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The Wife in the Photo by Emily Shiner
The Wife in the Photo is a deliciously dark story about loss and vengeance. Next level domestic suspense! I was really taken aback at The Wife in the Photo. I don’t really know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Honestly, I was hovering around the 3-star mark for a lot of the book but the last third of the book made me change my mind and quite frankly shocked me. I had a slight inclination of how it was going to end but the ending that was delivered made me laugh – I love it when someone nasty is outdone, it cracked me up. Being an avid reader…
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The Inheritance by Samantha Hayes
The Inheritance is a twisty, by-the-seat-of-your-pants read. There’s no denying that I love Samantha Hayes’ writing. She creates stories that leave you with heart palpitations and nerves that take hours to settle back to normal. My first experience with this was when I picked up ‘Until You’re Mine’ in 2014. I was blown away at the time, and it thrills me to see that she is still delivering twisty tales in 2023. ‘The Inheritance’ is no exception, with a plethora of twists and turns that keep you guessing. Her writing is so captivating and her stories so suspenseful that you cannot help but be drawn in, and the ending will…
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Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
Death of a Bookseller is something new. It has a killer premise. The story was impactful with a deep plot that evokes emotion on every page. Slater constantly stokes the flames of mystery. Well, wasn’t this one an anvil to the head? I love a fantastic crime story and Death of a Bookseller didn’t disappoint. The aura of obsession, jealousy and pain are never far from the pages. It’s like a shadow, preparing to swallow you whole, consume you as you consume it. A full circle of darkness. Okay, So Roach (real name Brogan), works in Spines, a bookstore in Walthamstow. The images my mind conjured up is nothing short…
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The Ugly Truth by L.C. North
The Ugly Truth is a stark examination of the obsessive culture of the British media. A powerhouse combination of compulsive drama and psychological intent. The Ugly Truth isn’t an easy book to read. No, far from it is at its core ugly. It delves into both the media and society’s obsession with the celebrity lifestyle. Only a few pages in I was reminded about the #freebritney movement and the British tabloids treatment of Princess Diana. Britney Spears relationship with the media and her subsequent relationship with her father after her very public breakdown shone through in this story and makes the reader ask all kinds of questions, not all good.…
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The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin
The Lonely Lake Killings is the perfect page turner. This is the kind of book that you’ll want to lock yourself away for to stop any unnecessary interruptions. Loneliness can be a silent killer. Something easily solved, it’s effects sharper than a blade. The Lonely Lake Killings is a fast-paced police procedural. After reading a large amount of them it really doesn’t take too long to decide whether that story is going to be for you. Having read Wes Markin’s work previously, I decided this was a story worth taking a chance on. Once again, Markin’s unique voice, steeped in humour and humanity had me engrossed with only a few…
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The Last Party by Clare MacKintosh
The Last Party is a gripping, eloquently crafted tale seeped in dark secrets. Short chapters and lethally potent writing had me aching for each chapter. A fine blend of police procedural and compulsive thriller. The Last Party ticked all those thriller/crime boxes. It’s so unapologetically Welsh which I loved. This is the first Clare Mackintosh book I’ve read and let me tell you, it won’t be the last. A party to celebrate the new year and the opening of The Shore – a luxurious high-end resort next to the mountains. It’s out of the local’s price range, but owner, Rhys Lloyd throws a party to end all parties – literally,…
