18th February 2019 – 4 stars. If you like your crime character driven with an absorbing plot, then you should enjoy the first in the DC Smith series, set in Norfolk. The DC are Smith’s initials, by the way, not his rank in the police. It all starts with what looks like an accidental death … Continue reading "An Accidental Death by Peter Grainger"
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14th February 2019 – 4 stars. I loved the first two books in the series. Outside Looking In was outstanding and my favourite read of 2018, making it a tough act to follow. A Room Full of Killers is essentially a locked room murder mystery set in a detention centre for teenage killers. It has … Continue reading "A Room Full of Killers by Michael Wood"
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28th January 2019 – 4 stars. Suspend disbelief and prepare to be taken on a ride filled with twists and turns, humour and escapism. If like me, you enjoy conspiracy theories and wonder what the secret services might get up to, you should appreciate this novel. At its heart, this is a convoluted story of … Continue reading "CXVI by Angie Smith"
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27th January 2019 – 4 stars. I always enjoy the DCI Ryan stories because I love the main characters, the way they work together and the complex, usually original crimes they have to solve. The stories also seem to work better when there is a personal element to the investigation, such as Ryan’s confrontation with … Continue reading "The Hermitage by LJ Ross"
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8th January 2019 – 5 stars. I haven’t enjoyed a psychological thriller this much since I read Joy Fielding’s, See Jane Run, over 20 years ago. The breakdown of friendship and the revenge that followed are at the heart of this thrilling story. From the intriguing opening to the gripping climax, I was hooked by … Continue reading "The Lie by CL Taylor"
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31st December 2018 – 4 stars I enjoyed The Body in the Dales, the first in a series featuring Yorkshire detective Jim Oldroyd. The gentle pace, the evocative setting of the Dales, both above and below ground, the villages and the characters that live there, firmly established this story as a traditional, cosy whodunit. Usually, … Continue reading "The Body in the Dales by JR Ellis"
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26th December 2018 – 5 stars. The best spoofs remain faithful to the concept of the original, while adding a new, often irreverent treatment. In this case, we have classic Sherlock Holmes, whose adventures are still narrated by his faithful companion Dr Watson, with more than a little help from his spirited, promiscuous wife, Mary. … Continue reading "The Watson Letters Vol 4: The Revenge of the Hooded Claw by Colin Garrow"
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23rd December 2018 – 5 stars The author’s distinctive voice and style immediately drew me into this complex, twisting story that kept me hooked and guessing to the final pages. The characterisation of both major and minor characters was superb, with compassionate and insightful detail that brought them to life within seconds. As for the … Continue reading "Caught by Harlan Coben"
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4th December 2018 – 5/5 stars. Peter James always comes up with original plots that entertain, intrigue and delight. This time, it’s the world of the superstar singer/actor that gets the Roy Grace treatment as Brighton born Gaia returns to her home town to make a film. Little does she know that there’s an embittered … Continue reading "Not Dead Yet by Peter James"
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21st November 2018 – 4/5 stars Once again, the author delivers another terrific story, filled with tension, suspense and superlative writing as someone starts blowing up the bridges over the River Tyne. Is it a terrorist, trying to bring Newcastle to a standstill, or is there a more sinister mind at work? LJ Ross captured … Continue reading "Seven Bridges by LJ Ross"
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