Catch up of Summer reads before Autumn rears its windy head!

As summer draws to its end and schools colleges and Universities open their doors once more I thought I'd do a round up of a few of the books from early 2016 that I've read and enjoyed.


See How They Run by Tom Bale (May 2016)
This was an interesting book with a slightly different twist to

usual the gangster crime fiction type.  When Alice and Harry French are awakened in the middle of the night and their new born baby threatened unless they direct the intruders to a mysterious package addressed to the equally mysterious Dr Renshaw they are plunged into a frantic race to escape the baddies.  But, when Alice and Harry are separated their plight becomes worse as they don't know who to trust and at all costs they must protect their daughter.
Out Of Bounds was enjoyable and the cast of characters was diverse and intriguing.  The contrast between the normality of Alice and Harry and the sociopathic behaviour of the gangsters was quite chilling.  Four stars from me for this one.
Available on Amazon kindle £1.99 or free on audio trial Click here

Missing Presumed by Susie Steiner (Feb 2016)

Missing Presumed is told  in sections in the third person from various characters points of view, which I initially found distracting.  With each chapter being headed with a person's name I expected it to be told in the first person from their viewpoint.  however, when I got used to the third person narrative it was fine.  What I enjoyed about this book was the detail that the multi narrative allowed the reader access to.  Edith Hine a youth PHD Cambridge student disappears from her home after what looks like a struggle.  With a window of 72 hours to find her the police work hard and discover various things about Edith's lifestyle.  Although I enjoyed this book I did feel I had to work quite hard to keep on it and I found I was more interested in the narrators than the fate of Edith.  Three stars from me as a crime book but four as a character led story.
Available on Amazon Kindle £2.99, HB £7, PB £7.99  Click here

Without Trace by Simon Booker (Feb 2016)
 This is a dark, chillingly compulsive thriller.  Morgan Vine,

 convinced  that her childhood friend Danny Kilcannon is innocent of the murder of his stepdaughter and the disappearance of his wife, campaigns to uncover new evidence to have his 'guilty' verdict overturned.  When a key witness retracts their statement and new forensic evidence discredits an earlier assumption Danny is released.  It is then things turn scary for Morgan.  First threatening messages are left at her home, then her teenage daughter becomes obsessed with Danny and then disappears, with the newly released Danny as the main suspect. 
Without Trace is well written and absorbing.  Booker creates an eerie tension throughout and I loved it.   I have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars
Available on Amazon Kindle £2.29, PB £7.99 Click here

Friendly Fire by John Gilstrap (June 2016)
I love books with an illicit organisation working beneath the wire ad doing good- particularly if it's an action packed read and Friendly Fire is just that.  It starts with Barista Ethan Falk stabbing a man to death.  When Ethan reveals that the man he killed had kidnapped and sexually abused him years earlier until he was rescued by the enigmatic 'Scorpion' his actions become a whole lot more understandable.  Unfortunately, there are no records of his abduction or his rescue.  However, Scorpion , AKA Jonathon Graves does exist and operates outside the law to achieve what government agencies cannot from within the law. When Scorpion realises that the man Ethan killed is linked to a series of terrorist kidnappings he becomes invested in both helping Ethan and averting more kidnappings.
Friendly Fire kept me engrossed form page one.  The characters are appealing, the action is pacy and the storyline believably chilling.  A well deserved 5 stars from me!
Available on Amazon Kindle £6.35, PB £9.50 Click here