#BookReview The Trap (Fällan) by Melanie Raabe (SWE/ENG)

The Trap by Melanie Raabe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Note (2/4-17): I've updated this review from 2016-07-05 with a Swedish review of the book!

SWEDISH REVIEW

Linda Conrads, 38, är en berömd och notoriskt tillbakadragen kriminalförfattare. För tolv år sedan blev hennes syster, Anna, brutalt mördad. Mördaren åkte aldrig fast, men Linda såg honom. Och nu har hon precis sett honom igen på TV.

Mannen är numera en känd reporter, och Linda vet att ingen kommer att tro henne om hon anklagar honom. Så hon gör det hon kan bäst: Hon skriver en ny thriller, om ett mord på en kvinna. Där gärningsmannen kommer undan. 

När boken publiceras ger Linda en enda intervju. I sitt eget hem. Till den enda person som vet mer om fallet än hon gör. Han vet vad som hände den där natten. Hon har skrivit en bok om det. Men när han ringer på Lindas dörrklocka vet ingen av dem hur det ska sluta...

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Melanie Raabe har verkligen lyckats skriva en bok där jag var inte säker på om huvudkaraktären, Linda Conrad, var helt galen, eller om hon hade rätt om att ha sett hennes systrar mördare på TV: n. Jag drogs in i historien redan från början och boken hålls mitt intresse upp ända fram till slutet. Vi får följa Linda historia, men också kapitel från hennes bok om mordet ingår i berättelsen. Och genom dessa kapitlel, får vi en bild av vad som hände 12 år tidigare.

Det var intressant att läsa om en karaktär som aldrig lämnar sitt hus som gör historien lite mer intim eftersom mycket av det som händer i boken utspelas inne i huset med få personer iblandade. Och som jag skrev ovan, att man inte vet om Linda var rätt eller om hon hade blivit galen och detta gjorde boken riktigt intressant att läsa eftersom man inte kunde vara säker på någonting.

Jag gillade boken jättemycket, den var välskriven, spännande och överraskande. Dock var jag var lite förvirrad varför hon hade så lite kontakt med sina föräldrar. Jag menar bara att hon inte kan lämna huset betyder inte att de inte kan besöka och jag aldrig känt att det förklarades varför de hade så lite kontakt. Men det är det enda som jag kände lite udda, resten av boken var riktigt bra!

Tack till Louise Bäckelin Förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

In this twisted debut thriller, a reclusive author sets the perfect trap for her sister's murderer--but is he really the killer?

For 11 years, the bestselling author Linda Conrads has mystified fans by never setting foot outside her home. Haunted by the unsolved murder of her younger sister--who she discovered in a pool of blood--and the face of the man she saw fleeing the scene, Linda's hermit existence helps her cope with debilitating anxiety. But the sanctity of her oasis is shattered when she sees her sister's murderer on television. Hobbled by years of isolation, Linda resolves to use the plot of her next novel to lay an irresistible trap for the man. As the plan is set in motion and the past comes rushing back, Linda's memories--and her very sanity--are called into question. Is this man a heartless killer or merely a helpless victim?

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I have to hand it to Melanie Raabe, she has really managed to write a book where I was not sure if Linda Conrad was utterly mad or if she was right about having seen her sisters killer on the TV. I was pulled into the story right from the start and the book kept my interest up. We get to follow Linda's story, but also chapters from her book about the murder are included in the story. And through the chapters, we get a picture of what happened 12 years before.

It was interesting to reading about a character that never leaves her house that makes the story a bit more intimate since most of the story takes place inside the house and with very few people. And, as I wrote above, one just couldn't know if Linda was right or if she had gone mad. And, that made the book really interesting to read since one could not be sure about anything.

I liked the book very much, it was well-written, exciting and surprising. I was a bit confused why she had so little contact with her parents. I mean just because she can't leave the house doesn't mean that they can't visit and I never felt that it was explained why they had so little contact. However, that's the only thing that I felt a bit odd, the rest of the book was really good!

I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! 

Blog Tour: Strangers by Paul Finch

Strangers by Paul Finch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark, gritty and always edge-of-your-seat: the #1 bestseller is back with a standout new heroine…

Unknown, alone, and fearing for your life.

As PC Lucy Clayburn is about to find out, going undercover is the most dangerous work there is.

But, on the trail of a prolific female serial killer, there's no other option – and these murders are as brutal as they come.

Lucy must step into the line of fire – a stranger in a criminal underworld that butchers anyone who crosses the line.

And, unknown to Lucy, she's already treading it…

Always gripping. Always gruesome. Paul Finch will leave fans of Rachel Abbott and MJ Arlidge gasping for more.

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One mistake changed everything for PC Lucy Clayburn and her dreams of working for CID is suddenly less likely. However, this new case, working undercover trying to catch a female serial killer could set her record straight and help her career. That is of course that the hunt doesn't kill her...

Lucy Clayburn is not a woman who is afraid to take some risks, especially after the setback a few years before when her career stalled. However, going undercover as a prostitute looking for leads to find a female serial killer is not an everyday job. And, now Lucy will meet some of the nastiest bad people as she searches for clues to find a serial killer. And, one personal discovery will change her life forever.

I seriously hope that this is the first book in a series because Lucy Clayburn is one hell of a woman, and I really want to read more book about her. What I like about Lucy is that she is a normal woman, no big secrets from the past or psychological problem. She was raised by a single mom, never knowing her father and she loves being a cop. However, this book will bring some changes into her life as she goes deep undercover. Seriously, this is one hell of a book, dark and gritty, and I found myself quite caught up with it. I must admit that I saw one of the twist coming, the one concerning her own life, and I waited to see how it would turn out when Lucy learned the truth and let me tell you she really has a hell of a temper. But, I guess we all would have been shocked by what she found out if we were in her position.

Strangers is an excellent book, perfect for crime fans!

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

Blood Harvest by Sharon Bolton (SWE/ENG)

Blood Harves by Sharon Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

Tolvåriga Tom Fletcher och hans familj har precis flyttat till det lilla samhället Heptonclough i utkanten av en vidsträckt hed. Familjen verkar äntligen ha funnit sitt drömhem. Men snart rämnar fernissan. Tom börjar höra röster och ser en underlig flicka smyga omkring vid kyrkogården. Han är övertygad om att han är förföljd.

De vuxna i Toms närhet försöker hjälpa honom, inklusive psykiatrikern Evi Oliver och samhällets nye kyrkoherde, Harry Laycock.

Men det visar sig snart att något inte står rätt till i Heptonclough. Det som familjen Fletcher till en början trodde var busstreck visar sig vara rena hot. Och när Toms yngre syskon Milly och Joe försvinner blir mardrömmen verklighet.

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Sharon Bolton har snabbt blivit en av mina favorit författare och Ond Skörd är definitivt en av de bästa böcker hon har skrivit. Från början är boken kuslig och mystisk och den behåller den tonen rakt igenom till det chockerade slutet. Men tursamt nog så har boken lite mer lättsamma ögonblick tack vare psykiatrikern Evi Oliver och kyrkoherden Harry Laycock. Det är definitivt attraktion mellan dem från första ögonblicket de träffas och sedan fortsätter det genom hela boken. Vad mer kan jag säga än att jag gillar verkligen mina mord mysterium med lite romantik. Men, allting går inte på räls, Evi har en patient som har ett gott öga på kyrkoherden.

Sedan har vi bokens själva berättelse, den mystiska flickan som Tom ser och den underliga kyrkan. För att inte glömma alla de döda flickorna. Sedan får vi givetvis inte glömma byns skumma ritualer, mellan varven trodde jag hela byn var ond som filmen The Wicker Man från 1973. Jag förväntade mig inte alls slutet, det tog mig verkligen på sängen att få reda på vem som låg bakom allting och varför.

Ond Skörd är definitivt en av de bästa böcker jag har läst detta år och jag rekommenderar den varmt!

Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

She's been watching us for a while now...

Now you see her

Gillian is haunted by the disappearance of her little girl two years ago. A devastating fire burned down their home, but she remains convinced her daughter survived.

Now you don't

Ten year old Tom lived by a neglected church. Is he the only one who sees the strange, solitary child playing there? And what is she trying to tell him?

Now you run

There's a new vicar in town - Harry. But menacing events suggest he isn't welcome. What terrible secret is this town hiding?

Sometimes I wish that she'd just leave me in peace.

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Sharon Bolton has quickly become one of my favorite authors and Blood Harvest is definitely one of the best she has written. Right from the start is the book quite chilling and mysterious and it keeps being that for the entirely book all the way to the shocking ending. But, fortunately, there are lighter moments thanks to psychiatrist Evi Oliver and the Vicar Harry Laycock. They hit off from the first moments and after that every time they met the sparks fly. What can I say I love my murder mysteries with a bit of romance. However, not everything is going smoothly between them, she's having a patient that is quite sweet on the good Vicar.

Then we have the heart of the book, the mysterious girl that Tom sees and the strange church. And, what about the dead girls? Not to mention the village old strange rituals. I kid you not, there were times I thought that the whole village was evil, kind of like the movie The Wicker Man from 1973. I did not expect the ending, I was actually a bit blindsided to whom could be behind it all and the reason for everything was shocking!

Blood Harvest is one of the best books I've read this year and I recommend it warmly!

Thanks to Modernista for the review copy! 

Blog Tour: The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe

The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eight people, one deadly secret.

Passengers boarding the 10:35 train from Manchester, Piccadilly to London, Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed.

Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. On board customer service assistant Naz dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And among the others travelling are Nick with his young family who are driving him crazy; pensioner Meg and her partner setting off on a walking holiday and facing an uncertain future; Caroline, run ragged by the competing demands of her stroppy teenage children and her demented mother; and Rhona, unhappy at work and desperate to get home to her small daughter. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .

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I think one of the reasons for this book hitting me so hard when I read it is because of the current situation in the world with all the suicide bombers in the recent years. The thought that you are no longer safe that any time or anywhere a suicide bomber may be is a reality nowadays. And, this book really shows both sides to it. First, we have the ordinary citizens on the train with different reasons for being there, be it traveling for a job interview or a wedding, then among them is a man who for some reason has decided to become a martyr for a cause, and by taking as many lives with him as possible. And, at home, a little sister is checking her big brother's computer and finding something she never thought that she would find...

This book is heartbreaking and so chilling to read. The characters on the train are introduced in the beginning of the book one by one. And, by letting the reader getting to know them, making the characters come alive and then turning the world upside down has Cath Staincliffe written a powerful book that from the beginning until the end is so gripping that I could hardly put it down. For me were the chapters with Saheel's little sister a very powerful inclusion in this book. Her side of the story, her point-of-view is just as tragic as the ones on the train. Saheel's action has such a big impact not only on the people on the train but also his own family. They will never be the same again.

It's terrifying how one person's actions can affect so many lives, and this book shows just how in an instant, all your hopes and dreams can be destroyed, but it also shows how people can after facing a terrible situation gathered together and not let evil triumph.

I want to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

The Devil's Work by Mark Edwards

The Devil's Work by Mark Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was the job she had dreamed of since childhood. But on her very first day, when an unnerving encounter drags up memories Sophie Greenwood would rather forget, she wonders if she has made a mistake. A fatal mistake.

What is her ambitious young assistant really up to? And what exactly happened to Sophie’s predecessor? When her husband and daughter are pulled into the nightmare, Sophie is forced to confront the darkest secrets she has carried for years.

As her life begins to fall apart at work and at home, Sophie must race to uncover the truth about her new job…before it kills her.

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The Devil's Work is the first book I have read by Mark Edwards, and how I missed reading books by him before is beyond me. The Devil's Work is a haunting, heart-pounding, and very well-written thriller and I will try to write a spoiler free review since I don't want to give the plot, even for a second, away.

To be honest, there were moments in the book, when I did not think I would be able to continue reading the book. Not that the book was bad, more like I could picture how Sophie would slowly be destroyed at her new work. And it was agonizing to read how a childhood dream of working at her favorite publishing company was slowly turning into a nightmare instead. Either is someone out to get her, or she is just being paranoid. The thing is this is the kind of book where one starts to suspect pretty much everyone to being after Sophie if she is not just being too paranoid of course. But, the flashbacks to Sophie time at University points to something bad having happened back then, something that could be the reason for Sophie's life turning upside down?

I thought the twists in the book were clever and, despite moments in the book when Sophie annoyed me (for doing or failing to do things) was this book both engaging and so very, very tragic. My first thought was giving this book 4.5 stars, but looking back and reflecting on the story, and how tragic it was and engaging not to mention the fantastic twist towards the end of the book is sealing the deal: It's a 5-star book!

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

Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton (SWE/ENG)

Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

Berömda mördare har fanklubbar.
Hamish Wolfe är inte annorlunda. Han kommer att sitta inspärrad resten av livet för att ha kidnappat och mördat tre kvinnor – och får mängder av beundrarbrev varje dag. Han är snygg, karismatisk och har en stor övertalningsförmåga. Hans beundrare är säkra på att han är oskyldig. Och på att han är deras drömmars man.

Vem skulle gå med i en sådan fanklubb?

Maggie Rose är advokat och bästsäljande true crime-författare, lika tillbakadragen som hon är framgångsrik. Hon tar bara de fall hon vet att hon kommer vinna. Hamish vill ha Rose som sin advokat. Han vill att hon ska förändra hans öde. Hon är övertygad om att hon är immun mot den charm som den här sortens man kan besitta.

Men kanske är Hamish Wolfe annorlunda…

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Wow, vilken bok. vad jag älskar med Boltons böcker är inte bara hennes förmåga att skriva spännande böcker med otroliga vändningar, utan även hennes förmåga att skapa intressanta och fascinerande karaktärer som Maggie Rose och Hamish Wolfe. Från början fängslades jag av handlingen och jag älskade känslan av att inte veta hur allting skulle sluta. Är Hamish oskyldig eller inte? Varför håller polisen som fångade Hamish så stor koll på Maggie? Han övervakade henne så mycket så det kändes som att han förföljde honom. Och den största frågan, vem är egentligen Maggie Hope?

Daisy i kedjor gav upphov till många frågor medan jag läste boken och det är svårt att skriva vad som fängslade mig så mycket med boken utan att avslöja saker. Men jag vill säga detta. boken är oerhört spännande, med vändningar som jag absolut inte hade räknat med och ett alldeles fantastiskt slut. Utan tvekan är detta en av de bästa böcker jag har läst detta år!

Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

Famous killers have fan clubs.

Hamish Wolfe is no different. Locked up for the rest of his life for the abduction and murder of three young women, he gets countless adoring letters every day. He's handsome, charismatic and very persuasive. His admirers are convinced he's innocent, and that he's the man of their dreams.

Who would join such a club?

Maggie Rose is different. Reclusive and enigmatic; a successful lawyer and bestselling true-crime writer, she only takes on cases that she can win.

Hamish wants her as his lawyer, he wants her to change his fate. She thinks she's immune to the charms of a man like this. But maybe not this time . . .

Would you?

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Oh wow, what a book. What a ride! What I love with Sharon Bolton's books is not only her ability to write thrilling twisted stories, that's her ability to create interesting and extremely fascinating characters like Maggie Rose and Hamish Wolfe. From the beginning was I captivated with the story and I loved the feeling of not knowing how it all would end. I mean questions like; is Hamish innocent or not, why is the cop that caught Hamish keeping a close eye on Maggie, that is starting to feel a bit stalkerish,and who the hell is Maggie Hope, what makes her tick?

Many, many questions went through my head during the time I read the book. And, it's hard to write about what's so interesting about it without giving anything away. But, I will say this, nothing is at it seems, sure some things that happen makes sense, but I never saw that ending coming. This is one of the best books I have read this year!

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

The Killing Ship by Simon Beaufort

The Killing Ship: An Antarctica Thriller by Simon Beaufort
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"A group of scientists in the Antarctic face a desperate battle for survival as they are hunted down by hostile intruders. "

Having spent the summer conducting fieldwork on stark Livingston Island, marine biologist Andrew Berrister is looking forward to returning to civilization. But his final days in Antarctica take an unexpected turn when it becomes clear that he and his small group of scientists are not alone on the island. Deducing that the intruders are a crew of illegal whalers, the scientists face an increasingly desperate struggle for survival when two members of their shore party disappear and their supplies are deliberately sabotaged. 

As Berrister and his remaining companions flee across the treacherous, icy terrain, they are pursued unrelentingly by ruthless killers whose true reasons for being in the Antarctic are darker and more dangerous than the scientists could ever have imagined.

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I got in my head, for some reason, when I started to read this book that this would be a paranormal thriller. However, I quickly, after reading the blurb, realized that it was just a thriller. However, it was a pretty good thriller, so I'm pleased.

What I like about this book that there were never any dull moments from the start until the end. I mean why on earth would anyone want to hurt a bunch of scientists? And, would any of the scientists survive? Also, what's it in the cargo bay? I was hooked, and I came to like Berrister, Mortimer, and the rest very much and I was worried that any of them would die. Antarctica is a danger place as it is, but having people after you for some strange reason. Well, that's tough!

I love reading books about Antarctica, whether it be thrillers or literary fiction, hell I even take romance. It's such a fascinating setting for a book. The Killing Ship is no exception. And, I like that the ending is open. Hopefully, there will be a sequel!

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

Skin by Mo Hayder (SWE/ENG)

Skin by Mo Hayder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

När en ung kvinnas ruttnande kropp återfinns nära ett järnvägsspår utanför Bristol antyder såren på hennes handleder självmord. Det är också just så polisen vill ha det: snyggt och prydligt och enkelt att lägga till handlingarna.

Men kriminalkommissarie Jack Caffery tvivlar. Fler synbara självmord dyker upp, alla med kopplingar till Älvgrottorna, ett nästan bottenlöst system av översvämmade gruvor. Caffery börjar ana en skugglik, mystisk varelse, någon som håller sig gömd i mörkret och osedd kan ta sig in i folks hus.

Vid sidan av Caffery arbetar polisdykaren Flea Marley. Med sitt förflutnas trauman bakom sig har hon börjat undra om deras förhållande inte skulle kunna bli någonting mer än det yrkesmässiga. Men så upptäcker hon något som inte bara kommer henne obehagligt nära, det är så skrämmande att hennes liv aldrig kommer att bli detsamma.

Och den här gången kan ingen – inte ens Jack – hjälpa henne.

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Jag hade turen att läsa Hud direkt efter att ha läst Ritual vilket gjorde att det kändes som om jag läste bara en bok, som vart uppdelad i två böcker då handlingen i Hud tar vid i stor sett direkt efter handlingen i Ritual slutar. Då jag tyckte att Ritual slutad med några lösa trådar så var jag väldigt nöjd över detta.

Jack Caffery är inte helt övertygad om att fallet från föregående bok är helt avklarat. Han har en känsla av ett någon slapp undan, någon som förföljer honom. Frågan är varför? Och först tror han att de besynnerliga självmordet som han undersöker har med morden från föregående fall att göra. Eller rättare sagt från personen som kom undan. Men det är bara han som är misstänksam och tror att det kan rör sig om ett mord och inte ett självmord. Under tiden har Flea Marley egna problem med en överraskning som hennes bror Thom har lämnat bak i hennes bil.

Som med föregående bok så är denna bok svår att sluta läsa. Handlingen är intensiv och fängslande och både Fleas personliga problem och Jacks undersökning är intressanta att följa. Jag var så inne i handlingen att jag nästan såg rött när Thom och hans flickvän Mandy började ställa till problem för Flea. Jag hoppas innerligt att de får vad de förtjänar i någon kommande bok. Maken till vedervärdiga personer är det svårt att finna. 

Hud är en mycket bra bok och slutet var både perfekt och frustrerande. Frustrerande för att jag nu bara måste ha fortsättningen!

Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

When the decomposed body of a young woman is found by near railway tracks just outside Bristol one hot May morning, all indications are that she's committed suicide. That's how the police want it too; all neatly squared and tidied away. But DI Jack Caffery is not so sure. He is on the trail of someone predatory, someone who hides in the shadows and can slip into houses unseen. And for the first time in a very long time, he feels scared. 

Police Diver Flea Marley is working alongside Caffery. Having come to terms with the loss of her parents, and with the traumas of her past safely behind her, she's beginning to wonder whether their relationship could go beyond the professional. And then she finds something that changes everything. Not only is it far too close to home for comfort - but it's so horrifying that she knows that nothing will ever be the same again. And that this time, no one - not even Caffery - can help her...

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I was lucky to have read Ritual right before I read Skin because that made it feel like I was only reading one book that was split into two books since the story in Skin feels like a continuation from Ritual. And, since I felt that Ritual ended was some questions left to answer was this especially satisfying.

Jack Caffery is not convinced that the case from the previous book is completely over. He has a feeling that someone got away, and that person is stalking him. And, the question is why? He also thinks that the suicide that he is investigating has something to do with the murder cases from the previous case. Or rather the person that got away. But, he is the only one that is suspicious about it. Meanwhile, Flea Marley has to deal with her own personal problem, a surprise that her brother Thom left back in her car.

Like the previous book was this one hard to put down. The story is fascinating and intensive and both Flea's personal problem and Jack's investigation are interesting to follow. I was so caught up with the story that I almost exploded with anger when Thom and his girlfriend Mandy started to make trouble for Flea. I hope they get what they deserve in the future. I loathe them both!

Skin is a very good book, and the ending was both perfect and frustrating to read. Frustrating because I now must have the next book soon!

Thanks to Modernista for the review copy!

#BookReview Ritual by Mo Hayder

Ritual by Mo Hayder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just after lunch on a Tuesday in April, nine feet under water, police diver Flea Marley closes her gloved fingers around a human hand. The fact that there's no body attached is disturbing enough. Yet more disturbing is the discovery, a day later, of the matching hand. Both have been recently amputated, and the indications are that the victim was still alive when they were removed.

DI Jack Caffery has been newly seconded to the Major Crime Investigation Unit in Bristol. He and Flea soon establish that the hands belong to a boy who has recently disappeared.

Their search for him - and for his abductor - lead them into the darkest recesses of Bristol's underworld, where drug addiction is rife, where street-kids sell themselves for a hit, and where an ancient evil lurks; an evil that feeds off the blood - and flesh - of others ...

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One of the best things when it comes to reading is discovering new authors. I have wanted to read Mo Hayder's Jack Caffery series for a long time and now I have finally read the book three in the series. And, Ritual is a pretty awesome book, with a compelling story and interesting main characters.

I instantly came to like both Jack and Flea and I enjoyed getting to know them both in this book. Jack, new in Bristol, has come to the city looking for the Walking Man to ask him something. Flea has not recovered from losing her parents in an accident two years earlier and she is also looking after her younger brother who is depressed after the accident that took their parents life. I think the twist and turns in this story were really great, and I liked how the Jack and Flea's life become intertwined with each other. Both are two damaged people and have their own personal demons.

The African witchcraft theme that felt new and interesting and made the book deliciously dark and engrossing. I was curious to see who would be behind it all and I must admit that I was surprised that it did not turn out to be the one I came to suspect towards the end of the book. I felt the book did end with some loose threads (but since I now also have read the next book do I know that the next book will pick up directly after this book ends and address the loose threads).

I liked this book very much and I recommend it warmly!

Play Dead by Angela Marsons

Play Dead by Angela Marsons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The dead don’t tell secrets… unless you listen. 

The girl’s smashed-in face stared unseeing up to the blue sky, soil spilling out of her mouth. A hundred flies hovered above the bloodied mess.

Westerley research facility is not for the faint-hearted. A ‘body farm’ investigating human decomposition, its inhabitants are corpses in various states of decay. But when Detective Kim Stone and her team discover the fresh body of a young woman, it seems a killer has discovered the perfect cover to bury their crime.

Then a second girl is attacked and left for dead, her body drugged and mouth filled with soil. It’s clear to Stone and the team that a serial killer is at work – but just how many bodies will they uncover? And who is next?

As local reporter, Tracy Frost, disappears, the stakes are raised. The past seems to hold the key to the killer’s secrets – but can Kim uncover the truth before a twisted, damaged mind claims another victim…?

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When I got the chance last week to listen to an audiobook from Bookouture was this the one I picked. I have read all the previous books and I do have an ARC of it, but I've been trying to listen to audiobooks at work since I will be working all summer long. So, I thought this would be perfect, getting to the latest book in the Kim Stone series and also get a book read/listen to from my NetGalley pile. It's a win-win situation! 

This book actually took me by surprise. I have, to be honest, had a bit of a problem with Kim Stone, her attitude has rubbed me the wrong way many times during the previous three books, but I never had a problem with her listening to this book. I can't figure out of it was the narrator that made me like her more or the story. In this book, well I started to warm up to her. It could be that Jan Cramer, the narrator of the book somehow conveyed Kim in  a way that made me feel less annoyed and more understanding. But, I also think that Kim is starting to, if not breaking down her walls, letting people a bit closer? Or perhaps one could say that Barney, her dog, is the one that has made her more "human". In any way, I came to like her very much and I liked her passion for justice for those that had died in this book. 

Anyway, I will not spoil the story in the book, but I want to say that the book hooked from the first second and then kept my interest all the way through a couple of working days. To be honest, I looked forward to working so that I could listen to more of the book and I was even tempted to skip breakfast with my colleagues to listen more today. The case was tragic and intense to listen to and I can't say that I figure it all out, some things I suspected and I was right, but I was also surprised at the ending of the book.

It was such a thrilling book that I could do nothing but award it with the highest rating. I was never disappointed with the story, oh well one thing and that concern Daniel Bate and Kim. I enjoyed their banter throughout the book so much that I had to try hard to not smile as a fool at work and scare the workers there and I hope that Daniel will be back in future books. I simply adore Daniel and his gorgeous Scottish accent (thank you, Jan Cramer, you did a marvelous job with Daniel) and to have them end it this way, well I would be really disappointed!

Listening to this book was marvelous and I'm right now sad that there are no more Kim Stone books to read/listen to for me and I hope book 5 soon will be released!

I want to thank Bookouture for providing me with a free copy to listen to! 

The Search by Iris Johansen

The Search by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

He strikes without warning.

He kills without mercy.
He's only just begun.

As part of an elite K-9 search and rescue team, Sarah Patrick and her golden retriever, Monty, have a gift for finding what no one else can. But their latest assignment is not like the others. This time Sarah is being forced to take part in a deadly mission ... by a man who knows enough about her past to ensure her cooperation.

Billionaire John Logan's top-secret venture has been sabotaged, its facilities destroyed, and its handpicked staff massacred. The sole survivor is being held for ransom. Logan knows that the only way to save the man -- and the secrets he holds -- is to find him as soon as possible.

Sarah is furious when she is strong-armed into joining Logan on his search. And once she takes the perilous assignment, not even Logan's promises that she and Monty will be safe may be enough to protect them. Because a killer is devising a sadistic vengeance ... and he may soon find use for Sarah.

**********

Iris Johansen has managed to write a story that instead of focusing on Eve Duncan (who is the main character in this series) is putting Sarah Patrick and John Logan in focus and I loved it! I adored John Logan in the first book in the Eve Duncan series and I was quite sad that Johnsen decided that Joe Quinn was a better match for Eve. However, now I'm not sad anymore because in this book Logan and Sarah have to work to find a kidnapped man and stop a madman that has a grudge against Logan. And, they work very well together and like with Eve, Logan and Sarah's "relationship" doesn't start off that good. Can have something to do with the fact that Logan forced Sarah to help Eve in the past book...

This series is one of my favorite and, despite that Eve and Quinn have a minor role in this book is the book pretty awesome. But, as I stated above, I adore Logan so getting a book with him in the center again was a bonus. The story is intense and captivating and I loved every minute of it. Logan and Sarah have a lot of chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. And, I loved Monty, Sarah's golden retriever. It almost feels like they have a telepathic communication with each other. Almost? I actually do believe so, to be honest. Another character that I came to like very much is Logan's pal Sean Galen. A fun loving mercenary that loves to cook. 

It's a wonderful book, hell it's a wonderful series! Read it!

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a serial killer strikes bucolic Painters Mill, Ohio, the killer's signature -—Roman numerals ritualistically carved into each victim's abdomen- —matches the MO of four unsolved murders from 16 years earlier. Police chief Kate Burkholder, who's reluctant to dredge up the past, must keep secret that she knows why the old murders stopped. Not satisfied with the case's progress, local politicos set up a multijurisdictional task force to assist, including a law-enforcement agent battling his own demons. The added scrutiny and the rising body count threaten to push the chief over the edge. Adept at creating characters with depth and nuance, Castillo smoothly integrates their backstories into a well-paced plot that illuminates the divide between the Amish and English worlds.

**********

I was lucky enough to get Sworn to Silence, the first book in the series cheap as an Ebook after being rejected on NetGalley for Among the Wicked the latest book in the series. So, all and all it was probably for the best since I did enjoy starting this series from the beginning instead of the latest book. 

Police chief Kate Burkholder, ex-Amish, has to stop a vicious killer in this book that may be a copycat or a killer that murdered several women 16 years ago. However, she has personal reasons for believing that it has to be another killer. It doesn't get easier for her when her role as police chief is getting questioned as more people are killed while she is trying to figure out who the killer is. Some local people just don't think she is trying hard enough... 

I found the book to be very good, and very different from other crime novels. I like that Kate Burkholder has a history with the Amish community and I liked that she is a complex character with a dark past. Also, this case really brought back bad memories for her. The case also brought agent John Tomasetti into her life as he who was hellbent on wrecking his life and career seems to have finally found someone that can get his life back on track. I quite like the chemistry between them. 

The case was interesting, is it the same killer or a copycat? What is really going one and what happened to Kate all those years ago? I did, however, figure out the killer when Tomasetti listed the killer profile, it was actually quite easy to do so I thought and then I just kept on reading to see if I was right, and I was. But, it did not take away the enjoyment of reading the book. I still found the book pretty good, despite not being surprised over the killers identity.

It was a good first book and I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series!

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood (SWE/ENG)

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

När den treåriga flickan Coco – tvilling till identiska systern Ruby – försvinner under sin pappas femtioårsfest, väcker fallet en enorm uppståndelse i medierna. Flickans föräldrar är rika och har stort inflytande, liksom de vänner som samlats i det lyxiga sommarhuset vid havet.

Vad hände egentligen den där ödesdigra kvällen?

Handlingen sträcker sig över två helger. Den första är den då Coco försvinner. Den andra den då de mörkaste av hemligheter till sist ska komma att avslöjas…

Den mörkaste hemligheten är en tät och känsloladdad psykologisk thriller – omöjlig att lägga ifrån sig – av författaren till succén Onda flickor.

**********

Den mörkaste hemligheten är den första bok jag har läst av Alex Marwood och kommer inte vara den sista jag tar mig an. Jag älskar mörka psykologiska thrillers och handlingen i denna bok var intressant med en försvunnen liten flicka vars tvillingsyster 12 år senare frågar sin storasyster vad som egentligen hände när de tillsammans åker till deras pappas begravning.

Ja, vad hände egentligen med Coco? Blev hon kidnappad, försvann hon, eller ligger någon av gästerna i huset vid försvinnandet bakom det? Det är några av frågorna jag grubblade över medan jag läste boken. Det är en mörk bok, men inte så mörk som jag hade förväntat mig, mycket pga. av att människorna i boken är så avskyvärda att jag inte förvånades över avslöjanden som kom fram i boken. Boken verkligen kändes som om en studie i människors värsta beteende. Från de som var vidriga i sin hela personlighet till de som med ett falsk leende kunde ljuga och manipulera omgivningen. Kort sagt, jag blev inte så överraskad över vändningarna i storyn pga av att jag redan misstänkte att de flesta människorna i boken var genomruttna och kunde begå vilka som helst brott. De enda som vann sympati var systrarna Ruby och Milly samt Claire när man började känna henne lite mer.

En intressant bok som kändes lite ojämn, speciellt framåt halva boken när jag kände att skiftningarna mellan nutid och dåtid kändes lite segt. Men helt klart en läsvärd bok!

Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a media frenzy. Her parents are rich and influential, as are the friends they were with at their holiday home by the sea.

But what really happened to Coco?

Over two intense weekends - the first when Coco goes missing and the second twelve years later at the funeral of her father - the darkest of secrets will gradually be revealed...

**********

The Darkest Secret is the first book I have read by Alex Marwood and it won't be the last. I love dark psychological thrillers and the book was interesting to read. A little girl goes missing and twelve years later her twin sister is questioning her older sister on the way to their father's funeral.

What really happened to Coco? Was she kidnapped, did she disappear or is someone among the guests in the house at the time behind it all? That's some of the questions I was wondering about as I read the book. It's a dark book, just not as dark as I excepted it to be. Most of the people in this book are so rotten that I just didn't get surprised by the revelations that were revealed as I read the book. It felt like reading a study on human behavior, and the worst kind. All from those that have a disgusting personality to those that with a false smile could lie and manipulate everyone around them. In short, I never really got surprised when the story took a twist because I already suspected that most of the people in the book were bad to the bone and could commit any kind of crimes. The only people I found some sympathy for was the sisters Ruby and Milly and later on Claire when one got to know her better.

It's an interesting book that felt a bit uneven to read, especially around half the book when I felt that shifts between past and present started to drag the story a bit. But it's definitely an interesting book to read!

Thanks to Modernista 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)

Make Me by Lee Child (SWE/ENG)

Make Me by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

Reacher kliver av tåget i Mother’s Rest, en hemlighetsfull stad befolkad av vaksamma människor. Han möter en kvinna på perrongen som letar efter sin försvunna detektivpartner, och Reacher bestämmer sig för att hjälpa henne. Snart är de mitt uppe i en desperat färd genom landet och genom de dolda delarna av internet. Sökandet efter sanningen leder dem tillbaka till Mother’s Rest, där Reacher måste möta en mardröm värre än han någonsin hade kunnat föreställa sig.

**********

Jag hade bara läst den första boken i Jack Reacher serien innan jag läste denna. Men, jag hade inga problem att läsa Tvinga mig som är bok 20 trots att jag har missat att läsa de 18 tidigare släppta böckerna. Det var lätt att komma in i handlingen som både var spännande och fascinerande.Vad jag verkligen gillar är det slumpmässiga beslutet från Reachers sida att kliva av tåget i Mother's Rest som blev startskottet för en undersökning av vad staden, eller rättare sagt vad människorna i staden döljer...

Jag gillar småstadsmiljöer i böcker och denna bok lyckades verkligen få till liten-stad-med-en-mystisk-hemlighet-temat ordentligt. Berättelsen är intressant och fängslande att läsa med lite humor här och där och ett slut jag inte förväntade mig. Boken behöll min intresse rakt igenom och jag undrar varför jag inte fortsatte läsa serien efter att ha läst första boken, speciellt med tanke på att flera medlemmar i min familj gillar serien.

Denna recension är lite svår att skriva då jag inte vill avslöja något av handlingen. Dock tror jag att även de som inte har läst en Lee Child book, men som gillar mysterieböcker kommer att gilla denna bok!

Tack till Massolit Förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

“Why is this town called Mother’s Rest?” That’s all Reacher wants to know. But no one will tell him. It’s a tiny place hidden in a thousand square miles of wheat fields, with a railroad stop, and sullen and watchful people, and a worried woman named Michelle Chang, who mistakes him for someone else: her missing partner in a private investigation she thinks must have started small and then turned lethal.

Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there, and there’s something about Chang . . . so he teams up with her and starts to ask around. He thinks: How bad can this thing be? But before long he’s plunged into a desperate race through LA, Chicago, Phoenix, and San Francisco, and through the hidden parts of the internet, up against thugs and assassins every step of the way—right back to where he started, in Mother’s Rest, where he must confront the worst nightmare he could imagine.

Walking away would have been easier. But as always, Reacher’s rule is: If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to make me.

**********

I had only read the first book in the Jack Reacher series before I read this one. But, reading this one book, 20 in the series was not a problem, despite that I haven't read the previous 18 books. Instead, I found the book to be easy to get into and the story fascinating and thrilling. What I especially like is how a random decision from Recher side to get off the train in Mother's Rest will start off an investigation about what the town, or rather the people in the town are hiding...

I liked small town settings and this book really nailed the mystery down theme. It's a very interesting an engrossing book to read with some humorous part and an ending I didn't suspect. The book kept my interest all the way through and I wonder why I did not keep on reading the series after reading the first book, especially since members of my family loves the series. 

This is the kind of review that is hard to write because I don't want to give away the story. But, I think even those that haven't read a Lee Child book, but like a good mystery novel will like this book.

Thanks to Massolit Förlag for the review copy!

Redemption Road by John Hart

Redemption Road by John Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine:

A boy with a gun waits for the man who killed his mother.

A troubled detective confronts her past in the aftermath of a brutal shooting.

After thirteen years in prison, a good cop walks free. But for how long?

And deep in the forest, on the altar of an abandoned church, the unthinkable has just happened…

This is a town on the brink. This is a road with no mercy.

**********

My review of Redemption Road is now up on Fresh Fiction!

"A mind blowing story!"

This book surprised me, it was not the John Hart book I wanted to read, but this one was available to me so I said yes because it looked interesting. And wow, what a book....

Read the whole review here!

Det andra ansiktet (The second face) by Mari Jungstedt (SWE/ENG)

Det andra ansiktet by Mari Jungstedt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SWEDISH REVIEW

Den idylliska kustorten Ljugarn håller på att vakna till liv inför turistsäsongen. Då hittas den välkände konstnären och småbarnspappan Henrik Dahlman mördad i sitt sommarhus, fastkedjad i sängen med handbojor.

När ett liknande mord begås på fastlandet dras kommissarie Anders Knutas och kollegan Karin Jacobsson in i en intensiv mördarjakt, samtidigt som deras kärleksförhållande prövas på allvar. Reportern Johan Berg är tillbaka på Gotland och bedriver egen spaning vilket försätter honom i livsfara. 

**********

Jag tycker att serier där man kan utan vidare läsa den senaste boken skriven utan problem är något av det bästa som finns. Mari Jungstedts serie om kommissarie Knutas är en sådan. Trots att detta bok 13 i serien så var det mycket lätt att hänga med i handlingen. Jag kände att Jungstedts på ett bra sätt skrev om förflutna händelser i handlingen så att man fick en bakgrundsbild av vad som har hänt, t.ex. Knutas skilsmässa och Karins våldtäkt vilket resulterade i dottern Hanna.

Själva fallet var intressant och jag älskar verkligen böcker som har två tidslinjer, en dåtid och en nutid och denna bok hade det och både tidslinjerna var intressanta att läsa och det är kul att försöka lista ut vad kopplingen var. Jag gillade att jag inte helt kunde räkna ut allting som pågick, det var först mot slutet när jag började se hur allting låg till. 

Jungstedts lyckads skriva en bok där både fallet och den personliga relationen mellan Knutas och Karin var intressant att läsa om. Knutas tampades genom hela boken med motstridiga känslor, hans ex-fru är tillbaka på Gotland och det verkar som om hon ville ha tillbaka honom. Men han är ju i ett förhållande med Karin och det gör att han under bokens gång är smått distraherad och frånvarande. Vilket Karin känner av. Förr eller senare måste Knutas göra ett val...

En mycket bra bok, och jag ser fram emot att läsa fler böcker i serien!

Tack till Albert Bonniers Förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

The idyllic town of Ljungarn on the cost of the island Gotland is awakening before the tourism season. Then, the famous artist Henrik Dahlman is found murdered in his summerhouse chained to the bed with handcuffs. 

Later, a similar murder is committed on the mainland and Anders Knutas and Karin Jacobsson has to find the killer before anyone gets murdered. Reporter John Berg is back on Gotland and his own investigation him in danger.

**********

I like books where one can read the latest one published without having read the any of the previous books. Mari Jungstedt's books about Anders Knutas is a series that works very well, despite the fact that I haven't read any of the previous 12 books. I felt that Jungstedt managed in a good way to write about past events in the story so that one could get a good picture of what had happened previously in the character's life. Like Knutas divorce and that Karin was raped with resulted in her daughter Hanna.    

Thre case was interesting and I really love books with two different time frames. One in the past and one present. This book had a setup like that and both time frames were interesting to read. And, I liked trying to figure out the connections. I liked that I couldn't figure it all out, it wasn't until the very end that I started to see how it all was connected. 

Jungstedt has managed to write a book where both the case and the personal relationship between Knutas and Karin are interesting to read about. Knutas has throughout the whole book with conflicting feelings, his ex-wife is back on Gotland and it seems that she wants him back. But, he is in a relationship with Karin and that makes him throughout the book both distracted and distant. And, Karin feels that something is wrong and sooner or later he has to make a choice... 

This was a very good book and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Thanks to Albert Bonniers Förlag for the review copy!

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 House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg + Giveaway

The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DESCRIPTION

A priceless book, hidden in a corpse.

A family secret, handed down through generations.

And a woman with no memory of her past.

#1 bestselling author Brad Meltzer returns with

THE HOUSE OF SECRETS

When Hazel Nash was six years old, her father taught her: mysteries need to be solved. He should know. Hazel's father is Jack Nash, the host of America's favorite conspiracy TV show, The House of Secrets.

Even as a child, she loved hearing her dad's tall tales, especially the one about a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold that was hidden in a corpse.

Now, years later, Hazel wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing, not even her own name. She's told she's been in a car accident that killed her father and injured her brother. But she can't remember any of it, because of her own traumatic brain injury. Then a man from the FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad-and about his connection to the corpse of a man found with an object stuffed into his chest: a priceless book that belonged to Benedict Arnold.

Back at her house, Hazel finds guns that she doesn't remember owning. On her forehead, she sees scars from fights she can't recall. Most important, the more Hazel digs, the less she likes the person she seems to have been.

Trying to put together the puzzle pieces of her past and present, Hazel Nash needs to figure out who killed this man-and how the book wound up in his chest. The answer will tell her the truth about her father, what he was really doing for the government-and who Hazel really is. Mysteries need to be solved. Especially the ones about yourself.

**********

BOOK REVIEW

There are several things that I like about this book. First, the story is great and thrilling to read. Second, the main characters Hazel is a strong competent woman with an interesting past and third, this seems like it will be the first book in a new series and that makes me really happy. Of, course, there are several more things I like about this book, but I really wanted to point out just those three things since a good thriller, with a strong main character and the promise of sequels is perhaps something that will appeal not just to me, but to others. 

I have only read one book by Brad Meltzer before I read this book and that was The President's Shadow. But, I liked that book very much and getting an opportunity to rad this book made my day. The story sounded intriguing and I loved the cover. I like the twists and turns of the story and I liked that I couldn't figure it all out and the last part of the book was marvelous. Hazel is a wonderful character, and reading about her trying to figure out her past and at the same time figure out what the death of her father has with the death of a man with an object stuffed into his chest was fascinating. 

The House of Secrets was a great read, it was well-written and thrilling to read and hopefully, will it be the first book in a series (with many books)!

I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and seven other bestselling thrillers. In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for nonfiction (History Decoded), advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), children's books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even graphic books (Justice League of America). He is also the host of Brad Meltzer's Decoded on the History Channel, and Brad Meltzer's Lost History on H2. He currently lives in Florida. You can find much more about him at BradMeltzer.com. You can also see what he's doing right now at Facebook.com/BradMeltzer and on Twitter @bradmeltzer.

Tod Goldberg is the author of several novels, includingGangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; and the popular Burn Notice series. He lives in Southern California where he directs the Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts at UC Riverside. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @todgoldberg or visit him daily at Facebook.com/todgoldberg.

WEBSITE:

http://bradmeltzer.com/

TWITTER:

@bradmeltzer

FACEBOOK:

http://facebook.com/BradMeltzer

The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer