Dead Simple - Quick Reads

Dead Simple
(one of 6 Galaxy Quick Reads books for 2017)
Published by Orion Books (2 February 2017)
ISBN: 978-1409169123

Publisher's description

A woman reports a crime to the police, with unexpected results

The grieving widow who finds that she's about to lose more than just her husband

When a man attempts the perfect murder, it's not quite as easy as he thinks

Two men in prison play a deadly game of Scrabble

A young woman tries to trick an old man and gets more than she bargained for

Sometimes crimes are solved in ways you can't explain

A murderer about to be hanged finds that's not the worst thing that can happen

You never know who's going to turn up at your door

Original stories from Mark Billingham, Clare Mackintosh, James Oswald, Jane Casey, Angela Marsons, Harry Bingham, Antonia Hodgson and CL Taylor - specially written for Quick Reads.

My verdict
Quick Reads are an ideal purchase if you love reading but struggle to fit it into your day. And Dead Simple is the perfect choice if you're a fan of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.

Not only is the book itself small, but there are eight fantastic short stories inside, so you can dip in and out of the book to suit your reading time. I loved these twisty tales - all are unique and there's something to appeal to everyone.

Dead Simple is also a great introduction to six top crime writers and certainly left me wanting to check out their novels. It's good fun, with plenty of darkness and humour. And it only costs you £1!!!

About Galaxy Quick Reads

The Reading Agency's six new Galaxy® Quick Reads titles are specifically designed to be easy to read, and are shorter and easier to tackle for adults who are less confident in their reading skills. The accessible, bite-size format means they’re also perfect for people who want a light, easy read to pick up for their commute or to fit into a busy day.

According to the National Literary Trust in 2012, one in six adults in the UK struggles with reading, while one in three doesn't read for pleasure. Sponsored by Galaxy® and run by The Reading Agency, the annual Quick Reads campaign aims to inspire more people to read more often by producing six short books each year, made available for just £1 from most major booksellers or loaned from libraries. 

For more information on Quick Reads and this year's books, visit here. And follow Quick Reads of Twitter - @Quick_Reads

Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald

Prayer for the Dead
By James Oswald
Published by Michael Joseph (12 February 2015)
ISBN: 978-0718180195

Publisher's description
A body is found at the scene of a carefully staged murder. In a sealed chamber deep in the heart of Gilmerton Cove, the victim has undergone a macabre ritual of purification.

Inspector Tony McLean knew the dead man, and can't shake the suspicion that there is more to this case than meets the eye. The lack of forensics at the crime scene is not the only thing that McLean will find beyond belief.

Teamed with the most unlikely and unwelcome of allies, McLean must track down a killer with the darkest compulsions, who answers only to a higher power...

My verdict
This is my first James Oswald book, but is the fifth in the Inspector McClean series. Despite some references to previous books, this didn't affect my enjoyment of Prayer for the Dead.

Prayer for the Dead is a police procedural with some supernatural aspects. This was a welcome change from some of the other (equally as enjoyable) crime books I have read recently. There was plenty of forensic information and descriptions of the police investigations, as well as some interesting characters.

The book begins when McClean is asked to investigate the disappearance of a journalist, whose body is then found in an obscure location - dark caves underneath the Edinburgh and only accessible through underground passages. When another body is found, again with little forensic evidence to provide any clues, it's clear that there is a twisted killer on the loose.

I didn't learn much about McLean in this book and would have liked to know more - this may have been covered in previous books, but I noticed that some other reviews suggest he is a fairly mysterious character.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.