It starts quietly enough. A tick tick ticking you can hear in your ear. Tinnitus, you think. It will pass. BUt it doesn’t. It gets worse. And then you pass it on…

Before you know it, it spreads. Elsewhere across the globe, it emerges: small outbreaks at first, but then suddenly it’s a plague – and only days later it is already killing people.

In an increasingly affected north London school, teacher Kit Chaplin is struggling to understand what he is witnessing. Even Lilly Slater, his partner and an eminent vaccinologist, can’t work out what’s happening. As it spreads, little by little, they are inexorably drawn into the mystery behind the illness. And what they discover will change the world as they know it…

My Thoughts:

This is my first book by Simon, I never knew he had written a couple of other books. I have to be honest and say that the first part of the plot sounded great but the rest of it just made me think of Covid. It was like how can I use something that has happened recently but use a different illness instead a ticking in people’s ears. But it is all of the same wavelength. I read to escape the real world. The story had a good flow to it and I liked how each chapter is a different time of the day so you get the full effect, but I just felt a little let down that it was not as good as I would of liked.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Daniel and Luke are unlikely best friends. Their bond has stood the test of time, through marriages, children and tragedies. But midlife is upon them and hidden truths are beginning to surface. Luke’s hedonism is spiralling out of control, while Sarah fears for their future. And now Daniel has made a shocking discovery about his wife Kate, and doesn’t know where to turn.

Four people, two couples, and a secret that threatens to destroy them all . . .

My Thoughts:

There is a lot going on in this book which explores two very different relationships between husband and wife. Daniel and Kate and Luke and Sarah are good friends but they all have something to hide, see you never know what goes on behind closed doors. They are real issues that each couple face and the author has done well to bring the sensitive topics to light. It was a good mix of exploring different relationships and seeing what the outcome would be. It made me feel grateful for what I have.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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It looks like a burglary gone wrong, but DI Adam Fawley suspects there’s something more to it.

When the police discover a connection to a high-profile case from years ago, involving a child’s murder and an alleged miscarriage of justice, the press go wild.

Suddenly Fawley’s team are under more scrutiny than ever before. And when you dig up the past, you’re sure to find a few skeletons…

My Thoughts:

This is an author I have heard of but never read any of her books and I don’t know why, this one was so good. I can’t wait to read more of Cara’s books now. I really loved how this book is laid out, you really feel as though you are involved in the case with the interview recordings, the different text really makes it even more interesting. I felt involved and part of the team trying to work out what was going on. God I got a shock with one of the twists, there were so many parts that I was thinking did that really happen, I just couldn’t believe it. Such a brilliant read and I would highly recommend. Now I am off to order more of Cara’s books.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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One weekend, one bride-to-be, what could possibly go wrong…

All Shelley wanted on her hen weekend was to enjoy three days of sun, sea and sangria. But instead of being surrounded by the A-team of her closest friends, she somehow ends up with a Golden Girls-meets-the-Spice Girls B-list that includes her mother, a rebellious teenager, and a best mate ‘on the verge’.

The squabbling starts at the airport, and on arrival in Spain, Shelley barely has time to unpack her suitcase before getting an unwanted text ̶ one that throws her wedding into doubt.

Shelley has got a BIG decision to make, but her unruly medley of nearest and dearest seem determined to confuse matters with their own problems.

Have they got what it takes to get her through the most important weekend of her life?

My Thoughts:

I had been reading lots of thrillers lately so needed some light heartedness, and this was the perfect book for that. There are many funny parts through it and a great mixture of characters, a couple of them were quite annoying to me with certain situations but it didn’t put me off the book. This is a great pick me up beach read full of friendship, love and second chances. It really made me appreciate what I have in my life and am grateful for what I have. The perfect escape.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Sometimes Marisa gets the fanciful notion that Kate has visited the house before. She makes herself at home without any self-consciousness. She puts her toothbrush right there in the master bathroom, on the shelf next to theirs.

In Jake, Marisa has found everything she’s ever wanted. Then their new lodger Kate arrives.
 
Something about Kate isn’t right. Is it the way she looks at Marisa’s boyfriend? Sits too close on the sofa? Constantly asks about the baby they are trying for? Or is it all just in Marisa’s head?
 
After all, that’s what her Jake keeps telling her. And she trusts him – doesn’t she?
 
But Marisa knows something is wrong. That the woman sleeping in their house will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
 
Marisa just doesn’t know why.
  
How far will she go to find the answer – and how much is she willing to lose?

My Thoughts:

This story explores infertility and mental health but is such a brilliant and twisted thriller. It is a sensitive subject but written in very well. I love how the plot twists and turns and each chapter peels another layer that you didn’t know was there. There are parts that made me gasp in shock. The twists are unbelievably good, you won’t want to stop reading till the end. The ending was tremendous.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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The last thing Tom Campbell remembers is camping in the New Forest with his girlfriend, Melissa.

Now he is helpless, alone, and being hunted through the woods by a sinister, masked figure . . .

When Tom’s body is found, displayed with grisly relish, Helen Grace takes the case. But before she can catch her breath, a second victim is taken.

There’s a serial killer on the loose.

As something dark and deadly stalks the forest, Helen and her team must race against time to catch the perpetrator, before more blood is shed.

But the hunt will take Helen back into the eerie twilit woods.

My Thoughts:

This is book 8 in the Detective Inspector Helen Grace series, I have read a few of these books but never in any order, but I feel as though you can get the jist of the story line without reading them in order. I loved the fact with all his books M. J always makes them fast paced and he never lets the chapters be too long so you don’t feel as though you are reading enough, it makes you want to read on. I find that a very clever concept. This time we see Helen face a new nightmare involving the woods and a killer on the loose, will Helen find the killer before it is too late or will she the target? This book I found engaging and interesting, it held my attention and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished it. Another great book in the series, I cannot wait to read more.

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There’s a serial killer on the loose.

When bodies start washing up along the banks of the River Thames, DI Henley fears it is the work of Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer. But it can’t be him; Olivier is already behind bars, and Henley was the one who put him there.

The race is on before more bodies are found.

She’d hoped she’d never have to see his face again, but Henley knows Olivier might be the best chance they have at stopping the copycat killer. But when Olivier learns of the new murders, helping Henley is the last thing on his mind . . .

Will it take a killer to catch the killer?

Now all bets are off, and the race is on to catch the killer before the body count rises. But who will get there first – Henley, or the Jigsaw Killer?

My Thoughts:

I had heard a lot of good things about this book and it seemed like my kind of read but it was not for me. You can tell Nadine has a career as a criminal lawyer because the police procedures were all very detailed and a lot of research has gone in to the book. I just read a lot of these type of books and they are all the same, I need something a little different and this book didn’t hold my attention long enough. It didn’t live up to expectations for me unfortunately and this is book one.

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Wayward Greek heiress, Ariana Theodosis, inherits the Hotel du Soleil as part of a mysterious legacy. Captivated by its faded glamour, she hopes it offers her the chance to start again.

Hotelier Gabriel du Lac’s family have owned the hotel for decades – and he has no intention of giving it up for a beautiful stranger.

Madame du Lac has watched the rich and famous pass through the doors of the hotel for almost half a century, and she has kept its secrets too.

As the past finally catches up with them all, will this summer reveal a forgotten secret, and change their lives forever…?

My Thoughts:

I was not sure what to expect from this read, the plot overall sounded intriguing when Ariana inherits a hotel, she cannot wait to get started and turn it back round but the Hotelier has other ideas, will he give up his beloved hotel that easily even if it is to a beautiful woman. Lots of secrets and unforgotten pasts make this book mysterious so you want to keep reading on. I found it an easy and light read to pick up and put down, I lost interest near to the end though, but I did finish it. I don’t know how I feel about reading another one of her books. A good effort.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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Rocky Hebert walks into his death at quarter to midnight one New Orleans night.

His son Gabe cannot accept the official verdict of suicide and enlists the help of the Burke Broussard Private Investigation Agency to discover the real cause of death.

PI Molly Sutton knows what it’s like to lose a father in tragic circumstances and will go to any lengths to crack the investigation, as she tries to fight off her growing feelings for Gabe.

They soon realise Rocky was working on an investigation of his own; one that threatened to expose the deep corruption going all the way to the top of the police department. And that the key to the puzzle lies with a young witness to a murder that happened years earlier: Xavier Morrow.

Just what did Rocky know? And who might have shut him up?

As they get closer and closer to the truth, they realise that the killer is not going to stop at Rocky. And that Xavier is in very real danger. Someone will go to any lengths to protect what he witnessed that night coming out…

My Thoughts:

I have previously read one of Karen’s books before and found it ok, this one was exactly the same, the story didn’t really excite me, the writing was good, the descriptions were on point, but I felt it was heavy going and quite long. The characters were interesting and intrigued me but the story line let it down for me. I don’t know if I would red any more books by this author.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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ONE PROMISE
Aged thirteen, best friends Eleanor and Fin are inseparable. Convinced it will always be this way they make a pact – to go to university together, always live near each other, and if they’re both single at 35 they’ll get married.

TWO DECADES
Eleanor and Fin haven’t spoken in fifteen years. Life has run away from them and they’re both far from where they’d dreamt of being all those years ago.

CAN THEY STILL KEEP THEIR WORD?
It takes tragic circumstances for Fin to come back into Eleanor’s life, but everything has changed since the last time they met. Is it too late to mend their friendship? Or is there a chance they can keep some of the promises they made?

My Thoughts:

I loved Emily’s previous novel Before We Met so was excited to see she had a new one out. This is just as good if not better than her last book. Eleanor and Fin were best friends when they were younger but now as they have gotten older they have grown apart until they end up seeing each other after all those years but life has changed for both of them will there be a chance for their relationship to get back on track or will they have to admit defeat? I liked how this story went at a good pace, it is emotional and you will need a tissue or two when reading it but I felt as though it is all about friendships, love and new beginnings, if its taught me anything it is to be honest with your feelings and tell that person before it is too late.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

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