Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

We were lucky enough to get a wee arc of this book, you KNOW we are big Cavanagh fans here especially the Eddie Flynn series. This is a standalone, new charaters (not Eddie Flynn). And today is publication day, you can buy your copy NOW, here is the link for AMAZON UK


Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time Taken to Read - In and out over 3 days (as able)

Pages - 416

Publisher - Headline

Source - Arc

Blurb from Goodreads

The twisting new thriller from the award-winning, top ten bestseller...

SHE WILL KILL YOUR WORST ENEMY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS KILL HERS.

One dark evening in New York City, two strangers meet by chance.
Over drinks, Amanda and Wendy realise they have so much in common.

They both feel alone. They both drink alone.
And they both desperately want revenge against the two men who destroyed their families.

Together, they have the perfect plan.
If you kill for me, I'll kill for you...


My Review

Imagine losing the one person you love the most, your life/family torn apart and the person who killed them is walking around free. That is what it is like for Amanda & now she finds herself in trouble with the law as the bad guy is using them to punish her for "stalking him". Amanda finds herself in a group of people who have experienced loss like hers and that is where she meets Wendy, Wendy has also had her child brutally ripped from life and the perp is also walking around free, untouchable. When a few drinks and bonding turns to some serious chat........If you kill for me I will kill for you. It is the perfect plan, neither know the others bad guy, neither is associated with each other (the group is anonymous) so what could go wrong? If you had your whole world ripped from you, your only child - would you not take the steps to avenge them?

Guys, I am always a bit apprehensive reading a new creation of an author I really enjoy because it is a step away from characters I love and if they are really good is this the book that won't be? Needless worry for nothing, you are pulled in quickly, get to know the characters and what drives them and you can't not feel sorry for them. Whilst this is fiction we know from real life how many injustices actually happen, murderers getting a slap on the wrist or a few years or a lesser charge whilst the families get a life sentence so to speak, suffering, loss and no or little justice.

The book looks at how far people will go, what happens when your world is ripped apart by crime/loss/attack/murder. The devastating ripples it has and also the after affects of those left behind. It is shocking, riveting, weaved with parts to pull the rug out from under you - sure even those reader who guess everything will be hard pushed to know what is coming. You read along with the characters as they plot/plan and carry out their much needed revenge and yet the author still manages to surprise, engage and keep you hooked from the start to finish. 5/5 from us, whilst it isn't Eddie Flynn (yes yes we are a tad obsessed but he is pure dead brilliant, who doesn't love a goody guy with a wee bit of shade but heart of gold) but it is new characters, skulduggery and a whole lot of what ifs, how far would you go and how far can a person be pushed/put through! It is great, go get it, it is out today, Happy Pub day to the author.

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6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten & giveaway

6 Ripley Avenue by Noelle Holten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 2 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - One More Chapter

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

ONE HOUSE
EIGHT KILLERS
NO WITNESSES

Jeanette is the manager of a probation hostel that houses high risk offenders released on license.

At 3am one morning, she receives a call telling her a resident has been murdered.

Her whole team, along with the eight convicted murderers, are now all suspects in a crime no one saw committed…

My Review

What a tag line, One House, 8 killers, no witnesses. I mean I am a Holten fan anyway so I was going to be reading this regardless but it is a great draw! Its a bit like a halfway house, these criminals are really dodgy bad guys, murderers, out with restrictions, they must be home between hours of X and Y. Substance testing, meetings etc, they are all dangerous and committed really bad crimes, therefore the community of course were up in arms about this house opening but it is established and going.....when a murder happens in the house *gasp* and everything really kicks off!

The book goes between characters points of view AND we hear from the killer without knowing who the actual killer is so I went a little Murder She Wrote and had tons of suspects, lmao I never get it right *sigh*

The unlikely friendship between the reporter Sloan and Helen, elderly lady who lives next door to the problem house, is sweet and I really felt for Helen. Helen was against the house from the beginning but finds sometimes keeping your enemies closer helps. Sloan is a character who has overcame some horrific personal battles, death of a loved one from murder, addiction only to come out the other side. Helen is lonely and connects with Sloan over their joint interest in no.6.

The book has some real unsavoury characters, skulduggery, insight into the killer I mean we hear directly from them without knowing who they are. The reader is drawn quickly into the story and kept intrigued and guessing as you go, looking forward to Holtens next, 4/5 from us!

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AND we are doing a wee giveaway so if you are in the UK and read ebooks you have the chance to enter and win a copy of 6 Ripley Avenue. It is UK only because Amazon doesn't allow me to gift outside my own country and the book is sent from Amazon to your kindle. Competition runs to the end of the month, entries are checked so please only complete those you have done.

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The Mother by Alex Kane

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

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages -

Publisher - Hera Books

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

Being head of a family is what she knows best
A decade ago, Cara Fraser, wife to one of Glasgow’s most notorious gangsters, was left a widow after Kyle Fraser was slain on the city streets.

The intervening years haven’t been easy – not least as Kyle’s murder left her to bring up little Ryan and Sean alone.

Now, Ryan and Sean are adults, and honouring their father’s memory by rising up to become the top gangsters on the dark streets of Glasgow.

Cara’s kept her head down, but has spent the last few years vowing to take vengeance on the crime family who killed her beloved husband and left her children without a father.

Glasgow gangland is about to discover that a mother will do anything for her family… even murder.



My Review

The blurb focuses a lot on Cara Fraser and her sons, Ryan and Sean and whilst the latter part of the book they do come more to the front it is the Bryson's who feature as the main runners at the start. Angie Bryson & her husband Dale have their fingers in a lot of pies and Cara's husband Kyle and brother Ian work for the Brysons, distributing drugs primarily. Angie and Cara don't get on and Kyle and Ian have put their plans in motion to become the top dogs. The timeline splits between then and now when the Frasers have decided, again the time is right, the time is now.

There is a lot of rivalry, competitiveness as often there is in gangland type books, fights for power, actions and consequences, shady underhanded behaviour and of course some people will go to any levels for what they feel is due them. Revenge, pride, business, drugs, rivalry, family, murder and is it even a gangster stle book if we don't have betrayal.

There are quite a few relationship dynamics, some you are shaking your head at antics/choices and behaviours but in this lifestyle it is a different world. One characters behavior though I was almost screaming NOOOOOOOO what are you doing?!?!?!

I have read a few of Kane's books and have another couple on my tbrm, when you pick up the books you can get lost in a different world or chaos and danger just waiting for some consequence to their actions. Bad behaviour, shady choices and the old secrets can never remain in the past dun dun dun, 4/5 for me, a wee bit of build up setting the scene and then you are plunged right in! This is a standalone, if you like gangster/ganglands then this is for you - oh and it is set in Glasgow.

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The Survivors by Jane Harper

The Survivors by Jane Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 375

Publisher - Little Brown Books

Source - Netgalley & Bought Hardback

Blurb from Goodreads

Coming home dredges up deeply buried secrets...

Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences.

The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal community he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a town where fortunes are forged by the sea. Between them all is his absent brother, Finn.

When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away...



My Review

Book location is Evelyn Bay, Tasmania, beautiful but unpredictable sea that has already claimed lives. Kieran Elliot is back to help his mum, dad's dementia is much worse than Kieran realised and being home reignites all his guilt. Twelve years ago his brother and friend died and it is all Kieran's fault. Now back with his partner, also from there, with their baby Kieran is feeling mixed emotions and reception from people. When a young girl is found dead an investigation starts and a lot of the past is raked up which is never a good thing in a small town.

Intrigue, mystery, secrets, love, friendship, lies it has a mix of everything and I loved reading it when our weather turned so we had a thunder and lightning storm. It just made it for perfect reading, very atmospheric, she creates a great visual for the reader anyway but having it both on paper and surrounding me was just perfect timing.

It isn't the type of book where it is actions and fast paced, more of a slow burner but absolutely drawing you in. Small town, no privacy, everyone has an opinion on everyone and everything and you feel Kieran reexperiencing how he obviously felt back when the tragedy struck. Things highlight why we left i the first place, the impact on his relationship with his parents. Small bits of the story teased out and slowly revealed so you are kept guessing, well I was.

I think this is my second book by Harper and will absolutely be reading her others, 4/5 for me this time.

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The Rule by David Jackson

The Rule by David Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 336

Publisher -

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

MY DAD SAYS BAD THINGS
HAPPEN WHEN I BREAK IT...

Daniel is looking forward to his birthday. He wants pie and chips, a big chocolate cake, and a comic book starring his favourite superhero. And as long as he follows The Rule, nothing bad will happen.

Daniel will be twenty-three next week. And he has no idea that he's about to kill a stranger.

Daniel's parents know that their beloved and vulnerable son will be taken away. They know that Daniel didn't mean to hurt anyone, he just doesn't know his own strength. They dispose of the body. Isn't that what any loving parent would do? But as forces on both sides of the law begin to close in on them, they realise they have no option but to finish what they started. Even if it means that others will have to die...

Because they'll do anything to protect Daniel. Even murder.


My Review

Daniel is a gentle giant, early twenties and a big guy, a child in a mans body who has no idea of his own strength. As a result his mum and dad have made The Rule, Daniel must never break it because people get hurt when he does. When Daniel accidentally kills a man his parents do what any good parent does, they remove all traces of the crime but can you ever truly remove all traces of a crime?

Aw bless Daniel, he is just a sweet vulnerable adult who is sadly a target and his parents will always try and protect him, who wouldn't. They live in a not too good part of town and sadly with Daniel's vulnerability and size he is a beacon for trouble, that is his innocent inability to be anything other than truthful.

The book splits between the officer investigating and trying to get over her own personal tragedy but also a target, from those on the other side of the law and a potential scapegoat in her workplace.

The opening chapter is a belter and I think will stay with me for a while. The book, whilst being a crime/investigation/coping with the aftermath type it also looks at the personal side and after affects of the characters traumas, a huge central theme. Daniel from the murder and how it affects his parents, Hannah the officer who has trauma from a work event, a personal loss and so much emotion from it all.

Daniel is a wee soul, he has learning difficulties, he is vulnerable and such a sweet gentle giant I think how Jackson brought everything to play, the interactions of the characters and I don't think bonds is the right word but how they impacted upon each other. One incident can have life altering reach and this is the case for pretty much every character in the book. The characters personal journey(s) - all very different - and how they develop, evolve and cope with things thrust upon them that you really struggle to imagine. I will never look at a toilet brush quite the same way again that is for sure, boak.

I was hooked and wanted to see where it would play out. I think his books are standalones but I would quite like to see more from Hannah, she is quite a layered character. 4/5 for me - it has action, murder, shady dodgy folk, actions and consequences and prompts the old what would you do if it was you or yours, one incident changing your life as you know it. I have another of Jackson's on my tbrm so looking forward to that.

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