Category Archives: Police Procedurals

Blog Tour – One More to Die by Joy Ellis

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Today we kick off the blog tour for One More to Die by Joy Ellis!

Here’s the blub

Detective Kate Carter is called out to a fatal car accident on a remote fen lane.

At first glance it looks like a drunk driver simply lost control and crashed headlong into a ditch. But nothing about the scene adds up. The number plate is fake. The driver’s licence doesn’t belong to the dead man in the car. One tyre doesn’t match the other three. And what is a vinyl 1960s pop record doing in the glove box?

A neat puncture wound to the driver’s neck reveals this was no accident.

The following day, the body of a young woman is found in an old barn out on the fens. She’s been dead at least two years. Placed on the body is another vintage pop record.

And then the nightmare becomes personal. A mysterious package arrives at the station addressed to Kate: a 45-rpm record, and a chilling note scrawled in block capitals: ONE MORE TO GO.

It’s just the start. Sinister phone calls, creepy notes left on her car, unwanted gifts on her doorstep: Kate can no longer deny that she’s being pursued by an obsessive stalker . . .

Is she next in the killer’s sights?

Review

One More To Die follows Detective Kate Carter as her personal and work lives clash in spectacular fashion.

It all starts when Kate is called to a crime scene, a car accident.. but before she even sets off she finds a creepy note on her car.. being in a rush and not thinking much of it in the moment Kate heads off to the crime scene.

Things don’t add up at the scene of the accident and it becomes clear there’s more too it, who is the victim? why does the car have fake plates?.. and what’s the deal with the record found in the car.. bit of a strange find.

When another body turns up Kate is sent to do the groundwork before handing it over to another Detective… little does she know this case will soon be hers… another record has been found with the body.. what’s the connection with the first victim?

While the pressure mounts at work, stress is also building at home…after the initial note found on the car there’s also been a box of Kate’s favourite chocolates left and a very creepy phone call.. this is the last thing she and her family need…she could have a stalker! She needs to keep her family safe.. they could be watching.. waiting..

This is my first foray into the writing style of Joy Ellis and I must admit I loved it. The plot was intriguing, and progresses at a steady pace. I loved the clash of personal and work lives and the humanity added to the development of the characters given the situation they face.

I really enjoyed how the plot developed too, the people, the reasons behind the murders.. oo it gave tingles as you could see the pieces of the puzzle slotting together but at the same time the author kept little nuggets of info/twists for just the right moment to give the tale a real punch!

So can Kate find a way to deal with do situations? You’ll have to grab a copy of the book and find out! you won’t be disappointed.

Super fun and fast read. 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Joy Ellis?

I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the Sixties and Seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early Eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, and three Springer spaniels and four little rescue, Breton spaniels. I had been writing mysteries for years but never had the time to take it seriously. Now I write full-time, and as my partner is a highly decorated retired police officer; my choice of genre is a no-brainer! I have an on-tap police and judicial consultant, who makes exceedingly good tea!

I have set my crime thrillers here in the misty fens because I sincerely love the remoteness and airy beauty of the marshlands. This area is steeped in superstitions and lends itself so well to murder!

I am lucky enough to be one of the amazing Joffe Books team of authors and am really enjoying being able to spend time doing what I love… writing!

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Where can you find them?

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Joyellisbooks
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/joyellisbooks/

Books Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217410403-one-more-to-die

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/onemoretodie-zbt

Why not follow the tour?

The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon.

Here’s the blurb

A body entombed in concrete, a missing cop, a bizarre death. Three investigations, one chilling mystery.

When a man’s body is found amidst the wreckage of a crashed car abandoned on a back road, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray initially believes the death to be the result of a tragic accident, the aftermath of a collision with a driver who then fled the scene. But Gray soon unravels a chilling truth: the man died before the collision.

Meanwhile, one of Gray’s colleagues, the usually dependable Desk Sergeant Dai Morgan, has disappeared. Morgan had apparently been on the brink of unraveling a decades-old cold case – the identity of a recently discovered corpse that had been buried under the concrete foundations of a farm building over twenty years ago, a case Gray had a personal connection to.

As Gray delves deeper he finds these mysteries are in fact intertwined and, amidst the darkness, one truth remains clear: someone is determined to keep the past buried at any cost.

Review

The Stone Veil is book 11 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon. Lets get the tough question out of the way first.. can you read this book as a standalone or do you need to have read the rest of the series… Such a great question. Honestly Keith Nixon is a very conscious writer, each tale is written so well with little bits of info planted not only to help new readers understand the characters and motivations but also to remind fans of the series of pivotal events.. each bit of information takes the reader back and reminds us of what Sol has been through… and he’s not going to get any peace just yet. Personally I’d say read the rest of the series.. well because it’s bloody good but it will also just help you get that little bit more invested in Sol and his life.

Plot wise I felt this one worked beautifully.. there’s a current case that’s landed but not only that but one of Sol’s colleagues is missing… the further we dig further in the past we go…and there’s links to one of Sol’s biggest enemies.. Frank McGavin! Sol can never seem to shake the man no matter what he does.

The dual timeline story worked exactly the way you’d want it..the flow from past to present is flawless for the development, nothing ever needed forced .. it’s hard to explain but as a reader i like to feel like I’m learning something rather than simply being told something.. and it’s that style of storytelling Nixon does best.. he weaves the tale, directing you without you feeling any change in focus.. the development is natural and steady.. oh Mr Nixon you do know how to hook your readers in!

The backstory really sheds light on McGavin and Sol.. it explains more of the history between the two and shows you what kind of guy Sol really is.. we always knew it but to finally have this piece of the story.. wow! I think this was the first time I really loved McGavin.. he’s always been a love/hate kind of person but this time… oh my.. loved him!

Sol has other worries more closer to home during this one and has a knock on affect in his work as much as he doesn’t want to admit it… he tries to just carry on but we soon learn what pieces of the puzzle have been missed..and wowza.. what a storyline.

I really can’t spoil it as it wouldn’t do the series justice but this was a very fitting and fulfilling tale packed with emotion. The plot is clever and gripping…rich in detail but it’s sometimes the words unspoken that speak more in The Stone Veil, you feel the guilt and pain pouring off Sol as he battles his demons.

Character wise this was a clever offering.. not only do we see growth in Sol, we also see more of Mackintosh who showed up in a pervious case.. the issue is him and Sol don’t mix too well yet.. Mackintosh is a very cool character.. but a bit too much for Sol.

My gut tells me it can only get worse for Sol.. the influx of new faces within his life brings freshness to the storyline which is great for the reader but if we’ve learned anything about Sol so far is that he’s not really a people pleaser.

Then there’s Dai Morgan..Dai while missing during this story is probably the one I’d say developed the most. He’s flawed like Sol and it’s kind of like looking at what might have befallen Sol should he have taken a different path…

The Stone Veil has a darker tone from the very first page which you’ll very much understand after reading the author’s note! word of warning.. if you are prone to tears get a tissue ready, it’s a very moving piece. The events in the authors personal life clearly had an effect but he was able to channel that emotion into the tale.. you can feel the pain and as much as I hate to say it…it really added something extra to the tale.. we see Solomon struggle.. and I mean really struggle.. you might be lucky and have never felt this way but I can almost guarantee you at some point you will feel this powerless..

An emotional 5*…While doing my review I read the authors note again and it’s still hits hard!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

Who’s Next? (Detectives Lockhart and Green Book 2) by Chris Merritt – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Who’s Next? (Detectives Lockhart and Green Book 2) by Chris Merritt.

Here’s the blurb

Stumbling to the ground, he claws at the earth around him, trying to stabilise himself, but his attacker is on him in seconds. As he stares at the lights of the bustling streets on the other side of the park gates, he doesn’t even have time to shout for help before everything goes black.

When the body of wealthy businessman Charles Stott is found dead on Wimbledon Common, covered in bruises just feet away from his luxury home, Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate the shocking scene. Examining the sickeningly disfigured body before him, Lockhart knows he’s dealing with a brutal killer. Looking more closely, he notices something on the victim’s neck: a small, crudely drawn symbol in black ink. It seems the murderer has marked his victim, but why? Dan needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, so he contacts psychologist Dr Lexi Green.

As the ensuing media circus puts pressure on Dan and Lexi’s investigation, another victim is found and the headlines are quick to report a serial killer is on the loose. The body of a successful lawyer has been discovered in a park with the same bruising and hand-drawn symbol on his neck. Dan fears that more victims will follow.

As the case intensifies, Dan uncovers a new lead on his missing wife, Jess, who disappeared eleven years ago. Determined to follow it up, he must choose between tracking down a serial murderer and finding Jess. Can he make the impossible decision before the killer strikes once more?

Review

After reading the first instalment in the series I was eager for more. Luckily for me being late to the party meant the next in the series has been out somewhile so I was able to get stuck in straightaway.

So we are back with Detective Dan Lockhart and his team. It’s been a while since he and Dr Lexi Green last spoke, but after the events of the previous book can you blame them? It was a stressful time but add to that the connection they seem to share.. things are just a bit awkward.

When a gruesome beating occurs leaving the victim dead Lockhart again needs the support of Green to help profile the killer before they strike again.

A strange symbol is found on the victim but what does it mean?

Lockhart’s team are stretched though, and in the mist of everything there’s also another case to solve.. both cases clash a little and the teams need to go against orders at times to get the job done… better to ask forgiveness than permission..

More beatings take place but can Lockhart and Green put the pieces of the puzzle pieces together in time?

Amongst this Lockhart also needs to confront his own past.. the disappearance of his wife. The events get more complex and juicy for the reader.

Plot wise I was over the moon! Yes Lockhart and Green don’t see eye to eye again at times.. Lockhart is too impulsive and Green, well she just doesn’t see her own worth at times. Both do their best to put the case to bed and they end up risking it all. I particularly loved Green going rogue..

The relationship between them Is complex as neither seems to want to address the connection they have.. but at the same time it’s understandable.. wrong place wrong time but the tension is palpable and believable.

I honestly didn’t think the author could top the previous story with such a spectacular killer and backstory.. but you know what.. Chris Merritt knocks it out of the park delivering another..even better killer.. the motivation behind them..wow..the detail added really just made them come to life and as weird as it is to say.. I kind of like this one..is that bad that I didn’t want to see them caught ha ha.

The main characters develop well, especially Green who is still dealing with the death of her friend after the last time she helped Lockhart. There’s also an awesome new addition and development of the ensemble cast which flowed well but also allowed the reader a break from Lockhart and Green.. I mean I don’t think I could ever get sick of them but the breaks allow you a breather and show the authors talent for development, each ensemble member has their part to play and you look forward to seeing them and what they can do as a team when it matters the most.

I’m quickly becoming a big fan of the authors style and I love the time and effort that must have went into making such a earthshaking plot.. and that ending…talk about edge of your seat!

A resounding 5*

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

A Deadly Truth: A Solomon Gray Thriller by Keith Nixon – Review

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Today I’m reviewing A Deadly Truth, book 10 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon!

Here’s the blurb

Has Solomon Gray’s son returned with secrets that could tear their family apart?

Detective Inspector Solomon Gray’s long-awaited reunion with his son, Tom, has been marked by an unexpected chilliness. Tom’s return from Edinburgh raises questions for Gray, who senses there’s more to his son’s homecoming than meets the eye.

Amidst this strained family dynamic, Gray finds himself immersed in an undercover operation, patrolling aboard a Trojan bus in search of troublemakers following a string of anti-social incidents. His vigilance pays off when he intervenes in a violent altercation, leaving notorious thief Mumble Swann hospitalised after a brutal assault. Surprisingly, the perpetrator is revealed to be fifteen-year-old Zoe Doneglan, but she remains tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the fight.

As Gray delves deeper into the incident, he receives an unexpected call from DCI Mackintosh of the Organised Crime Division of Police Scotland. Unbeknownst to Gray, Police Scotland is operating within his jurisdiction, tracking the movements of Callum Strachan, a well-connected businessman with mysterious ties to Thanet. Mackintosh enlists Gray’s help when one of his undercover officers disappears under suspicious circumstances.

The discovery of an unidentified John Doe, barely clinging to life on a nearby beach, adds another layer of intrigue to Gray’s already complex investigation.

In this tense and multifaceted novel, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray navigates the complexities of family strife and clandestine operations, racing against time to untangle a web of deception that threatens to engulf them all

Review

We are back with Solomon Gray and this time I think things are even more complicated for Sol than they have ever been.. if that’s even possible. Fan’s of the series will know the background behind Sol but let’s just say, he’s been through it.

One big change in Sol’s life is Tom.. Tom is Sol’s son who went missing many years ago, after some very chilling events Sol discovered the truth. It was a frosty kind of reunion.. they are more alike than they know.. but things were looking up when last Christmas Tom turned up on Sol’s doorstep.

Things haven’t really moved on much..Tom is living with Sol but they are passing ships in the night and neither are big talkers but Sol senses there’s something else going on.. but what?

There’s another big distraction in Sol’s life too, in the form of Linnet Roach. Roach got her claws into Sol in the last book and she’s not about to give him up any time soon. The great thing about Roach is she knows what she wants and she makes things abundantly clear with Gray but it’s tough for Sol to concentrate on Roach when Tom is playing on his mind… not to mention a new case hits his desk.

Mumble Swann, who is well known to the police, witnesses a crime but before anything can really come of it he’s brutally assaulted.. by a girl named Zoe Doneglan. Zoe’s had a tough start in life.

Gray doesn’t have much time to think about her though when a visit to the hospital reveals two men were brought in last night.. Mumble.. and a John Doe…

Little does Sol know at the time what links the men and the reader barely knows more.. but it teases what’s to come..you can just tell with the setup how good this will be.

Sol tries to take his mind of things and enjoys a night out with Roach but by happenstance ends up meeting an interesting character in the form of Callum Strachan..Sol’s gut tells him something is up.. or is he just being a grumpy old man again? Time will tell.

I don’t want to spoil the plot and development but what we get as a reader is a well thought out and complicated plot effortlessly weaved together in a style I’ve come to expect and love from the author.

What I really enjoyed with this novel and the last is the fresh blood added.. new characters and development of the current ensemble.. Sol’s a brilliant character but now Tom is found the focus has shifted and it’s great to see the supporting cast come into their own for the benefit of not only the plot but they also aid to Gray’s own development too. There’s a few characters that stand out, such as Mackintosh..he’s only small part, but leaves a big impression which no doubt the author can build on.

A Deadly Truth has some amazing twists, its complex but executed perfectly giving the reader the wow factor.. that OMG moment.. the adrenaline rush.. it’s intense.

One thing I’ve always loved about this series is the sheer number of events playing out, and how they connect.. sometimes in small ways.. sometimes big.. but the main thing is there’s no plot holes.. everything has a place and every motivation expanded just when you need it.. some in some jaw dropping scenes.

Being the tenth book in the series you’d be thinking we’ve seen it all… but no.. the author still has things up his sleeve..and if anything I can just see even more chances to keep the development going, new directions.. it’s exciting.

Resounding 5*

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

A Last Lonely Breath: A Solomon Gray Crime Thriller by Keith Nixon

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Today I’m reviewing A Last Lonely Breath: A Solomon Gray Crime Thriller by Keith Nixon

Here’s the blurb

Christmas is coming and Chief Inspector Solomon Gray is not enjoying his new position, or the prospect of the impending holidays. Gray just wants his boss back from extended leave. Sick of politics and bureaucracy, Gray joins a raid on a local corner shop, just for the hell of it. However, Gray and Linnet Roach, the Trading Standards Officer on the hunt for illicit tobacco, discover more than they bargained for – deadly illegal vapes that could prove fatal to users.


A night out with Roach is interrupted – the body of Rhodri Jewell is found dumped by the side of a lonely road. The stench of corruption follows Jewell around and somehow has reached the National Crime Agency who are in Margate on a related case – without Gray’s knowledge – investigating the potentially suspicious death of their informant.

History stalks Gray.

A past foe of Gray’s, Frank McGavin, an ex-criminal who Gray never managed to put away yet now leads the local council, comes back into Gray’s sphere, offering help. As Gray becomes closer to Roach he’s having to manage his personal life, too. Because Gray’s daughter, Hope, is back home amidst family turmoil.

Torn between his gut instinct and the potential to collaborate with McGavin, Gray faces a dilemma that challenges the core of his principles. Gray’s journey becomes a perilous balance between justice and the personal sacrifices he must make to uncover the truth.

Can Gray push aside his instincts to work with McGavin, rather than pursue him?

Review

In typical Gray style Solomon is about to get himself caught up in a right mess… but this time there’s an even more personal edge to it.

Solomon is acting up professionally, covering for his boss who has yet to return to work. The thing is.. if you know Solomon you know responsibility is the last thing he wants. Not because he’s not capable.. he is.. it’s the fact he would much rather put in the leg work than be stuck behind a desk.. Solomon isnt a fan of the red tape.. he actually wants to get out there and make a difference.

Sol escapes the office determined to stay out of the bureaucracy and finds himself on a raid, the local corner shop has been selling counterfeit vapes.. dangerous ones. What’s even more dangerous for Sol is the Trading Standards Officer on the raid too.. Linnet Roach. She’s a force to be reckoned with from the off!

Roach forces her way into Sol’s life and when a case drops it looks like Sol’s way out. Only to find Roach doesn’t give up that easily.. the thing is.. he could use the help.

Rhodri Jewell has been found dumped by the side of the road, why was he there? Who killed him? And why? The questions just keep coming when Sol takes a closer look into the life of Jewel, who we find out has connections with a past foe Frank McGavin. If McGavin is involved it’s bound to be dodgy!

I won’t give too much away but fans of the series will know the author has a knack of linking cases together, throws in twists and turns too along the way but more than anything adds a real personal edge. A Last Lonely Breath certainly ticks the personal box and hits close to home for Sol! So much so I think he would have been quite willing to loose everything on this one to find out the truth.

Development wise this offering had an extra kick. The rest of the series was clearly lacking.. lacking one thing that is.. Linnet Roach.. ha, what a breath of fresh air. I mean the author never fails to impress me but he managed to integrate a new character we didn’t know we wanted but instantly loved!

The plot itself was impeccable as ever, clever and well thought out but again there’s the twist.. it’s personal in more than one way which I won’t spoil but also McGavin.. wow.. I loved his part in the story and it teases a new direction maybe.. time will tell.

A special mention has to go to the ending.. if you’ve been with the series from the beginning you’ll know Sol has a complicated life and a blast from the past, along with his present collide and honestly it’s fantastic.. will this be the time for Sol to heal?

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – Dead Money by Keith Nixon (Jonah Pennance Crime Thrillers Book 2)

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Today I help kick off the blog tour for Dead Money by Keith Nixon. Any follower of my blog will know Keith is a firm favourite of mine 😊

Here’s the blurb

With a reputation for solving bizarre murders Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance, recently transferred to the National Crime Agency, is brought in to investigate the mysterious death of celebrity fund manager, Grady Carnegie – choked to death, then his body arranged and ready for a wake.

Then a second corpse turns up under identical circumstances – that of washed-up investigative reporter, Stan Thewlis. But how are the two men connected?

Soon, Pennance’s partner, Sergeant Simone Smithson, comes under suspicion for the deaths – the evidence seems overwhelming. To save her Pennance must determine what role the shadowy organisation Blackthorn plays and who is in the background, pulling all the strings…

Review

Dead Money is the 2nd book in the Jonah Pennance Crime Thrillers series.. and I’m so glad to be back!

Pennance, who is now with the National Crime Agency Is brought in to help investigate a mysterious death. It’s clear he’s going to have his hands full the moment a 2nd body is discovered.. the only link between them at first is the method of their death..but there must be more.

As the investigation starts to gain pace there’s more than one stumbling block for Pennance to navigate.. Sergeant Simone Smithson for one..,Smithson and Pennance have a history and it’s going to make this investigation that much harder.

I’m never one for spoilers but I loved the method of death, it hooks you in straightaway as an unusual murder which you just have to see through to the end.

The characters are brilliant as ever, Keith Nixon knows how to write that’s for sure and gives a lot of depth to Pennance. He’s a flawed character, swayed by emotions at times but he’s fascinating! I love that he enjoys ruffling feathers along the way ha.

What I really loved was how the author developed characters who didn’t even say a word… the victims, especially Stan Thewlis. You can really see a lot of time was given to writing the plot ensuring a backstory full of intriguing titbits.

Nixon keeps getting better and better, if that’s even possible. All I know is every book he puts out there is a real cracking read that any fan of the genre will love!

Dead Money starts slow, setting the scene… then we are thrust into a world of misdirection as the author masterfully takes us on the investigation with Jonah.. weeding out the truth.

Probably the strongest finishing book from Nixon yet leaving me with a insatiable thirst for more!

5/5 Stars.

To find out more or to purchase head to Goodreads or Amazon (Or any local bookstore 😊 )

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and ZooloosBookTours for having me on the tour and for providing me a copy of the book to aid my review! I’ve already bought my own copy too!

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio

Keith Nixon is the best-selling author of sixteen novels and one million words in print, including the Margate based Solomon Gray series of over 250,000 copies in circulation and reached no.1 on Amazon in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Keith lived near the gritty seaside town of Margate, where many of his novels are based, for 17 years before relocating to the edge of the Peak District with his family where he lives today. Keith works in a senior sales role within a high-tech industry and has regularly travelled all over the globe.

His novels are published by Gladius Press and Bastei Lubbe (German)


Follow Keith:


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keithnixonauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith_nixon/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/knntom

Website: keithnixon.co.uk

BLOG TOUR – Blood Sentence by Keith Nixon – Review

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Blood Sentence by Keith Nixon!

Why not follow the follow the rest of the tour?

Here’s the blurb :-

Three bodies, one suspect. That suspect is you…

When the unidentified corpse of an apparent suicide victim is found hanging above a complex pattern of forty photographs of children, Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance of the Met’s specialist Sapphire Unit is brought in to investigate.

A post-mortem reveals the suicide was murder, and Pennance realises he knows the man. But as the body count rises, all the signs point to a care home in Kent – a place that Pennance is all too familiar with.

The problem is the only person connecting the victims is Pennance – and he has a solid motive for wanting them dead… Can Pennance prove his innocence?

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, and Peter James Blood Sentence is the first book in the explosive series featuring Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance.

Review

I’m a massive fan of Keith’s work so jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour, I already had the book downloaded so was eager to get stuck in.

From the blurb I was already excited, a new series by Keith..what’s not to love? But the name Pennance.. that rung a bell. If you are a fan of Nixon’s work you’ll know Pennance had a small role in the author’s previous Solomon Gray series so I was great to see him get his own story!

I know what to expect from Keith so I’ve high expectations.. boy did he deliver! But the best thing was simply the feeling the book gave me, it felt familiar with the tie back to the authors previous work but also new and refreshing.

So you want to know about the plot. The book starts with the death of a man in strange circumstances and it soon becomes clear for DI Pennance there’s links to his past.. things he would rather forget.

His attention is drawn away as he’s pulled to Wales to assist in some enquires..the case has his name written all over it but Pennence doesn’t have a clue how he’s involved.

It’s kind of a whirlwind from then on as Pennence struggles to put the pieces together, investigating a death of an animal rights activist and how the hell it links back to him! He doesn’t even know the guy.

In Nixon’s style which I love, the author weaves the tale in such a masterful way that the truth only becomes clear when he wants it to and Penances’ world is turned upside down forever.

It’s not a typical police procedural tale, it’s a thriller, its personal, intense and gritty with some marvellous storytelling!  I almost feel bad I demolished this in a couple sittings but it’s a real page turner and sucks you in!

It’s a cracking 5/5 stars from me!

My thanks go to the author, the publisher and ZooloosBookTours for having me on the tour 😊

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads

About the author

Keith Nixon is the best-selling author of sixteen novels and one million words in print, including the Margate based Solomon Gray series of over 250,000 copies in circulation and reached no.1 on Amazon in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Keith lived near the gritty seaside town of Margate, where many of his novels are based, for 17 years before relocating to the edge of the Peak District with his family where he lives today. Keith works in a senior sales role within a high-tech industry and has regularly travelled all over the globe.

His novels are published by Gladius Press and Bastei Lubbe (German)

Follow Keith:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keithnixonauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keith_nixon/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/knntom

Website: keithnixon.co.uk

BLOG TOUR – The Custard Corpses by MJ Porter

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Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for The Custard Corpses, the 1st book in The Erdington Mysteries series by M J Porter.

As a fan of the author I jumped at the chance to be on the blog tour, no review copy needed.. I had this one already 😊

Keep reading for the chance to win a copy of the book too!!

Here’s the blurb

A delicious 1940s mystery.

Birmingham, England, 1943.


While the whine of the air raid sirens might no longer be rousing him from bed every night, a two-decade-old unsolved murder case will ensure that Chief Inspector Mason of Erdington Police Station is about to suffer more sleepless nights.

Young Robert McFarlane’s body was found outside the local church hall on 30th September 1923. But, his cause of death was drowning, and he’d been missing for three days before his body was found. No one was ever arrested for the crime. No answers could ever be given to the grieving family. The unsolved case has haunted Mason ever since.

But, the chance discovery of another victim, with worrying parallels, sets Mason, and his constable, O’Rourke, on a journey that will take them back over twenty-five years, the chance to finally solve the case, while all around them the uncertainty of war continues, impossible to ignore.

Review

MJ Porter is a master of style and wit. Porter manages to perfectly add her edge to a wonderful historical mystery.

Set during the war the people are suffering..suffering shortages, suffering grief..suffering fear…but that’s not all.

A body is found with striking similarities to a case back in 1923. Is this a 2nd chance to catch the killer?

The Custard Corpses is a well crafted tale showing the constraints of the time and shows gritty determination law enforcement would have needed at the time to solve crimes with little evidence.

Chief Inspector Sam Mason is on the case and must painstakingly look to the past to find clues.

The characters feel real, the relationships natural and the flow prefect.

As the case develops the plot thickens and takes a disturbing direction.. could there be more victims?

I’m a big fan of police procedural stories but this has MJ Porter’s style infused, which just kicks it up a notch and makes it unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

I’d certainly describe the book as delicious.. You’ll get hooked into the dark world and you’ll devour this tale in no time!

Grab a cup of tea and get stuck into this 5* read!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

Why not follow the blog tour –

Author Bio – I’m an author of historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest) and fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed). I’ve recently written a relatively modern mystery novel set in 1943. I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it’s little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I write A LOT. You’ve been warned!

Find me at http://www.mjporterauthor.com and @coloursofunison on twitter.

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/coloursofunison

https://www.instagram.com/m_j_porter/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163404.M_J_Porter

Giveaway to Win 2 x copies of The Custard Corpses (Open INT)

For a chance to win head to http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494455/?

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Betray Them All (Detective Solomon Gray #7) by Keith Nixon – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Betray Them All (Detective Solomon Gray #7) by Keith Nixon

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Police Procedural Thriller

It’s 3am on a wet, dreary morning in the south of England. Detective Inspector Solomon Gray raids an ordinary-looking house, but inside he finds the exception: an illegal cannabis farm run by a sixteen-year-old held against his will.

Within minutes Gray rushes to another nearby incident. A homeowner has stabbed and seriously wounded a burglar. Semi-retired Charles Sowerby, claims self-defence against the intruder – a traveller by the name of Aidan Jupp, a man with a violent history of targeting society’s most vulnerable.

The stabbing heightens local tensions, inflamed by far-right anti-immigrant activists and the Press. Jupp’s family swear revenge on Sowerby. Then Gray discovers Jupp wasn’t acting alone, so who’s his partner?

Somehow the cannabis farm and the stabbing are connected. Can Gray figure everything out before local tensions boil over?

Set in the once-grand town of Margate, the now-broken and depressed seaside resort becomes its own character in this dark detective thriller, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, and Peter James. Betray Them All is the seventh book in this best-selling series featuring Detective Inspector Solomon Gray.

Review

We are back with our favourite detective Solomon Gray, or Sol to those who know him well.

From the outset things look juicy. There’s a raid on a house, a cannabis farm is located but the boy found there is unwilling to talk.

There’s no time for Gray to do much more as he is called away to a burglary gone wrong. It seems clear cut at first. Intruder gets what’s coming to him as the homeowner defends himself, there are just a couple facts that don’t add up.

Tensions rise quickly. The burglar is part of a group of travellers. The locals do not like them and it’s only a matter of time before things come to a head and someone else gets hurt.

This is an extreme headache for Sol as there is little he can do, although he does manage to form an agreement of sorts with the travellers. They seem to like his style and approach to things, and they trust him though there is only so much they can control too. Sol must work fast.

As the blurb for the book suggests the cases are linked and I won’t spoil how but as always, the author manages to weave a wonderful complex tale. Nixon really is adept at this kind of story, effortlessly putting you there with Sol. Things click into place and there is that magical moment when all becomes clear.

As a fan of series it was great to see a recurring character pop up and for us to learn of his part in recent events. Again I cannot spoil it, but this ongoing situation of Sol’s is brilliant, and I do wonder how long it will be before Sol takes a fall.

Sol has the added stress of a baby on the way, it wasn’t planned and it’s even more complicated since she is a colleague, and no one knows about them. It’s this personal stress that really makes the character likeable. We all go through difficult events we would rather not, but to give him that human side enamours you to him.

As important as character development and plot are, I also have high demands when it comes to writing style, how the tale is paced, how language is used. Nixon just knows exactly what I need as a reader. The flow is perfect, chapter length spot on allowing you to really enjoy the tale. The only downside is I now must wait for the next book to be released!

Nixon is a master of the police procedural thriller and I eagerly await more 😊

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

 

Salt Lane by William Shaw – Review

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Today I’m going to be reviewing Salt Lane by William Shaw, Book 1 in the DS Alexandra Cupidi series.

Here’s the blurb

SHE ALWAYS WENT TOO FAR

DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing – resentful teenager in tow – from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Murder is different here, among the fens and stark beaches.

SHE WAS THE ONE WHO FOUND THE KILLERS

The man drowned in the slurry pit had been herded there like an animal. He was North African, like many of the fruit pickers that work the fields. The more Cupidi discovers, the more she wants to ask – but these people are suspicious of questions.

AND NOW IT WAS KILLING HER

It will take an understanding of this strange place – its old ways and new crimes – to uncover the dark conspiracy behind the murder. Cupidi is not afraid to travel that road. But she should be. She should, by now, have learnt.

Salt Lane is the first in the new DS Alexandra Cupidi series. With his trademark characterisation and flair for social commentary, William Shaw has crafted a crime novel for our time that grips you, mind and heart.

Review

DS Cupidi has moved to Kent after a scandal she would rather her new colleagues don’t find out about. She’s trying to keep her head down and not get too pally with anyone.. a case soon hits her desk to take her mind off the past..at least for a little while.

Two murders take place in a short space of time.. this can’t be a coincidence can it? Is there a link? What makes one of the murders even stranger is the circumstances behind the woman’s death.. the time of death doesn’t make sense.. she was seen alive at the same time as she was dead in a ditch.. how is that possible?

Well I’m not going to spoil it but I will admit it’s very well executed. Until the case unravelled I had no clue where the tale would go and that’s the kind of crime novel I love! Keep me guessing 🙂

Cupidi herself is flawed like all the good detectives. She’s balancing her work but also her personal life.. a teenage daughter she’s struggling to connect with and a past that will catch up to her at some point.. this gave the character a realness I love to see. It was really refreshing having a female lead too, almost all police type books I’ve read have had male leads.

Chapter length and pace of the plot for me was spot on and the mix of personal and professional focused scenes makes it very easy to read… you’ve never get bogged down. So good infact it’s easy to devour!

The character development of Cupidi was gradual and delivered perfectly.. she’s Impulsive..she’s human..I liked her.

Do I want to read book 2 in the series? Yes!

Will I be pre-ordering book 3 due out next year? Yes!

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.