The Family at No. 12

 The Family at No. 12 by Anita Waller- psychological thriller 

Wow! Sit down and hold on for the ride! Jeanette lives alone looking after dogs in her kennels. She has never been married and lived with her mother until she quite recently died. One day a man comes in to enquire about booking his dog in and Jeanette's life changes dramatically. Years later a child is found who has never experienced life outside her room or even conversation. There is then a search of the house and what transpires is quite shocking as to what has gone on behind closed doors. After the child is adopted into a loving family, will she adapt to her new life or are there other things going on? 

Oh wow! Another one of Anita’s books that I didn't want to put down. I felt for Marta and her existence. Anyone who knows of someone brought up without love knows what lifelong damage this can do. This is very sensitively  and cleverly written, key sentences giving the reader scope for their own imagination of the situation. There are several twists and turns, just as I love a psychological thriller to be and the ending was just perfect. Another stunningly compulsive read from a truly brilliant author- please sign me up for the next one right now !

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The Family at No. 12 When Janette answers the door to a potential customer looking to board his dog, she never imagines he has nefarious plans. But minutes later he’s dead and in her cellar. Weeks later she realises she’s pregnant. And so she becomes Mother and the baby Child, and a hidden life begins. But all secrets come out eventually . . . Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3fftg6f

Author Bio – Anita Waller is the author of many bestselling psychological thrillers and the Kat and Mouse crime series. She lives in Sheffield, which continues to be the setting of many of her thrillers, and was first published by Bloodhound at the age of sixty-nine. Her first book for Boldwood will be published in August 2022. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anita.m.waller Twitter https://twitter.com/anitamayw Instagram https://www.instagram.com/anitawallerauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AnitaWallerNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anita-waller

The Dentist

 

The Dentist- Tim Sullivan- crime

This is the first in the DS Cross series and each stands alone ( I read the Politician first which led me to wanting to read the others). Cross is rather an enigma. He is highly successful at solving crimes but equally unsuccessful at social interaction to the point when someone smiles he has to remember what this means and try to remember how to act or speak accordingly. He is a sticker for perfection, every I and T, and is rather a Sherlock on spotting small details. A homeless man has been found dead. Sadly something due to resources the police wouldn’t investigate unless necessary. Cross is sure it is murder as the man was found with tins of cider in his hand. Sure enough the post mortem shows a broken hyoid- so begins a case. 

I love Cross. He’s one of those avuncular characters that once you are in his mindset, he is fascinating. Someone so astute in a very different way to how most of us are wired- which is what gets the back up of most of his adversaries and even his peers. This means that the books take twists and turns to his way of thinking despite the higher ups and even his partner Ottey, desperately trying to keep him on the usual path- of which of course he is having none of it! Love, love , love this so much I'm off to read the next one!

The Politician Tim Sullivan + The Patient Tim Sullivan

 

The Politician- Tim Cross- Crime (DS Cross#4-will  standalone)

This is my first experience with DS George Cross and what a wonderful character. He often “ says it as it is' ' and conviviality is something for others to say. George has Aspergers which means he sees things differently to others and can't settle until the truth is found- which has made him a highly, if slightly unpopular detective with those that don’t understand him.  A woman is found dead in her home but the murder somehow doesnt appear quite right. Many think that this is a burglary gone wrong but George spots inconsistencies. The woman is high profile across social media, she was the local mayor and many have made disparaging comments through the platforms to her. Who would want her dead and why take jewellery and leave other items?

I haven't read the others in the series which didn't matter a jot, other than I've realised I've missed out on some cracking reads (now added to the TBR pile!). George to me is wonderful- he’s quirky, he’s loveable, he says what we would think pre filter and gets to the truth, being himself able to filter what’s irrelevant. This is stunningly written and one I really didn't want to put this down, there is just that special something in George that's so appealing. The indefatigable George Cross deserves a medal for his diligence (every pun intended!) A huge 5* from me. 

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DS CROSS THRILER: The Patient and The Politician by Tim Sullivan

About the books:

The Patient

No fingerprints. No weapon. No witnesses. Can DS Cross prove it was murder?

THE DETECTIVE

DS George Cross doesn't rely on guesswork and he has no time for false assumptions. He is a detective who goes off the evidence in front of him, not 'hunches' or 'gut feelings'. He does not know what these are.

THE CLOSED CASE

When a young woman is found dead, the Bristol Crime Unit is quick to rule it a suicide as the woman had a long history of drug abuse. But her mother is convinced it was murder, saying that her daughter had been clean for years and had been making strides in a new therapy programme.

THE ANSWER

As an outsider himself, DS Cross is drawn to cases involving the voiceless and dispossessed and, here, the evidence states that this woman was murdered – Cross just has to prove it. But under pressure from his boss to shut down the case, and with numerous potential suspects, time is rapidly running out to get the answers that this grieving family deserve.

The Politician

A ransacked room. A dead politician. A burglary gone wrong – or a staged murder?

THE DETECTVE

DS George Cross loves puzzles – he's good at them – and he immediately spots one when he begins investigating the death of former mayor Peggy Frampton. It looks like a burglary that went horribly wrong to most but George can see what others can't – that this was murder.

THE PUZZLE

After her political career ended, Peggy became a controversial blogger whose forthright opinions attracted a battalion of online trolls. And then there's her family: an unfaithful husband and a gambling-addicted son. With yet more enemies in her past, the potential suspects are unending.

THE SUSPECTS

Cross must unpick the never-ending list of seedy connections to find her killer – but the sheer number of suspects is clouding his usually impeccable logic. He's a relentlessly methodical detective, but no case can last forever. And politics can be a dangerous game – especially for people who don't know the rules . . .

About the author

Tim Sullivan is a crime writer, screenwriter and director, whose film credits include A Handful of Dust, Jack and Sarah, and Cold Feet. His crime series featuring the socially awkward but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross has topped the book charts and been widely acclaimed. Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy Award-winning producer of The Barefoot Contessa and Pioneer Woman. 

Title links

Amazon The Patient: https://amzn.to/3DU4Xoi

Amazon The Politician: https://amzn.to/3zFcC7A

Follow AUTHOR

Facebook: Tim Sullivan novels

Twitter: @TimJRSullivan

Instagram: @timsullivannovelist

TikTok: timsullivanauthor

Website: timsullivan.co.uk

Follow Aries: Twitter: @AriesFiction  Facebook: Aries Fiction  Instagram: headofzeus Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

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The Patient- Tim Sullivan- Crime

DS Cross has a quandary. There has been a woman sitting in reception and is now hanging around outside when his curiosity gets the better of him. Her daughter died which has been ruled as an accidental overdose however she refuses to believe it. There is one small clue in what she says and Cross being Cross cant leave it until he is satisfied which is hard to sell to his boss and further up. Was the woman murdered or was she a recovering addict who sadly fell off the wagon?

I love this series- they do stand alone but to understand George fully they are probably best read in order (that said I read the 4th one first and then wanted more- I loved the character so much!). He’s definitely a one off but in a very likeable way. He has a Sherlock factor about him in that he spots a small detail which makes that difference, things that no-one else would see or if they did wouldn't necessarily see the relevance of. A truly magical series that engaged me and I still want more of George- he is just so likeable and his style is a cleverly thought out wonderful read. 10* if I could 

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“A perfect detective for our time and for all time.”STEPHEN FRY

Peggy Frampton was dead. A burglary gone wrong, or something more

sinister? She was a well-known figure in Bristol - a former mayor,

ardent campaigner against a controversial development, and a popular

online agony aunt, issuing her honest, often forthright advice to her

followers. She had ruffled plenty of feathers in her time, but could

someone really hate her enough to kill her? DS George Cross believes

so.

George finds himself at the centre of the high-profile investigation, a

case senior figures are keeping a close eye on. The intense scrutiny

might have unsettled others, but not George. Oblivious to internal

politics and rivalries, he is intent on simply uncovering the truth,

proving that Peggy was indeed murdered, and finding her killer. But the

further he delves into her life, the more shadowy figures he uncovers,

all with good motives to want her dead. It will take all George’s

idiosyncratic and meticulous skills to uncover the killer and find justice

for Peggy Frampton.

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TIM SULLIVAN

Tim Sullivan is a crime writer, screenwriter and director whose film credits include 

A Handful of Dust, Jack and Sarah, and Cold Feet. Early in his career he directed

 Jeremy Brett’s iconic portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in ITV’s The Casebook

 of Sherlock Holmes ̧ cementing his lifelong passion for crime fiction.

Tim’s crime series, featuring the socially awkward but brilliantly persistent

 DS George Cross, hasbeen widely acclaimed and topped the book charts.

 The Politician is the fourth in the series.He lives in North London with

 his wife Rachel, the Emmy Award-winning producer of The Barefoot

Contessa and Pioneer Woman. To find out more about the author, please

 visit TimSullivan.co.uk

The Soho Killer

 

THE SOHO KILLER by Biba Pearce- crime 

DI Rob Miller has been called to a case where a man has been left in a garden area in Soho. He has drawn a crowd due to what he is, or rather isn't wearing. When the team visits his husband they find he isn't into BDSM which is the gear he was wearing and led rather a quiet life. Rob’s wife Jo works for MI5 and when one of their own is killed in a very similar M.O, the secret service wants to take over. Who is killing these men, why the gear and what is their motive?

I really enjoy this series (they do stand alone). Biba has a skill of drawing the reader in very quickly and a wonderful depth of characters that bring them alive. There is a subplot or two which enhances this without in any way taking away from the main plotline, to me this gives the characters that extra depth, that added bit of real life to make them even more believable. A brilliant read and a wonderful main plot line that kept me turning the pages faster and faster. A big 5* from me. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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A HEARTSTOPPING MYSTERY FROM YOUR NEW CRIME FICTION OBSESSION: BIBA PEARCE.

Detective Rob Miller gets a call he doesn’t want to take.

Rob is called to London’s West End on personal business when he gets a call. A body has been discovered in Soho Square.

The victim has whip marks on his back, a leather mask covering his face and a ball-gag in his mouth. The cause of death appears to be strangulation, but was it murder or a mistake?

The evidence quickly stacks up against the victim’s partner, Ralph Keaton. Under pressure from his higher-ups, Rob arrests Ralph under suspicion of murder.

But Ralph is adamant he’s innocent, and Rob’s gut is telling him the same thing. Yet Ralph lied about his alibi for the evening in question.

Then another man’s body is found: bound, gagged and dumped in the middle of a busy London square without any witnesses.

This killer is smart. It’s up to Rob to be smarter. But with a baby to look after and his boss breathing down his neck, Rob’s got a lot on his plate.

Then the killer makes it personal.

Now everything’s on the line . . .

AN UNSTOPPABLE CRIME MYSTERY THAT YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN.

This gripping page-turner is perfect for fans of Helen H. Durrant, James Oswald, Joy Ellis, Angela Marsons, L.J. Ross, Janice Frost and J.M. Dalgliesh.

MEET THE DETECTIVE

DI ROB MILLER

An ambitious young detective gunning for promotion. He will do anything for his job, but can he also keep his personal life under control?

THE SETTING

The Murder Investigation Team is based out of leafy Putney, with its overgrown often-flooded riverbanks. One way the river leads into central London, the other out into the countryside. It’s an idyllic setting that masks a criminal underworld.

PRAISE FOR BIBA PEARCE:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A brilliant read.” Billie

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Full of twists and turns and an excellent ending.” Carole

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Gripped from beginning to end.” Barbara

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I just couldn’t put it down.” Many B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Kept me guessing throughout.” Sharon

ALSO BY BIBA PEARCE

DETECTIVE ROB MILLER MYSTERY SERIES

Book 1: THE THAMES PATH KILLER

Book 2: THE WEST LONDON MURDERS

Book 3: THE BISLEY WOOD MURDERS

Book 4: THE BOX HILL KILLER

Book 5: THE SOUTH BANK MURDERS

Book 6: THE SOHO KILLER

BIBA PEARCE Biba Pearce is a British crime writer and author of the DCI Rob Miller series. Biba grew up in post-apartheid Southern Africa. As a child, she lived on the wild eastern coast and explored the sub-tropical forests and surfed in shark-infested waters. Now a full-time writer with more than twenty-five novels under her belt, Biba lives in leafy Surrey and when she isn’t writing, can be found walking through the countryside or kayaking on the river Thames. BOOKS BY BIBA PEARCE DETECTIVE ROB MILLER MYSTERIES THE THAMES PATH KILLER THE WEST LONDON MURDERS THE BISLEY WOOD MURDERS THE BOX HILL KILLER THE SOUTH BANK MURDERS THE SOHO KILLER BOX SETS DETECTIVE ROB MILLER BOX SET BOOKS 1-3 FOLLOW BIBA ON AUTHOR WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

For Richer, For Deader

For Richer, For Deader by Helen Golden- Cozy murder mystery               

Lady Grace has received two threatening notes both attached to dead animals. Lady Beatrice, who solved the last crime in the area, wants to involve the police and do some detective work herself. Lady Grace, expecting guests shortly before her daughter's wedding, wants none of it but does agree it can't be left alone. Things take a turn for the worse and DCI Fitzwilliam is not best pleased as Bea is involving herself, something she denies as she is just “ good at talking and listening”. Bea has a new friend however the society pages are making it out to be far more. Someone even knows what clothes she is wearing- who is the snoop and the leak and who is threatening the wedding?

I enjoy this type of reading. Despite being a murder mystery, its a lighthearted fun book where no-one takes themselves too seriously, being a good mashup of drama and humour.. Bea is a very likeable character and Perry is a good sidekick to bounce things from. A fun, thoroughly enjoyable light-hearted read

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For Richer, For Deader Is the Wedding Between Sir Hewitt Willoughby-Franklin’s Step-Daughter and Billionaire’s Son Off? Rumours are that the recent death of Kelley Lindsell (29), the personal chef of tycoon Rudy (68) and Sheri Trotman (65) at Sir Hewitt’s Fawstead Manor country estate in Fenshire, has spooked Sybil Bransgrove (36) so badly she’s considering cancelling her nuptials. Meanwhile the bride and her mother, Lady Grace (61), are being supported by family friend Lady Beatrice (36), the Countess of Rossex, who, alongside her business partner Perry Juke, is currently managing the project to refurbish the Manor House and Lodge on the estate. Not again! Now that Lady Grace has asked Lady Beatrice to liaise with the police during the investigation into Kelley’s death, she’ll have to cooperate with boorish Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam whether she likes it or not. Her only relief will be solving the murder with the help of her friends Perry and Simon and her dog Daisy to get rid of him faster. But with so many wedding party guests staying on-site, any one of them could be the killer. Can they find out who it is before Sybil calls off the wedding… Purchase Links Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BF5P3C9N (UK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BF5P3C9N (US)

Author Bio – Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise. I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It's very early in my life as an author, but so far I'm loving it. It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes Social Media Links – Insta: www.instragram.com/helengolden_author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helengoldenauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helengoldenauthor

Stone Cold Killing

 

Stone Cold Killing by D.E. White- Crime (Det Dove Milson#4) 

DC Milson and partner are driving towards a road accident when they see a baby in a carrier in the middle of the road. As they go to investigate, shots are fired. Very soon afterwards there is a 999 call to a woman fairly close by who has been fatally stabbed in her caravan. Surely this isn't a coincidence? There are drugs found in the car and the victim is an elderly woman. How on earth can they be connected? Dove is also having her own private issues-she has seen messages she wishes she hadn't on the phone of her fiancé Quinn.

I love this series (they will happily stand alone) and the author's style of writing. I'm quickly into the heart of the drama and ensconced between the pages. Dove is a very realistic likeable character- tenacious with a sense of humour and a very determined streak. The personal subplot works very well with the main plot line and to me gives the characters a wonderful depth of reality. A book that kept me glued to the pages and a well thought out crafted plot. A highly enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns right to the very end. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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STONE COLD KILLING BY D.E. WHITE

DISCOVER THE LATEST EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT CRIME THRILLER FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR D.E. WHITE.

The baby was in the middle of the road. Cocooned in a car seat, tiny face suddenly, violently, illuminated by the headlights. Detective Dove Milson has to swerve to avoid the baby’s car seat in the middle of the road. Ten metres up the road, a car has crashed in a ditch. Detective Steve Parker rushes to the car, while Dove attends to the baby. But the baby is just a doll, and the driver is missing. There is a trail of blood leading into the woods. As they’re searching the scene, gunshots are fired. A shadowy figure crashes through the woods. Steve is shot. Then a body is found nearby. Alice Cartwright, the driver of the abandoned car, has been murdered, a carved stone heart placed in her mouth. She’s not the first victim. And she won’t be the last. A stone cold killer is on the loose. Detective Dove Milson is in a race against time to stop them killing again. This electrifying crime thriller is perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, K.L. Slater, Robert Bryndza, Helen Fields, Helen H. Durrant and Angela Marsons. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT D.E. WHITE: “An ingenious thriller where the tension is rising with every page. D.E. White yet again shows her immense talent for compelling story writing with a plot so taut it grabs you from the first page. Brilliant!” Victoria Dowd, award-winning author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder “Dove is an immensely strong and determined person and is well supported by her colleagues. The pace doesn’t flag and twists and surprises hold the attention to the final pages.” Mystery People “This mystery thriller novel is wrapped in loads of sinister suspense and will have you clambering to the edge of your seat . . . full of twists and turns you would never expect!” The Daily Mirror “Another cracker of a book.” Aileen G. “I couldn't stop reading, I had to know what happened next!” Amy DETECTIVE DOVE MILSON SERIES Book 1: GLASS DOLLS Book 2: THE ICE DAUGHTERS Book 3: THE ABBERLEY BEACH MURDERS

Book 4: STONE COLD KILLING

D. E. WHITE

Daisy White started writing fifteen years ago, scribbling ideas on napkins at work on the night shift. After various jobs, including working as cabin crew, in a hospital, a supermarket, and as a 999 call handler for the ambulance service, she began writing full time in 2018.

She writes cosy crime as Daisy White, including the Amazon bestselling RUBY BAKER MYSTERIES (Joffe Books), and psychological thrillers as D.E. White; REMEMBER ME and THE FORGOTTEN CHILD (HarperCollins).

Her latest book, THE FORGOTTEN CHILD, was released on kindle, audiobook and paperback in October 2019, and charted at number 15 in the US Amazon Kindle Top 100. It has been described as ‘...an explosive gangland thriller.’

Daisy’s new police procedural, GLASS DOLLS, featuring DC Dove Wilson, will be published by Joffe Books in 2020. She is also working on a new cosy crime series and another standalone psychological thriller.

Rep’d by Lina Langlee at the Kate Nash Literary Agency.

BOOKS BY D. E. WHITE

DETECTIVE RUBY BAKER SERIES:

BEFORE I LEFT

BEFORE I FOUND YOU

BEFORE I TRUST YOU

DOVE MILSON SERIES:

GLASS DOLLS

THE ICE DAUGHTERS

THE ABBERLEY BEACH MURDERS

FOLLOW D. E. WHITE ON

AUTHOR WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

GOODREADS

The Wrong Ghost

 

The Wrong Ghost by Victoria Connelly- Women’s fiction

This is a wonderful novella easily read in an evening or over a coffee or two that tells the story of Bea who has recently become a widow. She lives in her husband George’s ancestral home with her four year old daughter. One day she is wistfully thinking of George and one way and another finds herself a ghost friend. This tells her story. 

I loved this. It made me smile and it brought a tear or two (in a good way). One of those stories you remember years later and perhaps makes you reflect on life a little. I loved George and Bea and this is a cleverly thought out story that I didn't want to end. A big 5* from me. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Wrong Ghost

When Beatrice Beaumont loses her husband, George, she finds herself raising their young daughter alone in the ancestral home, Ketton Hall, deep in the Suffolk countryside. With Christmas approaching and marking the first anniversary of George’s death, there’s nothing Bea wants more than to have him back again. One night, she makes a wish for him to return and gets the shock of her life when a ghost appears. But it isn’t her George...

The Wrong Ghost is a delightful Christmas tale, full of warmth and charm, perfect for a dark winter’s night in a cosy, candle-lit room.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wrong-Ghost-Victoria-Connelly-ebook/dp/B0B623PT2Y

US - https://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Ghost-Victoria-Connelly-ebook/dp/B0B623PT2Y 

Author Bio – 

Victoria Connelly lives in a 500-year old thatched cottage in rural Suffolk with her artist husband, a springer spaniel and a flock of ex-battery hens. She is the million-selling author of two bestselling series, The Austen Addicts and The Book Lovers, as well as many other novels and novellas. Her first published novel, Flights of Angels, was made into a film in Germany. Victoria loves books, films, walking, historic buildings and animals. If she isn’t at her keyboard writing, she can usually be found in her garden either with a trowel in her hand or a hen on her lap.

Social Media Links – 

www.victoriaconnelly.com

Instagram: @victoriaconnellyauthor

https://www.instagram.com/victoriaconnellyauthor/

Facebook: @victoriaconnellyauthor

https://www.facebook.com/victoriaconnellyauthor

Twitter: @VictoriaDarcy

https://www.twitter.com/victoriadarcy

Mad Honey

 

Mad Honey- Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan-Literary Fiction 

One of my books of the year 10 * if I could. A book quite unlike anything else- in such a good way.

Olivia has inherited her mothers house and her fathers bees. Bees, for anyone who knows them, can tell us so much about life- they are truly fascinating creatures. In this story, Olivia tells part of it through them. Her eighteen year old son Asher, has been seeing Lily for a few months. When a surprise goes wrong and they don’t speak for a few days everyone thinks it's teenage angst. Olivia has had her own issues with Asher's father from whom she is now divorced. When Olivia gets a call from the police station, things have drastically changed and maybe even their whole lives.

In the blurb this book is described as compelling and wow! It most certainly is. There’s something not only about the plot but the style of writing that keeps the pages turning so very easily. I quickly took to Olivia and her predicament and that fear of what to do, who to all, what is happening etc. Halfway through there’s a twist and wow! This took my breath away as it was so unexpected. A book about life and what it may throw at us and of being who we truly are, not restrained by others or popular thought. Of learning from those little winged creatures who are always one step ahead of us humans and of life that can give us a real buzz both good and bad. A brave, beautiful, powerful stunner of a read. 

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The Orphans of Berlin

 

The Orphans of Berlin by Jina Bacarr -WW2 hist. fiction

It's 1942 and some of Berlin's Jews have come to France, only now it is occupied and they are being rounded up. This is based on the true story of the kinder transport. The Landau girls have fled, only someone has given them away and the two youngest are taken away. Rachel, the eldest, was out at the time meeting her resistance friend. She quickly decides there is only one option- to find her friend who is in Paris that helped them get away in the first place.

Kay is a debutante- or at least her mother would like her to be. She is an American heiress but hates the circles she “ should” move in and prefers to do her own thing- something more mentally challenging. The two women join together to try and save Rachel's sisters and do what they can for the war effort.

I quickly got into this and liked both Rachel and Kay- both feisty, determined, tenacious women putting themselves at risk for others. We get the background story for both of them before and in the early stages of the war- two very different backgrounds. A wonderful, in parts heart wrenching story of warmth and human kindness and getting through the very worst of times ‘#neverforget

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The Orphans of Berlin A heartbreaking World War 2 novel that tells the story of two women’s fight for love, family and hope, as the world crumbles around them. Based on the true story of the Kindertransport rescue from Nazi-occupied Europe. Berlin, 1936. The Landau family are at the heart of their community, running a music shop in Berlin and just trying to survive. But their lives are unravelling as Hitler's power increases and the treatment of Jewish families deteriorates. Eldest daughter, Rachel, fears for her sisters' future and will do anything she can to keep them safe. Will she find hope in the darkness? Paris, 1936. As whispers of war travel over from Europe, American debutante Kay escapes her mother's grasp and travels as a reluctant spy from Paris to Berlin. But a chance meeting with the Landau family will change her life forever. Kay is determined to give Rachel and her sisters a fighting chance in a society where the youngest are paying the ultimate price, even if it means making dangerous enemies along the way… As the world marches toward war, these brave women will find strength in joining forces to save the ones they love. But they will need the support of one another more than they will ever realise in order to survive… A gripping and heart-wrenching historical novel about hope, tragedy and two women's limitless courage. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and My Name is Eva. Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3A64rjQ

Author Bio – Jina Bacarr is a US-based historical romance author of over 10 previous books. She has been a screenwriter, journalist and news reporter, but now writes full-time and lives in LA. Jina’s novels have been sold in 9 territories. Her first novel with Boldwood is called Her Lost Love. Social Media Links – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JinaBacarr.author Twitter https://twitter.com/JinaBacarr Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jinabacarr/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JinaBacarrNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jina-bacarr

The Cellar

 

The Cellar by John Nicholl- psychological thriller/crime

A clever, thrilling, quite raw in parts and gritty crime/psychological read not for the faint- hearted (think Fred West/captive type).

Marcus Gove is quite clever, and thinks himself almost god-like in his abilities. He sets his sights on his victims and then takes his pleasure back at his remote country house well away from anyone or anything.  He has his sights set on Lucy, whose part time occupation is painting and he has devised a way of asking her to paint his cellar studio. Lucy, having tolerated a lazy boyfriend and making a new start, sees the lucrative opportunity and despite her family thinking it's too good to be true she wants to go through with it.      Laura the detective is on holiday taking a much needed break so when the case breaks someone else has to take over until she receives a less than friendly call. Who is Moloch and why is he doing this?

OMG! A book I didn't want to put down. I've said “raw” above and should explain that only a couple of sections describe this- most is left to the reader's imagination- what we have seen on TV  from Fred West and the infamous Fritzi case in Austria came to mind. I liked Lucy and have always liked Laura who appears in some other of John's books, both determined tenacious women very much put to the test. Lucy’s speech had me in tears as I know the basis is very real and that John has professional experience of this. A huge shout out for domestic violence to touch the heart and a huge 5*. One stunning, captivating read.  

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The Cellar Dark, disturbing and gripping. This is not for the faint of heart. Nurse. Protégé. Murderer. Marcus Gove has been all these things. He’s reached the pinnacle of his art and now it’s time for him to take a protege. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or she will be . . . Artist. Teacher. Daughter. Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She’s had some success as an artist, not so much success in love, but she’s getting by. But soon she’s going to have to become something else if she wants to be a survivor. Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog. Ray Lewis’s career isn’t heading anywhere. But he’s a solid detective and he’s determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him. Three people. Ten days. Who will live and who will die? Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3K0XBkc

Author Bio – John Nicholl is the bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers and detective series, previously published by Bloodhound, and inspired by his real-life experience as an ex-police officer and child protection social worker. Boldwood will be publishing the next title in his Galbraith series and a new psychological thriller in autumn 2022, and will be reissuing his bestselling backlist from May 2022.

Social Media Links – Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JohnNichollAuthor Twitter https://twitter.com/nicholl06 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/johnnichollauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JohnNichollNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/john-nicholl