Tag: Crime Thriller

Have a Beautiful day!🌻

Berit☀️✨

The Cutting Room by Ashley Dyer @AshleyDyerAuthor @wmmorrowbooks @tlcbooktours @harperaudio #bookreview #audiobook #thecuttingroom

Posted on June 18, 2019June 17, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Tuesday all and happy publication day to this deliciously disturbing book!

I’ve been really trying hard not to start any more crime thriller series, but I am certainly glad I gave this one a try! It was seriously SO good! Thank you so much Trish for my invitation to this tour!🎨

About The Cutting Room

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (June 18, 2019)

Detectives Ruth Lake and Greg Carver, introduced in the electrifying Splinter in the Blood, must stop a serial killer whose victims are the centerpiece of his macabre works of art.

While Britain is obsessed with the newest hit true-crime television show, Fact, or Fable? detectives Ruth Lake and Greg Carver are tormented by a fiendish flesh-and-blood killer on the loose.

Lured to a “crime scene” by a mysterious digital invitation, Ruth Lake is horrified by what she finds: a bizarre and gruesome tableau surrounded by a crowd of gawkers. The deadly work is the latest “art installation” designed by a diabolical criminal dubbed the Ferryman. Not only is this criminal cold-blooded; he’s a narcissistic exhibitionist desperate for an audience. He’s also clever at promoting his deadly handiwork. Exploiting England’s current true-crime craze, he uses social media to titillate and terrorize the public.

Ruth is joined in the investigation by her partner Greg Carver, who is slowly regaining his strength after a run-in with another sadistic criminal. But Greg can’t seem to shake the bewildering effects of the head wound that nearly ended him. Are the strange auras blurring his vision an annoying side effect of his injury, or could they be something more . . . a tool to help him see a person’s true nature?

In this utterly engrossing and thrilling tale of suspense, a pair of seasoned detectives face off against a wickedly smart and inventive psychopath in a tense, bloody game that leads to a shocking end.

My Thoughts

ᴅɪsᴛᴜʀʙɪɴɢ. ᴅᴇʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ. ᴅᴇʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴅᴀʀᴋ.

Ashley Dyer has twisted together One deranged, disturbing, and deliciously dark tale! Would you follow a serial killer on Instagram? This book picks up shortly where the first book leaves off (from what I can gather). I did not read the first book and I still thoroughly devoured this book. However I think it would’ve been nice to have read the first book because both Ruth Lake and Greg Carver are suffering from repercussions from their previous case. There is a sadistic serial killer on the loose, preying on the men of Liverpool. Not only does he kill, but he publicly displays the body parts and calls it art. A narcissistic psychopath who thrives on attention. Attention that is easy to get in the age of social media. The serial killer really whipped the public into a frenzy creating a mob mentality where ever his artwork was displayed. Made you wonder could this really happen? Would people follow a sadistic killer on Instagram?

This was such a well done crime thriller! I loved all the investigative and forensic details. I particularly liked all the time that Lake and Carver spent with the medical examiner. The characters were all so well developed, so real. I particularly was fascinated by Carver and the auras he would see as a side effect of his head injury. Oras that allowed him to read peoples moods and emotions, that really helped him in his role as a detective. We also got a glimpse into Ruth Lake’s past and private life. Glimpses that I am sure will be expanded on in future books. I also got to spend some time in the mind of this serial killer. This book was told from multiple perspectives including that of this sadistic deranged killer. If you’re like me and like spending some time with crazy you will love how off the chains this character was! I’ve really been trying to avoid starting any new crime series, but I am certainly glad I gave this one a shot! Going to try to read the first book before the next one comes out. What a wild and crazy ride that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of!🎧🎧🎧 Peter Noble masterfully narrated this dark tale. I thought he had the perfect English accent to draw me into this atmospheric story. When you read a book set in England there is nothing better than having it read to you by someone with an accent, it really gives you a true sense of the story.

*** many thanks to William Morrow and Harper Audio for my copy of this book ***

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Ashley Dyer

Ashley Dyer is a writing duo based in the United Kingdom.

Margaret Murphy is a Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector for the Royal Literary Fund, a past chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and founder of Murder Squad. A CWA Short Story Dagger winner, she has been shortlisted for the First Blood critics’ award for crime fiction as well as the CWA Dagger in the Library. Under her own name she has published nine psychological suspense and police procedural novels.

Helen Pepper is a senior lecturer in policing at Teesside University. She has been an analyst, forensic scientist, scene of crime officer, CSI, and crime scene manager. She has coauthored, as well as contributed to, professional policing texts. Her expertise is in great demand with crime writers: she is a judge for the CWA’s Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction Award, and is a forensic consultant on both the Vera and Shetland TV series.

Find out more at their website, www.ashley-dyer.com.

Blog Tour

Savage Games by Peter Boland @PeterBoland19 @BOTBSPublicity #bookreview #savagegames

Posted on June 9, 2019June 9, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Sunday evening/Monday morning!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Excited to share with you today my review for this action packed Mystery! Thank you so much Sarah for my invitation to the tour!🕵🏼‍♂️

My Thoughts

This was an action-packed fast-paced thriller. This is the second book in Peter Boland’s John Savage series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. The story starts off with a body being found in a tree. A young man approaches JohnSavage to help solve the murder of his father who also happens to be a old school friend of Savages. There is also a second storyline about “undesirables“ living in less than desirable conditions. Two storylines seemingly completely disconnected that come together to form the perfect crime thriller.

This was a well done action driven crime thriller with some pretty remarkable and interesting characters. John Savage suffers from PTSD, there is a constant struggle between his inner demons and himself. I thought this part of John’s character made him so authentic, complex, and vulnerable. Tannaz, Johns sidekick, a hacker who really balances John out. The relationship between these two characters really was the highlight of this book for me.The story was a definite high-octane thriller perfect for adrenaline junkies. In the blurb John Savage is compared to Jack reacher and I thought that was a fair comparison. If I’m being completely honest this is not my favorite type of thriller, but the strength of the characters really made this an enjoyable read for me! So if you like a lot of action in your thrillers you will absolutely love this one! Great characters, high flying action, and a perfect ending!

*** A huge thank you to Sarah and the author for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

A body hidden in a tree.

A forest full of dark secrets.

A man determined to find the truth…

“Wow. Just seriously wow!” Goodreads reviewer, five stars

John Savage receives the shocking news that his friend has been found dead in bizarre circumstances. His body hidden in the branches of a towering fir tree in the New Forest. Savage vows to find out who is responsible.

Together with brilliant computer hacker Tannaz, he discovers his friend was down on his luck, living among those who society would rather forget – the dregs, the desperate and the homeless. Entering this dark and dangerous world, Savage soon discovers that the death of his friend was just the tip of the iceberg…

Savage Games is a bestselling, fast-paced action thriller for fans of James Patterson, Lee Child and David Baldacci.

About the Author

After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings he just couldn’t make them stand up, which is a bit of a handicap in an industry that likes to keep things upright. So he switched to advertising, writing ads for everything from cruise lines to zombie video games.

After becoming disillusioned with working in ad agencies, he switched to writing novels (or was it because he wanted to work at home in his pyjamas?). He soon realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about a year). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing, playing Nintendo Switch with his son, watching America’s Next Top Model with his daughter and drinking beer in a garden chair.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterBolandWriter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeterBoland19

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7102414.Peter_Boland

Purchase Link:

mybook.to/SavageGames

Let’s Connect

Have a Beautiful day!🌻

Berit☀️✨

Blog Tour

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten @nholten40 @BOTBSPublicity @HarperImpulse #bookreview #DeadInside

Posted on May 31, 2019May 30, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

TGIF!

Excited for the weekend and excited to share my review for this wonderful debut! Thank you so much Sarah for my invitation to this tour, I enjoyed your character in the story! And thank you Noelle congrats girl!🥳

My Thoughts

ᎴᏗᏒᏦ. ᎴᎥᏕᏖᏬᏒᏰᎥᏁᎶ. ᏰᏒᎥᏝᏝᎥᏗᏁᏖ.

Noelle Holten’s debut was dark, disturbing, and brilliant. This is the first book in the DI Maggie Jamison series but it really centered on Lucy a probation officer. Three men have been murdered, three men that were convicted of domestic abuse, three men whose probation officer was Lucy sherwood. When Lucy’s own abusive husband is killed, she becomes the primary suspect. But could Lucy possibly be a killer? And is murder ever justified?

This was less of a crime investigation and more of a dark character study of abusers and the abused. Noelle worked for 18 years as a probation officer and I thought this really shown through in this book and gave it some major authenticity. Abuse is a dark and difficult subject, but I think it was handled with a careful hand in this story. I thought it was important that the book really showed you that abuse doesn’t discriminate, anyone regardless of their background or Socio economic status is vulnerable. It is easy to say why don’t you just get out, but unless you have been there I don’t think that is a fair statement. Lucy was such a complex character she had so much strength and yet was so vulnerable. Maggie is a character I am really looking forward to getting to know even better in future books.

This was a well told story with a large cast of characters. It took me a while to get all the characters straight. Additionally if you are a book blogger or follow book blogs there are lots of familiar names in this book. This distracted me and took me out of the story quite a few times in the beginning, until it didn’t. And Noelle i’m certain there is a Berit in the next book, right? Murder victim, murderer, best friend of the murderer, I’m not picky! The murder mystery in this book even though it wasn’t as prevalent as I thought it would be it was compelling and I was super surprised by the outcome. Simply put this was a compulsively readable dark tale that will have you coming back for more. Well done Noelle!

*** thank you to Harper Impulse for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Book Description:

‘Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘A brilliant debut – gritty, dark and chilling. Noelle Holten knows her stuff’ Mel Sherratt

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

About the AuthorAuthor Bio:

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog.
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/

Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18489795.Noelle_Holten

Blog: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk

Instagram: @crimebookjunkie

Let’s Connect!

Have a magnificent day!🌼

Berit☀️✨

Blog Tour

Fierce Girl by Emma Tallon @EmmaEsj @bookouture #bookreview #fiercegirl

Posted on May 26, 2019May 25, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Sunday all!

Excited to share with you today in my review for this book that is the fourth in this series that I absolutely adore. Thanks so much Noelle for my invitation to this tour!😍

My Thoughts

𝕲𝖗𝖎𝖕𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖌. 𝕲𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖞. 𝕱𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖊.

Emma Tallon has written another gripping gritty tale packed with fabulous characters! This is the fourth book in the Anna Davis series. While this book certainly could be read as a standalone I’d strongly encourage you to read the entire series it is well worth your time. Anna is still grieving from a tragedy that happened at the end of the previous book. Her business is thriving, but her BFF/business partner Tonya’s mother Rosie is in town. Anna is suspect of Rosie‘s intentions and is not buying that she is back to help out her daughter. Meanwhile anna’s boyfriend Freddy Who is somewhat of a mob boss once again find himself in danger.

This book was fast paced and had my heart racing throughout. The story was a little dark and some parts were a bit gruesome, definitely not for the faint of heart. BUT these characters are so amazing and really got under my skin. Anna stole my heart in the first book and I have loved seeing her grow from an abuse victim to a strong self-sufficient woman. I was keeping my fingers crossed for Tonya throughout this story, and once again I just love the bond between these girls. Freddie once again reminded me of Sonny Corinthos, such a lovable thug. The relationship between Anna and Freddie is still strong. Anna is definitely FIERCE and in this book she was fighting for those she loves. Another great installment in the series that once again left me wanting more!

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Jessie Keane will be hooked by Fierce Girl.

When loyalty is everything, betrayal hits harder.

Anna Davis has grown up. She’s not the naive runaway who escaped her vicious gangland boyfriend anymore. She’s tougher than ever and she won’t let anyone take advantage of her – or the people she loves.

Anna’s devoted boyfriend, East End baron Freddie Tyler, is in trouble. There’s a rat in his organisation and he needs to stop the leaks before a very big mistake from his past is revealed to people who will want swift and brutal revenge.

Anna wants to help Freddie but she’s got problems of her own. Her best friend Tanya’s mother has turned up, and is staking a claim on Tanya’s share of their club. With Tanya buying her mum’s reformed sinner act, Anna knows she needs to act before both their friendship and Club Anya goes up in flames.

But if there’s one thing Anna and Freddie have learned, it’s how to play the game, and as their enemies close in they’ll fight with everything they’ve got to protect the life they’ve built.

About the Author

Emma Tallon is a British, gritty crime writer, adventurer, Londoner and mother to a young son. Starting her career a few years ago as a ghostwriter, Emma crafted some of the most adventurous, edgy and heart-wrenching stories you can find on the shelves today.

In March 2017 Emma stepped out of the literary shadows and self-published her first book, Life Game. The book was an instant success, the results far exceeding anything she had expected. As news of Life Games popularity spread, she joined forces with W.F.Howes and the audiobook was launched in October 2017.

In December 2017, Emma signed a three book deal with publishers Bookouture. This included Life Game which was changed, re-edited and re-released as Runaway Girl.

Drawing inspiration for her books from a mixture of her own observations and an active imagination, the characters Emma paints are colourful and larger than life. Her story lines are an interesting recipe of deep emotion and violent grit, that keep her readers engrossed.

With more books in the works for this series already, Emma has many more stories planned out for the future.

Social Media Links:

For more information on Emma or to join her mailing list, please go to: www.emmatallon.com or alternatively, follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/emmatallonofficial or on Twitter: @EmmaEsj

Let’s Connect

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Before-Coffee-OShea-Fiction-ebook/dp/B07NJNYGP3/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=death+before+coffee&qid=1552730233&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Have a Beautiful day!🌻

Berit☀️✨

Blog Tour

Death Before Coffee by Desmond P. Ryan @RealDesmondRyan @damppebbles #bookreview #deathbeforecoffee

Posted on April 13, 2019April 12, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Saturday, yay it’s the weekend!

Excited to share with you today my review for this compelling book. A huge thank you to Emma for my invitation to the tour!☕️

Book Blurb:

By 2:27 on a Thursday afternoon, the one-legged man from Room 8 at 147 Loxitor Avenue has been beaten to death with a lead pipe. Twenty-eight minutes later, Detective Mike O’Shea is testifying in a stuffy courtroom, unaware that, within an hour, he will be standing in an alleyway littered with beer cans and condoms while his new partner—the man who saved his life thirteen years ago—flicks bugs off of a battered corpse with a ballpoint pen. When a rogue undercover copper prematurely hauls in the prime suspect, Mike blows a fuse, resulting in an unlikely rapport developing between him and the lead homicide detective sergeant, a woman known for her stilettos and razor sharp investigative skills. At the end of his seventy-two-hour shift, three men are dead and Mike O’Shea is floating in and out of consciousness in an emergency room hallway, two women by his side.

Death Before Coffee, the second book in the Mike O’Shea Crime Fiction Series, weaves a homicide investigation through the life of an inner-city police detective intent on balancing his responsibilities as a son, brother, and newly single father with his sworn oath of duty. When faced with death, Mike is forced to make decisions that stir up old memories, compelling him to confront his demons while fighting the good fight.

My Thoughts

This book is like a cup of coffee… dark, strong, and caffeinated. This is the second book in the Michael O’Shea series, and I think I might have missed a little having not read the first book. From what I gather this book takes up 13 years after the previous book and now Mike is no longer working on juvenile cases. This book was very real and raw. Very reminiscent of some of the better police programs on TV such as NYPD Blue or my beloved Law and Order. Also I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen the murder weapon being a lead pipe other than in the board game Clue. I’m kind of rambling, but I really don’t know if I should say much about the plot, I think it might spoil it?

Mike is an old school detective, a bit grumpy with some strong family ties. I really love his large Irish family, especially mom! The mystery was very intriguing although quite dark. In fact the entire book had a bit of a bleak and gloomy air about it. Although I think this just added to the overall tone of the story, definitely didn’t take anything from it.

An extremely well done crime thriller that will leave you wanting more!

*** Big thanks to the author for my copy of this book ***

About Desmond P. Ryan:

For almost thirty years, Desmond P. Ryan worked as a cop in the back alleys, poorly-lit laneways, and forgotten neighbourhoods in Toronto, the city where he grew up. Murder often most unkind, assaults on a level that defied humanity, and sexual violations intended to demean, shame, and haunt the victims were all in a day’s work. Days, evenings, midnights–all the same. Crime knows no time.

Whether as a beat cop or a plainclothes detective, Desmond dealt with good people who did bad things and bad people who followed their instincts. And now, as a retired detective, he writes crime fiction.

Real Detective. Real Crime. Fiction.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealDesmondRyan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesmondPRyan/

Website: https://realdesmondryan.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B07H9MMV81?_encoding=UTF8&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true&ref_=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1&rfkd=1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Before-Coffee-OShea-Fiction-ebook/dp/B07NJNYGP3/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/death-before-coffee-1

Publishing Information:

Published in eBook and paperback on 8th February 2019.

Blog Tour

Against Nature by Casey Barrett @CapandGoggles @suzyapbooktours @KensingtonBooks #bookreview #againstnature

Posted on April 3, 2019April 2, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy hump day!

Thrilled to share with you today my review for this book sure to appeal to all crime thriller fans! Many thanks to Suzy for my invitation to the tour.🧡

My Thoughts

Casey Barrett has crafted a clever fast-paced thriller packed with plenty of action. This is the second book in the DI Duck Darley series, but I don’t feel as though I was at a disadvantage having not read the first. Duck is a hard-working, hard playing, and hard drinking flawed character. He prefers solving problems with his fists rather than his words, and as you would expect this tended to get him in some trouble. New York was the perfect backdrop for the unconventional enigmatic Duck’s antics.

Duck is currently hooking up with a rich divorcee Juliet who has a eight-year-old son Stevie. That is until his old partner Cass calls from the Catskills. Her boyfriend is dead and she is convinced it was murder. Cass’s boyfriend had been writing an article about doping and the East German Olympic team. What follows is a dangerous search for the truth.

This was an interesting story with a unique storyline packed with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. However the jury is still out on most of these characters especially Duck. I seriously had no idea what to make of him? I’d start liking him and then he’d go do something stupid generally while intoxicated and then I had to rethink my feelings, again. Cas was equally confusing, I felt for the girl but… Juliet was a piece of work and I straight up did not like her, but her son Stevie on the other hand was simply adorable. Thank goodness for Stevie, he save the day and redeemed most of the characters in this book.

Gritty and raw this was a well done crime thriller that will appeal to all that enjoy the genre!

*** many thanks to Kensington for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Against Nature: Book Two in the Duck Darley Series

Perched in an airy penthouse above the corrupt streets of Manhattan, unlicensed P.I. Duck Darley has settled into an unlikely domestic routine with a wealthy divorcée and her precocious eight-year-old son. But old nightmares return when a desperate text from Cass Kimball, the former partner Duck once took a bullet to protect, lures him back into sworn-off vices and the sinister world of professional sports . . .

Cass cries murder after her boyfriend tumbles to his death in the Catskills while researching the tragic doping experiments that changed the lives of East German Olympic athletes during the Cold War. Following the brutal killing of a champion javelin thrower, Cass herself is arrested on charges of double homicide, leaving Duck on an impossible quest for answers while doubting everything he ever believed about his secretive sidekick . . .

Now, caught between the secret horrors of extreme performance enhancement and shadowy criminals who stalk him relentlessly, it’s sink or swim as Duck stumbles through a reckless investigation that endangers both his life and that of anyone he allows himself to hold dear.

Let’s Connect

Have a Beautiful day!☮️

Berit☀️✨

Blog Tour

Mama’s Gone (The Lagotti Family Book #4) by Leopold Borstinski #MamasGone #TheLagottiFamily #damppebblesblogtours

Posted on March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

Thrilled to share with you today my review for this book that is a little different from my usual reads, but it definitely kept me entertained. Many thanks to Emma for my invitation to this tour!🖤

My Thoughts

This was a dark story about the mob, riddled with violence, sex, and drugs.

This is the fourth book in the series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone. It was action-packed and kept me entertained throughout, even though this is not my usual reading preference. I do find the mob inner workings fascinating, but I think this book taking place pretty much in my backyard was a bit offputting? I’m just not sure if it rings true that there is any kind of mob like this in Los Angeles especially in the 90s, just saying. But it is fiction after all!

Mary Lou has been running the “family business“ since the 60s, but lately she’s become a little forgetful. Her second husband Bobby and daughter Alice are trying to scheme a way to have her hand over the business, meanwhile they are covering for her. Alice and Bobby are also trying to get Mary Lou’s son Frank involved, but he is more interested in womanizing and drugging. None of the characters in this book were terribly likable, but I guess that’s The nature of the beast. Although I do have to admit I liked Alice she was smart and seem to have a good head on her shoulders, and perhaps will take the family business in a positive way? Like any mob book there was quite a bit of violence and sex in the book, if this were a movie it would definitely be rated R.

I think this book will definitely appeal to fans of mob literature (if that’s a thing?) It was dark and gritty and raw! Not for the faint of heart, for sure!

*** many thanks too Damppebbles for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

Let’s Connect

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Berit☀️✨

Happy

My Thoughts

About the Book

When children grow up, the parents must die

California gang leader Mary Lou has built a criminal empire while her adult children are desperate for their mother’s attention and love.

As her mental faculties wane, Alice and Frank Jr must acknowledge their mother is not the woman she once was and that they need to step up and take the helm, despite the stark differences between them.

But their sibling rivalry blinds both of them to their weaknesses which threatens the family when the Russian mob moves into the state. How can they fend off those attacks while fighting to decide who will lead the family now their dear Mama’s gone?

About the Author

Leopold Borstinski is an independent author whose past careers have included financial journalism, business management of financial software companies, consulting and product sales and marketing, as well as teaching.

There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.

He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/borstinski

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeoBorstinski

Website: http://www.leopoldborstinski.com/

Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B071ZZXZMR?_encoding=UTF8&redirectedFromKindleDbs=true&ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000&rfkd=1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Let’s Connect

Jennifer @ Tarheel Reader

Have a Beautiful day!🌹

Berit☀️✨

Book Bestie Approved

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty @CJ_Daugherty @MinotaurBooks #bookreview #bookbestiesabeautifulcorpse #abeautifulcorpse

Posted on March 7, 2019March 6, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Thursday book lovers!

Delighted to share with you today my review for the second book in this fantastic series that I strongly recommend to all crime thriller lovers! Another Bestie read that we all thoroughly enjoyed!💕

My Thoughts

STOP THE PRESSES HARPER IS BACK!

This is the second book in the Harper McClain reporter procedural series. The First book in this series “The Echo Killing” was fantastic, so this was a much anticipated book for me. Christi Daugherty has definitely not disappointed, this was another exceptional read.Still not sure if reporter procedural is a thing, but it certainly should be because this is One heck of a series! Fabulous characters, an interesting setting, and a cleverly crafted mystery.

Harper is fabulous, fierce, and feisty! She is super strong with a vulnerable side. Harper has had some trauma in her past, but she does not wear it like a suit of armor, she is open and warm and has wonderful people in her life. The setting of Savanna is magical and beautifully described! I could see the beautiful historical homes, smell the pralines, and feel the humidity! The mystery was clever and multi layered, but what I enjoyed most about this was the investigation itself. I just love how Harper those about trying to figure things out, she is smart, courageous, and crafty. The romance wasn’t quite as prevalent in this book as the previous, but I am holding out hope that a certain somebody will redeem themselves in the next book. This book ends on a cliffhanger that absolutely left me wanting more and wanting it now! well played Miss Daugherty!

The book starts off with Harper and her friend Bonnie hanging out when Harper gets a call about a dead body. When she reaches the crime scene the dead woman looks familiar and soon she figures out it is Naomi, one of Bonnie’s coworkers. Once again Harper finds her self reporting on a crime with a personal tie. The murder is confounding why would anyone want to kill sweet, kind, beautiful Naomi? The investigation leads Harper in a direction she doesn’t necessarily want to go. A suspect with a powerful family and Harper is already persona non grata to the Savanna PD. Throw in the fact that Harper’s job is in danger because of cuts at the newspaper. Top all of this off with the fact that somebody is stalking Harper. The ending was satisfying but still left plenty of questions yet to be answered.

This is a fantastic crime thriller with a wide appeal, I absolutely recommend!

🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head

You are an obsession
I cannot sleep
I am your possession
Unopened at your feet
There’s no balance
No equality
Be still I will not accept defeat
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterfly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
I feed you I drink you
My day and my night
I need you I need you
By sun or candlelight
You protest
You want to leave
Stay
Oh, there’s no alternative
Your face appears again
I see the beauty there…

*** Big thanks to Minotaur for my copy of this book ***

About the Book

From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.

For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.

With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.

Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?

With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.

Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…

The Besties

Mackenzie @ PhDiva

Holly @ Dressed to Read

Kendall

💕 be sure to check out all the Besties reviews!

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Have a Beautiful day!

Berit☀️✨

Audiobook Review

The Current by Tim Johnston @TJohnstonWriter @AlgonquinBooks #bookreview #audiobook #thecurrent

Posted on February 17, 2019February 16, 2019 by Berit @ Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Sunday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today my review for this wonderful audiobook, a mystery Full of tension and emotion!💜

The Current
A Novel
By: Tim Johnston
Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-22-19
Language: English
Publisher: HighBridge Company

My Thoughts

An atmospheric story alive with tension and emotion!

Tim Johnston has written a book that I not only Red but I felt. I felt the tension in my head, I felt the emotion in my heart, and I felt the cold in my bones. There was something so real and raw about this story. It is one of those books that will stick with you long after you turn the last page!

Audrey and Caroline are driving from their southern college to Audreys home in northern Minnesota. Audrey is going home to see her father who is fighting cancer. As they approach audrey’s hometown they make a choice that will change everything… A bathroom break, an assault, an icy road, a narrow bridge, and the girls plummet into the icy river. Two girls go in, one comes out alive, and the other one is missing… but this was no accident. This tragedy dredges up a similar tragedy that happened 10 years ago… a different girl, but the same River. Audrey’s father who was sheriff at the time, headed up the investigation, but is there a connection to this current tragedy? Audrey is devastated, not only dealing with the loss of her friend, but her father’s disease. Consumed with guilt and grief Audrey investigates the past in order to come to terms with the present.

This was a taut tense psychological crime thriller, that you will not be able to put down. I was riveted by every word in this book and drawn to every character. There is something so vulnerable about Audrey, yet she was so strong and smart, i really found myself rooting for her. The rest of the characters were equally compelling, there was something so true about each and every one of them. The mystery was brilliantly crafted full of twists and misdirection. I enjoyed every minute I spend with Audrey trying to figure out what happened 10 years ago, and if it was somehow related to her own tragedy.

An absorbing thriller full of guilt, grief, tension, miss direction, and emotion! Absolutely recommend!

🎧🎧🎧 this audiobook was narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christiensen and she did a stellar job! This is the first book I have listened to that she narrated and she really brought these characters to life.

Song Running Through My Mind

Time, time time, see what’s become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities
I was so hard to please
Don’t look around
The leaves are brown
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter
Hear the Salvation Army band
Down by the riverside’s, there’s bound to be a better ride
Than what you’ve got planned
Carry your cup in your hand
And look around
Leaves are brown, now
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter
Hang on to your hopes, my friend
That’s an easy thing to say
But if your hopes should pass away
Simply pretend that you can build them again
Look around
The grass is high
The fields are ripe
It’s the springtime of my life
Seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won’t you stop and remember me
At any convenient time?

*** many thanks to Algonquin Books for my copy ***

About the Book

In the dead of winter, outside a small Minnesota town, state troopers pull two young women and their car from the icy Black Root River. One is found downriver, drowned, while the other is found at the scene – half-frozen but alive.
What happened was no accident, and news of the crime awakens the community’s memories of another young woman who lost her life in the same river 10 years earlier and whose killer may still live among them.
Determined to find answers, the surviving young woman soon realizes she’s connected to the earlier unsolved case by more than just a river, and the deeper she plunges into her own investigation, the closer she comes to dangerous truths and to the violence that simmers just below the surface of her hometown.
Grief, suspicion, the innocent, and the guilty – all stir to life in this cold Northern town where a young woman can come home but still not be safe.
Brilliantly plotted and unrelentingly propulsive, The Current is a beautifully realized story about the fragility of life, the power of the past, and the need, always, to fight back.

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