Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

ClareR (5991 KP) rated The Rising Tide in Books

Sep 14, 2021  
The Rising Tide
The Rising Tide
Sam Lloyd | 2021 | Contemporary, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Rising Tide is a fast paced thriller, a race against time. Lucy must find her children before something terrible happens to them - provided that the terrible thing hasn’t already happened.

The finger of blame is pointed firmly at Lucy’s husband, but even when he’s arrested the police still can’t find the children, and Daniel isn’t going to tell them. Abraham Rose, who is terminally ill, is the detective in charge of the investigation and the hunt for the children. He’s quite some force of nature: a quiet, dedicated man, he’s determined to bring Lucy’s children home to her. This determination and his now wavering faith, are the driving force for a man who should really be in hospital. He wants to be the one to run and solve the case, though.

There’s a lot going on under the surface of this book. Is Lucy the person she says she is? Is something not quite right in her marriage with Daniel? What is going on with Daniel’s business partner?

This book constantly surprised me, and the tension was immense! I really enjoyed Sam Lloyd’s first novel (The Memory Wood), and this book, whilst completely different, didn’t disappoint at all. My emotions throughout this book were as turbulent as the weather (which was pretty bad!). I loved it!

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this and to Sam Lloyd for joining in with the discussion.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2430 KP) rated Murder Outside the Lines in Books

Sep 29, 2021 (Updated Sep 29, 2021)  
Murder Outside the Lines
Murder Outside the Lines
Krista Davis | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Florrie is Haunted by Murder this Halloween
Fall is in the air with Halloween fast approaching. Florrie Fox has a special author appearance planned for Color Me Read, author and psychic Hilda Rattenhorst. However, when Hilda shows up, she claims to have seen a carpet wrapped up with a foot sticking out of it in a nearby doorway. Florrie and her boyfriend, Eric, who is also a police officer, head out to check it out only to find nothing when they arrive. Then, during her talk before signing books, Hilda claims to feel a killer’s presence in the audience. As Florrie is trying to figure out if it is a publicity stunt, one incident after another begins to happen. What is going on?

Even for a Halloween themed cozy, I was a little surprised at the number of potential supernatural elements we got at the beginning of the book. As the crimes took center stage, that began to recede a bit. I did feel the plot could have used better focus. There are quite a few elements to the story, and it felt like it was wandering in the middle. But things came together for a satisfying climax. I was once again charmed by the Georgetown neighborhood where Florrie lives and works. It was great to get reacquainted with the characters and see the next chapter in their lives. This book is for you if you are looking for a charming fall cozy.
  
A Dish to Die for
A Dish to Die for
Lucy Burdette | 2022 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder on a Neighboring Key
Even when you live in paradise, you need a break. That’s why Hayley Snow is taking a few hours with her friend Eric and their dogs and heading to a beach on one of the nearby islands. However, the day takes a sad turn when Hayley’s dog finds a dead body half buried in the sand. The man was G.G. Garcia, a Key West developer who had a bad reputation. The local police think there is something suspicious about his death, and Hayley gets pulled into the investigation. Will she figure out what really happened?

I’ve fallen in love with Key West thanks to this series, and I was happy to be back. Sadly, the mystery was very weak. Even the characters got frustrated by their lack of progress throughout the book. Plus, the victim was a little too evil, with a few things that felt thrown in just to make other characters feel virtuous. The book gets a little dark and edgy for a cozy as well. Finally, there’s a subplot that comes across as half-baked, the characters involved definitely deserved better. On the other hand, I really did enjoy the location and the series regulars. Nathan, Hayley’s husband, gets some good development thanks to a visit from his estranged father. If you are new to the series, this isn’t the book for you, but fans will enjoy catching up with the characters.
  
TL
The Liars Daughter
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
‼️ Trigger warning abuse ‼️

203 of 230
Book
The Liars Daughter
By claire Allan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every family has it’s secrets…

Joe McKee – pillar of the Derry community – is dead. As arrangements are made for the traditional Irish wake, friends and family are left reeling at how cancer could have taken this much-loved man so soon.

But grief is the last thing that Joe’s daughter Ciara and step-daughter Heidi feel. For they knew the real Joe – the man who was supposed to protect them and did anything but.

As the mourners gather, the police do too, with doubt being cast over whether Joe’s death was due to natural causes. Because the lies that Joe told won’t be taken to the grave after all – and the truth gives his daughters the best possible motive for killing him…

A gripping suspense novel about deadly secrets and lies. The perfect read for fans of Clare Mackintosh.

I don’t know where to begin I couldn’t put it down. It deals with a very hard sensitive issue and in my opinion was so well done. It hit so many triggers and buttons but not once did I find it too much to handle or insensitive. It gives in a way 3 different accounts of abuse and survival of women who have gone through and still are suffering. So heartbreaking to read and gives a little hope!
  
Death in a Blackout
Death in a Blackout
Jessica Ellicott | 2022 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sets Up a Promising New Series
After a tragedy at home, Billie Harkness finds herself needing a new start, so she accepts an invitation from a distant cousin to visit the northern coastal town of Hull. She arrives just before Hull experiences its first air raid in 1940. In the devastation that follows, Billie finds a dead young woman inside a building. Surprisingly, no debris is around her body. In her new job in the newly formed Women’s Police Constabulary, she starts a quiet investigation. Can she figure out what really happened?

This series debut is much like a TV show’s pilot. We get a lot of set up near the beginning. It helps us get to know Billie better, but it does mean it’s a while before the mystery truly gets going. Although we do get some threads of the mystery thanks to Peter Upton, the other third person view point character. Both of these leads are strong, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Once the mystery gets going, it is great with plenty of twists and an ending that caught me off guard. Those familiar with Jessica Ellicott’s other series will note the more serious tone, which is appropriate given the time and place this one is set. I loved how the story brought the history of the era to live; the plot wouldn’t have worked in any other time. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what danger Billie uncovers next.