The Last to Disappear By Jo Spain

The Last to Disappear By Jo Spain


A luxury resort. Three missing women. One body.

When young London professional Alex Evans is informed that his sister’s body has been pulled from an icy lake in Northern Lapland, he assumes his irresponsible sister accidentally drowned. He travels to the wealthy winter resort where Vicky worked as a tour-guide and meets Agatha Koskinen, the detective in charge. Agatha is a no-nonsense single mother of three who already thinks there’s more to Vicky’s case than meets the eye.

As the two form an unlikely alliance, Alex also begins to suspect the small town where his sister lived and died is harbouring secrets. It’s not long before he learns that three other women have gone missing from the area in the past and that his sister may have left him a message.

On the surface, Koppe, Lapland is a winter wonderland. But in this remote, frozen place, death seems only ever a heartbeat away.

My Thoughts:

Jo is a new author to me, I thought this read sounded good and my kind of thriller. It is about Alex who gets a phone call to say his sisters body has been found in Northern Lapland, and he assumes it is her fault. Alex sets out on the long journey to Lapland to speak with the detective in charge because it is not at all what it seems. His sister’s case is not as simple as it first seemed. What was she involved in, Alex has to find out. It was tense, gripping and pulled me in quite literally from the get go. It made me feel cold reading this but not so much to do with the freezing temperatures in Lapland, it was more to do with how the story was panning out. Full of creepiness and not knowing what is around the corner. I really liked it and am excited to read more by Jo.

Get your copy here:


The Last Time I Saw Him By Rachel Abbott

The Last Time I Saw Him By Rachel Abbott

Celia, Juliette and Nadia are complete strangers with one thing in common: they have all been wronged by Ellis Cobain. A wealthy philanthropist on course for a knighthood, Ellis’ public persona is bulletproof – but lurking beneath this veneer is a sinister side that only the women closest to him have seen.

When they meet at a boutique hotel on the Cornish coast, brought together by the blind arrogance of their tormentor, they realise what connects them and form a pact to free themselves from his grasp.

But when a body is discovered they are left scrambling, desperate to cover their tracks. This was never part of the plan.

Will they keep each other’s secrets, or will they turn on each other, not knowing if one of them could be next?

My Thoughts:

This is the fourth book in the Stephanie King Series and I have not read the previous books in this series. This one is about a wealthy philanthropist who has wronged a few women in his time now they are out for revenge but then he is found dead but was it one of these women? this story is packed with lies, deceit, betrayals and revenge. It was an ok read, easy to follow along with, a bit slow in places and I did not really gel with any of the characters but wanted to know the outcome. I found all of the women suspicious and any of them could of done it but was shocked with the outcome. I feel as though I would not go back in the series to read the previous books though.

Get your copy here:


Without a Trace By Mari Hannah

Without a Trace By Mari Hannah

A FATAL CRASH

A plane on route from London to New York City has disappeared out of the sky. This breaking news dominates every TV channel, every social media platform, and every waking hour of the Metropolitan Police and US Homeland Security.

A PRIVATE TRAGEDY

The love of DCI Kate Daniels’ life was on that aircraft, but she has no authority to investigate. This major disaster is outside of her jurisdiction and she’s ordered to walk away.

A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

But Kate can’t let it lie. She has to find out what happened to that plane – even if it means going off book. No one is safe.

And there are some very dangerous people watching her…

My Thoughts:

I feel as though I read this book at the wrong time, I read it after watching a Series that is very similar on Netflix, and they are similar to what they are about. A plane has taken off and has disappeared in the sky, but where is it? DCI Kate’s partner was on the plane and she needs to find out exactly what happened, as it is her partner too on that plane she wants it back sooner rather than later. Kate will find out where that plane is even if she is in danger. It was a slow build up, full of tension and suspense. I did find it slow and was not really for me.

Get your copy here:


Finding Hayes By Laura Pavlov

Finding Hayes By Laura Pavlov

Savannah Abbott was my best friend growing up, and the reason I could be the best version of myself.

But then, without warning, she was gone. And my life began unravelling the day she left. My guard went up, and my ability to trust people disappeared.

But now, Savannah is back in Magnolia Falls, and she’s acting like I’m the enemy.

That is, until she needs a favour. A temporary husband …

I may fight flames for a living, but my new wife is the fire that’s been missing all along. None of this is real, we remind ourselves while we’re playing house.

But maybe, for her, I’m willing to bend the rules …

My Thoughts:

Laura is a new author to me, but because I enjoy Elsie Silver books I thought I would give this book a go. I liked how the book is easy to follow along with and I liked Laura’s writing style. This is the final book in The Magnolia Falls Series which I did not realise at the time but it is a perfect excuse to pick up the previous books in the series. This is about Hayes and Savannah and it is a good and heart warming read about friendship, enemies, lovers. I loved all the letters it just added something else to the story, with such a good ending. I do wish I had read the previous ones first as I would of got more of a back story but I really enjoyed it.

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

Get your copy here:



From London with Love By Katie Fforde

From London with Love By Katie Fforde


It’s 1968 and it’s cold when Felicity arrives in London to stay with her mother, improve her English, do a secretarial course – and meet a suitable man.

She is already missing her home in Provence and her father and his new wife and their extended family. But it’s only for a year she tells herself – and then she can go back to France and do what she really wants and become a painter.

And then she bumps into Oliver who is quite the most interesting young man she has ever met. He lives on a barge for one thing and has a collection of jobs, but his passion is looking for hidden treasures along the shores of the river Thames.

In a word, he’s a mudlarker – and before long Felicity is mudlarking too. She is also pursuing her dreams and painting scenery for Oliver’s actor friends.

But is Oliver a Suitable Man of whom her mother will approve? Felicity knows she will not …

My Thoughts:

I have not read many of Katie’s books but the ones I have read I have enjoyed. I liked the sound of the plot for this one, Felicity is living in France with her dad and his new wife when her mother decides it would be best if Felicity came to stay with her in London, there are great opportunities for Felicity in London. When she meets Oliver she is instantly taken with him and he is quirky but that is what she likes about him, but what will her family think of him? I liked how the story flowed, it was an easy and light read for me, I liked the way they both connected and how the story continued with them both. A story full of warmth and love.

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

Get your copy here:


Now You See Her By Heidi Perks

Now You See Her By Heidi Perks

Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second.

Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable: tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching.

Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again.
Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface.

Someone is hiding the truth.
So what really happened to Alice?

My Thoughts:

The story is about how a nice day out can change everything in an instant. When Charlotte takes out her best friends daughter out for the day she would never imagine how the day would unfold. Charlotte is devastated that the little girl goes missing on her watch but when she comes to tell her best friend what happened Harriet does not even want to look at Charlotte. But the police have done some digging and when they are questioned is there more to the story than meets the eye. I liked the idea of the story but for me it did not hold my attention. I found it slow and tough going. This is an author who I would not read again.

Get your copy here:


Poppy’s Christmas Cracker By Leigh Russell

Poppy’s Christmas Cracker By Leigh Russell

A French patisserie opens in the village of Ashton Mead in time for Christmas. Local residents are pleased but Hannah, owner of the Sunshine Tea Shoppe, feels threatened by the competition.

When the owner of the patisserie is killed, Hannah is suspected of murdering her business rival. Her friend, Emily, is determined to clear Hannah’s name. She seems to be facing an impossible task… until her little dog Poppy makes a surprising discovery.

My Thoughts:

This is book four in the A Poppy Mystery Tale series and every bit as good as the previous books. This time we catch up with Poppy the dog and Emily who finds that Emily’s friend is in a spot of bother and needs help to find out who the real killer is. It was a great short story that has a great bunch of characters. Poppy is just the cutest of dogs and I love the way she helps her owner Emily. But can they solve this mystery this time? I loved reading this story.

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

Get your copy here:



In the Blink of an Eye By Jo Callaghan

In the Blink of an Eye By Jo Callaghan

In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.
Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye. 


DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat’s instincts come up against Lock’s logic. But when the two missing person’s cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal. 

AI versus human experience. 
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic? 

My Thoughts:

I love a police procedural read, I always find that world very fascinating and eye opening. I found this read so much more than that though and really enjoyed reading about DCS Kat Frank and her world. DCS Kat is reviewing a case but whilst leading a new pilot programme things are not as easy as they seem. The case becomes a lot more than Kat could of realised. I was not sure what the AI part would be like but it captivated me seeing how AI is against a human being. It was a fascinating and insightful story that I could not put down. I cannot wait to read more of Jo’s books.

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

Get your copy here:



Parklife by Lucy Nichol

Parklife by Lucy Nichol

It’s 1996. Emma’s been rejected by the man she loves and sacked from the job she hates but desperately needs. Feeling like she’s hit a new low, she finds herself serving ice-cream and phoney smiles at the local park.

Best mate Dave’s loved up, and her dad’s finally emerging from years of unemployment and a deep depression. Everyone’s life is on the up while Emma’s plummeting towards rock bottom.

Every day she gives a free ‘99 to the lonely old man who sits on the park bench and reminds herself that life could be much worse.

But soon, even sprinkles and monkey’s blood can’t hide the truth. She’s in deep trouble and losing sight of the edge. Who will help her up when she falls?

My Thoughts:

This is the follow up to The Twenty Seven Club but can also be read as a standalone. It is the 90’s and Emma is not having the best of times, she has lost her man, her job and feels like giving up until she finds a job selling ice cream. Emma life is not how she expected to end up, she wants more for herself but can she shake of that feeling that something bad is going to happen? It was a good story to follow on from The Twenty seven club, full of great music and sensitive topics, Lucy the author has written this book well. And the ice cream part made me hungry.

Get your copy here:


Someone To Blame By J.J. Green

Someone To Blame By J.J. Green

Shay Dunne is a poison pen. Not that she wants to be one. But a recent tragedy in her life has left her hell-bent on dishing out some punishment to the two people she blames. Sending them a letter containing a vague accusation will do the trick.

Only the letters set in motion a series of unintended consequences, and Shay soon discovers that in the close-knit Irish village she calls home, a community still reeling from Covid, there are sinister secrets everywhere.

My Thoughts:

When the reading the blurb of this book, I thought it sounded good, I don’t think I have ever read a poison pen story. This one is centred around Shay who has gone through a lot and wants to punish the people that have left her in this mess. But when Shay sends the poison pen letters little does she realise how much it will blow up in her face and the backlash will be even worse. Was it really the right way to go about things? I felt as though it was a great story from the first chapter, it had me hooked on the journey Shay was going to take to get revenge. I didn’t personally agree with her writing the letters but I understand how she was feeling after everything that had gone on with her. The story builds up as you go through the book and then gently unpeels like an onion. There is depth to this story that goes deep, I found it a fascinating and powerful read that I would recommend.

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

Get your copy here: