Tag: Crime Thriller

Posted in Blog Tour

Russian Roulette by Keith Nixon @knntom @BOTBSPublicity #bookreview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Day of love!

Excited to share with you my review for this book perfect for your Valentine’s reading! (Or maybe not) well I suppose it all depends on how you feel about love and hearts and all that good stuff! This is a dark and gritty story that will appeal to your darker side! Many thanks to Sarah for my invitation to the tour!🖤

My Thoughts

A dark gritty crime thriller full of quirky characters!

This is the first book in the Constantine series… this book is just shy of 200 pages, but let me tell you there is a lot packed into this little book! Danger deceit and a dominatrix just to name a few… The story might be a little gritty but the characters are so quirky, it really made for a wonderful balance…

Constantine is XKGB and he just can’t seem to quell The investigator in him… Constantine also seems to surround himself with a cast of eccentric characters… Plastic Fantastic and Fat Gary just to name a few….

Had anyone told me I enjoy a story about a burly Russian and a dominatrix I would’ve told them they were crazy, and I would’ve been wrong! This book really caught me by surprise it was an engaging and captivating read with characters I truly adored! Recommend!

About the Book

A reluctant investigator, a sordid English seaside town, a criminal underbelly.

Trouble has a habit of seeking out Konstantin, whether he wants it or not. Starting from the moment he arrives in the seedy seaside town of Margate where he’s supposed to be in hiding from his ex-employers. All Konstantin wants is to keep his head down and be left alone. But it’s not to be. People have their problems and Konstantin can’t help but get involved.

Konstantin has to overcome the drug dealer, the loan shark and a Liverpudlian gangster. Then there’s the so-called good guys, the councilors and lawyers who are worse than the criminals. Enter Fidelity Brown, aka Plastic Fantastic, a dominatrix who has her own mélange of secrets and lies, and nightclub owner Ken who’s connected to all the wrong people. Both help Konstantin solve the cases dropped on his doorstep.

Cue deception, murder, mayhem as the Russian settles into his new life. Margate will never be the same again. And neither will Konstantin…

Meet the enigmatic Konstantin, a man with a dark history and darker future in the start of a unique crime thriller series laced with a healthy dose of black humour. Pick up Russian Roulette to find out what all the fuss is about.  

About the Author

Keith Nixon is a British born writer of crime and historical fiction novels. Originally, he trained as a chemist, but Keith is now in a senior sales role for a high-tech business. Keith currently lives with his family in the North West of England.

 Readers can connect with Keith on various social media platforms:

 Web: http://www.keithnixon.co.uk

Twitter: @knntom
Facebook: Keithnixonauthor
Blog: www.keithnixon.co.uk/blog

Instagram|

Goodreads|

Twitter|

Have A wonderful day!

Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour

Boss Girl by Emma Tallon @EmmaESJ @bookouture #bookreview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Hope you are having a wonderful day full of words and books!

Excited to share with you today my review of this book that is part of a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed, a crime thriller with a bit of a mobster vibe! Many thanks to Noelle for her invitation and to Emma Tallon for her wise and wonderful words!💛

My Thoughts

A gritty edge of your seat story that you will not be able to put down!

Few! That was one tension filled story! This is the third book in this dark and gritty series that takes place in London’s criminal underworld… all the books in the series are so brilliantly crafted, perfectly paced, and best of all full of amazing characters… as I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews this series reminds me so much of General Hospital… simply because Freddy reminds me of Sonny Corinthas (but taller)…. Freddie is one of those lovable bad guys that will worm his way into your heart!

In this book Anna is working hard at her club Anya and planning the opening of a second club… Freddie is busy taking over his little corner of London… don’t even want to say much more than that, the rest of the book is one wild and crazy nonstop heart pounding tale… dark, gritty, edgy, and definitely not for the faint of heart…

The plot of this story was definitely mind blowing, but my favorite part is the characters and their relationships… Anna is such a strong self-sufficient girl who has really come a long way throughout the series… her strong friendship with Tonya is truly the highlight of the series for me, these girls are both rock stars in my eyes and I love love love their bond!Freddie is the best kind of thug… when it comes to Anna and the rest of his family he has a huge heart and will stop at nothing to protect them…

A compelling story that will keep you up long past your bedtime, heart pounding and mind blowing! Recommend!

About the Book

If you love Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers, Casey Kelleher and Jessie Keane, you’ll love Boss Girl.

You’ll do anything to save your family, even kill for them…

Anna Davis is under pressure. With her West End nightclub packed full every night and the opening of another club just around the corner, she knows she can’t take her eye off the ball.

Her boyfriend Freddie Tyler practically owns London’s West End and he’s got a big deal on – one that could make the Tylers the most powerful family in London. He’s going into business with crime boss Frank Gambino. But visiting Anna at work one night, Gambino tells her he’ll only sign the deal with Freddie on one condition – that she hands over Club Anya to him.

With tension growing between Anna and Freddie, her mind is on other things. She doesn’t notice that someone is watching her every move. She doesn’t realise just how much danger she’s in. 

When one night she doesn’t return home, Freddie is beside himself with worry. And as he races to save Anna, one thing is for sure – he’ll get back the girl he loves. Even if it means taking down the whole of the London underworld to find her…

About the Book

 

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

Buy Link: 

Amazon: http://geni.us/B07KG7V5F6Social

Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/y754kgpe

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/yaquhngy

Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/y8f95c37

 

Posted in Blog Tour

Life or Death by Chris Merritt @DrCJMerritt @bookouture #bookreview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Wednesday all!

Busy day, on the blog today! Another fabulous book that I’m thrilled to share with you! Big thanks to Noelle for my invitation and Kris Meritt for the spectacular book!🚨

My Thoughts

A compulsive heart pounding installment in this fantastic police procedural series!

Zac is back and better than ever! This is the third book in the DI Zac Boateng series and in my humble opinion the best so far! Chris Merritt’s writing is so gripping he makes it impossible for you to put the book down! So make sure you have a few hours free before you pick this one up!

Zac is such a real and likable character and in this book my heart just broke for him…. five years ago Zac’s daughter Amelia was murdered, it is his mission to put all those responsible behind bars…. after a shoot out an informant appears to have the answers, but answers lead to more questions and more tragedy… this time not only is Zac seeking justice for his daughter, but he is also trying to rescue his son from a kidnapper…. this book had me shaking my head as I was trying to figure out what was going on and how so much can happen to such a nice guy… seriously how much can one man take before he snaps? I liked how significant a part Kat played in this book… I like that Zac has so much support both at home and on the job…

An intriguing story filled with twists and turns and plenty of action that will keep you on your toes! Recommend!

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

About the Book

Never forget. Never forgive.

As a detective in the Metropolitan police, Zac is no stranger to murder cases, but this one is different. This is his daughter’s murder. 

Years after Amelia died, Zac is still trying to trace the police office involved in his daughter’s death.

And whilst Zac is prepared to break every rule to find the man responsible, his young and ambitious deputy, Kat, is working on a high profile case of her own. But she knows Zac is keeping secrets from his team so she’s following his every move.

When one of Zac’s informants is killed, he knows he’s close to catching his man, but before he can act, he receives a call about his son which blows his world apart… And this time, he knows he’ll stop at nothing to save his family.

A gripping and addictive crime thriller for fans of Lee Child, Mark Billingham and Mark Dawson, Life or Death is an unputdownable thriller that will have you reading into the night. 

 

About the AuthorChris Merritt is a Clinical Psychologist and former diplomat based in London, who has been writing on psychology since 2010. In 2014 he decided to combine his Bring Her Back, his debut novel. He currently works on a mental health research project at King’s College London, and part-time as a psychologist in the NHS. When not working or writing, he loves climbing and basketball, and dreams of one day being able to work from home enough to own a whippet.

 

 

Author Social Media Links: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCJMerritt

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17558172.Chris_Merritt

 

 
BUY LINKS:  

Amazon: http://geni.us/B07JPGLHQLsocial

iBookstore: https://tinyurl.com/y7vqjoa6

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y8floql8

Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/yawpggg8

 

That’s all folks! Berit☀️✨

Posted in Audiobook Review, Blog Tour

Her Pretty Bones by Carla Kovach @CKovachAuthor @bookouture #bookreview #audiobook

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Sunday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today my review for the third book in the brilliant Gina Hart series! Big thanks to Noelle for my invitation and to Carla Kovach for her wonderful story!🚨

My Thoughts

Redheads beware! You’re just the girl he’s looking for!

This was a gripping dark and twisted police procedural… The third book in the DI Gina Hart series and just as engaging as the previous two… even though I have read the previous books I do believe this can absolutely be read as a standalone…. but I’m going to bet that after you read this one you will want to go back and read the previous two!

A young girl’s body falls out of the back of a van, she is rushed to the hospital and her last words are, “help her!” A couple days later and a couple miles away a young girl’s body is found in a shallow grave… what these girls had in common their age, their emaciated bodies, and their hair color, red… Gina who just had an argument with her own daughter, is more determined than ever to solve this horrendous case….

I really liked how Gina and Company worked this case… I also liked how we got multiple perspectives including that of another young girl and potential next victim as well as a mother whose daughter was missing… I think the additional perspectives really added a layer of authenticity and terror to the story…. The mystery was full of the perfect amount of twists and turns and red herrings…. my one little niggle with the series is we don’t necessarily get to know Gina quite as much as I would like… we get a little glimpse, but I really would love to get to know this character better!

🎧🎧🎧 Audio Narration:

Tamsin Kennard made this British crime thriller even more British, that’s a good thing! I read the previous two books in the series so listening to the audio was a new experience and it definitely enriched the story for me…Tamsin has a beautiful English accent, much better than the one that runs through my head, she also added a little more of a feminine hand to Gina, and I really like that! She also did a really good job with the male voices, always a bonus! A audiobook narrator that adds another dimension to the story cannot be beat, if you are an audiobook person I’d pick this one up!

An engaging twisted crime thriller that will wake your inner detective! Recommended!

🎵 Music running through my mind! As a redhead that part of the story really stuck with me so the song I have paired with this book is…

Well brunettes are fine man

And blondes are fun

But when it comes to getting the dirty job done

I’ll take a red headed woman

A red headed woman

It takes a red headed woman

To get a dirty job done.

Bruce Springsteen 1993

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QvXpEb_YWzI

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my electronic copy of this book and to my wallet for my audiobook copy ***

About the Book

THE UNPUTDOWNABLE NEW THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NEXT GIRL

She’s just the girl he’s looking for…

A young woman falls from a van speeding down a quiet road. Battered and bruised, she turns her head to the person who comes to her aid. ‘Help her’, she whispers before her eyes close.

Days later, the body of another young girl is found in a shallow grave just a few miles away. The similarities between the two girls are startling – same age, same frail body, same shocking red hair.

As the town fears there’s a serial killer living amongst them, Detective Gina Harte must put aside her own struggles at home, and catch the killer before he finds another perfect girl.

AN ABSOLUTELY HEART-STOPPING CRIME THRILLER FROM CARLA KOVACH – if you like Lisa Gardner, Robert Bryndza or Clare Mackintosh, Her Pretty Bones will have you hooked.

Buy  Links:       

Amazon:  http://geni.us/B07JK9XXNCSocial

iBookstore: https://tinyurl.com/ycy6h8c3

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/ydzylg8e

Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/ybz9adr3

 

 

About the Author

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area. Her feature film ‘Penny for the Guy’ is being made and is set for release in 2019.

Her latest book, Her Final Hour, has been published by Bookouture. It is the second in the DI Gina Harte crime series.

 

 

Author Social Media Links: 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKovachAuthor

Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day! Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour

Her Final Confession by Lisa Regan @lisalregan @bookouture #bookreview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Tuesday bibliophiles!

Excited to share with you today my review for the fourth book in this series, this is the best series I started this year! Huge thank you to Noelle for my invitation to the tour and to Lisa Regan for this spectacular series!❄️✨

Her-Final-Confession-KindleWatching her friend dragged away in handcuffs, Josie couldn’t believe for one second that Gretchen had killed that poor boy. Confession or not, someone else was involved. She would find out who…

When the body of a young student is found on the driveway of a local Denton home, a photograph pinned to his collar, Detective Josie Quinn is first on the scene. The house belongs to Gretchen Palmer, a dedicated member of Josie’s team, missing for the last twenty-four hours.

Working around the clock, Josie is stopped in her tracks when Gretchen hands herself in to the police. She knows that there’s no way Gretchen could ever be a killer, so why would she confess to a murder she didn’t commit?

Digging deep into Gretchen’s secretive life, Josie uncovers a link between the boy, the photograph and a devastating case in Gretchen’s past. But just when Josie thinks she has it all figured out, the bodies of a young couple surface on the other side of town. Can Josie get to the truth in time to save her friend from a life in prison or certain death?

Absolutely gripping, this unputdownable crime thriller from a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author will leave you gasping for breath. A perfect read for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

My Thoughts

BEST SERIES of the year!!!

This is the fourth book in the Josie Quinn Series, all four of the books were published this year, 2018… this is an exceptional police procedural series, filled with wonderful characters and compelling plots… they can all be read as standalones but why would you want to? They are all brilliant and each is better than the last… I think this is a series best devoured from The beginning! I just took a look at my review for the first book and I mention that I felt there was lots of room for Josie to grow as a character, and boy has she! Lisa Regan, I am expecting another four books in this marvelous series in 2019! I don’t ask for much, right?

I knew we were going to get Gretchen‘s backstory in this book…. I knew it would be dark and disturbing but WOWZA! The body of a young man is discovered in Gretchen‘s driveway with a picture of a young boy pinned to him… Josie was adamant that Gretchen had nothing to do with the death of this young man, even after Gretchen confesses…. but who is this young man and what was he doing at Gretchens house? Is a recently murdered couple connected to this in any way? Once again I put on my detective hat and tried to figure out this case along with Josie and Noah, I had plenty of theories, none of them right!

The thing I love most about this series is the amazing and well developed characters… along with the relationships they have with one another… Josie has some scars, but she is still extremely relatable… I think knowing her backstory makes it’s so easy to understand and sympathize with her…. Noah, wow he has come along way since that first book and I am so hoping that Josie and he end up in a strong stable loving relationship! Together! Gretchen has always been a bit of a mystery and I just knew she had some deep secrets, but I did not expect them to be this deep and dark…. there were times I was thinking how could one person possibly have gone through all of this? Fortunately I was wrong with some of my assumptions and grateful to find that out! SO what does a motorcycle gang, a serial killer, and a grad student have in common? Well you’re going to need to read this fabulous book to find that out, but as I said start with book one!

Absolutely recommend to anyone who is a fan of a wonderful crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns and well-developed characters…

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

Amazon: http://geni.us/B07H2ML6LBSocial

iBookstore: https://tinyurl.com/y9ld7xvq

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y88crqqx

Googleplay: https://tinyurl.com/y8mm3pm5

Lisa Regan - Author PhotoAuthor Bio:

Lisa Regan is an Amazon bestselling crime novelist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Find out more at her website: http://www.lisaregan.com

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: http://www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Her Final Confession - Blog Tour

Posted in Blog Tour

Something Wicked by Kerry Wilkinson @kerrywk @bookouture #bookreview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Tuesday all!

Thrilled to be on the blog tour for the US release of the first book in the Andrew Hunter series! A huge thank you to Noelle for my invitation and to Kerry Wilkinson for his wicked words!🖤

Description:

Andrew Hunter is plagued by guilt. His only escape is work, where it fuels his need to help others find those they’ve lost.

Elaine Carr’s son, Nicholas, disappeared in the dense woods near his home. He hasn’t been seen since, and she’s falling apart.

Andrew suspects Nicholas is alive, but in grave danger. He wants to know how no one in the small town of Prestwich has any answers. Why the teenager’s girlfriend is so cagey, and to get a proper look at the tattoo on her wrist. And as he follows the trail of an unsettling clue found in the boy’s bedroom, he begins to wonder if the case is connected to one buried in the past.

Can Andrew find Nicholas alive, or is he already too late to save him?

A gripping thriller full of shocking twists that will have you hooked! If you like L.J. Ross, Mark Edwards or Rachel Caine, you’ll love Something Wicked!

My Thoughts

Kerry Wilkinson has fast become an auto-download for me!

This is the first book in the Andrew hunter series, a series new to the US, but previously released in the UK… Andrew doesn’t need to work he has chosen to be a PI to keep busy…. Jenny his assistant is a quirky straightforward character with some empathy issues… not sure what it was? could have just been the PI thing or the male/female thing, but something about this reminded me of the television show “Moonlighting“…. but then Andrew and Jenny would eventually get together, not sure about that?!?!

Richard’s son Nicholas disappeared almost a year ago… all that was ever found were three of his fingers…. The police have given up due to the lack of leads, that’s when Richard employees Andrew…. The case takes you places you don’t want to go when it comes to a missing 18-year-old, including The occult… The investigation was fast paced, dark, intense, and ultimately surprising….

The perfect start to a new series that I recommend to fans of crime thrillers who like a little humor woven in…

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

About the Author

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 bestsellers in the UK, Canada, South Africa and Singapore, as well as top-five books in Australia. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy – a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults – a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry has spent far too long living in the north of England, picking up words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’.

When he’s short of ideas, he rides his bike or bakes cakes. When he’s not, he writes it all down.

Author Social Media Links:

http://kerrywilkinson.com

http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks

Available Now!

Buy Links:    https://tinyurl.com/y7c9zoen

Thanks for dropping by! Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour

Open Grave by A.M. Peacock @ampeacockwriter @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

This has been a bit of a crazy Wednesday, but I made it! Here is my last post of the day! Thrilled to share with you my review for this book that is the start to another fabulous series!🚨

OPENGRAVE

DCI Jack Lambert is no stranger to inner demons, having struggled with his own since the admission about his sexuality.

When two bodies are discovered in an open grave, Lambert must put his personal worries aside and work the case. But when the body of a local thug shows up on the banks of the River Tyne, the DCI’s criminal past comes back to haunt him.

Meanwhile, a local celebrity singer claims that she is being stalked. Could there be a link to the killings?

As the bodies start to pile up, Lambert realises the motive lies in the past and that the killer is taunting them.

The clock is ticking. Can he catch the murderer, or will one of their own end up in an open grave?

My Thoughts

This was a good start to what looks like is going to be a strong police procedural series…. whenever you start a new series it is a double edged sword…. if it’s good now you have another series commitment, and if it’s not… well no need to discuss that because this was good and I am really looking forward to see how the series develops….

DCI Jack Lambert is a bit different than a lot of characters that take the lead in the series… he is not an evil genius, he is more an average Joe…. he is also openly gay…. this has had a negative impact on his relationship with his wife and child, for obvious reasons, and this was somewhat discussed in the book… The diversity was nice and it wasn’t overplayed… his colleagues were a bit crude and sexist but they seemed to accept Jack completely…. it is an interesting opportunity to discuss some timely issues, curious to see where that goes? So Jack and his cohorts bumble their way through this investigation that involves two bodies in an open grave and a actress being stalked….

SO what do these two dead bodies with no known association and a stalker have in common? Or do they? And will Jack and crew figure it out before the body count goes up?The procedural part of this book was well plotted and I loved plane amateur detective along side Jack…. there is a lot of room for character growth in Jack as well as his cronies…. I am really looking forward to see where Jack and this series take us…

Absolutely recommend to fans of crime thrillers and police procedurals🚨

*** A huge thank you to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***

Adam Peacock Headshot-15Author Bio:
A.M. Peacock grew up in the North East of England before leaving to study for a degree in music technology at the University of Hull. A subsequent return to his hometown of South Shields saw him spend seven years as a teacher in a local college before changing careers to become a trade union official.

Having always been an avid reader, he took to writing after being encouraged to do so by his PGCE tutor. He has since gone on to produce a number of short stories, winning the Writers’ Forum Magazine competition on two occasions, as well as producing articles for both the local press and a university magazine.

A.M. Peacock is passionate about crime fiction and his debut novel, Open Grave, is the first in what he hopes will become a series of DCI Jack Lambert books.

Away from writing, A.M. Peacock enjoys watching films, playing guitar and can often be found pavement pounding in preparation for the odd half marathon.
Links:

Twitter – @ampeacockwriter

http://www.ampeacock.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/ampeacockwriter/

B L O G B L I T Z (4) (1)

Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour

She Lies Hidden by Christine Stephenson @cmstephenson73 @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Hope your Wednesday is going well!

Delighted to be part of the blog tour for this debut! With the changing of the guard I’m not sure who to thank, so I’m going to thanky both Emma and Sarah for my invitation! Much love to you both and I always enjoy working with you!💕

C.M. Stephenson - She Lies Hidden_cover

How far would you go to find your missing sister?

When DI Thomasine Albright is informed that the remains of her fifteen-year-old sister have been found, she has the tragic responsibility of breaking the news to her mother. Thomasine promises her mother that she will be the one to find Karen’s killer.

But Karen Albright wasn’t the only girl to go missing during that weekend in 1973… Veronica Lightfoot disappeared too. They’d lived barely four miles apart, yet apparently never met. Suddenly there is a new question, was Veronica involved in Karen’s death? Is that why she vanished?

DI Mel Philips is handed the original case file and begins a new investigation. Unwilling to be side-lined, Thomasine decides to go it alone.

As the case unfolds, Thomasine realises that there may be other victims. Can she find them too?

My Thoughts

This was an engaging, fast paced debut…. this was a straightforward murder mystery with no shocking twist at the end, and I mention that because I kept waiting for it…. this was a busy book with a lot of action packed into these pages… and yet still a bit of a slow burn….

23 years ago, Thomasina’s sister went missing… now her body has been found, is her murder connected to the disappearance of another girl? The story is told from multiple points of view and different time frames…. The author did a very good job of weaving these threads together, I was never confused as to whose story I was reading…. The only little problem I had with this is information was not discovered at the same time, so sometimes things got a bit repetitive…The characters were likable and engaging, however I wish they had been developed a bit more…

This was an admirable debut, an uncomplicated murder mystery… The writing was effortless and flowed well… cannot wait to see what this author has Up Next for us!

*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***

C.M.Stephenson colourAuthor Bio:

After growing up in a small Lancashire village, Christine Stephenson left school at fifteen. Four years later she moved to Cornwall.

In her late teens she met people whose lives were complicated, fuelled by drugs, and filled with violence and aggression. There were others too, in her mid-twenties, everyday people, educated, with careers, who had decent parents; people who you wouldn’t look at twice in the street. They were worse; she knew the victims of their crimes too. These experiences continue to influence her writing.

Her career can be described as eclectic. Jobs ranging from office junior to dental nurse, management consultant to executive and corporate coach. She ran her own training consultancy for over twelve years. It was there that her love of writing bloomed. She went on to produce an extensive portfolio of work which included resource packs, case studies, role-plays, games, presentations and academic texts.

In 2008 her husband’s job dictated that they move to South Gloucestershire. This in turn, lead to a brand-new life. They now live just outside a small medieval town, set between Bristol and Bath.

In 2009, she decided it was time to study the craft and undertook the A215 in Creative Writing with Open University, and later followed that with an MA Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, graduating in 2016. She gained representation with Andrew Nurnberg & Associates soon after. She spent the following eighteen months writing and editing what is now her debut novel. In May 2018 Christine was delighted to accept a contract with Bloodhound Books. ‘She Lies Hidden’ is due for release in September 2018.

Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18365691.C_M_Stephenson

https://www.facebook.com/CM-Stephenson-490866894723520
@cmstephenson73

B L O G B L I T Z (5)

Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour, Crime Thriller

The Bad Neighbor by David Tallerman @davidtallerman @annecater #BookReview #RandomThingsTours

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy Monday book lovers!

Delighted to share with you today my review for this dark and gritty book… many thanks to Anne Cater for my invitation to the blog tour.🖤

The Bad Neighbour is a gritty contemporary crime thriller set in the north of England, rooted in the author’s personal experiences of the region while drawing upon wider issues of racial intolerance, gang crime and police corruption.

When part-time teacher Ollie Clay panic-buys a rundown house in the outskirts of Leeds, he soon recognises his mistake. His new neighbour, Chas Walker, is an antisocial thug, and Ollie’s suspicions raise links to a local hate group. With Ollie’s life unravelling rapidly, he feels his choices dwindling: his situation is intolerable and only standing up to Chas can change it. But Ollie has his own history of violence, and increasingly, his own secrets to hide; and Chas may be more than the mindless yob he appears to be. As their conflict spills over into the wider world, Ollie will come to learn that there are worse problems in life than one bad neighbour.

My Thoughts

The Bad Neighbor is a compelling, dark, and gritty book…

What happens when you move into your dream house and find out you are living next to the neighbor from hell? Ollie has recently come into some money and uses it to finally purchase a house of his own… The problem is he is now living next to A skinhead… with a bit of a delinquent past of his own how will Ollie navigate the situation? This book got off to a bit of a slow start, but at about the half point it really picked up… filled with all the twists and turns and dark secrets you would expect from a book in this genre…

This was a dark book and that extended to the mood of the main character Ollie… he was definitely the glass is always half empty kind of guy… pictured him walking around with a dark cloud over his head at all times🌧 I really found myself wanting to bring some sunshine into his life…

The ending of this book was surprising and satisfying! I’d recommend this book too people who enjoy a darker grittier crime thriller…

*** many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Neighbour-Fiction-Without-Frontiers/dp/178758027X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1532861542&sr=8-1&keywords=the+bad+neighbour+tallerman

image-80ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Tallerman is the author of the Digital Fiction Publishing fantasy adventure series The Black River Chronicles, so far comprised of Level One and The Ursvaal Exchange, as well as the novel Giant Thief (described by Fantasy Faction as “one of the finest dĂŠbuts of 2012”) and its sequels Crown Thief and Prince Thief, all published through Angry Robot.  His crime debut The Bad Neighbour is forthcoming fromFlame Tree Publishing in late 2018.

David has also written the Markosia graphic novelEndangered Weapon B: Mechanimal Science and theTor.com novella Patchwerk, as well as around a hundred short stories, which have appeared in markets such asClarkesworld, Lightspeed, Beneath Ceaseless Skies and his debut collection The Sign in the Moonlight and Other Stories.  The first issue of comic book mini-series C21st Gods is out now from Rosarium.

In his spare time, David watches inordinate numbers of movies, hikes, plays board games, and helps in the ethical submission, capture, and resettlement of troveless dragons.

Twitter @davidtallerman

Website: http://www.davidtallerman.co.uk/

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Thank you for stopping by! Berit☀️✨

Posted in Blog Tour, Crime Thriller

This Little Piggy by Rob Ashman @RobAshmanAuthor @Bloodhoundbook #BookReview

Posted on by Berit@Audio Killed the Bookmark

Happy hump day all! Welcome to my stop on the blog blitz for this intense crime thriller! Many thanks to Sarah for my invitation and to Rob Ashman for his twisted story!🖤

unnamedThis Little Piggy

Kevin Palmer is a regular sort of guy, or he was until his life fell apart. His wife, his money, his business and his reputation are all taken away from him. He tries to fight back and ends up in prison.

There he concocts elaborate fantasies to wreak vengeance. He is sent to work in an abattoir and the final piece of the jigsaw falls into place with chilling consequences. Then a cruel twist of fate changes everything.

DI Rosalind Kray is battling her own demons having returned to work following a brutal attack. She finds herself on the trail of a sick and twisted killer and cracks the macabre pattern of murders. But her boss is unconvinced.

Kray has Palmer squarely in her sights. But he has other ideas …

Can Kray break him in time to save the final victim?

Time is running out.

My Thoughts

4.5 This Little Piggy Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

… and this little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home!

A serial killer obsessed with vengeance and a nursery rhyme… a damaged detective consumed with justice… a perfect recipe for a wonderfully dark crime thriller….

This was one dark and twisted book! Told from the point of view of both Rosalind the detective and Kevin the killer…. Rosalind is damaged having just survived a brutal stabbing and the loss of her husband… Kevin has lost everything his wife, his business, his pride, and now he is set on revenge…. oh what a crazy twisted ride he took us on! Murders mimicking the popular nursery rhyme…. down to the eating of the roastbeef, and the collecting of the toes…. this book is definitely not for the faint of heart, there is a splash of gore throughout…. The way the victims are murdered emulates the slaughtering of a pig… not a pretty sight….

Really loved the investigation in this book, and the twists and turns it took…. I really thought for a hot minute were heading in an entirely different direction…. I also always love being in the mind of the killer… and Kevin was exceptionally twisted, and yet sympathetic…. The only very minor complaint I have about the book is I would have liked to have established a better connection with Rosalind… but perhaps in a future book? Can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next….

Strongly recommend to fans of a dark crime thriller with an exceptionally manipulative serial killer…

*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***

Author Bio:

Rob is married to Karen with two grown up daughters. He is originally from South Wales and after moving around with work settled in North Lincolnshire where he’s spent the last twenty-two years.

Like all good welsh valley boys Rob worked for the National Coal Board after leaving school at sixteen and went to University at the tender age of twenty-three when the pit closures began to bite. Since then he’s worked in a variety of manufacturing and consulting roles both in the UK and abroad.

It took Rob twenty-four years to write his first book. He only became serious about writing it when his dad got cancer. It was an aggressive illness and Rob gave up work for three months to look after him and his mum. Writing Those That Remain became his coping mechanism. After he wrote the book his family encouraged him to continue, so not being one for half measures, Rob got himself made redundant, went self-employed so he could devote more time to writing and four years later the Mechanic Trilogy is the result.

When he is not writing, Rob is a frustrated chef with a liking for beer and prosecco, and is known for occasional outbreaks of dancing.

Rob published the Mechanic Trilogy with Bloodhound Books in 2017 and will be releasing three new books during 2018. These are titled: Faceless, This Little Piggy and Suspended Retribution.

Links:

Twitter: @RobAshmanAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rob-Ashman-Author-1428800800468097/

Website: http://robashman.com/

This little piggy stayed home, Berit 😉