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Everyone in the Group Chat Dies – L.M. Chilton – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton

Here’s the blurb

Kirby Cornell needs a break from everything:
– Her crumbling flat in the sleepy town of Crowhurst (famous for its award-winning sausage rolls and a second-rate serial killer from the 90s).
– Her dead-end job.
– Her sleazy landlord.
– Her slobbish housemates.
– And, most of all, the terrible thing they did.

Luckily, that hasn’t caught up with her just yet. Until a new message on their old group chat pops up:

Everyone in the group chat will die.

It’s the first text her ex-flatmate and social-media sleuth Esme has sent for ages, but that’s not the really weird thing.

The really weird thing is, Esme died twelve months ago…

Review

After reading the authors previous novel, Don’t Swipe Right and loving it I just couldn’t wait to get stuck into this one!

Kirby Cornell and her friends live in a little town called Crowhurst, they share a flat, their lives, and a group chat.

The only thing exciting about Crowhusrt is that it’s famous for being the home of a serial killer!

One day there’s a knock at the door.. one of their roommates has given his key to a girl named Esme.. She’s there looking for a story.. she’s one of these internet sleuths.. and she thinks there’s more to the Crowhurst killer than first thought..

Esme is like a breath of fresh air for Kirby… Kirby is stuck in a rut and meeting Esme, and what happens next to Esme lights a fire under her..

We jump around the timeline from then, to present time.. a strange message is received the group chat that makes Kirby’s blood go cold.. it’s a message from Esme.. but Esme’s dead right?

Kirby heads back to Crowhurst to find out who is sending these messages.. one of the other flatmates must know something..

There’s hidden secrets.. truths that none of the flatmates want getting out but the reader is kept guessing while Kirby tries to figures things out.

I won’t spoil the twists but there’s a few.. they are clever.. and the truth about the Crowhurst killer, now that was smart from the author.. kept me intrigued right up till the last page!

The story is very clever in that it explores something that is much more common nowadays.. internet sleuths.. the decline in the standard news outlets in favour of social networks and how we get our information these days.. it makes you think about how we digest news and how easy it can be to be manipulated.

There’s not much time to develop the characters… read the book you’ll soon see why ha but the information given is spot on.. little titbits thrown in there to make the story pop and to tie things together.

The plot is where this one shines. It moves at a decent pace and keeps you on edge not knowing what will happen next, or truly who is behind everything.

Flow wise the story was perfect for my kind of reading. It’s effortless to devour this one but has natural points where you can put it down (when you have to, not because you want to ha) and come back later… but that’s the thing.. this one kept me coming back for more,

Overall a smart offering from the author and I’m so glad to see a new book is planned for next year. So far the author has shown me they can write clever stories of a serious nature but in a fun and gripping way.

Easy 5* nothing I’d change with this one… just a bloody good read!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon… let me know what you think of the book!

Chasseur à Cheval by Griff Hosker  (Napoleonic Horseman Book 1) – Audio Review

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Today I’m reviewing the audiobook Chasseur à Cheval by Griff Hosker the first book in the Napoleonic Horseman series!

Here’s the blurb

From rejection to revolution; the cavalry calls.

Robbie Macgregor is the bastard son of a French Aristocrat and a Scottish servant. Unwanted by his father and finding himself without wealth and power, he is still despised by the masses. Forced to join the French army to avoid the guillotine, his new career gives him chance to be reborn. As a Chasseur à Cheval and through action and heroism, Robbie is involved with the capture of the Dutch Fleet on the Texel and the conquest of Malta, catching the eye of a young French General, Napoleon Bonaparte, who is quickly rising to power.

“I was born Robbie Macgregor. To many people, I am a traitor. To the French people I grew up with, I certainly was. To the English I fought for, I probably was and to my Scottish relatives? I suppose it depends to whom you spoke. I take no blame for any of this; it was all an accident of birth and death.”

Fast moving and action-packed, Chasseur à Cheval follows the early days of the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power and campaign through Italy, through the eyes of a young cavalryman.

Review

Robbie Macgregor doesn’t have the best start in life.. he’s the illegitimate son of a French aristocrat and a Scottish servant and as such never really feels he has a place in life..that is until revolution hits..

Forced to flee to save his own neck he enlists in the French army.. a new name.. a new persona..

The young lad needs to learn fast but quickly finds his place, solidifies friendships and becomes quite an accomplished solider.. so much so he gains the eye of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte!

Robbie and his comrades are sent on mission after mission.. they get the job done and Bonaparte needs men he can trust..

While the action heats up Robbie sees the brutality of war.. how fleeting life can be.. and all this does, is to remind him, to push him to find out the truth about what happened to his own family…there’s a truth that when exposed ignites the fire in Robbie.. I won’t spoil it but lets just say he won’t rest until things dealt with.. but he’s an army man now.. he can’t just waltz off.

Overall I really enjoyed this one, I listened to the audio version because I really enjoy seeing how the narrators add passion and gravitas to an authors words.. not to mention pronunciations which I’m terrible for in my own head ha ha.

Simon Aitchison the narrator was great and really made the words pop… I commute to/from work and I’m easily distracted, but the combination of Griff’s words and Simon’s tone kept me hooked and made my early morning walk something to look forward too!

If you love slow burners this isn’t for you.. it’s super fast paced but in a logical fashion.. nothing seems out of place and the pace just matched the pressure of war..there’s no time to rest.

Character wise there’s some decent development which isn’t easy given the pace of the plot, but what the development does is nicely setup scenes, interactions, which made those characters come to life a bit more, gave them some depth which again isn’t easy when there’s so much action.

The book itself is just under 10.5 hours which I felt was pretty good, nothing drawn out but nothing skimmed over either.. it was perfect when you’ve just got an hour or two to spare,, you’ll have it demolished in no time and will be left wanting more.

Credit where credits due, I don’t tend to listen many audiobooks but this one had me hooked from the start.

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon, or any other local or online retailer!

Swords in the Snow by Matthew Harffy & Steven A. McKay – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Swords in the Snow: (The Forest Lord) by Matthew Harffy & Steven A. McKay.

Here’s the blurb

A stolen relic. A dying child. A desperate chase.

December, c. AD 1330.

When thieves snatch a priceless holy relic from a Pontefract church, Friar Tuck and the bailiff, John Little, set out through snowbound Yorkshire to recover it. The relic is the only hope for a gravely ill girl—but the hunt soon turns bloody.

From frozen dales to the mud-slick streets of York, John and Tuck pursue ruthless crime lord William Wake and his brutal enforcers: the battle-hardened Henry Tanner and the murderous giant Grimbald de Pendok.

When they finally face each other with swords in the snow, will Little John and Friar Tuck find they have met their match at last, or will there be a Christmas miracle?

Review

The book starts strong with a brutal attack on a priest and the church robbed!

It just so happens that John and Tuck are in the area and with their sense of justice they can’t just stand by and let those involved get away unpunished.

While a gritty start I loved that the humour I love in this series wasn’t far away.. John had me smiling ear to ear with his comment “Oh, not this again” ha.. it’s not uncommon for these two to be involved in some antics running around the countryside so I really enjoyed the characters acknowledging their own bad luck… or is it just their calling in life?

The men they are hunting stole a priceless item.. a one that has the power to heal.. faith plays a very big part in the lives of the villagers and others further afield so it’s vital the relic is brought back to where it belongs.

The need to help people is really what spurs the men on to find the relic..

The story feels very familiar.. I’m at home with Steven’s writing.. but there’s a interesting twist added with Matthew Harffy being involved.. I feel the authors have similar styles but Harffy is a bit grittier..raw in detail.. mix that with McKay’s storytelling and character development and you’ve got a winner.

What I really enjoyed is that I couldn’t tell who wrote what really.. seamless.. the only thing I could put my finger on was it felt darker.. more life or death on edge of the seat… and knowing what Harffy is like with his characters it kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what might befall Tuck and John along the way. It’s tense in it’s build up and you really do wonder if Tuck and John can come out of this one on top.

I’m not going to spoil the plot but what I love about the novellas McKay has written over the recent years is there’s a common theme.. an undercurrent of mystery and miracles.. with the reader left to make the final choice.. divine intervention.. or just lucky.. who knows.. but it’s this what makes the stories so fun to read.. you never know what direction the tale will take.

One thing that worked super well was the characters themselves… John and Tuck are well developed already but I loved Grimbald de Pendok the most probably.. he’s there for one job really and does it well.. I wouldn’t want to meet him on a dark night that’s for sure.

In typical style our hero’s get themselves into some scrapes and you get to see the comradery they have with each other.. they would die for each other but they also annoy the hell out of each other ha..like an old married couple.

Henry Tanner was a fun character too and after reading the authors note I wasn’t surprised to know Harffy’s role in Henry’s development.. I wish I could have more on Tanner.. he’s got darkness within him but he’s very bloody likeable! I really loved this book wasn’t all about Tuck and John.. these new characters share the limelight superbly.

For those familiar with the series you’ll not be disappointed.. it’s basically a Christmas tradition now to have a book from McKay, low light, beer in hand.. an adventure you’ll not forget… and Harffy has now joined the fray just adds an extra punch to the tale!

Did I enjoy the authors working together? Definitely.. would I buy more books if they come out with it? most certainly.. I’m not certain anything would ever be planned but could totally see them writing something new, fresh, unfamiliar.. oh that would be something!!

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon

Blog Tour – Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook

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Today is publication day for Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook!

Let’s celebrate by kicking off the blog tour!!

Here’s the blurb

A storm is coming.
A storm that will banish the old and deliver the new.

450AD Britain

Octa has the spear of Woden, but the redemption he sought is out of his grasp. With his banishment and the death of his father, he can no longer return to his Saxon homelands. His only salvation is to join forces with Hengist and Horsa, and their Jutish army that beaches itself on Brittania’s shores. But can he trust their motivation or are there greater plans afoot?

The Gods have their own plans, though, and Octa’s fate is not his own to control as Friga, the mother of the Saxon gods, battles to avoid a war with the gods of the Britons and Saxons using Octa as her weapon.

Prince Vortimer, the son of High King Vortigern, is angered by his father’s agreement with Hengist and Horsa as they remain unchecked and their numbers swell. He suspects treachery and encouraged by some well-placed words of a stranger, he rebels against his father and gathers his army to attack the unwelcome visitors.

War is coming to Britannia and as Octa struggles to understand his role and fate, he knows he has one question to answer. Will he run or will he stand and fight?

Review

Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook is book 2 in The First Kingdom series.. The first book really set the scene for a new and fresh series and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

Octa is burdened with the spear of Woden, and the weight of shame he’s brought upon his family.

He thought finding the spear who bring him redemption.. would set things right for his family.. but nothing is ever easy is it… the pain he feels around his family follows him like a shadow and is pivotal in his decision making.

In the last book we saw Octa bring shame upon himself and his family be fleeing during battle so I thunk it even shocks himself when Octa aligns himself with Hengist and Horsa and their Jutish army.

Hengist and Horsa are a fascinating pair who can’t be trusted.. you never quite know their true motivation.. even when things come to fruition you never know if that’s really it… or is their going to be some sort of twist.

Can Octa trust them? Does he have a choice?

This Jute army isnt exactly welcome Brittania.. there’s a power struggle.. they can’t remain unchecked allowed to do as they please can they?

I really loved the plot and the betrayal.. the deceptions at play.. who is really guiding Prince Vortimer to war and why?

I think the most fascinating part of this series is the supernatural edge.. the gods are real not just someone to be prayed too.. but the gods are tricky..and have their own internal battles to face..are their motivations going to end up align with Octa’s goal of redemption or will this add more fire to the flames already taking hold in the world?

I think the best way to describe Woden’s Storm is “Strengthening”. The author already laid the starting foundations but continues to weave a wonderful and exciting world.. there’s detail to allow you to imagine the land, the people and where they live but ultimately that plot shines through and Cook builds on the foundations set.

We see characters develop and have a chance to glimpse the the plot develop from different perspectives.. we see that supernatural end continue and how finding the spear will leave a trail of destruction no matter what..

Woden’s Storm has the excitement I need for the genre but for me the plot is just fun.. fresh.. fascinating…I guess it’s because you never really know what will happen next and the author has created such a standout story that really allows their imagination to shine.

Pace for me is always important and Woden’s Storm does exactly what I need, it’s paced well but balanced between perfectly, no forced development the flow just felt natural and effortless which is a credit to the author given the multifaceted world they’ve created.

Ticks all the boxes and some!

5/5 stars

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!

Why not check out the rest of the stops on the tour?

Tempted yet?


Purchase Link – https://bit.ly/wodensstorm

Author Bio –

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology.  He was born in South Africa and currently lives in Lancashire, UK.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @DonovanCookAuthor

Twitter: @DonovanCook20

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DonovanCookNews

Bookbub profile:@cookdonovanbooks

BLOG TOUR – Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon.

Here’s the blurb

Twelve-year-old Tim Wainwright, growing up on the west coast of Cumbria, struggles with his mum’s intense grief after the death of his dad and the constant taunting of village bullies. Only his best friend Annie brings any fun to his life.

Fleeing his tormentors after school one day, he finds a hidden cave in the sea cliffs. Once inside, Tim leaps through an enchanted hopscotch board to emerge into a very different Cumbria… two thousand years in the past.

This is an ancient land of Romans and Britons under the rule of Emperor Hadrian. Tim soon realises he must navigate a totally different culture, facing adventures which challenge not only his resilience and wits to the limit but even risk his very life.

Will he ever get back to his own time, his mum and Annie? And does he even really want to?

Join Tim on his rip-roaring adventure exploring Roman life in the wilds of ancient Britain, the first in the Timewaif series of historical novels set throughout the ages for children to enjoy.

Review

Timewaif & The Roman Road is aimed at the younger audience, around 9 – 11 years old but is a very fun read for an adult too. I love anything to do with the Romans and wanted to see if the author could bring some passion and excitement for the period for younger readers.

Focusing on that side first.. wow.. there’s some much detail packed in.. little nuggets of info to captivate the readers mind. I couldn’t help but feel if I’d had stories given to me when I was younger like this my love of history would be even stronger.. its just so effortlessly interesting and immersive.

The other thing I love about this time of genre aimed is typically they deal with some personal issues too, to help the younger mind see these things and hopefully help them process their won feelings. Timewaif & The Roman Road ticked that box beautifully. Tim the main character has some issues at home, his mother hasn’t been well and has had her own issues leaving Tim to kind of grow up himself. As we all know growing up isn’t always easy and we see Tim’s struggles

This was such a fun and entertaining read even though it’s aimed for a younger reader but even the struggles Tim faced were handled in a sensitive and thoughtful way making it even better for me, having two young kids myself… helps me remember how they might be feel in certain situations as we see things though different eyes.

Nice fun 5 star read!

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

Tempted yet?

Why not head to Goodreads or Amazon to find out more!

Who is Deborah Lyon?

Deborah Lyon has lived in Cumbria for nearly 20 years, having previously worked in London where she enjoyed a successful career in corporate communications. A lifelong lover of the Lake District, Deborah moved north to raise her blended family of four children by Windermere, where she lives with her husband, Gez, two golden retrievers, a Border terrier, and guinea pigs.

Her debut title, Lake District Unlocked, a children’s travel guide to Cumbria, was published in 2010. A graduate of Oxford University with a degree in English and French Literature, Deborah also holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. She draws inspiration from the region’s history and folklore, with the idea for Timewaif & The Roman Road sparked by an inscription on a Roman tombstone and a walk through a ruined felltop fort.

When she isn’t writing, Deborah runs a holiday-let business and enjoys exploring the landscapes that inspire her work, with over 170 Wainwright summits under her belt.

Where can you find them?

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/timewaifbooks/
Websitehttps://timewaif.com/

Why not follow the tour..

BLOG TOUR – I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley!

Here’s the blurb

Annalise saved them from certain death. But she does want something in return…

Bonnie and her husband Steffan are hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alps when they are caught in a freak snowstorm. Fearing they may not survive, the couple are overjoyed when they stumble across an isolated cabin occupied by a lone woman, Annalise.

But their joy soon turns to unease as they realise that Annalise may have a sinister agenda.

And she’s not the only one with something to hide. Trapped together in a nightmarish pressure cooker, the cracks in Bonnie’s marriage start to show as she discovers that Steffan has been leading a secret life.

All the while Annalise becomes more and more menacing. What does she want from them? And what is she willing to do to get it?

Bound ever tighter in a horrifying web, Bonnie is finally forced to confront one terrifying truth – someone is going to die on this mountain.

Review

This is my second foray into the authors works and I already knew I’d love this one.. I just didn’t know how much!

I Will Find You is told form the point of view of two characters, Bonnie and Annalise. What I immediately loved is the authors suspenseful style of storytelling.. the plot is never drawn out too much, rather twisted and engrossing as it plays out… it gives you instant tingles as you know something isn’t right.. but you don’t know what.

The majority of the story focuses around a trip to the Swiss Alps, as Bonnie and her husband Steffan set out on a trek that will push them both to the limits.

Things take a turn when a storm hits forcing them to seek refuge in a remote cabin where they meet Annalise.

The characters compete for the readers attention as the author moves the point of view from now, to explore the past and what brings them to this moment.. the great thing is neither overshadow the other… they both just demand that attention with their own tales.. you are sucked in.. so moving from one to the next while you enjoy the chapter you can’t wait to get back and see where the previous will take you.. but then you are sucked into to that perspective… ahhh you’re honestly just hooked easily making it an easy read too as it just flows effortlessly.

I’ll try to keep this spoiler free but there’s so many creepy vibes that come off multiple characters.. Bonnie has her own trauma but there’s more to her being in the alps than we know.. Steffan.. he’s a dark horse.. you always feel there’s something you don’t quite understand.. hidden just under the surface.. and Annalise.. how did she end up here and why…

The plot is captivating and deliberately full of suspense and I just bloody loved it.. I never felt I quite knew who was good or bad.. each have their own darkness and it was just simply enthralling.

The first 20% of the book is pure build-up which then dials up a notch when they arrive in the cabin..Bonnie feels the creepiness as soon as the door closes but is she going mad? is Annalise just a lonely old woman?

There’s a subtle message through the tale as it develops.. don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. either that or everyone has skeletons in the closet..

The author got the setting prefect to as it added a claustrophobic feel that ramps up the building tension.

There’s so much more to the story than the synopsis suggests.. trust me..it goes way further and those twists are perfectly timed and hit just the right notes.

Jessica Huntley is the queen of the suspenseful thriller for sure!

A heart pounding 5*

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

Who is Jessica Huntley?

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters.

She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer.

She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time).

Where can you find them?

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/jessica.reading.writing
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jessica_reading_writing
X (formerly Twitter)https://twitter.com/jess_read_write
Websitehttp://www.jessicahuntleyauthor.com

Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236600768-i-will-find-you

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

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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?

BLOG TOUR – Metropolis by Colin Garrow

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Metropolis by Colin Garrow!

Here’s the blurb.

Edinburgh, 1936. People are disappearing. The police are clueless. Can Finlay MacBeth track down the perpetrator before someone else goes missing?

Haunted by his recent past, Professor Finlay MacBeth returns to his home town to take up a new post at the university. Within hours, his reputation for solving the occasional murder prompts the police to ask for his help. Four men—seemingly unconnected—have vanished into thin air. MacBeth must find whatever it is that links the men before the kidnapper strikes again.

But the police aren’t the only ones interested in MacBeth’s activities, and the amateur sleuth soon discovers that finding the missing men is the least of his problems…

In this thriller series set in Edinburgh, Metropolis is book #1 in the Finlay MacBeth Thriller series.

Review

Professor Finlay MacBeth returns home to take up a teaching position at the local university. Two things become clear very quickly, First, MacBeth has previously helped the police with investigations so his reputation precedes him, and second, he’s not alone.. someone has followed him.. buy why? And for what reason.

MacBeth quickly gets drawn into a case, men are going missing but there’s no links and zero leads.. could these men have simply upped and left, or is there something more sinister afoot.. Well MacBeth will find out one way or another.

MacBeth does have that Sherlock Holmes feel about him but at the same time is certainly his own character, who has his own dark past that’s trying to catch up to him.

As MacBeth investigates his focus is distracted a lot by the man who followed him and he employees the services of a young lad to assist him with gathering information to help him. Little Johnnie was a really fun character, full of energy and just what the tale needed, he’s the perfect accompaniment to MacBeth.

The cases itself was really intriguing, the missing men, why them, where are they now, why they disappeared in the first place… all these questions get answered but it’s like a drug to the reader, being drip fed.. oh wow…not to spoil it but the motivations behind the disappearances… brilliant!

I really loved the dark tone of the story too..there’s moments you don’t see coming.

Now, MacBeth’s personal issues. As with any good character he’s flawed. His dark past is waiting to see the light of day but what Garrow did superbly was to blend both of these plots lines together, with neither overshadowing the other. It really gave some depth seeing the main character juggle things and try and move things along in the right direction without giving up his secrets.

I’m a big fan of the authors style of writing and always feel at home with their work… I know what to expect.. it’s going to be a good read no matter what.. but Garrow certainly knows how to keep upping his game, keeps the reader guessing, and continues to offer top quality, character driven plots

Sublime 5*

My thanks go to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour

Tempeted?

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/ps3XiW

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio –

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate.

He has published more than thirty books, and his short stories have appeared in several literary mags, most recently in Witcraft, and Flash Fiction North. Colin lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also plays several musical instruments and makes rather nice vegan cakes.

Social Media Links –

Website: https://colingarrow.co.uk/

Twitter: https://x.com/colingarrow

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colingarrowauthor.bsky.social

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

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

Don’t Swipe Right by L.M. Chilton – Review

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Today I’m reviewing the debut novel from L.M. Chilton, Don’t Swipe Right.

Here’s the blurb.

DATING APPS ARE SO DEAD.

Gwen Turner, 29, entrepreneur and part-time barista.

Likes: true-crime podcasts, cheese-based snacks (the more unnaturally orange the better) and constantly refreshing her dating apps.

Dislikes: two-day hangovers, people who refer to themselves as entrepreneurs… and discovering her latest match is actually a serial killer (probably should have put that top of the list).

They say romance is dead, but if Gwen can’t catch the mystery killer who’s targeting every man she’s ever dated, it’s about to get a whole lot deadlier.

Review

Don’t Swipe Right follows Gwen and her disastrous dating resume as things turn deadly.

With her friend Sarah about to get married and with her own love life going down the drain she opens her dating app in the hope of distraction.

When a match appears Gwen thinks this might be time for a little fun. Her match isn’t so keen to play out, there’s been a murder recently and when he sends the link to Gwen that’s when things go crazy.. yeah Gwen had recently been on a date with the victim!!

Its a coincidence that Gwen can’t shake but when another body appears, another of Gwen’s recent dates, its getting a little suspicious.

Now the police are involved and while they don’t believe Gwen is a suspect as such they need to keep an eye on her.

More death follows but along the way Gwen still finds time to make new romantic connections, she explores her past and the dates she’s been on but also what happened to bring her to this point in time.. the reason she’s on the dating app in the first place.

Not everyone on Gwen’s list of dates has been targeted yet and I really loved that Gwen wants to put the pieces together herself.. she knows there must be a link.. but what can it be.. to see her go all vigilante to hopefully protect those left was pretty exciting.. and puts her at the mercy of the killer!

There’s twists and turns which were really fun and exciting.. giving you the “ooooooooo” moments. I really thought I’d nailed who the killer is, I had a list, some with clear motivations, some I just had a gut feeling about.. and it’s those twists that keep you guessing.

The final reveal was utterly exhilarating for me as the motivations became clear.. the end game.. wow.

It seems silly to say a book like this was “laugh our loud” but it really had it’s moments..Gwen has zero luck and she doesn’t help herself but even I couldn’t help laughing when after a date gone wrong, going home, she realises she’s still wearing her bowling shoes ha.

Lots of funny moments but overall a very serious and engaging plot.

Character wise I really loved Gwen and the more we learn, the more I felt I understood her and why things happened the way they did. The ensemble cast were really good too, I won’t spoil it but each have their part to play and give the energy that makes Gwen’s life shine.

It’s got to be a 5* from me!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Death Row (Alibis collection) by Freida McFadden – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Death Row (Alibis collection) by Freida McFadden.

Here’s the blurb

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid.

Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?

Review.

Freida McFadden is a name many book readers will have heard of I’m sure. It feels like Freida has been rather prolific since I read “The Housemaid”. I’ll be honest I can’t keep pace ha ha so there’s a few on my TBR list but when I spotted Death Row it seemed exactly what I needed! A quick, exciting read. My concentration levels haven’t been the best of late so just needed a change in pace and something to hook me in.

Well Death Row certainly did that!

Talia is on death row for murder..Talia’s husband the victim. The issue is Talia says she’s innocent!

We learn about Talia’s life, or lack of, on death row and as Talia dreams the reader is transported into Talia’s past.. the run up to where we are now.

The more we find out the less things add up.

It looks like Talia wants to have the perfect life.. like we all do.. and for the most part she’s got it. That is until one day she notices what she’s missing. Her husband.. he’s working too hard.. late nights and not enough emotional connection between the two and this is where things spiral… alone with her thoughts Talia’s imagination runs wild.

Back in present day Talia tries to keep her mind busy but when her latest appeal is rejected she can’t help but loose focus..and that’s when she spots him.. a man who looks just like her husband, and he’s here visiting another inmate.. but it can’t be.. he’s dead.. isn’t he?

This is where the book heats up and no spoilers from me but it’s where I felt there’s little hints to direct the reader throughout that start to add up now, while I felt I knew what was coming.. you really never know when that oomph will be.. it’s the suspense..

When the twist hits its a clever and emotional scene wrapping the story up nicely.

Being billed as a short read at approx. 103 minutes there’s loads packed in. It’s the subtle details added in.. the noises..the smells for example, that really make it come alive and intrigue the reader.

It’s a really great story for fans of the author and the genre but more so this is ideal for newbies too.. plenty to get stuck into and shows you just what to expect from Freida McFadden!

Easy 5* read and what’s even better to know is this is the first in a series of short tales, with each instalment from a different author. Very interested in seeing how this. The rest are already up for pre-order too.

To find out more about Death Row head to Goodreads or Amazon.