Cragside - L J Ross

Cragside - L J Ross

 

Cragside is the latest instalment in the brilliant DCI Ryan series and one I couldn’t wait to start and I wasn’t disappointed. 

DCI Ryan and Anna (his fiancée) are temporarily living in a cottage situated in the beautiful grounds of Cragside.  The Gilberts, owners of Cragside throw a murder mystery evening known as a staff party, to which they are both invited and attend, all dressed up in Victorian refinery.  As can be expected, Ryan is not impressed and feels uncomfortable all dressed up but attends nevertheless.

The evening seems to be a success and Ryan even somehow seems to be enjoying himself, when suddenly the lights go out in the room.  Ryan offers to go and sort this out but a member of the Cragside staff goes instead and the next thing we are aware of if that member of staff lying dead.  On preliminary investigations, it is initially ruled as accidental but as can be expected something niggles away at Ryan to the point that he is convinced it is something more. 

Are Ryan’s suspicions right? 

This book is just as good as all the other books, even though it seems this time more of a comfortable mystery.  We are given insights into how they are all coping following the dramatic ending of the last book, how Ryan and Anna are preparing for their wedding day, how Denise (MacKenzie) and Philips are coping with what happened to them both and how Lowerson is coping and become a valuable member of the team.  This was a nice side line to the story, and one I enjoyed reading in order to be able to see how all parties were coping after High Force, yet still enough of the mystery and thrilling moments to keep me turning the pages with ease.    

I was riveted throughout the book and as per usual the final few pages had me gasping for more and willing the next book to be loaded on to my kindle in readiness.  I can’t wait to see what is next in store, however, I will just have to wait patiently for Louise to release the same. 

L J Ross has that brilliant writing style that draws the reader in and I for one look forward to each new book that is released as I cannot wait to see what is next in stall for Ryan and his team.  L.J. Ross is fast becoming one of my favourite authors whose books seem to get better and better and I always look forward to the next saga.  

My extreme thanks go to Louise Ross for the review copy and allowing me to read and review the same.  

On second thoughts, all that’s left to say is hurry up with the next one! 😊

Broken Branches - M Jonathan Lee

Broken Branches - M Jonathan Lee

Broken Branches is a story which had me intrigued from the fantastic cover set in black and moody grey tones of a tree sat on what appears to be a hill, with a red door in the tree.  The book had that mysterious feel to it and one I would instantly pick up for closer inspection in a book shop etc. 

On opening the book, the first few chapters had me wondering what this book was going to be about.  We are given insights into the main character Ian.  Chapters of him now married with a child, along with chapters of a younger Ian, his brother and their parents.  The present day Ian is looking into his family tree and he has become seriously obsessed with this to the point, that with his every waking moment he spends time locked in his study trying to work out the family tree and “the curse” that he has heard so much about, withdrawing from his day job and neglecting his family.  You are given vivid descriptions of how much time and effort he has been putting into finding out as much as he can about this family tree, and these descriptions had me imaging myself sat in the study with him frantically working through each piece searching for that missing link!       

I found myself drawn into this book, however, at time was not entirely sure where the story was going, but was a book that had me intrigued but not riveted.  I was interested in trying to figure this out (as I do with any book I read) and found myself reading more and more of this whenever I got a chance and this was one of the quickest books I have read in the last month.  

I felt that the book jumped around too much with various timelines and as the alternating chapters / timelines progressed was more and more puzzled where the book was going.  I wasn’t sure if it was a ghost story or a psychological thriller.  The author, however, has a great writing style and it was this that had me picking up the book to read more as well as wanting to know how the book was going to pan out.  

The conclusion of the book had me questioning how the author had found writing this book, however after reading an Q&A session on another book blog, found out the reasons behind this and now can fully understand and appreciate why it was written the way it was, and made me understand and appreciate the book more.  

My thanks go to M. Jonathan Lee and also to the publishers Hideaway Falls for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.  I look forward to seeing what Hideaway Falls have up their sleeves next.      

The Red Cobra - James Ryker #1

The Red Cobra - James Ryker #1

The Red Cobra follows on from the Enemy Series featuring Carl Logan.  In The Red Cobra we meet James Ryker an ex secret agent who used to work for the JIA and his partner Lisa.  They are living a nice quite life, no one bothers them and things are good. 

The next thing his old boss Winter has found him and is sat in his house, asking for help.  True to form Ryker (aka Carl Logan) can’t resist the temptation especially when he hears that the person they are hunting is The Red Cobra.  Ryker had dealings with Red Cobra when he was Carl Logan and they have a history.  The Red Cobra however is female and it was great to read a book where the assassin is female.   

Before we know it Ryker has left the secret life he was living and is back in the thick of the action in true Carl Logan style. This book takes us to Spain, where Ryker becomes acquainted with a UK detective Paul Green who thinks Ryker is a freelance investigator and there to assist them.  We are treated to action in small villages off the beaten track, we are even treated to areas where traditional bull fighters would have trained, all the while on the hunt for The Red Cobra. 

The story continues with short pacey chapters, each one having you turn the pages wanting to know what happens next.  It was such a great read and boy did the book end with a need to want and know more.  What an ending and I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Ryker / Logan.

My thanks got to Rob Sinclair for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.  This review is my unbiased opinion and views are my own.      

Blackout - John Milton #10

Blackout - John Milton #10 (Mark Dawson)

Blackout is the tenth book by Mark Dawson featuring John Milton and is just as good as all the others.  

In this book John Milton’s life is about to change, we meet Milton who is sober and no longer drinking and also whilst he’s working in a cafe, a complete change to his former government work we know him so well for.  He is told some unexpected news and news that shocks him.  After digesting this news he decides to head for Manila to check out this news and see if it’s correct.  However, not all goes to plan on arriving there and the next thing is Milton is in a Filipino prison, for murder. 

Has Milton completely gone overboard and done something completely stupid!

Life in a corrupt prison is anything but easy as you can imagine.  However in true Milton style we are treated to how Milton copes and the way in which he gets through each day.  As well, we meet a police officer who becomes embroiled in Milton’s case, wants to ensure that justice is served, which also has drastic consequences to the officer.  However the investigation being conducted is hindered at each possible junction.

Mark Dawson is one author who has certainly made it into my Top 10 authors.  I love all his books and with the Milton series it is recommended that you read the earlier books as well.  This can be read as a standalone but to fully understand what makes Milton tick and the mechanics of his mind it is best to read the earlier books and that way you can enjoy Milton even more.

My thanks go to Mark Dawson for allowing me to read and review an eARC of this book.  This review however is my complete and unbiased opinion.   



The Promise - Casey Kelleher

The Promise - Casey Kelleher

This book is one that I read whilst on holiday in Fuerteventura at the end of February.  It was a great book that kept me company on the plane and one that I could read in short bursts when my daughter was happy to read her own book.

The Promise is about two sisters, Georgie and Marnie Parker.  The sisters have a close bond and have been through a lot of things at quite a young age, they have a mum who is a prostitute, albeit an aging one and therefore have to learn to cope with the many frequent visitors that their flat has.  One of those “visitors” ends up dead (murdered) and their mum is sentenced to a prison sentence for this murder.    

The girls are left to face life without their mum and despite not being the best mum to them, they miss her and would give anything to have her back.  They end up in a children’s home and I for one was hoping for a nice conclusion for them both, but having read some of Casey’s previous books knew that this wasn’t going to happen.

They end up in danger and make a run for it from the children’s home and meet Delray Anderton.  Despite knowing that he is a London gangster with a violent nature are  taken in with his charm and kindness, and throughout the story we are treated to the inner thoughts of Delray and what his ulterior motive really is with regards to the girls.

The Promise had me hooked from the first page and is a gritty crime novel, making me what to read another chapter and then another chapter to find out what was going to happen.  I love Casey Kelleher’s books and this one was no exception to the rule.  I now have another couple on her books on my kindle and will even be going back to read one I’ve read before when I get chance.

My thanks go to NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book and also the publishers Bookouture.   I am just sorry my review took so long to write.      

Ragdoll - Daniel Cole

Ragdoll - Daniel Cole

This book was amazing and kept me hooked from the first page all the way through.  I loved how the main character as portrayed and how he dealt with all that was thrown at him.

WOLF is Detective William Fawkes who having recently been reinstated by the London Met is called to a crime scene opposite his apartment.  A case of bodies stitched together to form a Ragdoll..  Who are the various people involved and what connection do they have to WOLF?  Why has the press being given details of who the victims are / will be and the dates of their deaths? 

The most answered question of all is "Can WOLF track down the person responsible before it's too late or will he become a victim"?

I cannot wait to read more by this author and will be keeping a close eye on any future books he decides to publish.


My final thanks go to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.  My views however are my own. 

Paradise Prison - Faith Mortimer

                                              Paradise Prison (Dark Minds #4) - Faith Mortimer











This is book 4 in the Dark Minds series but can be read as a standalone.

This book hooked me from the beautiful cover as well as from the opening chapter. The book is centered around two main characters Harry and Gillian. Gillian is fleeing from an abusive relationship and the opening chapters set the scene. She befriends Harry and the escapes on his yacht hoping for a peaceful life away from the troubles at home. Little did she know that an easy life is far from what she will get.

Harry comes across as a nice kind gentle man and gives the impression that he cares for Gillian, being sweet and kind to her promising her a peaceful place where she can gather her thoughts which is described as an idyllic island in the Caribbean.

I felt from the way that Faith was so descriptive in the book that I had been grabbed by the throat and transported into the book. I as reliving the scenes as they were played out and found myself gasping for breath reading some of the chapters. How can a little idyllic island in the Caribbean be such a horrible place.

Well all I can say is if you are curious and want to know you are going to have to read the book and find out for yourself.