
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Lost Ones (Detective Jackie Cooke #1) in Books
Jun 21, 2022
There is so much to like about this book - the characters, the plot, the pace, the twists, the back-stories, the inventiveness of the murders, the writing style - pretty much all of it to be honest which made this a particularly hard book to put down. Luckily, I was on holiday so didn't have the usual work and life distractions so was able to devour the pages at my leisure.
Jackie is a strong, female character; she might be heavily pregnant, the mother of twin boys, with a musician for a husband, her mother living in her basement and a boss that clearly doesn't like her but she doesn't let these hold her back or prevent her and her team from investigating what is a horrific set of murders.
The book is packed full of tension, secrets, lies and the twists and turns and the scenes of peril just keep coming. A warning here though, the descriptions of the murders are quite graphic so if you don't like to read that sort of thing, you might want to skip over those bits.
My verdict - an excellent new series to get my teeth into and I can't wait to see what happens next with Jackie and her team and I must give my thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Lost Ones and to share my thoughts.

The Honour of Rome (Cato and Macro #20)
Book
A stunning novel of courage, camaraderie and deadly enemies from the Sunday Times bestselling author...

The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1)
Book
“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile...
psychological thriller series

Hazel (2934 KP) rated Those People Next Door [Audiobook] in Books
Feb 5, 2023
Salma, Bill and Zain move into their new home in the hopes of making a fresh start. The move has stretched them financially but they are determined to make the best of things and when they are invited to a barbecue in order to get to know their neighbours, things appear to be going well. However, when Zain's banner is removed from their front garden and dumped on their lawn by their neighbour, Tom, things quickly start to escalate culminating in a horrendous incident which leaves on of the characters in a coma and another standing trial for attempted murder.
This a really tense and, sadly, believable story of how misunderstandings, intolerance and lies can ruin lives. The characters aren't particularly likeable and this did mean that I actually didn't care what the outcome was for any of them but I did enjoy getting there and the twists and turns along the way!
The narrator, Tania Rodrigues, was excellent and really brought the story to life.
I have never read or listened to anything by Kia Abdullah before but I will certainly be keeping my beady eyes and ears open in the future and I must thank HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of Those People Next Door.

All That is Hidden
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"Retired" detective and police captain's wife Molly Murphy Sullivan tangles with Tammany Hall in the...

The Drowning Sea
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For the first time in her adult life, former Long Island homicide detective Maggie D’arcy is...

Yours and Mine: A Serrulata Saga Romance Novella
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She told a lie. He confirmed it. Now they’re secretly betrothed against their families’...
Adult Historical Romance Novella

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Labyrinth (Languedoc, #1) in Books
Aug 30, 2023
Book
Labyrinth ( Languedoc 1)
By Kate Mosse
⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Dr Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons during an archaeological dig in southern France, she unearths a link with a horrific and brutal past. But it's not just the sight of the shattered bones that makes her uneasy; there's an overwhelming sense of evil in the tomb that Alice finds hard to shake off, even in the bright French sunshine. Puzzled by the words carved inside the chamber, Alice has an uneasy feeling that she has disturbed something which was meant to remain hidden... Eight hundred years ago, on the night before a brutal civil war ripped apart Languedoc, a book was entrusted to Alais, a young herbalist and healer. Although she cannot understand the symbols and diagrams the book contains, Alais knows her destiny lies in protecting their secret, at all costs. Skilfully blending the lives of two women divided by centuries but united by a common destiny, LABYRINTH is a powerful story steeped in the atmosphere and history of southern France.
I really enjoy historical fiction and I like how this brought the lives of these two women to life. There were some parts I felt were a chore to read but overall it was a good read. I like Kate Mosse and her writing style so that pulled me through those hard parts. The link between these women was special and so well written!

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Graceling in Books
Sep 28, 2022
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Graceling ( Graceling Realm book 1)
Kristin Cashore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of those that when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about. If I had one thing that put me off a bit is that some bots are really long drawn out. Even still I really liked it. Katsa is a strong female character and I’m glad she sticks to her guns. Looking forward to book 2!

Loveborne
Book
A first shot at love and a last chance at living. Ever since the Loveborne virus wiped out half...
Contemporary Science Fiction Post Apocalyptic MM Romance