The Crime Warp

I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I hadn't read any Carol Wyer books till these ... and now I've discovered she has other series too! So, watch this space as no doubt there will be more Wyer reviews to follow. Published by Bookouture. The Birthday Blurb Available here One hot summer’s afternoon, five-year-old Ava Sawyer went to a party. She never came home… Two years later, Ava’s body is found and another little girl,  Audrey Briggs , goes missing. Audrey also attended  that  party … Leading the investigation is  Detective Natalie Ward . A mother of two teenagers, this case chills her to the bone, and is a disturbing reminder of the last job she worked on. One that still keeps her awake at night… Natalie soon discovers that Ava’s mother has some worrying gaps in her alibi and as she digs deeper, she’s sure Ava’s father is not telling the full story. And what did the owner of the garden centre  Elsa  see that day? Something that she’s not telling Natalie...

Available  here When you are barely holding things together and, just about getting on with life, only just going through the motions and living your life, things are hard. However for Jess Mount things are even harder. She has suffered trauma, stress and anxiety but she's getting there.  Then, her Facebook starts playing up.  Strange messages leak onto her timeline from ... the future!  What's happening? Jess, already vulnerable, tries to make sense of these strange notifications whilst simultaneously falling in love and trying to keep her sanity.

When I started the first in Rob Ashman's Mechanic series ( Those That Remain ), I didn't realise that I'd be tied up for the foreseeable future.   Now I'm not into S&M but I have to admit that being tied up with the Mechanic was a wholly enjoyable , if nerve racking experience ... one that I repeated  soon after with In Your Name and then again with Pay The Penance . The only thing left to ask now is... what am I supposed to do now I've finished this fantastic trilogy.  the answer's easy really ... I'll write a review ... or three!  Read on for my views on these great reads. Those That Remain by Rob Ashman  Available on Amazon Click  here In Those That Remain we are introduced to the serial killer dubbed Mechanic and detectives Lucas and Bassano. Whilst Mechanic is dark brooding and sadistic, Lucas is heartwarming, humorous and down to earth which is the perfect foil to his partner Bassano's dapper, Jack the lad image.  F...

Available on Amazon Click  here In my opinion Mark Billingham's Love Like Blood is this years must read novel.  It is superb! Love Like Blood is a tense read about honour killings inspired by the horrific murder of 19 year old Banaz Mahmood in 2006.   Banaz was murdered by hit men paid for by her uncle and father because she fell in love with the wrong man.  A man who ten years later, grief stricken killed himself.   The sad thing is this tragedy is not an isolated event and the CPS suspects many more incidences of 'honour' related crimes occur, than are reported.

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Waller  (July 14th 2016) A young girl, Jenny Kramer, is brutally raped in a small Connecticut town.   The town desperately want the perpetrator to be a stranger, the girl’s mother wants her to forget what happens and allows a controversial memory drug to be used on the daughter.   When this causes complications the girl is referred to a psychiatrist to help her retrieve her memories in order to deal with the PTSD connected to her rape.

Young Adult crime fiction is a particular delight of mine.  Whether it's a psychological thriller, a mystery, a police procedural or an all out fast- paced race against time.  Here are just a few of the offerings in the YA market at the moment.

With the remains of the first month of 2016 disappearing before our very eyes I'm ding a couple of round ups f books I enjoyed in 2015 but didn't quite get round to reviewing for the blog... enjoy!

From the futuristic world of JD Robb's Eve Dallas, sizzling with sex and crime to the complexities of Kendra elliots FBI Agent Ava McLane and her hellish relationship with her dsysfunctional twin and a serial killer who targets 21 year old twins.

Getting Ready for your summer holidays?  Bags packed? Books in suitcase? Kindle in hand luggage?.. then your nearly set... just time to have a quick peruse of The Crime Warp's Killer Summer Reads.  Here are just a few recommendations to while away boring car, train or plane journeys, to occupy your grey matter whilst relaxing at the pool or on the beach or as an aid to restful sleep after a hectic day sightseeing, entertaining the kids or shopping. 

Just over a fornight to go till Theakston's Crime Writing Festival... can't wait! Each year Val McDermid hosts the New Blood panel at Theakston's Old Peculier crime writing festival.  Each year I am amazed by both the range and the talent of the new writer's on her panel  and this year is no exception.  I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the four books by debut authors, Renee Knight, Clare Mackintosh, Ben McPherson and Lucy Ribchester.  Read on for my reviews.

I was honoured to hear Adam reading an early draft of the first chapter of The Washington Stratagem on an Arvon course in Inverness... my interest was piqued then and I'm delighted to  review the rest of this excellent novel that takes us from Iran to Azerkabain to Washington in an exciting UN based political thriller.