Police Procedural

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

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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|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.

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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.

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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

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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
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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

Review: Snakes and Ladders by Victoria Selman

April 5, 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.

snakes and ladders by victoria selman - Review: Snakes and Ladders by Victoria Selman

Snakes and Ladders by Victoria Selman
Published by THOMAS & MERCER on December 17, 2019
ISBN: 9781542008792
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Thrillers, Crime, Psychological
Pages: 384
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

five stars - Review: Snakes and Ladders by Victoria Selman

Psycho meets The Silence of the Lambs
One killer on the loose. Another setting the rules. A profiler caught in the middle.
A serial killer is terrorising London, removing a body part from each victim and leaving in its place a single pink rose.
Dr Vernon Sange, a multiple murderer awaiting extradition, seems to know the culprit's identity--but he'll only talk to profiler Ziba MacKenzie, the woman responsible for putting him away. Though there's something he wants in return from her. And time is running out.
With one killer whispering in her ear and another running rings around the police, Ziba must play a game in which only her opponent knows the rules, and the forfeit is death.

Wow…Snakes and Ladders was the dog’s testicles for sure! Billed as psycho meets Silence of the lambs, never was I going to refuse a match up like that! Although this book is one that you should go completely blind into. It was very Silence of the lambs, but it far exceeded my expectations. Do you want a book that will give you blunt force trauma by its sheer brilliant narrative and its impending threat that just constantly lurks around every corner. If you only read one crime series this year, make it this one!

Victoria Selman translates such equivocal storytelling onto the page with such ease. She gives the reader a snapshot of her powerful imagination. Snakes and Ladders is essentially a power to be reckoned with. She pushes us to our emotional limits, squeezes us to accept humanities flaws and highlights society’s cracks.

Snakes and Ladders will hook you immediately. The setting, the storytelling and the characterisation will do a blinder on you! I do love a good crime fiction novel but very few have been able to suck me into the storyline quite like this. Add in the intensity of two serial killers and the flawed character of a highly successful criminal profiler and it eagerly ticks all the boxes for a hugely addictive crime novel. All it takes is one taste of the story buried underneath and you will be gone.

Snakes and Ladders is one of those books that are so incredibly difficult to review. The story is so intelligent and compelling, but I don’t want to give anything away that may spoil the story. Ziba Mackenzie is an extremely strong protagonist. I think ultimately this is the reason I loved the story so much. The flowed around her, she strengthened it, but she had her flaws and for that, she was relatable – we can all see parts of ourselves within her character. Her personality felt like an echo resonating out with the pages. Her role within the investigation was as a freelance criminal profiler. I enjoyed this angle and it made an intriguing change from the usual detective or police viewpoint. She delved into the investigation with vigour and I was intrigued about the personal connection she seemed to have with one of the serial killers, Vernon Sange. He’s still behind bars but somehow, he’s still able to pull the shots. He’s intimidating and creepily intelligent. He’s for sure a dead ringer for Hannibal Lector. He gave me chills!

Our other serial killer, The Pink Rose Killer is the focus of this investigation, but it is no less devastating. How does Vernon Sange know so much about him? Are they in contact? Will he give a name? can they stop him before he claims his next victim? We get insight into the killers past with flashback chapters and it really nails home just how much the past can have a firm grip on our present and future.

Snakes and Ladders has cemented Victoria Selman as an exciting crime writer to watch. Twist follows twist at such a breakneck speed. Cancel all your plans. Turn your phone off, lock the doors and get comfy…you won’t be going anywhere until the final page is closed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

victoria selman picture 3 - Review: Snakes and Ladders by Victoria Selman

Victoria’s first novel, BLOOD FOR BLOOD, was shortlisted for the 2017 Debut Dagger Award and is a Kindle #1 bestseller. Her second novel, NOTHING TO LOSE went straight to #22 on the Kindle Movers & Shakers chart when it was published in March.

She has written for The Daily Express, Ham & High and Independent newspapers and in 2013 she won the Full Stop Short Story Prize.

She also co-hosts the true crime podcast, CRIME GIRL GANG in which three crime writers examine real life cold cases then solve them from a fictional perspective: itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/crime-girl-gang/id1447814645?mt=2 …

If you’d like to get in touch please use Twitter @VictoriaSelman

Blog Tour: The Sleeping Season by Kelly Creighton

March 30, 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.

49119162. SY475 - Blog Tour: The Sleeping Season by Kelly Creighton

The Sleeping Season by Kelly Creighton
Published by Friday Press on January 23, 2020
ISBN: 9781708710927
Genres: Mysteries & Detective Stories
Pages: 276
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
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four stars - Blog Tour: The Sleeping Season by Kelly Creighton

four stars - Blog Tour: The Sleeping Season by Kelly Creighton

Someone going missing is not an event in their life but an indicator of a problem. Detective Inspector Harriet Sloane is plagued by nightmares while someone from her past watches from a distance. In East Belfast, local four-year-old River, vanishes from his room. Sloane must put her own demons to bed and find the boy. Before it's too late.' Creighton has a poet's eye for imagery and a novelist's understanding of the value of a good plot.' - The Irish Times 'A writer to reckon with.' - The Irish Examiner 'A novel of style and verve. The Sleeping Season is unapologetically feminist.' - Sharon Dempsey

The Sleeping Season really breathes life into the idiom that you end up taking your work home with you.

This brand-new crime fiction series focuses on the disappearance of a 4-year-old boy, River, who has mysteriously disappeared from his bedroom despite the fact that there is no sign of any forced entry, however, his jacket also appears to be missing. The case is wrought with missing information and hindered by the attitude of an ubiquitous mother. Its apparent this case will test both DI Harriet Sloane and DI Diane Linsky’s skillset. It is an emotionally draining case to work. I was very wary of River’s mum, as a mother, her reactions emitted a reaction of me rolling my eyes.

Amazing…simply amazing. Kelly Creighton knows just how to prepare and ministate each word until they develop a life of their own. They walk straight off the page and grip a hold of you and refuse to let go until it has your full attention!

The Sleeping Season keeps the danger hidden. It is full of misdirection from multiple sides. The author has an uncanny way of making you feel like your being battered by a storm. The frustration and emotion felt by our protagonists was very real and raw and I wanted to scream right alongside them. The Sleeping Season gave me a serious feeling of uneasiness but to an extent where I couldn’t put my finger on what was unsettling me. Kelly Creighton had me fully immersed and invested in the novel – the successful resolution to this case was of the paramount importance to me and I was not putting that book down until I got the answers to my questions.

I found a lot of the characters to particularly unlikeable. They all seemed to be unreliable narrators and that includes DI Harriet Sloane. It emerges that she has a rather difficult relationship with her own family and appears standoffish and cold. This story is one of realisation for her. It opens her eyes to the difficulty and the complexity of families. We discover more about her backstory and it is both a revelation and heart wrenching. It explains so much towards her personal ideals on relationships and marriage and also her hesitation about motherhood.

The Sleeping season is an imperfectly perfect take on societal standpoint on women’s roles and behaviour. A slow-burn that ignites and consumes by the turning of the final page. Captivating and I inhaled this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Creighton was born in Belfast and now lives in Newtownards, Co. Down with her three dogs, two daughters, two sons and one husband. She facilitates creative writing workshops for community groups and schools, and mentors new writers.

Author of THE BONES OF IT, BANK HOLIDAY HURRICANE, THREE PRIMES, she writes crime fiction and literary fiction. Currently Kelly is working on a detective series set in East Belfast, and a couple of standalone books.

Kelly Creighton

Review: The Girls in the Lake (Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

March 23, 2020 Yvonne Leave a 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.

the girls in the lake by helen phifer - Review: The Girls in the Lake (Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

The Girls in the Lake by Helen Phifer
Published by Bookouture on December 9, 2019
ISBN: 9781786819253
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, General, Thrillers, Medical, Crime, Suspense, Traditional, Women Sleuths, Romance, Psychological, Small Town & Rural, Private Investigators, Hard-Boiled, Noir, Amateur Sleuth
Pages: 291
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

three stars - Review: The Girls in the Lake (Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

Peering over the side of the boat, the glare of early morning sun catches on something pale in the inky water. The boy’s curious fingertips break the surface, pulling up a tangle of long blonde hair from the reeds below…

The discovery of a girl floating face down in Lake Windermere, her naked skin almost translucent in the freezing water, looks like yet another tragic teen suicide. But the victim’s lack of clothes make Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams want to investigate further. Anything to distract her from the arrival of her abusive ex-boyfriend’s body on the mortuary table that morning.

With witnesses keeping tight-lipped and any clues washed away by the tides, it’s up to Beth to find the evidence her team needs. But then another girl is found in the lake, this time still clinging to life. She tells them she was at a party on a boat, and that she was pushed…

As more bodies surface, tiny traces of boat paint lead Beth to a tragic accident involving a group of school children years ago, and the feeling that the killer might be closer than anyone could ever have imaged. But with her personal life spinning out of control, can she persuade her team before another life is lost?

An absolutely unputdownable serial killer thriller that will have you sleeping with the lights on. Fans of Patricia Gibney, LJ Ross and Angela Marsons will have to hold on tight for this nail-biting rollercoaster ride!

Readers love The Girls in the Lake:
‘Brilliant… keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the last chapter...loving this series and the characters in it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Plenty of twists… I didn’t want to put it down… suspenseful and riveting, you will want time to read it in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Hooked from the beginning and it kept me engaged until the very last page.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Full of twists… full of tension… several times I caught myself holding my breath.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Another thrilling, tightly plotted addition to this already fabulous series...I loved this book…fast paced, realistic… plenty of action, mystery and suspects. Definitely comes highly recommended and deserves all of 5 stars.’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘I thoroughly enjoyed… an engrossing tale… I don’t know where the time went, one minute I started to read and a few hours later I was finishing.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A humdinger of a crime thriller that grabs you and draws you in from the brilliantly written and powerful opening scene to the nail-biting, butt-clenching finale.’ Netgalley reviewer, 5 stars

The water is beautiful. The water will also pull you under into its murky depths without a care or a thought about race, gender or social standing. If you don’t grant it the respect it so deserves it will unleash its power and it isn’t a battle you are going to win. The Girls in the Lake is a steady paced police procedural which picks up a few weeks after book 1. I felt that the first half of the novel was slower paced but it took off like a rocket in the second half.

The story is centred around the main character, Dr Beth Adams, a forensic pathologist. She has had an extremely tough life, having been subjected to a traumatic abusive relationship for the past seven years. Fast forward and she has marginally moved forward happy in the knowledge that her ex is in prison but still frozen in the past and being haunted by the effects that relationship has instilled in her. She is now living with DS Josh Walker. Life is good but usually when its that good something comes along and has a habit of turning it on its end. Cue, two dead bodies turning up in lake Windemere and the onslaught of the impending investigation.

Things get even more personal with a third girl being pushed into the water from a troublesome party boat…are the three women connected or was its mere accidents?

I really liked the character of Beth. Although she often participated in the sport of self-depreciation, she was an extremely strong character. She knew her worth and knew what she needed to do to move forward and boy did she go out and do it. She is one hell of a woman! I think to a certain extent she is struggling with the possibility of suffering from PTSD and seeks solace in the bottle more than she should but again we all have our crutches to bear. She navigates the murky waters of following her gut instinct and at points I thought that she was more on the ball as a detective than the actual police were.

The girls in the lake was a haven for geeks like me. I really enjoyed reading about the science behind the pathology of Beth’s work and the other forensic anomalies that popped in her freelance investigating. Call me a weirdo but I love what killed someone and the science that backs it all up even more.

I was mildly frustrated with the avoidable spat that occurred between Beth and Josh. In any relationship, trust and communication is paramount and their issue just seemed like a non-issue. Beth seemed to go a little off the deep end without having any proof and it did feel a little at odds with the character that I had been becoming acquainted to previously. But, overall, The Girls in the Lake was an enjoyable reading experience and I would like to give the first book a go.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

download - Review: The Girls in the Lake (Beth Adams #2) by Helen Phifer

Helen Phifer is the #1 Bestselling crime and horror novelist of the Annie Graham and Lucy Harwin series. Helen lives in a small town called Barrow-in-Furness with her husband and five children. She has lived in the same town since she was born. Surrounded by miles of coastline and not too far away from the beautiful Lake District. She has always loved writing and reading since the days she learnt how to in infant school. loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and make her afraid to go to the toilet, alone in the middle of the night. is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. Unable to find enough of the scary stories she loves to read, she decided to write her own.

Her debut novel The Ghost House was released October 2013 and introduced readers to police officer Annie Graham. It went on to be an Amazon #1 bestseller in Canada. It reached #1 on the Amazon Contemporary Horror Charts in both the UK and the US, pushing her idol Stephen King off his #1 spot many times.

She was thrilled when the second book in the series The Secrets of the Shadows managed to push The Ghost House off its #1 spot even if it was a little surreal. This was followed by The Forgotten Cottage, The Lake House, The Girls in the Woods and The Face Behind the Mask.

The Good Sisters is a standalone old, fashioned horror story which Helen admits scared her so much when she was writing it that she couldn’t write once it got dark. Set in an abandoned convent it will definitely give you the chills.

March 2017 saw the publication of Dark House, a gripping psychological thriller which introduced readers to the dangerous world of Detective Inspector Lucy Harwin. Dying Breath and Last Light are books two and three in that series.

The Haunting on West 10th Street is a supernatural thriller set on the streets of New York.

The Girl in the Grave featuring Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams is released 16th July 2019.

Helen Phifer

Police Procedural

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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.

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Snakes and Ladders has cemented Victoria Selman as an exciting crime writer to watch. Twist follows twist at such a breakneck speed. Cancel all your plans. Turn your phone off, lock the doors and get comfy…you won’t be going anywhere until the final page is closed.

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The Sleeping season is an imperfectly perfect take on societal standpoint on women’s roles and behaviour. A slow-burn that ignites and consumes by the turning of the final page. Captivating and I inhaled this book.

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