Hannah Howe

From talented mystery author Hannah Howe comes Book Two of The Sam Smith Investigative Mysteries, Love and Bullets. Set in Cardiff, we follow Sam through the aftermath of having shot dead a notorious criminal.

Sam is a complex and at times volatile individual that is more vulnerable than she first appears. She was easy for me to relate to, with a down to earth personality and a scarred past.

I found this to be a good length read with a steady pace and intriguing plot. Ruth, the wife of a show more wealthy professor whom Sam is hired to protect, was beyond infuriating. Her character represented all that I hate in a person, from bigotry to racism and worse besides. It was easy to wish the worst on her without feeling a shred of remorse for the character.

With deranged psychiatry patients, plenty of gunfights, action and humour, this made for a truly amazing sequel. Sam is an enigma- the real mystery of this gripping series. I intend to follow her journey to the end and hope that her character is able to find solace in a brighter tomorrow.

I would rate this book as 5 stars.
Recommended for lovers of mystery and crime novels. show less

This is the first book I’ve read by Hannah Howe, and it won’t be my last. I stumbled across this book in a small reading group I belong to. First off, the book covers more than just a great murder mystery.

Samantha Smith, enquiry agent, is hired by Milton Vaughan-Urquhart, manager of pop star Derwenda de Caro. Her job? To find the person slaking his client. When the story starts off, we see Sam as a tough capable woman. But as she starts her investigation, finding herself thrown into the show more crazy world of music stars, and a sex-crazed Woody, we see her weakness emerge.

Sam has a damaged personality. She won’t let herself trust or get close to anyone again. Of course you would expect that after being raised by an alcoholic mother, then being stuck in an abusive marriage. Dan is the typical abuser. They tear you down, to make you dependent on them, but they still love you. Howe did an awesome job portraying an abusive relationship. But during her investigation, Sam runs across Alan, and suddenly she’s confronted with choices. To love, or not to love?

I really enjoyed this story. There wasn’t anything I could find wrong. The plot was well-developed and advanced at a good pace. The characters were complex and three-dimensional. I related to Sam and even though Woody was a woman’s worst nightmare, when it came to the other sex, I couldn’t help but like him. And I can’t forget Sweets, DI MacArthur. I rolled my eyes a few times at his attempt at humor. I look forward to seeing him in the next book. The ending wasn’t a surprise, per se, but some of the events leading up to the end were. I was satisfied with how the book ended, and I’m looking forward to reading more about Sam, Alan and Sweets.

If you love a good murder mystery, with a dash of humor, you need to read this book. I give it my 5 feathers. show less

This witty start to a series is narrated by Sam Smith, an emotionally scarred and intelligent Private Investigator. Cardiff's rural countryside adds to the novel's sense of mystery as Sam finds herself hired by bratty pop star Derwena De Caro, to uncover the identity of her stalker.

Sam will journey through danger and beyond, to find the answers Derwena seeks. The plot was unpredictable, with plenty of delicious twists and turns, that serve to grab the reader's attention.

I felt an instant show more connection to Sam's character and really enjoyed her sarcastic sense of humour. This tale has stayed true to its genre (Thriller/mystery) and provides thrills beyond the expected.

I would definitely recommend this series. :) show less

A Woman Accused of Murder. Innocent Until Proven Guilty!

Based on true events from 1876, this Victorian-English mystery follows the trial of a recently widowed sherry addict, Grace Petrie, who is thought to have murdered her own husband.
With multiple motives being thrown into the mix, a private investigator steps in, delving into the troubled widow's past, to uncover the truth.

From the first page, I found myself hooked. I loved Daniel's (the investigator) personality- his definitive sense of show more right and wrong.

'He preferred the cut and thrust of criminal cases; a fencer by inclination, he relished the challenge; a competitor by nature, he sided with the underdog.'

Daniel often gives others a chance to explain themselves, where others do not. He does not immediately follow the opinion of the crowd in regards to his personal views and instead explores every possible explanation for mysterious circumstances such as the death of Grace's husband, Charles.

I quickly came to admire Daniel's character and have great respect for his crucial role in the story. In contrast, I struggled to identify with Grace. Although I liked her character, being a strong and complex young woman who had suffered many tragedies, I just couldn't find common ground with her.

Above all else, this book explored themes of greed, love, loss, tragedy, and (most importantly) hope. While society will always believe what it wants, its thoughts coloured by the media and its corrupt peers, there are always those who are willing to delve deeper, beyond the swill of rumour, to uncover the truth.

Saving Grace held a steady pace throughout and explored a good vs evil sub-theme during its many court scenes. At moments, I was actually left speechless as I battled with several versions of the truth, which were presented to me. It felt as though I were actually sitting in, as a member of the jury. The anxiety racing through me had me turning the pages like crazy.

I'd like to leave you with a few relatable and rather profound truths that I uncovered whilst reading.

'We are the public person, the private person, and the person lost in his own thoughts.'

'Through hurt, I have discovered who I am- I understand myself- it does not matter if people do not understand me- when you are true to yourself, harsh words, cruel stares, and unfriendly gestures no longer matter. All that matters is your will to walk on.'
Both of these quotes are great life lessons that I found particularly refreshing. I think the youth of today would greatly benefit from such wisdom and I'm grateful to Hannah Howe for including them in her latest masterpiece.

Thank you, H. Howe, for yet another incredible read. I love your plots, your characters, and your overall style.

My rating: 5 Galaxy Cupcakes.
Recommended to lovers of thrillers, mysteries, the Victorian Era, and those who just love a good thrill. show less