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The Dead of Winter by Stuart MacBride
The Dead of Winter unfortunately was a massive disappointment for me. This is only my second MacBride novel but again like his last one – No Less the Devil, I’m left wondering if there’s something I’m missing. I’ve been reliably told that his Logan series is very good, so perhaps that’ll be the next one I attempt to pick up. I pushed through the story, but had it not been an advanced reader’s copy I’d have likely DNF’d it. The prologue was intriguing, and I was genuinely interested in seeing where the story would lead me. I am a complete aficionado when it comes to Scottish crime. I really enjoy…
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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,…
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The Cloisters by Katy Hays
The Cloisters is a mystery novel that is written with such flair and finesse. The location is an open door into another world. The Cloisters is a fantastical story set in magical location. There was so much that I loved about this story. Museums have always held that intrigue for me. It’s the only place that you truly feel as though you are walking through the hallways of time. Beautiful jewels to the right, ancient fossils to the left. It’s a place where your imagination can run wild and I definitely got that feeling whilst reading The Cloisters. The cover is absolutely stunning and upon reading the blurb I…
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The Marriage Act by John Marrs
The Marriage Act highlights the true cost of having liberties stripped. Cleverly woven and makes you truly sit and think. Addictive to the end. The Marriage Act…well what can I say? For one I was afraid, John Marrs has a devilish mind. As a married woman, it still brought a chill to my veins. I enjoy being married, but as a choice, I wouldn’t want to feel railroaded into it. I wouldn’t want that choice to be marred by outside sources. I wouldn’t want that very important decision to be made because as a couple we could get lower mortgage rates, better cars, better homes, and access to healthcare at…
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The Resort by Sarah Goodwin
I was excited to read The Resort mainly because I love the idea of characters being stranded in the remote wilderness. I don’t think there’s anything much more threatening than blizzards and snowstorms keeping you stuck in one place. The cold seeping into your bones, the lack of visibility, the body’s senses being assaulted, and the subsequent confusion setting in. You begin to wonder if you’ve seen that shadow and question if you’ll ever see the blue of the sky again. I liked the main protagonist and her story of a torn childhood, but I couldn’t fully invest myself in the story for multiple reasons. Mila and her husband Ethan…
