I thought I was going to love this book. I absolutely adored Angela Marson’s book which involved a twisted therapist who manipulated her patients. Unfortunately, I really struggled to get into this one. I didn’t connect with or even like any of the characters so didn’t really care about their story. I found parts long winded which didn’t add anything to the plot. I zoned out a lot whilst reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind

28 years ago Charlotte and Samantha's lives are torn apart by a horrendous attack on their family. They suffer the loss of their mother and huge trauma. 28 years later they both struggle with the scars, physical and emotional. Being around each other is tough as it just serves to remind them of that day so they push each other away.

Charlotte is plunged into a living nightmare when violence strikes her hometown once again. It brings back memories she’d rather forget. The truth about that day 28 years ago threatens to surface but is Charlotte strong enough to face it.

I adore Karin Slaughter. She is one of my all-time favourite authors. The Sara Grant series was probably the series that got me hooked on crime novels. I am absolutely loving her stand-alone books at the moment though. Pretty Girls was an incredible read and The Good Daughter did not disappoint. I cannot wait to get my hands on Pieces of Her.

The opening chapter of this book packs Karin's usual punch. It pulls you in and makes it impossible to put down. I felt so many emotions and it absolutely broke my heart. I was not prepared for the tears. So glad I wasn’t reading in public. I also cried in the middle and at the end. I am not normally this emotional but it really tugs at the heartstrings.

I struggled with Sams character to start with but as I read on I definitely warmed to her. To be honest I actually ended up loving all of the main characters. The Good Daughter switches between the past and present so we gradually find out more about what happened on that horrendous day and why the girls are the way they are. The present-day then focuses on the family's relationship as well as the aftermath of the crime that Charlotte witnessed. I was also definitely not expecting a major twist. Definitely added to the drama.

Just a side note that there are some graphic scenes as well as rape so if that is a trigger for you I would probably skip this one.

Tom was out camping with his Girlfriend when he wakes up in the middle of the woods, alone, confused and consumed by fear. He soon realises that he’s not really alone as he is hunted through the woods by a masked killer.

Before Helen has a chance to get the investigation fully up and running another victim is snatched from their tent. The hunt for the killer is on but the woods is a dangerous place.

I absolutely adore the Helen Grace series and M.J Arlidge is one of my favourite authors. Down to the Woods is book 8 in the series and if you haven’t read the rest I highly recommend you go and pick them up now. You will not be able to put them down. However, this does work as a standalone without any confusion. It will take some of the stress and tension out of the earlier books though.

As usual, this is a fast-paced gritty book which I could not put down. I was devastated when I only had 10 minutes left of the book when our plane landed. My love for Helen and Charlie grows with every book although I really question how the hell they stay alive. They always seem to be getting into trouble. I was kept guessing until near the end and as usual, the ending was an exciting read. I hope we get to see more of Helen in the future.

I devoured Final Girls last year and fell in love with Riley Sagar’s writing style. This guy knows how to write a thriller and keep you hooked. I have to admit that when I started The Last Time I Lied, I wasn’t that sure about the storyline. It didn’t grab me from the start. However, the deeper I got, the more hooked I became. It really does keep you guessing about what happened all those years ago.

When Emma goes to Summer Camp she ends up bunking with 3 older girls. They while away the time by playing 2 truths and a lie and soon all become quite adept at lying. Then the 3 girls go off into the woods and never come back. They just seem to disappear.

15 years later, Emma is an obsessive painter and spends her whole life thinking about the 3 girls, especially Vivian. She paints their disappearance over and over and can’t seem to shake them. When she is asked to return to Camp Nightingale as an art tutor she reluctantly agrees to go. She says she’s going for closure but in reality, she’s going to solve a crime. However, is Emma as innocent as she makes out?

The story switches between the present and 15 years ago. Instead of being confusing the style of writing is enlightening. All the questions that come up in the present are answered by going back to the past in the next chapter. As the story evolves we get a better picture of what happened all those years ago. However, it is not until the very end that all is revealed and I wasn’t quite expecting the ending. I was suspicious but I definitely didn’t have all the answers. Once it had gathered speed I was hooked until the very end.

If you love a thriller but hate gore then I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for a review

Eva wakes up in a large box with no way out and no idea how she got there. Eva isn’t the first women to disappear and Detective Ian Bradshaw is put on the case with no leads and no manpower. He joins forces with two freelance journalists, Tom & Helen, to try and get some answers and find Eva before it’s too late. When a body is found everyone hopes they will finally catch a lead but they just end up with more questions.

This is the 4th book in the series and also the first book I have read by Howard Linskey. It works well as a stand-alone and I didn’t find I was missing out on anything. I will probably pick up the others at some point though as I did enjoy Howard's writing.

The chosen ones is told by several POVs which worked well. I flowed well and was easy to keep straight and the short chapters kept me hooked. I really loved the main characters and how they all interacted. Towards the end I did guess the twist and who the “bad guy” was but it didn’t ruin it. The ending was dramatic which I always love.

Truth & Lies was my introduction to Caroline Mitchell and it is safe to say I will definitely be reading more of her work as soon as possible.

D.I Amy Winters hopes to follow in the steps of her highly respected police officer father. Unfortunately, her world is turned upside down when she finds out that the Grimes, notorious serial killer duo, are her biological parents. Her mother is willing to reveal the location of 3 victims if she plays along with her games. Whilst Amy comes to term with this and tries to work the case without anyone finding out her secret there is also another case of a missing girl to solve before it’s too late.

We get to discover parts of Amy’s past as an when she remembers them. It’s honestly chilling to witness how evil Lillian is whilst coming across as your average middle-aged woman and manipulating everyone around her.

I loved Amy’s character and it was nice to witness a strong female character who was also allowed to be vulnerable. It was also interesting to see how Amy matched up to Lillian's manipulations. I also really liked Paddy and getting an insight into his life which I think Caroline handled very well. The ending was definitely not expected and it made me a tad emotional.

Truth & Lies is a fast-paced thriller with a few unexpected twists which I could not put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be out to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

This is the first book I have read by Cass Green and I will definitely be checking out more of her work.

It took me a while to get into Don’t You Cry as the first few chapters are a bit slow. However, it soon gets going and I couldn’t put it down. There is a bit in the middle where it slows again but it picks up again for a dramatic ending. It’s told from the POVs of Nina, Angel & Lucas which really added to the story and helps you get to know the siblings and what they are going through. You also feel every stress along with Nina.

I felt this was more of a suspense than a psychological thriller but it is a great suspense story. It kept me guessing throughout the whole book as to how it would end. My feeling towards Angel & Lucas were constantly switching.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm giving it 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A woman arrives at Tony and Laura house claiming to have no memory of who she is. The only thing she is sure of is that she lived in their house. They take her in and try to get to the bottom of who she is but when Laura starts digging she doesn’t like what she finds.

I read this in 2 sittings because I was so desperate to get answers. I spent the whole book not really knowing who to believe. Some parts were a tad confusing but as a whole it is a great psychological thriller that kept me hooked. There were some great characters and it was so well written that I could feel the fear and confusion of not knowing who you are.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 4 in the Josie Quinn series and I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite. Even my dad who doesn’t read much is completely hooked on this series and has been begging to get his hands on this latest one. They do work as stand alones but you get so much more out of the story if you read them in order.

I absolutely adore Josie as well as the other characters. They are all so well written. I also love that we get to see Josie outside of work and see how her personal life is progressing. It just adds that little bit extra and really makes me connect with the characters.

With regards to the plot, I was a bit confused when I started the book as it switches between the past and present. At first, the past scenes don’t really make sense with regards to what is happening in the present day. However, it is soon all explained and the penny finally dropped.

As you read on, there seems to be 3 unrelated plots going on at the same time but by the end, everything is bought together and tied up in a way I never expected. Lisa Regan really knows how to keep you guessing. Her Final Confession is fast-paced, gripping and everything I look for in a book.

If you are looking for a new crime series I highly recommend you get started on the Josie Quinn series asap.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

The body of a young girl is found dumped on the roadside with the silhouette of a doll carved into her skin. When a doll made of skin is found with an abandoned baby, the killer's sick plan comes to light.

To make things more complicated, the cities drug users are being branded with the letter Z carved into their faces. Are the crimes linked or are there 2 people terrorising the city.

The first chapter kicks the book off with a bang. If you aren't a fan of gruesome murders then I would skip this one. I loved that we got to know each of the victims however, it did make it way more heartbreaking when they were killed. Helen is a huge fan of keeping you guessing and I could not put this book down because I needed to know the who and the why.

The secondary plot with the drug users being sliced up definitely didn't detract from the story and was equally as heartbreaking. The fact that Ava puts her job on the line to save people who way too many people think aren't worth it was heartwarming.

Now that Ava has been promoted for a while, her a Luc have settled back into their friendship so everything between them is less awkward and tense. There is still the whole will they won't they question of if they'll ever take their friendship further. I also loved that we got to know the secondary characters more in this book.

Even though this can be read as a standalone and still make sense, I would definitely recommend reading the other 3 first. I also cannot wait for the 5th book to be released. I need more Luc & Ava in my life.