There are so many ways to kill a friendship . . .

You’re lying, sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, legs bent, arms wide.
And while this could be a tragic accident, if anyone’s got a motive to hurt you, it’s me.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. They have been through a lot together – from the death of Bec’s mother to the birth of Izzy’s daughter. But there is a darker side to their friendship. And Bec is about to reach breaking point.

Then Izzy’s body is found at the bottom of the stairs. It could have been an accident – perhaps she fell – but if the police decide to look for a killer, Bec is certain she will be the prime suspect. Because she knows better than anyone that those closest to you can hurt you the most. And that someone can only be pushed so far before they snap . . .

My Thoughts:

You need to read this book, it was absolutely brilliant and I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t believe this was a debut novel, it was a fantastic fast paced thriller. I will definitely be looking out for more of Polly’s books in the future. The main characters in this book are Bec and Izzy and I liked Bec more than Izzy, they have been through a lot over the years, but there is a darker side to their friendship and you start seeing these things through the book. Izzy has everything Bec would love, a husband and a child. When some thing bad happens to Izzy, was it an accident? Izzy is not around to tell what happened to her? who is the finger going to be pointed at? but was it really them? I couldn’t put this book down and the ending was superb. My heart was in my mouth throughout this book.

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

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To what depths would you sink to protect your own?

Hogmanay 1987

A prank robbery has fatal consequences.

Five Years Later

Highlands town Abergarry is shaken by the seemingly gratuitous murder of a local man. The case is unsolved.

Present Day

Ten-year-old Jamie, while on holiday in Abergarry with his mum Charis, overhears a conversation. To him, it is all part of a game. But this is no game and the consequences are far more serious than Jamie ever imagined.

Old wounds are about to be reopened

Struggling PI team Maddy Clifford and Paul Mackenzie find themselves involved by a chance meeting. How deep into those wounds will they have to delve to unravel the mystery?

My Thoughts:

This is book one in the Clifford- Mackenzie Crime Series and what a book it was. There are quite a few characters in this book that bring this story to life, a boy called Jamie who is on holiday with his mum, when he over hears a conversation he thinks it is all a game but what he doesn’t realize, is who he messing with. His mum has her own worries and doesn’t get the danger her son could be in and herself. Something is going on in the town when a local man is murdered but why and who did it? the police are investigating but should they be looking closer to home? a dodgy cop, a kid and a mum in despair make the cast of characters up. I stormed through this brilliant thriller, I didn’t know what would happen and I found I just wanted to keep reading on. Even though there is lots happening, it really is easy to keep up. I now can’t wait to read book two and follow on from where we left off.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Anne Cater and Hobeck books for sending me a copy.

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This grave can never be opened.
The head of Scotland’s most powerful crime family is brutally murdered, his body dumped inside an ancient grave in a remote cemetery.
 
This murder can never be forgotten.
D. S. Max Craigie and D. C. Janie Calder arrive at the scene, a small town where everyone has secrets to hide. They soon realise this murder is part of a blood feud between two Scottish families that stretches back to the 1800s. One thing’s for certain: it might be the latest killing, but it won’t be the last…
 
This killer can never be caught.
As the body count rises, the investigation uncovers large-scale corruption at the heart of Police Scotland. Now Max and Janie must turn against their closest colleagues – to solve a case that could cost them far more than just their lives…

My Thoughts:

Trust me when I say that this book is going to be a big hit. It was a brilliant, fast paced thriller of a ride. I felt as though I was on a rollercoaster reading this book as there are lots of twists and turns, some that are unexpected too. I felt as though I wanted to be there in the thick of it and I didn’t know how the story was going to pan out, I just wanted to keep on reading till the end. It was such a good storyline which is set in Scotland, a body has been found in a ancient grave, there is a blood feud going on between two families, is this part of the feud? and how many more people will die before the feud ends? can the police that are investigating stop it before it is too late? I wanted it to end so I could find out how the story would end but I didn’t want it to end as I really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this book.

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

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Eliza is angry. Very angry, and very, very hot.

Late for work and dodging traffic, she’s still reeling from the latest row with husband Paddy. Twenty-something years ago, their eyes met over the class divide in oh-so-cool Britpop London, but while Paddy now seems content filling his downtime with canal boats and cricket, Eliza craves the freedom and excitement of her youth. Fifty sounds dangerously close to pensionable: her woke children want to cancel her, a male motorist has just called her a ‘mad old bat’ and to cap it all her hormones are on the run. Who knew menopause was puberty’s evil older sister?

But then a moment of heroism draws an unexpected admirer, and Eliza sets out to discover whether the second half of life can be a glass half full after all. She might suffer mental fog and night sweats – and have temporarily mislaid her waist – but this is her renaissance.

My Thoughts:

This is such a hilarious book that it had me in stitches. So much of this story is relatable, I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. Eliza is going through the menopause all she wants to do is re live her youth but with a husband at home who is more interested in canal boats, Eliza is fed up and what with the menopause side effects and her children she decides to do something about it. But will her decision have an impact on family life? A very funny way of looking at women who go through the menopause. I feel as though this book is trying to normalize this subject that every women goes through, which I think is a good thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this side splitting read.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Lovereading for sending me a copy.

Lovereading: https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

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The trouble with secrets is that you can’t guess what the consequences will be . . .

Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she’s living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired – if far-from-retiring – actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It’s definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.

At least Lainey isn’t looking for love. It’s time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor’s grandson, really is rather attractive. There’s growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn’t been honest with him?

Lainey’s not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything’s about to start unravelling . . .

A beautiful Cornish setting, one chaotic family, and a woman who’s had enough of love. Or has she?

My Thoughts:

I love Jill Mansell’s books, I don’t even have to know the blurb to know that I will enjoy it and this book was just brilliantly comforting. Lainey has not had the best start but when she gets her dream job looking after a very chaotic family she thinks life is amazing, down by the sea in Cornwall, she thinks her luck has changed. She is not looking for love but Seth has caught her attention but does he feel the same way? the sparks are flying can they admit to each other how they feel about each other? The only thing is Lainey has a secret but then so does Seth. Will Lainey’s luck run out or will she get her happy ever after? I found this a very comforting and engaging read, yes I knew what was going to happen but it is a nice easy read.

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They knew the end was coming. They saw it ten years back, when it was far enough away in space and time and meaning.
The changes were gradual, and then sudden.

For Mae and her friends, it means navigating a life where action and consequence are no longer related. Where the popular are both trophies and targets. And where petty grudges turn deadlier with each passing day. So, did Abi Manton jump off the cliff or was she pushed? Her death is just the beginning of the end.

With teachers losing control of their students and themselves, and the end rushing toward all of them, it leaves everyone facing the answer to one, simple question…

What would you do if you could get away with anything?

My Thoughts:

I found this a thought provoking read, with the question being what would you do if you could get away with anything? Mae and her friends knew the end was coming but didn’t know it would be so soon, why did a student jump of a cliff or was it something more sinister? Asteroid Selena is coming for them and no one will get away from it when it does hit, attempts have been made to re direct it but all these attempts have failed. So several teenagers take their lives in their own hands. We experience the best and worst of people. It is interesting to think if you had only a limited amount of time what you would do? I don’t really read many YA novels but this one was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more books by Chris.

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

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Decisions define us. Decisions have consequences. Who lives… And who dies.

In Beachbrook, on the south coast of England, Andrew had a choice to make. Save his daughter, or save her friend. A decision no parent should have to face, but one that sets in motion a tragic series of events.

With the decision came a dark secret, one that Andrew thought he could keep hidden from his family, his friends and the police.

Two families collide as grief-fuelled recriminations expose the human flaws that haunt us all. The protection of self, the security of family and the fear of losing it all.

My Thoughts:

Wow what a book. This is a very well written debut novel that is very good, as soon as you read that first page I knew I would enjoy it. It was a brilliant page turner that had me guessing the whole way through. It is a dark and harrowing read, a one point I felt like I was being pushed to one side and then to the other. You can really feel the emotions that go on through out this incredible read. The ending shocked me to the core. This is an author that I will certainly be reading more of.

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

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Robin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and now a DCI with Force Homicide, working directly under Samir, the man who broke her heart almost twenty years ago.

When a woman is found stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be.

As Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, from the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda, tensions in Robin’s own family threaten to reach breaking point. And when a cold case from decades ago begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, rumours of a serial killer begin to spread.

In order to get to the truth Robin will need to discover where loyalty ends and duty begins. But before she can trust, she is going to have to forgive – and that means grappling with some painful home truths.

My Thoughts:

Just from reading the first chapter you know it is going to be good. I haven’t read many of Lucie’s books before but I certainly will be catching up on them. This book was brilliant, you never really knew what was going to happen in the next chapter. The characters were great and engaging. There are some very clever twists and turns that make the story even more dramatic. I felt as though I was on a rollercoaster and didn’t want to get off, it was just too good. Robin works for the police and is back in her hometown, unfortunately now she has to work under her ex who broke her heart a long time ago. There is a lot going on with a number of interesting cases but can Robin work it all out before it is too late? What will happen? you will just have to read the book to find out.

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

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The Fair is the only good thing that happens every year. And Fiona Larson is the only person in town who’s never been.

She’s pretended to go – but she’s never been allowed. Because, before Fiona was even born, her sister died there.

This year, everything will be different.

Fiona is about to turn twelve – older than her sister was. This summer, Fiona will save some money, make new friends, and finally have some fun at The Fair.

My Thoughts:

I use to love going to the fair as a child, all the different sites and smells, I remember candy floss and hot dog smells wafting through the air, any child is going to love it, Except for Fiona as she has never been allowed to go, there is a reason why her parents won’t let her go and it involves something that happened to her sister when she went to the fair. The book is a count down to the day she finally gets to go, she is twelve years old and I enjoyed reading about what goes through a child that ages mind. Fiona is going to make some money and go to the fair and have fun, but will things go according to her plan? a funny and interesting read that made me want to go to a fair.

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

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