Book reviews

Authors are readers too. Avid readers.

We also know what it’s like to write a book, so I only post reviews for books I finish. If a book’s not for me, I stop reading and move on.

At all times I aim to be constructive and fair, but it’s only my opinion. I no longer give ratings or stars, except on Amazon, Bookbub and Goodreads.

My tastes are almost exclusively crime fiction, though I venture beyond murders from time to time.

I hope the reviews will help you discover new authors and novels to enjoy.

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves

9th April 2021. If you like your crime fiction to be as much about the characters as the plot, then the Vera Stanhope series should fit the bill. From the ...
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Take a Number by Janet Dawson

7th April 2021. When Jeri Howard becomes involved in a divorce case, she takes on more than finding the missing $100,000 dollars that Sam has hidden from his wife. He’s ...
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Murder in the Village by Faith Martin

28th March 2021. Having read and enjoyed the first three novels in the Hillary Green series, I settled into this one, not realising what a great and gripping story it ...
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Next to Disappear by Malcolm Richards

28th March 2021. This is a different kind of crime story with an unlikely protagonist, Emily Swanson. With secrets to hide and painful memories, she escapes to London to start ...
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Buried Crimes by Michael Hambling

23rd March 2021. There’s a change of pace in this fourth outing for DCI Sophie Allen and her team. Two children’s skeletons are unearthed in the garden of a family ...
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Silent Tide by Alex Scarrow

17th March 2021. In a yacht off the coast of Hastings the grisly remains of a murder are discovered. For DCI Boyd, relocated from London to Sussex CID after extended ...
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Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves

16th March 2021. Ann Cleeves is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, especially for the Vera Stanhope series. I love the gentle pace, the way she gets inside the ...
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The Distant Echo by Val McDermid

10th March 2021. This is a complex story about four students who discover the body of Rosie in the snow. The discovery is about to change and taint their lives ...
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The Seagull by Ann Cleeves

9th March 2021. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the Vera Stanhope series. I love the intricate plots, the depth and development of the main characters, especially ...
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Turkish Delight by Barry Faulkner

6th March 2021. This was a great first book in what promises to be an exciting new series of action thrillers, featuring Ben Nevis and the Gold Digger. Slick, fast ...
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Poetic Justice by BL Faulkner

5th March 2021. Returning to a favourite series is like catching up with an old friend, enjoying the company, reflecting on past times, recalling what brought you together. In this ...
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Thicker than Water by JD Kirk

4th March 2021. In a world of crime fiction where many series tread the same well-worn steps, some books stand out for their originality, the distinctive voice and style of ...
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A Darker Domain by Val McDermid

5th March 2021. Some stories grab you from the start, drawing you in with strong believable characters you root for. Add an intriguing mystery that spans a quarter of a ...
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Married Lies by Chris Collet

24th February 2021. I’ve enjoyed all the Tom Mariner books so far, but this one is my favourite. Maybe it’s because his relationship issues are not so prominent in this ...
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Till the Old Men Die by Janet Dawson

23rd February 2021. This is a deep, involving and complex story that deals with past injustices alongside a current murder. When a history professor is killed in a car park, ...
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Networking for Writers by Lizzie Chantree

23rd February 2021. While there are plenty of books out there that deal with all aspects of marketing a book and using social media as a writer, it’s great to ...
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A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie

17th February 2021. Under the cover of a children’s nursery rhyme a killer is bumping people in the Fortescue house. The dysfunctional family, ably looked after by the efficient Miss ...
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See Them Run by Marion Todd

16th February 2021. I enjoy finding new authors to read in a crowded crime market where there are more detectives with traumas than you can shake a stick at. Many ...
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