The In-Laws

 

The In-Laws by Laura Wolfe-  psychological thriller

Oh wow! One stunner of a read- sit down and hold on for the ride! Abigail and her fiance Pete have taken their parents on a three night trip into the wilderness, camping. The idea is to bond the parents as the one time they met before didn't go too well. The parents are worlds apart but should have the couples best interests at heart, right? Pete isn't that close to his folks, as they doted on his younger brother Trent who has various issues so Pete has grown up rather independently. Over the campfire and walks, more comes out about each of them and Abigail herself is holding a rather large secret. Can they all survive both the knowledge and the trip?

OMG! I turned and I turned and I turned some more. Laura has brilliantly built a wonderful tension between the pages and a very well thought out carefully crafted plot which had me reeling along the way. The characters are well rounded (or not in some cases- read it and you’ll see what I mean!) and come across very well. I quite liked Abigail, despite everything she went through, there was a tenacious and caring person hiding underneath longing for stability as was Pete but also a very determined young woman.

One I really didn't want to put down. If you enjoy thrilling reads then this could just be your next book.  One belter of a read and tension that needed a knife!

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Book: The In-Laws

Author: Laura Wolfe 

Pub Day: Jan 26th 2023 

Buy Link: 

 https://geni.us/B0BL14JPRNsocial

About the Book: 

I peered over the ledge with my heart in my throat. A pop of color caught my eye – I would recognize that jacket anywhere. The body I knew so well lay still, torso twisted one way, head facing the other…

I’d planned this trip to the gorgeous, remote Michigan woodlands as a last-ditch attempt to help Pete and our families’ bond before the wedding of our dreams. Instead, it has turned into a nightmare that I can’t seem to wake up from. Anger, resentment, and heated arguments weren’t at all what Pete and I had imagined, even less so the horror of discovering a dead body…

Looking around the campsite at my terrified family and future in-laws, I realize that someone on this trip has been keeping secrets from me. What could be dangerous enough to kill for? But then again, I also have secrets of my own, something that if known, could be deadly. The only thing I know for certain is that the murderer is ruthless enough to do anything to keep their story hidden.

Who will be next to pay the ultimate price?

An utterly gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of The Couple Next Door, The Woman in the Window and Behind Closed Doors.

Author Bio and Social Media 

Laura Wolfe is an Amazon charts bestselling author who writes twisty, fast-paced psychological thrillers and suspense novels published by Bookouture. Her indie titles have also been shortlisted for multiple book awards. Laura is a lover of animals and nature. When she is not writing, she can be found hanging out with her husband and two kids, growing vegetables in her garden, or spoiling her rescue dog. She enjoys living in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Get Laura's FREE short story (a mini psych thriller), The Perfect Escape: https://t.co/RTGEoz9VgY

Website: https://www.laurawolfebooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraWolfeBooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraWolfeBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lwolfe.writes/

Chaos On The Island

 

CHAOS ON THE ISLAND by Stewart Giles - Crime

Oh wow! Chaos is defined as “ complete disorder and confusion”. Organised Chaos , well you know what It means and this is precisely that. When the fab four cause several bomb explosions and a few robberies to boot, chaos is what ensues. DI O’Reilly and team soon work out that the former are to take resources away from the latter, however when more explosions occur and no robberies something is not quite as it first appears. What is the motive and who on earth are the real fab four?

This is so cleverly put together with the Beatles references woven in. I guess Stewart is also good at cryptic crosswords- or at least he should be! A real rollercoaster of a read with twists and turns to very much keep the pages turning. I loved it and didn't want it to end, it’s an exciting read.. There’s a personal theme running through with O’Reilly which is only briefly touched on in this one. An explosive ending and I very much look forward to the next in the series. Stunning. 

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A Love to Last A Lifetime

 

A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman- Women’s fiction

This is set in two timelines- present day and when Erin was younger, each chapter being headed by a song of Erin’s past. In present day Erin is married to Greg and they are going through a tough time due to Greg’s gambling debts. Greg however is the rock, the steady, reliable one until he shattered Erin’s stability with the number of debts. When out shopping she hears a voice that transports her to the past- a man called Adam- someone she hasn’t heard from in eighteen years. Younger Erin meets Adam at a party where he knows no-one having recently changed schools. Erin finds herself feeling like she has never felt before and she is only talking to this person. Adam has lit a flame that flickers on and off over the next few years. Is fate now telling Erin something or should she stay with the man who stood by her for almost the last two decades?

Clare has an amazing talent with words. I found myself quickly invested in Erin and Adams’ story. There is a heart-warming yet touching feeling to this- Adam having gone through something- I won’t give anything away and Erin’s mother suffering early onset dementia. It's a story of someone confused and yet wanting to do the right thing by all involved but not quite knowing how. It's tender, and funny in parts, one that may make the reader reflect on their own life journey. One perhaps to take the reader through a gamut of emotions and then come out thinking. Loved it. 

 For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

A Love To Last A Lifetime

The one that she wants...

Adam Bowers; handsome, funny and with the charm of a rock star, from the moment she laid eyes on him, teenage Erin was smitten. But first loves don’t always last, and after a whirlwind romance, Erin and Adam go their separate ways. Yet, Erin never lets go of the feeling that Adam may have been her soul mate...

The one that she needs...

Greg fell in love with Erin in their first week at university. Solid, trustworthy and hopelessly devoted to Erin, he knows he's better for her than the feckless Adam, who is forever leaving Erin broken-hearted, before winning her back with his charm. As far as Greg is concerned, it’s easy to promise the world, but it’s harder to love someone for a lifetime.

The one that got away...

Years later Greg and Erin are married, and although life hasn’t always been easy, Greg’s love for Erin has never dimmed. But when Adam comes back, in desperate need of Erin's help, everything changes. Erin starts to wonder whether fate is trying to tell her something…

Will Erin risk it all for the man she had thought was ‘The One’?

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3fmBzOa

Author Bio –

Clare Swatman is the author of three women’s fiction novels, published by Macmillan, which have been translated into over 20 languages. She has been a journalist for over twenty years, writing for Bella and Woman & Home amongst many other magazines. She lives in Hertfordshire. Before We Grow Old, was published in January 2022. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clareswatmanauthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/clareswatman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clareswatmanauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ClareSwatmannews

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/clare-swatman

The Defendant

 

The Defendant- Colin Mayo- Crime/courtroom drama               

Richard Andrew Turner , known as Rat to his friends, leads a very simple life. He has a girlfriend Debbie who has a young son and he works in an untaxing job with an understanding boss. One evening when Debbie is away he goes out with the boys, who are on the pull, and meets Ann-Marie. He doesn't really want to be unfaithful to Debbie but Ann-Marie soon has Richard in her grip and one thing leads to another at her flat. When making coffee that evening he spied an envelope full of cash which raised his suspicions. When later he saw white powder in the bathroom he quickly decided that Ann-Marie wasn't all that she first appeared, especially as he was sure they were followed back from the nightclub by a minicab. Richard leaves her flat in the early hours but the temptation of the money is too much as he has debts and would like to treat Debbie so he takes it. Very soon later the police arrive at his door. Ann-Marie has been murdered and Richard is in the thick of it.#

Oooh! This is a book that quickly grabs the reader and draws them in. Written from Richard's perspective as if it were a true story, it gives a good insight into his life and how he is thinking and panicking at being an innocent man in the middle of mayhem. I devoured this in just over a day (I did little else) as I was so engrossed. A very cleverly thought out plot, masterfully written  and an unexpected ending. A Huge 5* from me. Loved it 

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Amazing Grace Adams

 

Amazing Grace Adams- Fran Littlewood - Women's Literary fiction

Grace is all over the place. Her daughter is living with her about-to-be ex-husband, her jobs (both of them) are precarious to say the least and life is just all over the place. In a traffic jam to pick up a cake for her daughter which she hopes will begin to mend some fences, Grace loses it and walks away from her car. Occasional chapters take us to two additional timelines- one when she met her husband twenty years ago and another a few months ago before it all went pear shaped. Very easy to follow. Of course the journey from the car to the cake shop isn't straightforward and as for the £200 cake…. 

I enjoyed this, it made me smile and sympathise and think about my own life in parts. I think many of us have been in that horrible situation where everything is just too complex and we would like to walk away from it all. Grace however walks towards it not away. Like most of us she is determined and her heart is in the right place even if some things have fallen by the wayside in the meantime. Lotte is a typical teen with angst and attitude, Grace herself is perimenopausal and suffering looking in the mirror seeing herself age. In the time past chapters we understand more of Grace and Lotte and even Ben and why things are as they are.

Wow! This is a debut novel and a stunning one, written as if by a very seasoned author. Fran Littlewood is most certainly an author to look out for in the future.  Of life and language and the fluidity thereof. How one generation can learn from another and not always upwards. A powerful, emotional, touching, memorable, uplifting read. Go Grace!

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Through Her Eyes

 

Through her eyes- NJ Moss - psychological thriller

Jess lives in a motorhome and likes to watch people. She has enough money to sustain her current way of living and loves what she does. She has had her own rough time of things and when she sees Anna being abused by her husband Patrick, Jess hatches a plan. Jess befriends Luka to get involved in this. However seeing parts of lives through snatched glances isn’t always the full story…..

Knowing Nathan's other books, I knew I wouldn't be in for a straightforward domestic drama type read. There was quickly something about Jess that resonated, something more than just someone with a pair of binoculars gazing at other peoples lives. I won’t spoil anything other than to say hang on for the ride and when I finished my first thought was “ what the heck just happened?”. I’d felt as if I had been picked up, flung around and shaken up and down for good measure. Then……….. I read Nathan afterword piece and like the very last part of a complex puzzle it all slotted into place perfectly. How very clever, how ingenious. Nathan says it was subliminal and only when he finished writing did he realise. I feel there is a clever mindset going on even if unpremeditated. Wow! What more can I say? I can only think this is a work of a genius or a madman and I’m sure (hope) Nathan would agree. Every genius there ever was has been called mad by someone at some stage, so please take this as a compliment Nathan, I really am congratulating you. Stunning, reeling, dark and complex. One heck of a read wow, wow wow! 

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In Ice

 

In Ice- Dave Sivers- Crime

A group of young people break into a house and find more than the emptiness they were after. They swore to close ranks but one of the girls couldn't live with what they’d found and so made an anonymous 999 call. When the police investigate further they find five bodies in locked freezers and from the marks on the inside lids it looks like the victims were alive when they went in. Where is the house owner who seems to have either gone abroad or disappeared and who on earth would be doing this and covering their tracks so well?

A novel I quickly got into and stayed there and a new author for me- one I wouldn't hesitate to read again. This is the second book in the series and happily stands alone- I hadn't read the first one. There’s a good tension and depth to this along with a clever premise. Nate and Izzy come across very well and make a good team both having different facets of skill adding to the investigation and keeping the interest of the reader easily. Nate also has a backstory going on regarding his own family which for me adds to the depth of character and one that left me reeling at the end, so cleverly done. A stunning, brilliant read a big 5*.

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In Ice: A terrifying, twisty, serial killer thriller. Every action has a consequence…   ‘As dark, gritty and chilling as it gets.  Keep the lights on!’ – Liz Mistry    An anonymous call leads DI Nathan Quarrel and his team to a secluded house in a Hertfordshire village and a horrific discovery: three chest freezers containing the naked bodies of five women.    As the painstaking business of identifying the apparently unconnected victims gets underway, it becomes frighteningly clear that a sadistic serial killer has been at work, probably over a long period of time.     With no strong suspects, and no leads, unmasking the killer takes on a new urgency. Because the discoveries at what the media is calling a 'house of horrors' may not stop the killer, or even slow them down. Indeed, they may already have targeted their next victim.  Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BMGHSLWK

DAVE SIVERS

Dave Sivers grew up in West London and has been writing all his life. His books include the popular crime series featuring the Aylesbury Vale detectives, DI Lizzie Archer and DS Dan Baines. The Scars Beneath the Soul and Dead in Deep Water were both top three bestsellers in the Amazon Kindle Serial Killers chart. In Ice is the second in the DI Nathan Quarrel series. His other works include the Lowmar Dashiel crime fantasy novels. Dave also writes plays and other material for the amateur stage and is a founder of the annual BeaconLit festival of books and writing. He lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Chris. To keep up with Dave’s news and upcoming releases, subscribe to his newsletter at www.davesivers.co.uk.

The Engagement

 

The Engagement  by Samantha Hayes psychological thriller

Belle is on holiday in France supposedly on a language programme and has suddenly announced that she is engaged. Her family are rather surprised as this has obviously been a whirlwind romance for marriage to be so soon on the horizon. When she arrives with Jack no-one is more surprised than her mother Hannah who recognises her new fiancé. Hannah has a secret, one she has not told even her husband Rob about her past. Jack clearly has an agenda and both Hannah and Belle look like they are part of it. Can Hannah and Rob persuade Belle that Jack isn't a good idea and can Hannah keep her secret?

Oh wow! What a premise and how cleverly executed. This reeled me in and very much kept the pages turning. This is the second book by this author I’ve had the pleasure of reading and would highly recommend her if you like a cliff hanging book. I liked Hannah. Belle came across as the rather naive young woman which is probably true of many of her peers which worked very well. The ending left me reeling, wow! I'm stunned. If you like a book to pick you up, throw you around and then add in a few spins for good measure this could be one for you! A brilliantly, clever read. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Book Description:

You thought you had escaped him. Until he proposed to your daughter.

‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my daughter’s waist.

I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself, as the room spins around me.

I stare into the man’s eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.

Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.

How I only just escaped.

All the lies I’ve had to tell since.

‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, brimming with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’

Fear hammers in my chest. I have to stop this.

My daughter’s life is in danger, and it’s all because of me…

A totally gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestseller that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and have you gasping at the twists. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!

 

Author Bio:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

https://www.samanthahayes.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/samanthahayes.author/

https://twitter.com/samhayes

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Samantha Hayes here: https://www.bookouture.com/samantha-hayes

Buy Link:

Amazon:    https://geni.us/B0BJL2RHJ2social

Audio:

UK: zpr.io/qCsJHVvmsAWh

US: zpr.io/HhFvjPaSe73g

Listen to a sample here:  https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-engagement-by-samantha-hayes-narrated-by-sarah-durham

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

The Neighbour

 

The Neighbour by Gemma Rogers-psychological thriller

Shelly has just moved house with her ten-year-old daughter Lauren and their dog Teddy. Shelly’s mother died a few weeks ago whom they were looking after and so have gone into a rented house before buying one of their own. Teddy accidentally relieves himself on a neighbour's verge, Shelly is quick to both apologise and clear up however Valerie the neighbour is scathing. A few days later poor Teddy is ill and Shelly finds a half-eaten chocolate bar in the garden- it being poisonous to dogs. Shelly meets Valerie's son Remy who tells her she has early stages of dementia, something Shelly's mother had so she understands well but still feels there is more than they are letting on. She also discovers that both the woman and dog who lived there before have both gone missing and there is a strange message scraped on a wall. What is going on in the close and are they safe?

Ooh! This is one of those wonderful page turner reads where you just know there’s something amiss but not quite what. The skill of an author to build and keep that air of tension. It's a very clever premise and one I found myself entranced with. We think we know who the “baddie” is but do we? I really enjoyed this as I have with several of Gemma’s other books. One to keep the reader between the pages, a highly enjoyable read. 

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Neighbour Love thy neighbour or fear thy neighbour? For myself and Lauren, my 10-year-old daughter No3 Beech Close was to be our refuge after two years of hell nursing my sick mother. In need of a fresh start and wanting to distance ourselves from the bad memories of my mother’s house we moved to Beech Close, a small cul-de-sac of six houses situated around a picture-perfect green. It seemed perfect but I had underestimated the secrets that this tightknit community shared. Within hours of moving in my next-door neighbour Valerie made it abundantly clear we were not welcome. I soon discovered that Valerie hadn’t welcomed the previous occupant either and she’d since disappeared without a trace. Had I put myself and my daughter in danger moving to Beech Close? Which neighbours, if any could I trust? And how far would they go to keep their secret? Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3DkqDIy

Author Bio – Gemma Rogers was inspired to write gritty thrillers by a traumatic event in her own life nearly twenty years ago. Her debut novel Stalker was published in September 2019 and marked the beginning of a new writing career. Gemma lives in West Sussex with her husband and two daughters. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gemma.rogersauthor.35 Twitter: https://twitter.com/GemmaRogers79 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gemmarogersauthor/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/GemmaRogerNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gemma-rogers

The Stay At Home Mother

 The Stay-at-Home Mother by Nicole Trope- psychological thriller

Andrea has just moved house with her husband and young son. She is expecting their second child in a matter of weeks, the house move being forced by her husband.  Gabby across the road welcomes her into the fold, her own son now being a teenager she is happy to have young Jack around as her husband Richard spends much time away, currently being in the states. When Jack is looked after by Gabby one afternoon so Andrea can sleep, she wakes late to find her rather dodgy husband home and Gabby and Jack are nowhere to be found.

 This is set in Australia and is a fast pace page turner of a read. I found myself more than once thinking          “ just one more chapter” however I  had worked out the premise ( I do read a lot of psychological thrillers that said) . It's one to keep the pages turning with well developed characters. A mystery, red herrings and clues along the way. A well written book and an intriguing one. 

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The Stay-at-Home Mother: A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists

 

Her chest tightens, her heart speeding up. The kitchen is chaos. She steps on something hard, and looks down. Toy dinosaurs are scattered everywhere. But her son is nowhere – her baby boy is gone.

The police arrive. She can’t look at her husband. Instead, she studies the network of lines on her shaking hands.

Then her phone beeps with a voice message. ‘Listen to it on speaker,’ says the detective.

A woman’s voice fills the air.

‘I’m assuming this is the Andrea Gately listed as a contact on the Missing Children of the World website. I’m calling to let you know that I’ve given your details to the police. Why are you using a picture of my son on a missing children’s website? Why are you using it and where did you get it?’

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will leave you gasping with shock and staying up way past your bedtime. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and Adele Parks.

 

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BHDLL537cover

 

About the author

 

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- 'It's not meant to be a story.' She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters' degree in Children's Literature.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story. She went on to publish a further five novels in Australia before joining Bookouture in 2019. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

 

Author social media

 

Facebook: @NicoleTrope

Twitter: @nicoletrope

Author email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/nicole-trope