The Liar's Room by Simon Lelic

Susanna Fenton has spent the past 14 years running from her past. A tragedy for which she might have born a degree of responsibility has come back to slam her without warning and she faces an unexpected adversary in this drama about parenting and loss.

Adam Geraghty, a new patient, shows up at the appointed time to Susanna's counseling practice office. He's young, and she gets the feeling she might know him but proceeds with the session. It seems Adam has an issue with Susanna and is there to hear her confession before deciding what he's going to do about a certain other situation that he's set up to punish her with. NO SPOILERS

This was an interesting psychological thriller with a style that allows for a slow reveal of the history of Susanna's past troubles and what has led to this confrontation. Adam has an agenda but his vendetta is fueled by lies and a lack of perception of events that transpired many years ago. I wasn't particularly drawn to the characters and the particular drama but did have some empathy for a mother's pain when faced with dealing with a troubled teenager. Domestic drama always holds my interest and it certainly held my attention until the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of a series.

Where Secrets Lie (DS Karen Hart #2) by D.S. Butler

A cold case suddenly becomes very hot...

An old man has fallen down the stairs and when the police arrive to check on him at the behest of a concerned neighbor, they are warned not to go upstairs. Intrigued, they investigate and discover a skeltonized body in a suitcase inside a padlocked room. It turns out that this is the body of Oliver Fox who went missing over 30 years previously. In addition, a note is found in the kitchen and reads: "it's time to pay for your crime." The old man, Albert Johnson, succumbs to his injuries before the police get a chance to question him about the body and the note, but he's the obvious suspect when a postmortem exam proves that Oliver Fox was probably murdered. So, the death of Fox is old but the note is new. Have DS Karen Hart and DI Morgan stumbled upon a case that is going to be more complicated than they first imagined? After some investigation, Hart and Morgan discover that Johnson and Fox worked together at Greenhill Secondary School. Was Johson's death an accident or was there foul play involved? Hart and Morgan, along with DCs Jones and Cooper, are pulled into a complex web with an unsolved crime that happened so long ago that it will be difficult to figure out.
NO SPOILERS.

This was an evenly-paced, if somewhat pedantic, police procedural that weaves the past into the present with a connection that presents them with many suspects and strong motives. I hadn't read the first book in the series so the characters were all new to me and I was able to enjoy this without having done so. I can see that Hart is a fairly genre-stereotypical female detective -- she's had a loss, she's on her own, and she's mentally tough. Hart, however, doesn't seem to have a dark side or engage in maverick behaviors at this point -- for which I am glad. I'm tired of damaged female police detectives! I'm a bit wary of a potential romantic development on the horizon as the signs are there. This was easy to read in one setting and though some red herrings are dangled, the revelations didn't come as a big surprise. I liked it well enough that I'm sure I'll try to read the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second book in the DS Karen Hart series. The first one is titled Bring Them Home.

The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh

"Once there was a father who thought he could protect us."

King has sequestered his wife and 3 daughters in a large house by the ocean. Their aim is to be kept separate and safe from the rest of any place off their property where men and civization are toxic. The parents have strange ideas about raising Grace, Lia and Sky and they are subjected to all sorts of strange therapies and treatments -- including "the water cure." The notions and fallacies forced upon the girls by their parents shape them into creatures devoid of most female tendencies and bereft of true knowledge about themselves and the world at large. It is the worst kind of dystopia and their formative years spent in this place have warped them. When King goes off to obtain provisions and never returns, the girls and Mother are ill-equipped to continue on. Then, one day, 2 men and a little boy appear on the shore. Nothing has prepared them for this invasion. NO SPOILERS.

This has to be, without a doubt, one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I don't even know if I liked it but only that I was so glad when I finally finished. It was confusing, rambling, and hard to follow as the narrators changed and sometimes I wasn't sure whose voice I was hearing. The girls had some very peculiar thoughts, obviously warped by their upbringing and all so extremely odd. I didn't know whether to pity them or root for them not sure at all where this was all going. The underlying theme seemed to be that women should be very wary of all men who only meant them harm. Also that love was a dangerous feeling and the sisters had no way of understanding themselves without a barometer with which to measure themselves. I don't think this was the book for me but I've no doubt that others will find something profound within the pages that just escaped me. I can't enjoy working this hard to enjoy a book and this was a difficult read because of the subject and the strangeness of the lives the girls led. I don't know who I could recommend this book to. The characters were all messed up and no wonder with what they had endured by their parents in the name of protection and under the guise of love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Publishers for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Run Away by Harlan Coben

Simon Greene is a financial planner with a pediatrician wife (Ingrid) and 3 children. His daughter, Paige, is a drug addict and when he tries to approach her in Central Park, she runs off. What's a father to do? Well, try to track her down of course. That's when the drama starts and evolves into quite the complicated novel of domestic suspense.

As in every Coben novel, the protagonist is painted as the ultimate family man who is dedicated to his wife and children. One who will take great risks and do some pretty unbelievable things to achieve his goal -- in this case -- finding his daughter and getting her off the drugs to re-unify the family unit. Although that's the main story line, there happens to be a lot of other crazy stuff going on in this book. The characters are many and quite stereotypical and predictable. There's mayhem and murder. The point of view alternates between some of the main players so the reader knows more of the big picture throughout. Some of what happens may require a great deal of suspension of disbelief as well as a quick check to answer the moral question -- do the ends justify the means? I personally couldn't relate to any of the main players nor did I like them.

As always, Coben finds a way to interject his personal politics and makes social commentary through the voices of his narrators. Although I find it annoying, I know it's going to be there so I just skip over. The novel is fast-paced so it was easy to keep turning the pages though I found much of what happens hard to buy into but it certainly provided a couple of hours of entertainment. I must comment on the "shocking twist" that may or may not surprise an astute reader -- really???? Sort of felt set up for that big reveal. Anyway, that seems to be almost expected in this genre.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

"We all did bad things..."

This is a complicated and completely absorbing mystery/drama about family. It's told from the point of view of two different narrators: Seraphine Mayes in the present day and Laura Silveira from the past.

The set-up reveals that 25 years ago Laura was working at Summerbourne as an au pair to Edwin Mayes, the 4-year-old son of Dominic and Ruth. Laura initially enjoys her new job and settles in with the family quite easily. Ruth is a bit temperamental and Dominic is gone off to work away from the estate quite often. Ruth longs for another baby and she soon becomes pregnant. That's when everything falls apart. Almost immediately after she gives birth, Ruth commits suicide by jumping off a cliff leaving behind twins -- a boy and a girl -- to be raised by their father, Dominic, and their maternal grandmother, Vera, who owns the manse. Laura, who helped Ruth give birth, leaves Summerbourne that very day.

Flash forward -- Dominic has recently died in an accident and while Seraphine (the twin daughter) is going through some papers, she finds a photo of her parents, with Edwin, and with her mother holding only one infant. The photo was taken on the day of her birth. She's very confused about the picture and has questions about what really happened and is concerned about the fact that her mother is holding only one baby. So she determines that she will find Laura to get her answers. What ensues is quite the story and I'll give no spoilers here.

I was quite surprised to find myself entranced with this family and the saga. I'm not saying that I didn't have suspicions that proved accurate as far as what had gone on, but it was all so well-written that I was happy to let the revelations come at their own pace. The characters were interesting and complex and their relationships described in such as way as to make it all believable even as fantastic as it was. The somewhat gothic tone, the tales of sprites and curses, as well as the close-knit nature of the villagers -- and who isn't interested in a story about ill-fated twins? I think it's best to read this in one sitting, if possible, as there are so many people and details to keep straight!

I really enjoyed this debut and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Berkley (Penguin Random House) for the e-book ARC to read and review. Recommended!

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Silent Suspect (Jessica Daniel #13) by Kerry Wilkinson

All Jessica wants is an answer to the question of why Bex left...

She's been searching for months, and when Jessica finally receives a phone call from Bex, the only word spoken is, "Jessica." It takes Jessica two days to trace the call to a west coast pay phone in Blackpool. Taking some long overdue time off, Jessica heads there immediately hoping to find Bex but ends up in a disaster of the sort that involves Jessica being accused of murder. This is quite the complicated plot featuring all sorts of dastardly goings on and many interesting characters -- both good guys and bad guys. NO SPOILERS.

Since the ending of #12 was a cliffhanger, I jumped at the chance to continue the story arc and sat down to read this immediately after receiving approval for the ARC today. It's so fast-paced, absorbing and full of action that I found it impossible to put down and thus read it in a couple of hours. This isn't a typical Jessica Daniel police procedural as she's gone off on her own without her team into Blackpool and is operating in a sketchy area and hooking up with an unusual group of women. Her main mission -- to find Bex -- leads her into a huge network of criminal activity and puts her career and her life in serious danger. It's great writing and storytelling and I'm so happy that this series just keeps getting better. I've read all of them and can't wait for the next hoping only for the best for Jessica. I'll be eager for her to return to Longsight Police and am wishing for Jessica to find some peace and contentment in her personal life.

***And something really fun and special -- an appearance in this book by Andrew Hunter, the private investigator protagonist of another Kerry Willkinson series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 13th book in a series and I think it's best to read them all, in order.

Pandemic by Robin Cook (Jack Stapleton #11)

This is not science fiction. A biologically active chimeric molecule -- CRISPR/CAS9 -- can modify the genetic makeup of living cells. The potential for use and misuse of this mechanism is quite promising on one hand and quite scary on the other. This story featuring forensic pathologist Jack Stapleton of the New York City Office of Medical Examiners focuses on the use of CRISPR/CAS9 in transplantation.

A young woman who had a recent heart transplant collapses and dies on the New York subway. Jack Stapleton performs the autopsy and is initially convinced that she succumbed to a particularly virulent strain of influenza. Worried about the potential for an epidemic, and because the woman has no ID on her, Jack begins an intense investigation involving testing of body fluids and specimens by specialists and goes into the field to attempt to isolate the virus that caused this death. There are no immediate new cases and that increases his confusion -- until the next woman dies. It is obvious to him that this particular virulent organism is something completely new and it proves difficult to identify. Can Jack figure out the origin and stop the spread of illness before more people die? NO SPOILERS.

If you like science and medicine, this is a medical thriller that will keep you absorbed. I couldn't put it down and read it over the course of a couple of hours. I loved the details about the chimera and all of the forensic pathology and epidemiological investigation. It's just as well that I could focus on the science because I can tell you that I can't stand Jack. His personality is so annoying and fortunately I was able to ignore him most of the time while reading. Considering what benefits to medicine and health that could be achieved with CRISPR/CAS9 is mind-boggling. Alleviating organ shortage is just one possible positive use but there are many other indications. But using it will come with a cost and it would be easy for ethical boundaries to fall making it dangerous in the wrong hands. How to control something so revolutionary that almost makes the user a god-like creator. And because of the way the world is now, it's quite worrisome. This particular book may be fiction, but the science of gene-editing is, and will be, at the forefront of huge changes affecting everyone on the planet.

I've read all of Cook's novels despite not liking anything about his main protagonist, Jack Stapleton. Medical thrillers are my favorite genre and I can highly recommend this to like-minded readers.

This is part of a long-running series, however it can be read as a standalone.

In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards

Jessica Gardner once had an older sister, Isabel, who died in a fall from a balcony almost 5 years ago. Jessica and her family have tried to move on, believing that the death was an accident. The agony had "dimmed to a dull ache" until her 4-year-old daughter, Olivia, starts having some serious issues at school and home. It seems that Olivia is recalling memories and details about Izzy that she can't possibly know and even insinuates that Izzy is telling her some secrets. Jessica is no stranger to haunting as she experienced a series of events in her childhood remiscent of the things that are happening to the family now. Is Izzy trying to send a message about her killer from beyond the grave? NO SPOILERS.

If you like your domestic drama with a bit of supernatural then you will enjoy this book. The mystery begs to be solved and Jessica is determined to release her daughter from this seeming "possession" and get to the bottom of it once and for all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of a series.

The Songbird Girls (DI Tom Fabian #2) by Richard Parker

"Sisyphean sentence continues..."

It was 3 years ago that Detective Inspector Tom Fabian put a London serial killer named Christopher Wisher in prison for the murder and mutilation of nine people. So why is Christopher asking Fabian to visit him at Kerslake Prison after all this time? It seems that Wisher wants to give Fabian a diary. But once Fabian has it and reads it he finds that this is a manuscript that doesn't make any sense at all. It's a couple of seemingly random jottings. But then the bodies are found. The victims have been killed in exactly the same way as Wishers previous ones -- including the signature that wasn't publicized on the broadcast that resulted in Wisher's capture -- the dead bird beside the body. Fabian and his partner, DS Natasha Banner, of the Horseferry Police frantically try to revisit all those who visited Wisher in prison, former family, and other potential suspects to no avail. These must be copycat murders of course, but WHO has Wisher entailed with his mission? NO SPOILERS.

This was great crime drama with red herrings and misdirection as the suspense kept me glued to the pages. I had my suspicions and then, with the shifting point of view, I did get my revelations. I liked the writing and the methodical way that the detectives approached the case but THAT ENDING! I can only hope to see more of Fabian and Banner as they tackle what comes next. This is the second in the series and I did read the first one which I'd encourage a reader to do as the characterization of Fabian develops and, though he keeps us at arm's length, I hope to learn more about him and Banner.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is book #2 in a series. Read in order for maximum enjoyment.

All the Pretty Brides (Lt. Jake Carrington #3) by Marian Lanouette

He calls himself, "The Groom," but the press refers to the cases as the Bride Murders. The police know that every July 6, for the past 4 years, a young woman had disappeared. The 5th woman, however, is not missing -- the body of Nadia Carren is found on the railroad tracks  She'd been tortured, branded and her throat was slit. Lt. Jake Carrington and his partner, Sgt Louie Romanelli, are in charge of the investigation for the  Wilkesbury, CT, police. It seems that in the mind of the sick psycho who is apparently kidnapping and killing these women, he's substituting them for someone in particular -- the woman who jilted him at the altar. This case is going to stretch them to the breaking point as other professional and domestic issues arise. It's going to take an incredible team and strong leadership to see it through...NO SPOILERS.

OK I do like this series, but I truly wish that Jake and Louie would concentrate more on police work and less on their romantic liaisons. I really hate that so much of the pages are wasted on "love" and sex. The details of the investigation are quite good and exhibit just how difficult it is to track and find a killer of this ilk. There are many characters in the book and some have a larger role than others but it sometimes hard to keep everyone straight. Jake Carrington is the protagonist and I run hot and cold with my feelings about him. Obviously he's a good detective and an effective boss, but he's got some serious flaws as well. Louie is a hothead but is Jake's right hand man. They have a long, strong friendship as well as an effective working relationship. Their women mostly annoyed me. The case is complex and the web is pulled tighter very slowly to the ultimate conclusion. Since the narrative flips in point of view and includes the killer's voice, it's not a surprise who has done the deeds, more a procedural of the painstaking work required to narrow down a huge list to the suspect.

After the first one, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this, but I did -- even though I skipped number 2. I surprised myself by putting the 4th on my TBR as I do like the author's methods of demonstrating the workings of a case squad and the politics of the job. In my opinion, the series would be even better with LESS of the romance and probably appeal to a wider audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the third in series. Read in order if possible.

All the Deadly Lies (Lt. Luke Carrington #1) by Marian Lanouette

Newly promoted homicide detective, Lieutenant Jake Carrington of the Wilkesbury, CT Police Department, and his partner Louie Romanelli have several complicated cases on their hands. Jake is also dealing with a personal issue -- the man who was convicted of Jake's sister's murder is wanting a new trial and has asked for his DNA to be retested. Carrington and Romanelli are very busy interviewing suspects, chasing down leads, and reviewing case files. The homicides they are investigating include the bludgeoning murder of a young collect student, another involved a shot to the head of a divorced woman, and the rest of the squad is managing a hit-and-run death as well as a school shooting. They are working it with all the usual police procedural details.

I enjoyed this first in series to an extent but was totally irritated by the mad passionate love affair that Jake becomes involved in. I'm not a romance fan and I hate when it takes up so many pages in a book. I wish he would have just kept his mind on the cases. So this is not any sort of hard boiled detective novel, there wasn't much suspense typical of a crime thriller, so it was more a mystery with few surprises. I have the third in the series to read for review and will be skipping the second.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the e-book ARC to read and review.

First in series.

Something Hidden (Andrew Hunter #2) by Kerry Wilkinson

"Sometimes a person's truth was more powerful than the actuality."

Fiona Methodist comes to Andrew Hunter's PI office to clear her father's name. It seems that he was named as the killer of two students who'd witnessed and survived an armed robbery of a jewelry store. Luke Methodist is also dead at the scene and is the de facto murderer and now Fiona is barely getting by as her reputation is ruined by the association. Andrew and Jenny start to look into the case. In addition, Andrew is asked to find two stolen pedigreed cats for another heartsick client. All the while, he's also trying to get back with his ex-wife Keira and spends some time looking after the well-being of his aunt who is having electrical problems in her council flat. So how is it that he ends up interacting with so many unsavory characters as he investigates these very disparate cases and tries to resolve domestic situations? NO SPOILERS.

Andrew Hunter is an interesting character who has many flaws and knows exactly what they are while powerless to change much about himself and his personal life. The secret that cost him his wife hangs over his head constantly preventing him from finding any sense of present day happiness. Jenny is definitely odd -- "sometimes her quirkiness was endearing; too many times it was just strange." They make a great work couple and, thankfully, there's nothing romantic going on. The narrative is quite descriptive, especially about the city of Manchester and the weather, and it sometimes got overlong. There's not a lot of action, really, as the different investigations plod along. The resolutions weren't really all that exciting, but frankly, the cases weren't either. I think this series is more of a character study than a crime thriller or detective style novel. I've read both books in the series and I will likely want to check out the next because this ends on a bit of a hanger. Just FYI, it's not a pulse-pounding suspense thriller but it did provide me with a couple of hours of entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second in a series. Read in order. Same author as the DI Jessica Daniel series.

Keep Her Close by Erik Therme

 "...there's no such thing as good or evil; there are only choices."  In the case of this book, all the choices are BAD ones!

This is best describe as a farcical domestic drama with a series of events so implausible as to defy even the strongest ability for one to suspend disbelief. From the opening premise to the inconclusive ending, the story takes the reader an a ride so wild that it left me shaking my head in wonder that I actually finished it.

Ally was found in a parking structure when she was about 3 years old standing on a cardboard box that said, "FREE TO A GOOD HOME." A woman, apparently Ally's birth mother, had jumped to her death from the lot. A young couple finds her and later adopts her. All the while, Ally wants to find out more about her birth parents so when an email arrives saying that Frank wants to meet her, she can't say no. Since Ally has no sense at all, and since her adoptive father is a knee-jerk reactionary, things go from bad to worse quite quickly. The ensuing action and drama will leave you reeling. What a conglomeration of quirky, crazy characters! Because it was so off-the-wall outlandish, there was no way to figure where this story might go next. It was quite entertaining even so. I was very miffed at the ending, but then reminded myself that I really didn't even care anymore and was happy just to close the book and leave all these nuts behind!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series. Thank heavens.

Cold Dark Places (Cady Maddix #1) by Kylie Brant

"...traumas were never forgotten. They had a way of hanging around, ready to ambush when you least expected it."

The synopsis provided on this page is a bit misleading. This detective novel focuses on 3 characters whose lives will intersect in a plot that's quite complicated and only barely comes together to make sense toward the end.

Deputy US Marshal Cady Maddix holds her own secrets about something she did as a child so she is messed up emotionally and has trouble with relationships. She has returned to North Carolina to supervise her aunt's care of Hannah, Cady's mother, who has early onset Alzheimer's. She's assigned to track down an escapee from Fristol Forensic Center --Samuel Martin Aldeen -- who has been confined there for the last five years after the kidnap, rape, and cannibalization of children.  Fristol is a facility for the criminally insane. The third character is Eryn Pullman, now 21, who has spent 12 years in Rolling Acres Resort, a secure mental health facility, for the murder of her mother. Eryn is transitioning out of their care to her family home and will be living with her uncle, aunt and nephew there. There are other characters including those from various areas of law enforcement as well as acquaintances of Aldeen who helped in his escape and during his time as a fugitive. So a lot of people to keep track of and very convoluted relationships that tie Aldeen to Eryn. NO SPOILERS.

The narrative is quite jumpy going from past to present in Eryn's voice as well as the voices of Cady and Aldeen. I found the story hard to get into and it lagged as details labored to be revealed. I guessed certain truths at the outset and was irritated that it took so long for the convoluted history to come out. The payoff, for me, wasn't worth the slog through. I know this is meant to be the first in a new series but I don't think I'll be reading another as I really didn't care for Cady -- but perhaps I'm just tired of books that feature females that are so emotionally messed up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Into the Night (DS Gemma Woodstock #2) by Sarah Bailey

"Obsession and love are good friends..."

In this second book of the series, DS Gemma Woodstock is partnered with DS Nick Fleet as they are assigned to investigate the murder of a film star, Sterling Wade, who was stabbed on the street during a live action shot of a scene. With hundreds of extras on site, but all in costume, there are plenty of witnesses but no one is able to identify who used the knife to kill the actor. There are plenty of suspects and much work for the team in Melbourne as this police procedural shifts into high gear. This case is extremely complicated with many characters and tons of suspicious behavior. Gemma and Nick are kept very busy running down leads, talking to the principals, and looking into the background of those closely associate with Wade. There are also other cases that are ongoing in the department that may or may not be related to their current murder investigation. Can they sift through all the red herrings and figure out who killed Sterling Wade? NO SPOILERS.

I really like this series. My only problem is with the main character of Gemma who continues to be such a mess though I hope that she will get herself together and deal with her issues before the next book. She's fairly typical of female detectives in this genre and hides a vulnerable side masked by self-destructive behavior. She deals with both personal and professional problems in this book along with her tireless efforts to do her job well. She has moved to Melborne from the more rural Smithson in this book and I feel that has been both helpful and detrimental for her. I'm eager to see what happens with her in the next book! The other characters weren't as well fleshed out though we do find out more about Fleet at the end and I hope the two can have the conversation they desperately need. I love the descriptions of the city and the details -- the writing is quite good and though the book seems to drag in a few spots as Gemma and Nick run into roadblocks, the conclusion was satisfying and believable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second book in the series. Best to read from the beginning so get #1 first.

The Dark Lake (DS Gemma Woodstock #1) by Sarah Bailey

"Beautiful things are hard to keep alive."

Smithson, set in between mountain ranges in Australia, is a community that has seen recent growth over the past decade. Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock has lived there all her life, attended the local high school, and is now a detective with the local police. When the body of a woman is found in Sonny Lake, Gemma is stunned to find out that the victim is an old classmate of hers -- the gorgeous and talented Rosalind Ryan. It's been 10 years since their school leaving and Rosalind had returned to teach drama at Smithson High. She was murdered just after the first performance of the play she had worked so hard to put on and the whole town is in shock as Rosalind was respected and loved by all.
Gemma has some serious secrets, however, and her feelings about Rosalind aren't quite along the same line, but she commits herself to the investigation. She's partners (with benefits) with DS Felix McKinnon and both immediately apply themselves to the routine of a big murder case. NO SPOILERS but this is a very complicated situation compounded by Gemma's history.

Basically a police procedural and crime thriller, this debut offers a real atmospheric read along with the mystery of who killed Rosalind and why. Gemma is quite the complex character and I alternated between liking and despising her -- she is a bit of a hot mess, actually, and has demons that threaten her present day that are being dredged up by her past. Her partner, Felix, doesn't help matters and their involvement threatens more than just their home situations. There were many other significant characters and many theories and possible motives regarding the murder as well as the requisite red herrings though a savvy reader will make some accurate guesses. All told, it's a good read and I did love the detail and description about the town and its inhabitants. The weather -- December in Australia is unbearably hot -- also added to the levels of tension and the heaviness of the tone of the book. I'm quite interested to see what happens to Gemma after the conclusion of this particular case and hope that she's going to get herself together and come to terms with what happened in her past. I loved the writing style and the flip between THEN and NOW.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review. I realized just recently that it was far overdue and plan to start the second in the series immediately so that I can have it finished by the publication date! Next up: INTO THE NIGHT.

This is the first in a new series.

Little Girl Gone by Stephen Edger

She was away for 2 minutes..

An abducted child is a horror that is one of parents' many nightmares. When Alex Granger goes to retrieve a parking ticket leaving her 2-year-old daughter, Carol-Anne secure in a car seat in an alarmed car, she has no idea that her life is about to be upended. Alex returns to the car to find her daughter gone. Her first call is to her husband, Ray, a detective sergeant, though he doesn't answer his phone immediately, but soon shows up at the scene and has a lot of questions that will need to be handled by another member of the police as Ray is forbidden from participation in the case. But all is not as it should be between husband and wife so they can't offer each other comfort. Then Alex gets an email from "Simon" telling her exactly what she must do if she wants her daughter to be returned. NO SPOILERS

This was a bit of domestic drama with a crime/police procedural bent. A lot going on including Ray investigating a robbery ring instead of staying home with his wife and the FLO. Of course they have no idea who Simon is and Alex is under suspicion of doing harm to her own child. I found most of this book to stretch my ability to suspend disbelief to the max and the reveal came out of nowhere as to the kidnapper's identity. I must say that I didn't like ANY of the characters in this book which made it hard to stay with it. The narrative flips between Alex and Ray and each has issues and they don't talk to each other. The things they both do, especially Alex, make no sense in light of their situation -- or at least they didn't to me. I did finish reading it but the story didn't live up to my anticipation given the premise and the synopsis. Family dysfunction trumped suspense thriller and the epilogue...umm NO.

Thank you to NetGalley and Killer Reads for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

The Liar's Wife by Samantha Hayes

"Work, home, sleep."

That's been Ella Sinclair's daily routine for the past 10 years. She steers clear of all social entanglements, keeps to herself, and does her job the best she can. Then, the accident. A van comes from out of nowhere and she lands in critical care with multiple trauma injuries leaving her encased in a leg cast with a pin in her knee and a broken arm. She's thrown when the nurse tells her that her husband has been to see her every day. Ella has never been married. Under threat of exposure of a past that incriminates her (a DVD), she agrees to go home with Jacob -- and that's when the nightmare begins. NO SPOILERS.

Yes, there's a twist and I still can't get my head around it. I found so much of this domestic drama to be hard to believe and implausible on so many levels. I tried to relate to the main character, but found it impossible as I just wanted to shake Ella until she got some sense. The narrative shifts back and forth in time from Ella's days as a student at university when the calamitous event occurred and her present predicament. In addition, there's a guy from her present work, Liam, who has his own voice and tracks her down when Ella doesn't return to her job. Oh and there's a twin brother, Harry. Yes, it all comes together in a dramatic conclusion and I had to go back a few chapters to see how the author had dangled enough red herrings to lead me astray in my predictions. There were actually still a few loose ends and unanswered questions once the big reveal occurred.

Did I enjoy it? Well, I found it hard to put down as I wanted to see what was on that videotape that would make Ella stay with her "husband" and to understand what might prevent her from telling some of the people she met that she was being kept prisoner. Let me say that I still don't buy it but I had a couple of hours of entertainment while reading. Just make sure that if you read this that you can have a serious amount of skill in suspension of disbelief. Maybe I'm just jaded from having read so many similar books and I'm sure I'm in the minority finding myself incapable of it.

This isn't the first book by this author that I've read, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

The Silent Dead (DC Beth Young #1) by Graham Smith

"Bizarre. Sick. Twisted." Who can tame the Dragon Master?

"Whatever demons were haunting this killer needed to be contained, preferably by a lengthy confinement at Her Magesty's pleasure."

The first victim was found in a cellar. DC Beth Young, newly assigned to the Force Major Investigation Team in Cumbria, is horrified by what she sees -- wings glued to the dead man's back and a scorched mouth. Under the direction of DI Zoe Dowd along with DS Thompson and DC Unthank, this team begins an intense investigation even as the body count goes up. With few clues left behind by the forensically aware killer, all are aware that they have a diabolical mastermind intent on a mission. The manhunt is extensive with the FMIT running down every possible lead in hopes of bringing the psychopath to justice. NO SPOILERS.

What a great start to a new series! I love crime thrillers with all the grisly details, great police work and unique characters. This case was quite absorbing and there was lots of action along with the description of the tedious nature of chasing down every possible angle. Putting the jigsaw puzzle together is something that DC Beth Young excels at. She is very relatable and has a great backstory and I can't wait to see how she grows in her job as the series continues. I was quite pleased that there was no romantic angle in the story! The team is forming strong bonds and are becoming multi-dimensional as well. I enjoyed the quality writing, especially as the author has quite a humorous turn of phrase at times. Since the reader also reads the point of view of the killer, the motivations behind the psychopathology become known to us long before the FMIT piece it all together. This author was previously unknown to me but I definitely will be most eager to read the second book in this series and have no doubts I will devour it as quickly as I did this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

First in new series.

Her Last Move by John Marrs

 "How could a good man make such bad decisions? We all have choices."

The first two deaths occurred within hours of each other. Although strikingly dissimilar in manner, the team at Metropolian Police's Westminster-based CID is convinced that the perpetrator must be the same person. When a third victim is discovered, DS Becca Vincent -- who argued strongly to be included on the investigation -- gets input from a facial recognition expert attached to the force. DS Joe Russell knows that Becca doesn't think much of his particular set of skills but he proves very helpful when combing through hours of CCTV. Becca and Joe knock on a lot of doors during this case and have a very difficult task in trying to identify and find their suspect even as he continues his spree. There doesn't seem to be any motivation for these particular people to be killed so establishing a connection is quite difficult. Meanwhile, both Becca and Joe experience some real upheaval in their personal lives that relates to their own family situations and history and that affects their ability to really work the case. Mistakes are made, more lives are taken...NO SPOILERS.

I have enjoyed all of the books I've read by this author and this one proved just as intriguing as the others. All are standalones and each has a different focus and set of characters. I was interrupted in my reading due to the Thanksgiving holiday but couldn't put it down today as I raced through the pages to a shattering conclusion. I was not really able to relate to Becca or Joe, but I liked them both and felt for them in their struggles. It was interesting to learn about the "super recognizers" and their particular talent for remembering faces. The case was a bit complicated and I was eager to see how it would all come out in the end. The point of view does shift between Becca, Joe and the murderer so it's not a who done it as much as it is a WHY done it. I liked the writing style and the pacing. It does have some gruesome scenes so be aware if you are sensitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Her Final Confession (Det Josie Quinn #4) by Lisa Regan

Absorbing and complicated, this crime thriller featuring Detective Josie Quinn and Lieutenant Noah Fraley will have your head spinning. Great action and intricate details make this police procedural one that you won't want to miss. The series just keeps getting better with every new book!

Set in the fictional town of Denton, Pennsylvania, Quinn is no longer acting Chief of Police but has been replaced by Bob Chitwood. He interrupts a party date evening between Josie and Noah to attend a crime scene at the home of one of their fellow detectives, Gretchen Palmer. A young man lies dead on the driveway and Gretchen is missing. When she reappears, Gretchen turns herself in and confesses to the murder of James Omar. Josie has an immediate gut feeling that there is much more to this and that Gretchen can't possibly have killed Omar. So begins an intense investigation that will link them back to a series of unsolved murders in Seattle, Washington that were known as the victims of the Soul Mate Strangler. In addition, the case has them looking into activities of a motorcycle gang. How is Gretchen connected to both the strangler and the gang? She's always been an enigma to her fellow police, but now her secrets are about to be revealed. NO SPOILERS.

I really like all the characters in this series and am glad to see that Josie is finally settling in with her new-found family, getting to know her twin sister, and that a romance with Noah is on track. She's always been focused and dedicated to her job, but now she's a bit more well-rounded with a decent personal life to help with stability and sobriety. I'm totally addicted to this series, which should be read, in order, from the beginning, and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the 4th book in the series.

He is Watching You (DS Maddie Ives #1) by Charlie Gallagher

Well-written and action packed police procedural featuring DS Maddie Ives in a new series by this author. It's always such a joy to discover a new author and to get in on the start of something new --  I'm hooked and can't wait to read the next! I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down as it pulled me in immediately.

He kidnaps women to watch them die...

DS Maddie Ives has recently been sent down to Lennockshire after having been outed in her previous role as an undercover asset with the Greater Manchester Police. She's not pleased at her secondment nor with her new assignment as a missing persons coordinator. Completely dissatisfied with her role, she inserts herself into an investigation being run by DI Harry Blaker out of major crimes as he searches for the person who may have murdered a man with a truck on a remote farm road. It turns out that Maddie does have a missing person case on her hands and that the woman's disappearance might be related to Harry's case. Meanwhile, there's a bad man who likes to kidnap women, put cameras on them, and watch them die...NO SPOIILERS

I found the characterization in this thriller quite well done with the revelation of personal details about them and can't wait to see how the partnership develops between Maddie and Harry who are developing a nice respectful relationship that won't devolve into a sappy romance. No romance at all in a detective novel is just fine with me! I like the gritty details of crime investigation. The killer's identity is known to the reader at a point in the narrative so this isn't a whodunit per se but more the reader following along as the investigation proceeds and information is acquired. I think the authenticity of the book comes from the author actually having a day job as a police detective and I definitely appreciate that.

I appreciated the glossary of terms explaining some of the vocabulary that is particularly British as I live in the USA. Even though it seems that most of the books I read are set there and I've picked up most of the slang, etc., it's always good to have a little backup for reference.

I'm definitely going to look for the other books written by this author and I'd like to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

#1 in new series featuring DS Maddie Ives (and DI Harry Blaker).

Love You Gone by Rona Halsall

A book you'll want to read in one sitting!

When Mel shows up around 8 pm at the Lake District vacation home that her husband, Luke, has rented for the holiday week, he and the children are not in the house. "Gone for a hike," the note says. After a couple of hours when they still have not returned she gets worried, calls in Mountain Rescue and then the local police get involved. Something is not right with this whole scenario and you are about to find out just how messed up things are. NO SPOILERS.

This was great fun with enough back and forth with the shifts in narrator from Mel to Luke that it kept you guessing until all was revealed. It's packed with thorny domestic issues, family drama and plenty of teasers to keep you racing through the pages as you simply must finish this story! I had a few predictions and was pleased to find that not all was as expected and I love it when a book can still surprise me. Although I can't say I really liked any of the characters, I did enjoy this and was quite satisfied with its ending despite thinking that some got off a bit too easy. I had read the first book by this author and hadn't been that thrilled with it, so very glad I gave her another chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh

Identical twins. They've been apart for 15 years with one of them, Tia, living in a home for the Differently Abeled and the other, Ellie, an executive who is married to Will living a lovely life. All is well and, in fact, Ellie's been sending letters to Tia all those years, when suddenly she and Will get the bad news that St. Germaine's school is closing and Tia has to be relocated. Unable to find a placement for Tia, Ellie and Will reluctantly agree to have her move into their house until another residential care facility can be found. An obvious mistake and that's when the real trouble begins. NO SPOILERS but there's a lot more between Ellie and Will that plays into it all.

This is definitely a domestic drama that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief and also the willingness to continue reading when you've already dissected the whole plot at the first whiff of the words, "Tia is moving in with us." I read on, hoping that I was mistakenly jumping to predictable conclusions, but alas, it was exactly as I expected and I was quite disappointed though I did finish. I didn't like any of the characters and their decisions and actions were completely the opposite of any way I would have behaved. I think the writing style was fine, it was just the plot that missed the mark for me. I should have believed some of the reviews but I always like to form my own opinions.
I'd still take a chance on another book written by this author but hope for more originality next time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I'm sorry it wasn't my cup of tea.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

The Orchid Girls by Lesly Sanderson

Friendship. Forbidden love. Obsession. Murder.

Three girls and a secret so explosive that it leads to the death of one of them. Two of the girls were acquitted of premeditated murder but never spoke again. Sixteen years later...life has gone on and one of the girls has changed her name, moved away from Dorset and has married and developed a successful food blogger business while the other is living in drunken squalor. Lies and guilt have kept them apart but now all is about to come out as a journalist is doing an expose of the case. NO SPOILERS.

This is a psychological drama focusing on female relationships and sexuality. What lengths will one go through to keep truth hidden especially after completely reinventing oneself. This is a debut novel and though it bogs down quite a bit with lots of internal angsting and little action it was entertaining and I'd definitely be interesting in reading more by this author. Although I didn't care for any of the characters in this messy tale, and though I didn't find any unanticipated twist in the story, the narrative shifts in point of view and the diary entries provided good development to the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Those Who Knew by Idra Novey

"People are too desperate for a hero."

Lena, a college student from a wealthy island family, turns activist and gets involved with the charismatic future senator, Victor, and has a fling with him while they are planning and organizing demonstrations in support of reduced tuition for the islanders. The people who live on this unnamed island have barely recovered from atrocities committed against them while under a fascist regime supported and financed by the North (the USA?) Victor is a rising political star but is given to bouts of tremendous rage and in one of those episodes, he assaults and nearly strangles Lena. She doesn't report it and when, several years later, it appears that Victor may have killed a young woman, Lena wants him held accountable. The people she tells about her assault believe her and agree that someone needs to confront Victor about Maria P. What follows is a twisty narrative, interspersed with diary entries and screen play notes that flips back and forth in point of view, in time and place. Will Victor be outed and get his just due? NO SPOILERS.

I'm not quite sure what I think about this book. Was it interesting? Yes, enough to hold my interest though I definitely did not like the writing style and I was especially put off by the screen play segments. Did the novel have anything new or original to impart? Not really -- you'd have to be living under a rock in the desert for a thousand years not to know that male politicians get away with murder and all sorts of other tawdry and despicable crimes. The urge for revenge or to hold that person responsible is tremendous and not often successful. I think the setting and the characters are meant to make us believe that even the least well-placed among us (misfits?) can bring some sort of justice for those harmed and that staying silent is not ever the best response despite the outcry and response that is likely to occur.

The characters were an interesting conglomerate of Islanders and outsiders and each had a part to play in telling the story but I really couldn't identify with any of them. I'm not sure that leaving so much "unnamed" was for the best as I found it hard to relate and to really buy in to the drama in some respects. Perhaps it was to avoid stereotyping or labeling but you will find all sorts of diversity within. The book was engaging enough that I read it in a single sitting and took awhile to digest it all before trying to put my thoughts and reactions into a review. It's definitely outside my usual genre and was not exactly what I was expecting from just reading the synopsis.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone novel and is not part of any series.

Daughters of War (War Nurses #2) by Lizzie Page

"...fear, horror, guilt and grief stay with you..."

May is a 28-year-old mother of two, married to George, and she is drowning in melancholy. The year is 1914 and her daughters are away at boarding school. George has really taken to drink and other women leaving May untethered and fractious. An American by birth, she has come to live in London and is finding her life completely meaningless over the last 12 years. When she meets Elsie Knocker at the studio of a local artist, May is encouraged to volunteer as a war nurse on the continent just as World War I is gearing up. Despite her initial misgivings due to her lack of training and fortitude, May interviews with the French Red Cross and is appointed to the Voluntary Aid Detachment to perform some nursing duties and is assigned to Field Hospital 19 in Bray-Sur-Somme. Leave taking was a disaster but May is determined to do her part in the war effort and naively heads out for duty without a clue that her life will never be the same.

The war years are dreadful and May experiences the full range of emotions in the tents that make up their "hospital" and living quarters. Her immaturity yields to personal growth through the reality of caring for the sick and wounded men and from her camaraderie with the doctors, nurses and others she works with. It's the worst of times but May thrives despite the daily horrors and the overwhelming sense of loss. She misses her two daughters desperately and her husband makes May pay for leaving him. But even in the midst of war, hearts still long for belonging and understanding and May meets a man who softens her hardened attitude about love. NO SPOILERS.

This was a lovely historical fiction inspired by the life and times of Mary Borden, a well known nurse, novelist and poet who did spend part of the Great War in the Somme. It was easy to read this over a couple of hours as I found myself immersed in the story and invested in all the characters. I found May to be a bit of a contradiction but her fortitude impressed me and I reveled in her personal growth throughout her struggles and triumphs. The descriptions of the activities in the hospital were, of course, fascinating to me as I'm an RN and always love the medical details. I can't imagine how hard that work would have been in such primitive conditions with the horrible injuries and the never ending presence of death as the maimed and traumatized soldiers kept coming. I was reminded again of how far women have come despite the constraints of society, the difficulty of balancing motherhood and work, and the need for self-actualization and personal fulfillment. I did not feel that May was a neglectful mother despite attempts to paint her as such. I'm not certain that, even now, women can have it all though I do think that it's a precarious balancing act done well by many. I enjoyed this book as well as the first in the series, THE WAR NURSES, and I look forward to the next by Lizzie Page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Although this is the second novel in the War Nurses series it can be read as a standalone though I'd recommend you read the first one first!

Ancestral by Nathan Field (#2 in The Many)

This is the second book in a planned trilogy and you definitely need to read THE MANY before beginning this one as you will miss the backstory that explains the events that happen in this one.

Dawn Flint and Karl Morgan are on the run and on the hunt for the faceless men. They've figured out that Dawn's pregnancy is the main thing keeping them alive as The Many have eyes and ears everywhere. Dawn and Karl are seeking out anyone with knowledge and information about this secretive group in hopes of finding out their ultimate plans. What is the goal of these monsters and can they be stopped? Anytime the stories of what this cabal has done come out, abject fear and silence are the reactions. Armed with some of the secrets, Dawn and Karl may have a plan. NO SPOILERS.

This was typical of most middle books in any trilogy. There's a lot of time spent with absolutely nothing happening and the author really shovels out completely banal details about Dawn and Karl and their activities. The two don't really have meaningful conversations about what they are doing and thinking as they aren't always honest with each other. Dawn's motives for their quest are not the same as Karl's. I can't really say that I cared at all for the character of Dawn despite all the awful stuff that's happened to her and her behavior and attitude got old and she seemed very immature. Karl didn't score much higher for me, but he was trying to be her protector even though kept in the dark floundering around wondering what the heck was going on with Dawn all the time. Tedious. The best part of the book is the church scene and glad that my slog through paid off as I was hoping for something redemptive after all those pages. So much of the premise is ludicrous and it's hard to continue the suspension of disbelief at times. Truth told, it reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz's Jane Hawk series though this one is not quite on the same level. It's a good enough thriller and provided the requisite entertainment but I mostly just wanted to finish it. A lot of the narrative just meandered with lots of excessive details and interactions that weren't advancing the plot. At this moment I'm not sure that I will read the final book, but who knows. I have a thing about finishing what I start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Silvermac Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review. I read #1 and #2 back to back.

This is the second book in The Many trilogy and not a standalone.

The Many (#1 in trilogy) by Nathan Field

Karl notices the difference in his sister right away. She's been so strange since her date with the rich ophthalmologist she met via an online dating site. The changes in Stacey escalate into violence. In another part of town, Dawn's mother, Isobel, is preparing for an evening out with a woman who contacted her through the same site. Isobel returns home the morning after, but she, too, isn't acting like herself. Though Karl and Dawn don't initially even know each other, they are soon to meet and become entwined in the pursuit of those they hold responsible for what has happened to Karl's sister and Isobel's mother. NO SPOILERS.

The subject matter and the narrative style in this story are both seriously creepy. I definitely felt the tension and suspense as Karl and Dawn try to find answers. There's lots of blood and gore along with the action scenes. A bit of suspension of disbelief may be required, but it was a fun and absorbing read that kept me hooked so I had to read it all in one sitting. I'm seriously lucky because I have the second book in the planned trilogy ready to open up on my Kindle so I can continue immediately. That said, I don't know how I'll stand it waiting for the finale! I'm a bit at a loss to put this book in a genre category as it contains elements of a thriller as well as a bit of sci-fi in a way. I look forward to reading other reviews though I've seen some that didn't seem to have the same takeaway from the book as I have. I enjoyed it, probably because I had no preconceived notions and it was a bit different to what I've been reading lately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Silvermac Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review. I see this was published in 2016 and I apologize for only getting to it now. On to ANCESTRAL... 

Last Light (DI Lucy Harwin #3) by Helen Phifer

DI Lucy Harwin and her colleague DS Mathew (Mattie) Jackson have a serial killer on their hands in Brooklyn Bay. This is the first case that Lucy leads since her promotion and she is pulling out all the stops to prove that she can handle the new job. The first body is found in a derelict church and the scene is as gruesome as any that Lucy has ever seen. The second one shows all the signs of being a victim of the same killer. And then comes a third...Lucy is trying to hold it all together and racing against the clock to discover the identity of the psychopath. She suspects that there is a religion element as an underlying motivator and knows that the killer is likely someone connected to the local  vicarage. When Lucy herself is attacked she realizes that she can't be sidelined even though she's taken off the case. Can she figure out the killer's identity before more people are murdered?

This is a fast-paced crime thriller, the third in a series, and the second one that I have read. Lucy has some personal problems that she refuses to let distract her from her main passion in life -- her job. She lives for her work and it's been the source of the breakdown of her marriage. She's headstrong and determined but she is also vulnerable to self-doubt and loneliness since all she wants to do is focus on the case. The narrative is told from Lucy's point of view with some backstory in the killer's words. There are red herrings, but a reader will likely figure out fairly quickly who is doing the crimes. The supporting characters are thinly drawn and I'm hopeful that they will develop further as the series continues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I am looking forward to book #4 to see if Lucy is able to make some real changes in her life.

This is book #3 of 3 so far in the series. Read in order.

Inhuman Resources by Pierre Lemaitre

"It only takes a couple of seconds for a man to become a maniac."

Alain Delambre, 57-years-old and unemployed for 4 years, is a desperate man. When he receives word that he may finally get an interview for an HR position at a prestigious company, he's totally elated and prepares for the "test" with total focus. He takes extraordinary risks in the days leading up to that big day. He can't stop lying either. The main problem at hand, however, and the issue that his wife objects to, is that this assessment of his qualifications involves a set-up including a staged hostage situation engineered as a pretext of seeing how executives function under stress and pressure. Alain is "in" on the scenario and is willing to do whatever it takes to secure the job. When he discovers that the whole thing is a sham, he goes off the deep end. "The basic ingredients (a sense of humiliation or injustice, extreme loneliness, a weapon and nothing to lose) all resulted in" the cataclysm that occurred at the offsite interview location that day. The events that follow change Alain forever. NO SPOILERS.

This was such a different type of book compared to the others of his that I have read. It's nothing like the serial killer thriller chillers he's written before (ALEX, IRENE, CAMILLE for example). In fact, this is more of a Jonathan Franzen style satirical drama, but I totally enjoyed it despite what I was expecting. The writing is top-notch, translated from French by Sam Gordon, and nothing is lost for that. The action is evenly paced and there is suspense and tension as the reader can't even anticipate what might happen next though it's hard not to feel a great deal of empathy for Alain and his family. Characterization was sublime. The theme of unemployment and how it affects the jobless is definitely at the forefront, but also the notion that work is essential for some to feel alive, to be a whole person. It's not light fare but is very engrossing and I know I'll think about this one for quite some time. I'd love to dissect this in a book club!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacLehose Press Quercus for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland

Don't let this nanny into your house!

It seems that everyone is using the word "twist" to describe a psychological thriller and domestic drama these days, but here is one that really fits. I was completely unable to put it down as I raced through the pages. The tension ratcheted up with almost every chapter and, even though I thought I KNEW where this one was going, I was wrong!

Gemma is a busy wife and mother. With her own business, a facilities management firm, requiring much of her attention and long hours, she finds herself in need of some help. Her husband, Robert, and their two little girls (Katie and Eva) can really do with someone to do some child care, cooking, and tutoring. When Sadie Lewis, recommended by Gemma's mother-in-law, arrives for an interview, both Gemma and Robert think she will be perfect. But that's when the real trouble begins...NO SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this standalone novel and have also read two other books by this very talented author. She has a way of immediately setting the stage, drawing you in, and keeping you totally hooked until the SHOCKER. If you read a lot of this genre, as I do, then you probably can usually figure out what's up early on, but this one will take you a bit longer, I promise. It was fast and fun and I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I can't wait for Shalini Boland's next book!

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Lost Lake (Det Gemma Monroe #3) by Emily Littlejohn

 A stolen historical diary, a missing girl and a murder victim -- Detective Gemma Monroe of the Cedar Valley Police department has her hands full. Along with her current partner, Detective Finn Nowlin, and Detectives Moriarty and Armstrong and their intern, they begin a painstaking and complex investigation into these 3 cases. It soon becomes obvious that they have no shortage of suspects, plenty of motives, and lots of opportunity. Can they sift through the red herrings to find the clues that will give them the answers and so that justice will be done?

This is the first book by this author that I've read and I was sorry to come in at this late stage to the third one in the series without having read the first two. I've probably missed some important pieces of backstory, but I was able to jump in and enjoyed this well enough on its own. I like Gemma -- she's more real with the first person narration. Although she has a healthy appetite and actually eats (unlike many where everyone is always skipping meals), she spends a lot of time at work and has little personal time or family time. The police investigation is at the forefront of the novel so most of the detail, action, and forward movement of the plot is focused on the tediousness of chasing down witnesses and suspects for information. There's a lot going on even aside from the 3 main cases and it moves at a fast pace that kept me turning the pages as I wanted to see the conclusion. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series so I hope there will be more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This book is #3 in the series.

Missing Lies by Chris Collett's (#7 DI Tom Mariner)

Acting DCI Tom Mariner of the West Midlands Police has his hands full. Missing women, two of his team members away from the job, a new romantic relationship that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and an autistic charge at home. Whew -- he's definitely busy in this book, #7 in a long-running detective series.

Grace Clifton, 18-years-old, was on her way to meet friends after leaving her job at Symphony hall when she vanished. Mariner receives a package of her clothing in the mail so the police know this indicates probable foul play. Then another woman disappears and her clothing is sent to the station as well. What's interesting is that the clothes have been washed and pressed. Mariner, Jesson and Glover are stumped. The hunt is on to figure out who took these women and why. As the investigation continues, more deaths occur as first one suspect and then another is eliminated. Keeping all the characters and their relationships straight is a bit difficult as the case expands and the tedious process of seeking information and clues helps them narrow their focus. NO SPOILERS.

What a great police procedural! I can't believe I haven't read one of Collett's books before as I love crime thrillers with good detail and complicated cases. Although I have no clue about the development of Tom Mariner as a character from the first book to the present, I felt this worked OK as a standalone. That said, I fully intend to go find the others in the series. I liked the writing style, the perspectives from different points of view, the action and the relentless hunt for the perpetrator. I prefer little to no romance in books, so this lack within served me well. I can't wait to get to know the team members better. Basically a straight-forward detective mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I understand that it was previously published by Severn House in 2014 as DEAD OF NIGHT.

This is #7 in series. Can be read as a standalone.

Deliver Me by Karen Cole

When Abigail Brooke (Abby or Abs) visits the local doctor and discovers that she is two months pregnant she can't believe it because she claims she has not had sex for over a year. Ever since breaking up with her boyfriend Ben and moving in with her older sister Ellie and brother-in-law Rob she's been concentrating on her job while licking her wounds. When she counts backwards from her EDC, she guesses that something happened on New Years Eve. Abby was at a party and got super drunk and can't remember much about the evening and she sure doesn't remember having sex with anyone. Could she have been drugged and raped? So starts this psychological drama and mystery -- Abby is determined to find out what happened that night and WHO is the father of her unborn baby.
Although there are some twists along the way, most readers will be guessing madly as each "suspect" is accosted and questioned about that evening. NO SPOILERS but I don't think the identity of the baby daddy will be too much of a surprise though the red herrings are dangled throughout.

This was an OK read but I got rather annoyed with Abby and can't say that I was very empathetic or that I identified with her. The other characters are stereotypical and one-dimensional for the most part. The narrative had a lot of internal angsting going on with Abby dithering about and going off half-cocked most of the time. The conclusion was not unexpected and I wasn't really happy with how it ended after all. I've not read other books by this author and I could be persuaded to give her another go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

In the Silence by M.R. Mackenzie

 "The ones that say nothing are as guilty as the ones doing it."

Dr. Anna Scavolini returns to Glasgow, where she grew up, in mid-December to stay with her old best friend, Zoe, and Zoe's brother, Victor. She's been living in Rome for the past 10 years and hasn't been home since. Out celebrating Zoe's birthday, Anna runs into a man she had a mad crush on when they both were in school together. After a few drinks, he disappears, and Anna later discovers him dead in a nearby park. Murdered. And he's just the first victim. Anna gets caught up in her own investigation to find out why these particular persons are being killed and by whom. It happens that this might be a vendetta for something that happened during Anna's school days. NO SPOILERS.

Well, if you can apply a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief while Anna is playing at being Nancy Drew, and if you can get past the fact that the character of Anna is so terribly unlikeable with her pontifications, self-righteousness and holier than thou attitude toward everyone, and maybe if you can ignore how Anna acts and the ludicrous things she does, perhaps you will enjoy this debut novel. For the most part, I couldn't overcome all of those detractors and only read to the end to find out who the killer was. And it all made so little sense even then. I found the Glaswegian dialect inserted to be completely annoying because it was so hit and miss sprinkled around some of the characters and not others. The rest of the characters in the book were not very convincing and could be lumped into the stereotypical category of "bad" guys. I just could not buy into the story, feel any empathy, and got tired of all the soap box proselytism on the subject of consent and rape. And why did all this just happen to come to a head when Anna returns?

I did like the setting, the descriptions of the town and the climate made me feel COLD. Couldn't understand why Anna never seemed to eat or bathe or take her medication. It seemed at complete odds to her supposed level of education. I guess there was something within the pages that made me at least finish it, but I can't say that I found much to recommend this. That being said, I realize this is a first novel, I understand this is a man writing about a real hot spot of an issue of paramount importance to women, and I get that there's probably some sort of takeaway meant to be there. I think I missed it. I just never could buy into how Anna got herself so involved in the mess, her antipathy to the police, and her behavior.

That doesn't mean, however, that I won't read another book by this author. I do thank NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for an e-book ARC of this to read and review. I'm sorry I didn't find it a gripping crime thriller. And lastly, I wish someone would explain that Prologue to me.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Anonymity (DI Gravel #4) by John Nicholl

OK. I can breathe again. What a tense and thrilling serial killer chiller!

Mia, a single mom with a 4-year-old daughter, is at home as usual and working on her next book when she receives the first message. The email indicates that the sender knows where she lives and asks her to declare her love for her "number one fan." Mia, a bit shaken, ignores it but that doesn't deter the sender from escalating with additional messages that threaten her and her daughter. She's constrained from contacting the police but she seeks help from her older sister, Ella. The two of them decide to enlist the help of an old family friend, DI Gareth Gravel, who's home on sick leave after his most recent heart attack. It becomes very clear that the person stalking Mia knows everything about her activities and has the photos to prove it. Things are about to get harrowing especially since Mia has no idea who she can trust. NO SPOILERS

What a suspenseful read that made me tense and kept me glued to the pages as I couldn't get to the end fast enough. Even though the reader knows who the stalker is and wants to shout out at Mia to stop being so stupid, and even though you're screaming at her NO NO NO, you have to wait to see if anyone will figure it out before it's too late. Definitely had my heart racing.

I've read all 3 of the previous books in this series and would urge you to begin at the start for maximum enjoyment. DI Gravel is one of the last of the old school, good old time detectives and knows that this is probably his last case as the boss wants him retired. He wants his old job back.

Thank you to the author for an e-book ARC of his novel for me to read and review. I look forward to John Nicholl's next book!

Book 4 of the DI Gravel series. Read in order.

Before She Falls (DI Anna Gwynn #3) by Dylan Young

 A new internet "game" is inducing minors to commit suicide. Known as the BLACK SQUID, play involves completing 20 tasks that culminate in a suicide act. The game is especially designed to appeal to troubled children in fragile circumstances. One such girl is Kimberley Williams who leaps to her death from a cliff top.

The death of Kimberley and the news about BLACK SQUID are brought to DI Anna Gwynne and her team at Avon and Somerset Constabulary's cold case unit because of her relationship to convicted killer Hector Shaw. Hector's 13-year-old daughter was believed to have committed suicide, but now there's evidence that she was a victim of the BLACK SQUID. Will Anna have to interact again with Hector in order to get more information about those administering the game? Indeed. NO SPOILERS.

This third book in the series brings back Anna, her new boyfriend Dr. Ben Hawley, and DCs Justin Holder and Ryia Khosa. In addition, a new man from Major Cimes, DS Phil Dawes,  is brought over to liaise with the squad as the case becomes much more complex. And complicated it is with a new focus on Ryegrove Hospital, a secure unit for those needing mental health services -- especially the criminally insane who are sectioned and housed within.Two bodies are discovered buried right outside the fence of the hospital. Anna is sure that one of the victims must surely have been involved with the BLACK SQUID, but no one has any idea why or how the other one got there. There must be some connection between the institution and the suicide game...

The investigation moves slowly because of the many characters involved and the scope of the linked cases. I read this quickly because I was quite desperate to get to the end and find some answers. There are still some loose ends that I expect will be tied up in the next book -- of course I can hardly wait. I really like this series and the character of Anna though I feel she is more on the spectrum than simply a bit of INTJ psychometric. (I can say that because that is also my profile.) Yes she's focused, cynical and definitely antisocial but she sure gets the job done and seems to be able to have good relationships with her team and her boyfriend. Oh, and the dog. I like the writing and the excellent descriptions of the area that Anna and her team work around. Good crime drama and police procedural detail as well.

Can't wait for the next book but I do think it's a good idea to have read this series of three (so far) from the beginning as there is a lot of backstory to understand. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This book is part of a series and is #3.

Tell Me No Lies by Alex Sinclair

Is Grace grieving -- or losing her mind?

Grace watches as her husband, John Dalton, is the victim of a hit and run. They had been out celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary when he's hit and killed in the middle of the street. Grace sinks into despondency and depression with only her friend, Jennifer, sticking by to try to help her through the funeral and the visit to the lawyer about John's estate. They'd barely been making ends meet as Grace was working as a nurse and John in residency at the hospital. So, it's a total shock when she's given the news that John had bought a life insurance policy with money he'd kept in a secret bank account. And then, other strange things begging to happen as Grace tries to figure out what is going on and who John Dalton really was.

Well. I read this in a couple of hours and must say it wasn't very thrilling or suspenseful. The very predictable psychological drama has been told before and was mostly a cliche in terms of the setup, the action and the conclusion. No surprises here. I actually detested Grace and couldn't for the life of me understand where her parents were throughout all this affair. I just wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled -- oops, that's not very nice of me with her being a new widow and all. Lots of repetition and internal stream of consciousness angst while the other stereotypical characters played out their roles. In all honesty, I was very disappointed as I've read other books by this author that I've enjoyed so much more. I'll just chalk this as a one off miss.

I'd like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing the e-book ARC for me to read and review and look forward to Mr. Sinclair's next book.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Closer by Kim Slater

Ending a marriage, especially when you have a 10-year-old daughter, is difficult. It's hard to see your former spouse moving on, and moving IN with a new woman who has a daughter the same age. And even more so when your man's new love is YOUR BOSS. Emma is finding the separation difficult, even though she wanted it, but she is becoming increasingly concerned for the safety and welfare of her daughter, Maisie. Soon-to-be ex husband Shaun and Joanne are playing happy family with Piper now. So what does that mean for Maisie? Emma is absorbed in her job and making her own adjustments but eventually she does notice the changes in Maisie. But what can she DO to get Shaun to see what is obvious to her. Joanne and Piper are not good for Maisie. How will this end? NO SPOILERS.

Psychological thrillers tend to focus on a lot of internal angst, and this novel is no different. The characters often seem oblivious and either take action that most people would never attempt or they ignore huge red flags that scream out for immediate intervention. I can't say that I could relate to any of the characters or their behavior within the pages of this story, but I had enough questions about how everything was going to be resolved that I kept reading. There were several characters who I actually despised (can we say Emma's mom talking about her to Shaun behind her back?) and of course the villains because we were suspicious about them from the start anyway given the setup. There were some surprises and a twist but you know it's coming even if you don't know specifically what it is. I like to play a game with myself to see how far off I am as I sort of lay it all out mentally before I start a book. Even in its attempt to be shocking, the conclusion came as no surprise after all said and done. Sure it's set up to be ambiguous and some may feel let down without a concrete finale.

I think this book was meant to focus on mother-daughter relationships and a few other issues that I won't list out here in case some would consider naming them to be spoilers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've read most of the books by this author and will continue to look for her new titles.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Perfect Silence (Callanach and Turner #4) by Helen Fields

"Human beings don't have any limits when they're broken. It's the damage you can't see on the surface that's the most dangerous."

DI Luc Callanach and DCI Ava Turner with MIT are busy with the Babydoll Killer. A monster who makes dolls from skin cut from the bodies of young women who are kept alive while it happens. With few clues, the investigation keeps stalling out even as the death toll mounts. The killer seems to be a religious nutcase with a peculiar mandate and each victim is selected with care. Can they find this psychopath and get justice for the dead girls?

In addition, Callanach and Turner are running a parallel case involving random attacks on homeless drug users. Because they're high on "spice", they aren't reliable witnesses to their own assaults -- but then one victim dies. When information leads the team to a surprising perpetrator, all hell breaks loose within the police. Will Turner keep her job or has she gone too far this time with her arrogant disregard of orders from higher up?

I absolutely love this series. The setting, the characters, the cases -- it all rings with the authority of an author who knows the business. The story is immediately absorbing, quite chilling and the action interspersed with great dialogue and human interaction. Both police procedural and crime drama, this fourth in the series ticks all the boxes. I love the relationships between the members of the team and enjoy glimpses into their personal lives. I've been quite happy, however, that no romance has come into full bloom and hope it stays that way!

Now, unfortunately, I have come to the end of the available installments in this series. While I wait impatiently for #5 (PERFECT CRIME) to be released, I'll just keep all my new friends in Police Scotland in mind. I think it's best to read them all in order and I highly recommend the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Perfect Death (#3 Callanach and Turner) by Helen Fields

"There were different types of pain...the pain of loss...shocked pain...the slow dull ache of reality...followed by the mewling baby, self-pity."

There's someone in Edinburgh who enjoys sharing grief that others experience. An evil serial killer is wanting to get up close and personal with those who've experienced the death of a loved one. This sociopath wants to offer comfort -- so much so that maybe that monster is responsible for the deaths in the first place?

DI Luc Callanach and the newly promoted DCI Ava Turner are busy in the MIT. They've got a couple of poisoning deaths on one hand and a possible corruption case on the other. The teams divide to conquer and come quite close to blowing it all up as they face off some very dangerous people. These investigations are going to require tons of time and their best efforts as leads are met with dead ends and danger is lurking on every call-out. Callanach and Turner face some threats to their tenuous and fragile personal relationship as well. But Turner is Callanach's superior and she won't let him forget it. Both struggle with their own demons as they work to bring some justice in these two, big unrelated cases.

I love this series. So much so that I had to buy this one so that I could read it before downloading and reviewing the next installment, PERFECT SILENCE. I've read all 3 so far, in order, and would urge you to do the same so that you get the full picture of the two main characters. Both are quite unique and are becoming more real with each book. I really enjoy the camaraderie between them and enjoy their friendship and mutual respect. I almost feel as if I know them and I can't wait to see what happens next. Though the story is full of action, police procedural detail, and suspense, I feel so tense worrying about how things are going to play up that it creates a lot of tension. Instead of speeding up to get to what I hope is a successful conclusion, I slow down because I'm too worried that some member of the team will be hurt or lost and I don't want to face that. Anyway, if you're looking for great crime thrillers, this series has it all and I recommend it.

Don't Let Go by Michel Bussi

Deliver us from evil...

On holiday, Martial and Liane Bellion and their six-year-old daughter, Sopha, are enjoying the tropical paradise that is Reunion Island. This particular day will not end well. When Martial goes up to their hotel room to check on Liane, she's missing, there's blood everywhere and all of her personal effects are gone. The police are on the scene immediately. They know that the husband is the immediate suspect. Witness testimony places him at the scene and a there's a knife  with his fingerprints all over it. In a seeming panic, Martial flees with his daughter. There's more to this than meets the eye...NO SPOILERS.

This fast-paced novel kept me glued to my map of Reunion Island and had me sucking up every detail of its history and geography. I can't even tell you readers how much I enjoyed this mystery and crime thriller. There are so many unanswered questions, twists and turns, suspects and characters. I loved them all and have to admit to a tear or two when tragic events occur. The writing is top-notch, my only complaint is that my French is rusty and the footnotes weren't always helpful in explaining the terms in translation. The description and detail about the island enthralled me and I could not get enough. Do you know that I never even knew that this place existed? I totally love a book that takes me to a new setting, draws me in, and brings out the researcher in me!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this, but totally recommend. Thank you to Edelweiss and Europa Editions for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

The Stranger Game by Peter Gadol

"The world was a world of strangers, and all anyone wanted...was to be seen and to be known, truly known."

Rebecca is alone and lonely. Her long-time boyfriend, Ezra, has disappeared without a word and even the police can't find him for her. After awhile, she finds an essay on Ezra's desk. The author of the piece wrote that he was quite disenchanted with his life, was lonesome and bored, had little human interaction, and no meaningful relationships. He started first watching people and then began actually following them as he yearned to connect. Anything but to go back home alone. The transformation he experienced was further developed into a scheme that was mostly voyeur on his part and fairly benign. As things often do, this essay was read and shared and changed until it became a craze. More like stalking than any kind of "game", it evolved to have three rules but was basically meant to see how long you could follow a person without getting caught. Many people lost themselves in the game and vanished while following random people that crossed their path. Rebecca, assuming that this is what happened to Ezra, begins to play the game herself. Soon Rebecca is caught up in something she doesn't understand with people she cannot believe or trust, and finds that it has evolved into a far more dangerous activity than the essayist ever imagined. NO SPOILERS.

This was a very strange but interesting book. Part existential, part social commentary, and mostly confusing, my overwhelming feeling while reading was probably exactly what the author meant for it to be -- I felt disconnected and longed for intimacy as I read about Rebecca's situation. Her reactions weren't on par with anything I would have done, but I was swept up in her desperate responses to her isolation. I can definitely see this "game" as a consequence of the way that society has changed to be more about things than about relationships. The detachment observed when seeing photos on social media where everyone is looking at a screen instead of at their companions, the distrust of others manifested by labeling and categorizing beliefs and behaviors rather than seeking understanding, and the seeming lack of permanence in the way people lead their lives. All great stuff for a book club discussion! If others want to be connected to people in a real way, how in the world would following strangers around make that happen? In that question is the main issue I had with the book. It is dark and twisty and sad.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin - Hanover Square Press  for the e-book ARC to read and review.

"Following" has a whole new meaning in this dark and twisty novel. It is a standalone and not part of any series.

Finding Eva by J.A. Baker

 "Some things are best left tucked away in the recesses of your brain; kept as unremembered images which only wreak havoc if toyed with and set free."

This is psychopathy at its worst -- or best -- depending on your predilections for genre fiction. I have never 'met' such a cast of dysfunctional characters in a very long time and my head is reeling after the revelations and the conclusion of this psychological thriller. I don't usually care for books where all the "action" is in the psyche of the characters in a stream of consciousness, but I stuck with it and raced to the end as I was filled with a sense of dread as to what the outcome would be given the beginning chapter.

I knew that there were dead bodies, just didn't know WHO they were as I began reading. Eva Tweedie has gone to Whitby to finally confront the parents who gave her into care when she was a child. She has questions, wants answers, and won't back down this time. She's fresh off a breakup with her boyfriend, Gareth, and it seems that she has told him something that makes reconciliation impossible. In addition, her best friend from the old days in care, Celia, is worried about Eva, has cautioned her about raking up the past, and is set on stopping her from further heartbreak.

The narrative unfolds from the perspectives of Eva, Celia and Gareth. The reader has no clue if any of them is reliable as each tells his or her version of the story. All seem a bit overwrought with emotion and there is a LOT of anger underlying their actions. The pace is slow by sure as all of them come to Twinby for answers -- seeking out Eva's mother as the source and wanting her to pay for the sorry mess that is their lives. Unfortunately, one of them is a total psycho...NO SPOILERS

Despite my misgivings at the internal angsting all were experiencing and the repetition of the emotional turmoil, I ended up enjoying this because the conclusion, though somewhat expected, was quite satisfying. I'm glad I finished it despite wanting to chuck it initially. If you want to read a novel about 3 really messed up young people, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

So, you say you want to go on a wellness retreat? Nine people sign up for our the 10-day program that promises that they "will leave Tranquillum House feeling happier, healthier, lighter, freer."

The "guests" arrive at the beautiful compound, are escorted to rooms in the restored Victorian mansion and prepare to meet the director and team who will guide them in the personalized processes designed so that when they leave on the last day, they won't be the same person who entered. They certainly get a transformative experience during their stay NO SPOILERS.

The characters are totally engaging, each one so well-drawn that they feel like old friends by the end of the book. Quirky, prickly, obsessed, neurotic, depressed -- the nine have all had some very specific life events that have led them to Tranquillum House in need of, desperately seeking SOMETHING that will allow them to move beyond their pasts and resume living with a different attitude. A writer, a teacher, a midwife, a young woman focused on her social media, an ex football star, a lawyer, a divorced mother of 4, a man in love with his Lamborghini, a girl about to celebrate her 21st birthday -- all are about to meet the driving force behind this extraordinary resort -- Masha Dmitrichenko. She and her team (Yao and Delilah) have planned the 10 days down to the last detail. None of those attending this session will ever be the same again. But not in the way they had imagined.

I can't say which of the characters was my favorite as each had quite a unique presentation and I enjoyed the changing point of view through the narrative. Although it starts off a little slow as the reader is introduced to the characters, the pace picks up and becomes so engrossing that I found it impossible to put down and so had to finish it basically in one sitting. I loved it and I think you will too. It would make a great choice for a book club as there are so many themes to discuss and I know I'll be thinking about the story for a long time.

Where the Truth Lies (DI Tom Ridpath #1) by M.J. Lee

"We seek evidence, it's all that counts. The truth always lies. Only evidence is clear."

DI Tom Ridpath has been temporarily seconded to the coroner from Manchester Police. He's just returned to work after a 9 month absence for treatment of his myeloma. He's now in remission and has been cleared, but he has to smooth over relationships between the coroner's office and the constabulary before he can resume his previous position. His first assignment is to deal with the family of the murdered Alice Seagram. It seems they don't believe that the man who was found guilty and imprisoned for the crime, James Dalbey, was really the killer. It's been 10 years and an exhumation of the body is ordered. The problems begin when the coffin is unearthed and is found empty. And then, the body of a woman is found and the wounds are reminiscent of circumstances surrounding that of Alice Seagram. Ridpath, working with Coroner Margaret Challinor, and trying to liaise with the police, finds himself somewhat at odds in his new job and the nature of the investigation forces him to examine the very same case that put him on the fast-track to inspector years ago. NO SPOILERS.

This was a high-octane crime thriller that kept me guessing and completely engrossed until the very satisfying conclusion. I don't think I've ever read a book where the main character has this particular job title and I found it all very interesting. It's a great mix of police procedural and forensic investigation. I really liked the character of Tom Ridpath and it seems that, considering the last chapter, he may be continuing in that role for the next book -- I hope so, and I can't wait.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for the e-book ARC to read and review.

#1 in series DI Tom Ridpath

The Warning by Kathryn Croft

Absorbing and fast-paced psychological thriller with a conclusion you won't see coming. What really happened that night at the river?

Three years ago, Jake and Zoe Monaghan get the worst news that parents can ever hear -- their 14-year-old son, Ethan, and his best friend Josh drowned in the river near their home. Even though their deaths were ruled as accidental, the lives of the Monaghan's and that of their surviving older son, Harley, have not gone so well though they've been working at trying to be a family again. Their fragile peace is shattered when Zoe receives an email and subsequent text messages that hint that they did not know the truth about what happened to their son and his friend. Who is tormenting them -- Zoe can't be stopped from trying to find out and she may lose everything else in the process of finding out the real story.

With great characters and narrated from the point of view of several of them, this thriller takes off at a speedy clip and left me racing through to get to the answers I wanted as much as did Zoe! The author juggles a large cast of characters and a complex plot but it all comes together in a satisfying conclusion. Sort of left my head reeling with all the details and information about relationships, secrets, lies, obsession and revenge. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'll definitely want to read more books by this author.

Standalone and not part of any series.