Traitors Gate (Detective William Warwick No 6) by Jeffrey Archer

This is the sixth book in the Detective William Warwick series by author Jeffrey Archer. I have enjoyed this series from the start with its excellent characters and masterful storytelling.

The latest novel “Traitor’s Gate” is a race against time to stop the crime of the century. The novel is full of intrigue and suspense and against the backdrop of the Tower of London. As always Jeffrey Archer keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with masterful storytelling.

Master criminal Miles Faulkner is about to attempt the crime of the century by stealing the Crown Jewels and Chief Superintendent William Warwick faces a race against time to thwart him.

The tension builds throughout the novel and is an exciting read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Harper Collins for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Complicit by Nicci French

I enjoy reading the Nicci French collaborations and over the years have read nearly all of their books. I decided to read the remaining three unread books from their earlier work starting with ‘Complicit’.

Bonnie Graham is alone in her friend’s flat apart from a dead body lying in a pool of blood. Bonnie is unsure of what happened and whose fault it was as well as how to play the situation. Music teacher Bonnie has spent the summer rehearsing with her band but rather than been fun, friendships became taut and what was meant to be a summer of happiness, music and love turns deadly as lovers betray, passions turn homicidal and friendship itself becomes a crime. Someone in the band must be a killer. But who?

There were plenty of signs of what was to come from Nicci Gerrard and Sean French but this one didn’t quite develop into the book I was hoping for. Good characters but I felt it dragged a little.

I was never expecting the heights of later novels but hoped for a little more than this.

Snip Snap by Jane Holland

I really enjoy Jane Holland books so had high hopes for this one. The book started really well and I was pretty sure I was in for a good read but the more I read the less I enjoyed it and cared.

The story starts with an hairdresser named Melanie going to visit her new boyfriend at his home only to find he’s been stabbed to death with her own scissors. She panics and makes a quick retreat trying to hide and signs of her been there previously, including removing her scissors from his back.

This is not the first time she has experienced this type of thing, arriving to find her date stabbed to death with her scissors. She is not totally convinced that she is not somehow guilty and in desperation turns to the one person who can possibly help her. An anonymous voice on the other end of a burner phone, who deals with the crime scene and arranges a new identity for Melanie.

Like I said it was a very good opening but even for me got a little far fetched. I have loved most of this authors books but this one was only a 3.5 rating.

Don’t Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne Du Maurier

A collection of 5 short stories by mystery writer Daphne Du Maurier featuring the classi ‘Don’t Look Now’.

“Don’t Look Now,” is one of the authors best known stories and was subsequently made into a film. It is the story of a young British couple holidaying in Venice, trying to recover after recently losing their young daughter following her death. Their break takes an unusual turn when they meet two sisters in a café. One of the sisters is blind and she claims that she can see the deceased child sitting with her parents at a nearby table. Following this meeting the story escalates with lots of events and ultimately a violent ending. The books is worth reading for this story alone although the other four stories make interesting reading if not achieving the same recognition as ‘Don’t Look Now’

Daphne Du Maurier wrote ‘Rebecca’ which is one of my favourite all time books but there is so much more of her work that deserves a read.

The Rule by David Jackson

I came across author David Jackson’s writing last year when he released the excellent ‘The Resident’ and was so impressed I plan to read more of his books. ‘The Rule’ is a very enjoyable thriller that had me turning those pages trying to find out what was going to happen. Interesting characters, decent plot and totally addictive. Pushes the realms of belief at times but it’s fiction and makes great reading.

Daniel is twenty two and a vulnerable adult with the ways of a child. He still has the mind of a child, hates physical contact and needs his parents protection everyday to keep him from harm. Daniel is childlike but with the strength of a large man so when a stranger picks on him it results in trouble. With a strangers dead body Daniel’s parents know that their beloved and vulnerable son will be taken away. Daniel meant no harm, he just doesn’t know his own strength leaving his parents with a difficult situation. They dispose of the body to protect him but inevitably this is going to lead to further problems with not only the police but with the dead mans family.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Serpent’s Tale for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Stranger by Karen Perry

This is my third read from joint authors Paul Perry and Karen Gillece who write under the pen name Karen Perry. I really enjoyed the two previous books, especially ‘Girl unknown’ but unfortunately for me I struggled to get into this one. I still enjoyed it but didn’t feel the buzz of excitement I had with the other two books.

Abi Holland is happily married, daughter Eva is doing well and set for university but Abi can’t help worrying about her younger daughter Beth. Beth is a bit of a loner and Abi is hoping that when foreign exchange student Corinne comes to stay that Beth will have someone to talk to. But unfortunately things don’t always go to plan and Beth starts to act wayward and Abi suspects that her behaviour may have a lot to do with their guest Corinnne.

Corinne is listening to all the family secrets and once they come out, there’s no going back.

Maybe I am being a little harsh with a 3 star rating because it is still a good read but this writing duo had set the bar so high.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

Another great exciting novel by bestselling author Clare Mackintosh. Her novels are of a consistently high standard and this is another winner.

Flight attendant Mina is one of the handpicked team chosen for the inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney. The atmosphere is electrifying and the plane is full of celebrities and successful businessmen wanting to witness this flight first hand. Mina is trying hard to focus on her duties but her troubled five-year-old daughter back home and her failing marriage are making it very difficult.

Shortly into the flight Mina receives a note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.

Great suspense and a very entertaining read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A Gambling Man by David Baldacci

Every time I read a David Baldacci novel I promise myself I will read more of his books. He is an excellent author and really do want to read more of his books. This is the second book in the ‘Archer’ series and after loving the first one ‘ One Good Deed’ I was really looking forward to reading this one. In truth it took me a while to get into this one but eventually everything started to click and by the end was ready for another Baldacci novel.

Set in 1949 California, Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job with a renowned Private Investigator in Bay Town. While stopping off at a casino in Reno he meets an aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. They travel together heading west to California, where Archer is tasked with finding out who is doing everything they can to disrupt the appointment of a top official. Then two seemingly unconnected people are murdered at a burlesque club. In a tight-lipped community, Archer must dig deep to reveal the connection between the victims.

The book is well written with very good characters, after a fairly slow start the novel really stepped up a level and makes a fascinating read. Full of suspense, great characters and an intriguing plot.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

An impressive debut novel by former trial lawyer Angie Kim.

A Korean family own a hyperbaric oxygen therapy tank in a town called Miracle Creek, Virginia. The treatment involves sitting in pressurised oxygen chambers which they believe is effective treatment for autism and male infertility. The trouble starts when a fire started by an arsonist causes the chamber to explode killing two people and badly injury others. The novel covers the murder trial of the mother and boy who lost their lives. There are several people who have secrets and more than one possible person who may be responsible for the deaths. The lies and secrets just add to the confusion of what really happened and why.

Excellent characters, twisting plot and well written.

I enjoy courtroom drama and I found this a gripping read.

The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson

A standalone thriller from author Kerry Wilkinson. This is a typical Kerry Wilkinson novel, fast paced, gripping, good characters and a good helping of twists and turns.

Harry, Paige and Richard were childhood friends and thought they would always be in each others lives. All that changed the day they took a short cut home from school along the old railway line and discovered the dead body of a school mate in the undergrowth. Twenty years on Harry who now lives in Canada receives a phone call from Paige telling him that Richard has been accused of murdering a teacher from their old school. People start to link the murder to the other murder of their school friend twenty years earlier. Harry returns home to help Paige clear Richard’s name, but this could mean telling the truth about what really happened twenty years ago.

There are better written books than this one but it is full of suspense and a page turner.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.