#BookReview The Guests on South Battery by Karen White

The Guests on South Battery by Karen White
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

New York Times bestselling author Karen White invites you to explore the brick-walked streets of Charleston, where historic mansions house the memories of years gone by, and restless spirits refuse to fade away...

With her extended maternity leave at its end, Melanie Trenholm is less than thrilled to leave her new husband and beautiful twins to return to work, especially when she’s awoken by a phone call with no voice on the other end—and the uneasy feeling that the ghostly apparitions that have stayed silent for more than a year are about to invade her life once more.

But her return to the realty office goes better than she could have hoped, with a new client eager to sell the home she recently inherited on South Battery. Most would treasure living in one of the grandest old homes in the famous historic district of Charleston, but Jayne Smith would rather sell hers as soon as possible, guaranteeing Melanie a quick commission.

Despite her stroke of luck, Melanie can’t deny that spirits—both malevolent and benign—have started to show themselves to her again. One is shrouded from sight, but appears whenever Jayne is near. Another arrives when an old cistern is discovered in Melanie’s backyard on Tradd Street.

Melanie knows nothing good can come from unearthing the past. But some secrets refuse to stay buried....

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The Guests on South Battery is the first book I have read by Karen White. Since I love paranormal stories and the American South did this book seem very promising. I also was curious to read something by Karen White, to see if her books were my cup of tea. And, I can say after this book that it worked on some levels, but it also had for me some flaws that I had problems with.

Let's start with the good things about the book. I loved the setting and the idea of the story. Old houses, ghosts, a mystery ready to be solved and family rivalry. That was great. Many of the supporting characters were quite nice, I especially liked Sophie. I think that's because we share a love for old houses. And, Melanie's mother Ginny is pretty cool. And, at first, Melanie was not so bad herself. However, and here come some things that bothered me, and it all started with Melanie. I love quirky characters, but Melanie's OCD was more annoying than quirky. I have battled my own OCD (Still do in some way) and I feel that I perhaps should have some sympathies. But, it was, to be honest mostly annoying to read about her control issues. I think she has a lot of issues she should deal with to let go of her anxiety. As my fellow buddy reader wrote about her when she discussed the boo: "she's a bit uptight". Spot on that was my thought as well while reading the book.

However, I did in some way enjoy the book, but the plot was extremely predictable. Not surprised me since I had already predicted what would happen. Or perhaps I'm just psychic? I did like the cliffhanger ending, and I have the first book in the series so I will definitely read more by the author, despite my problems with the book. However, I do hope the next book I will read will be more to my liking.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! 

#BookReview Graveyard Shift by Casey Daniels

Graveyard Shift: A Pepper Martin Paranormal Mystery by Casey Daniels
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pepper Martin returns in a new ghostly mystery when she is contacted by the ghosts of Eliot Ness and Al Capone...

Pepper Martin, now Community Relations Director of Garden View Cemetery, is contacted by the ghost of Eliot Ness, one of Cleveland’s most famous dearly departed. According to Ness, the ashes scattered at the ceremony twenty years earlier weren’t his. His were stolen prior to the ceremony by a Ness groupie, and he cannot rest until those ashes are found. Luckily, Pepper has an idea where they may be.

Knowing she’ll have no peace until she does what the ghost wants, Pepper travels across town to retrieve the ashes...

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First, I want to say that the description of the book gives away too much information about the book. So, I have removed the part of the description on my review here on my blog so that it's less revealing. Luckily, I must have skimmed the description before I started to read the book since I only had a vague idea of the book's story. And, I like it that way. I don't want to know too much!

Anyway, I found the book to be quite charming to read. It actually felt like just the perfect book to read at the moment, a cozy mystery book is always nice when you have read heavier or darker books. Graveyard Shift is the first Pepper Martin book I have read, and I admit that it was Eliot Ness that caught my attention. I found the idea of his ashes being stolen quite interesting and people seeing ghosts is always intriguing. I had no problem getting into the book, despite no previous knowledge, instead mentionings of previous cases, etc. just made me interested in reading previous books. Pepper Martin was easy to like. However, I found her mother quite annoying and I wished sometimes that Pepper would just tell her to stuff it! Quinn, Pepper's boyfriend did I have some trouble warming up to. I don't know, I just didn't find him that interesting. Perhaps I will grow to like him if I read more books in the series.

The case in itself was not earth-shattering mysterious. It was perhaps a bit too easy to figure out (especially if you have read the description) what would happen and there were no great twists to the story. But, I liked the book, the story was easygoing and charming and I definitely recommend this series to people looking to read a cozy mystery series with a paranormal touch!

I want to thank Severn House for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! 

The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell

The Lost Child of Lychford by Paul Cornell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s December in the English village of Lychford – the first Christmas since an evil conglomerate tried to force open the borders between our world and… another.

Which means it’s Lizzie’s first Christmas as Reverend of St. Martin’s. Which means more stress, more expectation, more scrutiny by the congregation. Which means… well, business as usual, really.

Until the apparition of a small boy finds its way to Lizzie in the church. Is he a ghost? A vision? Something else? Whatever the truth, our trio of witches (they don’t approve of “coven”) are about to face their toughest battle, yet!

The Lost Child of Lychford is the sequel to Paul Cornell's Witches of Lychford.

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I'm impressed, and I definitely must find myself a copy of Witches of Lychford to read. I found the cover and blurb tempting and, despite having not read Witches of Lychford (how I have missed it is the question) did I find myself quickly engrossed in this book. It's a short story, but it manages to contain a lot of action, humor and some paranormal things like an unhappy little boy apparition. Personally, I just love the love portion part of the story. It gave the story a hilarious aspect.

This may be the first Paul Cornell book I have read, but it will certainly not be the last. I've been interested in reading his Shadow Police series, but now I seriously want to get the first book! The Lost Child of Lychford was a fantastic book, and I hope to read more books about Lizzie and the rest of the gals!

I want to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

Very Important Corpses by Simon R. Green

Very Important Corpses by Simon R. Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ishmael Jones travels to the Scottish Highlands on a mysterious dual mission in this intriguing, genre-blending mystery.

The Organisation has despatched Ishmael and his partner Penny to Coronach House on the shores of Loch Ness where the secretive but highly influential Baphamet Group are holding their annual meeting. The Organisation believes an imposter has infiltrated the Group and they have instructed Ishmael to root him – or her – out. It’s not Ishmael’s only mission. The first agent sent by the Organisation has been found dead in her room, murdered in a horribly gruesome manner. Ishmael must also discover who killed his fellow agent, Jennifer Rifkin – and why.

Dismissive of rumours that the legendary ‘Coronach Creature’ is behind Jennifer’s death, Ishmael sets out to expose the human killer in their midst. But he must act fast – before any more Very Important People are killed.

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I read Dead Man Walking, the previous book in this series, last summer and loved it. So image my happiness of getting the chance to read this book. Just like in the previous book must Ishmael and his partner Penny once again travel to an isolated house to investigate a mystery. But, this time it's to Coronach House on the shores of Loch Ness. A fellow agent has been murdered, and now Ishmael must find out who killed her before anyone else is murdered. But, that's easier said than done.

Very Important Corpses is a bit similar with the Dead Man Walking, not so much the case, but the old house far from civilization, with a dark history. And, as with Dead Man Walking mayhem will soon arise, and more people will end up dead. I found this book to be entertaining and engrossing, although, not as good as Dead Man Walking. But, still pretty awesome. I love both Ishmael and Penny, they are a very dynamic duo and it's quite fun reading about their antics as they try to investigate (and threaten and fight people) for answers, well mostly Ishmael.

The revealing of the big bad villain was perhaps not a big surprise, but I quite enjoy returning to Ishmael and Penny's world of mysteries, mayhem, and murders and I look forward to reading the next book (and the first one that I have yet gotten my hands on)!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Netgalley for an honest review.

Property of a Lady by Sarah Rayne

Property of a Lady by Sarah Rayne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A house with a sinister past – and a grisly power - When Michael Flint is asked by American friends to look over an old Shropshire house they have unexpectedly inherited, he is reluctant to leave the quiet of his Oxford study. But when he sees Charect House, its uncanny echoes from the past fascinate him – even though it has such a sinister reputation that no one has lived there for almost a century. But it’s not until Michael meets the young widow, Nell West, that the menace within the house wakes....

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A reviewer on Goodreads wondered if there is a cozy horror genre because that's what he/she thought that this book was. And, the funny thing is that was my actual thought about it too before I saw the review. And, no I don't think there is a cozy horror genre, however, cozy paranormal feel more appropriate. This is not horror, if you are frighted about this book, then well, you should not read real horror books. It's an interesting paranormal book that turns into a romantic paranormal novel, which didn't surprise me a bit when that happened. Luckily, the main characters, Michael Flint and Nell West did not spend too much time lusting after each other, and their "courtship" was not annoying.

However, the story feels a bit lackluster. It's alright to read, but it never gets terribly exciting or engrossing. Part of me is sometimes amazed how "suddenly" diaries and secret papers just happen to be found by the right people so fast when no one else has discovered them. Yes, I'm a born cynical. Sometimes it's believable, and sometimes, not so. In Property of a Lady, well I can take it because the place has been uninhabited so long, and the clock, well it's been away from the house as well for a long time. So that at least did not annoy me. Thankfully. 

The story about the "ghost" is actually quite tragic, more tragical than horrifying. I was a bit surprised by the turn towards the end of the book, it was a nice twist. It's an OK book, not especially memorable, but if you like a cozy paranormal book is it not so bad. 

Would I read more books in the series? Yes I would, it was not a bad book, I was not bored. However, I hope the stories get better, and perhaps even a bit more horrifying?

The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chuck Dutton built Music City Salvage with patience and expertise, stripping historic properties and reselling their bones. Inventory is running low, so he's thrilled when Augusta Withrow appears in his office offering salvage rights to her entire property. This could be a gold mine, so he assigns his daughter Dahlia to personally oversee the project.

The crew finds a handful of surprises right away. Firstly, the place is in unexpectedly good shape. And then there's the cemetery, about thirty fallen and overgrown graves dating to the early 1900s, Augusta insists that the cemetery is just a fake, a Halloween prank, so the city gives the go-ahead, the bulldozer revs up, and it turns up human remains. Augusta says she doesn't know whose body it is or how many others might be present and refuses to answer any more questions. Then she stops answering the phone.

But Dahlia's concerns about the corpse and Augusta's disappearance are overshadowed when she begins to realize that she and her crew are not alone, and they're not welcome at the Withrow estate. They have no idea how much danger they're in, but they're starting to get an idea. On the crew's third night in the house, a storm shuts down the only road to the property. The power goes out. Cell signals are iffy. There's nowhere to go and no one Dahlia can call for help, even if anyone would believe that she and her crew are being stalked by a murderous phantom. Something at the Withrow mansion is angry and lost, and this is its last chance to raise hell before the house is gone forever. And it seems to be seeking permanent company.

The Family Plot is a haunted house story for the ages-atmospheric, scary, and strange, with a modern gothic sensibility to keep it fresh and interesting from Cherie Priest, a modern master of supernatural fiction.

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The Family Plot is such a superb book. I have a deep love for haunted houses and yes, even though I didn't find this book scary was I intrigued and engrossed with the story. Then again, it will take a hell of a lot to scare me. Nevertheless, I found myself hooked from the start with the mystery of the Withrow house. I could easily imagine the place because Cherie Priest manages to portray it so vividly.

And, besides the strong story did the story also have great characters. Dahlia the main character is a strong woman recently divorced (but mostly angry about losing the house she loved rather than the man) and together with her cousin Bobby, his son Gabe and Brad that works for the family business are they planning on stripping the house down. They just didn't expect the ghost. Especially not the angry ghost. I think what really made the book work is the strong characters, yes the cousins Dahlia and Bobby didn't always see eye to eye, but still the deep loyalty to each other is there.

So, what can I say? I'm such a sucker for haunted houses and this just sucked me in and I could hardly stop reading it, despite being tired and needing to sleep when I started it. And, the rest of the book did I finish the day after. Did the ending feel a bit expected? Yes, yet still I liked it. 

I really like the book and I think if you like haunted houses will you like it too!

I want to thank Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!  

Melody Bittersweet and The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French

Melody Bittersweet and The Girls' Ghostbusting Agency by Kitty French
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Life’s tough for Melody Bittersweet.

She’s single, addicted to sugar and super heroes, her family are officially bonkers, and she sees dead people. Is it any wonder no-one’s swiping right on Tinder?
Waking up lonely on her twenty seventh birthday, Melody finally snaps. She can’t carry on basing all of her life decisions on the advice of her magic 8 ball; things have got to change.

Fast forward two months, and she’s now the proud proprietor of her very own ghostbusting agency - kind of like in the movies but without the dodgy white jumpsuits. She’s also flirting with her ex Leo Dark, fraternising with her enemy in alleyways, and she’s somehow ended up with a pug called Lestat.

Life just went from dull to dynamite and it’s showing no sign of slowing up anytime soon. Melody’s been hired to clear Scarborough House of its incumbent ghosts, there’s the small matter of a murder to solve, and then there’s the two very handsome, totally inappropriate men hoping to distract her from the job…

Welcome to Chapelwick, home of the brand new and hilarious Girls Ghostbusting Agency series, where things really do go bump in the night

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I don't think I've been so charmed by a paranormal book since I read The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Melody Bittersweet is a new favorite character of mine and I seriously hope that this is the first book in a series!

The book is hilarious, it's romantic, it's engrossing and I love Melody's snarky humor. (And, by God, I love Lestat, the dog). I even like  Melody lusting after Fletch, and I'm usually the last people interested in reading books about people lusting after each other. But, the love-hate relationship between Fletch and Melody work like magic! And, let's not forget Artie the apprentice ghost hunter and Marina, her colleague and best friend. They brought so much to the story that I can't help feeling giddy just thinking about all the funny moments in the book from office meetings to trying to get rid of the ghost from Scarborough House.

Seriously, I hate writing 5-star reviews, because all I do is gush and I just can't help it. This book made me happy, it's a book for when you feel depressed or just down a bit. It was a great joy to read this book, and now I want a sequel! I'm bloody happy that I caved in and requested this book on NetGalley!

I want to thank Bookouture for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

The Book of Beloved by Carolyn Haines

The Book of Beloved by Carolyn Haines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a young woman widowed by World War I, Raissa James is no stranger to ghosts. But when an invitation arrives from Caoin House, her uncle’s estate in Mobile, Alabama, she’s finally ready to cast off the shadows of her past. And what better way to do so than with a grand party in her honor? An aspiring authoress, Raissa’s eager to soak up more of life—and immerse herself in the dark history that haunts the estate.

But the revelries come to an abrupt end when one of her uncle’s guests takes a deadly plunge. And when a ghost from the property’s past, a Confederate soldier, reveals himself to Raissa, she’s more determined than ever to get to the heart of the mysterious deaths that plague Caoin House. Enlisting the help of Reginald Proctor, a self-proclaimed medium, she holds a séance to shed light on old secrets. But she discovers that some secrets, even those long dead, still have a startling hold on the living…

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I was hooked from the first page. And, being an adventure reader did I start this book without reading the blurb before. Sure, I've read the blurb it before, but when I pick an Ebook to read do I not always read what the book is about to refreshing my memory. Much more fun that way, the less you know the better is what I feel when it comes to books.

The Book of Beloved turned out to be quite a nice book. This is the first book I have read by Carolyn Haines and I will definitely try to find more books by her to read. I have a great love for haunted houses, and that together with placing the setting in Mobile, Alabama just a couple of years after WW1 made me really enjoy the book. Haines really made the story come to life, it was like being transported back in time. A plus is that I really like Raissa James, she is such a wonderful character, well developed and interesting with a tragic past.

Storywise was the book good, I enjoyed the mystery of the house and how slowly the secrets of the house was revealed. I was surprised when the death occurred in the beginning of the book, especially since I thought the person in question was going to have a bigger part in the book. And, here with the death comes the one thing that bothered me throughout the book. The question was if the person had been pushed or not, and I had a feeling that it was not an accident and that the one characters I really liked were the one behind it all. And, I kept that feeling all through the book and it didn't help when my app did a weird thing and jumped ahead and almost revealed the ending. So, was I right? Well, perhaps I was, or perhaps I wasn't. You have to read the book to find out. All, I want to say is that I did not expect the part the Book of Beloved would play in in the story. I was really surprised about that twist to the story.  

So, despite, some predictable events did I quite enjoy the book. And, it ended with a very tantalizing cliffhanger. Or rather, this story ended, but it's just the beginning for Raissa James adventures and I'm looking forward to reading the next book! 

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

Stallo by Stefan Spjut

Stallo by Stefan Spjut
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

1978. A young boy disappears without trace from a cabin in the woods. His mother claims that he was abducted by a giant. The boy is never found. The previous year, over in a Swedish National Park, a wildlife photographer takes a strange picture from his small airplane, of a bear running over the marshes. On its back sits a creature, which the photographer claims is something extraordinary.

25 years later, and back in Laponia, Susso runs a much-maligned web page, one dedicated to searching for creatures whose existence have not yet been proven: the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot. But Susso has her own obsession, one inherited from her grandfather, the well-known wildlife photographer. When an old woman claims that a small creature has been standing outside her house, observing her and her five year old grandson for hours, Susso picks up her camera and leaves for what will become a terrifying adventure.

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Stallo is a large human-like creature in the Sami folklore and since the book is about giants that kidnap children is the title quite logical. I listen to this book while working and since it's 600 page long was the book around 25 hours long to listen to. However, by accelerating the speed to max did I manage to finish it a bit faster. And, I had a pretty good reason to wanting to speed up the story. I have never before had the speed to max before, but it was the only way for me to finish the book. Not that it was bad. The story in itself was good. However, it could have easily been cut down around 200-300 page by just taking away all the tedious uninteresting stuff that had no bearing on the story. I mean as much as I like board games am I not that interested in listening to how some of the characters playing one on Christmas day. Or, when Susso at work etc. If I had read the book would I have skimmed a lot, unfortunately, I had to listen to most of it. It was just the last 100 pages or so that I read and that I was thankful for since I could finish the book quite fast.

As for the story, I found it intriguing, and I liked how the author manages to connect the story to John Bauer and Sven Jerring. And, the whole Stallo thing with the kidnapping of children reminded me of the  tv-series Jordskott and it was one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book. I liked this book, I just didn't love this book and that's because the story would have needed to trim down a bit and making it more flowing. And, it's too bad since I liked finding a Swedish paranormal book about giants.

So, all and all, not a perfect book, but still interesting to read. I do recommend reading it, and not listening to it since you can skim the less interesting parts. 

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah Piper's lonely, threadbare existence changes when her temporary agency sends her to assist a ghost hunter. Alistair Gellis-rich, handsome, scarred by World War I, and obsessed with ghosts- has been summoned to investigate the spirit of nineteen-year-old maid Maddy Clare, who is haunting the barn where she committed suicide. Since Maddy hated men in life, it is Sarah's task to confront her in death. Soon Sarah is caught up in a deperate struggle. For Maddy's ghost is real, she's angry, and she has powers that defy all reason. 

Can Sarah and Alistair's assistant, the rough, unsettling Matthew Ryder, discover who Maddy was, whereshe came from, and what is driving her desire for vengeance-before she destroys them all?

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I've been wanting to read more of Simone St. James books since I read Lost Among the Living a couple of months ago. I love books with either very much paranormal or just a hint of it. And, ghosts I find is a fascinating subject. So, I hoped that The Haunting of Maddy Clare would work for me. 

The Haunting of Maddy Clare has all the right ingredients for a great story. A vengeful spirit, a budding love story, a mystery, and great characters. I did find Sarah Piper a bit too timid for my taste at first, but as the story progressed did I find myself liking her more and more and I did like Matthew and Alistair very much. But, unlike Sarah, I think I did find Alistair a bit more to my liking than Matthew, but at least it was not written as a triangle drama (thank God). I think Alistair tragic love story with a married woman and his past experience with ghost hunting just made him quite alluring. Not that Matthew had a less than interesting back story. I especially liked how they met during the war and that, despite the class difference they become friends. 

As for the story itself, it was tragic, intense and very much engrossing. I felt so sorry for Maddy, especially when the truth came out about what she had suffered. And, without giving away the ending, was the conclusion of the book very satisfying. 

The Haunting of Maddy Clare was a very good book, and I look forward to reading more of Simone St. James books!

Dead Man Walking by Simon R. Green

Dead Man Walking by Simon R. Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Call me Ishmael. Ishmael Jones. I am the man in the shadows, that even the shadows are afraid of. The secret agent whose life is the greatest secret of all. And some of the cases I work are trickier than others. "
A rogue agent has come in from the cold and wants to spill his secrets. The Organisation wants Ishmael to find out if Frank Parker is who he says he is, what he really knows, and why he has emerged from the shadows after all this time.

Ishmael heads to Ringstone Lodge in Yorkshire where Parker is being held to find that an atmosphere of fear and suspicion prevails. As he and his fellow residents are menaced by a series of alarming and inexplicable incidents, Ishmael sets out to prove that it s human trickery rather than any supernatural being behind the seemingly ghostly goings-on. But matters take an unexpected turn when one of their number is brutally murdered, and once again Ishmael must turn detective in order to entrap a twisted killer before they strike again

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We all have that one book that got away from us on NetGalley or rather the books. The ones that you really wanted to read, but got turned down for. For me is The Dark Side of the Road one of them, the first book in this series. However, I did not know that this was the sequel to that book when I requested this book. I only saw that when I checked up this book on Goodreads. So, I was pleased that I got this one, and also slightly miffed that I did not buy The Dark Side of the Road when the price was down on the ebook. Especially miffed when I realized how wonderful this book was, which occurred at the beginning of the book. Of course!

So, what makes this book so wonderful? First, the characters. Ishmael and Penny, I instantly liked them, they were just so adorable. I was curious about Ishmael, especially since he only has been human since the 1963s? That was very odd, and I hoped that it would be addressed in the book. And, around 50% into the story, it was revealed what was so special about Ishmael and I, to be honest, did not see that coming, but I loved it. Such a very special twist (made me want to read the first book even more).

Secondly, The story was captivating and fascinating and I could hardly put the book down. I love old "haunted" houses, and to have a couple of people on lockdown while someone is killing them off was great "fun". They only drawback was that it was pretty easy to figure out the "killer" was. And, my first thought was to just give the book 4.5 stars because I found the end "twist" not that surprising, but I've been looking forward all day at work writing this review because I liked the book so damn much, so 5-stars it is!

Dead Man Walking is a very, very good book; atmospheric, funny, intense and a bit gory! Just the way I like it when it comes to books.

I want to thank Severn House for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review. 

Kråkslottet (The Crow Castle) by Ewa Christina Johansson (SWE/ENG)

Kråkslottet by Ewa Christina Johansson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

På andra sidan hagen höjde kvinnan blicken och stirrade rakt på mig. Det enda jag var helt säker på var att jag blev kall ända in i benen när hon tittade på mig och jag visste att jag inte ville träffa henne närmare än så här.

Vivas storasyster har köpt ett gammalt hus på landet, och där ska Viva tillbringa sommaren. Men huset får henne snart att känna sig illa till mods. För det finns historier om det här kråkslottet. Historier om en kvinna som kallades Silverhäxan och om två flickor som försvunnit spårlöst …

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Min förkärlek till spökhus fick mig intresserad av denna bok om en gammalt hus på landet med en mörk historia. Nu läser jag inte så mycket ungdomsböcker, men då och då gör jag ett undantagsfall om boken verkar spännande och jag gillade handlingsbeskrivningen på Kråkslottet.

Jag blev positivt överraskad över hur bra boken är, nu tillhör jag fel åldersgrupp, men jag tyckte boken var välskriven och intressant och till en viss mån spännande. För en person i rätt ålder så är boken troligtvis mycket spännande att läsa. Jag gillar Viva och hennes syster och jag fann mysteriet med huset bra, speciellt intressant var det att få reda på att boken har kopplingar till en tidigare bok; Silverhäxan där My som nämns i denna bok har en stor roll. Det enda som jag tyckte var lite konstigt var hur lätt Tuve accepterade att det var något konstigt med huset. Jag hade inte varit lika lätt att övertyga som han var.

Men allt som allt en bra ungdomsbok som varm skulle rekommendera till spökhusfantaster, eller till läsare som helt enkelt gillar en bra skriven bok med paranormala inslag.

Tack till Massolit Förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

My love for haunted houses got me interested in this book about a house in the country with a dark story. I don't read much young adult, but now and then I do and exception and this book seemed interested and thrilling and I liked the book's description.

I was pleased with the book's story, despite being a bit too mold for the age group for this book. But, I thought the book was well-written and interesting and even a bit thrilling to read. For a person at the right age should this book probably be very thrilling to read. I liked Viva and her sister and I found the mystery with the Crow Castle really good. And, especially interesting was it to learn that this book has a connection to an earlier book; The Silverwitch where My that is mentioned in this book has a large part in. The only thing I found a bit strange is how easy it was for Tuve, the neighbor's son, to accept that there was something weird going on in the house. I would not have been as easy to convince as he was.

The Crow Castle is a good young adult book that I warmly recommend to haunted house lovers or to any readers that like a well-written book with paranormal aspects.

Thanks to Massolit Förlag for the review copy!

The Fire Child by S.K. Tremayne

The Fire Child by S.K. Tremayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The chilling new psychological thriller by S. K. Tremayne, author of the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller, THE ICE TWINS.

When Rachel marries dark, handsome David, everything seems to fall into place. Swept from single life in London to the beautiful Carnhallow House in Cornwall, she gains wealth, love, and an affectionate stepson, Jamie.

But then Jamie’s behaviour changes, and Rachel’s perfect life begins to unravel. He makes disturbing predictions, claiming to be haunted by the spectre of his late mother – David’s previous wife. Is this Jamie’s way of punishing Rachel, or is he far more traumatized than she thought?

As Rachel starts digging into the past, she begins to grow suspicious of her husband. Why is he so reluctant to discuss Jamie’s outbursts? And what exactly happened to cause his ex-wife’s untimely death, less than two years ago? As summer slips away and December looms, Rachel begins to fear there might be truth in Jamie’s words:

‘You will be dead by Christmas.’

**********

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book. The Ice Twins was one of the best books I read last year and to say that I was eager to read this book is an understatement. I was a bit concerned that I had too high expectations since The Ice Twins blew me away, but I was soon relieved when the story hooked me. 

What I love about this book is that you just don't know if Rachel is crazy or just paranoid. She acts odd, but then again, so does her stepson Jamie. And, what about David's wife who died not long ago? Is she really a ghost in the house or is Jamie just a traumatized boy? And, what about David? Could he be behind his wife death? The story is strange and wonderful and I loved reading and wondering what the heck is going on? 

The story made me think of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Of course, no crazy housekeeper, but the dead wife and the gothic house, and a woman that marries an older man. Yup, that's what made me think of Rebecca.

Of course, it's hard not to compare this book to The Ice Twins and, despite how much I enjoyed this book it just wasn't as captivating as The Ice Twins and the ending was definite not as good. However, it's still a bloody good book and I recommend this book to anyone liking psychological thrillers.

The Killing Game by Iris Johansen

The Killing Game by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A merciless killer on the hunt...an innocent child in his sights...a woman driven to the edge to stop him...

The killer knows Eve Duncan all too well. He knows the pain she feels for her murdered daughter, Bonnie, whose body has never been found. He knows that as one of the nation's top forensic sculptors she'll insist on identifying the nine skeletons unearthed on a bluff near Georgia's Talladega Falls. He knows she won't be able to resist the temptation of believing that one of those skeletons might be her daughter's. But that is only the beginning of the killer's sadistic game. He wants Eve one on one, and he'll use his ace in the hole to make sure she complies. And he won't stop playing until he claims the prize he wants most: Eve's life.

**********

This review is for Troy who thought my idea of doing a review by only using gifs interesting. I may do a proper one later on, but right now, this is how I felt about this book. I will add some text just to make the review a bit more understanding. But, I will try to use text as little as possible. Let's start! 

This book was just as the first one good with a compelling story and a really crazy killer.

We also had a bit of a triangle drama between Logan, Eve and Joe. It's actually nice that Iris Johansen didn't drag out it through 20 books. Instead, did she make Eve and the guy in question a couple in this book. And, I could have lived with either choice, to be honest...

How about the story with the killer?

(I thought I had the ending figured out but, the last twist I never suspected)

The Face Of Deception by Iris Johansen

The Face Of Deception by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An unidentified skull...

A trail of terrifying secrets...

And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...

As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstruct—a face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.

**********

The first Eva Duncan book I read was book 19, so I have a lot of earlier books to go through. But, I don't mind that because I have come to love this series very much.   

I liked this book very much, it was intense and interesting and I liked getting to know Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn from the beginning. The story is very interesting and I was quickly pulled into it and wanted to know more. Whose skull is it and why are people so desperate to getting it back? There came a point in the book when I thought "no way, this is too farfetched, but then Johansen twisted the story once more and then the story seemed to make more sense (In that bookish way you know. Hard to think of something similar happen in real life). Anyway, it's a great book and I quite liked John Logan, and I liked that Eve and Logan spent most of the book arguing although grudgingly Eve started to soften more and more towards him and let's say Quinn was not all too happy with that, despite the fact that he is married. 

The face of Deception is engrossing, a bit sad, thrilling and, definitely surprising. I recommend it warmly! 

The Hangman’s Song by James Oswald (SWE/ENG)

The Hangman's Song by James Oswald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

En ung man hittas hängd i sitt hem i Edinburgh. Det ser ut som ett simpelt, sorgligt självmord, men kriminalkommissarie Tony McLean blir förbryllad av det egendomliga självmordsbrevet. En andra hängd man och ytterligare ett underligt meddelande pekar mot ett olycksbådande mönster.

McLean är mitt uppe i en utredning om prostitution och trafficking, och kämpar samtidigt med att försöka koppla ihop de två självmorden. Upptäckten av ett tredje självmord övertygar honom om att det ligger ont uppsåt bakom. När han gräver djupare finner McLean svar som kommer honom närmare inpå livet än han kunnat föreställa sig. Något skräckinjagande stryker omkring på stadens gator – och jakten på det riskerar att förgöra allt som McLean håller kärt.

Bödelns sång är den tredje, fristående boken om kommissarie McLean.

**********

Utan tvekan är Bödelns sång den bästa boken hittills i serien av kommissarie McLean. De två första böckerna var även de bra men det var något med denna bok som verkligen tilltalade mig, som gjorde att jag sträckläste boken under en dag. McLean har det som vanligt inte lätt på jobbet, han har en ny chef som hatar honom och ifrågasätter allting han gör och är mest intresserad att så snabbt som möjligt avsluta fall. Så ett självmord är något som McLean inte alls borde forska i. Men det gör han och han inser att något inte stämmer och när fler självmord inträffar måste han så snabbt som möjligt finna den gemensamma kopplingen så att han kan få stopp på dem.

Som vanligt är det ett drag av paranormalt i boken och det är just det paranormal som gör serien så speciell och är skäl till att jag gillar serien så mycket. Ett anant skäl är humorn i boken. Trots det mörka temat i boken så fäller McLean och andra så otroligt härliga kommentarer hela tiden, det gör att boken är nåde spännande och roande att läsa. En kombination som jag gillar.

Jag tyckte om att Emma var tillbaka i handlingen så snabbt efter vad som hände med henne i förra boken. Hon har blivit en favorit karaktär, i och för sig gillar jag rätt många, men just allting som rörde henne i boken var verkligen intressant och jag gillar verkligen Emma och McLean tillsammans.

Bödels sång var mycket läsvärd, jag önskar att jag kunde läsa nästa bok på direkten men får vänta på att den översätts till svenska. Jag rekommenderar denna serie stark till läsare som gillar annorlunda kriminalare. 

Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

The Hangman's Song is the thrilling third novel in James Oswald's Inspector McLean series set in Edinburgh.

The body of a man is founding hanging in an empty house. To the Edinburgh police force this appears to be a simple suicide case.

Days later another body is found.

The body is hanging from an identical rope and the noose has been tied using the same knot.

Then a third body is found.

As McLean digs deeper he descends into a world where the lines of reality are blurred and that the most irrational answers become the only explanations.

**********

I think that The Hangman's Song is the best book I have read so far in the Inspector McLean series. I do of course, like the previous books very much as well. However, there was something with this book that really appealed to me. I liked it so much that it only took a day for me to read it. McLean has, as usual, it not easy at work. He has a new boss that really hates him and that's always questioning him and just want cases close as soon as possible. So a suicide case is not McLean should be investigating, but he feels that something is not right and then more suicides occur and he has to find out what is connecting the suicides before more bodies are found.

As usual is there a paranormal part to the story and it's the paranormal part that makes the series so special to read and also a reason for me liking the series so much. Another reason is the humour. Despite the dark theme in the book are there many funny one-liners and dialogues in the book. This makes the book both thrilling and funny to read. A combination that I love.

I liked that Emma is back in the story so fast, especially when you think about what she went through in the last book. She has become a favourite character, although I do have a lot of favourite characters in the series. But, I do find that everything concerning Emma and what happened to her and how it has affected her is fascinating to read about. Also, I do like Emma and McLean together.

The Hangman's Song is a very good book, I wish I could read the next book right away, but I must wait for it to be translated into Swedish first. I recommend this series warmly to anyone that likes to read a different kind of crime novel.

Thanks to Modernista for the review copy!

Cover Reveal of Dream Magic by Michelle Mankin

 Title: Dream Magic

Series: The Magic Series #2

By: Michelle Mankin

Publication Date: June 7, 2016

Genre: Paranormal Romance

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The dreamscape is a place of magic and mystery and meaning. In that nocturnal realm, ideas, images, sensations and emotions drift on the currents of the unconscious mind.

Morpheus the Dream Falcon is most at home in that domain. By night, the one of a kind winged immortal soars on those winds, observing and sometimes even entering the slumbering thoughts of another. By day, he is a highly sought after mercenary feared by his immortal kin for both his unmatched ferocity and his wicked obsidian talons. None of his prey escapes him.

Cecilia Ramirez y Aguilera is the one he truly wants. But the striking oracle of the Court of the Light Immortals is closed to the handsome outlaw, even in her dreams. Broken by unimaginable losses, the seer is but a slave, subject to the whims of a master who is mad and without mercy.

Drawn together by fate, their impossible passion ignites. But will that be enough given the dangerous secrets each keeps from the other? Or will mistrust and the desire for revenge threaten to unravel the powerful magic that binds them?

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Catch up on the series with Strange Magic

The Magic Series #1

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The New York Times bestselling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.

Romance with subtext.

Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.

Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a BRUTAL STRENGTH centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry. Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the TEMPEST series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there. Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the MAGIC series. When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.

Social Media Links Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065 Twitter - @MichelleMankin Website - http://www.michellemankin.com/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5835506.Michelle_Mankin Instagram - #MichelleMankin

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The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart

The Beast of Barcroft by Bill Schweigart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this book, we met for the first time Ben Mckelvie who together with his fiance moved to the Barcroft, a suburb in Washington, D.C. However, what they didn't know that they would be neighbours with crazy raccoon-loving Madeleine Roux. Everything just gets worse with Ben's fiance leaving him and his poor dog gets killed. But, it even gets worse than that when the predator that killed his dog seems to start to kill his neighbours one by one...

I read Northwoods and absolutely loved the book so I had to get The Beast of Barcroft that is the first book in the series. And, this book is good, not amazingly good as Northwoods, but still pretty darn good and I especially liked getting to know how Richard Severance, Ben McKelvie, Lindsay Clark, and Alex Standingcloud first met. And, now everything I read about Barcroft in Northwoods makes much more sense. Ben McKelvie is a normal guy and he never expected to have to deal with a supernatural predator that seems to be targeting his neighbours (and him), but thankfully with some help from new "friends" will he try to save the neighbourhood (and himself). And, it's action, some gore and even some humor in the book. Just the way I like it!

I'm a big monster fan. I just love those X-files episodes with monsters in the woods, etc. So, reading books like this, well-written and interesting and intense is pure happiness for me. The Beast of Barcroft is thrilling to read, but it never gets as fascinating and heart pounding to read as Northwoods did. I guess partly because I was more worried about whom would live and who would die in Northwoods, but also because I found the story in Northwoods with its monster more exciting.

So, if you like monster books, then I recommend this book to you and after you read it should you definitely go for Northwoods. Me? I'm waiting for the next book to be released!

The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell

The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DC Jennifer Knight is charged with the task of finding a missing girl. Twin sisters Abigail and Olivia are inseparable, so when Abigail goes missing at Blackwater Farm, their home, is something truly wrong. And, now Jennifer must find her before it is too late. But, there are strange events occurring at the house, and Olivia hasn't said a word since her sister disappeared, expect to whisper something in Jennifer's ear. But, Jennifer is stunned when she realized that it's not Olivia's voice that she heard, but Abigail's... 

The Silent Twin is book three in the Detective Jennifer Knight series and this is by far the best one. The first one was OK, I had some problems with the second book, but this one was quite frankly really good. Despite, one thing: I knew who was behind it all, well who the real culprit (the mastermind) was quite early on. I knew something was odd with the family, but I also knew that it would be too easy if the most likely person had done it. But, I did not expect everything that was revealed in the end. 

But, despite that was the book really good. The story was interesting, suspenseful, intriguing and it pulled me in.  I especially liked the seance scene in the house and the medium that held it. The scene after when Jennifer talked to her is one of the best in the book and I hope that the medium will show up in other books.  

The fact that Jennifer Knight can see and feel dead people are something that works well with this case and Blackwood Farm. I love creepy old houses with history and I found the setting of this book together with the case made this a truly good book! 

I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eva Parrish lost her father and her best friend when the bridge in the town of Point Pleasant collapsed. Her mother couldn't stand staying in the town anymore and packed up all their belongings and moved away from the town. Now fifteen years later is Eva back after her aunt has died. Must have changed in Point Pleasant, it's not as prosperous as it was before and the tragedy of the bridge collapse still weighs heavily on the town. Eva isn't sure if she should keep the family hotel that her aunt has been managing since her father died and that she now inherited. And, there seem to be some dark secrets in the town and then there are the rumors and sightings of the Mothman...

I was instantly captivated by the cover and the blurb, especially the mention about the Mothman a creature that I find intriguing. I was quite thrilled when I was approved for the book on NetGalley and couldn't wait to start reading the book. 

And, the book was OK. And, to be honest, is not what I had hoped for. I did like the book. I just didn't love the book or, to be honest, I didn't find the book to be as suspenseful as I had hoped for. And, there are two reasons why: First, it felt like a bit too much drama going on with Eva going back and finding out that her child crush Caden Flynn is still in the town and they meeting up and sparks flying between them. I have nothing against romance, hell, I even find the thought of them together quite OK towards the end, But, the book started off with young Eva thinking about how dreamy Caden was and then a jump in time and there he is all grown up and so is she. And, it just went too fast and felt to predictably. 

Then we have the mysterious killer in the town. It didn't take much time for me to figure out who the person was and that ruined the story a bit for me. I like to be more puzzled over the identity, not figuring it out right away. Although to be fair, the mystery story was not bad and I like the paranormal aspects of it especially the Mothman part. Actually, it's the Mothman that really makes me like this book. Without the Mothman would this just a been a mediocre mystery book. But, the legend of the Mothman just add the special thing I needed to find this book interesting to read.

So, in the end, was this book not as fabulous as I wanted it to be, still it was enjoyable and I would without a doubt, read more from Mae Clair.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.