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Hazel (2934 KP) rated Ready Or Not in Books
Sep 26, 2021
This is a deliciously creepy and gripping read made all the better as it's partly set in my neck of the woods!
A serial killer is on the loose murdering people at random and the police have no leads whatsoever. Tom and Alice are happily married with a beautiful baby girl but the cracks begin to show; they are exhausted by a lack of sleep, bruising begins to appear on their baby and Alice starts writing about the serial killer. As Alice becomes more embroiled in her story, it appears the killer has her in his sights.
Written from different perspectives and with timelines from the past which smoothly lead into the present, this is a fast paced and thrilling read where the tension builds and builds right until the end. Each and every character is strong and adds something to the story.
I have read some of Alex Lake's previous books and have enjoyed each and every one of them and I will certainly be looking out for the next.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
A serial killer is on the loose murdering people at random and the police have no leads whatsoever. Tom and Alice are happily married with a beautiful baby girl but the cracks begin to show; they are exhausted by a lack of sleep, bruising begins to appear on their baby and Alice starts writing about the serial killer. As Alice becomes more embroiled in her story, it appears the killer has her in his sights.
Written from different perspectives and with timelines from the past which smoothly lead into the present, this is a fast paced and thrilling read where the tension builds and builds right until the end. Each and every character is strong and adds something to the story.
I have read some of Alex Lake's previous books and have enjoyed each and every one of them and I will certainly be looking out for the next.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
The Hemlock Cure
8.0
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It is 1665 and the women of Eyam keep many secrets. Isabel Frith, the village midwife, walks a...
Historical fiction The Black Death Bubonic Plague 1665-1666 Eyam
A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding
6.0
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LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE Are we free to create our own destinies or are we...
Literary Fiction Mental Health
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Twenty (Major Crimes, Book 2) in Books
May 7, 2023
A definite 5 star read for me and one of my books of 2023 so far ... an absolute cracker!!
I read a lot of crime and psychological thrillers and the odd horror book and it takes a lot to get me going but Sam Holland most definitely got me going with The Twenty. Oh my word!! Why? I hear you ask.
Excellent and interesting characters ... check.
Excellent serial killer ... check.
Gripping story line ... check.
Fast pace ... check.
Twists and turns ... check.
Gruesome scenes that give you the chills ... check.
Tension and suspense in spades ... check.
What more is there to be said? Oh yes, this might be book 2 but don't let that put you off, it can easily be read as a standalone but I would strongly suggest you read book 1, The Echo Man, it's also a cracker!!
Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy a dark, gritty and grisly crime thriller ... you won't go far wrong with Sam Holland and I must thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant The Twenty.
I can't wait to see what comes next.
I read a lot of crime and psychological thrillers and the odd horror book and it takes a lot to get me going but Sam Holland most definitely got me going with The Twenty. Oh my word!! Why? I hear you ask.
Excellent and interesting characters ... check.
Excellent serial killer ... check.
Gripping story line ... check.
Fast pace ... check.
Twists and turns ... check.
Gruesome scenes that give you the chills ... check.
Tension and suspense in spades ... check.
What more is there to be said? Oh yes, this might be book 2 but don't let that put you off, it can easily be read as a standalone but I would strongly suggest you read book 1, The Echo Man, it's also a cracker!!
Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy a dark, gritty and grisly crime thriller ... you won't go far wrong with Sam Holland and I must thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant The Twenty.
I can't wait to see what comes next.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated The Walking People in Books
Dec 14, 2022
It’s the 1960’s, and Greta and Johanna Cahill leave their farm and sail away on a ship to New York. They leave with Michael, a ‘Tinker’ who wants to settle down once he’s there, and make a life for himself.
Greta makes a life for HERself once she’s in New York - out of the shadow of her more confident sister, but in doing so, she ends up keeping secrets that I wondered would have been better shared. But these are people constrained by the times they live in and the place they come from.
I really enjoyed following the lives of Greta and Michael as they struggled (and succeeded) to make lives for themselves. Part of me wondered why anyone would want to leave the beauty of rural Ireland for the hustle of New York, but in reality there was nothing there for a lot of young people. If they wanted to earn money and have a job, they left for America and the UK.
It’s just a lovely story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of a family that loses touch and finds one another years later - with a bittersweet ending.
Recommended.
Greta makes a life for HERself once she’s in New York - out of the shadow of her more confident sister, but in doing so, she ends up keeping secrets that I wondered would have been better shared. But these are people constrained by the times they live in and the place they come from.
I really enjoyed following the lives of Greta and Michael as they struggled (and succeeded) to make lives for themselves. Part of me wondered why anyone would want to leave the beauty of rural Ireland for the hustle of New York, but in reality there was nothing there for a lot of young people. If they wanted to earn money and have a job, they left for America and the UK.
It’s just a lovely story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of a family that loses touch and finds one another years later - with a bittersweet ending.
Recommended.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Look Both Ways [Audiobook] in Books
Mar 5, 2023
![Look Both Ways [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/70e/89b3e333-4f7c-4d1e-ba94-d1f1cb69d70e.jpg?m=1678050968)
I would say that this book is a cross between Christine and The Terminator and is one crazy ride!
Garrett Island's inhabitants have had all their cars removed and self-driving and fully automated 'Arrivals' given to them as an experiment. Arrivals are aware of each other and of everything around them ... gone are accidents, speeding, dints and scrapes; well, that's the theory anyway and it works until someone throws a spanner in the works and all hell breaks loose.
There's some great characters; I especially liked Bruce, Kate and Archie. The story is solid and the action comes thick and fast and whilst I found it a very entertaining story which I enjoyed, I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read the actual book as the narration just didn't do it for me unfortunately and it just didn't seem to be right for the story somehow.
Overall, a great book that makes you think twice about what the future is likely to hold and my thanks go to HarperCollins UK Audio, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Look Both Ways.
Garrett Island's inhabitants have had all their cars removed and self-driving and fully automated 'Arrivals' given to them as an experiment. Arrivals are aware of each other and of everything around them ... gone are accidents, speeding, dints and scrapes; well, that's the theory anyway and it works until someone throws a spanner in the works and all hell breaks loose.
There's some great characters; I especially liked Bruce, Kate and Archie. The story is solid and the action comes thick and fast and whilst I found it a very entertaining story which I enjoyed, I think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read the actual book as the narration just didn't do it for me unfortunately and it just didn't seem to be right for the story somehow.
Overall, a great book that makes you think twice about what the future is likely to hold and my thanks go to HarperCollins UK Audio, HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Look Both Ways.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated No Lawyers in Heaven [Audiobook] in Books
Aug 28, 2022
![No Lawyers in Heaven [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/dc1/86ac7f50-b2e0-4dc5-8fd7-a2e789f59dc1.jpg?m=1661693426)
I read and listen a lot of crime books and I thought it would be interesting to listen to something a bit different and I wasn't disappointed.
This is a glimpse into the life of a criminal defence lawyer and whilst this might sound a bit heavy going, let me reassure you it is not. It's an interesting insight into side of the defence with lots of humour thrown in. The cases discussed might be familiar to some, especially if you're in the UK, and some of the alleged criminals defended by Mr Milner are 'household names'.
This is not a sensationalised or in depth look into the alleged crimes committed but rather an account of a man who clearly cares about the law and everyone's right to be represented regardless of their guilt or innocence.
Mr Milner made what could have a been a very dry subject come to life all helped by the excellent narration of Mark Elstob whose voice was absolutely perfect for this book and my thanks must go to W.F. Howes Ltd and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to No Lawyers in Heaven and share my thoughts.
This is a glimpse into the life of a criminal defence lawyer and whilst this might sound a bit heavy going, let me reassure you it is not. It's an interesting insight into side of the defence with lots of humour thrown in. The cases discussed might be familiar to some, especially if you're in the UK, and some of the alleged criminals defended by Mr Milner are 'household names'.
This is not a sensationalised or in depth look into the alleged crimes committed but rather an account of a man who clearly cares about the law and everyone's right to be represented regardless of their guilt or innocence.
Mr Milner made what could have a been a very dry subject come to life all helped by the excellent narration of Mark Elstob whose voice was absolutely perfect for this book and my thanks must go to W.F. Howes Ltd and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to No Lawyers in Heaven and share my thoughts.
The Mars Migration
10.0
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"The ending of the novel had me at the edge of my seat the whole way through, a purely addictive...
science fiction
The People Next Door
4.0
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Lana and Roman Wade have fled the city for a little corner of paradise, exchanging their flat with...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Serial Killer's Daughter in Books
Aug 14, 2022
As with the first in the series, The Serial Killer's Wife, this is not your usual serial killer story and although this is the second book, you don't have to have read the first ... this can be listened to/read as a standalone very easily.
Jenny is a local vet living with her husband and 2 children in a quiet village in Devon where nothing usually happens but then a young woman goes missing, Jenny is having blackouts and someone is leaving her "presents" on her doorstep. Jenny starts to doubt her own sanity and suspects those around her but could it be related to her father, the serial killer known as The Painted Lady Killer? Is Jenny taking after her father?
This is a great book to listen to and although it's a slow burner, it certainly kept me engaged throughout. It's full of suspense and mystery with a great twist at the end and I particularly liked the narrators who did a great job.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to The Serial Killer's Daughter and share my thoughts.
Jenny is a local vet living with her husband and 2 children in a quiet village in Devon where nothing usually happens but then a young woman goes missing, Jenny is having blackouts and someone is leaving her "presents" on her doorstep. Jenny starts to doubt her own sanity and suspects those around her but could it be related to her father, the serial killer known as The Painted Lady Killer? Is Jenny taking after her father?
This is a great book to listen to and although it's a slow burner, it certainly kept me engaged throughout. It's full of suspense and mystery with a great twist at the end and I particularly liked the narrators who did a great job.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to The Serial Killer's Daughter and share my thoughts.