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  Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst My rating: 5 of 5 stars Our Perfect Holiday: "I Don't Think So!" If there is one thing you can always guarantee in a Daniel Hurst thriller, it is this: when a story starts with a "perfect" premise, you had better strap yourself in, because the rug is about to be pulled clean out from under you. I was absolutely thrilled to be accepted by Bookouture to read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Daniel’s upcoming psychological thriller, and let me tell you—the master has done it again. The master threw down the deck, shuffled those cards, and dealt a tantalizing story that leaves you dangling on a hook, taking the bait, and going on an absolute rollercoaster ride! Usually, I like to take my time and savour a good book, but this one completely demanded to be read in one breathless, non-stop sitting. It is fast, twisty, addictive, and everything we love about his writing. If you are looking for your next obsession to add to your s...

Holy Island by L.J. Ross My rating: 5 of 5 stars Holy Island by L.J. Ross actually makes me hunger to see the island for its natural beauty, to spot the places that conjured her imagination, and to see the famous birds. It’s a place I was denied access to when I was a psychology student simply because I couldn't afford to go, and this book brought it vividly to life. As for the plot line? Well, as always, I will offer no spoilers. But you are in for a tense, gory ride! The twists and turns L.J. Ross takes you on through DCI Ryan and his team will leave you gasping for more than just a hot chocolate. Be warned: bedtime reading is strictly off-limits for the nervous type! You might find yourself watching people a little more suspiciously for a while after reading this little gold nugget, because you will quickly discover that barely anyone is who they seem. That's all I am saying! It’s a fantastic book. My huge thanks to the author's team and NetGalley for allowing me to A...

  What a breath of fresh air! It was lovely to step back in time to a bygone era. Set just after the tragedy of World War I, if anyone knows their history of England, we know that we are teetering on the brink of World War II and the peace of the era is about to shatter. Things are changing slowly for women, and are definitely different for the young men who survived World War I—luxury and fun is the future. This is a refreshing change from murder, but still tense enough to grip you. This book is perfectly suitable for young readers from about 12 upwards because it is so lovely the way it is woven into 1924, a different era altogether, and Liz picks up on that period so well. There is tension, luxury, and excitement ebbing its way through the pages, combined with a historical masterpiece of interest in the Olympians and the craving to find the Seven Wonders. Henry is a warm character, Clara is a breath of fresh air, and Dr Baccar, Dr Alarie, and the Grandfather are all intriguing c...

  The Accident by Daniel Hurst My rating: 5 of 5 stars Blog Post: The Weight of Loss and a Masterclass in Suspense: My Review of 'The Accident' by Daniel Hurst Every now and then, you pick up a book that forces you to confront some of the heaviest emotions a person can feel. Daniel Hurst’s The Accident is exactly that kind of book. I will give you absolutely no spoilers here, but I will offer one strong piece of advice: urge yourself to read the prologue first. In hindsight, I wish I had. This is a difficult book for me to review subjectively, so I am going to try my best to look at it objectively. As I have said before, Daniel is a remarkably gifted writer. He hooks you completely at the prologue, drawing you in even though you now know the devastating path the book entails. It deals with parental grief honestly, gently, and without pulling its punches. Having experienced grief myself, I know that I can never truly understand the specific, agonizing pain of parental grief a...

  Just One Second by Daniel Hurst My rating: 5 of 5 stars Blog Post: One Second to Change Everything: My Review of 'Just One Second' by Daniel Hurst When I first looked at the title Just One Second, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. So, on one of our recent hot days, I sat down, opened the first page, and started reading. As the story progressed, it resonated with me on a deeply visceral level. The premise—losing a child in a crowd—feels incredibly real. It is a nightmare that can happen to any parent, carer, or aunt in the blink of an eye. In fact, it hit close to home for me. Years ago in my youth, I foolishly thought a child would think like an adult and stay right where I told him to. When I returned, he was gone. The reasons why it happened are far too personal to share on a blog, but reading Daniel Hurst's words brought that exact panic rushing right back. If anything had happened to my nephew that day, I would have felt exactly like the protagonist in thi...

  Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli My rating: 5 of 5 stars Gripped and Grounded: My Review of 'Such Quiet Girls' by Noelle W. Ihli I always thoroughly enjoy reading Noelle’s books. This is the third one of hers I’ve tackled, and after talking to the author previously about Ask for Andrea and Forget You Saw Her, I knew that this one was going to be something completely different. Unlike her previous works, Such Quiet Girls has no supernatural elements—there are no ghosts hidden in these pages. It is a psychological thriller inspired by the harrowing, real-life 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapping. I chose to go in completely blind, deciding not to read up on the true story first because I wanted to absorb and feel every ounce of the tension firsthand, rather than knowing the outcome. Don't worry, I am a strict "no spoilers" reviewer, so I won't be revealing the ending here! What I will say is this: it is relentlessly tense. It's a story of child abduc...

  The One: The million-copy International Bestseller – now with five chapters of exclusive bonus content! by John Marrs My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Ultimate Match: My Review of 'The One' by John Marrs Would you do it? Would you spit into a plastic tube, send your DNA off to a lab, and let a geneticist tell you exactly who your perfect soulmate is? It’s the terrifyingly brilliant premise behind John Marrs’ The One. It got me thinking about DNA tests in general. Would I ever take one to track my ancestors? It’s a thought. Would I find a link to someone infamous like Jack the Ripper? Well, no, because unless you believe the royal conspiracy theories, we still have no clue who he was! (Personally, my money is on a surgeon with power and knowledge). But back to the fiction: just how close are real-world geneticists to finding a "perfect match" for everyone? It’s a fascinating subject that will tantalise writers and us "lesser mortals" for years to come. As for...

  The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave My rating: 5 of 5 stars If you are an "Arthurian Thirsty" reader like me, the setting of this book alone is enough to draw you in. Simon McCleave writes with such vivid detail that he could easily be working for the Tourist Board! He doesn’t just describe Snowdonia; he breathes life into it. Between the legendary history of King Arthur and the mysterious pull of the Lady of the Lake, you almost expect the landscape to become a character itself. For someone who lives on the border and has kin in Wales, it was refreshing to "return" there, even if it was to witness a series of grizzly killings. The story kicks off at a blistering pace. We meet DI Ruth Hunter, who has just traded the Met in London for the Welsh peaks, only to hit the ground running as the SIO for a brutal murder case. The Characters: Beautifully Broken What I loved most were the "ordinary" vices of the leads. Ruth is a dedicated smoker with absolu...

  Title: A Gripping Gothic Masterclass The Raven is a true Gothic epic that had me gripped from the very first page. Susan McCauley has a fantastic way of building atmosphere; there is a constant, simmering sense that something is about to happen, keeping the reader in a state of perpetual anticipation. It is an incredibly interesting read that perfectly captures the "dark and brooding" essence of the genre. If you love a story that keeps you asking "what happens next?" while wrapping you in a beautifully eerie world, this is a must-read. A hauntingly good page-turner!

  The HOA by Tanya Smith Title: Safeguarding you... or watching you? The HOA really makes you stop and look at those cameras hanging off the cloud around your own home. We tell ourselves they are there to keep an eye on things—they were cheap, they were easy to install, and they’re "hidden in plain sight." But this book begs the question: are we just kidding ourselves? Tanya Smith crafts a tense narrative that pulls you into the different worlds and lives of neighbors, all while making you wonder if your own cameras are ever truly safe. It’s a gripping look at modern security and the thin line between protection and surveillance. A chilling, thought-provoking read that will have you glancing twice at your doorbell cam!

  The "Supernatural Suspense" Review Title: A Tense, Supernatural Journey We Already Dug the Grave is an interesting read that really leans into its supernatural flavour. While the jumping back and forth in the timeline was a little confusing at points, the overall atmosphere kept me engaged. The story is tense and gripping in all the right places. It’s clear that this is a talented writer with a distinct voice. If you enjoy a story with a darker, otherworldly edge, this is certainly one to add to your list!

  Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister My rating: 5 of 5 stars Blog Post: When Values are Stretched to the Impossible Title: A Texan Heatwave and a Moral Minefield: Reviewing 'Caller Unknown' by Gillian McAllister I finally finished Caller Unknown, and what a ride it was! Gillian McAllister is a true master of suspense. Much like Daniel Hurst, she keeps her cards held tightly to her chest, only to play an ace or a joker exactly when you least expect it. The Atmosphere While I was dodging the cold winds here for a bit of hot May sun, I was breathing in the Texan air with these characters. You can feel the sun beating down on them; as they cook, you find yourself hungry for what they’re eating, all while waiting with bated breath for what lies ahead. It’s tense, gripping, and deeply dramatic. The Heart of the Story If you’re looking for gore or visceral violence, you won't find it here. Instead, you’ll find something much more haunting: Love. The book asks the ultimate qu...