that of opening yourself up to love again after tragedy and van life. Both of which were wonderful themes but we were literally reminded of them every single chapter or paģe which became very tiresome after a while.

There were some funny bits such as Aria's not so inconspicuous appearance at her love interest, Jonathan's, author talk. But, overall this is best described as 'nice - the storyline is fairly unremarkable, the characters fairly ordinary and the romance rather lukewarm, it's also pretty predictable. This is the second in the series, it works as a standalone but maybe had I read the first I would've been more brought into the characters.

It's an easy, light-hearted read with some pleasing aspects but at the same time it's definitely not a must-read in my opinion.

The author
Follow Rebecca Raisin on Twitter or find out more at www.rebeccaraisin.com

REVIEW - Our Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

Here's my review of the latest novel by Irish best-selling writer Liz Nugent, which unfortunately wasn't for me but a great dark humour - if you like that sort of thing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 26 March 2020

The blurb 
Three brothers are at the funeral. One lies in the coffin.

Will, Brian and Luke grow up competing for their mother's unequal love. As men, the competition continues - for status, money, fame, women... They each betray each other, over and over, until one of them is dead.

But which brother killed him?

The Review
Three brothers are at the funeral but one lies in the coffin. They betray each other, over and over, until one of them is murdered but which one? From that blurb, I was expecting a psychological thriller with lots of twists and trying to work out who had killed who. However, that's not really what this turned out to be. 

It started that way with the funeral, but then it turned into more of a dark family drama following the lives of each brother as they inflicted multiple cruelties on one another through childhood and into adulthood and the present day. The biggest cruelty of all was obviously one of their death's but during the telling the mystery of the murder sadly became almost forgotten - disappointingly there were no clues, suggestions or twists and turns to untangle along the way. 

The book is essentially in four parts; Will's story, Brian's story and Luke's story followed by present day events. However, the stories are not only not chronological but also don't follow any kind of pattern with chapters switching to a different random year in logical order. It's all credit to the skill and talent of author that this actually even works although it is definitely a little confusing initially until you get to grips with it and the story and characters. 

Liz Nugent also has a real gift for character development, creating three extremely complex personalities full of both light and dark. Unfortunately, however, I didn't actually like any of them and therefore even care who got murdered. At first I thought it was the all-male cast but in reality it was the fact that between them the brothers possess pretty much every negative character trait possible from sexism, abusiveness, manipulativeness, meanness, selfishness, and obessiveness. Perhaps it's karma but these truly horrible characters experience a plethora of hard-hitting life situations including rape, addiction and mental ill health which altogether makes for rather depressing, dark and shocking reading. 

So, despite me wanting to read this award-winning author for ages, disappointingly this just really wasn't for me. It really is best enjoyed as a dark humour and not a psychological thriller - which is what I was expecting/hoping for.   

The author
Follow @lizzienugent or find out more at www.liznugent.ie

REVIEW: The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by bestselling U.S. author Tarryn Fisher. xxx.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 25 June 2020

The blurb 
You’ve never met the other wives. None of you know each other, you see your husband only one day a week. Thursday. But you don’t care, you love him that much. Or at least that’s what you’ve told yourself…

And then, one day it all changes.

You thought you were fine with this, with only having a fraction of a husband. But you can’t help yourself, you start to dig. Begin tracking them down, the other days… Who is Monday and why does she have bruises on her arms? Is she being abused? By who? Her husband? Your husband?

What else is he keeping from you? And who is he, really?

The Review. 
I was totally captivated by the blurb for this book.....imagine that your husband has two other wives, you've never met the others and don't know anything about them. That is until you find something out by chance that sparks a quest for answers and makes you question whether you even know your husband at all. However, it turned out that this just wasn't for me unfortunately.  

Choosing this book blind, based totally on the blurb, I didn't know anything about best-selling U.S. author, Tarryn Fisher. This was probably a mistake as had I done some research I probably would've realised that I wasn't going to be fan of @darkmarktarryn (as she calls herself on Twitter). As the name suggests her style and language is quite dark, raw, melancholy and explicit. However, whilst not my preferred style I've read and enjoyed many such books, as a brilliant, compelling a story can conquer all. 

Unfortunately, despite promising a brilliant, compelling story and definitely captivating me initially, it quickly became apparent that this wasn't going to pan out like that. It's hard to talk about without giving anything away but the author put forward the idea that the main character was imagining everything. And, then it turned that she was, and in doing so I felt made light and a mockery of mental ill health, particularly as well with the massive and unexpected ending twist. I was hoping for a positive outcome for the deeply conflicted and complex main character but instead got a shocking ending which seemed unnecessarily and deliberately sensationalist. But, again having now read up on the author I realise that this is her style - deliberately different, thought-provoking and sad. 

You can have toxic, unlikable characters but still empathise with them or love to hate them. But, again this wasn't the case. There were so few characters in the story and I didn't like any of them, which also added to the difficulty of this read and my enjoyment. 

So, as I'm sure you can tell this really wasn't for me. However, please don't let that put you off because most readers totally disagree with me and had I known more about the author I probably would've realised that beforehand.

The author
Follow @DarkMarkTarryn or find out more at www.tarrynfisher.com

REVIEW: Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

In my opinion this was a nice warm-hearted read, realistically portraying the highs and lows of family life as well as love and loss without ever becoming too downhearted or sad.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 2 April 2020

The blurb 
When Flora falls in love with Jack, suddenly she’s not only handling a very cranky teenager, but she’s also living in the shadow of Jack’s perfect, immortalised wife, Becca. Every summer, Becca and Jack would holiday with Becca’s oldest friends and Jack wants to continue the tradition, so now Flora must face a summer trying to live up to Becca’s memory, with not only Jack’s daughter looking on, but with Becca’s best friends judging her every move…

The more Flora tries to impress everyone, the more things go horribly wrong…but as the summer unfolds, Flora begins pushing her own boundaries, and finding herself in a way that she never thought she needed to.

And she soon learns that families come in all shapes and sizes.

The review
It's very difficult to review something when you don't have a strong opinion either way. And, unfortunately that's exactly where I find myself with this book. There was nothing not to like - it was a well-written, warm-hearted read - but at the same time it didn't quite capture my imagination either.

This was the story of Flora embarking on a relationship with widower Jack, and the emotional challenges that come hand-in-hand with a father of two - it's not just him but the whole family who needs to fall in love with you too. As such it wasn't meant to be a love story but a story of family dynamics.

However, to go from Jack and Flora accidentally meeting, to being introduced to the family and moving in together all within the space of a few chapters seemed way to quick. I wanted the build-up as without it, like Izzy, Jack's teenage daughter, I just couldn't believe in the relationship and see how the two were remotely compatible and understand why Jack would knowingly upset his fragile family dynamic for someone he'd only just met.

That said I did like the fast pace. The book started with the lure of an untold secret about Becca, Jack's dead wife, and so needed to progress quickly through Flora trying to live up to this image of Becca as the perfect, wide, mother, friend and career-woman, to the big reveal that Becca was actually as flawed as the rest of them. Every page and word were relevant - there was definitely no filler.

I also loved the ending and the reveal, which without wanting to give too much away showed great depth and likeability to Jack's character - it was just a shame that we had to wait until the end to see it and understand him or his relationship with Flora. And, this was the other problem in that whilst I really liked Izzy, I didn't warm to either Jack (for the reasons just given) or Flora. Izzy described Flora as someone you don't want to but can't help liking because she's so nice. But, I had no such problem, for me Flora was too nice, too much of a people-pleaser, too vanilla to really champion. 

All-in-all this is a nice story realistically portraying the highs and lows of family life as well as love and loss without ever becoming too downhearted or sad. However, once again its very much a nice read rather than a must-read.

The author
Follow @SarahMorgan_ or find out more at sarahmorgan.com

REVIEW: Unexpected Lessons in Love by Lucy Dillon

I'm delighted to share my review of the latest novel by Lucy Dillon. A nice easy read with lots of cute dogs, glam wedding dresses, heart-warming friendships and lessons in love.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Random House UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: January 2020

The blurb 
Jeannie always wanted to fall in love, and now she’s finally got the whirlwind romance she dreamed of. Dan’s gorgeous, he’s a successful young vet, and he flew her to New York and proposed on Brooklyn Bridge. Jeannie has to remind herself this is actually her life. It seems too perfect, too magical, to be real. Yet it is.

But now she’s on her way to the wedding she can’t shake off the tight sensation crushing her chest. Is it just nerves . . . or is this all happening a bit too fast? Jeannie has one last chance to shout, ‘Stop!’ But just as she grabs it, a twist of fate throws everything she knows into the air like confetti. What Jeannie learns about Dan, about her own heart, and about the power of love itself, will change her world for ever....

In my opinion
I like the theme of this book - unexpected lessons in love - and totally agree with the learnings which were:

1. Don't mistake falling in love, for love.
2. Love is not how it seems on Instagram - it's unfiltered, unnerving and unedited. 
3. Love has to start with a click.
4. Timing and pure coincidence play a big part in love. 
5. There's many types of love including the love and companionship provided by pets. 

And, being an animal lover, I really enjoyed the dog and animal sanctuary parts of this story. Main character, Jeannie's, landlady and soon-to-be best friend runs an animal sanctuary which is stretched to its limits when it takes in three dog families from a puppy farm. Cue plenty of cute animal antics and heart-seeking bonds, but also lots of entrepreneurial spirit as the friends seek ingenious ways to raise money for their rehabilitation including a wedding dress sale and fashion show. 

However, that was also part of the problem for me in that there was a lot going on. The main story is obviously the love story - that of Jeannie getting cold feet on the day of her wedding, right before a twist of fate intervenes. But, there's also the animal sanctuary and the fund-raising as mentioned, as well as Jeannie's struggle as a singer-songwriter, her falling out with her ex best friend and band mate, family relationships and the secret life of Jeannie's fiance. 

All in all there's a lot going on but weirdly at the same time nothing going on at times. There's a lot of revisiting to the point where it felt like you were just reading the same thing again and the pace is pretty slow with the story(ies) limping sedately along towards a fairly predictable ending. 

That said overall it's enjoyable and definitely a nice easy read. I've never read the author before but have no doubts that fans of Lucy Dillon will love it. For anyone else, in my opinion it's worth a read but just not a must-read. 

The author
Follow @lucy_dillon or find out more at lucydillon.co.uk

Preview - The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books for giving me the opportunity to read the latest thriller by Nuala Ellwood prior to publication. Despite having wanted to read this author for ages, I found this a difficult read as it was altogether darker, rawer and more melancholy than I was expecting.

Expected: 24 January 2020 (ebook) and 20 February 2020 (paperback)

The blurb 
Lisa needs to disappear. And her friend's rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It's miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows her or her little boy, Joe.

But what secret has Rowan Isle House - and her friend - kept hidden all these years? And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her? 

In my opinion
Author Nuala Ellwood is one of those authors who regularly appears on those lists of other authors that I may like, so I was really excited to have this opportunity to read her latest book prior to publication. Unfortunately, however, this one just wasn’t for me.

A remote lakeside house provides the setting for this story, whose chapters alternate between the present day and fifteen years previously. In the present day, Lisa is hiding out in the house with her young son, Joe, having fled from her controlling husband. Similarly, fifteen years earlier the house was home to a teenage Grace and her controlling father, who lived solitary lives fearful of civilisation and the modern world.

The book’s description promised a nail-biting thriller in which main character Lisa needs to disappear and her friend's rambling old home seems like the perfect place. But, Lisa soon realises that the house - and her friend - have hidden secrets. And, so I wasn’t really expecting the underlying theme which was two women abused and controlled in various different ways by the men in their lives. As such this was darker, rawer and more melancholy than I was expecting. 

The other problem was that there was a very small pool of characters and I just didn’t warm to any of them. Even four-year old Joe was a very mardy child. Through the author’s clever descriptive writing I was able to understand and muster a certain amount of sympathy for the characters but I still found them very difficult to like or agree with their choices. 

On the plus side I had no idea where the two story lines were going to lead. It was very well written, nothing is what it seems with both Lisa and Grace’s stories far from straightforward. Each time I thought I knew what was happening, the story veered off in a different direction. However, whilst I couldn’t predict the ending I also didn’t really like it as it failed to shake of the overwhelming feeling of sadness, offering only a small smidgen of hope for the future of these women.

Nuala Ellwood is a best-selling author and this has received some great comments, but for me it was a difficult read and not really my cup of tea unfortunately.

The author
Follow @NualaWrites on Twitter.

REVIEW - All the Rage by Cara Hunter

Here's my review of the latest book in the DI Fawley series by author Cara Hunter. An exciting crime novel with lots to like but overall not for me as it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books (UK) for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: January 2020

The blurb 
A distressed teenage girl is found on the outskirts of Oxford. The story she tells is terrifying: grabbed off the street, a plastic bag forced over her head, then driven somewhere remote and subjected to an assault. DI Adam Fawley is doing the best he can to investigate, but the teenager refuses to press charges. All he can do is try to ignore the sickening feeling he's seen something like this before...

But when another girl goes missing, Fawley knows his time is running out. Because if he ignores the past any longer, this girl may not be coming back.

In my opinion
For me the distinction between a thriller and a crime novel is very ambiguous and perhaps subjective. This was cleverly constructed with lots of twists and turns, mystery and drama meaning it hits the definition of a thriller. So as a fan of thrillers I really enjoyed the complexity of the story and characters, the fast pace from the off, and the totally unexpected ending.

However, I felt it was more of a crime novel, following the police investigation into a potential sexual predator and serial killer abducting young women. That said I loved the detective aspect especially as the author intersperses the narrative with 'evidence' in the form of maps, court extracts, interviews with the suspects, text messages and social media exerts. There were lots of false leads, reluctant witnesses and partial forensics all of which highlighted the difficulties of actual police investigations. All-in-all I felt like a real-life detective myself trying to piece it all together.

What I didn't like - and generally don't like about crime novels - is the factual and procedural style of writing, meaning that whilst I enjoyed being involved as an amateur detective I didn't really emotionally engage with the book or characters. This wasn't helped by the fact that there were so many characters from a large police team plus their families to the victims and their family/friends as well as a wide variety of suspects, witnesses and alibis. There were literally too many people and back stories to connect with any one character to any great extent. It was also quite confusing in the beginning trying to keep track of so many people.

From the cover blurb I also hadn't realised the plot (or crime) involved implied sexual assault. I'm fine with murder, abduction, torture and even tongues being cut off (as in Deborah Masson's 'Hold Your Tongue') but I really don't like reading about crimes of a sexual nature and wouldn't have picked this up had I known.

The author writes in a very contemporary and unique style, sometimes in the first person and sometimes in the third person. The absence of any chapters is very unusual however. But that said the text is broken up into very short snippets meaning it's still very manageable and easy read - as well as really adding to the punchy fast paced feel throughout.

I enjoyed this book, especially the completely unexpected ending which provided a sad but believable reflection of a certain demographic of society. But, unfortunately for me it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Author Cara Hunter is widely regarded as one of the most exciting crime writers, so if crime's your thing then I have no doubt that you will love this. This is actually the latest in a series all featuring DI Fawley but it really won't matter if you haven't read any of the others.

The author
Follow @CaraHunterBooks on Twitter.