Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5*
Not really my cup o t'

Well written and interesting in parts, but the story just didn't get me at all.

View all my reviews

Review: Dark House: An absolutely gripping serial killer thriller (Detective Lucy Harwin)

Dark House: An absolutely gripping serial killer thriller (Detective Lucy Harwin) by Helen Phifer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book i've read by Helen Phifer. The Dark House was previously The Lost Children, I think both names are perfect for the story. Dark House is book 1 of the Detective Lucy Harwin series.
I received an ARC of book 2 but before I started it, I purchased book 1 so that I could read the books in order. (i'm odd like that)

This was a real interesting read and in parts brutally gruesome, it was also very difficult to put down.
The Moore Asylum was closed down back in the 1970's. It seems now some of the secrets that were kept behind the doors of Ward 13 at the asylum are about to be revealed.
The old asylum has been empty for many years, and has now gone up for sale. When the estate agent goes to show a potential buyer around they make a pretty grim discovery.

It's Detective Lucy Harwins first day back at work after an absence. Thrown right back into the thick of things. Lucy wouldn't have it any other way.
With a body found it's right back to business for Lucy.

Lucy and partener Mattie have their work cut out investigating this one.

This is a great start to a series, this book has been put together brilliantly. It's a story you want and need to keep reading right up to the very end.
I really liked the main characters Lucy and Mattie and getting to them has been great. I like the banter between them both. I can see this being a really sought after series of books. Now for me it's book 2, at least I don't have to wait to read it. It's sat on my kindle waiting for me.

View all my reviews

Review: The Lost Children

The Lost Children by Helen Phifer
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

This is the first book i've read by Helen Phifer. The Dark House was previously The Lost Children, I think both names are perfect for the story. Dark House is book 1 of the Detective Lucy Harwin series.
I received an ARC of book 2 but before I started it, I purchased book 1 so that I could read the books in order. (i'm odd like that)

This was a real interesting read and in parts brutally gruesome, it was also very difficult to put down.
The Moore Asylum was closed down back in the 1970's. It seems now some of the secrets that were kept behind the doors of Ward 13 at the asylum are about to be revealed.
The old asylum has been empty for many years, and has now gone up for sale. When the estate agent goes to show a potential buyer around they make a pretty grim discovery.

It's Detective Lucy Harwins first day back at work after an absence. Thrown right back into the thick of things. Lucy wouldn't have it any other way.
With a body found it's right back to business for Lucy.

Lucy and partener Mattie have their work cut out investigating this one.

This is a great start to a series, this book has been put together brilliantly. It's a story you want and need to keep reading right up to the very end.
I really liked the main characters Lucy and Mattie and getting to them has been great. I like the banter between them both. I can see this being a really sought after series of books. Now for me it's book 2, at least I don't have to wait to read it. It's sat on my kindle waiting for me.

View all my reviews

Review: CRUEL SECRETS

CRUEL SECRETS by Kerry Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to start firstly saying that this book deserves so much more than the 5 stars given. It's easy to say this is one of the best books in this genre that I have read in a long time. This books has so much going on, yet seems so easy to follow. Gripping and unputdownable, don't do it any justice as all.
Wow, wow and wow again. I'm actually speechless, I don't know how I will find the words to do it the justice it so deserves.

So the story, well where do you start. There is so much packed into this book that I could easily waffle on about it forever. However I'm aware I can't be spoiling for others that may have not read the book yet so, what I will say is, Kelly Raven born into a very mixed up family. Brought up by her controlling mother after her criminal father is sent to prison for 12 years. For reasons I won't go into, Kelly at the age of 15 does a runner to London. This is where she meets a guy and ends up living with him and his family.
Only these are not your average family, this family is made up of a drug dealer, a Prostitute and two fraudsters. ok it's 2018 maybe this is your average family. Kelly soon has to learn to grow up.
Kelly also has criminal father who is trying to find her, little does she know that her life is about to change in so many ways.
Kelly is one of the best characters created in a book in a long time, she's one of those characters you follow on a journey and many times I ended up talking to the pages, OMG! NO! WHAT!
She's just a brilliant character, Vulnerable, shy, caring yet Ruthless, confident and hardfaced all at the blink of an eye. To those who hold her close she's an angel, to those who wish her harm, well then trust me, she's no angel.
This book once it's grabbed you will not let you go, trust me.

View all my reviews

Review: Nothing but Trouble

Nothing but Trouble by Kerry Wilkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kerry Wilkinson is going to lose this reader if he keeps ending his books on cliffhangers that wind me up so much. lol.
Love it. Really leaves you wanting more.

4.5/5

Well well, Book 11. And I have read and loved everyone of them. Jessica Daniel has become one of my favourite female fictional detectives.
​You just can't help but enjoy these books. You could probably get away with reading it as a stand alone, but if you are anything like me, then you need to read them right from book 1, it really helps with the background of the characters, and you feel more for them as their life progresses. So if you haven't read any of these books, then may I suggest this is the series you get stuck into this year.
I also love how all Kerry's books are set in and around Manchester. I always enjoy a book when I know some of the places that are mentioned. I feel it adds to the visions I have while reading.

​So Jessica is back, and as usual nothing is ever just simple for her. She is having to deal with a prison van that has been hijacked and the prisoners freed, where are they, who has done it and the big question is why?
​Along with this Jessica learns of a neighbour who has been conned out of some of his saving, and soon finds out that others locally have suffered the same. Another case for Jessica to investigate.

​Jessica really seems to get involved in everything that is thrown her way, she is a brilliant and believable character. I also enjoy the banter as well as the serious side of her and her work colleagues.
I really can't wait for more from this series.
​And I have to say, another book that ends with you wanting the next one NOW.

View all my reviews

Review: The Lost Child

The Lost Child by Patricia Gibney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5/5

​The Lost Child is book 3 in the Lottie Parker series. A series well worth reading. And as I always say the series is better when read in order, but that again is just my opinion.
It's not so long ago I read the first book by this very talented story teller, and here I am reading book 3. It's safe to say, each book get's better and better, as we learn more about the characters it really helps build up the stories.
​I'm loving the character of Lottie Parker. This is one of those stories though that it could be so easy to say to much about the story. I'm worried of giving to much away so will just keep it brief.
When Tessa Ball is found murdered, its down to Detective Lottie Parker and her partner Detective Boyd to investigate. They soon discover that the victim’s daughter is missing as well, they start to fear for the safety of the whole family.
The investigation takes them on huge journey, and it turns up a lot more along the way.
Lottie certainly puts in the work, a mother and a Detective this is one busy woman. How she copes is not ideal and Lottie really does have some serious issues, this I find makes her a much more realistic character.
We also learn a lot more in this book about Lotties mother and father, and the back history of what has happened is thrilling.
This is another great read, and I really do feel that this series of books will become huge, the more we get to know the characters, the more interesting the books seem to be.

View all my reviews

Review: Don't Tell A Soul

Don't Tell A Soul by D.K. Hood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

D.K. Hood another new author to watch out for. I believe this could be the start of what could be a brilliant series.

When you are escaping from a past, need a new start then somewhere out in the sticks seems the perfect place. Detective Jenna Alton Welcomes her new deputy, David Kane, to Black Rock Falls. (is it just me or does just the name of the place sound like trouble?).

This small quiet town is about to change. Alton and Kane are investigating a body found in a barrel at a local dump. When they start to investigate, checking missing persons things start to heat up. What was thought to be a quiet town is now the scene of what appears to be a murder.
Someone in Black Rock falls is not all they seem to be.

Learning little bits at a time about these two characters makes you want to keep going, to find out exactly what has gone on in their pasts. This was an interesting read, and one I really enjoyed getting stuck into. It felt like a very easy read, and easy to follow one, with not to many over complicated characters.
I will certainly watch for more frome this author.

View all my reviews