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Merissa (13169 KP) created a post

Nov 2, 2021  
"Inspired by true events, Lies That Blind is a story featuring historical character Francis Light (1740-1794) who, in an effort to defy his mortality, was seemingly willing to put the lives and livelihoods of a thousand souls on Penang at risk."

Tour: Lies That Blind by E.S. Alexander - @Archaeolibrary, @maryanneyarde, @ES_Alexander7, #CoffeePotBookClub, #BlogTour, #HistoricalFiction,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/liesthatblindbye-s-alexander
     
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Merissa (13169 KP) created a post

Mar 31, 2022  
"Things get complicated when a local mob boss wants my help, a warlock decides I'm next on the menu, and my six-foot-tall fairy friend can't find his way home."

Demon Kissed (The Summoner’s Mark #1) by J.D. Blackrose - @Archaeolibrary, @PromotionsPsst, @JDBlackrose, #Paranormal, #Romance,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/demon-kissed-the-summoner-s-mark-1-by-j-d-blackrose
     
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Merissa (13169 KP) created a post

Sep 30, 2024  
"When her world shatters, she dares to trust a pirate. Will she survive what comes next?"

Tour: The Pirate's Physician (A Thrilling Companion Novella to the Sea and Stone Chronicles) by Amy Maroney - #TheCoffeePotBookClub, #BlogTour, #Renaissance, #Pirates, #SeaAdventure, #Historical, #Romance,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/tour-the-pirate-s-physician-a-thrilling-companion-novella-to-the-sea-and-stone-chronicles-by-amy
     
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Merissa (13169 KP) created a post

Mar 27, 2024  
"Riddle of the Gods is the riveting fourth novel in the best-selling series chronicling the life and adventures of one of Norway’s most controversial kings, Olaf Tryggvason."

Tour: Riddle of the Gods (Olaf's Saga #4) by Eric Schumacher - #TheCoffeePotBookClub, #BlogTour, #HistoricalFiction, #Adventure, #Norse,

Available in #KindleUnlimited

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/riddle-of-the-gods-olaf-s-saga-4-by-eric-schumacher
     
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Merissa (13169 KP) created a post

Jul 15, 2025  
"A Celtic warrior princess accused of treason for aiding her enemy lover must win back her father’s love and trust"

Audio Snippet & #Giveaway: Dagger's Destiny (Curse of Clansmen and Kings #2) by Linnea Tanner - #TheCoffeePotBookClub, #BlogTour, #Britannia, #AncientRome, #CelticMyth, #Historical, #Fantasy,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/audio-snippet-giveaway-dagger-s-destiny-curse-of-clansmen-and-kings-2-by-linnea-tanner
     
The Hanged Man (The Bone Field #2)
The Hanged Man (The Bone Field #2)
Simon Kernick | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
6
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Once again, I am not disappointed by one of Simon’s books. This, the second in this series, is another gritty and exciting read but I would recommend you read the first otherwise I think you will feel a little lost but it’s not totally essential as there are enough recaps to help you keep up with the story.

The books does contain a lot of violence … you have been warned … however, it does deal with a particularly distasteful subject and equally distasteful people so you can’t expect it to be all warm and fluffy!

I know I have said it before but, I think, one of Simon’s strengths is the creation of believable characters that you begin to care about … DI Ray Mason is one of those however, he’s not all sweetness and light as you will see in this book and so begins the struggle in my head about whether I should be rooting for him or not! I cannot question his dedication and drive to bring miscreants to justice however, the way he does it is questionable and, if I’m honest, a little OTT.

Private Investigator and former Police Officer Tina Boyd is another returning character … she is my all-time favourite female protagonist being loyal, brave, feisty and determined and she delivers on all fronts in this book.

Overall, this book is packed with action throughout; it may not be the complex of story lines in the world but it kept me reading with enthusiasm and going back for more and I definitely look forward to the next in the series.

A big thanks to the publisher (Randomhouse UK, Cornerstone) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
  
Keeping secrets is a very bad idea.
Former teenage runaway and new single mother Nadia Armstrong moves to Kingston to turn her life around. But six months after she rents a low-end apartment, her body is found on a concrete slab at an isolated construction site. Major Crimes begins piecing together her last days, uncertain if this is a case of suicide or murder. To make matters more difficult, a member of the team is leaking information to reporter Marci Stokes, putting Staff Sergeant Rouleau in a precarious position.
Meanwhile, Officer Kala Stonechild’s niece, Dawn, is secretly corresponding with her father, who’s out on early parole. Dawn isn’t sure what he wants, especially when he turns up in town uninvited. Dawn’s friend Vanessa is also keeping a dangerous secret — her relationship with an older man named Leo, who preys on young girls. And it’s not long before he has Dawn in his sights.
*Disclosure - I received a free copy for purposes of an honest review; Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn for the eARC.*
I have not read any other books in this series and this has not hindered me in any way with how I was able to pick up with the already established characters. The author did a great job of giving me just enough to give the story depth with back story tidbits.
This book has plenty of twists and turns to it to keep you engrossed from the start. I like the story-line of this book and it had relevant topics; sadly things that are happening daily in our world.
I don’t want to give too much away to the story-line but will say completely hooked me and a very surprise ending but also sad.
Will be reading the previous ones as really enjoyed this.
  
Conviction
Conviction
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
From 'the woman who may be Britain’s finest living crime novelist' (Daily Telegraph), Conviction stars a strong female protagonist who is obsessed by true-crime podcasts and decides, one day, to investigate one of the unsolved crimes herself.
It’s just a normal morning for Anna McDonald. Gym kits, packed lunches, getting everyone up and ready. Until she opens the front door to her best friend, Estelle. Anna turns to see her own husband at the top of the stairs, suitcase in hand. They’re leaving together and they’re taking Anna’s two daughters with them.
Left alone in the big, dark house, Anna can’t think, she can’t take it in. With her safe, predictable world shattered, she distracts herself with a story: a true-crime podcast. There’s a sunken yacht in the Mediterranean, multiple murders and a hint of power and corruption. Then Anna realises she knew one of the victims in another life. She is convinced she knows what happened. Her past, so carefully hidden until now, will no longer stay silent.
This is a murder she can’t ignore, and she throws herself into investigating the case. But little does she know, her past and present lives are about to collide, sending everything she has worked so hard to achieve into freefall.

This is my first read by Denise Mina and it won't be my last.
What a brilliant read this was. Wow what an opening this had with it.
This definitely psychological thriller and very chilling.
Loved the writing style and the plot of this story.
Really enjoyed the characters and couldn't stop reading til finished as I just had to know.
Recommend reading!

My thanks to Random House U.K. Vintage Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley and this is my honest voluntary review.
  
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Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Duncan in Books

May 22, 2019  
Duncan
Duncan
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A cunning pederastic serial killer nicknamed “Santa” is making his way up the East Coast from New Orleans to Boston, leaving a trail of young bodies in his wake. Santa covers his tracks along the way by working as an itinerant bass player in a series of jazz combos. At the same time, the Driscoll family – Mark, Julie and their nine-year-old son Nate – who live in an upstate suburb of Syracuse, New York, struggle to come to grips with Mom’s quadriplegia following a horrific auto accident. The suspense builds to a fever pitch as these two plot strands approach each other for the inevitable confrontation. All this tension is heightened by the mystery of Duncan, Nate’s stuffed-toy gorilla, who is not only the boy’s beloved companion but becomes a kind of family totem, and, later on in the story, so much more.


Trigger warning for pedophilia, disability, murder, and so forth

This is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller.
There are some graphic scenes that would make any normal human uncomfortable to say the least.
I loved how Mr. McCort portrays the heart-warming relationship dynamics within the Driscoll family. Oh I did love Duncan too!
The book also delivers on its' promise to the insight of the killers mind as well (the diabolical Santa).
Disturbing but excellent read.
Recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
  
The House
The House
Eden Darry | 2019
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sadie, Fin, and their two children were a perfectly ordinary family. Even if Fin felt taken for granted sometimes. Even if their introverted son, Liam, had terrible nightmares and knew things he shouldn't.
But everything changes the night Sadie is viciously assaulted by former client Lance Sherry. Sherry knows where they live, and when the police fail to catch him, Sadie and Fin are forced to run. They think they've found the perfect place to start over. The house is everything Fin dreamed of, but as they settle in, Sadie discovers their home may not be what it seems, and daughter Lucy's imaginary friend might not be imaginary at all. Or even a friend. With Lance Sherry hunting them, the house could be the least of their problems. He's coming to finish what he started. And he won't stop until he finds Sadie.

This is the kind of book that is not easy to review because you don’t want to give anything away.
There is a paranormal element to this, but it’s almost more evil than what you think about a “normal” haunting with ghosts. And there is also a real life evil person the characters have to deal with so it’s a lot on their plates.
The combination of the real and the paranormal was a nice touch.
For the most part, the story is told from both heroines point of view, but at times the reader is also privy to what’s going on in little Liam’s head as well as the villains.
This was a great read to me and I really enjoyed it.
Recommend reading.

Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley.