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Survivor's Guilt (DCI Matilda Darke #8)
Survivor's Guilt (DCI Matilda Darke #8)
Michael Wood | 2021 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Having just finished Time is Running Out, the 7th in this series, and being absolutely blown away by it, I couldn't wait to get my grubby little mitts on this, the 8th in the brilliant Matilda Darke series and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. What I will say is that I think it would be preferable to have read the 7th book before reading this one as this one picks the story up 9 months later and will provide an explanation as to why Matilda and other characters are acting as they are.

This book follows 3 themes; the aftermath of the massacre that occurred in the previous book, the murder of prostitutes in Sheffield and the long-running theme of the kidnapping of Carl Meagan.

Once again, Michael writes a gripping story that moves at pace. There is violence and edge-of-the-seat moments; I took at sharp intake of breath when the murderer was revealed - I am usually quite good at figuring out who it is but this one absolutely blind-sided me and I actually gasped and said a few choice words that are not repeatable here as I try to avoid profanity in my reviews!

There is also compassion and tenderness and an authentic-feeling description of how grief and tragedy can affect people differently; it can bring you together or completely tear you apart and destroy you and those around you. Everyone is struggling to manage their grief but can they work together to catch the killer or are they too broken?

The characters are just brilliant and I particularly liked how Michael portrayed the prostitutes as "people" rather than the usual stereotypes which made a nice change; I absolutely loved Bev and Sarah. Matilda is, I admit, a difficult person to like in this book but given what she has endured, she is forgiven ... just this once!

Full of tension, suspense and emotion, this book and the series, is one that shouldn't be missed ... roll on number 9!

I am grateful to HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
  
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Merissa (14116 KP) rated The Nines in Books

Apr 11, 2023  
The Nines
The Nines
Karen M. Bryson | 2015 | Contemporary, Romance, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story has two damaged characters for the main leads - Roxie and Alexander. They are both mysterious in their own ways but are drawn together by fate/circumstances/online forum - you take your pick. Roxie is carrying a bucket load of guilt from the past and Alexander is carrying a whole load of anger from the past. However, their pasts and their presents collide so will they have a future together?

After I had finished this book, I messaged a friend of mine who had also read it and I said to her "What a horrible, fantastic book." And that is how I feel about this story. It is gripping and enthralling, you won't want to stop reading it but at the same time, it will make your stomach clench and your heartbeat race - and not always in a good way. You will become so engrossed with the characters that you will speed up your reading until this particular scene is finished. Your heartbeat will slow down... until the next scene.

This book deals with an issue that I have only ever seen on TV or read about in the news. I simply cannot imagine how it goes on in real life but unfortunately, it is too often an occurrence it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book although it was different from what I expected when I read the synopsis - there was less about the bomber and Alex's revenge, less about Roxie's past and more about what was happening now. This is not a bad thing, just different to what I was expecting.

This is the first book in the series which can be read as a standalone but I will be reading the next in the series when it comes out, which is Blood Sings (Hector's Story). I need to know more about these anti-heroes! Highly recommended but be warned - it's not all nice!
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
August 10, 2016