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Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era
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On June 21, 1964, more than twenty Klansmen murdered three civil rights workers. The killings, in...
The Last Time I Saw You
5.0
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The internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish follows that success with an...
Fiction Mystery Contemporary
Ties That Bind ( Detective Madison Knight Series Book 1)
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Three victims. One method. One motive. When dead bodies start piling up, Detective Madison...
crime fiction adult police procedural series murder
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Spare Room in Books
Feb 19, 2020 (Updated Feb 19, 2020)
While browsing Audible one day for an audiobook to listen to, I stumbled upon Spare Room by Dreda Say Mitchell. The book synopsis instantly had me hooked, and I knew I had to listen to this book. I ended up liking Spare Room very much!
Lisa is a young women with some psychological problems. However, she is determined to make it on her own without relying on her parents. When she spots an ad in the newspaper for a spare room in London for a great price, she inquires about the room and ends up living there. After finding a suicide note in her room, Lisa decides to find out more about this man while trying to figure out her own murky past. However, all this will place Lisa in grave danger.
The plot for Spare Room was highly interesting and written very well. Mitchell did a fantastic job at making it easy to transport readers into the setting. I felt like I was with Lisa every step of the way. The pacing, for the most part, is decent, and I found myself having to know more. There were a few spots were the pacing slowed, but for the most part, this book had a lot of action. I had to know more about Lisa's past. There were times I was questioning whether Lisa was sane horrific things happen to her or if she was just losing her mind. There were quite a few plot twists. Some were predictable, but others, I never saw coming. All of my questions were answered by the end of the book, and there were no cliff hangers which I was happy about.
The characters in Spare Room all felt realistic and like they were real people instead of characters in a novel. Mitchell did such a great job of breathing life into each individual character. Lisa was such a complex woman. I admired her tenacity to find out the truth at all costs even when she had everything going against her. Her determination was fierce, and she never let anyone get in her way. Alex was a sweetheart, and I loved how caring he was towards Lisa and how much he helped her out. Lisa's parents cared for Lisa, it was obvious, but I found myself wishing they would go about helping Lisa in better ways. Martha and Jack were fantastic! I always found myself not trusting Martha even though she came across as completely innocent to begin with, and I was always wondering if Jack really was as bad as Lisa thought he was. Patsy was probably my favorite character. That old woman reminded me of my grandma a lot of the time.
The narration, done by Kristin Atherton, was pretty good for the most part. I felt like Atherton started out the beginning of the book a bit flat, but she quickly got better. Her accents and voice changes for different characters were fantastic especially for the characters of Jack and Patsy.
Trigger warnings for Spare Room include violence, animal murder, attempted murder, murder, suicide, alcohol, some sex (though not graphic), profanity, and gas-lighting.
All in all, Spare Room weaves an interesting story with a fantastic cast of characters that will suck you right into their world. I would definitely recommend Spare Room by Dreda Say Mitchell to everyone aged 16+ who loves a great solid story.
Lisa is a young women with some psychological problems. However, she is determined to make it on her own without relying on her parents. When she spots an ad in the newspaper for a spare room in London for a great price, she inquires about the room and ends up living there. After finding a suicide note in her room, Lisa decides to find out more about this man while trying to figure out her own murky past. However, all this will place Lisa in grave danger.
The plot for Spare Room was highly interesting and written very well. Mitchell did a fantastic job at making it easy to transport readers into the setting. I felt like I was with Lisa every step of the way. The pacing, for the most part, is decent, and I found myself having to know more. There were a few spots were the pacing slowed, but for the most part, this book had a lot of action. I had to know more about Lisa's past. There were times I was questioning whether Lisa was sane horrific things happen to her or if she was just losing her mind. There were quite a few plot twists. Some were predictable, but others, I never saw coming. All of my questions were answered by the end of the book, and there were no cliff hangers which I was happy about.
The characters in Spare Room all felt realistic and like they were real people instead of characters in a novel. Mitchell did such a great job of breathing life into each individual character. Lisa was such a complex woman. I admired her tenacity to find out the truth at all costs even when she had everything going against her. Her determination was fierce, and she never let anyone get in her way. Alex was a sweetheart, and I loved how caring he was towards Lisa and how much he helped her out. Lisa's parents cared for Lisa, it was obvious, but I found myself wishing they would go about helping Lisa in better ways. Martha and Jack were fantastic! I always found myself not trusting Martha even though she came across as completely innocent to begin with, and I was always wondering if Jack really was as bad as Lisa thought he was. Patsy was probably my favorite character. That old woman reminded me of my grandma a lot of the time.
The narration, done by Kristin Atherton, was pretty good for the most part. I felt like Atherton started out the beginning of the book a bit flat, but she quickly got better. Her accents and voice changes for different characters were fantastic especially for the characters of Jack and Patsy.
Trigger warnings for Spare Room include violence, animal murder, attempted murder, murder, suicide, alcohol, some sex (though not graphic), profanity, and gas-lighting.
All in all, Spare Room weaves an interesting story with a fantastic cast of characters that will suck you right into their world. I would definitely recommend Spare Room by Dreda Say Mitchell to everyone aged 16+ who loves a great solid story.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Dead Memories (D.I. Kim Stone, #10) in Books
Mar 15, 2019
She ruined their lives. Now theyÂre going to destroy hers.
ÂSomeone is recreating every traumatic point in your life. They are doing this to make you suffer, to make you hurt and the only possible end game can be death. Your death.Â
On the fourth floor of Chaucer House, two teenagers are found chained to a radiator. The boy is dead but the girl is alive. For Detective Kim Stone every detail of the scene mirrors her own terrifying experience with her brother Mikey, when they lived in the same tower block thirty years ago.
When the bodies of a middle-aged couple are discovered in a burnt-out car, Kim canÂt ignore the chilling similarity to the death of Erica and Keith  the only loving parents Kim had ever known.
Faced with a killer who is recreating traumatic events from her past, Kim must face the brutal truth that someone wants to hurt her in the worst way possible. Desperate to stay on the case, she is forced to work with profiler Alison Lowe who has been called in to observe and monitor KimÂs behavior.
Kim has spent years catching dangerous criminals and protecting the innocent. But with a killer firmly fixed on destroying Kim, can she solve this complex case and save her own life or will she become the final victim?
Dead Memories is the tenth book in the DI Kim Stone series, wow what a story!
This is another very cleverly written and fast-paced plot. Wonderful well developed characters and a wide range of suspects to choose from.
Lots of action and tons of suspense from start to finish. Riddled with twists and this story is not predictable at all.
Absolutely the best in series so far in my opinion. Thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend reading!!
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Angela Marsons for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
ÂSomeone is recreating every traumatic point in your life. They are doing this to make you suffer, to make you hurt and the only possible end game can be death. Your death.Â
On the fourth floor of Chaucer House, two teenagers are found chained to a radiator. The boy is dead but the girl is alive. For Detective Kim Stone every detail of the scene mirrors her own terrifying experience with her brother Mikey, when they lived in the same tower block thirty years ago.
When the bodies of a middle-aged couple are discovered in a burnt-out car, Kim canÂt ignore the chilling similarity to the death of Erica and Keith  the only loving parents Kim had ever known.
Faced with a killer who is recreating traumatic events from her past, Kim must face the brutal truth that someone wants to hurt her in the worst way possible. Desperate to stay on the case, she is forced to work with profiler Alison Lowe who has been called in to observe and monitor KimÂs behavior.
Kim has spent years catching dangerous criminals and protecting the innocent. But with a killer firmly fixed on destroying Kim, can she solve this complex case and save her own life or will she become the final victim?
Dead Memories is the tenth book in the DI Kim Stone series, wow what a story!
This is another very cleverly written and fast-paced plot. Wonderful well developed characters and a wide range of suspects to choose from.
Lots of action and tons of suspense from start to finish. Riddled with twists and this story is not predictable at all.
Absolutely the best in series so far in my opinion. Thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend reading!!
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Angela Marsons for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Her Husband's Lover in Books
Jun 5, 2019
As I read âHer Husbandâs Lover: A gripping psychological thriller with the most unforgettable twist yetâ by Julia Crouch, I found myself swept up in a bloody battle for revenge. But is the wife of the dead husband really the innocent victim of abuse? Or is the girl who was having an affair with the wifeâs husband just looking for a quick, get-rich scheme because sheâs realised the wife is very rich?
Louisa Williams has really been through a tough time losing both her husband Sam and her two kids, so when her husbandâs lover, Sophie appears on the scene (even in the hospital as Lou is trying to recover from some serious injuries) Louisa is frightened by this girlâs tenacity. Could she be dangerous?
Having tracked Louisa down, Sophie reveals she is expecting Samâs baby and that as the father of her baby they are entitled to part of their estate! Well as you can imagine, Louisa is not having any of this, and cannot believe this young girlâs audacity! Who the hell does this Sophie think she is, coming into her life at a time Louisa is so unhappy and vulnerable?
While I was reading I could eventually see where this was going and the reality of what was the truth, and who was lying became a meaty part of the plot, which I devoured like the carnivorous meat-eating diner I am. Unlike the new guy, vegan-loving, hapless Adam of whom Louisa shacks up with, and unfortunately also gets wrapped up in the whole Lou and Sophie saga.
Julia Crouch has written a very exciting novel, and I really did not know what was going to happen at the end until it hit me! Itâs a dark, twisty tale with some chilling scenes. I could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sinister, domestic thrillers that have a surprising final conclusion you wonât see coming! Wish Iâd got to this one earlier!
Louisa Williams has really been through a tough time losing both her husband Sam and her two kids, so when her husbandâs lover, Sophie appears on the scene (even in the hospital as Lou is trying to recover from some serious injuries) Louisa is frightened by this girlâs tenacity. Could she be dangerous?
Having tracked Louisa down, Sophie reveals she is expecting Samâs baby and that as the father of her baby they are entitled to part of their estate! Well as you can imagine, Louisa is not having any of this, and cannot believe this young girlâs audacity! Who the hell does this Sophie think she is, coming into her life at a time Louisa is so unhappy and vulnerable?
While I was reading I could eventually see where this was going and the reality of what was the truth, and who was lying became a meaty part of the plot, which I devoured like the carnivorous meat-eating diner I am. Unlike the new guy, vegan-loving, hapless Adam of whom Louisa shacks up with, and unfortunately also gets wrapped up in the whole Lou and Sophie saga.
Julia Crouch has written a very exciting novel, and I really did not know what was going to happen at the end until it hit me! Itâs a dark, twisty tale with some chilling scenes. I could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sinister, domestic thrillers that have a surprising final conclusion you wonât see coming! Wish Iâd got to this one earlier!
The Colour of Injustice: The Mysterious Murder of the Daughter of a High Court Judge
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Based on actual (sometimes exclusive) materials, The Colour of Injustice raises questions about...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder in Books
Apr 23, 2021 (Updated Apr 23, 2021)
Murder in the Mayorâs Office
Easter is coming, and The Cookie Jar is awash in orders, keeping Hannah Swensen, her business partner Lisa, and the rest of their staff busy. But that doesnât mean that Hannah doesnât have time to help her sister Andrea when she calls in a panic. Sheâs just found Mayor Bascombâs dead body in his office hours after having a very loud fight with him. The police wouldnât be doing their job if they didnât consider Andrea a suspect, so Hannah springs into action to figure out what really happened. Can she prove her sister is innocent?
Iâve been reading this long running series since the beginning, and I keep reading because I do enjoy catching up with the characters. If that is your reason for picking up the book, youâll find they are as charming as always. I was pleased to see the soap opera of the previous few books has died down, and we see growth in a surprising direction in one character. Sadly, the love triangle is no closer to being resolved. The mystery is decent with enough suspects to keep us engaged. However, the focus is on the food. There is plenty of talk about food and how much the characters love what they are eating. With 24 new recipes for us to try, there is certainly plenty of new food to talk about. The dialogue is repetitious, an example of why realistic dialogue is better than real dialogue in a novel. While I still want to catch up with the characters, I find myself skimming the book instead of reading it closely. If you are like me and want to keep up with the characters, youâll be glad you picked up this book. But if you havenât started the series yet, youâll want to go back to the beginning to find out why there are readers like me who still enjoy visiting the characters. And if youâve given up on the series, you can safely skip this one.
Iâve been reading this long running series since the beginning, and I keep reading because I do enjoy catching up with the characters. If that is your reason for picking up the book, youâll find they are as charming as always. I was pleased to see the soap opera of the previous few books has died down, and we see growth in a surprising direction in one character. Sadly, the love triangle is no closer to being resolved. The mystery is decent with enough suspects to keep us engaged. However, the focus is on the food. There is plenty of talk about food and how much the characters love what they are eating. With 24 new recipes for us to try, there is certainly plenty of new food to talk about. The dialogue is repetitious, an example of why realistic dialogue is better than real dialogue in a novel. While I still want to catch up with the characters, I find myself skimming the book instead of reading it closely. If you are like me and want to keep up with the characters, youâll be glad you picked up this book. But if you havenât started the series yet, youâll want to go back to the beginning to find out why there are readers like me who still enjoy visiting the characters. And if youâve given up on the series, you can safely skip this one.
ClareR (5603 KP) rated The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle in Books
Apr 9, 2021
The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle rather intoxicated me, if Iâm honest. Itâs one of those witty yet heart-rending books that I didnât want to stop listening to.
Ben Aldridge, the narrator, did his part so well. I believed that he was each of the separate characters - he made each of them sound so different, and he especially made Lavelle sound just how I would have imagined him to.
Two brothers, Benjamin and Edgar are on what is probably the most exciting and daunting trip of their young lives - a Grand Tour of Europe. It was what all the well-heeled young men and women would do at the time, in the hope that theyâd make good business and, you never know, romantic connections. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the Bowen brothers are looked down on as being of the mercantile class. This horrified me as a modern day reader. Firstly, that two sheltered, innocent boys should be sent out to travel across Europe alone (must be the âMother of Sonsâ in me), secondly, that the upper classes were so bloody rude! They had the power to destroy someone with just a word. I could have scooped these boys up and taken them home, just to remove them from these horrendous people.
This is also the story of Benjaminâs self discovery. He meets and falls in love with Horace Lavelle at a time when men could be hanged as a âsodomiteâ. The author is upfront at the start that he had taken some liberties with this book. Homosexuality was illegal. No-one would take a chance of showing that they were gay. And there is that element of danger, of being found out, in this book despite those liberties.
But itâs such a lovely book - I wanted Benjamin to be happy, and I could see the potential for a train wreck ahead. And thatâs all Iâll say! What I will say, is that this is a novel well worth your time!
Ben Aldridge, the narrator, did his part so well. I believed that he was each of the separate characters - he made each of them sound so different, and he especially made Lavelle sound just how I would have imagined him to.
Two brothers, Benjamin and Edgar are on what is probably the most exciting and daunting trip of their young lives - a Grand Tour of Europe. It was what all the well-heeled young men and women would do at the time, in the hope that theyâd make good business and, you never know, romantic connections. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the Bowen brothers are looked down on as being of the mercantile class. This horrified me as a modern day reader. Firstly, that two sheltered, innocent boys should be sent out to travel across Europe alone (must be the âMother of Sonsâ in me), secondly, that the upper classes were so bloody rude! They had the power to destroy someone with just a word. I could have scooped these boys up and taken them home, just to remove them from these horrendous people.
This is also the story of Benjaminâs self discovery. He meets and falls in love with Horace Lavelle at a time when men could be hanged as a âsodomiteâ. The author is upfront at the start that he had taken some liberties with this book. Homosexuality was illegal. No-one would take a chance of showing that they were gay. And there is that element of danger, of being found out, in this book despite those liberties.
But itâs such a lovely book - I wanted Benjamin to be happy, and I could see the potential for a train wreck ahead. And thatâs all Iâll say! What I will say, is that this is a novel well worth your time!
The Guardians
7.5
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22 years ago Quincy Miller was sentenced to life without parole. He was accused of killing Keith...
Kelly Rettie (748 KP) Feb 19, 2020
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) Feb 19, 2020