Crime

Neon by G.S. Locke | Blog Tour

July 10, 2020 Yvonne 1 Comment

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

neon by g s locke - Neon by G.S. Locke | Blog Tour

Neon by G.S. Locke
Published by Orion Publishing Group on 9 July 2020
ISBN: 9781409190479
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Traditional, Psychological, Thrillers, Crime, Legal, Women Sleuths, Suspense, Private Investigators, True Crime, Murder, Serial Killers
Pages: 416
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

four stars - Neon by G.S. Locke | Blog Tour

A detective desperate for revenge. A hitwoman with one last job. A killer with both on his list.
Detective Matt Jackson has reached the end. His beloved wife, Polly, is the latest victim of 'NEON' - a serial killer who displays his victims in snaking neon lights - and he can't go on without her.
Unable to take his life, Jackson hires a hitwoman to finish the job. But on the night of his own murder, he makes a breakthrough in the case, and at the last minute his hitwoman, Iris, is offered an irresistible alternative: help Jackson find and kill NEON in return for the detective's entire estate.
What follows is a game of cat and mouse between detective, hitwoman and serial killer. And when Jackson discovers it's not a coincidence that all their paths have crossed, he begins to question who the real target has been all along...

Anyone that has stuck around this blog for any length of time knows that I’m an avid reader of psychological thriller but when a serious crime element is thrown in for good measure, you know I’m anyone’s. It wasn’t necessarily the twist that I was waiting for that made Neon so good but the devilishly dark narrative that the plot took on from the very first page. Not only is the death of a spouse a traumatic event, but for it to have been a targeted attack by the man you are actively investigating is a blow professionally and personally.

I greedily accepted the blog tour invitation for Neon like a kid eyeing up the candy in the shop. The cover, with all its neon attractiveness pulled me in with no effort whatsoever. I’ve always imagined neon signs and installations that hint towards something a bit more on the darker side. The illuminous colours providing a competent smokescreen for the seedier activities of human beings. The serial killer certainly had an inventive way proving that theory accurate. The synopsis provides us with little titbits but doesn’t give too much away – just the way I love it!

The format of Neon was so different but totally refreshing. It was like walking into the eye of the storm. Points of interest were gone, anything familiar were gone but you were powerless to the pulling power that book had over you. You were disorientated but the thrill had an edge that you couldn’t withstand.

DCI Matt Jackson is at the end of his rope. He has been investigating an imaginative serial killer that displays his female victims with neon installations. Its deeply upsetting and the macabre nature is meant to shock the reader. Unfortunately, the serial killer’s latest victim is Jackson’s beloved wife, Polly. This is the catalyst for his dark depression – one that he now sees no way out of. Life Is grey without her, a stark contrast to how his last memory served him of her. He doesn’t want to live without her – so he has organised his murder/suicide at the hands of a trained hitman. Will a new lead make him regret his decision and can he come to a highly unconventional agreement with hitman, Iris Palmer?

Two incredibly flawed characters, one mourning the loss of his wife and career and essentially his own life and one battling a ferocious illness. Neon highlighted the unfairness of life and G.S. Locke brought me to my knees with a genuine but bleak prose. I have only experienced this flow with but a few authors, but Locke nailed the inevitability of life and death.

Neon is laced with more than a smattering of the dark and disturbing but gives a bird’s eye view of what being human entails. An intense and clever thriller that is crackling with energy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

18996244 - Neon by G.S. Locke | Blog Tour

After a career in Public Relations, disappearing to Devon, marriage and five children, I came to writing stories later than sooner.

I’m the author of thirteen novels, including ‘Neon.’ By day, I work as an editorial consultant, specialising in crime, action adventure and thrillers in all permutations. The rest of the time I write, hang out with family and friends, practice like crazy on my piano, the aim to play well rather than badly, enjoy my roses, for which I have a soft spot, and love to read with a glass of something chilled in my hand. I also have a weakness for dark chocolate.

G.S. Locke

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner|Review

June 25, 2020 Yvonne 2 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

81DRDcGosoL - When You See Me by Lisa Gardner|Review

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner
Published by Cornerstone Digital on January 28, 2020
ISBN: 9781524745011
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural
Pages: 400
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

two stars - When You See Me by Lisa Gardner|Review

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner unites three of her most beloved characters—Detective D. D. Warren, Flora Dane, and Kimberly Quincy—in a twisty new thriller, as they investigate a mysterious murder from the past...which points to a dangerous and chilling present-day crime.
FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and Sergeant Detective D. D. Warren have built a task force to follow the digital bread crumbs left behind by deceased serial kidnapper Jacob Ness. When a disturbing piece of evidence is discovered in the hills of Georgia, they bring Flora Dane and true-crime savant Keith Edgar to a small town where something seems to be deeply wrong. What at first looks like a Gothic eeriness soon hardens into something much more sinister...and they discover that for all the evil Jacob committed while alive, his worst secret is still to be revealed. Quincy and DD must summon their considerable skills and experience to crack the most disturbing case of their careers—and Flora must face her own past directly in the hope of saving others.

TRIGGER WARNING

RAPE, KIDNAPPING & TORTURE

When You See Me by all accounts should have been one of those really immersive police procedurals. That my dear friends is not what I got…although it does seem that I’m in the minority with those feelings. I was expecting a full-blown luxurious slap up meal and instead I got a shit sandwich. I should go on record and state that I haven’t read any of Lisa Gardner’s other offerings, but this did let me down. Elements just didn’t work for me and the first 40% of the novel about looking for bones, after bones, after bones just ended up having the opposite effect for me – monotony.

As I’m led to believe, Flora Dane features in When You See Me and a few more recent Lisa Gardner books. As aforementioned I can’t comment on the other books, but Flora Dane’s presence just never felt authentic. It also didn’t feel like she really contributed much to the taskforce. She was brought along for the ride when a young girl’s skeletal remains are found in a Georgia town, ultimately it is discovered that she had been missing fifteen years and they put two and two together and got six billion. They believed this could have been an early victim of serial killer Jacob Ness – Flora’s kidnapper and tormentor.

First of all, why on earth did finding these random bones automatically link this victim straight to Jacob Ness? Plot Armour – most likely. I’m almost certain that all it would have triggered, AT THIS POINT, would have been a cold case. I sincerely doubt it would have given rise to a highly expensive and time-consuming task force. It went from producing connections that were just plain ridiculous to the plot becoming way too outlandish. I did however enjoy the motherly relationship between D.D. Warren and Bonita, it gave us a break from the monotony and gave us the only bouts of mystery contained within When You See Me.

When You See Me was just an all-out mess. Given the subject matter I should have felt empathy and compassion, but I ended up feeling no tangible connection to any of the characters. We also have a trash fire of a sex scene to contend with, and, WHAT WAS WITH THE SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT? It did not add up…nothing did!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa2011test 001 400x400 - When You See Me by Lisa Gardner|Review

Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide) and has made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN.

Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, while also receiving the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter. Finally, Lisa received the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers in 2017 for her work on behalf of at-risk children and the Humane Society.

For a bit of fun, Lisa invites her readers to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected to meet a grand end in Lisa’s latest novel. Past winners have nominated spouses, best friends and even themselves.

Lisa lives in New Hampshire where she spends her time with an assortment of canine companions. When not writing, she loves to hike, garden, snowshoe and play cribbage.

Lisa Gardner

Review| The House On The Lake by Nuala Ellwood

June 13, 2020 Yvonne 5 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book contains themes unsuitable for readers under 17. Contains drugs, sex and or abuse

the house on the lake by nuala ellwood - Review| The House On The Lake by Nuala Ellwood

The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood
Published by Penguin UK on January 24, 2020
ISBN: 9780241985168
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime, Psychological, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Cozy, General, Ghost, Gothic, Romance, Domestic, Family Life, Marriage & Divorce, Military, Horror
Pages: 320
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

two stars - Review| The House On The Lake by Nuala Ellwood

No matter how far you run . . .He's never far behind
'Gripping, poignant' Rosamund Lupton
'Eerily haunting' Jane Corry
'I literally couldn't put it down' Emma Curtis
__________________________________________
Lisa needs to disappear. And her friend's rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It's miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows her or her little boy, Joe.
But when a woman from the local village comes to visit them, Lisa realizes that she and Joe aren't as safe as she thought.
What secrets have Rowan Isle House - and her friend - kept hidden all these years?
And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her?
**BUY THE NEW SPELLBINDING THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND MY SISTER'S BONES**__________________________________________
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT NUALA ELLWOOD
'Creepy and deliciously atmospheric, this page-turner has it all - twists and turns and a powerful emotional punch' Teresa Driscoll
'What a great book! It's got everything a good thriller needs, a creepy old house, a remote location, some great complex characters and lots of perfectly timed twists and turns' Netgalley Reader
'Makes you question everything you thought you knew' Emma Kavanagh
'Brilliantly compulsive and with one hell of a twist!' Claire Douglas

The House On The Lake. The synopsis, the atmosphere, the struggle. It held such incredible promise. A woman, Lisa is on the run from her husband, Mark. A woman and her three-year-old son, Joe. An impossible situation that finally breaks the woman – it gives her the edge and the courage to leave. She essentially kidnaps her son and goes on the run, a plan loosely concocted. She must make it to her friends Yorkshire cottage. A cottage on the lake. Rowan Isle House. A story told in dual timeframes. The plan didn’t account for how dilapidated the house would be. It’s no place for a frightened woman…no place for a three-year-old boy. Hostile and cold just like the life Lisa has been living.

We also have the point of view of an eleven-year-old girl, Grace approximately fifteen years previously. The similarities between the two storylines are startling. They are both living unconventional lives in the house. The walls of Rowan Isle House has seen some sights. Grace is living with her father, who is ex SAS and from all appearances seems to be experiencing the symptoms of PTSD. The girl has an extremely harsh life and it is so far away from a regular childhood it is awful. He treats her more like a solider, referring to her as solider number one – but only when she passes the tasks that deem her to be worthy of the title.

Unfortunately, House On The Lake didn’t work for me. The plot just seemed to be so inconceivably unbelievable. The urge to escape a terrifying domestic abuse situation is strong, especially when a child is involved but to escape to an inhospitable house with no electric, water or heating just seemed idiotic. Where was the simple and rational thought process of staying with friends or even accessing the help available through the avenues of the police and women’s aid? I fully accept the fear factor and it always isn’t easy but surely it would have easier than the route she chose?

One other thing I found at odds with the situation and Lisa’s behaviour was just how much she put herself out there. She didn’t want to be memorable to those in the village, but she didn’t exactly do the whole incognito deal well. She would be terrible in a spy situation. At the very least she could have had a name change. That was one aspect of the plot that just didn’t add up.

The House On The Lake was just extremely slow and for most of the book nothing of any note seemed to happen in relation to Lisa and Joe’s story. I couldn’t bring myself to be invested or to really care about the conclusion of her story. Grace was a more pragmatic narrative, but I was only slightly more invested in her as a character. Although this was the first book I’ve read by the author I will attempt one of her other books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nuala Ellwood is the daughter of an award-winning journalist. She was inspired by his experiences and those of foreign correspondents such as Marie Colvin and Martha Gellhorn to secure Arts Council funding for her research into PTSD for her debut psychological thriller MY SISTER’S BONES.

Nuala Ellwood

Fifty-Fifty By Steve Cavanagh|Review

June 10, 2020 Yvonne 3 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

fifty fifty by steve cavanagh - Fifty-Fifty By Steve Cavanagh|Review

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
Series: Eddie Flynn
Published by Orion Publishing Group on 3rd September 2020
ISBN: 9781409198918
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Crime, Suspense, Legal, Political, Psychological, Domestic, Mystery & Detective, International Mystery & Crime
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback, ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

five stars - Fifty-Fifty By Steve Cavanagh|Review

Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other.Who do YOU believe?
'911 what's your emergency?'
'My dad's dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She's still in the house. Please send help.'
'My dad's dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She's still in the house. Please send help.'
One of them is a liar and a killer.
But which one?
********
Your favourite authors LOVE Fifty-Fifty, the follow-up to the bestselling novel Thirteen:'A terrific writer. He has talent to burn.' Don Winslow
'Unpredictable, daring and completely compelling. Top notch writing.' Alex North
'Very clever, darkly funny, moving, fast-faced.' Jane Casey
'Steve Cavanagh writes the best hooks in the business' Mick Herron
'Absolutely brilliant. Addictive, clever, pacy. Eddie Flynn is one of my heroes.' Jo Spain
'Intelligent, sophisticated and tense.' Mari Hannah

You don’t review books long before you come across the name Steve Cavanagh. The name is synonymous with the Thriller genre and if you haven’t read anything penned by this ingenious man, then why not? Fifty-Fifty is his new offering.

Fifty-Fifty is a blast to the genitals. Its swift, precise and you are left reeling on the floor. I am obsessed with courtroom dramas. This began when I was a member of a Jury – the atmosphere, the tension and the responsibility emits a fizzing spark within me. Watching and waiting to see just how it is going to pan out.

Sisters. Surely, they are united in shared family experiences? An unbreakable bond? These assumptions would be wrong. Two sisters united in their hate for one another. They both had a dreadful childhood – a father that become emotionally closed off after the death of their mother. They were sent off to separate boarding schools and they rarely had contact with their Mayor Father. The sisters are both difficult to make a connection with. One appears cold and calculated and one threatens to buckle under the pressure of mental health. The conflicting stories and the small inconsistences make this an impossible trial to call.

Opening Fifty-Fifty felt like a door slamming shut behind you when you know no one is home. Cavanagh knew my weakness and he wasn’t afraid to manipulate it.

Flynn has his work cut out for him. This trial is going to take everything he has ever learned as a con man and a lawyer combined to acquit his client. He is sure that he is defending the innocent sister – Sofia. She couldn’t have possibly committed such heinous act – she’s too meek and damaged, isn’t she? The signs started becoming clearer and by that point I was a goner. I was sure Flynn was on the winning side but occasionally I could feel doubt creeping in.

Research, a developing romance, circumstantial evidence and two sisters that are determined to blame the other for their father’s murder – it can’t possibly end in anything but both women being declared guilty, can it?

Fifty-Fifty was like running with both shoelaces tied together. If you examine the evidence slowly and deliberately you can make it to the end with one conclusion and your conscience intact. Hurry to the finish line and all you’ll do is trip up and miss vital information.

Just who is the villain of this story? Steve Cavanagh gives the reader a deliciously twisted woman who will stop at nothing to come out on top. He gives a compulsive insight into just how sickening human nature can be. Its messed up and propelled by greed and manipulation. You want to root for the good guy or woman but will the good always prevail? You only must look to history to find your answer.

Fifty-Fifty has a razor-sharp narrative that will cut your throat. A disturbing test of morals that is so perfectly paced. It is as compulsive as it is dark.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

steve cavanagh - Fifty-Fifty By Steve Cavanagh|Review

Steve Cavanagh is the bestselling author of the Eddie Flynn novels and standalone thrillers. In 2018 The Liar won the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for crime novel of the year. In 2019 Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the year 2019. All of his novels have either been nominated for awards, or have won awards internationally.

He is a former lawyer, and was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he still lives. If you want to get in touch with Steve, use the social media links below. For press, please contact Orion Books, London, or Flatiron Books, New York. Together with Luca Veste, Steve hosts the popular comedy lit podcast Two Crime Writers And A Microphone.

Steve Cavanagh Website

Review|Her Daughter’s Cry By M.M. Chouinard

June 8, 2020 Yvonne 3 Comments

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

her daughters cry by m m chouinard - Review|Her Daughter's Cry By M.M. Chouinard

Her Daughter's Cry by M.M. Chouinard
Published by Bookouture on January 23, 2020
ISBN: 9781786818270
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime, Psychological, International Mystery & Crime
Pages: 350
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

four stars - Review|Her Daughter's Cry By M.M. Chouinard

Someone wants her dead, and she can’t remember why.

Zoe is a wife and a mother. Or so she’s been told. Ask her for more than that and she couldn’t tell you. The blow to her head wiped her memory clean.

Zoe knows the blood on her shirt isn’t just her own. After she was found stumbling out of the woods, the police ran tests. They say it belongs to her missing daughter.

Zoe is trying to piece together what her daughter’s face looks like, but all she can conjure up is a white-hot panic. A fear that her child is in desperate need of her help.

When a man claiming to be her husband turns up looking for her, she knows she can’t trust him. Until she gets her memories back, she can’t trust anyone. Not the stranger, not the police investigating, not even herself…

A completely addictive thriller that will keep you guessing into the early hours of the morning. Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient, Lisa Regan and Gregg Olsen.

Read what everyone is saying about Her Daughter’s Cry:

“Just WOW!! The twists I just didn’t see coming… The story was crazy SO CRAZY!!! If you think you can guess what is going to happen, you will be sadly mistaken!! The characters in this one were great… I loved every second of it.” Crossroad Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Omg, this book had me completely gripped, with twists and turns. I honestly thought it was someone else who had done it. Amazingly written. This is a first time read for me with this author, but I will be certainly reading more… Crime thriller at its best.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A perfect thriller.” Shalini’s Books & Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I could not put this book down!! What a thriller this book is!! I love stories that involve memory loss! You are hooked… What a great book!! Highly recommended!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Chouinard really upped her game… I was pulled in right from the start… I could not figure anything out no matter how many scenarios I came up with… Wow, the ending I just never saw coming… I devoured it within a matter of hours. Talk about an intense and crazy storyline!... Another five-star read.” Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me hooked from the first page to the last with a heart-wrenching story and explosive conclusion… I felt as if I won the jackpot with this one. The writing is excellent, the pacing fast and the characters are beautifully drawn. Off to buy the others!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“GREAT story… a must-read… A ‘stay up and finish book’. M.M. Chouinard has created another fantastic thriller!… Looking forward to the next.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was captivated by this story… The cat-and-mouse way this book was written made it impossible to put down… This is a hit.” Robin Loves Reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The author did it again… A captivating story that kept me interested from page one!… It was such an amazing story. Just Like Zoe did not know who she could trust, I did not know either… Long story short: an awesome book… Keep them coming, please. 🙂 5 stars.” B for Bookreview ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I absolutely enjoyed this thrilling ride of a book… Well-written, fast paced, thrilling… kept me flipping pages fast… Lots of twists & turns, thrills, and chills are found in this book! Highly recommend!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I absolutely loved it! 5 stars! Excellent writing and storyline…” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I loved The Dancing Girls so I was really looking forward to reading this and it delivered on all levels… Zoe has no idea who she can trust and to be honest neither did I. Fast-paced and kept me guessing all the way through. Another brilliant read!!” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m such a massive fan of the titles that Bookouture have been putting out and Her Daughter’s Cry did not disappoint.

You know that you are on to a winner when you can’t stop thinking about a book and are looking for excuses to ditch your housework and just read, read, read. Within a few pages I felt hypnotised by M.M. Chouinard’s skill at reeling you in – she had me by the jugular and wouldn’t let go until I had inhaled her twisty narrative. I immediately added her back catalogue to my TBR – the book hangover she afforded me was all consuming!

Her Daughter’s Cry was elusive. After reading the synopsis I knew this book would sink me, but I still felt in the dark. My kindle was fully charged and raring to go but I felt a palpating sense of anxiety course through me – my hands shook with the possibility of the plot but the author opened the doors to her wickedly compulsive world none the less.

simon berger rydQVdwcgUQ unsplash 820x1024 - Review|Her Daughter's Cry By M.M. Chouinard

This book is proverbial crack to a book lover. Is it at all possible that I will do this book justice? Probably not, hence why the most powerful statement that I can make is TO BUY THE BOOK. You need to meet Marissa and witness first-hand her journey from no memory to the shocking realisation of what a simple camping trip has turned into. Our detectives, Jo Fournier and team are racing against the clock to piece together…everything really, the mysterious woman with no memory and what really happened in the woods. The stakes had never been higher – a serious case of amnesia, someone that needs to stop Zoe and shut her up for good and the relentless impact of consequences.

I have now come to learn that a book written by Chouinard will set the synapses firing in your brain at one thousand miles per hour. You will constantly ask questions, but the answers will be given to you in drips and drabs with an earth-shattering twist to make you forget your own damn name. This book was consumed faster than a kid eats sweets.

ahmed zayan 6h0xlEZoYZY unsplash 683x1024 - Review|Her Daughter's Cry By M.M. Chouinard

Jo’s character was mesmerising. She was used to the looks and glances when people realised, she was the one in charge of an investigation. Her strength was admirable and stubborn to boot. When someone tells her, she can’t do something then she will go out her way to prove that not only can she do it but ten times better than anyone was expecting. Elements within this narrative brought a softer side to her character and you were witness to something changing – I look forward to this development in further books.

Her Daughter’s Cry is a tightly wound and absorbing thriller that will have you instantly talking about it. Its smart and intense and a twist that will have you gasping with shock.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

5998529 - Review|Her Daughter's Cry By M.M. Chouinard

M.M. Chouinard writes crime fiction (including suspense, procedurals, and cozies), and women’s fiction. M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millenium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them.

M.M. Chouinard Website

Review|Where Secrets Lie (DS Karen Hart #2) By D.S. Butler

June 2, 2020 Yvonne 2 Comments

Where Secrets Lie by D. S. Butler
Series: DS Karen Hart
Published by THOMAS & MERCER on January 10th 2019
ISBN: 9781503905016
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime
Pages: 332
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased Book
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

four stars - Review|Where Secrets Lie (DS Karen Hart #2) By D.S. Butler

Beneath a quiet village, dark crimes lie buried.
When decomposed human remains are discovered in a suitcase behind a locked door in the home of an elderly man, Detective Karen Hart thinks the facts speak for themselves. That is, until she finds the warning: It's time to pay for your crime.
The body belongs to a former teacher, Oliver Fox, who vanished from the village thirty years earlier. Hart's instincts tell her there is something untoward about this rural Lincolnshire community--especially when she uncovers evidence suggesting that, although Fox was a victim, he certainly wasn't innocent. As the extent of Fox's crimes becomes apparent and the web of lies continues to unravel, almost nobody in the village is above suspicion.
When there are whispers of child abuse in connection with the case, it's clear someone is willing to do anything to keep the sinister truth buried. Can Hart find the culprit before more lives are lost?

D.S. Butler is most definitely one of those authors who just command your attention. Where Secrets Lie is a testament to her skill. I ended up picking up this novel on a whim, and boy am I glad I did. Her characterisation is a crescendo to the senses. The validity, the moral dilemmas and the utter humanness leaves you in awe with the realism. These characters could be members of your own family, work colleagues or neighbours. My introduction to this series has left me aching for more and I’m looking forward to the next available moment I must delve into this remarkable series.

DC Karen Hart has a history. A traumatic history. She knows what its like to lose someone close to her. She can empathise the sheer pain that can be inflicted on a family when they deliver the news that a loved one has been killed. This makes her a jewel in the team. Her insight is invaluable. She’s the mother of the team. She is aware of unease and hesitation within the team. Her experience allows her to be a beacon of support to her younger officers and this gave Karen instant likeability points.

It’s no big surprise that I am a massive fan of police procedurals surrounding female officers. I loved the journey of self-discovery and finally self-acceptance. She always knew what was best for her and when she finally stopped listening to what family thought she accepted it and moved on. Where Secrets Lie was a fantastical world with different and clashing personalities and professional dynamics had the drama spinning out of control, I was in my element.

The plot contained within Where Secrets Lie was explosive. It didn’t take long for my brain to be on red alert and I very quickly realised that D.S. Butler weaves a very intricate web. The narrative hit nail after nail – it had every little aspect so perfectly executed, a perfect combination in a police procedural. I take my hat off to the author (if I was indeed wearing one) for the compelling and often gruesome depictions of murders and conditions of corpses. I just love when a novel of this calibre can just get in my head and live there rent free! I wanted to get into the perpetrators head and work out why they would do such things. On that basis both Karen and I had a lot in common!

A cold case has its problems such as the lack of DNA evidence after thirty odd years. What would make someone take an active role in digging up the past? What was the trigger? It was refreshing to have the boring aspect given page time – the sourcing of information leading to copious amounts of paperwork…good old-fashioned police work.

The prologue gave us a heart stopping kick off to the novel. The author had me reeled in, I didn’t want to stop. She led me down a deserted path full of bump in the night scares and rustling bushes. I swallowed down my fear and let D.S. Butler lead the way.

Where Secrets Lie is a terrifically fast paced read. Butler has all the skills and her narrative is sharper than a stiletto. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DS Butler - Review|Where Secrets Lie (DS Karen Hart #2) By D.S. Butler

Thank you for coming to visit my website. I’m Danica and I write crime fiction and mysteries under the name D. S. Butler. If you’ve stumbled across this page after having read one of my books, thank you very much for your support!

To find out more about my two police procedural series and my psychological thrillers, click on the D.S. Butler tab in the menu above. If you’d like to get an email from me when my latest book is released, please add your email address to the newsletter subscription form below or under the newsletter tab.

I write mysteries in many different flavours — some grittier than others and use two other pen names (Dani Oakley and Danica Britton).

The books I write as Dani Oakley are set in the East End of London, usually in the fifties and sixties. They are full of gangsters and strong female characters. These books are darker in tone. The books published under Danica Britton are cozy mysteries. These books are lighter and full of fun.

I am also on Facebook and Twitter – so come and say hello!

D.S.Butler Website

Crime

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Where Secrets Lie is a terrifically fast paced read. Butler has all the skills and her narrative is sharper than a stiletto. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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