An extremely well researched and excellent account of the notorious serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. What Michael Attwell has attempted to do is look into the lives, minds and childhood of the two killers, looking for clues as to why they became the most hated individuals of the 20th century. Even today, long after their deaths, their crimes are still hotly debated quite simply in an attempt to understand.
There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Brady was evil incarnate. From a childhood in working class Glasgow he lived a life with no boundaries or rules, thieving, cruelty, and indeed rape (if we believe his account) were all normal to him. He was born out of wedlock and had no one to look up to for guidance…..not that I believe this would have kept him from the path of murder he chose.
Myra Hindley, alternatively, was reared in a tight knit community, had close ties with the working class inhabitants in and around the Manchester suburb of Hyde. She had support and guidance but nevertheless was happy to help her boyfriend in his murderous endeavors. In the years following her incarceration she attempted to distance herself from Hindley but her fate was sealed when the tape recording of the torture of Lesley Anne Downey was exhibited to the jury at the Chester Assizes trial. They were sentenced in May 1966 and narrowly escaped the death penalty which had been suspended at the end of 1965.
An excellent read, many thanks to the publishers for this early review copy.

The courier travels unnoticed in his nondescript delivery van. It's the perfect cover for likeable Bob to spy and stalk Natalie especially when he meets her neanderthal boyfriend Nathaniel. Bob fantasizes about her beauty and knows that when he disposes of her boyfriend she will love and worship him. What a great short story and what a creepy man Bob the delivery man proved to be. The audio version’s narrator did an excellent job of keeping listeners in suspense, with a shock conclusion that I certainly did not expect. Thank you to netgalley for an early review copy which I really enjoyed.

A badly mutilated body is discovered, limbs appeared to have been ripped from the victim in this unimaginable crime. Detective Inspector Jane Harrison is the CIO and is able to call on the services of DI Tony McClean. It is true to say that DI McClean has a more secondary role in this murder enquiry as it unfolds. For readers familiar with the series it is pleasing to note that the eccentric characters from earlier books are all present namely: Madame Rose, Grumpy Bob and Mrs McCutcheon’s cat.

What sets James Oswald’s books apart is the feeling of something supernatural in the background, something uncanny, something that adds to the great and growing uneasiness throughout. Due to the lack of evidence at the murder site it takes a considerable time for the victim to be identified and by then a second body is discovered with a similar modus operandi to the first. Tony’s girlfriend Emma is working at an archaeologist dig nearby uncovering a viking longship and most disturbingly a naked man, of great height and strength is discovered asleep on a beach. Who is this “herculean” figure and is he in any way connected to the police investigation.

This is a brilliant story, I love the use of the spooky, the unravelling of a bygone era and a prophecy that needs to be fulfilled. Thanks to netgalley for this early review copy which I enjoyed immensely. Highly recommended.

I can't get enough of these audiobooks they are a brilliant and immersive experience. Leopold and Loeb (Dickie & Babe) were two affluent young men who lived in chicago in 1924. They were highly educated, intelligent and bizarrely decided to murder a 14 year old boy to see if it was possible to commit the perfect crime. The unfortunate victim has his face destroyed (in an attempt to hide his identity) by acid and his body stuffed in a drain. The two did not deny the crime, the trial was held in front of a judge in order to ascertain if the appropriate penalty should be death or a long term of imprisonment.......
The trial comes alive on the audio, there is a first class narrator and a very colourful list of characters in particular prosecution and defence councils who theatrically use the courtroom to present their individual cases. I felt I was actually present as the proceedings progressed and look forward to further instalments in this brilliant series.

From his very moving Man and Boy to the brilliant Max Wolfe series I have always been a great admirer of the writing of Tony Parsons. The Max Wolfe books in particular with a very human cop Max, a single dad responsible for his daughter Scout, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stan residing in a loft apartment overlooking the historic Smithfield meat market. So I was delighted to be given early access to Man & Dog to read and review, and what a pleasure this has been. Man & Dog shows the importance and love that dogs can bring to our lives enriching us on every level…..”Dogs teach us so much. How to love without condition. How to squeeze the last drop of joy out of every day you are alive”......
We follow the author as he makes the big decision to purchase a puppy for his daughter Jasmine but more importantly as the story unfolds we see the unbreakable connection that forms between the new dog Stan (now where have I heard that name before :) and his master Tony. This is a delightful self- affirming read filled with moments of unbelievable joy as Tony and Stan become inseparable, having many and varied adventures walking Hampstead Heath. Stan is a lifelong and loyal companion and helped rescue the author from writing doldrums as he completed his first Max Wolfe novel which immediately went to No 1 on the Sunday Times bestseller list and was heavily praised for its character development. There comes a time at the end of the book that the family have to say show more goodbye to their beloved Stan, and what a heartbreaking occasion that was. I, as a dog owner, know only too well the bond that develops very quickly between dogs and their human guardians. We owe them so much they enhance our lives and….”show us how to live and they teach us how to die. You have your time and then your time is done”.....
Wonderful writing, an absolute joy to read, I cried and laughed and savoured every moment I spent with Tony, his family, and their beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stan. show less

There can be no doubt that the increase in listening to, and the availability of audiobooks has been helped greatly by the quality of the narration. It is the job of the narrator(s) to create a believable scenario and by the use of sound and words convey the listener to another dimension…..The trial of Doctor Crippen is the start of a number of audiobooks bringing to life the excitement, anticipation and horror that is the life and eventual death of the said doctor. This was an amazing experience, I was transported to the Old Bailey of 1910 and I felt privileged to be a spectator as the story unfolded. Crippen was accused of the murder of his American wife Cora Crippen (stage name Belle Elmore) , described by some as an overbearing and dominant woman . The couple moved to London in 1900 and she was last seen alive Jan 31st 1910. She was reported missing after Doctor Crippen reported she had returned to the US and later died. The good doctor was arrested aboard the SS Montrose as it approached Quebec Canada…Crippen was fleeing with his lover, Ethel Le Neve, who was disguised as his son.
A truly brilliant audiobook, expertly narrated, a trial brought to life inside my head and with nervous tension, I waited for the outcome of the jury….surely they could not get it wrong? Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the privilege of an early hearing…simply wonderful :)

The state of Alabama views abortion as a crime punishable by up to 99 years in prison. The resident judge in Union City Alabama is Mary Stone who is about to preside over one of the most controversial cases in the city's history. A well regarded and respected doctor Dr. Bria Gaines has performed an illegal abortion on a 13 year old rape victim. The forth coming trial will divide the community like no other as pro and anti abortion supporters stand ready to fight for their beliefs. In addition Judge Stone has to fight to retain the family farm that she runs and treats as a sacred responsibility along side her court duties. With a wonderful narration by Viola Davis this legal thriller is one of the very best and highly recommended.

A number of contract killings have taken place throughout Scotland as well as the assasisnation of a well known author in York, possibly by Islamic extremists. DS Max Craigie works for the Policing Standards Reassurance (PSR) team within Police Scotland. This unit is a small, specialized team, Series & Organised Crime (SOC) Max and his colleague DC Janie Calder are based at Police Scotland's corporate headquarters at Tulliallan, Fife. They operate under the radar, often reporting directly to the Chief Constable to investigate the most serious crimes, particularly those involving police corruption.

This is a complex case with numerous threads connecting local Drug gangs with mysterious assassins and Russian Kingpins with interesting names such as The Cashier and the wonderfully strange “X” The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Angus King. I believe that the success of an audiobook is due in no small way to the ability of the narrator to bring alive not only the story, but the characters, and to do this he must be quite expert at language and dialect. Angus King’s narration is so accomplished, the story he tells just comes alive in my head, creating such drama and excitement.

This is the first book I have read (listened to) by Neil Lancaster, and am totally in awe of his storytelling ability. The reason he can write such vivid accomplished books is because he has lived that life first as a military policeman, and then a detective with the Met where he investigated show more the most serious of crimes in the capital and beyond. This involved specialist covert work using any means he could to gain information and evidence from and against murderers, human traffickers and drug dealers. So the books that Neil Lancaster writes reflect a life he knew so well, and oh my goodness what intense, fearful, exciting stories they are………
This is now my No 1 crime author and I heartily recommend this book, so if you are a crime fan you must read. Accomplished, marvellous, wonderful, it will stay with you for many days as will his dark humour! show less

Pepper is arrested by police and left in New Hyde Hospital, psychiatric unit simply because the police cannot be bothered to do the paperwork. He becomes lost in the system and an alteration at the unit results in Pepper being held indefinitely. The book is really a study of mental health and how it appears to be more beneficial to keep patients in a drug induced state rather than educate and help them return to the community. I quite enjoyed.

What a great fun read! Rose debois and her trusted friend Beauregard Miller (just call me Miller :) long term residents at The Autumn Springs retirement Home, must use all their cunning to discover why many of their friends are being brutally murdered. Someone in Autumn Springs has a desire to slaughter defenceless pensioners by the use of drugs and a rather sharp knife.
I must admit I was unable to guess the identity of the perpetrator but enjoyed the suspense and the adventures along the way! My favourite characters were the 3 Baxter sisters Betsie, Barbara and Bridget intent on summoning a devil from hell to help protect them and in return for that help one of the sisters must be a sacrifice. Things do not work out quite as planned, the sisters do play a very important part but not in the way I expected :
Very enjoyable read and highly recommended.

Jonas Merrick, may be a legendary intelligence officer but forced towards his retirement by working in the postroom does not sit well. Equally having to holiday with his long suffering wife, Vera is enough to drive our antihero to the edge of reason……thank goodness for Russian oligarchs, albanian gang money launderers, execution squads and a child killer whose principle weapon is a pair of rusty garden shears….ouch I hear you squirm! Having said all that my review refers to the audio book and although I found the story not to my taste, the narration by Ben Allen was superb, his interpretation of the languages on offer was astounding and made the whole experience a visual and edge of the seat treat, a real showcase of how good the audio experience can be and how important the choice of narrator is…brilliant!

Before retiring I worked as an usher in both Magistrates and Crown court so reading The Cut throat Trial was somewhat akin to a day at the office ;) and what an enjoyable experience that has been… Bernard Hooper an elderly gentleman in his 70’s has popped out to purchase a bottle of wine but this will be a New years eve like no other. In less than an hour Bernard will have been murdered in a brutal Zombie (knife) attack by three teenage assailants captured on CCTV leaving the scene.
The Cut throat Trial is the story (trial) of the alleged perpetrators taking place over some 3 to 4 weeks. We meet the barristers representing the defendants, the overworked prosecutor, and the arrogant pompous self opinionated judge: His Honour Judge Letts. The story is told in the first person by all the main parties, including the defendants. It is a tense, dramatic, edge of the seat spectacle with even a little humour ……” Prosecuting counsel is like a Western gunslinger swinging open the saloon doors only to find the furniture overturned and everyone inside fatally wounded. Sometimes all you need to do is discharge a few rounds into the bodies for show, and help yourself to a drink from the bar”....... that unfolds in front of us and I was glued to every word on every page. With a shocking, unexpected conclusion this is a brilliant read told by one who has lived his life in Her/His Majesty’s Courts. I thoroughly enjoyed and marvelled at every scene as it was played out in show more front of me…Highly recommended. show less

Some years ago I was listening to a book review programme and when the guest author was asked to name her favourite literary writers she named 2 that would certainly be on the top of every readers list, and then surprisingly the name of David Park was mentioned…..”one of Northern Ireland’s finest undiscovered literary talents”......I wanted to find out more…
As a Northern Ireland expat residing in mainland UK I was suddenly very interested to discover the works and possibly the writing genius of this retired school teacher turned author. Two stories in particular caught my attention: Travelling in a Strange land…a father driving to Sunderland in midwinter to collect his son. The journey through the cold, stark snowy landscape allows him the solitude and time to reflect on his past life…Swallowing the sun, a fathers unconditional love for his daughter with a tear filled emotional conclusion. Now the question is would Ghost Wedding have the same breathtaking prose?

There are two different timelines in Ghost Wedding and both are separated by 100 years. George Allenby, an architect by occupation, is charged with the task of constructing a large lake in the grounds of a wealthy landowner overlooked by a spectacular Irish Manor house. The time is post WW1 and George, like many returning, damaged soldiers, is haunted by the traumatic experience, the needless fighting, the untold dead, the never ending mud in filthy rat infested trenches. He is a man full of self show more doubt questioning his actions as an army officer in the blood soaked fields of France. He is able however to find some solace in the arms of Cora who is employed as a maid in the manor house. It possibly strikes him as strange that shovelling mud and soil, to construct a lake, has now become a positive healing force a long way removed from the dead and dying in France.

Now step forward 100 years to the marriage of Alex & Allie, who have chosen as their wedding venue, the lake house which occupies a prime position adj to George Allenby’s masterful lakeside creation. We follow the wedding preparation and learn of Alex’s fears and a terrible secret he holds, which if he discloses to Allie may destroy their future life together before it has even commenced.

The novel explores themes of love, the happiness and heartache it can hide, betrayal and trust, what should be said or possibly left unsaid. As with all David Park novels these connections between past and present are very human and resonate with the reader. The author understands what it is to be human, what it is to be filled with doubt, love and happiness, not everything concludes as we desire but somehow we survive. This is wonderful thoughtful writing, beautiful prose with not a word wasted. Highly recommended. show less

The second outing for Gabriel Dax, William Boyd's endearing but somewhat reluctant double spy……” his other unsought-for, parallel existence, his life in the shadowy fringes of the espionage world”...... He is approached again by his MI6 handler Faith Green to travel to Guatemala and assess would be presidential candidate: Padre Tiago, could he be viewed as a friend of the Americans? At the same time the Russians want him to pass back information concerning Fatih Brown, who also somewhat confusingly is Gabriel Dax’s part time lover. Whilst in Guatemala Dax befriends 2 CIA agents, Frank Sartorius and Dean Furlan. Furlan states he is in the restaurant trade and looking to buy Guatemalan coffee. An unexpected incident occurs and Dax is called back to London for a new mission in Berlin. The plot at this stage goes in a very dangerous direction and becomes wrapped up in a worldwide historical visit. Running alongside the main story is Dax’s infatuation with Faith Green who is happy to sleep with him but shuns long term commitment……is she playing him? As all this excitement is happening Dax feels the need to visit a psychoanalyst Katerina Hass (their conversations add a dash of humour :), paid for by Russian blood money. In Berlin Gabriel unbelievably encounters Dean Furlan, is he really a coffee buyer?...or is there a dangerous sinister plot to destabilise the Western world?

This is brilliant, fast, taut writing of the highest order, mixing fact with fiction, show more bringing to life the complicated, unpredictable life of reluctant antihero and spy Gabriel Dax. I cannot wait for the third outing by one of our greatest authors. Highly recommended! show less

A rather unhinged young lady Winifred Notty is employed as a governess to the Pounds family. She has a questionable past, and when she realizes that the Pounds family are not deserving of her services she resorts to what she knows best....murder. A comic, somewhat bizarre tale, with shades of American Psycho, and a fun if somewhat short read. This is an honest review writtenr a gratis copy from the publisher....many thanks :)

The residents of Burnt Sparrow have suffered a massacre at the hands of 3 faceless murderers. The slaughtered have strangely been left dead and dying in the street as the elders seek a solution, and the best way forward for the town. The story is told through the eyes of young Rupert Cromwell, a rather complex child, struggling with his identity and his sexuality. As the story proceeds we learn that Rupert’s father, recently widowed, has a very dark shadow within him and an act that he performs will disgust his son, and the town’s elders in equal measures. This is certainly an unsettling read, yet as an example of transgressive literary horror it succeeds in not only shocking the reader but making him stop, evaluate and question his own standards and beliefs. Thank you to the publishers for an early copy that I found difficult to read but unable to stop!

Many moons ago I read Blacklands: published in 2009 it was part of a set referred to as the Exmoor trilogy and was the debut novel of Belinda Bauer. It concerned a young boy Steven who spent his days digging on Exmoor hoping that he might uncover the dead bones of his nan’s son who went missing, presumed dead, many years ago. It is assumed the killer was a known paedophile Arnold Avery who was imprisoned but never admitted his guilt. Stephen tries to help his nan and makes contact with Avery in the hope of a confession and what results is brilliant edge of the seat crime writing and one particular scene (which I will not disclose 😀) has remained with me ever since. So why do I refer to a book written some years ago when talking about this later book “The beautiful Dead” published in 2016…..the reason is simple the aforementioned is dreadful, the premise utterly ridiculous……

Eve Singer is a crime reporter and loves nothing more than a good bloody murder, she will do anything to be the first person on site and claim all the credit. In short she is the best. A crazed serial killer realizes that he can use Eve to showcase his bloody acts and thus he forms a bond with her, he will commit the crimes, direct Eve to the scene, and she will be the first to report and claim all the praise…a win win situation. What a bizarre story, whatever happened to the great storytelling capabilities of thIs author I once revered. The only slight saving grace was the relationship show more that Eve enjoyed with her father who in the depths of dementia is presented to the reader with great sympathy and understanding. show less

This is what is best referred to as a chase book. When Jess a budding actress makes the surprising acquaintance of "Kiddo" a boy with unusual skills they must run for their lives. The father of the boy, a damaged war hero, a part time werewolf with a mind and body damaged by scientific experiments, gives chase, the killing spree is on! Add to this an obsessed, driven government agent who will stop at nothing to hide the agencys involvement then all the ingredients are present for a hight octane ride.

A pleasant coming of age story written in a rather engaging style which helps to encapsulate the trials and tribulation of young Daniel. He is on the cusp of manhood and has to face the disgrace of his father, the overpowering love of his mother, and his increasing interest in a boy called Philip. The question of sexual orientation, the need for spiritual guidance (or not as Daniel comes to realise) is dealt with understanding, sympathy if not a little humour.

I have read all Chris Carter’s books and have found them unputdownable until that is I read Genesis, 14th in the Robert Hunter series….and I thought it was terrible ( well every author is allowed one book that just doesn’t float my particular boat :) So with more than a little trepidation I picked up The Death Watcher and hoped the winning formula that had held me glued to the antics of Hunter and his intrepid partner Garcia, would return….and boy was I not disappointed.
As fans of Carter will know Hunter and Garcia work in the Robbery and Homicide division in the LA PD but more particularly the Ultra Violent Crimes unit, dealing with homicides so severe and grotesque that only those of a certain disposition (our 2 heroes :) can be allocated. Yes the Death Watcher is yet another serial killer book, but it is much more than that, and to find out why we just need to look at the author’s background….Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions.

So in The Death Watcher we are invited to attend and be witness to group sessions with evil men who are prepared to acknowledge their crime and by this acknowledgement maybe find a little peace. It is this show more evaluation and understanding of perpetrators that gives Carter a unique insight into the criminal mind and makes his books (well nearly all of them) an essential read. The Death Watcher concerns a very disturbed individual and when the bodies of his victims are discovered, Hunter and Garcia start on a journey that could result in a fatal conclusion. Enjoy, and hold on tight, for the ride, welcome back Chris, you are still top of your game :) show less

A big welcome back to the Martini club, a loose configuration of ex spies living in the aptly named Purity (it’s not so pure :) For those of you who have not read the first in the series “The spy Coast” the Martini club comprises unofficial leader Maggie, Declan, her possible boyfriend, Ben, Ingrid and Lloyd. Retirement has brought little respite for the five and when a young girl Zoe is reported missing they are determined to help acting chief Jo Thibodeau solve the case, even if acting chief Thibodeau does not want any help.

Susan, Ethan and their daughter Zoe are travelling to Maiden Pond to scatter the ashes of Ehtan’s father George. There he will meet with George’s widow Elizabeth, his brother Colin, wife Brooke and their young son Kit. However all is not well in this family, when Zoe disappears, the past resurfaces and deadly family secrets emerge with near fatal results

I thought this was an excellent story weaving parts of questionable CIA history (and educating me in the process)with a top notch edge of the seat thriller. I love this new series that the author has commenced, what a wonderful direction for her to take, and a treat for the reader. Highly recommended.

Buzzards Edge is not a place you might want to visit, but it is a wild ride where you can meet vampires, wizards, hard nosed cowboys, bad men with blackness in their hearts and all wrapped up in an amazing weird western theme under the relentless heartless sun…..”Paranoia stemming from dehydration and the ceaseless Arizona heat”……” A nowhere town baking under the desert sun”.....The scene is set by our 2 mysterious narrators: hyena and his buddy buzzard and the fast moving stories with an evil theme all take place…”in the desert, everything is monotony and doom. No matter how quickly you move, the land stills around you”.....Wonderful stuff and highly recommended.

Charlie Briggs, con man, thief, and occasional murderer when the situation arises, has left London to gain a little respite from those who would harm him, and has arrived in the quiet town of Petersfield. Always on the lookout for something of value he can steal and launder through his underworld contacts, he is drawn to a rare book shop…..”The smell of books came wafting from every corner of the shop. The sweet musk of old volumes lovingly bound in soft leather”....By chance he identifies a first edition of “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu which had belonged to a young man called Arthur Richards, presented to him by his father on his 18th birthday. Arthur was yet another sacrificial lamb in the senseless slaughter of innocents that was WW1. True to his vocation Charlie steals the book, knowing that this is the key to his fortune, and his future, but unfortunately for him this simple act of theft opens his mind to all the horrors, death, and indiscriminate use of mustard gas that was WW1…..”Yet somehow Charlie couldn’t shake the chill that closed around his bones and bit deep. His fear took shape, manifesting as a yellow fog that rolled in from the narrow alleyways and enveloped the gaslights. He’d seen that fog before, and he knew what it meant. He forced his aching feet on faster fighting the urge to look over his shoulder”....

The background of the 1st world war is perfect material to showcase horror.Those who fought everyday, and indeed died, endured and show more witnessed the most diabolic acts forever imprinted on their minds, never to recover. Charlie Briggs by his selfless act of theft and total lack of respect will soon be drawn into the bloody conflict there to see and experience the short life of Arthur, and live to regret his action, and his greed which will be repaid in full. This is a book that is suitable to both teenagers and adults, as the author brilliantly encompasses an edge of the seat horror story with the terror of young men trapped in mud filled trenches, mown down by machine gun fire, their bodies forever maimed by the barbaric use of chemical warfare. Highly recommended. show less

Claire Meadows, married for 30 years, now at the age of 92 looks back on her life after her husband died. It would appear that during her marriage there was little love between her loyal but equally boring husband. As soon as he dies she decides party.... chasing an active and fulfilling sex life. She is now free to discover herself and prove that older women can enjoy life and be in control of their body at any age. An average book with a interesting theme.

Robert Harris as always delivers creating a story from the known facts and making a novel feel like you are present as the events unfold. HH Asquith was Liberal party prime minister from 1908 until 1916 at a very turbulent time in European History. During that period he befriended a young lady of noble birth; Venetia Stanley. He proceeded to meet her on numerous occasions and openly discussed government secrets with her sharing details of troop movements and government war strategy, amongst other cabinet talks. The author informs us that the letters from Asquith to Stanley were not destroyed and he was able to use them as source material for his book and therefore the story behind Precipice is built on truth. This fact alone is unbelievable as is the attitude of Asquith who used his position to not only befriend young ladies, but to sexually abuse them (he was 35 years older than Stanley and professed undying love to her) She was happy to act as his chaperone ( it is debatable whether their relationship was sexual, although Harris believes it was) and then to effectively end the affair when she grew tired of his constant whining and promises of a future together….Asquith’s wife Margot was an Aristocratic socialite and free spirit, they both lived separate lives, in separate rooms leaving her husband to pursue and indulge his sexual fantasies. He used to meet Stanley in a “bedroom on wheels” hence the author’s assumption that the relationship was sexual in nature show more is well founded…

This is an astounding story told with the author’s flamboyant style, it makes a riveting and surprisingly informative read. I highly recommend and regard Precipice as one of my all time favourite reads. show less

My first Tony Parsons was Man and Boy and the book was filled with a great understanding and love of family and human nature. That same quality is what makes the Max Wolfe series such a joy to read. Max Wolfe living above Smithfield meat market in a spacious luxurious flat with his daughter Scout (homage to, To kill a mockingbird) and their family dog with the wonderful name of Stan. Stan is getting older and a little tired, and Scout is on the verge of entering the terrible teens but shows herself as a very caring and thoughtful young lady. In Murder for busy people Max is investigating corrupt policemen using their position of power to sexually abuse and rape, a storyline that reflects recent events in todays world. However it is the writing style and thoughtful prose that makes Tony Parsons a real joy to read……”I just don't know what to say to her, Mrs Murphy. You don’t have to say anything. You two - you’ll be fine, I know you will. And we need these hard times - the sad times - the difficult times so we can cherish the happy times when they come. And they will…..”The years to come will fly - for all of us - faster and faster and faster. I know they will - and Stan will be gone and one day I will be gone too”......
Wonderful writing and a big welcome back to Max and family :)

"Endless gratitude must go to the amazing bookshops who get my bonkers novels into readers hands".....indeed the author is to right this book is bonkers beyond belief. DCI Cara Elliott is is in charge of a team of detectives attempting to catch a serial killer. All the victims appear mentally unbalanced, their medication is stopped or increased resulting in said victims committing suicide. What a bizarre premise underlying a crime novel. What is even more bonkers is that the team are themselves mentally unbalanced. Cara has lived with the terminal illness of her mother and untimely death of her father, her brother Griffin , also coping with the death of their father,is on leave, due to turmoil following the demise of his partner.... and attempting to give up alcohol but not succeeding (are you following this?). A second detective DS Jamie Hoxton, is on medication also due to the death of his partner. Cara brings brother Griffin back into the team ( how is it possible to return your alcoholic sybling to a major crime investigation!) Griffin is partnered with DC Alana Brody who uses Griffin as a sex object........I kid you not.......This book is akin to a rather hastily, made for tv, crime caper (I use the term crime loosely) it has no literary worth, totally devalues the crime genre, and it astounds me that there are so many 5 star reviews.

Frank Gardner has done it again, the fourth outing for ex soldier (now government troubleshooter) Luke Carlton, as he is sent to Taiwan to divert a crisis that would see the world dragged into a war of annihilation. Hannah Slade known as a collector (a civilian who volunteers to undertake dangerous work for the government) is on a special assignment to Hong Kong to retrieve from an agent, known as Blue Sky, vital evidence that will help stop a third world war. When it all goes wrong MI6 field operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are dispatched to obtain the information and if possible save Hannah.
Frank Gardner as a long time reporter has a brilliant insight into the balance of world power, and how this fragile situation can so easily be abused with fatal consequences. I have the greatest admiration for the author, shot 6 times by al-Qaeda gunmen whilst reporting on growing terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia, he was left partially paralysed and has used a wheelchair ever since. He is still a reporter but equally a brilliant author, his books are high octane, edge of the seat thrillers that do not blind with technical jargon, presenting only what the reader needs to know to enjoy the read. Invasion paints a frightening picture of technical warfare, and how we need to fear those with the capability to destroy the world, and would not hesitate to do so. Invasion is a brilliant book, which I read over 2 days and highly recommend.

Ronald Malfi is a superb writer and this is one truly brilliant spooky horror novel. Small town America, events that happened in the past coming back to haunt you, have always been a lucrative ground for creating atmosphere and don’t turn the lights off tension! Andrew Larimer, a successful New York lawyer, has left his past behind him, and the small town of Kingsport where he grew up, long forgotten. However when he receives a somewhat distressing phone call from a childhood friend, he decides to return one last time to Kingsport, leaving a pregnant wife confused and alone in the big apple…….Five friends; Andrew, Dale, Eric, Tig and the sad somewhat pathetic figure of Meach are being called to account over an incident and a secret that they have managed to hide for 20 years. Robert Graves now holds the key, or not, to their future wellbeing, and it would seem that revenge and retribution know no boundaries….This is a first class horror novel, with some wonderful twists that kept coming until the final page, an ending whilst not expected, was perfect to the conclusion of my favourite horror read this year. Highly recommended.

Lydia Walker, forensic photographer, is assigned to work with the local police department. A deranged serial killer is present and active and it is her job to photograph and interpret the killer’s bloody crime scene. Lydia had a tumultuous childhood, badly abused when in the care of foster parents. As the case progresses, and the body count mounts, Lydia finds to her surprise that she may have more in common with the perpetrator than she hoped, indeed he may be the only person that truly understands her. There is not a lot of depth to this short book, and trying to put a positive spin on the mounting atrocities, and the growing sympathy of Lydia with the killer, was not to my liking.