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The Institution
The Institution
Helen Fields | 2023 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Yet another gripping read by Helen Fields and one I very much enjoyed

It has everything - a gruesome murder, an isolated creepy location, serial killers, twists, turns, action and fantastic characters all wrapped up in an excellent story that was hard to stop reading even the parts that were quite gruesome.

Dr Connie and her partner, Baarda, are a great team and I would really like to read more about their work together - if there are more stories in the pipeline ... sign me up!

A very tense and riveting read that I highly recommend and thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling be to read and share my thoughts of The Institution.
  
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Merissa (13272 KP) created a post

Sep 22, 2025  
⚖️ “In a city divided by prejudice and power, one Sicilian immigrant must fight to survive amid corruption, violence, and the deadliest lynching in U.S. history.”

Based on true events, S. R. Perricone’s Cobblestones – A New Orleans Tragedy is a gripping tale of injustice, survival, and the fight for dignity in a city torn apart by fear and hate.

📖 Read the excerpt here as part of the #BlogTour with #TheCoffeePotBookClub: 👉 https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/excerpt-cobblestones-a-new-orleans-tragedy-by-s-r-perricone

💬 Historical fiction often reveals truths that history books leave out—what’s the most powerful real-life event you’ve discovered through a novel?

#HistoricalFiction #Crime #TrueEvents
     
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Des in TV

Sep 20, 2020  
Des
Des
2020 | Crime, Drama
9
8.8 (8 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Gripping and creepy
I will start off by saying I might be biased when it comes to dramas like this. I love true crime, especially ones based here in the UK. It may be because of where I work or my educational background, or just because true crime is a fascinating subject. Whatever the reason, I've heard about Dennis Nilsen before and this short series is a truly excellent depiction of him and his crimes.

Right from the start this is a gripping and chilling watch. It has a slow pace but fortunately not enough that it ever drags too much. The soundtrack in this is often haunting and really enhances the tension and suspense, as well as giving you the creeps. And speaking of giving you the creeps, whilst the rest of the cast are very good, the standout is by far David Tennant as the ridiculously creepy Nilsen. He really gives you the chills and watching this you're almost in disbelief that Nilsen was this nonchalant and manipulative. But if you'd watched the "Real Des" documentary shown after this series finished, you'd see that this was actually have Nilsen was. And not only that, but Tennant embodies him perfectly - in looks, accent and general manner and behaviours. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing him so well.

This might not be a pleasant watch for many as whilst it's still a dramatisation, it does go into some gruesome and rather horrific detail on Nilsen's crimes. But it's worth watching for Tennant's stellar performance if nothing else.
  
Darkness Falls (Kate Marshall #3)
Darkness Falls (Kate Marshall #3)
Robert Bryndza | 2021 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really didn't think that Mr Bryndza could better the first and second instalments in this excellent series but he has and yet again, I was totally engrossed from the first to the last word. You don't have to have read either of the first two books but I would highly recommend you do.

The characters are strong and I am really getting attached to Kate and Tristan; they are a brilliant duo and work really well together. The pace was spot on, the plot gripping and the tension spine-tinglingly good. The chapters which are written from the point of view of the killer are goosebump-inducing; he is so cold it really gave me the creeps - it was perfect! There is a great twist and the ending was so good I read way too late into the night and then was really disappointed that I had finished ... I didn't want it to end!
This series just keeps getting better and better and I can't wait for the next one. In the "Author's Letter" at the end, Mr Bryndza says that "Kate and Tristan will return shortly for another gripping murder investigation!" and I for one am waiting with bated breath!

Highly recommended for readers who love dark, exciting, suspense-filled stories that despite making you feel ill at ease at times, you read on into the night.

Many, many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.