Little Bones by Sam Blake

Little Bones by Sam Blake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Detective Garda Cathy Connolly is investigating a break-in, but the discovery of bones concealed in the hem of a wedding dress changes everything. The owner of the wedding dress Zoë Grant has been gifted the wedding dress by her grandmother who has said that the dress belongs to Zoë's mother who left Zoë when she was little. But, they never manage to question Lavinia Grant about the dress as she is found dead in her home in Dublin. Now Cathy Connolly has to find out the truth about the bones, could it be Zoë that hid them or someone else in her family?

Little Bones is a fascinating story about old sins and family secrets. I found the book engrossing from the start, thanks to both the interesting story and its characters. I instantly liked Cathy Connolly and her partner Dawson O´Rourke. They work well together, have great chemistry, which is a bit troublesome because Cathy has some personal problem in her life. And, I loved them together, despite Cathy's predicament. 

Despite the slow progress of the case was I never bored with the story, I was fascinated with the finding of the bones. It was like a jigsaw with some bits of information being revealed now and then. Especially since it seems that a hunted murderer from the States and an old confused woman seems to have connections to the case and the Grant family. 

I was hoping towards the end of the book that it would be the first book in a series, and I got my wish granted. At least I hope so since it ended with a hell of a cliffhanger. The one that makes you mentally sign and wonder when the next book is due. 

It was a great book, with some unexpected twist and with an ending that first was promising and then turned devastating. I recommend this book warmly! 

Thanks to Bonnier Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

Love: The Lion by Frederic Brremaud

Le lion by Frédéric Brrémaud
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb from NetGalley: The third volume in the lavishly illustrated series of wildlife graphic novels, each following a single central animal through an adventurous day in their natural environment. Each tale depicts genuine natural behavior through the dramatic lens of Disney-esque storytelling, like a nature documentary in illustration. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this volume focuses on a solitary Lion as it wanders the plains of Africa, handling the daily hunt, and vicious rivalry, without a Pride of its own. The circle of Life takes center stage in a world where predator and prey trade places on a regular basis, and Family is something worth fighting -- and dying -- for. This exciting tale, written by Frederic Brremaud, is told without narration or dialogue, conveyed entirely through the beautiful illustrations of Federico Bertolucci. A beautiful, powerful tale of survival in the animal kingdom that explores the all-too-identifiable, universal concepts of Life, Courage, Aging, and ultimately Love.

I have previous read Love: The Tiger and Love: The Fox, the two graphic novels before this one and I loved them both. This one is no exception. There is just something so wonderfully beautifully with this graphic novel and I especially love the fact that it's no text, just a story told through art. And, it's not really a happy story, it's sometimes really brutal and sad reading about the life on the savannah. But, it's also very captivating.

I have added some screen caps so you can see just how beautiful and detailed the graphic novel is.

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

Aliens / Vampirella by Corinna Sara Bechko

Aliens / Vampirella by Corinna Sara Bechko
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb from NetGalley: Two iconic horror franchises collide, as Vampirella - the fan-favorite supernatural heroine - faces the most nightmarish creatures ever to appear in cinema: the Xenomorphs from Alien! As the first human colony on Mars digs deeper into the crimson soil, they discover the catacombs of a hibernating civilization, tens of thousands of years old. The evidence suggests that they are Nosferatu, an ancient and sinister species that Vampirella is all too familiar with. Called to the Red Planet to investigate, the monster hunter and her human allies find a chamber with hundreds of ellipsoidal, leathery eggs... and after they hatch, the true horror begins. In space, no one can hear Vampirella scream!

I have never really cared that much for Vampirella, most seen her as the skimpy dressed vampire and never really bothered with anything to do with her. But, I'm a huge Aliens fan. So, I just knew I just had to read this graphic novel on NetGalley. And, despite me being pretty much sick and tired of the whole vampire culture (please God not another movie or book with vampires in them is usually my reaction nowadays) so was Aliens / Vampirella quite entertaining.

I loved the whole idea of an Aliens / Vampirella crossover. Vampirella realizes quite early on that the Nosferatu is not the big problem on Mars, there is something else dangerous down below, the problem is that when shit hit the fan is it Vampirella that gets the blame for all the dead people. So, now she has to face of Aliens and the humans that are in charge who thinks she is the one that killed the crew. She is the vampire of course, easy to blame.

The art is good, suits the story and I like that Vampirella isn't running around is some skimpy bathing suits kind of costume. Well, she is one the cover and for instance on this pic that I have added, but I guess the artists gets a bit creative when they do cover images and other artistic stuff. And, red skimpy bathing suits kind of costume is her "thing"!



But, in the story, she dresses more normal!



Thanks to Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! 

#BookReview Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James

Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

England, 1921. Three years after her husband, Alex, disappeared, shot down over Germany, Jo Manders still mourns his loss. Working as a paid companion to Alex's wealthy, condescending aunt, Dottie Forsyth, Jo travels to the family’s estate in the Sussex countryside. But there is much she never knew about her husband’s origins…and the revelation of a mysterious death in the Forsyths’ past is just the beginning…

All is not well at Wych Elm House. Dottie's husband is distant, and her son was grievously injured in the war. Footsteps follow Jo down empty halls, and items in her bedroom are eerily rearranged. The locals say the family is cursed, and that a ghost in the woods has never rested. And when Jo discovers her husband’s darkest secrets, she wonders if she ever really knew him. Isolated in a place of deception and grief, she must find the truth or lose herself forever.

And then a familiar stranger arrives at Wych Elm House…

**********

This is the kind of book that I love to read. A historical mystery with a paranormal touch. I quickly connected with the story and with the characters and I enjoyed this historical mystery very much. The one thing that bothered me a bit was that I think the blurb I read one Goodreads gave away too much. So, I would advise any reader to be careful about reading the book on Goodreads. Especially if you want to be kept in the dark about certain things in the story. Sometimes I think the less one knows about the story the better it is. And, that is why I will not reveal too much of what is going in the book. However, what I will address some of the aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much.

Like for instance that the book is well written, and this is one of few books with an instalove couple that I enjoy reading. I think it's because Simone St. James manages to portray both Jo and Alex so good that they come alive. You feel for Jo as she tries to live without Alex and the flashbacks to when they met and married each other are lovely. And, then we have the mystery of the book. The things Jo sees in the house isn't necessary terrifying, but it's awfully intriguing and thrilling to read about. I wasn't surprised over some turns in the story, but I nevertheless found the book to be very engrossing.

I will keep andane out for more books by Simone St. James!

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

In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni

In the Clearing by Robert Dugoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is asked by Jenny, a former police academy classmate, to investigate a cold case that her father worked on forty years before. A young Native American high school girl was found in a river and it was ruled a suicide, but Jenny's father Buzz never believed it to be so. Tracy agrees to take on the case and it seems that Buzz was on to something and that there are people who want the truth to stay buried...

In the Clearing is the third and latest book in the Tracy Crosswhite series and I have eagerly waited to get to the book. The case in this book reminds me a bit of the case in the first book when Tracy investigated her dead sister's murder after her body had been found after 20 years. Jenny herself was a bit hesitant when it came to asking Tracy about the case because of the similarities; a young girl cut down early in life, but Tracy wanted and felt that she could take on the case.

The book was good, I do have a weakness for cold cases and cover up stories, and little towns with dark secrets. The book actually has two cases, one that Tracy wasn't that much involved with, but that her colleagues worked with and it didn't take up so much of the books pages. A woman is said to have shot her soon to be ex-husband, but then the woman's son confess to shooting his father. To be honest, I didn't find that case especially interesting to read about and part of me wished that the book had only focused on the cold case, but I guess her partner Kins had to do something while Tracy was investigating the cold case. Although the answer to the cold case made Tracy realize something about the shooting drama. So, in a way, the cold case helped point out the answer to the present case, even though Kins solved it himself.

I do think this book was a bit better than the previous book. However, I still think the first book is the best of them all. There is just something very tragic with the first book, with Tracy searching for the truth about her sister's murder. Still, this book was well written and engrossing to read.

Can one read the book without having read the previous books? Yes, every book can be read separately. Sure, it could be wise to read the books in order to get a better understating of Tracy's and the rest of the character's history, but the cases don't demand previous knowledge.

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

View all my reviews

Sister Eve and the Blue Nun by Lynne Hinton

Sister Eve and the Blue Nun by Lynne Hinton
My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars

Sister Eve has returned to the monastery after solving several crimes with her father at the Divine Private Detective Agency. She is torn between staying as a nun or continue solving crimes. But, it seems that not even in the monastery can she find the peace and quiet time she needs to find her answer. A visiting guest is found murdered, and all the evidence points to a monk, the deceased brother...

Sometimes I disregard my gut feeling and keep on reading a book that just from the start
doesn't feel right for me. This is one of those times. I mean the idea of a nun solving crime sounds interesting and the cover is gorgeous. However, the book was mostly dull to read and Sister Eve either annoyed me or bored me.

This is the first book in the A Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery series that I have read. I have previously been curious about this series, but now I feel that I don't have any inclinations to reading any more books in this series. Perhaps the book would have worked better for me if it weren't a cozy mystery book. For me, less coziness and more drama and suspense would perhaps be better.

The case was just not that interesting, and if the book weren't so easy to read would have stopped and picked something else to read, but I hoped it would get better and when I had read 40% I just thought that I had come this far I might as well finish the book. Unfortunately, it never picked up speed and I failed to connect with Sister Eve. And, there were moments when I felt that her amateurish way, keeping evidence, and putting herself in danger just annoyed the hell out of me.

So, no this is not a series for me. I do like a cozy mystery now and then, but I want the books to be charming and with likable characters.

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

Lost Girls Angela Marsons

Lost Girls by Angela Marsons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DI Kim Stone is personally asked by a mother of a kidnapped girl to lead the investigations. The daughter Charlie and her best friend Amy have been kidnapped and the police have decided not to involve the press since this is not the first time two girls have been kidnapped. And, the last time only one girl was returned. It doesn't take a long time before the families get text messages from the kidnapper and it turns out that the families are being pitted against each other as the one who is willing to pay the most will get a daughter back.

**********

Lost Girls is book three in DI Kim Stone series and one thing that I pondered over while reading this book were that the idea of kidnapping and making the one who is paying the most getting the daughter back felt familiar. I think I have read something similar, but I can't for my life figure out the book.

Anyway, the story was good. However, I do have one problem with this book, or actually with this series and that's Kim Stone. There are several times during this book I just mentally shake my head over how unprofessional she is acting and the way she talks back to her boss makes me marvel that she is still allowed to be a cop. She has no respect for other people, and she is bending the rules to suit her personal needs and sometimes I just can't understand how she can be a cop? I wouldn't mind this if she had been a private detective or some other job, but she has a job that has rules that must be followed. If it weren't for the fact that I do enjoy the stories wouldn't I continue reading the books because I sometimes just can't stand Kim.

The case in itself is what made this book work for me. I found it intriguing. However, I did not like the animal killing part of the book. I did not enjoy the parts with the captured children either. I had some problems with the book because of my feelings towards Kim, and that made the reading a bit rocky, however, the last part of the book got my heart racing and I liked the conclusion of the book.

I liked the fact that is suspected the twist towards the end with the case. There was just something with a character that felt a bit off and it turned out I was right!

I'm looking forward to reading the next book, despite my less than positive feelings towards Kim.

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

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!

The Firemaker by Peter May

The Firemaker by Peter May
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A burned corpse in a park in Beijing is the beginning of a strange mystery for Beijing detective Li Yan and forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell. Together they must work out who the man is if it was suicide or murder. And if it was murder, who would want to kill him? Since they got on the wrong foot with each other at the first meeting must they also find a way to work together without frictions with is easier said than done.

Peter May's Lewis trilogy is one that I truly enjoyed reading so I was quite eager to read The Firemaker when I got the chance to it. It was  very interesting to read about Beijing. This is I'm quite sure the first crime book I have read that takes place in Beijing and the difference in the way of life there to ours in the west is fascinating. Peter May begin the book with telling the reader about his journey to China and his great interest in the country. And, I can tell that in the book with the details and how well he was written about the cultural difference between China and the west.

Margaret Campbell has left America to get away from some personal problems and she is absolutely not ready for the cultural shock that she is in for in Beijing. She should have read up more about what to do and what not to do before she sat foot in Beijing, but she didn't and that means that right from the start is she upsetting pretty much everyone. You know when you tell someone what not to do and the person instead go ahead and do it? Yup, that's Margaret Campbell in this book. For instance, the first time Margaret met Li Yan she makes him lose face. And, it just goes downhill from that one...

Still they and up working together and, despite their first annoyance with each other is there a spark between them and the more they work together, well let's say that they find each other quite acceptable towards the end.

The case with the burned body was an interesting one, unfortunately, I came to feel that it took forever to get somewhere with it. The book is pretty thick and the investigation was a bit slow and sometimes during the middle and towards the end that I feel almost a bit of desperation for the story to get somewhere. And, then finally, the investigation started to take off and then it took a horrible turn for Li Yan and Margaret. 

So, in the end, the case was interesting, but the book felt a bit slow now and then. I did, however, like Li Yan and Margaret quite well. Sure Margaret's overbearing attitude was a bit annoying, but she started to respect the Chinese culture more and more towards the end of the book. 

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

The Obsession by Nora Roberts Blog Tour

The Obsession by Nora Roberts
My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars

NORA ROBERTS 

THE OBSESSION

Published 14th April 2016 

Hardback | £16.99 

She changed her name. She changed her life. But someone won't let her go. 

The brand-new novel of love, drama and hope from legendary Nora Roberts. 

Naomi Carson is a survivor. As a child, her family was torn apart by a shocking crime. It could have destroyed her, but Naomi has grown up strong, with a passion for photography that has taken her all around the world.

Now, at last, she has decided to put down roots. The beautiful old house on Point Bluff needs work, but Naomi has new friends in town who are willing to help, including Xander Keaton - gorgeous, infuriating and determined to win her heart.

But as Naomi plans for the future, her past is catching up with her. Someone in town knows her terrifying secret - and won't let her forget it. As her new home is rocked by violence, Naomi must discover her persecutor's identity, before it's too late.

**************

I can honestly say that this book will probably conclude my Nora Roberts reading experience. After reading several of her books have I come to the conclusion that I'm not the right person to read her books. I still want to read her J.D. Robb books because they have proven to work better for me.

But, there is something about the way Roberts write her books that just doesn't work for me. And, I'm pretty sure I know what it is. First, the story is way too obvious. I figured out the killer's identity quite early (very easy to do) and then I spent the rest of the book waiting to see if I was right (and I was). And, that just takes away the enjoyment of reading the book. I did however like Naomi and the first 100 pages or so in the book was really good and for a moment I thought that this book would turn out good. Then Xander turned up in the story and everything went to hell.

Honestly, suspecting who the killer was could I have lived with when it came to this book. But I couldn't stand Xander Keaton, the main characters Naomi's love interest. For some reason, I can't stand the way Roberts write romance. It feels the same way every time I read one of her books. Up until Xander, the book was good (despite me suspecting and guessing right what would happen later on), but after that, the book quickly turned less enjoyable and I started to skim through the book so that I could get to the end. I did however like Tag, the dog, that Naomi found, and I also liked Naomi's brother Mason. I wouldn't have minded seeing Mason having a larger part in the book. His presence towards the end of the book made the book a bit better.

Unfortunately, there are no surprises in the book, I feel that Roberts have found a safe way to write and sell books and then she stuck to it. I wish the book could surprise me more, not just the typical woman meets a man that makes her feel safe and loved after a hard time and then they face trouble together before the happy ending. Some like that kind of books, I don't!

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

About the author: 

Nora Roberts is the number one New York Times bestseller of more than 200 novels. With over 450 million copies of her books in print, she is indisputably one of the most celebrated and popular writers in the world. She has achieved numerous top five bestsellers in the UK, including number one for Savour the Moment and The Witness, and is a Sunday Times hardback bestseller writing as both Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb.

The last Mile by David Baldacci

The Last Mile by David Baldacci
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In his #1 New York Times bestseller Memory Man, David Baldacci introduced the extraordinary detective Amos Decker-the man who can forget nothing. Now, Decker returns in a spectacular new thriller, THE LAST MILE.

Newly hired on an FBI special task force, Decker takes an interest in the strikingly similar case of convicted murderer Melvin Mars: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men's families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now? When a member of Decker's team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger — and more sinister — than just one convicted criminal's life hangs in the balance.

Read a preview now of the first 7 chapters: Kindle, Nook, iBooks.

**********

Review

My weakness for thrillers made me say yes to this book when I was asked if I wanted to read and review the book. Now I'm very glad I did. I haven't read Memory Man, the first book in the series, but that didn't stop me from truly enjoying this book. I do however plan to read the first book some day. 

The Last Mile starts off with Melvin Mars in prison very soon to be executed for the murder of his parents, but in the last minute, another man steps forward claiming he's the one behind the murder. Amos Decker takes an interest in the case because there are similarities between his case and Mars. This all happened in the first book so all I know is that his family was killed and I bet Decker was accused of the murder. The big question is, what really happened 20 years ago when Mars parents were killed? Why would someone confess to the crime in the last minute? Decker wants to take on this case despite the fact that there isn't really a case to take since Mars is going free. Decker is simply want to know the truth.

I found the book really compelling because the story took so many interesting turns that I never expected. I came to like the characters Mars, and Decker very much, and the story was truly intriguing. Especially when one started to finally understand what was really going on. At first, there was a lot of questions regarding the case (that wasn't a case but more a mission for Decker), and there were moments I feared for Mars life, especially since it wasn't even sure he would not be thrown in jail again. The book was thrilling and fascinating to read. I loved not knowing what was going on and just getting a piece of the puzzle now and then and the best part is when the whole picture started to take form and you read how Decker and the rest slowly getting to the truth. A truly remarkable good book! And, I love the last chapter, and especially the very last part of it!

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Baldacci is a global, #1 bestselling author. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, and have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America.

WEBSITE:
DavidBaldacci.com
TWITTER:
@DavidBaldacci
FACEBOOK:
http://facebook.com/Writer.David.Baldacci

Giveaway:

There will be 2 US/Canada winners of one 1 copy of The last Mile by David Baldacci!

The last Mile by David Baldacci

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.

For Dead Men Only by Paula Paul

For Dead Men Only by Paula Paul
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Temple of the Ninth Daughter sits on a hill at the edge of Newton-upon-Sea. It is said that the Freemasons buried a treasure there a long time ago, but Dr. Alexandra Gladstone hasn't time for rumors like that. Not until local Freemasons starts to die. Could there be someone out there killing Freemasons to get to the treasure?

I read Medium Dead (book 3 in the series) the previous book in the series last year and found the story to be not that exciting to read, but a book that nevertheless was easy to read and entertaining for the moment. At least that what's my review says. And, I'm now very glad that I've started to write reviews so that I can go back and see what I thought. The thing is that I didn't go back and check before I requested this book. I got an email about it and thought alright I have read the previous book so I request this one. It was after that I saw that I had some problem with Medium Dead's story being too predictable.

I liked this story more than I liked the one in Medium Dead, sure it was a bit predictable, but I found reading the book was more enjoyable this time and I liked Alexandra Gladstone much more in this book, then I did it the previous. It's not a thick book, it takes just a couple of hours to read and the suspects are not that many. But, it's a nice cozy mystery book.

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

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, where children learn to live again in our world after spending time in another dimension. But, what if the children doesn't want to adjust bake to a normal life, what if they dream of going home again, what if someone would do anything to go back? Even kill?

**********

Have you ever dreamed of stepping into a wardrobe or falling down a rabbit's hole? Or why not a blue box? But, what about the consequences? What if you were a child growing up in a magical land and then have to return “home”, and be a child again, but in your mind being an adult? That's what this book is all about. Wouldn't you want to go back home again...?

This is by far one book that I've been waiting to read this year. A book about children that have returned home after spending time in a magical world, sometimes the world is bright and sunny, and sometimes dark and dangerous. Nancy is one of those children and she just like the rest of the children at the school wants to go back. But finding the door back is sometimes very hard and other times the door is closed for good.

It's a short book, a little over 100 pages long, but interesting enough it was enough to tell the tale. Sometimes I think that short stories never really manage to tell everything I want to know, but this one did. And, I loved every minute of it. It's a dark story, even darker than I expected, to be honest, and the loss of some of the children in this book was painful to read about, even those that I previous hadn't cared for. Especially the first child to fall victim hit me hard.

The plot was great, sure I suspected quite quickly who the culprit in the book was, but still I just didn't mind being right. It was such a fantastic story.

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

Far From True by Linwood Barcley

Far From True by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The screen of run-down drive-in movie theater collapses and kills four people, but was it really an accident? Or could someone have planned it? Private investigator Cal Weaver gets a call from the daughter of one of the victims who thinks that her father's house have been broken into. In the house, they find a secret room where it's quite clear that salacious activities have taken place, they also discover that there are missing DVDs. Could the burglar have taken them and why? Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is trying to solve two murders that seem to be connected with each other.

Far From True is the sequel to the thrilling Broken Promise and I was very eager to start reading this book. What I like with Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls series is that there are a lot of things going one in the books. Some of the storylines are connected with each other, some get answered in one book, while some span over the books, like the connected murders that were discovered in the first book, and that storyline is part of this book and will be part of the next. I do recommend reading Too Close to Home before reading this series because that book's story also takes place in Promise Falls and the events taken place in Too Close to Home has ramifications on the town and it's people. And, it's darn good book so read it. Also, I would recommend not reading this book without having read the previous one. I read the first book last year, but I still had some trouble getting into the book and its characters stories. It took some time for me to place them all and get my bearing.

It's a thick book, but much is happening and it's never a dull moment in the book. Although I felt that I could get a bit frustrated with the book, not in a bad way, more I want some storylines to have more focus like the serial killer storyline and less about the couple that wants to kidnap their grandchild. But, the last 100 pages is really good when (some) answers are given to the reader. But, the ending almost broke me. It was intense, I turned the page, it was just a line and then I turned the page and the next page was blank. The book had ended and then it was just acknowledgment and the first chapter of the next book. I wanted to scream!

I recommend this series very much. Do you like Harlan Coben? Then you will love Linwood Barcley's books!

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

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I read the first chapter of this book a couple of months ago and found it interesting; Noah Calaway gets a call from an old friend that he hasn't heard from in a long time. Apparently, Noah's old girlfriend April has killed a man and then tried to kill herself. He believes that she is innocent and travels to where she lives to find out the truth.

I can say that the idea of the book sounded interesting, unfortunately, the idea did not live up to my expectations. I felt that I got a bit of a wrong start with the book, the different timelines, we have the present one and the one where Noah was a teenager. And, suddenly Ella showed up in the story. Bear in mind, I started to read this book without reading the blurb, so I was a bit confused about it and that is totally my fault. That's the problem with ebook, you don't have a backside to read and if you don't look up the book can things like this happens. Anyway, I read the blurb and that cleared things up.

Still, the story just didn't thrill me, it never felt suspenseful in any way and the twists never gave me a wow feeling. The story never got my pulse racing. Well, it did when I was annoyed with stuff, like when police officer Ryder started to suspect Noah. And, I got the feeling that they did it right from the start, despite the fact that Noah hadn't seen April for fifteen years, and he has had no contact with her if you don't count the calls she made to him the murder day that he never got and there is absolutely no evidence at the murder scene to tie him to it. That bothered me, I mean if they had found his fingerprint or blood on the scene would I have bought the fact that they suspected him, but now some far-fetched motive that he felt the need for revenge and kill someone fifteen years later? Come one!

And, the secrets April kept from Noah. Yes, I can understand that she would have a hard time reveal everything to him back when they were together. But, Noah was so incredibly naive that I wanted to hit him over the head so many times during my reading to get him to see the real April. He worshiped her since he was a child and he just couldn't see the true April and that meant that she never dared tell him the truth about herself and everything that she had been through. I mean his best friend Will and April's best friend Bea knew the truth, but Noah just saw a flawless goddess.

One the plus side, it was easy to read the book. I read most of the book during on sitting. The story was interesting enough to want me to finish the book and get the truth and the last part of the book worked better for me than the first 2/3.

I've seen a lot of reviews on Goodreads that give the book high rating so the book works for some. I guess I'm the odd one out in this case...

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

Trust No One by Clare Donoghue

Trust No One by Clare Donoghue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A marriage is what you make it, isn't it? It's what you put into it. It's not just about love, it's about understanding another person's point of view. Sometimes there are things you find out about yourself and each other which means the marriage has to end. Sad, particularly when kids are involved - but all pretty normal. Normal that is, until there's a murder. DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer are called in to investigate one of the South London murder squad's most difficult and distressing cases yet - where family and friends come under scrutiny in the hardest of circumstances.

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DS Jane Bennett has been on leave since the brutal attack in the last book and now she is back and her first case is the death of a family father who after some investigation into his background is discovered to have some skeletons in his closets. But still, who would murder him. Could it be a close friend or a lover or his ex.wife. That's what Jane and DI Mike Lockyer have to figure out.

I read the second book in this series a couple of months ago and, despite that I didn't fully enjoy the whole book (a loose thread bothered me) was I intrigued enough to read this one. One thing that I'm a bit curious about is why the series is labeled the Mike Lockyer series since the two books I have read out of three has been just as much (if not more) about Jane Bennett as Mike Lockyer.

Anyway, I like both main characters, they work well together and they seem to be good friends, but I also have a feeling that there will be a time when their relationship will take a more romantic turn. It's only book three so who knows what will happen in the future.

The case was not a very strong or frankly intriguing case. Sometimes I feel that it's just too easy nowadays to figure out who the culprit is and for some strange reason I was suspicious of one of the characters almost from the start. But then again the title is Trust No One and I figured out that could mean that even the must unlikely person could be the one.

Still it's a good book, easy to read. It was just not that thrilling to read. It's a decent crime novel, nothing more nothing less.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Samantha Whipple is used to stirring up speculation wherever she goes. As the last remaining descendant of the Brontë family, she's rumored to have inherited a vital, mysterious portion of the Brontë's literary estate; diaries, paintings, letters, and early novel drafts; a hidden fortune that's never been shown outside of the family.

But Samantha has never seen this rumored estate, and as far as she knows, it doesn't exist. She has no interest in acknowledging what the rest of the world has come to find so irresistible; namely, the sudden and untimely death of her eccentric father, or the cryptic estate he has bequeathed to her.

But everything changes when Samantha enrolls at Oxford University and bits and pieces of her past start mysteriously arriving at her doorstep, beginning with an old novel annotated in her father's handwriting. As more and more bizarre clues arrive, Samantha soon realizes that her father has left her an elaborate scavenger hunt using the world's greatest literature. With the aid of a handsome and elusive Oxford professor, Samantha must plunge into a vast literary mystery and an untold family legacy, one that can only be solved by decoding the clues hidden within the Brontë's own writing.

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This book is so freaking good that I want to go out and buy a hardcover of it because I want to hug it and hugging my Ipad is just not the same thing (It's a bit too metallic and can be a bit cold to hug). Loved it from page 1 to the last page.

The sentence above is what I wrote after I finished the book (well a cleaned the sentence up a bit since I used a bad word instead of freaking) and it pretty much summons up my feelings towards the book. I have read many great books this year, but this one, oh this one is like a delicious pie that just get better the more you eat it. And, the best thing is that you don't have to feel stuffed and no weight gain. In short, this is a book that makes one happy, at least, it left me happy. I just totally adore the book. And, I haven't even read all Brontë books, just Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights, and I even don't like Jane Eyre. But, that doesn't matter because the book is so well-written. Also, you really don't need any previous knowledge of the books before you read the book, sure they are discussed in The Madwoman Upstairs, but not in a way that makes you feel lost.

Samantha Whipple is without a doubt one of the greatest characters ever created. She's incredibly witty and I read through this book chuckling and smiling like a lunatic. This is the kind of book that has an amazingly good storyline, fantastic characters, and awesome dialogue. Her banter with Orville her Oxford tutor are especially very good. And, speaking of Orville, he is such a great, great man. I don't want to give away the plot, but the mystery of her father's testament together with her "relationship" with Orville makes this book fantastic!

I loved this book. It's worth thousands of stars. Read it!

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

What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile

What She Never Told Me by Kate McQuaile
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Louise Redmond is returning home to watch over her mother, Marjorie, who is dying of cancer. She has always wondered about her the identity of her father, but all her mother told her when she was young was his name; David Prescott and that she didn't know where he is and that he never knew about Louse. But, is this really true? But, Marjorie dies and Louise is left to try to find out the truth by herself. Will she find her father and what about the memory she has of a girl trying to post a letter? She decided to try to locate David Prescott, but that's easier said than done and what if David Prescott is not her father, what is she to do then?

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I'm writing this review just after finishing the book and part of me is still trying to get to grip with the ending. I love reading books about someone trying to find out the truth about themselves. And, this one turned out to be a gem. I started this book last night and I thought I would read about 150 pages (I usually set reading goals when I read a book), but I kept on reading until around 180 page because I just couldn't stop reading. The story was really interesting and it was an easy and fast read. I love those kinds of books where I just relax and breeze through the book. There were just something with the story that as really enjoyable.

Louise is an interesting character, she has just lost her mother and she and her husband are estranged. And, now she is searching for her father. But it's not an easy search and the more she looks the more confused she gets over the result of her search. At the same time, is she also trying to mend her marriage which gets complicated when she learns the truth of why her husband wanted a break and the run-in with an ex-boyfriend of hers. All this makes the book really compelling to read because I can feel and understand her situation. Everything she does, the decisions have consequences and she also has secrets from her husband that affects their marriage. And, her search for her father takes unexpected turns through the book.

I must admit that I was surprised by the ending, not so much about the truth, but by how emotional I would be over it. Sure, I was not prepared for that revelation, but up until then I had enjoyed the book in a reasonable way, but I was totally taken by the truth and the ramifications of it. I was gutted, to be honest.

This is a very strong debut book. I think that Kate McQuaile has written a truly terrific book and I look forward to reading whatever else she will write in the future.

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

The Unforgotten by Laura Powell

The Unforgotten by Laura Powell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The year is 1956 and fifteen-year-old Betty Broadbent's life is about to change forever. There is a murderer loose in St Steele, the little Cornish fishing village where she lives with her unpredictable mother who runs a boarding house. A bunch of journalists is flocking the boarding house and one of them, John Gallagher catches her eyes. Despite him being older than her are they drawn to each other, but the decisions they make will have deep consequence's years after this.

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This book turned out to be not what I expected. What I thought it would be was two unlikely people: Betty, and Gallagher, trying to figure out who the killer was. But the story is more complex than. It's a story about secrets and lifelong guilt. Betty has grown up with a mother that she has to take care of now and then. Her mother seems to be bipolar or something because she has very dark moments. Dolores Broadbent is also a woman that likes men quite much and one of the men she has been "dating" is the butcher who is now seen as a suspect for the murders. And, as we follow Betty in the past with the worry about the murders we also jump 50 years forward in time and there we follow Mary who learns that the killer is for the first time talking about the murders in St Steele. And, slowly the story unfolds as we learn the truth will reading about Ruth in 1956 and Mary 50 years later.

The book is really good, it was surprising and it interesting to read. What I really like is that the story kept on twisting and turning all the way until the end of the book. I never thought it would turn the way it did. As I wrote, in the beginning, I just thought it would be a crime novel with two unlikely partners. But the killings and the consequences of it all was not what I had expected. It's well-written, poignant, and I warmly recommend this book!

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