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.

A Credible Threat by Janet Dawson

26th August 2021. In the sixth novel in the series, Oakland PI, Jeri Howard, investigates a dangerous stalker. It starts with hostile phone calls, moves on to damaging plants and ...
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Murder in the Garden by Faith Martin

23rd August2021. In the ninth outing for Hillary Greene, she’s got two investigations on the go. After two months compassionate leave following the murder of her boss and friend, she ...
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How I Sold 80,000 Books by Alinka Rutkowska

18th August 2021. As an independent author who’s still learning, I’m always interested in anything that can give me a better understanding and new ideas to improve marketing what I ...
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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

17th August 2021. When I first read Sherlock Holmes as a teenager, I didn’t fully appreciate or understand his character or the subtleties of his relationship with Dr Watson. These ...
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How to Win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

14th August 2021. I first read a copy of this book when I was about 19 or 20 years old. It contained a lot of interesting and useful advice, much ...
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Let’s Do It by Jasper Rees

12th August 2021. I’m a huge fan of Victoria Wood and couldn’t wait to read this biography to find out more about her life and her work. On the whole ...
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The Winter Mystery by Faith Martin

The second book in the series sees roving caterer Jenny Starling taking a Christmas booking at a remote farm run by Stan. He’s an aggressive bully who rules with a ...
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Blackthorn Manor Haunting by Cheryl Bradshaw

3rd August 2021. I’ve enjoyed the previous two Addison Lockhart outings, liking the combination of murder mystery and the paranormal. Like all the author’s books, they’re easy to read, well ...
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Killing Christmas by Bill Kitson

3rd August 2021. Wow. This is another heart stopping ride in the thrilling DI Mike Nash series, which gets better with every book. It’s winter in Helmdale and a young ...
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Murder in the Mansion by Faith Martin

2nd August 2021. What joy to be back in Kidlington and in the company of DI Hillary Greene and her team. Okay, there’s a sniper shooting police officers in the ...
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Death under the Dryer by Simon Brett

1st August 2021. When Carole Sedden visits the local hairdresser, she gets more than a trim. Finding the body of Kyra, an assistant at the premises, triggers another investigation for ...
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Silent Crimes by Michael Hambling

1st August 2021. The death of a homeless person in remote woodland proves difficult to investigate for DCI Sophie Allen and her team. It’s a bit of a slog until ...
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Family Secrets by Shawn McGuire

25th July2021. I enjoy discovering new authors and series, especially at the cosy mystery end of spectrum. Family Secrets, the first of a series set in the town of Whispering ...
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Left You Dead by Peter James

20th July 2021. It’s been a year since I read the last book in the Roy Grace series, but it’s been worth the wait. Once again Peter James has delivered ...
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The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

19th July 2021. The second Hercule Poirot story, published in 1923, is a complex murder mystery where nothing is ever as it seems. On two occasions, Poirot seems to have ...
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Rosecliff Manor Haunting by Cheryl Bradshaw

17th July 2021. This is the second story in the series featuring Addison Lockhart. She dreams about twin girls who died as children many years ago in a nearby manor ...
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The Lady Vanished by Greta Mulrooney

17th July 2021. In the first book of the series, private investigator Tyrone Swift is asked to find Carmen Langbourne, who has gone missing. The police investigation has stalled with ...
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The Shrine by LJ Ross

16th July 2021. In an explosive start, DCI Ryan’s pregnant wife Anna is injured in an incident at Durham Cathedral. As the dust settles, it becomes clear that the explosion ...
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