The Woman On The Bridge by Holly Seddon Blog Tour

The Woman on the Bridge by Holly Seddon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 320

Publisher - Orion

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

A stranger in need - would you invite them into your home? The electrifying new thriller from Holly Seddon.

On the worst night of her life, in the middle of nowhere, lonely Charlotte Wilderwood saves a runaway bride from falling to her death.

Soon Maggie is staying in Charlotte's home, safely hidden from the man that she was so desperate to escape. The immediate bond between the two women eclipses anything they've ever known and before long they will go to extreme lengths to protect each other.

But is Maggie the best friend Charlotte has always dreamed about, or the nightmare she never saw coming...


My Review

Charlotte is heading home FURIOUS after an encounter with her friend and co worker when she clocks a woman in her wedding dress close to her own demise. When Charlotte talks her down and takes her home they strike up a friendship that will have consequences neither could have forsaw.

My reading mojo has been out the window, grieving, stress, loss and just a whole heap of emotive heartache has really mucked up my reading mojo. Concentration is out the window and something we all love reading for is we can escape our own lives/trauma to jump into someone elses. Seddon has weaved a world of chaos and drama that helped me escape my own and start sparking back the missing mojo!

A fast finding friendship, each woman lonely and needing what the other has to offer, an ear, a solution, friendship and trust. Sure don't they say the road to evil is paved with good intentions? Well with the ladies helping each other what could go wrong, the answer, just about everything. We follow Charlotte and Maggie (the damsel in distress) from one chaos to another, even hearing what brings them to their current predicaments, particularly Maggie, I gasped! Talk about bad luck and evil men, ooft. Then you think ok so all this has happened what can possibly happen next? The book gives and gives and I think the reader would be hard pushed to guess ahead the path any of the story line is taking. Well that was the case for me, I didn't know where we were headed next but for the first time in ages didn't want to put the book down and see what these two were about to get into next!

Some utterly shocking characters, skulduggery, shameful, shady, bad, I would even go as far as to say evil or certainly rotten (to their core) in some cases. A page turner that will keep you guessing to what is coming next, hoping this is my mojo back or at least going in the right direction. 4.5/5 for me this time, I have at least one more of Seddon on my tbrm I need to bump up and will see what I am missing from the back catalogue!

View all my reviews

The Lost by Simon Beckett blog tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for "The Lost" by Simon Beckett. For my stop I have my review, enjoy.

Buy link for the book, available from AMAZON UK, available for PRE ORDER HERE, Out on 25th of November.

The Lost by Simon Beckett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 368

Publisher - Orion Books

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

A MISSING CHILD

Ten years ago, the disappearance of firearms police officer Jonah Colley's young son almost destroyed him.

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY

A plea for help from an old friend leads Jonah to Slaughter Quay, and the discovery of four bodies. Brutally attacked and left for dead, he is the only survivor.

A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Under suspicion himself, he uncovers a network of secrets and lies about the people he thought he knew - forcing him to question what really happened all those years ago...



My Review

Jonah Colley gets a call from his old friend (they haven't spoken in a long long time) asking him to meet him, he is the only one he can trust. Jonah is a cop, his pal is a cop and one thing he has never heard in his voice, fear. Jonah goes off to Slaughter Quay and finds a horrific sight before being attacked. What follows is Jonah getting suspicion from his fellow officers, he needs answers to what happened and his past comes back with a vengeance, a past he thought had been grieved over, a link to his missing child.

The book is pretty fast paced and Jonah has to be one of the most unlucky people/police officers ever. We learn about his past, what happened to his marriage and with the brutal murders he has been linked to he NEEDS answers. Add to all that he is banged up pretty badly it isn't an easy task. The past and present gets interlinked and we flip back a few times to Jonah's past all the while questioning why the crackpot went to an abandoned place to meet his auld pal he hasn't spoken to in so long.

Colley is a flawed character, he makes mistakes, he seems weak at times then surprises you with gumption and strength. The story is a bit like an onion, lots and lots of layers, a fair few characters but written well enough to not distract or take away from the plot. There was one character I would have liked a bit more scenes and information from, I think, for the smart parts they appeared they were a great addition to the story. I hope this is the first in a new series and we hear more from some of the characters, 4/5 for me this time.

View all my reviews

Below The Big Blue Sky by Anna McPartlin Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for "Below the Big Blue Sky" by author Anna McPartlin, for my stop I have my review.





Below the Big Blue Sky by Anna McPartlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages -

Publisher - Zaffre

Source - Review Copy

Blurb from Goodreads


When forty-year-old Rabbit Hayes dies, she leaves behind a family broken by grief. Her mother Molly is distraught and in danger of losing her faith. Her father Jack spends hour upon hour in the family attic, poring over his old diaries, losing himself in the past.

Rabbit's brother Davey finds himself suddenly guardian to her twelve-year-old daughter Juliet. Juliet might be able to fill a hole in Davey's heart - but how can he help Juliet through her grief when he can barely cope with his own?

Meanwhile, Rabbit's sister Grace is struggling with the knowledge that she carries the same gene that made her sister ill, and Rabbit's best friend Marjorie is lost, struggling to remain a part of a family she has always wished was her own now that her link to them is gone.

But even though the Hayes family are all fighting their own battles, they are drawn together by their love for Rabbit, and their love for each other. In the years that follow her death they find new ways to celebrate and remember her, to find humour and hope in the face of tragedy, and to live life to its fullest, as Rabbit would have wanted.

Below a Big Blue Sky will make you laugh, cry and shout with joy for the colourful, unruly Hayes family as they battle with the loss of their beloved Rabbit, the daughter, mother, sister and friend, who in her own crazy way taught each of them how to live, and goes on showing them how to love from beyond the grave.



My Review

If you haven't read "The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes" stop, don't read this, go and read that THEN come back for this one. We pick up from where book one ended, Rabbit has passed on and her family are trying to pick up the pieces of the heartache and emptiness that Rabbit's death has left. Her mum and dad, her best pal, her brother, her sister, her wee girl Bunny and everyone who Rabbit's life touched. Davey (her brother) agreed to be Guardian to Bunny but Davey is a bit of a big wean himself, musician, travels and based far from Ireland - how can the family cope losing Rabbit and Bunny as Davey goes back to his own life.

Set in Ireland (mostly) the book deals with death, grief, loss and the families attempt to go through the stages of grief whilst attempting to go about their lives. Sadness, a touch of humour dottered throughout as with book one, a look at how each character is touched and tries to cope with life after death of a loved one.

I like McPartlin's books "The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes" was my first and blew me away, whilst I do enjoy her writing there is something about the Hayes family I just love. They are all characters, you feel like you have slipped into the family yourself, it's people you "know" and came to care for from book one. I don't know where she would go from here but I would LOVE a book three, I cannot get enough of this family, they are like your own. 4.5/5 for me - laughter, sadness, grief, hilarity McPartlin has created a world you just don't want to leave.

View all my reviews

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the blog tour for The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham, all stops on the tour are different so please check out the others.








The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 304

Publisher - Trapeze

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

A policeman on his first murder case
A tattoo artist with a deadly secret
And a twisted serial killer sharpening his blades to kill again...

When Brighton tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, newly-promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help. There's a serial killer at large, slicing tattoos from his victims' bodies while they're still alive. Marni knows the tattooing world like the back of her hand, but has her own reasons to distrust the police. So when she identifies the killer's next target, will she tell Sullivan or go after the Tattoo Thief alone?


My Review

A serial killer with a difference, the killer literally takes the skin from the victims, more precisely the tattoo'd area, no mean feat in itself. Marni Mullins is a tattoo artist, separated from her husband and a great distrust of the police. Marni finds herself dragged into the investigation, shoulder to shoulder with the very professionals she distrusts trying to find the how and why to the killer. Can they work together before the killer strikes again and kills another?

The book opens with the killer and a bit of a horrible scene, we are left in no doubt what his intentions are and the horror to follow. The chapters then flip between the characters, Marnie, the main police officers Rory and Francis and intermittently from the killer (always written in italics).

Some of the scenes are brutal and graphic in nature, it is a bit of a fresh take on a killer and the reasoning for the killings. The personal aspect with Marnie and her ex, the police dynamics especially Francis trying to establish his place in the team lead on their big case. It is a very mixed bag, lots to keep you turning page after page. Another thing of note, I learned a few things about tattoos along the way which was a wee added bonus and found myself googling a couple of things. This is Belsham's first crime novel and I hope it won't be the last. I would like to see where the characters go next, what is in store and the author taking her writing to the next level. 3.5/5 for me this time, I look forward to seeing what she offers next, certainly a fresh injection on the crime scene.

View all my reviews

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

The Craftsman by Sharon J. Bolton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken to Read - 1 day

Pages - 352

Publisher - Trapeze

Source - TBConFB

Blurb from Goodreads

August, 1999
On the hottest day of the year, Assistant Commissioner Florence Lovelady attends the funeral of Larry Glassbrook, the convicted murderer she arrested thirty years earlier. A master carpenter and funeral director, Larry imprisoned his victims, alive, in the caskets he made himself. Clay effigies found entombed with their bodies suggested a motive beyond the worst human depravity.
June, 1969
13-year- old Patsy Wood has been missing for two days, the third teenager to disappear in as many months. New to the Lancashire police force and struggling to fit in, WPC Lovelady is sent to investigate an unlikely report from school children claiming to have heard a voice calling for help. A voice from deep within a recent grave.
August, 1999
As she tries to lay her ghosts to rest, Florence is drawn back to the Glassbrooks' old house, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, where she once lodged with the family. She is chilled by the discovery of another effigy - one bearing a remarkable resemblance to herself. Is the killer still at large? Is Florence once again in terrible danger? Or, this time, could the fate in store be worse than even her darkest imaginings?

My Review

Florence Lovelady is a police officer, we open with her at a funeral, the funeral of a killer, 1999. We head back to 1969 when Florence was new to the area and just a WPC, not only having the difficulty of working a case with missing kids but trying to carve her place in the team, being a woman! As another child goes missing, this one closer to home, more pressure mounts on the team and Florence is more and more a likely target for the fall guy. All eyes are on Florence, the cops, the townsfolk and even the killer!

There is a lot going on in this book, child murder, kidnap, small town, sexism, inequality, bitchiness, police investigation, relationships, due timeline and witchcraft! I would have LOVED to have seen a lot more dedicated to the craft, in the throwback time period we do have some. When we flip to the present again we have some but for me, for one character there is a huge chunk missing from A to B. I know that is a bit vague but I don’t do spoilers, I just felt there was a fantastic opportunity to give us more on the how people came to get into the craft. I did love the history parts and they say an author is doing their job when they leave you wanting more. I do find witchcraft and anything of that ilk, when done right, can make a great thread in a story, what I did get here I thought was great.

There are atmospheric scenes, the killer buries them alive - can you think of anything worse! Bolton does fantastic scenes with realism to have the reader holding their breath, heart pausing and the hairs on the back of your neck standing!

Emotions were high, the treatment of the young Florence at the hands of the other officers, sexism, bullying, complete disregard for valid points purely because she was a woman. The level of hatred and nastiness really ripped my knittin. I suppose for the time period it would probably be commonplace but I was absolutely infuriated.

The book has a good pace, grabs you pretty much from the beginning. The timelines are easy enough to follow as it starts in the 90s, heads back to the 60s and highlights when you are back to the 90s. Whilst we know early on who the bad guy is there is plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep you going with sidelines supplying surprises as you get into it. Sure I have read Bolton before, I know I have some of hers on my shelves, I will need to dig them out for sure, ⅘ for me this time.

View all my reviews

Someone To Look Up To by Jean Gill

Someone to Look Up To by Jean Gill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 204

Publisher - The 13th Sign

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

By IPPY and Global Ebook Award Winner Jean Gill A dog's life in the south of France. From puppyhood, Sirius the Pyrenean Mountain Dog has been trying to understand his humans and train them with kindness.

How this led to their divorce he has no idea. More misunderstandings take Sirius to Death Row in an animal shelter, as a so-called dangerous dog learning survival tricks from the other inmates. During the twilight barking, he is shocked to hear his brother's voice but the bitter-sweet reunion is short-lived. Doggedly, Sirius keeps the faith.

One day, his human will come.


My Review

These books have popped up a fair bit over the past few years, who doesn't love animals so the market is absolutely there for it. I have bought many of them but to be honest this is the first I have read where the story is told from the animal point of view in first person narration. Meet Sirius, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, pedigree no less and his siblings as they are prepared to go out in the world to their new owners. We see the world through his eyes, thoughts, feelings and observations with his human, fellow pups and then out with his new owners and growing up.

When I read the first chapter I wasn't sure if I was going to get on with this, told from the puppy point of view and interactions with his sibling(s) I just wasn't sure. However, we get a beautiful insight into the surroundings and the first chapter is literally the first look at what was relevant to Sirius at that time in his new wee life. The chapters are relatively short, which I do love as it aids dipping in and out frequently if having a busy day, I quickly found myself not wanting to put it down.

We get a unique insight, I felt, from a dogs point of view. From how we treat them, our expectations and orders/rules as humans, teachings and of course the old actions and consequences. There are parts of this book that, as an animal lover, will take you on an emotional roller coaster, there is humour as well but just a warning for your furry loving hearts. I wanted to head to my local shelter and give all the animals a big hug and help out, I will certainly be looking at animal charities and local animals in need after this. The loyalty of a dog is second to none and reading about Sirius and the other animals in this tale, ooft I think you need a swinging brick to not to be swept along on an emotional train. It also makes you look at how you interact with your animals differently, I have a moggy now not a k9 and she rules the roost anyway so no changes required.

It is a book I picked up not expecting too much if I am honest yet it en captures the readers heart and attention very quickly. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to know what was in store for Sirius, it is his story and he hints at was is to come, telling it in his own time. A lovely book with some dark spots and emotional sparks throughout, 4/5 for me. This is my first time reading this author, I will have a wee look and see what other offerings she has.

View all my reviews

Blog tour - The Good Samaritan by John Marrs

Today is my turn on the blog tour for John Marrs new book, The Good Samaritan, you can read my review HERE. Also featuring today on the tour is the lovely Emma R from Screen Wipe, TV, MOVIE and BOOK review blog, stop by for a visit here! You can see the rest of the blog tour below, be sure to have a nosey as everyone will be sharing different content/reviews/features.





John very kindly took time out of his vacation to answer some questions for us, much appreciated and I hope the rest of the holiday was fabulous.

Wow, the character Laura, just wow. How hard or easy did you find writing her?

She was so complex, one minute I hated her and the next I felt sympathetic towards her. I loved writing her bitchy comments and having listened to the audiobook recently and seeing how well they worked, I wish I’d made her a little funnier. But her dark side gave me sleepless nights. And making her an unreliable narrator enabled me to wrong foot the reader more than once. She is the most complex character I’ve written since Simon in When You Disappeared.


The book is very dark, for many reasons, did you find this more difficult than your previous books?

Yes. It took it out for me for a few reasons. It was the first book I wrote under contract and to a deadline, and writing in first person is always tougher than third person. I felt there was a lot of pressure on me but most of that came from myself. Then there’s the subject matter. Getting into the head of someone so alien to me, like Laura, was hard. And then trying to imagine how I’d feel if I lost a loved one to suicide was difficult. But I wanted both perspectives - to understand what drives people to do it and how those who are left behind try and deal with the aftermath. It is awful for all concerned and my heart goes out to anyone in that situation.


How much research did you have to undertake for the book? Did you enjoy it?

I interviewed my friend’s partner quite extensively about his volunteer work for a helpline charity and the dos and donts when speaking to someone. I also researched depression and having had friends that have suffered badly from it, they gave me an insight into their thinking. I also looked at websites dedicated to informing people how to end their lives. I found that the most shocking, it had never dawned on me that such places existed. So no, I didn’t enjoy the research process.


Now the book is complete, does any of it or the characters stay with you?

No, once I’m done with a book, it’s over for me. I tend to start thinking about the next one. I have to be careful not to take any character’s characteristics over to my next story though. I don’t want to keep repeating myself in each book.


I found the book kept me on my toes with so much unexpected turns, how hard is it to keep a story fresh and surprising?

It just happens when I’m writing. I’ll have a basic plot and storyline in mind but once I get started it can veer all over the place. When I read a book, I want to be kept on my toes. And I like to try and do that with the books I write. It’s a fine line though between keeping things a surprise and not making them sound unbelievable.


Some authors say they start with an ending and work from there, some know the whole story, how do you write?

I generally go in all directions with a story. I never write methodically. I do chapters here, there and everywhere, back to front and front to back. Then I’ll tie it all together. The thought of writing 110,000 words in order horrifies me.


For anyone who doesn’t know who she is lol, tell us about the woman behind your character “the masculine looking” Tracy Fenton

Ha! Tracy is a well-known reviewer and founder of THE book club on Facebook which has more than 7000 avid reader members. She messaged me on Goodreads after my first book came out and was key in introducing me to a whole new audience. Since then, we have become friends and she has popped up in my books as a lawyer and a talent show host. She’s like Where’s Wally? in my books now.


Do you think there will be another book revisiting any of the characters from this book?

I don’t have any plans to write a sequel. There are characters from all of my books that can dip in and out of future stories as guest appearances. But I’ve put so much effort into a book that once the last draft is over, that is generally it for me.


What are you working on now?

I am working on a story about two British detective is on the hunt for a killer in London. While it is not necessarily crime procedural, there are prime procedural elements to it. It’s the first time I’ve attempted a story like this. It won’t be out until next autumn.


11. Where do you prefer chatting with your fans?

Facebook johnmarrs.author
Twitter @johnmarrs1
Instagram @johnmarrsauthor
Website John Marrs author.com

Book Club meet up TBConFB

So Saturday saw the first meeting up our way for the book club TBConFB (THE Book Club on Facebook). The lovely Sharon, TBConFB admin, took on the arduous task of sorting it all out. I think there was about 30 of us in total, authors, reviewers and fabulous book lovers, I am only just getting my wee post on now because, well it is me you know what I am like, procrastinator! I did get most of the photos up on the club already so it isn't all bad/late!



This is one of the print outs holding our booked tables so I of course needed to capture a shot of it, you know me and my love for a billion photos.



A wee Blue Wkd was had, as well as being my favourite tipple, the author of Blue Wkd (read my review here) was coming so we needed the prop for the book :D



We had a hilarious and fabulous reading of The Gruffalo , Glasweigan style. Considering neither Alan Jones nor Owen Mullen had practiced or met each other before hand it was flawless, see my Instagram for a wee look at the video.



A captivated audience, I am sure someone from the club has the whole thing on video.

Sadly I didn't get to speak to everyone as I had triple booked the evening and had to leave early however it was lovely to put faces to the names you chat with online and speak to people in person! Not only did some of these authors give up time from their busy schedules, they brought signed books for raffle, personalised items (some of which I won by the lovely Fiona Wilson).


I love this and I am taking the wee chip to Las Vegas with me, hoping it will be a good luck charm.

And if all that wasn't enough, we also got a wee free pen, who doesn't love stationary! A great day with some beautiful people.

Shtum by Jem Lester

Shtum by Jem Lester
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 368

Publisher - Orion

Blurb from Goodreads

Powerful, darkly funny and heart-breaking, Shtum is a story about fathers and sons, autism, and dysfunctional relationships.

Ben Jewell has hit breaking point. His ten-year-old son Jonah has severe autism and Ben and his wife, Emma, are struggling to cope.

When Ben and Emma fake a separation - a strategic decision to further Jonah's case in an upcoming tribunal - Ben and Jonah move in with Georg, Ben's elderly father. In a small house in North London, three generations of men - one who can't talk; two who won't - are thrown together.


My Review

Ben and Emma are at their wits end, their ten year old son Jonah has a severe form of autism and they are being penalized for being a united strong couple. So they fake a separation to help their quest to get Jonah into the school and care they desperately need for him. Ben reluctantly moves in with his father, Georg, in a small house with Jonah and try to cope with the complications of father son relationship.

This book isn't out until tomorrow however it is already receiving rave reviews and praise. Ben is not a likeable character, in fact I would have liked to have slapped him if truth be told. There is no doubt his daily struggles are many and the book opens your eyes to just how much a family goes through with a child with severe autism. However, Ben is so full of self pity and destructive behaviour it is irritating and you really feel for Jonah and those around them.

It took me over 200 pages to really get into the story and we get to see Ben go on a journey of self discovery and growth. I was not a huge fan of Emma either to be honest and struggled to understand her behaviour. However, the relationship with Jonah and his grandfather was the saving grace and really very touching. Georg is not the main character but he really does steal the story, well he did for me. Reading about his past and his stories to Jonah really pulled me in and left me wanting more, he is a grumpy old man you can't help but love and he is so tender with Jonah.

The is a very hard hitting story, Ben is very honest in some of his thoughts towards his son and some of that was hard to read. There is a lot of swearing, a little humour littered throughout the story and huge focus on relationships and family dynamics. I would certainly recommend this book but I do not think it is for everyone, I found some of it hard going. I would have gave it 3.5 but the ratings are full not half and for me it isn't 4 stars, so 3/5 for me. I think there is a lot that can be taken from this book and I think Lester has done very well with a hard subject. I think Ben's honesty will be loved by some readers and hated by others. Possibly another marmite book, I didn't love it but I did like it and would have loved to have read more on Georg and the background on Ben and Emma. My thanks to Tracy F and TBConFB for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Welcome To Wherever You Are by John Marrs

Welcome To Wherever You Are by John Marrs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 401

Publisher - Self published

Blurb from Goodreads

How far would you run to escape your past?

For eight strangers in a Los Angeles backpacking hostel, even the other side of the world isn’t far enough.

The craving for a new identity and the chance to start again is something they have in common. But the search for a fresh start isn't as easy as they'd imagined.

And they soon discover that it doesn't matter where you are or who you are - if you can't lay the past to rest, coincidence, fate and deception have a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.



My Review

Eight people, all running from something in their past end up in a backpacking hostel in Los Angeles. Coming from different backgrounds, trying to find or lose something and get to grips with who they are or where they are going in life. However, you can never truly outrun your past and as these guys find out, you need to deal with your demons before you can look to your future.

The story opens with men trying to capture a young woman and take her into a van, she is more than able for them and then the story begins. We are introduced to quite a few characters, Tommy, Nicole, Eric, Peyk, Ron and Savannah to name some in our tale. All big personalities and offering something different to the story, whilst they all seem unconnected, friendships will form, secrets and lies cannot always be hidden or kept and sometimes some liaisons can be dangerous.

This is my first time reading this author although it is his second novel. I thought the tale was really well done, with so many characters and merging time lines from their past to the present isn't an easy feat but Marrs managed it very well. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes crime, thrillers, secrets, travel and just an adventure to be honest. Really good and engaging book, 4/5 for me and I would read this author again.

View all my reviews

Torn Apart by M A Comley

Torn Apart by M.A. Comley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 198

Blurb from Goodreads

Everyone understands about the no-go districts--areas of the city so overrun with gang violence even the police stay away. In this book, the first in a new series, DI Hero Nelson sets out to combat the issue. When Saskia Hartley and her nine-year-old son are run down outside a restaurant, DI Nelson knows it is no ordinary hit-and-run incident. He's looking at a homicide case... and the evidence points to the brutal Krull Gang. When two prostitutes are murdered, but little interest is given to the women on the Krull's payroll, Nelson connects the dots. DI Nelson has to decide whether he's dealing with a turf war or something far more sinister.

My Review

This is my first dance with this author. The opening scene is pretty traumatic, there is a gang running wild in Manchester and the opening scene shows just how tight their grasp is. They commit a horrific crime, rape and murder and are without fear of punishment or capture. As the tale develops we are given a glimpse into why they have this no fear attitude. DI Hero is our main character with his sidekick Julie, they investigate the crime and murders that follow. After a woman and her child are brutally murdered it seems we have a vigilante on the scene and the police need to clue up to catch them.

This book has a strong, yet uncomfortable and brutal start, you are drawn into a dark culture that the DI is trying to break through despite meeting opposition. However, as the book progresses and we are exposed to the main characters the plot weakens, I knew really quickly who the killer was and mostly the why. The detective isn't a particularly likable character although as the story develops he does get better, well his attitude to his family. His investigative techniques reminded me of a mix between Inspector Clouseau of the pink panther and Columbo without the wit.

Despite the negatives, the story itself was engaging, dark, horrific and if the dialog between the detective had ran more smoothly with a bit more input about why the higher up authorities were loathe to go into the estate, I would have ranked this book higher. I like to have my I's dotted and my T's crossed and for a good pat of this book I was left questioning behaviors, attitudes, discussions and actions on a few of the characters however the theme of the story was good and from reading other reviews, I should head back and read the other series by this author. I plan to do this and see how I get on from there, a fair 3/5 for me this time. If you have read this author I would love to hear your thoughts on this one and your recommendations on where to start next. Thanks to #TBConFB for introducing me to a new author and giving me this book to review in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews