Violet by SJI Holliday - resharing my review!

I loved Violet by SJI Holliday so much that I'm sharing my review again today. If you visit SJI Holliday's website blog here, you can see photos from 'Violet's journey'. The book is set on the Trans-Siberian Express. SJI Holliday took this journey herself in 2006 and, for 30 days in September to October this year, shared photos of locations that feature in her book.

And here's my review:

Violet 
By SJI Holliday
Published by Orenda Books (E-book - 14 September 2019; Paperback - 14 November 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

When two strangers end up sharing a cabin on the Trans-Siberian Express, an intense friendship develops, one that can only have one ending … a nerve-shattering psychological thriller from bestselling author SJI Holliday

Carrie's best friend has an accident and can no longer make the round-the-world trip they'd planned together, so Carrie decides to go it alone. 

Violet is also travelling alone, after splitting up with her boyfriend in Thailand. She is also desperate for a ticket on the Trans-Siberian Express, but there is nothing available.

When the two women meet in a Beijing Hotel, Carrie makes the impulsive decision to invite Violet to take her best friend's place.

Thrown together in a strange country, and the cramped cabin of the train, the women soon form a bond. But as the journey continues, through Mongolia and into Russia, things start to unravel – because one of these women is not who she claims to be…

My verdict
If you follow my reviews, you'll know that I love SJI Holliday's books. Violet is set to be one of my favourite reads of this year.

Violet was great fun to read - there's mystery, humour and intrigue on every page. The writing is beautiful and compelling. The plot is creepy, chilling and clever - and very dark and very twisted.
It's what I often call a 'car crash book'. When you know something bad is going to happen but you have no idea what, and there's obviously nothing you can do to stop it. And then, BAM, it all hits you.

I could tell that the author has first-hand experience of the Trans-Siberian Express journey, from all of the tiny descriptive details, and I suspect that the book was a highly personal one to write. Maybe not the best book to read when your 18-year-old son is interrailing around Europe, but fortunately my son came back safely in one piece - unlike some of the characters in this book!

SJI Holliday has written two believable and deeply flawed unreliable narrators. I had no idea which one was to be trusted, if either of them. I read the book with bated breath - and wanted to applaud the author's brilliance at the end.

I don't often 'compare' books as it's not something I'm very good at, and reading is such a subjective experience anyway. But immediately I thought of Liz Nugent's Skin Deep - both books featuring an in-depth analysis of a female psychopath.

SJI Holliday is proving to be a master of psychological thrillers, with expert plotting and fabulous characterisation. Brilliant stuff! 

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What You Did by Claire McGowan - moderator at October's First Monday Crime

What You Did
By Claire McGowan
Published by Thomas & Mercer (1 August 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

It was supposed to be the perfect reunion: six university friends together again after twenty years. Host Ali finally has the life she always wanted, a career she can be proud of and a wonderful family with her college boyfriend, now husband. But that night her best friend makes an accusation so shocking that nothing will ever be the same again.

When Karen staggers in from the garden, bleeding and traumatised, she claims that she has been assaulted—by Ali’s husband, Mike. Ali must make a split-second decision: who should she believe? Her horrified husband, or her best friend? With Mike offering a very different version of events, Ali knows one of them is lying—but which? And why?

When the ensuing chaos forces her to re-examine the golden era the group shared at university, Ali realises there are darker memories too. Memories that have lain dormant for decades. Memories someone would kill to protect.

My verdict
How well do you remember your student days? Are there some things you'd prefer to forget?

What You Did is a psychological thriller following six adults who were friends at university. Twenty years on, they have met up for a reunion, their lives having taken various different paths over the years. Following an evening of heavy drinking, Karen accuses Ali's husband, Mike, of rape - and Ali's seemingly perfect life falls apart, torn between believing her husband and believing her best friend.

The story is well-structured, told through different perspectives, and flits easily between past and present. None of the characters were particularly likeable but they certainly felt believable - these were real people living real lives - and none of them were reliable either, each one having a distorted view of the past and trying to keep secrets hidden.

What You Did is dark and compelling, with an unsolved murder at the heart of it, revealing how our own memories can deceive us and how we often deceive ourselves. This whodunnit is a twisty read - one that should appeal to psychological thriller fans who love books featuring moral dilemmas and 'what would I do?' scenarios.

First Monday Crime
First Monday Crime is back after its summer break on Monday 7th October at City University, London.

The panellists are Nicci French, Peter Robinson and Marnie Riches, kept in line by moderator Claire McGowan.

You can reserve your free ticket here.

The Secretary by Renée Knight

The Secretary 
By Renée Knight
Published by Doubleday (February 2019)

Publisher's description

Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most money, who commands the most respect?

Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked figure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets are whispered. Someone who quietly, perhaps even unwittingly, gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be important.

There’s a fine line between loyalty and obsession. And when someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she might just become the most dangerous person in the room...

My verdict
The Secretary is chilling and twisty. One of those psychological thrillers that really gets right under your skin.

This is a story of the revenge, power and betrayal - and that it's often the quiet ones you have to watch. Christine, a seemingly mild-mannered secretary, is the 'star of the show' - she knows everything there is to know about her employer, including secrets that have been brushed under the carpet, and would do anything to protect the family name.

The plot is realistic, in an everyday setting that mirrors current world affairs, with the destruction of essential documents in high-profile court cases. The drama escalates slowly, creeping up on the reader, and is clever, dark and compelling, with believable and often hateful characters.

I struggle with a lot of psychological thrillers at the moment, but The Secretary had me hooked all the way through.

Ruin Beach by Kate Rhodes

Ruin Beach
By Kate Rhodes
Published by Simon & Schuster (February 2019)

Publisher's description

THE ISLAND OF TRESCO HOLDS A DARK SECRET SOMEONE WILL KILL TO PROTECT.

Ben Kitto is the Scilly Isles' Deputy Chief of Police, but as the island's lazy summer takes hold, he finds himself missing the excitement of the murder squad in London - until the body of a diver is discovered, anchored to the rocks of a nearby cave.

At first it appears that the young woman's death was a tragic accident, but when evidence is found that suggests otherwise, the islanders close ranks. With even those closest to the victim refusing to talk, Ben questions whether more than one resident might have had reason to harm her . . .

Everyone is a suspect. No one is safe.

My verdict
Ruin Beach is yet another suspense-filled crime novel from Kate Rhodes, with a fabulous sense of place.

I loved the first book in the series - Hell Bay - and couldn't wait to 'meet' Ben Kitto again. This is the perfect blend of mystery, history and thriller, set in a small isolated community. I loved all of the little  details - from the dangers of the diving, the wonders of shipwrecks and the beauty of the islands - providing the perfect background to murder.

Every time I read a Kate Rhodes book, I have the same thought and go through the same reading experience. The author has poetic writing that's begging to be read out loud (I urge you to try it). Her descriptions of the Scilly Isles - landscape, fauna and flora - paint pictures in the mind.

I highly recommend this series - and the author's other series too.

Sleep by M K Boers

Sleep
By M K Boers
Published on 1 September 2019
I received an Advance Reader Copy

Publisher's description

A marriage made in heaven, a murder made in hell.

Why kill the man you love?

Lizzy was struggling, everyone knew that.

He shouldn't have done those things.

He shouldn't have pushed her so hard.

And now, her children, her marriage, her hope - gone.

It was all her fault, she knew that, but was there a chance of redemption?

Lizzy Dyson’s on trial for her life. She knows she must pay for what she did, even if it wasn’t planned, but will the jury believe her?

My verdict
Sleep is a compelling read - a character-led psychological thriller and courtroom drama.

Lizzy is on trial for murder, spending most of her time locked in a cell, which means she has plenty of time to think about the past. And she certainly has plenty to think about it.

By getting into Lizzy's thoughts and following her conversations with her friends, family and legal team, the tiny details of her marriage are gradually revealed, with secrets unravelled and heartache exposed. This is well-written domestic noir with great characterisation - as well as a believable insight into a woman's breakdown and the impact of miscarriage and stillbirth (and the need for support).

This is one of those books where you think you know the story at the start, but your views and allegiance change as the book progresses. It made me want to shout and sigh and cry. I wanted to shake Lizzy at times to help her see the truth, to realise she wasn't the monster she thought she was and that she was much stronger (deep inside) that she had been led to believe.

I really felt that I knew Lizzy by the end - her honesty, her grief, her remorse as she took herself on a journey of self-discovery, all she could really do to pass the time. I found myself turning the pages faster and faster, and felt bereft when there were no more. The ending of the book was perfect - satisfyingly so.

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My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent

My Absolute Darling
By Gabriel Tallent
Published by Fourth Estate (12 July 2018)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

At 14, Turtle Alveston knows the use of every gun on her wall. She knows how to snare a rabbit, sharpen a blade and splint a bone. She knows that her daddy loves her more than anything else in this world and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her with him.

But she doesn’t know why she feels so different from the other girls at school; why the line between love and pain can be so hard to see. Or why making a friend may be the bravest and most terrifying thing she has ever done.

Sometimes the people you’re supposed to trust are the ones who do most harm. And what you’ve been taught to fear is the very thing that will save you …

My verdict
My Absolute Darling traumatised me, resulting in very disturbed sleep. Not many books manage to do that. I'm not upset that I read it, as it was everything I expected it to be (though admittedly possibly worse), but this was the reason why I had put off reading it for so long.

This is a tale of love and survival in a brutal world, a coming-of-age novel involving a teenage girl who has had to grow up too soon. Turtle Alveston has a difficult and unusual life and a warped view of the world around her. But she knows that her father loves her and would risk everything to keep her safe.

This is a tough, challenging read - brutal, unsettling, raw and shocking yet also filled with vivid beauty and hope. The harshness is cushioned by plush descriptions of the Californian coastline and its fauna and flora. I wanted to turn away yet couldn't as the writing was too compelling, too addictive and too powerful.

My Absolute Darling is a thought-provoking read about victims and survival - a personal struggle of nature versus nurture and right versus wrong. But it won't appeal to everyone. You'll need a strong constitution - be prepared to read about a tough subject (graphic in places) and have your emotions churned and then shredded.

Wolves at the Door by Gunnar Staalesen

Wolves at the Door
By Gunnar Staalesen
Published by Orenda Books (E-book - out now; Paperback - 13 June 2019)
I received an Advance Reader from the publisher

Publisher's description

One dark January night a car drives at high speed towards PI Varg Veum, and comes very close to killing him. Veum is certain this is no accident, following so soon after the deaths of two jailed men who were convicted for their participation in a case of child pornography and sexual assault … crimes that Veum himself once stood wrongly accused of committing.

While the guilty men were apparently killed accidentally, Varg suspects that there is something more sinister at play … and that he’s on the death list of someone still at large.

Fearing for his life, Veum begins to investigate the old case, interviewing the victims of abuse and delving deeper into the brutal crimes, with shocking results. The wolves are no longer in the dark … they are at his door. And they want vengeance.

My verdict
I loved Wolves at the Door - definitely my favourite Varg Veum book so far, despite the dark subject matter.

Just as in the previous book (Big Sister), I was hooked into the story from the very first page and couldn't drag myself away. This one follows almost straight on from Big Sister, so it's probably wise to read that one if you haven't done so already.

Yet again, Gunnar Staalasen has written classic crime fiction with a modern twist, concentrating on contemporary criminal activities and social issues within a complex multi-layered plot. The story is revealed slowly but surely through a gripping investigation. Private investigator Varg Veum is investigating what initially appear to be accidental deaths but are revealed to be linked together by child pornography and sexual assault charges. Veum was also arrested (wrongfully) at the time so fears that he could be next.

The writing is highly evocative with vivid imagery - all of the little details of what people wear, eat and drink bring Norway to life. I particularly love the main character's voice, with Varg Veum's wit and irony surfacing through the sharp dialogue and narrative, often prompting me to laugh out loud. Despite the humour though, my emotions were pulled in all directions - fear, sadness, worry and despair - with my heart pounding in certain scenes towards the end.

Yet another great outing for Norwegian private eye Varg Veum, and author Gunnar Staalesen. Bring on the next one!

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The Closer I Get by Paul Burston

The Closer I Get
By Paul Burston
Published Orenda Books (E-book - out now; Paperback - 11 July 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Tom is a successful author, but he’s struggling to finish his novel. His main distraction is an online admirer, Evie, who simply won’t leave him alone.

Evie is smart, well read and unstable; she lives with her father and her social-media friendships are not only her escape, but everything she has.

When she’s hit with a restraining order, her world is turned upside down, and Tom is free to live his life again, to concentrate on writing.

But things aren’t really adding up. For Tom is distracted but also addicted to his online relationships, and when they take a darker, more menacing turn, he feels powerless to change things. Because maybe he needs Evie more than he’s letting on.

My verdict
The Closer I Get by Paul Burston is a dark tale of obsession and a chilling reminder that while social media can be a brilliant and beneficial forum, it can also be highly dangerous.

This is a psychological thriller of modern times, thanks to its very blunt look at friendships, relationships and interactions online. How can we really know the people we respond to on sites such as Facebook or Twitter? In fact, let's face it, we don't know what's going on inside people's heads at all, even those we meet in real life (still waiting for that smartphone app!). It's very easy for all of us to hide behind a public facade. And in the world of social media, you can be pretty much anyone you want to be.

The book has a strong sense of Stephen King's Misery, focusing on Tom (a bestselling author now struggling with his second book) and Evie (his over-enthusiastic author-stalker fan). Thanks to social media, the 'celebrity-fan' line between them has been blurred and now Evie is in court.

The writing is fantastic, especially in terms of setting (both London and Hastings) and characterisation, and the twisty plot moves along at a cracking pace. I will admit that I laughed at some of the insights into the publishing industry - people and events - as they seemed very familiar. There are elements of courtroom drama, some thrilling and tense action scenes and some particularly tender moments between Tom and Colin, his elderly neighbour.

There was a strong sense of unease throughout the book. I could feel the frustration from both sides, alongside a nagging sense of doubt. I really didn't know who to trust - or who could be trusted. Was either one of them telling the truth? And then there was Emma, Tom's best friend, watching the 'car crash' scenario from the sidelines.

This book is thought-provoking and frighteningly plausible. I think we all know at least one 'Tom' and 'Evie'! By the end of The Closer I Get, I wasn't sure if I wanted to interact with anyone online ever again. I now realise that my efforts to interact have diminished ever since! Oops.

Turbulent Wake by Paul Hardisty

Turbulent Wake
By Paul E. Hardisty
Published by Orenda Books (E-book: out now; Paperback: 16 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Ethan Scofield returns to the place of his birth to bury his father. Hidden in one of the upstairs rooms of the old man’s house he finds a strange manuscript, a collection of stories that seems to cover the whole of his father’s turbulent life.

As his own life starts to unravel, Ethan works his way through the manuscript, trying to find answers to the mysteries that have plagued him since he was a child. What happened to his little brother? Why was his mother taken from him? And why, in the end, when there was no one else left, did his own father push him away?

My verdict

Turbulent Wake is a round-the-world journey through a lifetime of regrets. This one-sided father-son story is intense and emotional - it's very different to Paul E. Hardisty's Claymore Straker series but just as compelling.

While Ethan Scofield takes centre stage, this is also the story of his father, Warren, and the relationship between them, gradually revealed as Ethan reads through Warren's manuscript after his death. The title of the book is perfect. The story reminded me of the ocean, switching between moments of calm and moments of turbulence, and back again. It's filled with mishaps and misadventures - life's ups and down, those we can control and those we can't. An insight into how the turbulence of our past can shape not just our future but the future of those around us.

The writing is sublime - the beautiful vivid descriptions of flora and fauna and exotic locations have lyrical rhythm. I felt as though I was on location myself, with Ethan, Warren, Helena and all of the other characters. Geography, science and geological references are carefully woven into the prose, with powerful environmental messages. So yet again, Paul E. Hardisty has written a book that not only entertained me but also educated me.

Turbulent Wake really showcases the author's writing talent. I read it twice because I loved it so much and to appreciate and discover the many layers. I could read this book forever and it's likely to become one of my all-time Orenda favourites.

A Modern Family by Helga Flatland

A Modern Family
By Helga Flatland
Published by Orenda Books (E-book - 13 April 2019; Paperback - 13 June 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

When Liv, Ellen and Håkon, along with their partners and children, arrive in Rome to celebrate their father’s seventieth birthday, a quiet earthquake occurs: their parents have decided to divorce.

Shocked and disbelieving, the siblings try to come to terms with their parents’ decision as it echoes through the homes they have built for themselves, and forces them to reconstruct the shared narrative of their childhood and family history.

My verdict
A Modern Family is a beautifully written and highly thought-provoking literary novel exploring the psychology and practicalities of marriage, commitment and individuality. 

The book begins with a family holiday in Rome, seen through the eyes of three grown-up children whose 'safe world' is about to be torn apart. I felt as though I was peering through a window into what initially seems to be a close-knit family, and then watching the layers of the facade gradually peel away.

This book is so relatable, with something for everyone to connect with, whatever their current family situation, from failing relationships and sibling rivalry to parent-child interactions and struggles with parenthood. There's so much bubbling under the surface here, revealing not only how much the characters DO know about each other, but also how much they DON'T, plus all of the secrets they've been trying to hide.

A Modern Family is honest and brutal - family life laid bare, down to its deepest foundations. The translation by Rosie Hedger is outstanding and really picks up the subtle nuances of the prose, bringing each character (and the settings) to life.

You can't choose your family, but how well do you really know them? How do you know when it's time to make changes or time to move on? And is it ever too late to take the plunge?

This book may not provide the answers to these questions, but it will certainly make you think!

My Name is Anna by Lizzy Barber

My Name is Anna
By Lizzy Barber
Published by Century (10 January 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher

Publisher's description

Two women – desperate to unlock the truth.

How far will they go to lay the past to rest? 

ANNA has been taught that virtue is the path to God. But on her eighteenth birthday she defies her Mamma’s rules and visits Florida’s biggest theme park. 

She has never been allowed to go – so why, when she arrives, does everything seem so familiar? And is there a connection to the mysterious letter she receives on the same day?

ROSIE has grown up in the shadow of the missing sister she barely remembers, her family fractured by years of searching without leads. Now, on the fifteenth anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, the media circus resumes in full flow, and Rosie vows to uncover the truth. 

But will she find the answer before it tears her family apart?

My verdict
My Name is Anna hooked me in straight away with its vivid and evocative writing, as I raced through it late one night into the early hours.

It's the story of a little girl who disappears on a family holiday to Florida, told through Anna's eyes and also the eyes of her sister Rosie. Rosie doesn't remember her older sister, but she knows the impact Emily's disappearance had on the family she left behind, even 15 years on - and their parents will never stop searching. Rosie decides it's time for her to do some digging into the past.

This book is more than just 'another psychological thriller'. It's a dark, intense and well-plotted exploration of identity, childhood abduction, memories and a mother's love. What if your whole life has been a lie? The ending is fairly abrupt, but it didn't leave me hanging or wanting - just left me imagining what came next and thinking about these characters beyond the final page.

My Name is Anna is a thought-provoking read, and not one that's easily forgotten. I look forward to seeing what Lizzy Barber writes next - whatever it is, I'll certainly be putting it at the top of my shopping list!

The Taking of Annie Thorne by CJ Tudor

The Taking of Annie Thorne
By CJ Tudor
Published by Michael Joseph (21 February 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher 

Publisher's description

Then...

One night, Annie went missing. Disappeared from her own bed. There were searches, appeals. Everyone thought the worst. And then, miraculously, after forty-eight hours, she came back. But she couldn't, or wouldn't, say what had happened to her.

Something happened to my sister. I can't explain what. I just know that when she came back, she wasn't the same. She wasn't my Annie. 

I didn't want to admit, even to myself, that sometimes I was scared to death of my own little sister.

Now... 

The email arrived in my inbox two months ago. I almost deleted it straight away, but then I clicked OPEN: 

I know what happened to your sister. It's happening again...

My verdict
The Taking of Annie Thorne is creepy crime fiction at its best, from its compelling characters and strong sense of place to its fast-moving plot and action-packed ending.

Centred around a small mining village, the book is chilling from the outset, told through the mesmerising and often humorous voice of teacher Joe Thorne, who has returned to the place of his childhood. His little sister, Annie, disappeared for 48 hours when she was eight and was never the same again.

Joe is flawed and unreliable with an underlying vulnerability, haunted by memories of his dead sister and a creepy doll called 'Abbie Eyes'. The book swings between his past and present, as old mistakes, teenage rebellion and unfinished business gradually bubble to the surface.

The Taking of Annie Thorne is dark, shocking, atmospheric and entertaining, filled with elements of supernatural, horror and psychological thrillers. This is a book you'll want to keep reading well into the early hours - though that may not be advisable if you ever want to sleep again!

It made me nostalgic for my teenage years, when I was addicted to Stephen King and James Herbert books. And very soon, I'll be re-reading those books again.

Looking forward to seeing what's next from CJ Tudor.

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The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins

The Neighbour 
By Fiona Cummins
Published by Pan Macmillan (4 April 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

FOR SALE: A lovely family home with good-sized garden and treehouse occupying a plot close to woodland. Perfect for kids, fitness enthusiasts, dog walkers . . .

And, it seems, the perfect hunting ground for a serial killer.

On a hot July day, Garrick and Olivia Lockwood and their two children move into 25 The Avenue looking for a fresh start. They arrive in the midst of a media frenzy: they’d heard about the local murders in the press, but Garrick was certain the killer would be caught and it would all be over in no time. Besides, they’d got the house at a steal and he was convinced he could flip it for a fortune.

The neighbours seemed to be the very picture of community spirit. But everyone has secrets, and the residents in The Avenue are no exception.

After six months on the case with no real leads, the most recent murder has turned DC Wildeve Stanton’s life upside down, and now she has her own motive for hunting down the killer – quickly.

My verdict
The Neighbour is creepy and twisty, gripping and shocking - exactly as I would expect from author Fiona Cummins, having read and loved her two previous books, Rattle and The Collector.

The Neighbour is yet another serial killer thriller but this time a standalone. It focuses on one particular suburban street, with its eclectic array of residents, all seemingly hiding secrets and 'not-so-perfect' lives behind their closed doors. And then there's the body count ... which keeps rising.

Short snappy 'just one more' chapters keep the story moving at a cracking pace, with plenty of new revelations to add to the intrigue. Fiona Cummins writes beautiful prose with some gruesome descriptions, and certainly manages to get right inside the minds of all of her characters - good or bad! There's a strong sense of unease throughout the book.

Just like the serial killer, I felt that I was snooping on these households. The Neighbour reminded me of a theatrical production, with each character getting their time in the spotlight. Keep an eye on the chapter headings, as these indicate which neighbour or neighbours are currently taking centre stage.

The Neighbour is certainly a chilling read and one that made me think about the claustrophobic nature of suburban life and how easy it is to know very little about the people around us. I don't think I'll trust my own neighbours ever again!

If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman

If Only I could Tell you
By Hannah Beckerman
Published by Orion (21 February 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Audrey's family has fallen apart. Her two grown-up daughters, Jess and Lily, are estranged, and her two teenage granddaughters have never been allowed to meet. A secret that echoes back thirty years has splintered the family in two, but is also the one thing keeping them connected. 

As tensions reach breaking point, the irrevocable choice that one of them made all those years ago is about to surface. After years of secrets and silence, how can one broken family find their way back to each other?

My verdict
If Only I Could Tell You is a moving story of a family torn apart by secrets, grief and loss.

Audrey wishes she could reunite her daughters Jess and Lily after 30 years of estrangement - in doing so, she would also enable her two teenage granddaughters to be part of each other's lives. But some wounds are embedded so deeply that they seem impossible to mend. Now the clock is ticking, is it possible for them all to move onwards, forwards and upwards?

If Only I Could Tell You is cleverly plotted, with a mystery at its heart - what caused Jess and Lily to fall out those years ago? It switches seamlessly from past to present, and back again, as secrets are unlocked and emotions are laid bare. This is a story about sisters, mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and tragic secrets that can bring families together but also rip them to shreds.

There was a game-changer around halfway through the book, which floored me and then put everything else into perspective, switching my views on the different characters and the parts they played. By the time the truth was there, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

This book is an ideal choice for a book club or reading group. It's heartbreaking, poignant and uplifting, and raises many moral questions about serious issues by the end - perfect for discussions.

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Aftershock by Adam Hamdy

Aftershock
By Adam Hamdy
Published by Headline (E-book & Hardback - out now; Paperback - 21 March 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

THEY BELIEVED IT WAS OVER

Having survived the lethal Pendulum conspiracy, photographer John Wallace atones for his past mistakes.

DI Patrick Bailey clings to the hope that he can, at last, return to a normal life in London. 

BUT IT'S ONLY JUST BEGINNING

FBI investigator Christine Ash - alone and paranoid - hunts down the remaining members of the ruthless Foundation organisation.

DARK FORCES ARE RISING AGAIN

But when masked assassins strike at the heart of the UK government, a shocking new threat emerges that forces all three to reunite.

DEADLIER THAN EVER BEFORE

With time running out, they must defeat a lethal new adversary: a manipulative mastermind with sinister powers unlike anything they've seen before. 

My verdict
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride that was. I don't think the action stopped from beginning to end!

Aftershock is the third in a series. My advice is to read it after you've read the other two (Pendulum and Freefall). You really do need to understand the back story to get the most out of it.

Now about the book itself ...

As I've written above, the action doesn't stop and I felt quite exhausted by the end (in a good way)! Yet despite being an action-packed thriller, Aftershock is also a character-led story. Poor Ash, Wallace and Bailey - constantly in the firing line as the Foundation organisation attempts to hunt them down, and also battling with their inner demons, as the cat-and-mouse chase becomes increasingly personal.

The Pendulum series is well written and intelligently and cleverly plotted. It's entertaining (maybe far-fetched in places) but also a thought-provoking look at society, technology, government and the law.

I'm interested to see what's next for Adam Hamdy.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient
By Alex Michaelides
Published by Orion (7 February 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

ALICIA
Alicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet - and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. She can't bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain.

Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.

THEO
Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia's silence goes far deeper than he first thought.

And if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth?

My verdict
The Silent Patient managed to totally mess with my head. I have to admit that it's taken me weeks to get this review down on paper, and I still don't really know exactly what I want to say.

I often struggle with psychological thrillers unless they offer me something different. Well, I couldn't put this book down, reading it into the early hours. This was an unsettling experience, as the plot is filled with unreliability and secrecy, switching between Theo's narration in the present and flashbacks to Alicia's past. Theo is arrogant enough to believe that he will be the one to unlock Alicia's silence and to get her to talk again. I couldn't help but be mesmerised by his narrative - an unforgettable character.

This intelligent debut novel left me stunned by the end, kicking myself because I really didn't see the final twist coming! I can't give any spoilers, so you'll just have to read the book to discover what I mean.

I know it's only February, but The Silent Patient may well be one of the best psychological thrillers I'll review this year.

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The Last by Hanna Jameson

The Last
by Hanna Jameson
Published by Penguin Viking (31 January 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

BREAKING: Nuclear weapon detonates over Washington
BREAKING: London hit, thousands feared dead
BREAKING: Munich and Scotland hit. World leaders call for calm

Historian Jon Keller is on a trip to Switzerland when the world ends. As the lights go out on civilisation, he wishes he had a way of knowing whether his wife, Nadia, and their two daughters are still alive. More than anything, Jon wishes he hadn't ignored Nadia's last message. 

Twenty people remain in Jon's hotel. Far from the nearest city and walled in by towering trees, they wait, they survive.

Then one day, the body of a young girl is found. It's clear she has been murdered. Which means that someone in the hotel is a killer.

As paranoia descends, Jon decides to investigate. But how far is he willing to go in pursuit of justice? And what kind of justice can he hope for, when society as he knows it no longer exists?

My verdict
The Last is post-apocalyptic fiction, yet it's really a novel of the modern age - dystopian fiction that no longer seems so unbelievable.

Twenty people appear to be the last survivors of a global nuclear attack, holed up in a remote Swiss hotel after a work conference with no way of communicating with the outside world. Historian Jon is determined to log their last days and weeks, hoping that one day someone will find his notebooks. When he finds the body of a young girl, he suspects murder. But who is killer?

The Last is a dark, disturbing and thought-provoking read. Think The Walking Dead without zombies, with characters having to work together (or not!) to survive and unsure what lies outside their newly created comfort zone. The plot is fast-paced and tense, with a perfect mixture of action, mystery, survival and sense of bewilderment and paranoia, all in a claustrophobic setting.

The book is beautifully written, highly graphic and would translate well to the big (or little) screen. It prompted so many questions of 'what if?' and 'what would I do?' as I read, and the ending was chilling.  Highly recommended!

And So It Begins by Rachel Abbott

And So It Begins
By Rachel Abbott
Published by Wildfire Books (15 November 2018)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Cleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He's managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife - but something about Evie just doesn't feel right...

When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their cliff-top house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets.

Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider - is there ever a proper defence for murder?

My verdict
And So It Begins is yet another highly unpredictable psychological thriller from Rachel Abbott.

I raced through this, all the way to the shocker of an ending, my head swirling from all of the twists and turns. The chapters are fairly short, which encouraged me to keep reading into the early hours.

The plot focuses on a murder at the home of photographer Marcus North, the events leading up to that time and the investigation afterwards. Rachel Abbott consistently creates evocative settings and believable, multi-layered plots. She also manages to get right inside her characters' minds. I had no idea which characters were telling the truth and who could be trusted - a lesson in 'don't believe everything you're told'.

Each Rachel Abbott book is very different (in this one, the theme is revenge, but also sibling relationships), yet all are of the same high quality. I love her Tom Douglas series, but believe this may be her best yet and I'm hoping this may be the start of a new series featuring Sergeant Stephanie King and DCI Gus Brodie.

The Courier by Kjell Ola Dahl

The Courier
By Kjell Ola Dahl
Published by Orenda Books (Ebook - out now; Paperback - 21 March 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

In 1942, Jewish courier Ester is betrayed, narrowly avoiding arrest by the Gestapo. In a great haste, she escapes to Sweden, saving herself. Her family in Oslo, however, is deported to Auschwitz. In Stockholm, Ester meets the resistance hero, Gerhard Falkum, who has left his little daughter and fled both the Germans and allegations that he murdered his wife, Åse, who helped Ester get to Sweden. Their burgeoning relationship ends abruptly when Falkum dies in a fire.And yet, twenty-five years later, Falkum shows up in Oslo. He wants to reconnect with his daughter. But where has he been, and what is the real reason for his return? Ester stumbles across information that forces her to look closely at her past, and to revisit her war-time training to stay alive…

My verdict
The Courier is a literary spy thriller, perfect for John Le Carré fans, and a very welcome addition to the Nordic Noir genre.

The book is steeped in history - Norway in World War 2 and the plight of its Jewish people during the Holocaust - with roots in espionage and wartime resistance. Its female protagonist, Ester, is strong and courageous, highlighting the importance of women during the war and how they risked their lives. I was fascinated by the social and political background, knowing very little about the Nazi invasion of Norway during World War 2. I found myself Googling snippets of information as I read the book - and now I've finished I want to know more!

The book features a tightly threaded plot and convincing characterisation, so it didn't take long to worm its way under my skin. I was soon caught up in the lives of Ester, Gerhard, Sverre, Åsa and Turid. There's a sense of unease throughout the book, as Ester seeks answers to how her friend Åsa died. I was holding my breath in several gripping moments as she, Sverre and Gerhard played their cat-and-mouse games. I had no idea who to trust and who to believe, right until the final scenes.

The narrative switches seamlessly between Oslo and Stockholm in 1942 and Oslo in 1967 and 2015. Each chapter is clearly marked with the year and location so the multiple timelines were very easy to follow.  The writing is excellent (translated by Don Bartlett) - sparse where it needs to be, to move the story along at a fast pace, but highly descriptive elsewhere, with acute observations that paint a vivid picture of people and places.

So much tension bubbles away under the surface. But this is far more than just a thriller and a murder mystery. It's also a heartbreaking read, as Ester learns more about what happened to her family and her childhood friend. The ending brought tears to my eyes but also a strong sense of resolution.

Highly recommended!

Presumed Guilty by Jane Isaac

I am delighted to be today's stop on the blog tour for Presumed Guilty by Jane Isaac. Read on for my review.

Presumed Guilty
By Jane Isaac
Published in ebook on 10th December 2018

Publisher's' description

Accident or murder? 

The first victim – a prominent local councillor, killed in a hit and run ‒ could be either, but the next bodies leave no doubt. A twisted killer is at large. And he’s not finished yet. 

DC Beth Chamberlain, Family Liaison Officer, has to support the victims’ families, but before she can solve the crimes in the present, Beth needs to uncover the secrets of the past. 

Meanwhile, the killer has her in his sights... 

My verdict
Presumed Guilty is another fabulous book from Jane Isaac, the second in her DC Beth Chamberlain series.

A chilling prologue, followed by a hit and run, leads into a murder investigation. The plot moves at a cracking pace as the body count rises, with plenty of twisty trails for Beth to investigate. Jane Isaac is a great writer and certainly kept me on my toes. I love her evocative descriptions, which set the scenes and bring people and places to life without halting the pace of the action.

Presumed Guilty is a police procedural, but there's so much more involved, including a family torn apart. With a Family Liaison Officer as the protagonist, it's not surprising that this is an emotional read. Beth gets right into the heart of the families involved, making the case feel very personal - to her and to me. Yet this character-led book also manages to be gritty and dark, with a serial killer on the loose.

You could probably read Presumed Guilty as a standalone, but I would suggest reading After He's Gone first, to get to know Beth and understand her background.

I can't wait for the next book in this series.

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