#ADGIFTED book given in return for a blog post, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. I love murder mysteries so I opt for that genre mostly.

The Ash Lake Murders

MEET DETECTIVE ALICE ROSSI IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES.

A brand-new mystery from #1 bestselling author Helen H. Durrant that will have you gripped from start to explosive finish.

A female serial killer with a deadly agenda. The detective who must stop her. Luxury holiday lodges in the stunning Peak District. The game begins . . .

Callum is lured to an isolated boathouse by an attractive older woman. When she gets him alone, she knocks him out with a single blow. As he wakes up, her voice comes out of the darkness, “You’re a sprat to catch a mackerel.”

Surrounded by hills and lakes, Still Waters is home to a close-knit community of wealthy retirees. It’s an unlikely setting for violence. The police don’t take Callum’s disappearance seriously: he’s 24-years-old, after all. But Callum’s mother, a Still Waters resident, knows that something is very wrong.

Then a body is discovered floating in the lake. Head bashed in. But it’s not Callum.

And someone tweets: Come out to play one last time, Alice. Still Waters run deep. #MadHatter.

That’s when DCI Alice Rossi is called in. She’s back.

IT’S A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME BETWEEN AN OBSESSED KILLER AND A DETERMINED DETECTIVE IN THIS GRIPPING MYSTERY FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS.

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean, Joy Ellis, J.D. Kirk, Rachel Abbott, Elly Griffiths, J.M. Dalgliesh, Steph Broadribb or Patricia Gibney.

READERS LOVE HELEN H. DURRANT:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Another first-class read from Helen H. Durrant.” Iain

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A satisfying and enjoyable read.” Carol S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Wow . . . this will keep you on the edge of your seat. Brilliant story from this author.” Booklover Bev

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Loved it. Read it in one sitting.” Aileen G.

THE DETECTIVE
DCI Alice Rossi of Greater Manchester’s Serious Crime Squad has served with the police for the past twenty-nine years. Since the death of her husband, Paul, six years ago, she has lived alone in a large, three-storey Edwardian terrace on the outskirts of Manchester. Her grown-up son lives in Edinburgh with his family. Alice is about to retire — but she’s not looking forward to it. Since her husband died, work has been her mainstay, not because she misses Paul — he was a bad man — but because it keeps her dark thoughts at bay.

ALSO BY HELEN H. DURRANT
DETECTIVE ALICE ROSSI
Book 1: THE ASH LAKE MURDERS

DETECTIVE RACHEL KING
Book 1: NEXT VICTIM
Book 2: TWO VICTIMS
Book 3: WRONG VICTIM
Book 4: FORGOTTEN VICTIM
Book 5: LAST VICTIM

THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
Book 9: DEAD GUILTY
Book 10: DEAD WICKED
Book 11: DEAD SORRY

THE DCI GRECO BOOKS
Book 1: DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE
Book 4: DARK ANGEL

MATT BRINDLE
Book 1: HIS THIRD VICTIM
Book 2: THE OTHER VICTIM

DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE
Book 1: THE GUILTY MAN
Book 2: THE FACELESS MAN

Author Bio Helen sets her books in the area she has lived in for many years. The towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. This is an area between two counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and between the city and the hills. It offers a rich mix of the industrial and the countryside and all the character therein.

Helen always planned to write crime novels. But until she retired from full-time work in a local further education college, it had to go on the back burner. Once she did retire – there was no excuse. She now writes full-time. Retirement proper will have to wait!

Currently there are ten books in the ‘Calladine & Bayliss’ series available – Dead Wrong, Dead Silent, Dead List, Dead Lost, Dead & Buried, Dead Nasty, Dead Jealous, Dead Bad, Dead Guilty and the latest – Dead Wicked.

There is also a box set of the first three books.

Also available are four books in the ‘DI Greco’ series – Dark Murder, Dark Houses, Dark Trade, and the latest – Dark Angel.

The four DI Greco books are available as a box set at a bargain price.

There are two books in the DI Matt Brindle series – His Third Victim and The Other Victim.

The DCI Rachel King series has four books – Next Victim , Two Victims, Wrong Victim and Forgotten Victim.

There are currently two books in the Lennox & Wilde series, The Guilty Man, The Faceless Man.

The entire Calladine & Bayliss series are also available as a boxset.

My Review It isn’t often you find a book to read about a female serial killer, so it felt like a refreshing change for that alone, and that it’s set in the Peak District. And if anyone reads my blog knows, I walk around the Peaks every week, so it feels eerily familiar, and added to the spooky, thriller aspect to the book.

She is ruthless and calculating and it’s so intriguing to try and work out the connection, nothing is given away too early. This kept me on the edge of my actual seat. Nail biter as they say.

These sunny days and long road trips have helped me have some extra reading time to myself. What better way to enjoy a book with the sea lapping softly while to bask in the sunshine! Happy days

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid -19 ~ Week One Hundred Five, Covid-19 Lockdown, Family Adventures

#ADGifted all thoughts and opinions are my own, given in exchange for a review.

Ghosts : A Detective Jason Smith thriller

Police officers are being killed in York. The murders are cold, calculated and methodical. This killer leaves nothing behind besides a sense of dread.

When someone Detective Jason Smith has worked with ends up dead it becomes personal, but this phantom leaves nothing to even hint at why this is happening.

The only breakthrough in the case comes from several witnesses who claim to have seen a ghost-like figure around the time of the murders.

Facing ghosts of his own, and on the brink of breakdown Smith is pushed even further over the edge when he discovers the sick reality behind these murders.

This isn’t about murder – this is about something else altogether.

These ghosts will haunt Jason Smith for the rest of his life.

Stewart Giles – Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brought together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
The Miranda trilogy is something totally different. A psychological thriller trilogy. It is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow with book 16 recently published. The first 5 books in the Detective Liam O’Reilly series are now available.

Website: http://www.stewartgiles.com
Twitter: @stewartgiles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

My Review this one is a complete page turner, I bet most will sit and read this in one sitting!! It’s that gripping. Plot is complex at times so read and give this your full attention, not skim read and watch the television too.

Even with all my wits about me, the conclusion was wild and I had not seen that coming at all. We drive into the characters pure emotion and mental breakdown, you get a physical impression of how he is feeling and that to me shows a damn good writer.

Who wouldn’t fancy meeting up over a pint and seeing York through their eyes, and chat over cases. They actually feel like real life people. It’s incredible.

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Books I've read, Covid -19 ~ Week One Hundred, Covid-19 Lockdown

#ADGIFTED all opinions and thoughts are my own, and I’m free to choose the genre and authors I like.

KIDNAP BY JANE ADAMS

Detective Toby Clarke’s day does not begin well. He is to investigate the kidnapping of a missing toddler, Joshua Banks — the latest in a string of cases.

Toddlers are going missing. In their place, a note that warns what will happen if they call the police along with a number to call. The number is for a previously targeted family.

Toby ropes in Detective Petra Merrow to help investigate, but it’s not going to be easy. None of the families are willing to talk.

Then the case turns sideways — little Joshua Banks is found murdered. Will another innocent life be lost?

Meanwhile, Petra is living in fear of retribution from the Perrins crime family, and the villainous Kyle Sykes, who would like nothing more than to see her dead.

Petra and Toby are in a race against time to solve the case — and bring a killer to justice.

Perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, D.E. White, Clair McGowen, Rachel Abbott, Helen H. Durrant, Patricia Gibney, Sally Spencer and Mark Billingham.

WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT THE MERROW & CLARKE SERIES:

“A well written and cleverly plotted read with a fast-paced storyline, unique viewpoint and interesting characters.” Donna B.

“Action-packed.” Amanda H.

“Lauren is a terrific character, brave, smart and very adult for her age . . . it’s hard to put the book down, I loved it. Highly recommended!” Hannelore C.

“Gripping.” Vikkie W.

“How strange it must be to be the teenage daughter of a crime boss. Knowing your every move is watched. Your only position is that of a useful commodity and if you stop being useful your father will kill you. All you can do is to learn as much as possible and keep your head down, even to the point of agreeing to marry an older man when told. This story is about what happens when she says no — emphatically. Read it in one sitting.” Aileen G.

ALSO BY JANE ADAMS
MERROW & CLARKE
Book 1: SAFE
Book 2: KIDNAP

RINA MARTIN MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: MURDER ON SEA
Book 2: MURDER ON THE CLIFF
Book 3: MURDER ON THE BOAT
Book 4: MURDER ON THE BEACH
Book 5: MURDER AT THE COUNTRY HOUSE
Book 6: MURDER AT THE PUB

DETECTIVE MIKE CROFT SERIES
Book 1: THE GREENWAY
Book 2: THE SECRETS
Book 3: THEIR FINAL MOMENTS
Book 4: THE LIAR

DETECTIVE RAY FLOWERS SERIES
Book 1: THE APOTHECARY’S DAUGHTER
Book 2: THE UNWILLING SON
Book 3: THE DROWNING MEN
Book 4: THE SISTER’S TWIN

DETECTIVE ROZLYN PRIEST
Book 1: BURY ME DEEP

STANDALONES
THE OTHER WOMAN
THE WOMAN IN THE PAINTING
THEN SHE WAS DEAD

JANE ADAMS
Jane Adams is the author of more than thirty published crime novels. The first, The Greenway, was nominated for both the Authors’ Club award and the CWA John Creasey for best debut novel.
Jane is constantly amazed at where life has taken her. Writing had never been on her ‘possible careers’ list, but she says once stories take root in your brain, they just have to be told – and she feels very fortunate that people want to read them.
In addition to writing, Jane teaches creative writing, read and mentor for The Literary Consultancy, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and FRSA.


FOLLOW JANE ON
AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS

My Review I have no reading experience with this author, so it was a nice refreshing change to get to know some new characters, and locations. And dive into the imagination of a new author. And let me tell you, what an experience that was. I see this is a series of books, but I felt as a newbie I didn’t feel like I had to of read others previously. I enjoyed it as a stand alone book, though I think reading more would only heighten the excitement.

Kidnap isn’t a usual genre added to murder, mystery books and I enjoyed the ride. Feeling the frustration the detective felt with family not cooperating and wanting to go against their experience, made the book more realistic, as that’s human nature to fight against the grain.

It’s slow at times, then others a thousand miles an hour, but both paces keep you turning page after page!

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Books I've read, Covid -19 ~ Week Ninety Eight, Covid-19 Lockdown

#ADGIFTED all thoughts and opinions are my own, I prefer murder mysteries and horror so I always choose to review my preferred genre.

The Ghostwriter

Never take anything for granted. No matter how great things seem – it can all shatter in an instant.

Matt Gardner has a decent life. He has a good job, a fiancé who adores him and he’s recently found out he’s going to be a father. Everything is perfect and the future looks bright.

But then strange things start happening – someone has got into his social media accounts and is causing havoc with Matt’s family and friends.

What starts off as a minor nuisance escalates into something much more sinister and Matt soon realises that some invisible, malevolent force is hell-bent on destroying him. Some kind of Ghostwriter is dictating the course of his life – composing his autobiography without his input, and he finds himself powerless to stop it.

When an incident with a fifteen-year-old girl attracts the attention of the Police, Matt’s whole life is thrown into the stuff of nightmares and one by one his family and friends start to doubt him. He finds himself alone and only when this Ghostwriter ups his game and hints on what this is all about does Matt realise the true horror of his situation.

All of this has its roots thirty years earlier when Matt was witness to something despicable. It was something he’d put out of his mind, and something he thought was over, but this Ghostwriter somehow knows what really happened and is determined to make Matt remember in the worst possible way.

What readers are saying about Ghostwriter:
An absolute masterpiece of psychological suspense. Its a read that will stay with me for some time. Its My Book of the Year!!! – Carol Stone
Just finished reading and all I can say is wow! Stewart has hidden talents. I read this in one sitting .. couldn’t / wouldn’t put it down for anything. – Linda Strong book reviews
It was a fascinating concept and I ended up reading it in a day. – Maureen
A brilliant stand alone book is all I’m going to say. I loved reading the whole story this author has once again not let me down with this book, readers will love it – Booklover Bev
There are twists and turns and I couldn’t work out who the ghost writer was. A very clever, well thought out premise and one that kept me turning the pages rapidly. – Misfits Farm

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 – Phobia
Book 1 – Smith
Book 2 – Boomerang
Book 3 – Ladybird
Book 4 – Occam’s Razor
Book 5 – Harlequin
Book 6 – Selene
Book 7 – Horsemen
Book 8 – Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye
Book 13 – Motive
Book 14 – Australia
Book 16 – Wishbone

DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Book 1 – Blood on the Island
Book 2 – Lies on the Island
Book 3 – Fear on the Island
Book 4 – Malice on the Island
Book 5 – Revenge on the Island

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl
Trilogy: The DS Smith & Harriet Taylor box set

THE MIRANDA TRILOGY (psychological thrillers)
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa

STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide


Stewart Giles – Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brought together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
The Miranda trilogy is something totally different. A psychological thriller trilogy. It is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow with book 16 recently published. The first 5 books in the Detective Liam O’Reilly series are now available.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com
Twitter: @stewartgiles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

My Review I’m going to start considering myself as a number one fan of Giles. As since I’ve been introduced to him, I don’t think I’ve missed a book yet!! And though some are horror rather than detective, I’ve loved them just as much.

The plot is so relatable, just this week I’ve had friends Facebook’s took over by trolls, and needing to have two step verification on, we put so much of our lives online, it’s easy to become a target to predators.

Being able to identify characters and locations, and plots in real life is what keeps me coming back for more, they feel familiar like old friends, and comforting when they have traits like yourself.

Nothing beats a good thriller by Stewart Giles.

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid -19 ~ Week Eighty Eight, Covid-19 Lockdown, Family Adventures

#ADGIFTED book given to review but all opinions are my own.

THE NIGHT THIEF a gripping crime thriller full of stunning twists (JACKMAN & EVANS Book 8)



FROM #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS, A TOTALLY ABSORBING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS AND TURNS. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN.

Discover the author who’s sold over two million books globally.

When everyone is sleeping, he comes into their houses.

He takes one thing. A photo of their child.

A thief on a power trip or something even darker and more sinister?

Detectives Jackman and Evans find themselves on the hunt for a highly unusual burglar who seemingly only steals photographs. But then, late one night, an elderly woman falls to her death after seeing someone in her home.

Did she really fall, or was she murdered?

And just how many mysterious intruders are there on the Fens?

With the body count rising, Jackman and Evans have their work cut out for them to track down the night thief — before it’s too late.

Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the shocking ending.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JOY ELLIS:

“Another breathtaking thriller from Joy.” Carole

“Great read from start to finish.” Nerys

“Just a wonderful enjoyable read.” Nicki

“A hugely compelling police procedural, with twists and turns that raise tension and suspense.” Paromjit

“All the twists and turns kept me reading.” Viv

“Another great book from Ms Ellis.” Barbara

Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Sarah A. Denzil, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

THE DETECTIVES
DI Jackman leads the investigation. He is extremely smart and has a knack for bringing out the best in his diverse team. DS Marie Evans is haunted by the loss of her husband in a motorbike accident. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and colleagues.

JACKMAN & EVANS
Book 1: THE MURDERER’S SON
Book 2: THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS
Book 3: THE FOURTH FRIEND
Book 4: THE GUILTY ONES
Book 5: THE STOLEN BOYS
Book 6: THE PATIENT MAN
Book 7: THEY DISAPPEARED
Book 8: THE NIGHT THIEF

JOY ELLIS
UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES
OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD!
“I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!
And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!”
BOOKS BY JOY ELLIS
DI NIKKI GALENA SERIES:
CRIME ON THE FENS
SHADOW OVER THE FENS
HUNTED ON THE FENS
KILLER ON THE FENS
STALKER ON THE FENS
CAPTIVE ON THE FENS
BURIED ON THE FENS
THIEVES ON THE FENS
FIRE ON THE FENS
DARKNESS ON THE FENS
HIDDEN ON THE FENS
NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 1-3
NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 4-6
NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 7-9

JACKMAN & EVANS SERIES:
THE MURDERER’S SON
THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS
FOURTH FRIEND
THE GUILTY ONES
THE STOLEN BOYS
THE PATIENT MAN

MATT BALLARD SERIES:
BEWARE THE PAST
FIVE BLOODY HEARTS

STANDALONE NOVELS:
GUIDE STAR

FIND JOY ON
AUTHOR WEBSITE http://www.joyellis.info/indexa.html
FACEBOOK https://m.facebook.com/Copperfield55
GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4108600.Joy_Ellis

My Review I’m sure I’ve read a couple by Joy Ellis now, or at least one. So this is a nice stand alone as I definitely haven’t read the entire series.

Dark, gritty and grim, but fast paced and highly charged, this mystery is guaranteed to keep you on your toes. Some eye roll moments over romantic scenes (my pet hate) felt more 70s steamy novel style. But the page turning hook didn’t leave me for long, as the plot definitely stirs up emotions in yourself.

Who wouldn’t fear having been broken in, but they only take a photograph, it’s unnerving and a hell of a roller coaster read.

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid -19 ~ Week Eighty Seven, Covid-19 Lockdown, Family Adventures

#ADGIFTED Back again trying to distract and occupy myself with decent reads, and new authors found. All opinions are my own.

THE ABBERLEY BEACH MURDERS by D. E. White

THE ELECTRIFYING NEWEST NOVEL STARRING DETECTIVE DOVE MILSON.

Four dead. One clinging to life.
Are they tragic accidents or is someone out to kill?

Detective Dove Milson is called out to a gruesome scene under the pier: four bodies floating in a flooded escape room. What really happened after midnight in room 6?

Then Dove discovers one of the dead was a person of interest in a cold case involving Olympian in-the-making Mickey Delaney. She was left for dead in an abandoned quarry and has been in a coma for five years.

What’s the connection between these cases and do they have anything to do with the attacks on the beach?

One thing is clear.

Dove’s in a dangerous game of cat and mouse and only one of them will escape with their life.

Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, K.L. Slater, Robert Bryndza, Helen Fields and Angela Marsons.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT D.E. WHITE:

“This mystery thriller novel is wrapped in loads of sinister suspense and will have you clambering to the edge of your seat . . . full of twists and turns you would never expect!” The Daily Mirror, on Glass Dolls

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “What a rollercoaster of a book!” Jacqueline

“I couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what happened next!” Amy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A very strong plot with twists and turns to keep you guessing along the way.” Michelle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Incredibly well-written with so many twists I finished it in less than a day.” Alyce

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Without doubt this is the best thriller I have read this year so far.” Barbara

“A perfect read for a cold winter night. Just don’t expect to be able to put it down!” Victoria Dowd, award-winning author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder

“Another cracker of a book.” Aileen G.

“I was kept guessing all the way through. Gripping so gripping you won’t put it down.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Booklover BEV

“Thoroughly enjoyed this!” Nerys R.

DETECTIVE DOVE MILSON SERIES
Book 1: GLASS DOLLS
Book 2: THE ICE DAUGHTERS
Book 3: THE ABBERLEY BEACH MURDERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D. E. WHITE
Daisy White started writing fifteen years ago, scribbling ideas on napkins at work on the night shift. After various jobs, including working as cabin crew, in a hospital, a supermarket, and as a 999 call handler for the ambulance service, she began writing full time in 2018.
She writes cosy crime as Daisy White, including the Amazon bestselling RUBY BAKER MYSTERIES (Joffe Books), and psychological thrillers as D.E. White; REMEMBER ME and THE FORGOTTEN CHILD (HarperCollins).
Her latest book, THE FORGOTTEN CHILD, was released on kindle, audiobook and paperback in October 2019, and charted at number 15 in the US Amazon Kindle Top 100. It has been described as ‘…an explosive gangland thriller.’
Daisy’s new police procedural, GLASS DOLLS, featuring DC Dove Wilson, was published by Joffe Books in 2020. She is also working on a new cosy crime series and another standalone psychological thriller.
Rep’d by Lina Langlee at the Kate Nash Literary Agency.
BOOKS BY D. E. WHITE
DETECTIVE RUBY BAKER SERIES:
• BEFORE I LEFT
• BEFORE I FOUND YOU
• BEFORE I TRUST YOU
DOVE MILSON SERIES:
• GLASS DOLLS
• THE ICE DAUGHTERS
• THE ABBERLEY BEACH MURDERS
FOLLOW D. E. WHITE ON
AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
GOODREADS

MY REVIEW I hate escape rooms they give me high anxiety, and reading this reinforced that feeling. Feeling trapped along with the victims, the adrenaline pumping, and fear rising!! but oh my god it’s tense, exciting, nerve wrecking and what a ride!! Holy moly of a page turner, and I just wanted to discuss it with everyone who would listen. I wish these were TV films or series at times as I can visualize this on TV. Real game of cat and mouse, will keep you guessing and turning those pages. Fast paced and made my heart race reading it.

Archive, Arthritis, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid -19 ~ Week Seventy Seven, Covid-19 Lockdown

#Blogmas Lies on the Island by Stewart Giles #BlogBookTour

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Blogmas 2020, Covid-19 Lockdown, Covid-19 Week Thirty Eight

#ADGIFTED Given in return for an honest post with my own thoughts and opinions, I confess Stewart Giles is one of my favourites though.

Lies on theIsland: A detective Liam O’Reilly mystery


Island: A detective Liam O’Reilly mystery


Detective Liam O’Reilly is bored. Life on the peaceful island of Guernsey is quiet, but it’s too quiet for his liking. In the middle of an insurance fraud investigation he confides in his daughter and tells her he’d give anything for a juicy murder case to sink his teeth into.
‘Be careful what you wish for, Dad.”
Her words are still fresh in his mind when O’Reilly stumbles upon two dead bodies while investigating a fire at a container depot. The bodies have been burned beyond recognition and nobody seems to know how they ended up inside the container.

Soon it becomes very clear that something sinister is happening on the sleepy island and O’Reilly is thrown into the depths of lies and deception as he delves deeper into the lives of one particular family.
Everywhere he turns, he’s met with lies but O’Reilly is determined to find out the truth behind these gruesome murders even if by uncovering the lies means he’s putting his own life on the line.
Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis and LJ Ross.
BOOKS BY STEWART GILES
DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5-Phobia
Book 1-Smith
Book 2-Boomerang
Book 3-Ladybird
Book 4-Occam’s Razor
Book 5-Harlequin
Book 6-Selene
Book 7-Horsemen
Book 8-Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye
Book 13 – Motive
Book 14 – Australia (coming soon)
DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books
1-3

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa
STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide
DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Blood on the Island
Lies on the Island

Stewart Giles – Author
Bio

After reading English at 3Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

In 2014 Ann dropped a ratherlarge speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months
later.

large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months
later.

3 years and 8 DS Smith bookslater, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC
Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.

later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC
Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.

The Beekeeper was publishedand soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

I continued to self-publishthe Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing
results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor
series which was published in July 2018.

the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing
results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor
series which was published in July 2018.

After The Backpacker I had anidea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody,
enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.

idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody,
enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.

Miranda is something totallydifferent. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon

different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon

The Detective Jason Smithseries continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.

series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com

Twitter: @stewartgiles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

MY REVIEW

Can Giles ever write anything I don’t like? I seriously doubt it, he’s fast becoming the No 1 of my favourite authors.

Medusa was my last Giles book and still it returns to my mind at times, it had a lasting impression.

The detectives are always gritty and real, you notice aspects of each character in real world people, which is why I love these books so much.

I do so wish these were tv series sometimes, but then would the image I have in my head ever match up to who they would cast, perhaps not.

Highly recommended for a good murder mystery.

Medusa by Stewart Giles #BlogBookTour

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid-19 Lockdown, Covid-19 Week Thirty Three, Family Adventures, Travel

#ADGIFTED In receipt of this book in turn of a blog review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I chose a genre that I enjoy and already like, as reading should be enjoyed immensely.

As I travel down to Cornwall, a witches break away for Samhain and no wifi, I prepare to dive into some mayhem, murder and mystery.

So here is #Medusa the cover alone draws me in, but so do the words Miranda is Back!!

Mistress: Book 2 in the Miranda Trilogy by Stewart Giles

From #1 bestseller Stewart Giles comes the final book in the MIRANDA Trilogy
Miranda is back.
She’s escaped from Death Row and her thirst for murder is stronger than ever before. Detective Henry Swales has other ideas. But will he be able to stop the woman who has caused him more heartache than anyone else in his life?
As the sun sets on Death Row and the bodies continue to pile up, Miranda’s bloodlust grows. Nobody seems able to stop her.
Then she makes a mistake and is caught.
And just when Detective Swales thinks it’s all over, he finds himself involved in the most bizarre judicial farce imaginable. Nobody appears to know who is responsible for punishing this monster.
Will Swales stand back and bear witness to this perverse justice or will he resort to his own personal form of retribution?
This is a twisted psychological story that will stick in the mind for a very long time.

What readers are saying about Mistress:
‘One heck of a story. She’s clever, insane and I loved every page. It’s worthy of double the stars.’ – Booklover Bev

‘Miranda’s back. Still evil. Still scheming. Still death wherever she goes. I couldn’t put it down.’ – Sandra Brown

‘Oh blimey crikey! Where do I start? Perhaps with a warning…. do not start this book if you want/need to put it down or be involved in real life.’ – Misfits Farm

‘Giles has done it again! I was riveted. More expertly crafted action packed adventures with Miranda.’ – Carol Stone

‘I read Mistress in two sittings. By the time Miranda finally slipped up and got caught I was so engrossed I had forgotten this was #2 of a trilogy and really thought she was going to get her come uppance but …’ – Alison Gitelson

‘What follows is a gritty, action packed, fast-paced game of cat and mouse and I didn’t know what was going to happen next! It is so good that I didn’t want to stop reading.’ – Sarah

ALSO BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5-Phobia
Book 1-Smith
Book 2-Boomerang
Book 3-Ladybird
Book 4-Occam’s Razor
Book 5-Harlequin
Book 6-Selene
Book 7-Horsemen
Book 8-Unworthy
Book 9-Venom
Book 10-Severed

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone

THE MIRANDA TRILOGY
Book 1-Miranda
Book 2-Mistress
Book 3-coming soon

Stewart Giles – Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.
Website: http://www.stewartgiles.com
Twitter: @stewartgiles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

My Review

It all started in the car for me, packed up full we start our adventure to Cornwall, so I have ample reading time.

A cottage in Boscastle with no wifi and moody skies, roaring fire, what a divine holiday.

So the madness continues and she is back and badder than ever. The scheming starts and revenge is plotted.

Knowing it’s a trilogy my mind races to think up how the story will continue, and rest assured I will be reading it.

Smart women’s guide to Murder by Victoria Dowd #BlogBookTour

Archive, blog book tour, Covid 19 Week Seven, Covid-19 Lockdown

#ADGIFTED once again I’m reading for the blog tour, murder, mayhem and thrills, I love it all. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A SMART WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MURDER

A GOLDEN AGE COUNTRY HOUSE MURDER MYSTERY BROUGHT BANG UP TO DATE
A faded country house in the middle of nowhere.
The guests are snowed in.
The murders begin.
Ursula Smart (not her real name) gate-crashes her mother’s book club at an isolated country house for a long weekend retreat. Joining them are Mother’s best friend, Mirabelle, Aunts Charlotte and Less, and Bridget with her dog Mr Bojangles. It doesn’t matter that they’ve read Gone Girl three times this year already. But someone has other ideas.
A body is found in the grounds.
Is a lone killer hunting them? Or has one of their own group embarked on a killing spree?
What they need is a guide to survive.
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Anthony Horowitz, Liane Moriarty, Faith Martin, Frances Lloyd and Stuart Turton.

About the Author
After graduating from Cambridge, Victoria was a criminal law barrister on the London circuit for many years, where many of her cases were much stranger than fiction.
Victoria is now an award winning writer, having won the Go Gothic Short Story Award for 2019. She has had short fiction published in places such as Aesthetica: A Review of Contemporary Artists and was chosen as the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award. Her work was Highly Commended by The Writers’ Forum and long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in the BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Dream Catcher arts journal and Gold Dust Literary Magazine.
Victoria lives with her husband and two children. She writes full time, splitting her time between London and Devon, where she can indulge her passion for all things Agatha Christie.
BOOKS BY VICTORIA DOWD
ONE TO WATCH: NEW 2020 AUTHOR – BOOK RELEASE COMING SOON!
FIND VICTORIA ON
Author Website: https://victoriadowd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaDowdAuthor/
Twitter: @victoria_dowd https://twitter.com/victoria_dowd?lang=en
Instagram: @dowdvictoria https://www.instagram.com/dowdvictoria/

My Review

I have been howling at this, not often is a good murder mystery quite so comedic as well. It’s been an eye opener for me, and one rabbit hole I will have to fall down.

The writing is absolutely genius!! The characters are despicable but so glorious at the same time. A modern day murder mystery but so dark and twisty. It’s macabre but delicious too.

Never have I enjoyed a book so thoroughly and laughed so heartedly, especially when you shouldn’t!!

I’m sure how ever lovely the estate was and is, I would never want these people as my friends to be snowed in with.

Definitely looking forward to more of this style and from this author.

The Moon Killer by Frances Lloyd #BlogBookTour

Archive, blog book tour, Blogger Reviews, Events, Covid 19 Week Three, Covid-19 Lockdown

#ADGIFTED as always all opinions are my own. I love murder mysteries, so I always enjoy them.

The Moon Killer (Inspector Dawes #5) by Frances Lloyd

SIX VICTIMS . . . ONE VERY TWISTED MURDER METHOD.

FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR FRANCES LLOYD

A series of apparently motiveless murders in London.

The only thing linking them is the method — all the victims are killed in a very unusual way.

Detective Inspector Jack Dawes and his sidekick, Detective Sergeant “Bugsy” Malone, face their most baffling case yet.

They discover that the victims do have a connection. And all the murders take place during the night of a full moon.

The Murder Investigation Team call on the assistance of a psychological profiler, the tall, extremely athletic, Cressida Davenport.

Based on her work, the detectives take a huge risk, putting one of their team’s lives at stake to lure the murderer out of hiding.

WHY DOES THE KILLER USE THIS BIZARRE M.O.?

Discover one of the most enjoyable and gripping murder mysteries you’ll read this year!

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, JR Ellis, Angela Marsons or Faith Martin.

MEET THE DETECTIVE
Detective Inspector Jack Dawes, tall and handsome, looks like the fuzz even when he’s off-duty. He rose up through the ranks at Scotland Yard and now is a well-respected detective in the murder squad. A career copper, he was married to the job until he met Coriander during a money laundering investigation, the case which earned him his promotion to DI. He has logical analytical skills. She has intuitive people skills. So he bounces ideas off her. They make a formidable and funny couple whose skills combine to solve crimes.

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JACK DAWES MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: THE GREEK ISLAND KILLER
Book 2: THE BLUEBELL KILLER
Book 3: THE SHETLAND KILLER
Book 4: THE GALLOWS GREEN KILLER
Book 5: THE MOON KILLER

Author Bio

FRANCES LLOYD
Frances Lloyd was born in Essex but now lives in the Scottish Highlands. She was educated in Cheltenham where she studied English and Classics.
Frances has always been a writer. The day job was in government communications. She has also worked as a freelance journalist and photographer, and began by writing short stories, but her ambition was always to write murder mysteries. She now writes full time and has published six crime novels.
Married three times but now a widow, Frances’ hobbies are reading, travelling and wine tasting.

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

My Review

What a bizarre MO, very unique and I can honestly say I’ve not read one like it before. Weird twist

From the off I was gripped, and what perfect timing as the story kicks off on Good Friday which we’ve just had too. And the Pink Full Moon.

I definitely would read more, the writing style was dark and gritty, and I felt part of the London underworld at times. The police are gruff and stereotypical but I felt warmth and familiarity with it.

I think I loved the pathologist the most, so dry and stern. This was an Easter treat, reading in the sunshine, with rum and pineapple, I could of been anywhere. Totally lost in the story.