Review: The Murders in Great Diddling

The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: We Solve Murders

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars
Release Date: 17th September 2024

Richard Osman has done it again, he's drawn me into his world and got me hooked.

I'm loving these new characters: Amy is another strong woman, who is a personal bodyguard, she has her vulnerabilities, but doesn't like to show them; then there's her father-in-law Steve, ex police who also doesn't like to show his vulnerabilities, but the two of them have a wonderful dynamic of supporting each other, at enough of a distance that they can both handle it; and finally Rosie D'Antonio the famous, best selling author, which Amy has been hired as her bodyguard. Things take a turn when it's Amy's life at risk and not knowing who to trust, she turns to Steve and there the adventure begins.

What a wonderful world Osman creates, with realistic characters, with a lot of heart and humour.

I absolutely adore that I can trust that when we press play on the audiobook, we will be in safe hands of great characterisation, world building and a great plot to keep us engaged.

I can't wait to see what adventures this new team get up to.

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Review: Not in My Book

Not in My Book by Katie Holt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Release Date: 10th December 2024

3.5 stars rounded up

The Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious contemporary romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice.

This is an enemies to lovers romance book, which is true to the trope.
Two wannabe writers on a course together, who keep clashing over their feedback of each others work, but Rosie and Aiden start to realise it isn't hate between them, but love never does run smooth with a few bumps in the road reigniting that original clash of personalities.

Great writing style in this debut novel by Katie Holt, keeps you reading and wanting to know what happens next. With a book within a book storyline, great atmosphere and setting and started with great tension, which I felt petered out towards the end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Review: The Crucifix Killer

The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: 1st August 2009

As a big fan of crime psychological thrillers, this is right up my street.

Following Homicide Detective Robert Hunter and his new rookie partner Garcia on a case to the body of a young woman that is discovered in a derelict cottage who has been sadistically tortured making her dead body difficult to identify. This case starts to resemble a previous closed case of Hunter's The Crucifix Killer, but they think this is the work of a copycat as they have already caught and imprisoned.

The deaths and violence in this book are explicit and explained in real detail, giving a visceral reaction to them as they're discovered and really helps to immerse you into the setting and the events. I really loved the great characterisation and the psychology of all the characters in the book, all needed to move the story along and added more depth.

I'm really looking forward to continuing with this series.

I would say if you are squeamish, maybe this book isn't for you.

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Review: Whiteout: A Thriller

Whiteout: A Thriller by R.S. Burnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: 11th February 2025

What a debut thriller of a book! I was sold from the synopsis. I just didn't want to put this book down.

Rachael is persuaded by her old boss Guy to head back to Antarctica to carry out some vital research, but after months alone, with no human contact, except a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, Rachael fears the worst for her husband and daughter who she left behind and is battling to survive a harsh winter storm, when things start going from bad to worse.

Is Rachael the only survivor? Will she survive a winter storm in Antarctica? Has she got the resilience and ability to survive?

This is an atmospheric and gritty, page turner. the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was there with Rachael witnessing it all unfold, with clever use of flashbacks to give a fuller picture as to what led Rachael to this point, you can't help but root for her.

There are so many twists and turns, you don't see coming and catch you off guard, but keep you hooked to find out what's going to happen next.

From the premise to the execution this is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane for this ARC.

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Review: Whiteout: A Thriller

Whiteout: A Thriller by R.S. Burnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Release Date: 11th February 2025

What a debut thriller of a book! I was sold from the synopsis. I just didn't want to put this book down.

Rachael is persuaded by her old boss Guy to head back to Antarctica to carry out some vital research, but after months alone, with no human contact, except a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out, Rachael fears the worst for her husband and daughter who she left behind and is battling to survive a harsh winter storm, when things start going from bad to worse.

Is Rachael the only survivor? Will she survive a winter storm in Antarctica? Has she got the resilience and ability to survive?

This is an atmospheric and gritty, page turner. the writing is brilliant and I felt like I was there with Rachael witnessing it all unfold, with clever use of flashbacks to give a fuller picture as to what led Rachael to this point, you can't help but root for her.

There are so many twists and turns, you don't see coming and catch you off guard, but keep you hooked to find out what's going to happen next.

From the premise to the execution this is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers Crooked Lane for this ARC.

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Review: Whiteout: A Thriller

Whiteout: A Thriller by R.S. Burnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Crucifix Killer

The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Release Date: 14th January 2025

What a great premise for a book, a couple who are bonded together by their love of murder and how they navigate a life together with a baby and the loss of their passion.

Haze and Fox are not your average couple, travelling the world killing 'bad' men, living the life of luxury until Haze gets pregnant. Fox then decides it's too risky to carry on and they must stop their killing ways and start living a normal suburban life, so they can be there for their daughter, Bibi.

Hazel struggles with this and how flat and boring her life and marriage are becoming, off out for a run one evening she kills alone and tries to hide this from Fox, whilst also befriending a detective on maternity leave, can she keep her secret from them both and get away with murder?

It soon transpires that Fox has his own secrets and ways of coping with the loss of the high of a kill in his life, with the added pressures of his controlling family back in America, interfering and threatening him.

This is a great story with a great premise, about marriage, the lies people can keep to try to protect those they love and the challenges of having to change your life when you have a child, obviously not all marriages contain illegal activity, but for Haze and Fox they think they're so unique and no one else understands them, but in reality a lot of their fears and issues are very common.

I liked the use of the exerts about how to have a good marriage and the switching between Fox and Haze's narration. The quick wit and sharpness of Haze was brilliant and added a lightness and some humour to the book, as she tries to navigate making mum friends.

Overall a good well paced book, but did slow down in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Review: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Not in My Book

Not in My Book by Katie Holt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Lake of Lost Girls

The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review to follow

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Review: We Solve Murders

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Release Date: 17th September 2024

Richard Osman has done it again, he's drawn me into his world and got me hooked.

I'm loving these new characters: Amy is another strong woman, who is a personal bodyguard, she has her vulnerabilities, but doesn't like to show them; then there's her father-in-law Steve, ex police who also doesn't like to show his vulnerabilities, but the two of them have a wonderful dynamic of supporting each other, at enough of a distance that they can both handle it; and finally Rosie D'Antonio the famous, best selling author, which Amy has been hired as her bodyguard. Things take a turn when it's Amy's life at risk and not knowing who to trust, she turns to Steve and there the adventure begins.

What a wonderful world Osman creates, with realistic characters, with a lot of heart and humour.

I absolutely adore that I can trust that when we press play on the audiobook, we will be in safe hands of great characterisation, world building and a great plot to keep us engaged.

I can't wait to see what adventures this new team get up to.

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Review: We Solve Murders

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

RTF

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Review: The Village Killer

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars rounded up

Release Date: 1st November 2024

I did it again! Picked up a book that was well into a series.
I guessed a chapter or two in this was the case due to some references being made, but I didn't feel like I was lacking, there was enough information and focus on the current investigations that I was able to enjoy the book as it was, having said that I would like to go back and read the rest of the series now, as I loved the characters.

This is a gripping crime mystery / thriller, with multiple points of view and multiple crimes being committed, the mixture of the layering of the chapters (different POV) and the crimes weave complex and interesting cases, really delving into the minds of those with obsessions, and what it can drive you to do.

I don't want to get into the plot too much, as I don't want to spoil anything, but about the book, I was hooked from the first chapter. The writing style and the complexities of the characters really drew me in, with intrigue and I enjoyed getting to know the investigating teams and that contrast of healthy, respectful relationships verses that of those being investigated.

I will definitely be reading more from this author

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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Review: The Village Killer

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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