The Dying Light by Joy Ellis -psychological thriller      

  Ex DCI Matt Ballard and his partner (Ex DS) Liz are now both retired from the force.

To keep the grey matter active and as they are too young “to have an allotment and

join the bowling club” have decided to start a P.I business. Having just completed

their first successful case they are taking some down time- or so they think. A

neighbour and friend is rather worried about his nearest neighbour. A lady who lives

on her own appears to be being targeted at some rather nasty incidents. Her cat has

been killed and her shed broken into amongst other things. Matt and Liz say they will

do their best but as friends rather than P.I’s. The friend Will is also worried about his

wife Kate who since a breakdown a few years ago has been behaving rather oddly and

not the woman he knew and loved. When he has to fly over to Canada for a funeral,

Liz offers to keep an eye on Kate whose wonderful illustrations are now taking on a

very dark and macabre twist. Who is targeting the old lady and why and does Holland

house where Will and Kate live have its own secrets? Oooh!! I very quickly got into

this and wanted to keep turning and turning. I like Matt and Liz but there is something

about Joy’s plots and style of writing that is such a joy to read (every pun intended!).

A warmth and depth of character, wonderful scenery (without overly outdoing the

plot as can happen with some authors) and a very clever captivating multi thread

plot line. This is one of a series #3 but would happily stand alone- but why miss out

on the other brilliant reads in the series? A brilliant read that I didn't want to end,

I very much look forward to the next in the series.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

THE DYING LIGHT a totally enthralling psychological thriller with a stunning ending (Detective Matt Ballard Book 3) From multiple #1 best-selling author Joy Ellis, comes a psychological thriller that will have you glued from first page to last. WHISPER FEN HOLDS DARK SECRETS As the mists roll over the fens and enigmatic lights twinkle in the distance, only the locals know their way along the hidden paths through the mysterious watery terrain of one of England’s most beautiful and sometimes dangerous places. Detective Matt Ballard may have retired but there’s still plenty going on the fens to keep him busy. Someone trashes an old lady’s garden and daubs her isolated cottage with hateful graffiti. Emilia Swain seems to be totally harmless, so why is she being targeted? Matt’s best friend Will and his wife Kate moved to Holland House to put their past behind them. But Kate’s mental state is deteriorating and she’s obsessed with the tragic history of the house and an old doll she finds in the garden. And why is Kate suddenly friends with a loner who haunts the fens? Has the dreadful past come back to haunt the present owners? Former detectives Matt and Liz want to help their friends and neighbours. But how can you help people who don’t want to be helped? DISCOVER A TOTALLY ENTHRALLING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM JOY ELLIS What readers are saying about JOY ELLIS “The suspense starts on Page 1 and continues through the twists and turns until the very surprising ending.” Linda Strong “OMG, this book was fantastic I absolutely loved it. I was gripped from the first page but as the tension and suspense mounted throughout the book it just got better and better and that ending, well just WOW!” Dawn Jones “I absolutely loved it.” Viv “Will keep you guessing until the end of the book.” Barbara “What a book!!!” Sian “I was so engrossed I sat up way too late to finish it in one sitting.” Elaine The Setting England's rural fenland is a strange place, with its never-ending fields, winding tracks, and long straight droves (the old livestock routes) that lead to nowhere. The lonely lanes are flanked either side by deep drainage ditches and are, for a good part of the year, filled with tall, whispering reeds. Closer to the Wash, high seabanks form a barrier between river and marsh, and the richly fertile soil of the drained land. But when the mists come down, as they so often do, perspective is destroyed and all sense of direction lost, and then the fens become a rather frightening place of mystery and danger. Somewhere that you do not want to be at night. ALSO BY JOY ELLIS THE BEST-SELLING NIKKI GALENA SERIES Book 1: CRIME ON THE FENS Book 2: SHADOW OVER THE FENS Book 3: HUNTED ON THE FENS Book 4: KILLER ON THE FENS Book 5: STALKER ON THE FENS Book 6: CAPTIVE ON THE FENS Book 7: BURIED ON THE FENS Book 8: THIEVES ON THE FENS Book 9: FIRE ON THE FENS Book 10: HIDDEN ON THE FENS JACKMAN & EVANS Book 1: THE MURDERER’S SON Book 2: THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS Book 3: THE FOURTH FRIEND Book 4: THE GUILTY ONES Book 5: THE STOLEN BOYS DETECTIVE MATT BALLARD Book 1: BEWARE THE PAST Book 2: FIVE BLOODY HEARTS Book 3: THE DYING LIGHT

JOY ELLIS UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD! "I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss! And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!” BOOKS BY JOY ELLIS DI NIKKI GALENA SERIES: CRIME ON THE FENS SHADOW OVER THE FENS HUNTED ON THE FENS KILLER ON THE FENS STALKER ON THE FENS CAPTIVE ON THE FENS BURIED ON THE FENS THIEVES ON THE FENS FIRE ON THE FENS DARKNESS ON THE FENS HIDDEN ON THE FENS NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 1-3 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 4-6 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 7-9 JACKMAN & EVANS SERIES: THE MURDERER’S SON THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS FOURTH FRIEND THE GUILTY ONES THE STOLEN BOYS THE PATIENT MAN MATT BALLARD SERIES: BEWARE THE PAST FIVE BLOODY HEARTS STANDALONE NOVELS: GUIDE STAR FIND JOY ON AUTHOR WEBSITE FACEBOOK GOODREADS

Shed No Tears- Caz Frear- Crime Thriller

“BUT IF YOU'D GOT AWAY WITH MURDER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN THE CASE

IS RE-OPENED?”

DC Cat Kinsella and her team are investigating the “roommate” killings as there is another

possible victim. The man whom they thought was the perpetrator is now dead himself

but things aren’t adding up as the first victims were strangled and the latest one was shot.

Cat has her own issues. Her boyfriend had his sister go missing several years before then

being found dead and she knows her father, albeit innocent, knows something about this.

This is the third in the series but happily stands alone (I hadn’t read the others). This is

a fairly fast pace and very “chatty” style of crime writing- something different and new

to me. Alot is learned from conversations rather than situations and the whole thing

is told by Cat and hence from her perspective. A very different read and one to keep

the grey matter alive.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

What Lies Beneath- Adam Croft- Crime                 

When two men out fishing on Rutland water find what they first thought is a pile of

clothes and turns out to be a body, DI Caroline Hills and her team have their work cut

out. The body has been strategically placed which may give some clues but why? The

victim runs a construction firm and is on the local council- nothing glaringly obvious that

would make him a target. There isn’t a large team as there would be anywhere else as

Rutland being the smallest county in England has only a few key players. Caroline and her

family have recently moved from London and she is finding the bucolic life rather different

from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and how people treat each other is

something totally foreign to her. She has her own well kept secret but things are moving

on and it's time to finally spill the beans. I really enjoyed this, a good plot and likeable

characters and set in a familiar place, somewhere I have both worked and enjoyed. I

have crossed that railway time and waited more times than I can remember! The first

of a series, a wonderful read that is a very comfortable one- nothing to put you off

dinner or freak you out with nightmares- a well thought out, very agreeable read

  and I very much look forward to the next one in the series. Thank you Adam, this

brought both a smile and memories. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle Literary Fiction

Oh boy! I knew from the blurb I was likely to enjoy this, what I wasn’t prepared for was that

even just a few pages in that I would be so engaged with Hubert. Hubert is a lonely old man

of 84. His daughter lives in Australia and on their regular phone calls he tells her of his life

and his activities and his friends- except every word is his imagination. He rarely goes out

and sees very little of the human race. He even has notes about his three friends so that

story lines add up and make sense. His daughter is coming home in a few months and he

doesn’t know quite how he is going to tell her that it's all made up. One day he gets a

knock on the door and there instead of a parcel delivery for someone else, stands a

young woman and her daughter who have just moved in close by.  Alternate chapters

take us back to 1958 and Huberts arrival from Jamaica and his meeting with the love

of his life Joyce. Sometimes in amongst the many books I read comes along something

special, something life affirming and one to make me stop and think, smile and cry and

take stock of the world we are in. This is currently a very topical subject as Hubert and

his family have suffered racism for almost as long as he can remember. The major topic

is loneliness, something we can all do something about. When passing someone,

instead of nodding hello, maybe pass the time of day albeit briefly. Even just a few kind

words may mean the world to someone and change their day- we don’t know what

they are going through. I really didn’t want this to end. Each year about 10% of the

books I read (250+) earn a 5** rating for having that something extra. This one has

earned this and more. A book I have taken to my heart. Loved it really doesn’t

cover it. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

In My Wake by Ruth Harrow-psychological thriller      

Hannah is married to Will and they have a young daughter. She is back in her home village

for the funeral of her sister April who committed suicide. A body was never found but she

was seen by the river and her body was found nearby. At the funeral someone has pasted

over the eulogy insinuating that April had something to do with a young girl who was

killed years before. Again a body was neer found- the father was arrested however

most people in the village never believed the father would hurt his daughter. April

once dated Will and issued Hannah a warning about him- something at the time

she dismissed as jealousy. As time goes on Hannah is finding more and more about

Will and the past that she never knew. Occasional chapters take us back to when

Will and April were dating and Hannah was around twelve years of age. A read that

slowly but surely draws you in. You know that there is something, just something

that you can’t quite put your finger on and characters that I was never sure just

who was telling the truth. A clever premise, an interesting read with plenty

of twists and turns. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

Book Description:

Some secrets are best kept buried
… But someone won't let her forget ...

Decades ago, the disturbing disappearance of an eleven-year-old girl shook the tiny village Hannah grew up in. Now Hannah receives the shock of her life when she is told her sister, April, has committed suicide. Distraught, she returns to her childhood home for the funeral.


But someone who refuses to forget the past has sickening shocks in store for the grieving family and soon latch onto Hannah instead, leaving her looking over her shoulder at every turn.


Now the nightmares aren't only inside Hannah's head ...


The close-knit community is rattled as devastating secrets and unspeakable truths are shaken up and it seems everyone has a secret to hide ...


Hannah feels her grip on reality slipping as she starts to suspect even those closest to her - including her husband Will. April had uttered words of warning against him, but was it merely jealousy? Or does Hannah truly have something to fear from the father of her child?


Could the danger be closer to home than she realises?


And why is Hannah’s own father insisting that the past should remain in the past?

In My Wake is an unputdownable psychological thriller about a woman forced to confront her devastating past. Fans of K.L. Slater, Shalini Boland, Laura Marshall and The Silent Patient will love the shocking twists and unexpected revelations.

Author Bio:

Ruth Harrow was born and raised in London and graduated from the University of Kent before embarking on an unfulfilling career as an accountant.
She eventually put pen to paper and her debut psychological thriller, In Her Footsteps, was published in 2018 and quickly became a bestseller. Following the success of her first novel, her second book, You’re All Mine, was released in 2019. Her third psychological thriller, In My Wake will arrive on 16th July 2020.
She lives in Colchester with her husband, two children and chocolate Labrador, Rolo.
For more information and to get exclusive updates about future books please visit: RuthHarrow.com

Twitter: @ruth_harrow

Sign up here to get updates for news and releases: https://ruthharrow.com/notification-list/

Buy Links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CGYYXLG/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CGYYXLG/

House Of Straw- Marc Scott-Psychological Thriller

Bree has just lost her twin brotherJamie whom she was close to  in a tragic accident

that she was part of herself. She keeps seeing a small girl dressed in a sowester as if

she is staring at her.  Poppy has a violent boyfriend and has had a troubled past. She

now works in a restaurant which she both enjoys and does well at. Cameron, her

boyfriend has other ideas and takes all her money to fulfill his habit. Poppy does her

best to sort out the bills and is at danger of eviction as the rent is way overdue,

Cameron being selfish doesn't contribute at all from his “pay”- he is a dole scrounger.

  We go back in time to when Poppy was in care and to before she was born. There

are several brutal scenes in this from the accident to Poppy being abused as a child.

This is quite a “wordy” read if you get my meaning- there are excellent, although at

times disturbing, graphic descriptions of abuse, sex and violence. For me, some of

the characters being rough around the edges for want of a better term and the others

perfectly normal with regard to speech, the language didn’t really fit. Everything was

put in full rather than the abridged which I believe they would have used. for

example “ I am now going” rather than “I’m going”.  This (to me) would have given

it a better flow and more raw characters and real life persona. It was as if English

was not their first language. That said its a clever complex read and a hard hitting one.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

‐-----------------------------

Book Description:

‘Beautifully brutal, dark and twisted’  

Traumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.

Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.

When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again...  

Author Bio:

Marc Scott was born and bred in the heart of East London. His dark and gritty writing style has earned him much praise with readers. 

He worked in the film and video industry for more than twenty years, the highlight of which was spending twelve months based in Hollywood, organising marketing campaigns for a UK film distributor. 

More recently he spent several years working with young offenders as part of his role associated with the court service. It was during this time he became deeply moved by the tragic story of one young girl who was struggling to come to terms with the neglect and abuse she had suffered throughout her life. Her tragic case inspired him to write his first novel HOUSE OF STRAW. 

The book has already received excellent reviews from bloggers and buyers and his second book is planned for release at the end of 2020. 

His favourite book is Birdy by William Wharton, which he confesses to have read at least half a dozen times. He also enjoys the works of Kazuo Ishiguro. ‘I love authors that can find something that is extraordinary in ordinary people’ he says. ‘A reader wants to feel like a bystander all through the journey and that only happens if they can feel an emotional attachment to the main characters’. 

Marc lives in Buckinghamshire and has three grown-up children George, Marissa and Amie. He says his daughters have been the main motivation behind his love of writing. ‘I always run everything past them. Their honest appraisals definitely keep me on the right track’ he says. 

He is a keen sports fan and has an undying passion for Leyton Orient Football Club. 

Twitter: @MARCO1918253109

BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN by Margaret Murphy

There is a predator out and about in Liverpool and various women are on his agenda.

Some prostitutes, some not but no-one can identify him, he leaves no trace and none

of the women have seen his face. The victims are left battered and bruised, at times

raped but at least alive. Detective Cassie Rowan and her team are on the trail . Is he

the Furman as he has become known due to his draping the women in a fur stole?

This is a complex and very interesting plot. I won’t spoil anything other than to say

there are twists and turns along the way and rather a surprise. I took to Cassie. She

is rather radical at times and tenacious. One determined young lady who doesn’t

always follow protocol but her enthusiasm gets her through. A good length novel

from a new author to me and one I enjoyed reading. The first of a new series of

Cassie Rowan novels. An enjoyable and interesting read.

BEFORE HE KILLS AGAIN (Detective Cassie Rowan #1) by Margaret Murphy

A serial predator on the prowl in Liverpool. Seven victims so far. And he’s already got his next victim.

The police can’t catch him. He leaves no trace of himself, and no one has been able to provide a reliable description of him.

Detective Cassie Rowan is working undercover and on his trail. But now he has Cassie in his sights.

DISCOVER A BRAND-NEW SERIES FROM ONE OF THE MOST THRILLING WRITERS OF CRIME FICTION!

This brand-new, unputdownable crime thriller series from Murder Squad founder Margaret Murphy is one of the must-reads of 2020!

MEET DETECTIVE CASSIE ROWAN
DC CASSIE ROWAN is a young policewoman who has been the main carer for her little brother NEIL since their parents died. She has to balance this role with her demanding job. She is working undercover on the streets of Liverpool trying to find the ‘Furman’, a man who has been brutally assaulting sex workers. Cassie blames herself and another detective, Wicks, for not catching him sooner. Forensic scientist Dr Ian Chan is on her side, but her boss Detective Chief Inspector Pat Warman thinks she is uncooperative and needs to work as part of a team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector. She’s been a country park ranger, biology teacher, dyslexia specialist and Visiting Professor in creative writing. A Short Story Dagger and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.

ALSO BY MARGARET MURPHY
CLARA PASCAL SERIES
Book 1: DARKNESS FALLS
Book 2: WEAVING SHADOWS

DETECTIVE JEFF RICKMAN SERIES
Book 1: SEE HER BURN
Book 2: SEE HER DIE*

MARGARET MURPHY

Margaret Murphy writes internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), founder of Murder Squad, and a former RLF Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector. She’s been a country park ranger, biology teacher, dyslexia specialist and Visiting Professor in creative writing. A Short Story Dagger and CWA Red Herring award winner, she has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and CWA Dagger in the Library.

BOOKS BY MARGARET MURPHY

CLARA PASCAL SERIES:

DARKNESS FALLS

WEAVING SHADOWS

DETECTIVE JEFF RICKMAN SERIES:

SEE HER BURN

FIND MARGARET ON

AUTHOR WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

The House Party by Mary Grand - Mystery/crime

Beth and Kathleen are close friends living on the Isle of Wight. At a gathering once

evening Kathleen appears troubled and Beth reaches out to her. Kathleen says she is

frightened of someone who is at the gathering and has more to tell but will tell Beth

more the next day when they are alone. The next morning Kathleen is found at the

bottom of the cliff from her garden apparently having fallen and is now dead. Her

beloved chickens are out- something she would never ever do. Beth thinks there

is more to her death than an accident possibly chasing a pet. She talks to her

husband Sami who it appears has his own secrets involving Kathleen so she is

now not even sure that she can trust her own spouse. After a short time Beth finds

out a little more about Kathleen and when she feels threatened herself it is Sami

that she turns to. A complex plot and one to keep the grey matter active in a very

good way. I liked Beth’s determination and tenacity in facing her friends whom

she suspected in different ways. A brilliantly clever read and one to remember. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
-------------------


The House Party Someone is about to die… Someone is about to lie… At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her
best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one.
The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous. The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening
truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the
police, Beth’s decides to seek answers. All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill
to keep theirs safe… The House Party is set on the Isle of Wight - insular,claustrophobic, and with nowhere to run.
Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets, betrayal and desire, perfect for
fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/35kKciQ




Author Bio – Mary Grand is the author of five novels and writes gripping, page-turning

suspense, with a dark and often murderous underside. She grew up in Wales, was for
many years a teacher of deaf children and now lives on the Isle of Wight where her new novel, The House Party, which will be published by Boldwood in July 2020, is set. Social Media Links – Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/authormaryg Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/authormarygrand/ Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/maryandpepper/?hl=en Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-grand?list=about Blog / website URL: https://marygrand.net/