BLOOD SECRET
BY JAYE FORD
A gripping, edge-of-your seat suspense that was impossible to put down. Jaye Ford crafts a perfect mystery that lures you in from the very first page and hooks you in.
Hiding a past that has made her run time and time again, the mysterious Rennie Carter finds herself in Haven Bay with a partner and real friends. –She knows she should have run again by now however for once she's found a place where she feels a sense of comfort. But that comfort is soon shattered when Max Tully, the man she loves and the reason she stayed, vanishes without trace. Has he left her? Has he been injured? Has her past finally caught up with her in one last bid to break her? This thrilling mystery will have you guessing until the very end.
BY JAYE FORD
A gripping, edge-of-your seat suspense that was impossible to put down. Jaye Ford crafts a perfect mystery that lures you in from the very first page and hooks you in.
Hiding a past that has made her run time and time again, the mysterious Rennie Carter finds herself in Haven Bay with a partner and real friends. –She knows she should have run again by now however for once she's found a place where she feels a sense of comfort. But that comfort is soon shattered when Max Tully, the man she loves and the reason she stayed, vanishes without trace. Has he left her? Has he been injured? Has her past finally caught up with her in one last bid to break her? This thrilling mystery will have you guessing until the very end.
Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin
This was a great, tight thriller filled with action and suspense. I enjoyed the punchy writing style, although I'll admit it took a little getting used to. Once I did, I appreciated how the author's style of cutting to the chase helped get the story moving and my heart thumping. This book is part of a series but for me, it was the first time I'd jumped in. That certainly didn't cause any reader confusion though. The well-defined characters and fast-moving narrative were more than enough to satisfy and I wasn't left wondering how bits and pieces fell into place. Here's the gist: Matt Royal is a likable ex-lawyer who's technically retired but finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation. After a 12-year absence, a serial killer shows up on Longboat Key, Florida. The victim has ties to a secret government agency for which Matt Royal's best friend Jock Algren works. Was this a coincidence or was she a targeted kill? Matt's friend, Longboat Key detective Jennifer Diane Duncan investigates the murders but also seems to be a target of the killer. From here things get, complicated, messy and mysterious and you'll have to read it yourself to find out more!
Dying Art by Shirley Wells
Dying Art is a captivating, cleverly crafted novel with all the unexpected twists and turns a crime fiction reader craves. This is the first Shirley Wells book I've read and I'm glad I did. Her latest mystery is the fifth novel in a series featuring private detective Dylan Scott; a likeable, smart ex-cop who takes on crime-solving with a refreshing calmness. His new case in involves an ex-lover, who hires Scott to look into the death of her sister. While some mysteries make crime-solving look like a walk in the park, Wells had laid out so many crumbs I didn't know which direction to look. And neither did Scott; at least not at first. I enjoyed the way Wells kept me thinking as Scott drew closer to solving the case and the ending didn't disappoint as the last pieces of the puzzle were pressed into place. I liked the lack of urgency in Scott's investigative style because it gave me time to ponder a few hypotheses of my own. I'll definitely head back to book one in this series to catch up.
Nowhere to Run by Nancy Bush
Liv Dugan has never been able to shake the feeling that there is more to her tragic past than meets the eye. It isn't until she receives a mysterious parcel from her mother, who has been dead since Liv's sixth birthday, that she is finally able to start digging for the truth.
But once again, tragedy finds its way back into Liv's life. When she heads out for a later than usual lunch break at work, she returns to find the aftermath of a massacre. Shocked, terrified and alone, she flees the scene, suspecting the shootings are tied to her past and to the contents of her mother's package.
When she senses someone is following her, she jumps into a stranger's car and orders him to drive. Her hostage is soon caught up in the story that has brought Liv to this point and he joins her in her hunt to uncover the truth about her troubled childhood. Because hidden under the lies and the mystery is a secret worth killing for.
This gripping suspense is fast-paced and cleverly delivered, reeling you in from it's haunting start and keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
But once again, tragedy finds its way back into Liv's life. When she heads out for a later than usual lunch break at work, she returns to find the aftermath of a massacre. Shocked, terrified and alone, she flees the scene, suspecting the shootings are tied to her past and to the contents of her mother's package.
When she senses someone is following her, she jumps into a stranger's car and orders him to drive. Her hostage is soon caught up in the story that has brought Liv to this point and he joins her in her hunt to uncover the truth about her troubled childhood. Because hidden under the lies and the mystery is a secret worth killing for.
This gripping suspense is fast-paced and cleverly delivered, reeling you in from it's haunting start and keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster
Defense Attorney Josie Bates had all but turned her back on criminal law, after a case-gone-wrong left her emotionally scarred. But when an old college friend shows up on her doorstep begging for help, Josie is pulled into a complex case where the truth is more tangled in lies that she could imagine.
In this gripping story, a disturbed 16-year-old girl is charged as an adult for the violent murder of her step-grandfather - a Supreme Court Justice.
Josie's reluctance to take on the case soon changes when she finds herself drawn towards the vulnerable, confused teen. Josie learns that to uncover the truth and save the young girl, she will need to fight political pressure, family tension, community perception and her own demons.
This thriller is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down.
Published in 2004 by Signet Fiction
In this gripping story, a disturbed 16-year-old girl is charged as an adult for the violent murder of her step-grandfather - a Supreme Court Justice.
Josie's reluctance to take on the case soon changes when she finds herself drawn towards the vulnerable, confused teen. Josie learns that to uncover the truth and save the young girl, she will need to fight political pressure, family tension, community perception and her own demons.
This thriller is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down.
Published in 2004 by Signet Fiction
Tuesday's Gone by Nicci French
This complex mystery pulls you into a web of possibilities, as you follow the case of a murdered man with a stolen identity who winds up dead in the apartment of a mentally disturbed woman named Michelle.
Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson needs an expert to delve inside Michelle's mind for answers and turns to former colleague, psychotherapist Dr Frieda Klein.
The deeper Frieda and Karlsson dig, the more it starts looking as though the dead man may be more perpetrator than victim.
The pair first came together in book one of French's series called Blue Monday, where they worked together while trying to solve the mystery of an abducted child.
I read Tuesday's Gone without having first read book one. This may be the reason why I didn't connect very well with one of the key characters, Frieda. I found her difficult to warm to and I struggled to understand her way of thinking. Because of this, I became disconnected from the 'hunt' that would normally put me on the edge of my seat in a Nicci French book.
When I read a mystery, I like knowing we're on the tail of something and following the crumbs and potential scenarios along the way. This time around there weren't so may crumbs to pick up on for me and when a thread was drawn, bring the characters closer to solving the mystery, I felt the need to flick back and read the particular scenes over again because I just didn't see how something was possible. I didn't feel as though I was along for the ride, so to speak.
Despite that aspect, I did enjoy the book and the twists and turns the author took us on. As usual, French delivered a clever, well-thought out plot that kept me hooked, even though the crime didn't come together as clearly as I would have liked.
Detective Chief Inspector Karlsson needs an expert to delve inside Michelle's mind for answers and turns to former colleague, psychotherapist Dr Frieda Klein.
The deeper Frieda and Karlsson dig, the more it starts looking as though the dead man may be more perpetrator than victim.
The pair first came together in book one of French's series called Blue Monday, where they worked together while trying to solve the mystery of an abducted child.
I read Tuesday's Gone without having first read book one. This may be the reason why I didn't connect very well with one of the key characters, Frieda. I found her difficult to warm to and I struggled to understand her way of thinking. Because of this, I became disconnected from the 'hunt' that would normally put me on the edge of my seat in a Nicci French book.
When I read a mystery, I like knowing we're on the tail of something and following the crumbs and potential scenarios along the way. This time around there weren't so may crumbs to pick up on for me and when a thread was drawn, bring the characters closer to solving the mystery, I felt the need to flick back and read the particular scenes over again because I just didn't see how something was possible. I didn't feel as though I was along for the ride, so to speak.
Despite that aspect, I did enjoy the book and the twists and turns the author took us on. As usual, French delivered a clever, well-thought out plot that kept me hooked, even though the crime didn't come together as clearly as I would have liked.
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown's signature mix of suspense and romance was ever-so-perfectly packed into her latest page-turner, Low Pressure.
The story revolves around Bellamy Lyston, who at the age of 12 loses her sister Susan in a tragic Memorial Day storm.
But what she also loses on that fateful day is her recollection of the events that unfolded in the lead-up to her sister's death.
Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a blockbuster novel based on Susan's murder under a pseudonym. But the truth about the author eventually comes out thanks to a persistent tabloid newspaper reporter, unleashing the ghosts of Bellamy's past that have haunted her and her family for almost two decades.
As she investigates her sister's killer she becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.
And as Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's murder, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear.
Haunted by partial memories and conflicted over her feelings for a man who was accused of the murder all those years ago, she is determined to keep going until Susan's killer is found.
This book, like so many of Sandra Brown's novels, offers an intelligent, exciting mystery with a touch of romance. She always seems to get the balance just right, where so many other authors tread an awkward path, letting love get in the way of a good thriller. Brown shows she can do both to perfection.
The story revolves around Bellamy Lyston, who at the age of 12 loses her sister Susan in a tragic Memorial Day storm.
But what she also loses on that fateful day is her recollection of the events that unfolded in the lead-up to her sister's death.
Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a blockbuster novel based on Susan's murder under a pseudonym. But the truth about the author eventually comes out thanks to a persistent tabloid newspaper reporter, unleashing the ghosts of Bellamy's past that have haunted her and her family for almost two decades.
As she investigates her sister's killer she becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan's murder to remain unknown or is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.
And as Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan's murder, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear.
Haunted by partial memories and conflicted over her feelings for a man who was accused of the murder all those years ago, she is determined to keep going until Susan's killer is found.
This book, like so many of Sandra Brown's novels, offers an intelligent, exciting mystery with a touch of romance. She always seems to get the balance just right, where so many other authors tread an awkward path, letting love get in the way of a good thriller. Brown shows she can do both to perfection.
Sister by Rosamund Lupton ****
This haunting tale unravels in the form of letters written from one sister to another. When Beatrice learns of her sister's death, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth, and what plays out over the pages is a story with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very (surprising) end.
Beatrice follows the trail of her sister's last days, discovering a shocking truth that makes her question who she can trust and how much information she can share.
Her sister's disappearance puts strain on Beatrice's relationships, tests her strength and uncovers a mystery so believable it sends shivers down your spine.
This first-time novel for author Rosamund Lupton is a wonderfully crafted and entertaining tale that I highly recommend.
Published in 2010 by Hachett Digital
Beatrice follows the trail of her sister's last days, discovering a shocking truth that makes her question who she can trust and how much information she can share.
Her sister's disappearance puts strain on Beatrice's relationships, tests her strength and uncovers a mystery so believable it sends shivers down your spine.
This first-time novel for author Rosamund Lupton is a wonderfully crafted and entertaining tale that I highly recommend.
Published in 2010 by Hachett Digital