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Clair (5 KP) rated My Sister's Bones in Books
Sep 29, 2017
Thank you to Penguin UK as part of an Instagram promotion of this book.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Kate Rafter is a journalist who works in some of worst places in the world, seeing some of the world's worst atrocities. She returns home on the death of her mother. Her sister Sally has never left Herne Bay and is an alcoholic, who hates Kate. The book is split between the main events of the story and scenes in a police station where Kate is being assessed on her mental health. We know that Kate keeps hearing and seeing a young boy in the family garden - but her experiences in Syria which have left her traumatised means that no one believes her.
Marketed as a rival to The Girl on the Train (I wish they wouldn't do that), I enjoyed this book and would ideally have given it 3.5 stars.
Negatives first...I didn't think it was that well written, there were plot holes that annoyed me and I found the characters one dimensional.
BUT the story was fast moving and intriguing and then there is a major twist which I didn't see coming which made me gasp.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder in Podcasts
Jan 5, 2018 (Updated Jan 5, 2018)
A hideous look into the British justice system
Very rarely do we such corruption on a grand scale in the UK, and yet the murder case of Daniel Morgan seems to be symbolic of this. Even after more than 30 years, the case remains 'unsolved', mainly due to underhand deals and lack of fervour to prosecute those responsible.
From corrupt police officers, phone hacking, and eventually murder, Morgan was a private investigator looking into bribery of police officers, some by journalists in the 1980's. For those aware of the phone hacking scandal, it seemed to only get traction and recognition in the last ten years, yet was apparent two decades prior to this. Morgan was found bludgeoned to death in his car, and since then his family have found ample evidence to show widespread cover-ups, and a botched investigation in order to keep the crime underwraps.
Journalist Peter Jukes alongside family members created this podcast to expose the truly horrifying scale of this issue. It is another well-made, engrossing, albeit cautionary tale about how much we can trust our institutions and how much they prop each other up for support. Worth the listen.
From corrupt police officers, phone hacking, and eventually murder, Morgan was a private investigator looking into bribery of police officers, some by journalists in the 1980's. For those aware of the phone hacking scandal, it seemed to only get traction and recognition in the last ten years, yet was apparent two decades prior to this. Morgan was found bludgeoned to death in his car, and since then his family have found ample evidence to show widespread cover-ups, and a botched investigation in order to keep the crime underwraps.
Journalist Peter Jukes alongside family members created this podcast to expose the truly horrifying scale of this issue. It is another well-made, engrossing, albeit cautionary tale about how much we can trust our institutions and how much they prop each other up for support. Worth the listen.
Madbatdan82 (341 KP) rated Child's Play (1988) in Movies
Mar 21, 2019
He'll be your friend till the end
Coming from the UK the childs play films are best remembered for the real life James Bulger murders where 2 evil shits kidnapped a young boy and killed him using scenes from the films as inspiration - particularly childs play 2. It was a horrible crime and I remember when i first watched the Childs Play films i expected gore galore but in all honesty there was never really that much gore in them until Bride of Chucky. It's been years since I've watched them and with the 'remake/reboot' out soon I thought I'd revisit the original. So being the film that started it all, the original childs play is far more a suspenseful horror than a gore flick. Tension is built up as chucky stalks his prey and then dispatches them using some good old fashioned jump scares. Some of the support acting is quite wooden but Andy and his mum are really good and the always impressive Chris Sarandon is excellent. A 'classic' that holds up ok still.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Taken Girls in Books
Mar 24, 2019
A good debut
The Taken Girls is a unique take on the usual abduction stories in that girls are being taken but returned seemingly unharmed a short while later. It is down to DI Edina Ogborne (Ed) to find out just what the heck is going on.
Ed is a complex character and I have to admit that I found her frustrating and quite difficult to like particularly because of some of the decisions she makes in her personal life but she did end up growing on me by the end however, I'm not going to lie ... it was hard going. Having said that, this makes her all the more believable and if this is a start of a series, I am really interested to see how she develops and grows.
Written at a pretty good pace, although a little slow at times, with a few twists along the way, this book is a decent debut and G D Sanders is yet another author to put on my radar.
My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review of which this is.
Ed is a complex character and I have to admit that I found her frustrating and quite difficult to like particularly because of some of the decisions she makes in her personal life but she did end up growing on me by the end however, I'm not going to lie ... it was hard going. Having said that, this makes her all the more believable and if this is a start of a series, I am really interested to see how she develops and grows.
Written at a pretty good pace, although a little slow at times, with a few twists along the way, this book is a decent debut and G D Sanders is yet another author to put on my radar.
My thanks go to the publisher, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review of which this is.
Recommended gritty read
What a roller-coaster of a ride that was! I'm sure I experienced all the emotions known to man whilst reading this book - joy, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, anticipation and fear to name but a few.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
The characters are believable and brilliant although not all of them are particularly likeable. The story is gripping and had me hooked from start to finish and although I anticipated the end, it didn't disappoint or spoil it for me. The only complaint I have is the epilogue ... what the heck?!?! I found it cheesy and, in my humble opinion, totally unnecessary apart from tying up a couple of loose ends which could have been put elsewhere in the book however, this didn't ruin it for me it just made me "tut" and roll my eyes.
Kimberley Chambers isn't known as the "Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction" for nothing and I would definitely recommend to readers who enjoy a gritty story that's not all about violence and hate.
Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Disappeared in Books
May 25, 2019
Dystopian Britain
Set in the near future, Britain has become a one party, military controlled state, where reading the wrong book could mean that you are ‘disappeared’.
The Authorisation Bureau we’re responsible for the disappearance of Clara’s father, a university English lecturer, and she is determined to pick up where he left off. Along with her History professor boyfriend, they decide to teach a select group of students about the past and the books that they are now forbidden to read. But things do not go as planned. Clara has some protection, as her stepfather is a ‘high up’ interrogator with the Authorisation Bureau, but this can only go so far to protect her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark tale of an alternate UK. It was rather violent in places, but it’s message was ultimately that of hope. My only complaint (which isn’t really a complaint) is that we could have done with more from the resistance organisation, Lumiere. I would have loved to have read more about them.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to the author, Amy Lord, for reading along and answering questions.
The Authorisation Bureau we’re responsible for the disappearance of Clara’s father, a university English lecturer, and she is determined to pick up where he left off. Along with her History professor boyfriend, they decide to teach a select group of students about the past and the books that they are now forbidden to read. But things do not go as planned. Clara has some protection, as her stepfather is a ‘high up’ interrogator with the Authorisation Bureau, but this can only go so far to protect her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark tale of an alternate UK. It was rather violent in places, but it’s message was ultimately that of hope. My only complaint (which isn’t really a complaint) is that we could have done with more from the resistance organisation, Lumiere. I would have loved to have read more about them.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book, and to the author, Amy Lord, for reading along and answering questions.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Redemption Point (Crimson Lake #2) in Books
Mar 11, 2018
This is a sequel to Crimson Lake; a book I gave 4 stars; this one also gets 4 stars. I really recommend you read Crimson Lake before reading this otherwise you will not get the really important background to the 2 main characters, Ted and Amanda and, I feel, that is essential to get everything out of this story and an understanding of these 2 very different and intriguing characters.
The story has 2 main facets. The first being the murder of two young people and the second of Ted's attempts to clear his name of the violent attack on a young girl. Both parts fit together really well as does the unlikely partnership of Ted and Amanda and the relationship between Ted and his geese!
Well written; funny and sad with a story that will make you shout at it at times and laugh out loud at others, Redemption Point and its predecessor are books I'm glad I didn't miss out on and I would highly recommend.
Thanks go to Ellie Gibbons, Marketing Manager at Cornerstone - Penguin Random House UK and the author, Candice Fox for my copy in return for an honest review.
The story has 2 main facets. The first being the murder of two young people and the second of Ted's attempts to clear his name of the violent attack on a young girl. Both parts fit together really well as does the unlikely partnership of Ted and Amanda and the relationship between Ted and his geese!
Well written; funny and sad with a story that will make you shout at it at times and laugh out loud at others, Redemption Point and its predecessor are books I'm glad I didn't miss out on and I would highly recommend.
Thanks go to Ellie Gibbons, Marketing Manager at Cornerstone - Penguin Random House UK and the author, Candice Fox for my copy in return for an honest review.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Possible World in Books
Jul 15, 2018
I have to admit that I approached this with some trepidation. I had requested to read it based purely on the front cover (a bird in flight and a child stood with their arms out wide - the UK cover, I think). It really stands out. And as I started to read it, I realised that it wasn't just the cover that stood out. The prose is beautifully written. It's difficult subject matter: a child is brought into ER as the sole survivor of a massacre, and is taken care of by Lucy, the doctor. He doesn't remember anything, it seems. Clare (good name choice, by the way) is nearly 100 years old, and is living in a home across town. She's not happy to be there.
These people's lives all seem to be separate, but they do come together eventually. And it's so emotional when they do. It's an emotional book with some dark subject matter, but there is also hope.
It's well worth a read, but don't forget the kleenex. You'll need it.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.
These people's lives all seem to be separate, but they do come together eventually. And it's so emotional when they do. It's an emotional book with some dark subject matter, but there is also hope.
It's well worth a read, but don't forget the kleenex. You'll need it.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.
MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated It’s a Wonderful Life in Books
Oct 1, 2018
MoMo’s Book Diary loved Julia Williams’ It’s a Wonderful Life and recommends this sparkling 5 star read.
This is the first Julia Williams book I have read and I loved it! I will certainly be reading more of this author in future.
I was initially drawn by the cover - there is just something about a Christmas cover that I just can’t resist – and the synopsis had me hooked. It is a book about second chances, appreciating what you have in life, and doing what makes you happy. It is a nice quick and easy read which is what you need around Christmas time when there are so many other things we need to be doing with our time.
Julia Willliams brings us a heart-warming family tale full of loveable characters and situations which we can easily relate to. The book covers a year from one Christmas to the next, telling the story from three different people’s viewpoint – Beth, Daniel and Lou.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon UK for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
This review is published on my blog momobookdiary.com, netgalley and amazon
This is the first Julia Williams book I have read and I loved it! I will certainly be reading more of this author in future.
I was initially drawn by the cover - there is just something about a Christmas cover that I just can’t resist – and the synopsis had me hooked. It is a book about second chances, appreciating what you have in life, and doing what makes you happy. It is a nice quick and easy read which is what you need around Christmas time when there are so many other things we need to be doing with our time.
Julia Willliams brings us a heart-warming family tale full of loveable characters and situations which we can easily relate to. The book covers a year from one Christmas to the next, telling the story from three different people’s viewpoint – Beth, Daniel and Lou.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon UK for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
This review is published on my blog momobookdiary.com, netgalley and amazon
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Devil Aspect in Books
Jan 27, 2019
Hmmm ... this is a difficult one for me to review because I loved the story, the characters, the setting, the time and the writing style but thought it a little drawn out and it dragged on a little too much for me BUT please do not let me put you off, I appear to be in the minority as this has had a lot of praise and 5 star reviews and it will definitely be perfect for people who want to have a lot of information to enable them to become totally immersed in a story; clearly the author has done a lot of research into the location, time period, culture, traditions and history and it certainly transported me there but I felt a little bogged down by it all at times which did detract from my overall experience.
Overall, although not a book that I find myself gushing about, it was mostly enjoyable and one which I definitely feel would transfer well onto the big screen.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Overall, although not a book that I find myself gushing about, it was mostly enjoyable and one which I definitely feel would transfer well onto the big screen.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.