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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.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Midwife [Audiobook] in Books
Nov 13, 2022
![The Midwife [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/1c7/e784efba-7442-4a2c-9889-bb55e29951c7.jpg?m=1668349110)
This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author and it will likely not be my last as I quite enjoyed this. I do think it worked really well as an audiobook; would I have thought the same if I had actually read it? I'm not sure as it was quite a slow burn but it was perfect to listen to whilst in the car.
The two main characters, Lauren and Jackie, are really interesting and well developed. It is clear they both have secrets but quite what they are and how they link to each other doesn't become clear until the end.
As I said, this is a slow burn with a growing sense of tension and unease from the beginning and this kept me listening desperate to find out what the twist was going to be and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.
The narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, did a good job with the narration and she was easy to listen to.
Overall, a satisfying audiobook and many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Midwife.
The two main characters, Lauren and Jackie, are really interesting and well developed. It is clear they both have secrets but quite what they are and how they link to each other doesn't become clear until the end.
As I said, this is a slow burn with a growing sense of tension and unease from the beginning and this kept me listening desperate to find out what the twist was going to be and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.
The narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, did a good job with the narration and she was easy to listen to.
Overall, a satisfying audiobook and many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Midwife.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Darling Descent (Confessional #1) in Books
Jan 26, 2023
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Kenna is looking for a mentor she can't travel far so is stuck on campus. The dark Dr. Dayton Merino the university psychiatrist, who seems very familiar to Kenna but he's hiding something and she is determined to find out who's hiding behind the mask.
This is the first book in the confessional series. This story is completely captivating and I thoroughly enjoyed the constant suspense and tension between both of the main characters. I was a little shocked by the last confession by Dayton I don't want to give too much away as you will find out when you read it.
This is a very intense storyline with a lot of action, I want to say, but not always physical, mental would possibly be more accurate with them both playing games with each other.
I sincerely enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Kenna is looking for a mentor she can't travel far so is stuck on campus. The dark Dr. Dayton Merino the university psychiatrist, who seems very familiar to Kenna but he's hiding something and she is determined to find out who's hiding behind the mask.
This is the first book in the confessional series. This story is completely captivating and I thoroughly enjoyed the constant suspense and tension between both of the main characters. I was a little shocked by the last confession by Dayton I don't want to give too much away as you will find out when you read it.
This is a very intense storyline with a lot of action, I want to say, but not always physical, mental would possibly be more accurate with them both playing games with each other.
I sincerely enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Road (The Spread #4) in Books
Nov 14, 2021
Well, once again, Iain has excelled with this the fourth in the series of The Spread.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into this gripping story and finding out what hazards are set to befall the survivors and who Iain is going to dispatch next and how! It wasn't long before I was hooked.
The Road is absolutely teeming with heart-in-the-mouth moments; the fungus isn't the only enemy as our survivors find out to their cost. The story moves on at pace and is full of tension and numerous scenes of peril that had me holding my breath at times. The characters, both good and bad, are excellent and no one feels like they have been just dropped in to fill the story.
I can't wait for book 5 to see what comes next but I am sure it won't be plain sailing or all sweetness and light but I guess I will just have to wait ... impatiently!!
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with a copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into this gripping story and finding out what hazards are set to befall the survivors and who Iain is going to dispatch next and how! It wasn't long before I was hooked.
The Road is absolutely teeming with heart-in-the-mouth moments; the fungus isn't the only enemy as our survivors find out to their cost. The story moves on at pace and is full of tension and numerous scenes of peril that had me holding my breath at times. The characters, both good and bad, are excellent and no one feels like they have been just dropped in to fill the story.
I can't wait for book 5 to see what comes next but I am sure it won't be plain sailing or all sweetness and light but I guess I will just have to wait ... impatiently!!
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with a copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Binding Room in Books
Jul 17, 2022
After having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, The Jigsaw Man, I was itching to get my grubby little eyes on this and I wasn't disappointed.
This can be read as a standalone but you will get more out of this book if you've read The Jigsaw Man but I wouldn't say it was essential.
Once again we are treated to a great story, fantastic characters, twists and tension all told at a great pace. Warning! There are some pretty grim scenes and gruesome descriptions so if that's not your thing, I would probably give this a miss.
This is quite a long book and I can usually lose a bit of interest part way through but not with this; I was totally invested from start to finish and I would happily recommend this to others who enjoy dark police procedurals.
I am looking forward to the next instalment to find out what other twisted thoughts Ms Matheson can come up with to intrigue and shock and I must give thanks to HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Binding Room and to share my thoughts.
This can be read as a standalone but you will get more out of this book if you've read The Jigsaw Man but I wouldn't say it was essential.
Once again we are treated to a great story, fantastic characters, twists and tension all told at a great pace. Warning! There are some pretty grim scenes and gruesome descriptions so if that's not your thing, I would probably give this a miss.
This is quite a long book and I can usually lose a bit of interest part way through but not with this; I was totally invested from start to finish and I would happily recommend this to others who enjoy dark police procedurals.
I am looking forward to the next instalment to find out what other twisted thoughts Ms Matheson can come up with to intrigue and shock and I must give thanks to HQ and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Binding Room and to share my thoughts.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated You Can stay in Books
Sep 11, 2022
This is one of those books that you will either enjoy or not ... I thought it was quite good, not fantastic but not bad either.
There is a nod to Stephen King's Misery to this story, which is acknowledged by the author, as it's got some similar themes and has that creepy and growing sense of tension feel to it.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but they are well developed and although I don't think it mattered too much whether Eilidh was 'nice' or not, I did feel it was important for Connor to have some redeemable qualities alas I didn't think he did and therefore wasn't bothered what befell him which resulted in me not investing as much into the story as I could have.
The pace started off a little slow but grew as things moved on; the ending was quite satisfying if a little quick and although you have to suspend belief as to how Connor came to be in his position in the first place, it's a pretty good read.
Many thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of You Can Stay.
There is a nod to Stephen King's Misery to this story, which is acknowledged by the author, as it's got some similar themes and has that creepy and growing sense of tension feel to it.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable but they are well developed and although I don't think it mattered too much whether Eilidh was 'nice' or not, I did feel it was important for Connor to have some redeemable qualities alas I didn't think he did and therefore wasn't bothered what befell him which resulted in me not investing as much into the story as I could have.
The pace started off a little slow but grew as things moved on; the ending was quite satisfying if a little quick and although you have to suspend belief as to how Connor came to be in his position in the first place, it's a pretty good read.
Many thanks to Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of You Can Stay.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Island in Books
May 15, 2022
The choices you make have consequences ... some of them deadly!
Whilst on a working holiday in Australia, the Baxters decide to do some sightseeing and find their way onto the isolated and private Dutch Island. They are hoping to see and photograph some of the native wildlife but end up being involved in a tragic accident which brings them to the attention of the O'Neil clan who call the island their home and they are not happy!!!
The Baxters quickly get into a fight for their lives and so begins the non-stop action that is The Island. There is lots of tension, violence and scenes of peril with a few twists but, overall, it's the story of survival ... but who will make it off The Island?
This book has a vibe akin to the film The Deliverance with a bit of Rambo thrown in for good measure so if you like that sort of action, I would definitely recommend this ... you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Island and share my thoughts.
Whilst on a working holiday in Australia, the Baxters decide to do some sightseeing and find their way onto the isolated and private Dutch Island. They are hoping to see and photograph some of the native wildlife but end up being involved in a tragic accident which brings them to the attention of the O'Neil clan who call the island their home and they are not happy!!!
The Baxters quickly get into a fight for their lives and so begins the non-stop action that is The Island. There is lots of tension, violence and scenes of peril with a few twists but, overall, it's the story of survival ... but who will make it off The Island?
This book has a vibe akin to the film The Deliverance with a bit of Rambo thrown in for good measure so if you like that sort of action, I would definitely recommend this ... you won't be disappointed.
Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Island and share my thoughts.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Witch’s Storm ( The Bone Season book 2) in Books
Feb 1, 2023
14 of 235
Kindle
Witch’s Storm ( The Bone Coven Chronicles #2)
By Jenna Wolfhart
⭐️⭐️
As a new Enforcer for the Bone Coven, I protect humans from supernatural assaults with the help of my sexy half-warlock, half-vampire partner. But when my latest investigation reveals a string of gruesome mage deaths, it seems there's a serial killer targeting us instead of them.
To make matters worse, demons immune to my coven's spells are now prowling the city streets hunting for prey. Their strength is growing, and they have their sights set on destroying the veil that protects our realm from theirs.
There's only one way to stop the killer and banish the demons once and for all. I must finally give into the dark magic that simmers deep within me, threatening to destroy my soul.
But will the world survive if I do?
This was not a book I enjoyed and I really hate giving 1 stars. It was badly written in place and repetitive the tension between the two main characters was strange. I just couldn’t get on with it. The characters and storyline became annoying. And what the hell is slayervill
Kindle
Witch’s Storm ( The Bone Coven Chronicles #2)
By Jenna Wolfhart
⭐️⭐️
As a new Enforcer for the Bone Coven, I protect humans from supernatural assaults with the help of my sexy half-warlock, half-vampire partner. But when my latest investigation reveals a string of gruesome mage deaths, it seems there's a serial killer targeting us instead of them.
To make matters worse, demons immune to my coven's spells are now prowling the city streets hunting for prey. Their strength is growing, and they have their sights set on destroying the veil that protects our realm from theirs.
There's only one way to stop the killer and banish the demons once and for all. I must finally give into the dark magic that simmers deep within me, threatening to destroy my soul.
But will the world survive if I do?
This was not a book I enjoyed and I really hate giving 1 stars. It was badly written in place and repetitive the tension between the two main characters was strange. I just couldn’t get on with it. The characters and storyline became annoying. And what the hell is slayervill
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Whistling in Books
Aug 3, 2023
Elspeth Swansome is escaping her past in Edinburgh and taking up a post as a nanny on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea (it’s fictional, but I would really want to visit it if it was real!).
Elspeth is going to nanny Mary, a child who is clearly suffering from trauma. Her twin, William, is dead and her former nanny has disappeared. Elspeth is told that if she can’t get Mary to talk, she will be institutionalised.
I loved this - it’s the right kind of spooky, and you can’t beat a haunted house: lullabies are sung by someone who isn’t there, poppets keep appearing in random rooms, and whistling can be heard at night. It all added up to a book that sent shivers down my spine!
The characters were sometimes likeable, menacing, disconcerting and some most definitely had something to hide!
I listened to this on Audible, and the narrator, Lois Chimimba, kept me glued to my headphones. Her different accents were all spot on, and helped me to tell the different characters apart. I was never confused as to ‘who’ was speaking.
The tension built and built to the climactic ending - a truly delicious ghost story!
Elspeth is going to nanny Mary, a child who is clearly suffering from trauma. Her twin, William, is dead and her former nanny has disappeared. Elspeth is told that if she can’t get Mary to talk, she will be institutionalised.
I loved this - it’s the right kind of spooky, and you can’t beat a haunted house: lullabies are sung by someone who isn’t there, poppets keep appearing in random rooms, and whistling can be heard at night. It all added up to a book that sent shivers down my spine!
The characters were sometimes likeable, menacing, disconcerting and some most definitely had something to hide!
I listened to this on Audible, and the narrator, Lois Chimimba, kept me glued to my headphones. Her different accents were all spot on, and helped me to tell the different characters apart. I was never confused as to ‘who’ was speaking.
The tension built and built to the climactic ending - a truly delicious ghost story!
This is one of those books that you are either going to like or not ... for me, I liked it. It's a proper mind-messing read where you don't know what's real and what's imagined.
Emma, the main character, is not what I would call a particularly likeable one; mind you, not many of the characters in this book are if I'm honest but that doesn't really matter to me that much and, if anything, it makes it even more intriguing as you don't know where the story is going to go.
It does start off pretty slowly while the scene is being set but during this time, there is the slow drip, drip, drip of information and the creation of tension, suspense and misdirection that all comes together in the end.
This is a complex and original story which uses a touch of the "unknown"; it's dark, unnerving and unsettling and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys something a bit different in their psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Emma, the main character, is not what I would call a particularly likeable one; mind you, not many of the characters in this book are if I'm honest but that doesn't really matter to me that much and, if anything, it makes it even more intriguing as you don't know where the story is going to go.
It does start off pretty slowly while the scene is being set but during this time, there is the slow drip, drip, drip of information and the creation of tension, suspense and misdirection that all comes together in the end.
This is a complex and original story which uses a touch of the "unknown"; it's dark, unnerving and unsettling and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys something a bit different in their psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.