Gallery of the Dead by Chris Carter

Gallery of the Dead by Chris Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 448

Publisher - Simon and Schuster

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads


‘Thirty-seven years in the force, and if I was allowed to choose just one thing to erase from my mind, what’s inside that room would be it.'

That’s what a LAPD Lieutenant tells Detectives Hunter and Garcia of the Ultra Violent Crimes Unit as they arrive at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended.

In a completely unexpected turn of events, the detectives find themselves joining forces with the FBI to track down a serial killer whose hunting ground sees no borders; a psychopath who loves what he does because to him murder is much more than just killing – it’s an art form.

Welcome to 'The Gallery of the Dead'.



My Review

Book nine in the Robert Hunter series, a killer who seems to kill at random, his victimology changes, his trophies changes, the writing on the corpses change. How do you catch a killer who is sporadic in location, gender, trophies? The FBI come on board and join forces to track down one of the worst criminal masterminds they have came across.

I love these books, the FBI agent clashes with members of the LAPD team - well Garcia comes into his own I felt in this book. With the clashes with the FBI agent I thought we saw a bit more of him which I really enjoyed.

We get a bit more of Hunter's personal life and of course his mindset, thinking and reading of crime scenes, I think he is such a fascinating read and character. As always Carter doesn't pull any punches with his kills/gore so not for the faint hearted but if you have read him before you know what to expect. If you haven't, go back to the start, the books are so good you don't want to miss out. Also, how Carter closes this tale makes me want to bump the other(s) up my tbrm so I doubt it will be long before we hit up book 10, 4/5 for me this time.

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The Puppet Show by M W Craven Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Puppet Show by M W Craven, please check out the other stops as we all offer different content and it is a belter of a book!


The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Pages - 352

Publisher - Constable

Source -Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless.

When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of.

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he's ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive...


My Review

Poe is a cop who gets things done, no matter how many toes he needs to step on. If "The truth is out there" had a human representative, Poe would be it (non supernatural). Pulled from suspension after special focus from a killer, Poe is on the case. A serial killer who is burning his victims alive and leaving them on display, un linked and with no idea who is next the team need all the help they can get. Meet Tilly Bradshaw, genius, socially innocent, one of the best analysts the force has and a misfit. Two total opposites come together to try and find the killer before they can strike again.

Guys, I hope this is one of the series that goes on for a long long time. I LOVE Tilly, she is a genius but total innocent, speaking the truth as she finds it with no thought for social reaction she is both refreshing and hillarious whilst being totally unaware. Poe is a man of the world, he knows exactly what kind of vile creatures are out there, polar opposite and I can't think of a better duo to bounce off each other. You know how kids tend to have no filter and say things in pure innocent that adults can baulk at, that is Tilly but she is off the charts smart. I loved her and could have read about her all day. Poe is a wee bit rogue but quick to stand up for the underdog or anyone being treated badly, again who doesn't love that, two good guys but in non conventional style.

The murders themselves are brutal and the reader is taken along with the police to try and figure out the who and why, why are these victims selected. Why is the bad guy so smart and seemingly miles ahead of the police. Office politics, police procedure, bullying, justice, banter and some laugh out loud moments are only some of the things this book has to offer.

It is busy, it has action, moral character and a few scenes that make you a bit uncomfortable, I hate anyone bullying folk and Tilly is such an easy target. We see her go on a wee journey, actual journey and a wee self discovery, I was whooping and cheering along the way, Poe is pretty epic too, under the gruffness he has a heart of gold.

This was my first time reading this author, I will check out his other books and wait with baited breath for book two. Super stoked to see what is in store for the characters, if I hadn't had stuff to do I would have sank this in one sitting, 5/5 for me. Pacy, gritty, funny, horrific, enthralling and a page turner pretty much through and through, when a book makes you air punch you KNOW you have found an epic read!

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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.

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Street Cat Blues by Alison O'Leary Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the blog tour for debut novel "Street Cat Blues" a serial killer story with a difference. Please check out all the stops on the tour as we all offer different content.





Street Cat Blues by Alison O'Leary
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 216

Publisher - Crooked Cat

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

After spending several months banged up in Sunny Banks rescue centre, Aubrey, a large tabby cat, has finally found his forever home with Molly and Jeremy Goodman, and life is looking good. However, all that changes when a serial killer begins to target elderly victims in the neighbourhood. Aubrey wasn't particularly upset by the death of some of the previous victims, including Miss Jenkins who Aubrey recalls as a vinegar-lipped bitch of an old woman who enjoyed throwing stones at cats, but Mr Telling was different. Mr Telling was a mate ...


My review

Aubrey is living with his new humans Jeremy and Molly after being adopted from Sunny Banks rescue centre. Aubrey has been around a bit, different owners and as he isn't getting any younger he doesn't want to go back. However there is a killer around his neighbourhood and now one of his human friends has been killed. Aubrey has that to contend with and the normal worries a feline has, territory issues, keeping things calm with fellow cat buddies and his relationships with humans.

This is a cute wee debut - weird thing to say when a killer is involved but really the cuteness is the cat, the killing happens very quickly and then we see everything through Aubrey. As Aubrey is a cat other things are more pressing at times than a killing and we follow him around the neighbourhood. This isn't a book where the cat speaks to the humans although he understands everything around around him, the human interactions and he speaks to his fellow cats.

The book has several threads to it, the serial killer/murder side, Aubrey's interactions/relationships with the humans around him and his standing in the cat community and the goings on in there. The murder pulls you in to start with and as the story goes in you have a vested interest in Aubrey, his life and an insight into the goings on in the cat world. I think a Q&A would be grand with this author so get a bit more chat about what she did to come up with some of the things she has. I have read a few books this year where the main character was an animal, I quite like it. It gives the reader a different narrator and perspective which can be a breath of fresh air when you read as many books as I do. It was nice to read other issues within the main story lines, poverty, being an outsider, there is a little bit of swearing and some terminology that could offend some readers however most of that is down to one character and does not feature greatly in the book at all.

If you are looking for something different I absolutely recommend this, murders, skulduggery, some deeper issues, relationships, cat business and the cat as a main character, quirky, fun and a bit deep, 3.5/5 for me this time. Not sure if this will be a series or just a one off but I would like to read more adventures with Aubrey!

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Follow Me by Angela Clarke

Follow Me by Angela Clarke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Publisher - Avon

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

LIKE. SHARE. FOLLOW . . . DIE

The ‘Hashtag Murderer’ posts chilling cryptic clues online, pointing to their next target. Taunting the police. Enthralling the press. Capturing the public’s imagination.

But this is no virtual threat.

As the number of his followers rises, so does the body count.

Eight years ago two young girls did something unforgivable. Now ambitious police officer Nasreen and investigative journalist Freddie are thrown together again in a desperate struggle to catch this cunning, fame-crazed killer. But can they stay one step ahead of him? And can they escape their own past?

Time's running out. Everyone is following the #Murderer. But what if he is following you?

ONLINE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM...


My review

Freddie is a journalist, well she would be if she could catch a story and get herself out there. Whilst trying to keep her bills paid and working in a coffee shop she meets her old friend Nas. Nas is a police officer and Freddie finally has a chance to possibly scoop a story, finding herself in the middle of the investigation Freddie must help to catch a killer before he strikes again.

Oh Freddie, what an annoying little character she is, I felt sorry for Nas having to deal with her. Initially she seems to have no thought for anyone but herself although, as the story progresses and we get through the tough veneer we see another side to Freddie. Both her and Nas did something as kids, that is referred to throughout the tale however it doesn't come to light until much later. The story focuses on the victims, the killer and how the police try to catch the killer with the help of Freddie. Freddie is a loose cannon but she knows social media and the police need all the help they can get catching this killer who is flaunting his crimes on social media.

There is a lot to like in this book! Every chapter starts with an online text speak header, for example IKR - meaning I Know Right, there are loads of these I still don't know despite being a user of social media for years, I liked that. The games played with the police, the taunting, always one step ahead, reminded me of a few killers I have read before and loved. The chapters are fairly short which keeps your attention and makes for putting it down hard. There are some shocks along the way and the killings are fairly brutal so not for the faint hearted. 4/5 for me this time, I think this is a strong debut novel and I will be watching for more from this author. Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title is available to buy on the kindle on the 3/12/15 or in paperback format from the 31/12/15.

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