The Haunting of Rookward House by Darcy Coates

The Haunting of Rookward House by Darcy Coates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 298

Publisher - Poisoned Pen Press

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

She's always watching...
When Guy finds the deeds to a house in his mother’s attic, it seems like an incredible stroke of luck. Sure, the building hasn’t been inhabited in forty years and vines strangle the age-stained walls, but Guy is convinced he can clean it up and sell it. He’d be crazy to turn down free money. Right?

The house is hours from any other habitation, and Guy can't get phone reception in the old building. He decides to camp there while he does repairs. Surely nothing too bad can happen in the space of a week.

But there’s a reason no one lives in Rookward House, and the dilapidated rooms aren’t as empty as they seem…

A deranged woman tormented a family in Rookward forty years before. Now her ghost clings to the building like rot. She’s bitter, obsessive, and jealous… and once Guy has moved into her house, she has no intention of ever letting him leave.


My Review

Ooooh who doesn't love a haunted house and a mad obsessive ghost! So Guy is our main character, he is a bit of a whiney whoa is me type of dude. Whilst sorting stuff at his mums he finds out they have a property that has been abandoned for years, he figures he will go, do the diy it likely needs and then punt it, solving all his money worries and issues. What Guy doesn't know and isn't prepared for is Amy, the ghost that haunts the house, the spirit that did some untold evil and madness, who is obsessive and won't be letting Guy go anywhere.

It really is creepy, things slowly start to get creepy and then pulls you right in as Guy finds out that actually maybe he isn't alone and things are about to get really dodgy and scary, dun dun dun. The book is mostly set in present day with Guy but we did flip back to 1965 and with Thomas, the object of Amy's obsession and who lived in the house, the last people to live in the house before it was left empty for decades til Guy came into it.

I would have loved more of the past and heard about Amy, how the before/obsession really got going (we do get some details of it to be fair) and the aftermath of what happened to Amy. It would be good if the author decided to give them their own story because I reckon it would be popular even though we get the jist of it in this one, I think it has enough weight to carry it's own book, less spirt though cos it would have been when Amy was a human and creepy stalker.

Guy has a lot of issues, not the same level as Amy to be fair but yeah he is carrying a lot around him which makes me wonder if he is more susceptible to the haunting because of that or if Amy would have claimed anyone who lived in Rookward House. Some of the book gave me 1408 vibes (Stephen King book, John Cussack movie) and another couple of movies/books, creepy house, scary ghost well actually maybe she is a poltergeist. Creepy, scary, building up tension, perfect for an October spooky themed read, I think this was my first time reading this author, it won't be my last, 4/5.

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Burnt Cove by G Wayne Miller

Burnt Cove by G. Wayne Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 211

Publisher - Austin Macauley

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

When Rose O’Reilly White, a respected member of the small-town Deer Isle, Maine, community, died at age 97, she left many secrets, some monstrous and others magical, including her first love, a young woman who died in a tragic fire in 1942. This woman was her teacher; Rose was a teenager. Another secret was her later long involvement with an African-American woman. A third was her poisoning and killing a Catholic priest of many years ago after Rose learned he was a serial pedophile and wanted to prevent him from abusing other victims.

Rose’s husband, Bill, another respected member of the Deer Isle community, knew and accepted all this. But unlike others who die leaving secrets, Rose left a key to open them, and her filmmaker son Jack brings them to light as he sets out to produce a documentary of her life—an endeavor that reunites him with his first love, with whom he had a daughter unbeknownst to him until they are together again.

A novel unlike any other, Burnt Cove artfully blends horror, supernatural, dark fantasy, time travel, love, death, and mystical resurrection.



My Review

So for a thin book this one really packs a whole load of stuff, Rose O'Reilly White has died, she was close to 100 years old and a huge part of her community. The book is really Jack (Rose's son) writing about their family history and Rose of course is/was a huge part of that. Rose's stories (the book jumps about a bit) were tapes when she was alive and Jack has been working on the project of their life stories. Rose is a character and had many secrets. Jack is basically our main character and putting together the story so we are hearing things that Rose recorded/lived but also following Jack from finding out his mother died, going to the funeral and speaking to the people who knew her and going from there.

Like we start in June 2023 and end up March 2026 so there is a fair bit of jumping and considering it is only just over 200 odd pages we delve into a lot. Jack is a film producer, he is delving into his mum/family life as a project and as with many of us find out things about our family that leaves your jaw dropped.

I really liked the focus on his mums life and the secrets and things she did and why she did them but I feel it was cut a bit short. Like for me it was two splits, one being his mums life and the whole telling the story of the family/her and then after the funeral he finds something out about his own life which then takes us down a spiritual road. I do enjoy spiritual takes/ghosts but I felt the two read as really different stories and may have worked better as two different books. Like give Rose a whole book for herself, either following her life story from beginning to end and then give Jack his own story too with all the surprises and spiritualness that came about. Like, I liked it but I was just distracted and felt both stories could have had more time and pages because they are both good/interesting. I felt like we were just getting into it when Rose's story was left behind and we focused more on Jack. Overall 3.5/5 for me, this was my first time reading this author, I would read them again.

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Evil Under The Sun by Agatha Christie

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Pages - 220

Publisher - Harper

Source - 2nd hand

Blurb from Goodreads

The beautiful bronzed body of Arlena Stuart lay facedown on the beach. But strangely, there was no sun and she was not sunbathing... she had been strangled.

Ever since Arlena's arrival the air had been thick with sexual tension. Each of the guests had a motive to kill her. But Hercule Poirot suspects that this apparent 'crime of passion' conceals something much more evil.


My Review

This is only my 2nd book by Agatha Christie I absolutely need to bump more up my tbrm AND did you know this is actually a movie too? Martin (from work) told me so I absolutely need to check it out!

Poor Poirot, all he does is solves murders and when the guy goes on a wee break someone dies, murdered and there are a lot of suspects. Arlena is a women who outshines most others in any room, men are drawn to her like moths to a flame so when she is found strangled there is many a suspect.

Poirot does what he does best, investigates, clocks everything and takes us along with him. The thing I really liked about this was it absolutely gives me Murder She Wrote vibes but with Poirot instead of Jessica Fletcher.

We examine the relationships between the holiday goers, dynamics, the many women who hate or strongly disliked Arlena, the men involved with her and who had opportunity.

I rarely pick up on clues so listening to Poirot putting things together to get to his who done it, I LOVE that! This is quite far down the series so I really do need to go get the others, 4/5.

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Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 355

Publisher -

Source - Wishlist rak

Blurb from Goodreads

Every serial killer needs a friend.
Every game must have a winner.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

Butcher & Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love Dark Romance trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on a HEA.


My Review

Ha absolutely NOT for the faint hearted guys, duo viewpoint, his (Butcher) and hers (Blackbird), serial killers who come upon each other, they hunt other serials, and make a competitive game. As they hunt together and get to know each other they are drawn to each other, between karma, retribution there is spice, romance and murder galore!

So the idea of killers going after killers isn't new but this is a different spin, two deadly killers who go after others and then come upon each other and have a spark takes us on a different path. If you struggle with gore, body fluids, adult spice scenes you will struggle with this one. There are some very questionable scenes/circumstances and for me, I will struggle to look at ice cream in the same way again LMAO.

For me the book kind of fell into two main things, the whole serial killing/hunting/competition between the two and then their feelings for each other but approaching with caution cos obvs they are who they are. The other different thing is they have someone in their lives who actually know, love and accept who they are and what they do. I would have liked more exploration into that. There was a fair amount of their relationship, budding and then established, enter the body fluids and messy (and for me cringe) scenes but I know some folk loved it. I would have preferred more of how they found/tracked their targets or when they got their hands on them. We did get one episode that we spent a bit more time with them, that is the night of ice cream gate, BOAK.

I am sure this is a series and everybody seems to love it, a decent start for me so 3/5 for me for this one.

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The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager

The Sea Hides its Dead: The claustrophobic deep-sea horror full of dark secrets and dangerous truths by Megan Bontrager
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 340

Publisher - Run For It

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

The Sea Hides its Dead is a cult aquatic horror about a group of academics trapped in a sea cave who must reckon with unknowable horrors as they are forced to atone for their greatest sins.

Grad student Caro has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but when an opportunity arises to act as a research assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she doesn't hesitate.

Beck assembles a team of academics and professionals to study the ancient sea-based Cult of the Leviathan, and the expedition descends into the sea caves where the cult are said to have dwelt.

But when the cave entrance collapses, trapping them inside, the expedition will find they are not alone in the darkness. Surrounded by strange artefacts and scattered bones, an ancient trial has been set in motion. One by one, the members of the expedition will be tested and forced to atone for their greatest sin. . . or die.

Praise for The Sea Hides its Dead:


My Review

Caro is a teaching assistant underneath Professor Beck, studying the Leviathan Cult oh and Caro is also his secret lover because of course he is an older married guy. Now they with a team head to Seal Harbour to finally test everything the Professor has felt/read/known about the Leviathan Cult and of course it is in a cave where things get dangerous, crazy and supernatural because of course it does!

So I didn't really get the Navy involvement at the start nor the rationale for their reaction to the stones/cave. Even after the I finished the book I still had a question or two and they really aren't anything to the plot but maybe I missed something, I did start it quite late into the night.

So Caro ripped my knitting for a good part of the start of the book and I don't know if that was intentional/genius on the authors part. As the book went on and we had character development, threat and danger I did actually come round to Caro and was rooting for her. I love a loyal person so that may have been why I was a bit ragey at her at the start and cliché of younger female under the spell of the older professor who was married and also a bit of a banger!

Once we got into the depths of the cave, things kicked off quickly, danger looming, creepy supernatural, absolutely yes! I would LOVE to see this as a movie, it was giving the descent vibes with a couple of other horror movies. An ancient cult, who doesn't want to read more on that plus anything Leviathan is ALWAYS going to be creepy and the movies I have seen has been of the monster creature feature variety so this was a different/interesting spin to that.

The action kicks off quickly, second guessing what is coming, you always get people's character/morals challenged/pushed in these types of stories, I really like that and it was good to read of a new scary threat. I couldn't guess where the book was going or what was coming, I did get freaked out which you always want in a book. A solid 3.5/5 for me this time, I haven't read this author before and I would absolutely check her out again!

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Buried by Graham Masterton

Buried by Graham Masterton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Pages - 431

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Beside the old woollen mill in Blarney, Cork, a worker's cottage guards its secrets. In 1921, a mother, father and their two young children disappeared from this house. And now, ninety years later, their mummified bodies have been discovered under the floorboards.

The gunshot wounds in each skull look like the mark of the IRA. But as Katie Maguire investigates, the flames of old rivalries flare up once more - putting yet more families in danger. Because in this part of Ireland, where people neither forget nor forgive, the past won't stay buried…


My Review

An old cottage is being renovated when they find the bodies of a family, mum, dad, 2 kids and even the family pets, executed. The bodies are mummified and this didn't just happen (approx 90 years ago) but murder is murder and Katie Maguire is investigating. It is Ireland, times are dangerous, rivalries and revenge run deep and slights must be addressed.

We have bad guy Bobbie Quilty who is head of all things local, bad and dasterdly. They care not a jot for police and it is a time when racism, sectarianism, misogynism is an all time high so it makes for some harrowing and uncomfortable reading. Corruption runs deep, Katie is up against it all trying to stay professional but when people you care about is threatened and in jeopardy sometimes you do what you need to do.

There is a lot of hard hitting graphic scenes, sa, dv, sv, murder, child death, execution, horrific lack of respect for humanity. All that whilst trying to solve a decades old case, catch current day bad guys who are slippery than a bag of snakes and sometime, just sometimes you need to get down amongst the bad guys to catch them at their own game. 3/5 for me this time, this is book 6, normally I would go back and read them all, I felt so uncomfortable by a lot of it and whilst some books do indeed make you feel like that when there are such horrible people, there wasn't enough I liked or felt compelled to read more of it.

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Inside Job: The Life of a Prison Psychologist by Dr Rebecca Myers

Inside Job: Treating Murderers and Sex Offenders. The Life of a Prison Psychologist. by Dr Rebecca Myers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages -

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

And here I am. Totally alone in a cell with a convicted sex offender who is free to do what he wants. There is no officer. No handcuffs. No radio. Only the man across the desk and me. He looks more petrified than I do.

HMP Graymoor. One of the UK’s most notorious prisons. Home to nearly 800 murderers, rapists and child molesters.

Reporting for her first shift inside is Rebecca: twenty-two, newly graduated – and about to sit down with some of the country’s most dangerous criminals.

In this gripping, hard-hitting memoir, forensic psychologist Dr Rebecca Myers revisits her time in the ‘Hot Seat’ with Graymoor’s infamous inmates – who might not be as different to us as we think.

This is as close as we can get to knowing what really goes on inside the damaged minds behinds bars.


My Review

Guys this is absolutely not for those who struggle with triggers and the author is documenting her life experiences working within one of the most infamous prisons. Inmates are chosen to partake in a program to treat, face and the goal is helping them to not reoffend. They have committed horrendous crimes, SA, SV and murder, the treatment program is very graphic and leads them through exactly what they did to their victims. Facing their crimes, going through it from the victims point of view. I have never read anything like that before and you are hearing from the offenders. Some are remorseful and some are vile and have no remorse be go into it with open eyes and be prepared.

Dr Rebecca is pretty much going in blind, this is her first shift and we follow her through her time in the prison, relationships *side eye* and gaining her confidence. It isn't just her time in the facility and interactions with staff and prisoners. We see some of her personal life and some questionable decisions whilst she is trying to establish herself and make an important change to these individuals. If successful stopping further acts of harm towards others and getting the inmates to acknowledge, process and rehab so they won't commit offences in the future.

It would be interesting to see how much research and stats there are (it is touched on briefly) over the years and how many offenders of this nature are followed up. It seems in this day and age there is even more and more crimes of sexual violence, deviancy and murders or maybe we just hear more because of how much coverage there is now we don't just rely on papers and news outlets. It is a had read due to the content but really eye opening and I am sure would spark much debates, 3/5.

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Medea by Rosie Hewlett

Medea by Rosie Hewlett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 2 days

Pages - 432

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Shunned by her mother. Beaten by her father. Separated from her sister. Medea has never fit in because she possesses a unique and dangerous power - witchcraft.

When the dashing young hero and leader on the famed Argonauts, Jason, arrives to claim the Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea takes her opportunity to escape.

Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test see her battle monsters, dethrone kings, fall in love and reclaim her power.

But when faced with the ultimate betrayal, just what will Medea be prepared to do for love?


My Review

Holding my hands up guys I do not know a lot about the Greek mythology but have found myself picking up and enjoying these retellings. I do feel I should probably get some of the originals but when I come upon these I will be picking them up. This one focuses on Medea and Jason of the Argonaughts. Medea first, her upbringing, how poorly she is treated and how her father uses her for her magic. So when Jason comes and is kind, attractive and promising all sorts Medea takes her chance to try and get some freedom, something for herself and of course love. In doing so she embraces her power for which she has always been judged, shunned, used and of course betrays her loved ones which is a huge no no in any civilisation.

So I liked it, I obviously don't know Medea's actual story nor how close to it this author kept, the few Greek mythology I have read the women have been powerful. Yes Medea is powerful, she is a powerful witch but I was so desperate for her to stand up for herself and I don't think she ever really did. Ok maybe once but I mean like really stood up for herself and Carrie White everyone who was bad to her. I don't feel like she really got her redemption although does anyone ever really in these stories.

And I know I know it happens in these stories, animal harm because of the sacrifices and offerings to the Gods but I really wish they wouldn't. It is just horrible and I hate that stuff, it does impact the enjoyment of the stories like come on, can't we offer other stuff.

Poor Medea couldn't catch a break and made so many bad bad decisions, I did feel sorry for her and a wee bit annoyed at times. It was good but not my fave and if you know her story I am not sure if you will love this or not because I don't know just how different it varies. Sometimes you love a retelling when things are changed for what you consider the better but it swings the other way too, overall 3.5/5 for me.

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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 5 days

Pages - 564

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

In love we find out who we want to be. In war we find out who we are.

France, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn't believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne's home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.

Vianne's sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women's war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.


My Review

World War two, two sisters, very different people and very different experiences. France, Vianne the older sister is married, has a child and her husband has to leave to do his part. Isabelle is the younger sister, eighteen, rebellious, passionate and wants to play her part. Vianne is in the village where the Nazi soldiers are taking over and one has moved into her home. Both face their own dangers, struggles and do what they have to to survive this war.

Guys, ooft, the crimes committed we all known were beyond barbaric and this book tackles some of that by taking us through the atrocities people living in France experienced during the war. The two sisters live very different lives and their experiences differ greatly. Both experience danger, abuse, trauma and see how horrific humans can be first hand.

It is not an easy read, we all know the horrors committed during this time so please check your triggers and prepare. Not an easy read by any means and whilst these are fictional characters we know people did live, die and suffer through these barbaric times so it does hit you in the emotionals. 4/5 for me for this one and it is coming out as a movie too so we will absolutely be checking that out too!

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No Regret by Martina Cole and Jacqui Rose

No Regret: the gripping Sunday Times bestselling thriller from the iconic queen of crime by Martina Cole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 404

Publisher - Headline

Source from Goodreads

Soho 1962.

When Rory Sheehan decides he wants Maggie Riley as his own, her fate is sealed.

Luca Romano knows all too well that what Rory wants, Rory gets. And the violence that erupts between their rival gangs is just the start of it.

Thomas Johnson owes Rory big time, and he must deny his feelings for Maggie to protect her. Faced with no alternative, Maggie throws herself on Rory's mercy, unaware of the brutality that she will face.

But Maggie Riley is a survivor. And the secret she's hiding could be her best weapon . . .


My Review

Oooft talk about dark! This is the third I think I have read of these two authors together. Maggie has it rough, her mother is a cold fish, her father is a drunk and abusive, her friendship with Thomas faces resistance because racism is high where they are. It is also set in the 1960s in England so it is brutal both in its attitudes to anyone not white English male. When Maggie attracts the eye of not just one but two very bad men she is essentially jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.

You know Cole's books always feature bad people, bad actions, the worst of humanity, drugs, selling people, murder, racism, abuse, sa, dv, ca, violence, drug addiction, prostitution honestly it is dark dark stuff and hardly a redeeming person in the whole thing.

Actions, consequences, death, betrayal, murder, you name it it is in it. Short chapters which we love, page turning because you want to see where it is going and if we are going to get retribution. 3.5/5 stars for me this time, I need a genre switch and something lighter because dear lord this was a dark yin, prepare yourselves!

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Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen

Direbound by Sable Sorensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 605

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…

Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.

And Meryn’s world falls apart.

Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.

Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.

To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.

Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.

And the castle is hiding dark secrets…
My Review

Poverty is rife, kids are being taken for God knows what purpose, royalty come through the poverty stricken communities on their huge dire wolves, it sickens Meryn. She is fighting grown dangerous men for money to keep herself, sister and mother safe/fed. Meryn has always had that something and a local helped her hone and focus her anger and skills so she is a walking weapon. All she cares about is her family and her beau. When Meryns sister is kidnapped she has no choice but to go forward to try for the bonding trials, it is the only way she can try and get her sister back. Everything is against Meryn, she is poor, she is ill prepared, some of the richest and well trained kids are up for this, born for it. Even if you get through the process you still need to survive the journey to where the dire wolves are, there are hundreds of competitors and maybe one hundred ish wolves, they pick you. Meryn will stop at nothing to get her sister back, not fail at whatever is thrown at her, not bow down and she won't die because her sister is depending on her if it isn't already too late!

AHHHHHHH YOU GUYS so firstly, hello beautiful book map! Loads of characters and the book gives me vibes of Fourth Wing meets Game of Thrones meets The Hunger Games all smooshed together to give us Dire Bound. Absolutely raging I need to wait til May to get book two! I have had readers block on and off for ages, I sank this in almost one sitting!

The journey to the wolves is very echoy of Fourth Wing/hunger games, every man for himself, dirty tactics allowed, actually anything goes, as long as you make it. Meryn is a kick ass main character, she knows how to handle herself and can take down guys twice her size/weight. The trainors/mentors seem to have an issue with her because of her background and to be fair she has an attitude too. The dire wolves I LOVE, especially the sassy feral one that bounds to Meryn pah ha ha, there is attitudes all around.

There was some moments I wanted to shake Meryn, I get it, she is going through it but damn girl stop making a rod for your own back. I totally get why this isn't for everyone but I absolutely loved it. There is death, fighting, bonding, trials, murder, skulduggery, shady as people, loyalty, betrayal oh and spicy scenes too. The book has a whole lot of everything and some of the echos of the other series was a bit on the nose *cough Stark cough* but I really liked it, one of my fave reads this year guys, 5/5! Hurry up May for book two!

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Quicksilver by Callie Hart

Quicksilver by Callie Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 624

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate.

Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water. But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone.

When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares…but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed.

The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her. Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home.

Be careful of the deals you make, dear child. The devil is in the details... Now with an embossed cover, silver foiling, and an updated interior design.


My Review

Saeris lives in a place ruled by the undying queen, their land is dirt poor, disease and poverty is rife, Saeris survives by her wit and quick light fingers. She steals and sells anything she can and steals water from the royal reserves because the rations aren't nearly enough for survival. When Saeris robs from a guard and her brother once again gets them into trouble Saeris is arrested and certainly will be put to death. When she accidentally opens a portal she ends up taken by "Death" and into a different land. One where the beings have long been told of, killers, evil, worse than the undying queen or are they? As Saeris navigates through this new and strange place, dressed up like a girly (Saeris is all trousers and fighting) as expected to behave and do as she is told, two things Saeris will not do. What lies ahead is questioning of everything she knew, as much food and drink as she could dream of and the expectation to create what is needed for this land is going through war, vampires and more.

This is such a good fantasy book and I absolutely need to get book two, danger, mythical beings, war torn countries, portals, vampires, family, friendship, loyalty and spicy scenes. Saeris is desperate to get back home, in order to get there she needs to learn and master what is expected of her in this new place, alchemy ooft. There is danger galore but she knows the undying queen will punish her whole land if she doesn't get back. She is pulled towards Kingfisher (the guy she thought was death), he is a fierce warrior, the attraction is undeniable but she is raging and refuses to admit to it. Plus he is a bit of a tool, arrogant and busts her chops so they are very competitive to each other.

I really liked this, couldn't wait to see where it was heading. Whilst there was a lot of people and places the book has a book map I could follow it fine, even with brain fog. There is a lot of catty fiery attitude which I love, violence, war, battles and Saeris despite being a human is pretty handy looking after herself, we love a strong female! 4/5 for me, this is my first time reading this author, it won't be my last.

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Death Comes To Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 366

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

It’s been an enjoyable and murder-free time for Judith, Suzie and Becks – AKA the Marlow Murder Club – since the events of last year. The most exciting thing on the horizon is the upcoming wedding of Marlow grandee, Sir Peter Bailey, to his nurse, Jenny Page. Sir Peter is having a party at his grand mansion on the river Thames the day before the wedding, and Judith and Co. are looking forward to a bit of free champagne.

But during the soiree, there’s a crash from inside the house, and when the Marlow Murder Club rush to investigate, they are shocked to find the groom-to-be crushed to death in his study.

The study was locked from the inside, so the police don’t consider the death suspicious. But Judith disagrees. As far as she's concerned, Peter was murdered! And it’s up to the Marlow Murder Club to find the killer before he or she strikes again…



My Review

So this is book two, if you haven't read the first you absolutely should because Judith is absolutely hilarious! Judith (and co) solved a murder in the last book and the village was all ooooh but things have now settled. Judith is in her 80s, sharp as a tack and often in the mix of everything. She gets a call from Sir Peter, invited to the pre wedding drinks but something he says on the phone perks Judith's interest, she heads there with Suzie and Becks. Not too long into it they hear a loud noise and Sir Peter is dead, seemingly an accident within a locked room. Not much gets passed Judith and she is sure there is more to it than meets the eye, it is time to dig and investigate!

Honestly Judith is the type of character I don't think I could ever tire of reading, she is wild and gets into some situations. Becks is married to the victor and has a secret and Suzie has a new radio show and dog sits so they all have stuff going on as well as helping Judith investigate and dig into what happened. Oh on a separate note Judith does crosswords (the clues, I could never, my brain just won't) but she ends up on a side quest related to the crosswords she does and trying to find out someone's identity!

It is a busy book, skulduggery, murder, families, love, lies and some humour, it is a fab series and I need to get book three for sure. If you fancy some quirky characters with a dash of murder and exposing secrets, dudes this one is absolutely for you, 4/5.

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Alien The Cold Forge by Alex White

Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 432

Publisher - Titan books

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

A dramatic new Alien novel, as Weyland-Yutani seeks to recover from the failure of Hadley's Hope, and successfully weaponize the Xenomorphs.

With the failure of the Hadley's Hope, Weyland-Yutani has suffered a devastating defeat--the loss of the Aliens. Yet there's a reason the company rose to the top, and they have a redundancy already in place. Remote station RB-323 abruptly becomes their greatest hope for weaponizing the Xenomorph, but there's a spy aboard--someone who doesn't necessarily act in the company's best interests. If discovered, this person may have no choice but to destroy RB-323... and everyone on board. That is, if the Xenomorphs don't do the job first.



My Review

Guys you know I love an alien book and this one has all manners of shady horrible characters, often there is always at least one. Dudes you can have your pick however there is one company guy who gives Carter J Burke a run for his money. His main job is to save the company money and he sees himself as the ultimate Alpha male so he enjoys toying with people, manipulating, gaslighting and generally anything that will entertain him as well as benefit the company. He gets sent to a station to investigate, they know someone isn't doing what they should be (company first). The station has xenomorphs and eggs at their disposal and are experimenting with animals and crossing many unethical lines.

There are a few scenes that animal lovers will find difficult, there is a new type of abuse of an android we haven't seen before. Some spice scenes/references which you don't see much in these types of books.

The other big difference in this one is there aren't colonists, this is purely research, scientists and shady/bad people. Self serving and pretty much no morals, almost everyone has their own agenda, one of the scientists has a degenerating health condition and manages to use an android to get around physically and do her bidding/work. That flings a new thread into the franchise too which was interesting both from her point of view and the androids. A refreshing take on a franchise that has so much attached to it, there isn't a book or movie on them I wouldn't read, 4.5/5 for me.

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Family Lies by Karen Rose

Family Lies by Karen Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out as able over 5 days

Pages - 513

Publisher - Headline

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

The fourth nerve-shattering installment of the San Diego Case Files from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose sees Kit McKittrick’s sister caught in a maelstrom of deadly family secrets.

As an infant, Kit McKittrick’s foster sister Akiko was abandoned at a firehouse. Now 32, Akiko has received an unsettling phone call from a woman who says that she knew her birth mother but refuses to divulge any details except in person. Akiko is nervous but also thrilled at the prospect of finally learning about her blood relations.

Kit has a bad feeling about this and insists on accompanying Akiko to meet the woman. Sure enough, as they stand on Mary Sherman’s doorstep, shots are fired and Kit is hit...and inside the house is a corpse: Mary Sherman herself.

Although she’s on medical leave and forbidden to work the case, Kit cannot rest. With police psychologist Sam Reeves, she undertakes a covert investigation into the mysterious Mary Sherman. Was she Akiko’s birth mother? Why did she reach out after all these years? And who had a motive to kill her?

As more bodies pile up, Kit starts to put together the pieces of the frightening puzzle that is Akiko’s birth family, and she’ll come to wonder whether some secrets should stay buried after all.


My Review

This is book four in the San Diego case files, I haven't read the previous three but that doesn't ever stop me. The books are great you can pick them up and read as standalones, this one features Akiko - she has always wanted to know more about her bio family. She has Kit, her foster sister who was also taken in by the same loving family and has her own issues. She is a cop so when Akiko gets a call from someone who says they knew her bio mum Akiko needs to go. Kim insists on going too along with her boyfriend (police psychologist), when they arrive at the callers house they are shot at and it all kicks off from there.

Kim is hurt in the shooting so on medical leave and when more danger arrives Kit is furious when the cop assigned to the case is one who is not just lazy but has a grudge against Kit. Despite threats to her safety and threats from work about consequences if she doesn't let the police do their job Kit won't leave her sister nor stop digging to see who wants her hurt.

The book has loads of threads, characters and secrets which we LOVE, we know Akiko is in the dark, imagine this has been a theme through the previous books. We also learn about how the girls came to meet and be fostered with the family so it is fine we haven't read the previous three. There is danger on every corner, no one seems to be safe and we have no idea where the thread is coming from or why which hooks you and keeps you turning the pages. 4/5 for me this time and I have went back and bought book one of the series and will catch up on those I missed.

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The Fightback by Alex Kane

The Fightback by Alex Kane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Pages - 379

Publisher - Hera books

Source - arc

Blurb from Goodreads

You can try and hide. But this gangland boss will get their revenge no matter how long it takes

Lifelong friends Lori Graham and Stephanie Lyle are sitting on the balcony of Lori's flat in Glasgow, chatting, drinking, enjoying the summer's warmth.

Until the peace is shattered by the sound of gunshots from a drive-by shooting.

Running to investigate, the women find both their worlds shattered. One of their sons is the shooter, and one is the victim.

As Lori and Stephanie try and pick through the pieces, they discover that they themselves hold the key to why their boys have turned each other.

A deadly secret from their teenage years has come back to haunt them, and now a face from the past is back for vengeance, using the one thing that will hurt Lori and Stephanie the most their children.


My Review

Lori and Stephanie are bet friends and more family than their blood relatives. Lori's family is wrapped in addiction, her parents, her older brother and she is the only one really looking out for her wee sister. Addiction claims them and danger and death is everywhere. When drugs take their final price it leave Lori with just Steph and with a horrific incident that bonds them forever they remain on the estate. We jump forward and both are parents, still fighting to survive and booze has become solace, when their boys start working for a local kingpin their secret is threatened to come to the light and putting not just them but their boys and both will do anything to protect them.

Ooft, set in Glasgow, Blackhill court, an estate, rough as and now we have this Billy big balls coming in, buying up everything, face of respectability but he is a dodgy biscuit, violent, aggressive but the show of being Mr Goodguy.

The book deals in a lot of dark topics, drugs, addiction, abuse, violence, endangerment and murder to name a few. It is has strong loyalty, bonds, making amends, friendship, bravery, recovery so it is a mixed bag which is always the making for a great read.

Short chapters which we always love and a bit or personal growth, redemption and my absolute favourite when karma comes a calling to bad people, oh yes, actions and consequences darling, 4.5/5 for us this time.

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Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 352

Publisher - MichaelJoseph

Source - Arc Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

How far would you go to rescue your child? A mother races against the clock—and finds herself on the wrong side of the law—in a desperate fight to save her teenage daughter in this pulse-pounding thriller from the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong Place Wrong Time.

There is nothing that Simone won’t do for her daughter, Lucy. The two have always been close, and with Lucy about to leave home for university, they depart the UK for a vacation to Texas to spend some quality time together. But when Simone awakens on their first morning in the desert, Lucy is gone, missing from their rental cabin. In her place is a cell phone, and a voice on the other line issues a shocking ransom demand. Don’t tell the police. Come to this location. And be prepared to do a deal…

Though Simone’s husband urges her to bring in the authorities for help, she knows she can’t take any chances. The kidnappers might kill Lucy if she tells anyone. No mother would take that risk. Instead, that night, she drives to the isolated meet-up.

What she finds there changes everything. The mysterious kidnapper doesn’t want money. They want Simone to do something. The unthinkable.

A catastrophic chain of events is set in motion, with chilling consequences that extend beyond Simone and her family. What follows is a heart-pounding journey through the small towns and punishing deserts of remote Texas, in which Simone’s courage—and morality—is pushed to the brink as she discovers what it truly means to be a mother.



My Review


Mother and daughter are back together after Lucy (daughter) has been away to a wee retreat style and now mum and daughter are doing a cabin/camping trip together before she heads to university. The trip is in USA, Texas and they are from the UK, after travel they finally meet and get to the cabin have a snack and go to bed. When Simone wakes it doesn't take long to notice Lucy is missing and a phone starts ringing, it isn't hers, it isn't Lucy's and Simone's world falls apart. Someone has kidnapped Lucy and Simone will do whatever it takes to get her back and the kidnapper has indeed offered a way to get her daughter back.

Oooft - it kicks off quite quickly and Simone is just a normal mum, maybe a bit more distrust of authority due to her upbringing with an addict parent and social work involvement. Her husband wants to go to the police, he is a lawyer and fixer but Simone will take no chances with her daughters life and is going to do exactly what she is told.

The book is kinda in two halves, the kidnap and Simone trying to follow the kidnappers instructions and what happens when she gets to the "end game" and everything that follows thereafter. There are a few scenes that are really tense and you totally feel for Simone. Some of her behaviours/attitudes and Lucy's did irritate and or annoy me but it is a highly charged sleep deprived state and trauma responses so you need to give a bit of leeway but still.

It has tense moments, some moments you are like oh no why why why and others I was like really?!?!?!? It absolutely kept me engaged and I wanted to know how it was all going to play out, I read it in one day which considering how my readers block has been is no mean feat, 4/5.

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The Family Friend by Claire Douglas

The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 400

Publisher - Michael Joseph books

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

When Imogen is told she’s inherited a country house near Bath, she thinks it must be a mistake. She last saw its owner, reclusive artist Dorothea Roe, sixteen years ago, during a tragic summer which changed her life for ever.
Now, with partner Josh in tow, it’s a chance for a fresh start.
But after discovering an old box with her name on it in Dorothea’s abandoned study, Imogen starts to believe the woman was trying to send her a secret message.
And when rumours begin to swirl that Dorothea was murdered, she starts to suspect that this gift might not be the life-line she thought it was.
Who would want to kill Dorothea?
Could it be tangled up in Imogen’s own dark family history?
And what if Imogen is now the one in danger?


My Review

The book flips between two characters, Dorothea, initially the incident that kicks everything off and then when we go to her chapters back through the years. And Imogen, Imogen met Dorothea years ago when her and her mum escaped DV from her father. Dorothea is an artist, eccentric, famous, rich and has more than a few secrets. Imogen's mum was a cleaner for Dorothea but they became friends and when they needed help, Dorothea offered her home. For four months a young Imogen flourishes and blooms but then her mum goes back to her dad and everything goes to pot. That was years ago, now Imogen has been left with everything and Dorothea's passing is looking like foul play. Is Imogen in danger and who is hanging around Dorothea's, well now Imogen's home.

There is so so much going on in this book! Like an onion, layers are revealed as we plough through, Dorothea has secrets, Imogen has a lot in her past and is off work pending investigation. Now out of the blue everything is changing, her journalist inquisitiveness is kicking off and Imogen thinks maybe that is why Dorothea done what she has done, she knew what Imogen would be like. So whilst Imogen is digging and exploring the house she has such fond memories of as a kid her boyfriend is along for the journey. The boyfriend!!!!! I didn't like him very quickly and as the book goes on oh my God I HATED him, he is such a tool and his behaviour and attitude I absolutely wanted Imogen to go full throtto on him. You know me I LOVE karma and people getting their comeuppance.

My last book before this I enjoyed but took me I think a week as I had a bit of readers block, this I read in less than 24 hours! Douglas has a way of drawing you in, one I am nosey so I wanted to know exactly what was going on, what happened, what was Dorothea hiding, what things does Imogine not like about her boyfriend, oh who is that, oh why did that happen, like there was so many twists and things thrown up! Hooked, absolutely hooked and more mysteries or secrets were coming and I love when a book does that. Sometimes when there is a fair few characters or a lot going on and or different timelines it can be really distracting especially when you have readers block but I was completely tuned in. That is always a testament to the authors writing, I have read this author before in the past but I absolutely need to check out her back catalogue. Thanks so much to the publisher for sending me an arc, helping me over my reading blip and reminding me how much I enjoy this authors writing, 4.5/5 for me. The book is out on the 12th of March but you can pre order now, its a belter!

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His and Hers by Alice Feeney

His & Hers by Alice Feeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 304

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

There are two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, His & Hers. Which means someone is always lying.

When a woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Detective Jack Harper is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation. Someone isn’t telling the truth, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

His & Hers is a twisty, smart, psychological thriller. A gripping tale of suspense, told by expertly-drawn narrators that will keep readers guessing until the very end.


My Review

So this is a show on Netflix, I figured I would grab the book before we check it out. The chapters alternate between his pov (Jack, detective, ex husband of Anna) her pov (Anna, reporter, ex wife oh Jack) and the pov of the killer. A dead body if found in the small town Anna left where Jack still lives, it is a muuuuuuurder and when Anna loses her regular main presenting feature she has to come back to the wee town to cover it. Anna has many reasons for not wanting to go back and when she realises she knows the victim things get weirder and it is only just beginning.

So apart from the different pov's we also go back in time to when Anna was young, her relationship with the dead girl, her past with her now ex husband. It is an intricate dodgy woven web and the bodies keep coming.

There are a lot of themes within the book, murder obvs, relationships breakdown, secrets, lies, bullying, there is mention of animal harm so fyi, child death, dementia, ill health, coercion, manipulation and that is just scratching the surface.

I was convinced I knew who the baddy was about ten times, I never do, honestly at this point I am just constantly Jon Snow and I know nothing. I could have screamed at some of the cops choices like Jack COME ON what are you doing ya mad man that isn't going to end well lol.

It is shocking, shady and I didn't want to put it down to see well who the baddy is and also where it is going, I have I think one or two more of her books to catch up on, other than checking your triggers (as with most books), I recommend and will be watching the tv show, 4/5 for us!

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Guilty by Martina Cole and Jacqui Rose

Guilty: the brand new novel by the legendary author by Martina Cole
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 432

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Amazon

It's time to confess their sins.

Steph Barker can't forget her past. A single mother, Steph runs a women's shelter for local prostitutes while coming to terms with a tragic loss. And it's people like Joseph Potter, battling with his own grief, who keep her going.

When Hennie, one of her friends from the shelter, goes missing, Steph's convinced Hennie's violent pimp Artie Rogers has something to do with it. Steph and Artie go way back, but his reign of terror throughout the Medway towns is out of control and even she can't do anything to stop him. Then another prostitute disappears and it's time to find out who's guilty.

Everyone has their secrets - but one of them is getting away with murder.



My Review

If you have read Martina Cole you know what you are getting, this one is particularly dark. Steph runs a shelter for prostitutes, she got out of that life and knows just how hard it can be. She has her ex who is just a piece of work but he is the father of her daughter so he will always be around. Her current partner is on support after a hit and run that left him unresponsive and killed her wee baby. His brother runs the girls and rules with an iron fist, drugs and his partner who is a complete deviant with muscles. As some of the girls disappear Steph realises that something much darker than their pimp may well be on the prowl and no one is safe.

The book has some really dark themes, issues, sa, child abuse, murder, coercion, dv, manipulation, absolute deviants they would give you the absolute boke. We see families pushed to the brink and having to make choices so they can survive, threats of violence, being put in unimaginable positions. Prostitution features heavily throughout the book and all the perils that come with it, shady punters, predators, substance issues and a stalker/murderer.

When I finished this I needed to genre switch, a lot of the worst sides of humanity feature in this one as well as strength, love, friendship and family. There is child endangerment and some hard scenes and threats featuring them so be warned, 3.5/5 for me this time.

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