My Ratings: 4 Stars

Date finished: 16/10/202

Date published: 28/10/2020

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

She’s dying, and she knows it. If only she can stay alive long enough to leave one last message. As the rain beats against the metal roof, she uses her blood-soaked fingertip to scrawl on the floorboards... The letters GB.

 

Detective Madison Knight has been house hunting, but a call from her real estate agent has nothing to do with finding the perfect property. She’s found a woman’s body, stabbed multiple times. Madison arrives on scene and is presented with an unknown Jane Doe and two letters written in blood. There’s no murder weapon, and it seems Doe was attacked somewhere else.

As Madison works to find justice for the victim, Madison’s own life is put at risk. What she comes to discover is some people will go to extreme lengths to protect their secrets—even as far as murder. But will learning that lesson come too late for her?

My Review: 

What We Bury is the 10th book in the Maddison Knight series by Arnold. Having read quite a few books in the series now, I can tell you that Arnold still doesn't disappoint her readers. This book was just as good as all the others I have read so far and you can pick up any book in the series and just go with it. 

Knight receives a call on Saturday morning from her real estate agent as body has been found in a garden shed. The victim, a Jane Doe, has no ID other than a dying message on her body. The book not only follows Knight's mission to find out who the woman is, but also her midnight stake outs now that the mafia are in town. Arnold spares no expense in making Knight a strong headed character but also with her flaws and isn't afraid to mix professional and person relationships throughout. Knight is very focused and head strong about her career at the Stiles PD and you can see throughout the plot that she is dedicated to the force in the way she feels about her victims and her relationships; especially her partner who is part of the SWAT team. 

The plot is a fast paced one which really keeps the reader going. What I enjoyed about this book is that we are not kept just reading about the case at hand but there are so many different plots all wielding within the book. By doing this, Arnold really kept me on my toes on where the plot could go next and I love this about Arnold's writing style.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book as I do with all of Arnold's novels. I look forward to reading the next one.

Happy reading :) 

My Rating: 5 Stars



Date finished: 18/06/2020



Date published: 05/02/2019




Synopsis from Goodreads:




Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him...

My Review: 

Why oh why did I wait so long to read this one?! I kept looking at it, and thinking, I will buy and read this book eventually! I have such a huge collection of books I try not to buy too many at the moment! This is my favourite read of 2020 so far. I read this book in two evenings, so overall it took me about 5.5 hours to read. It was absolutely brilliant. 

If you are looking for a book that you really cannot put down and something a little different from all the other average thriller type books out there, then this is the book for you. This had the most brilliant twist that I haven't seen coming for such a long time. It is so well written and the pages flow so effortlessly. You just cannot put it down. It was all I could think about until I finished it. And once I had finished it, I wanted to tell everyone about the book and the twist. 

Overall, my best book of 2020. I don't have much else to say other than please read it! You won't be disappointed. 

Happy reading :)

My Rating: 4 Stars



Date Finished: 06/06/2020



Date Published: 10/03/2020




Goodreads Synopsis: 




Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic.

This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner's illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers - including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher - are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes.

Years later and the world is at war. And a survivor of that fateful night, Annie, is working as a nurse on the sixth voyage of the Titanic's sister ship, the Britannic, now refitted as a hospital ship. Plagued by the demons of her doomed first and near fatal journey across the Atlantic, Annie comes across an unconscious soldier she recognises while doing her rounds. It is the young man Mark. And she is convinced that he did not - could not - have survived the sinking of the Titanic . . 

My Review: 

I kept reading reviews for this book on some Facebook groups I follow surrounding horror novels so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I kept checking the price for it on Amazon on a weekly basis and as soon as it dropped to just under £10, I snatched it. I began reading it as soon as it arrived in the post. 

The book is quite a hefty size, around 400+ pages, however, the writing is quite a big font so it works out quite easy to read in that sense and probably isn't quite as long as you first think. I really enjoyed reading all the ins and outs of the Titanic throughout the novel. I am not a historian of any kind and I actually reading historical fiction however, things surrounding the Titanic always catch my eye. I think the Titanic and it's story catches alot of peoples eyes. 

The novel isn't particularly fast paced, I would say I read this at a pretty average pace. The characters were very interesting and I loved reading about each one of them. Although some may see Annie Hebbley as the main character, there was a large chunk of the book that wasn't surrounding her. 

I really had no idea which direction this book was going to go in and how it related to the Titanic. There was some strange goings on throughout but I felt that they were never amounting to anything. I would have given this book 5 stars however I felt that the eventual ending and what really happened in the end fell short of this. It wasn't what I was expecting in the end and really fell short of what this book could have been. 

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something a little different in the world of the Titanic. I wouldn't class this as an all out horror novel at all. Maybe a bit mysterious but that's all. 

Happy reading :) 

My Rating: 4 Stars



Date finished: 21/06/2020




Date Published: 22/06/2020






Synopsis from Goodreads: 


The beam of his flashlight bounces off the walls but does little to brighten the hidden room he just found. In the corner is a centuries-old desk. His heart hammering, he walks over to it and opens the top drawer. What he finds inside will change his future—and the world’s—forever.
 
For centuries, the existence of Spanish pirate José Gaspar has been relegated to legend, but archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his two best friends may have just found reason to believe the buccaneer truly existed. They’re in Washington, DC, to mark the opening of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History when a mysterious stranger turns up claiming he may hold the key to the mythical pirate’s treasure and invites them to join in his quest to find it.
 
Rumored to have sailed and plundered the Gulf of Mexico and the Spanish Main during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Gaspar would have amassed a vast fortune. But with only the stranger’s word and a token of proof, Matthew is intrigued but not sold—until it becomes personal. There’s an interested third party, and they’re willing to kill for the pirate’s bounty.
 
What ensues is a globe-trotting adventure that will take Matthew and his friends across the world and back again. Danger lurks around every corner as does betrayal, suspicion, and murder. Can anyone be trusted, and will they survive long enough to find out?

My review: 

Before I start my review, I would like to say thank you for the publisher, Hibbert and Stiles for sending me an advanced copy of this book. 

This is the third book in the Matthew Connor series; an action packed novel following the myth of Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, or is it? I have read all three books in the Connor series and each one has kept my expectations high. Arnold is a fantastic writer and I have read a large quantity of her crime novels. The Conner series just goes to show that Arnold can put her hand at another type of genre and still keep the same level of writing, action and suspense. 

The novel picks up where we left off and follows archaeologist Matthew Connor attending an exhibition to promote his book series which catalogues his adventures. Following the adventure, Connor meets Professor Mel Wolf and eventually agrees to a new adventure; the search for Gasparilla's treasure. Following on from this, the book follows the view points of several characters including those from the previous book and some new characters such as Daniel. We get some back story of the characters whilst also following the adventure. I enjoy reading a bit of back story of characters as I feel this really creates some extra atmosphere to the novel. 

What I also really enjoy about Arnold's writing is that she really does her research. There was lots of twists and turns throughout and the overall book really kept me hooked. It was another great, fast paced page turner of a book. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series and I hope that Arnold really keeps up the level of action and expectation. I would also recommend that you read the other books in this series and not just pick this one up straight off. The novel does have flashbacks between the other novels. But it is definitely worth the wait and time to read all books in the series; you won't be disappointed! 

Happy reading :) 

My Rating: 4 Stars





Date finished: 15/02/2020




Date published: 18/02/2020




Synopsis from Goodreads: 


Some consequences can’t be predicted…

A sniping takes place in Arlington, Virginia, less than fifteen minutes from Washington, D.C., and nets several minor injuries but only one casualty. FBI Agent Brandon Fisher and his team with the Behavioral Analysis Unit are called in to determine if the threat is still active and whether they’re looking at an act of terrorism, an isolated incident, or the first in a planned series of shootings. All that seems clear from the ground is they’re looking for a skilled sniper who is former military.

As the FBI investigates, one possible motive has Brandon battling his own demons as the consequences of past choices resurface with a vengeance. He will come to discover how one decision can not only haunt us for the rest of our lives, but spread out and have long- and far-reaching repercussions we couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Past Deeds will have you joining the FBI in following clues and unraveling the psyche of a killer. This book will make you think and reflect—and you just might wonder if any past decisions you’ve made are stalking you, ready to strike.

My Review: 

This is the eighth book in the FBI Brandon Fisher series and one of many of the books in the series I have read. I always enjoy any book that Arnold releases and this one was no exception. Arnold's writing is very fast paced and I always like the characters/plot that she writes about. What Arnold does do very well is that she can write about male and female characters just as well as the other. Some authors tend to pick just one sex to write about as that's their strength, but Arnold does both so well. 

The plot follows the sniping of a federal prosecutor and Jack Harper's team are called in to investigate following a special request. The plot then follows the motivation behind the snipers killing; is it a terrorist attack? Were they hired? The story develops each character very well and also around the relationship between Brandon and Paige as Jack yet again forces them together. Brandon is such a well written character within the pages and the whole plot itself makes you get through those pages so fast. The book is well written overall and although this is the eighth book in the series, there is no worry that they are getting boring or are going to drop down a notch in the action. 

I think the only thing for me when reading the Brandon Fisher series by Arnold, and the reason for my 4 stars and not 5 stars, is that I whole heartedly prefer the Maddison Knight series. This is just a complete preference by myself and does not mean that one book is better than the other. I really do look forward to each time the next book in both series comes out and this will be no different.

Overall, Arnold writes with great detail and texture in her books. They always start off fast paced and they always keep you gripped throughout. This was no different. I will always recommend Arnold to anyone who loves a good fast paced crime thriller. 

Happy reading. 

My Rating: 3 Stars




Date Finished: 20/09/19




Date Published:18/06/19




Goodreads Synopsis:



It's not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn't look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there's something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined.

Red doesn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods...

My Review: 

I have read the Alice series by Henry and really enjoyed that but haven't yet been sparked to read the other books she has released such as the little mermaid take or Peter Pan take. This one however, I did really fancy reading. The Alice series has a lot going for it and I feel as though the other books may never live up to how good that was. The Girl in Red was a good read but as I thought, didn't live up to Alice. 

This felt like a mixture of Henry's usual idea of fairytale turned horror mixed in with some post-apocalyptic take on the genre. So while the world is dying, Red makes the decision that she must get to her Grandmothers house so as to be safe from the outside world and the Crisis. Red also has an artificial leg which I quite liked the idea of and was a bit fresh. The story developed at a timely pace and I really liked the characters. I think my only downfall was that it wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to bed and not enough happened for me. 

Overall, it was a decent read. I will carry on picking up anymore books that Henry rolls out as long as I like the synopsis. I do hope she writes more Alice ones though. 

Happy reading. 

My Rating: 1 Star




Date Finished: 10/01/20




Date Published: 09/07/19





Goodreads Synopsis:


You just dropped off your child at the bus stop. A panicked stranger calls your phone. Your child has been kidnapped, and the stranger explains that their child has also been kidnapped, by a completely different stranger. The only way to get your child back is to kidnap another child within 24 hours. Your child will be released only when the next victim's parents kidnap yet another child, and most importantly, the stranger explains, if you don't kidnap a child, or if the next parents don't kidnap a child, your child will be murdered. You are now part of The Chain. 

My Review: 

I was really looking forward to this one but I was so disappointed. It was so boring. Nothing happened. The story basically just follows one families experience of being in the chain and then what happens at the end (without spoiling anything). This is by far the worse book I have read in a long time. I actually couldn't wait to finish it so I mostly just rushed through it and skipped the odd bits here and there. 

The characters were uninteresting. The writing was nothing interesting either. I also hated how the author changed the perspective every few pages and the time stamp was around half an hour later. I really hated that. 

Overall, I wouldn't recommend anyone to read this book. I was so looking forward to it but there was just no excitement or twists at all. 

Happy reading. 

My Rating: 5 Stars




Date finished: 22/10/19




Date Published: 30/01/18





Goodreads Synopsis: 


The serial killer isn't on trial.

He's on the jury...

They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.

This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.

All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.

What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?

What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?

My Review: 

When I first picked this one up, I had no idea it was part of a series. So to start with, this book can definitely be read as a standalone and I loved it. I don't know why I haven't picked up any of Cavanagh's books before now. 

So the book switches between the case and the main characters such as the lawyer Eddie Flynn. But we also get to see things from the perspective of the actual killer and the lengths he has gone through to make sure he is on the jury. And damn, are they some lengths! We know who they are and the whole time you are reading, you feel like shouting at the characters to say 'it's him!'.

This was a completely different read to 'Anatomy of a Scandal'. This was fast paced and exciting in a completely different way. There was a lot to take in with this book and there was just so much going on at all times, which I really loved. You won't be disappointed if you pick it up. 

I love a good courtroom drama and this was certainly a good one. I have now purchased another of Cavanaghs books just because it was that good. I hope the next one is as much a page turner as this one was!

Happy reading. 

My Rating: 4 Stars




Date finished: 28/11/19





Date Published: 23/01/18




Goodreads Synopsis: 


Sophie's husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience?

Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how easily pleasure could tip into tragedy. Most people would prefer not to try to understand what passes between a man and a woman when they are alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in an elevator... Or alone in the moonlit courtyard of an Oxford college, where a girl once stood before a boy, heart pounding with excitement, then fear. Sophie never understood why her tutorial partner Holly left Oxford so abruptly. What would she think, if she knew the truth?

My Review: 

I had been wanting to read this book for quite sometime and then I just randomly bought in a bookshop around October time. I love legal thrillers whether in book form or on the TV. Along with horror, they are one of my favourite genres. 

I really enjoyed this book. There was some good backstory, the characters were really interesting, and there was a good few twists along the way. I wouldn't say the story was very fast pace, however, I did read this quite fast. My only downfall was the ending. After all the excitement and waiting to hear what the jury concluded, the ending to the book was what made me give this one 4 stars. There was no cliffhanger, no big explosion between the characters. Nothing. It just ended in a most general way. 

I did love this book though overall. I have recommended it to many fellow readers and those who enjoy this type book. You won't be disappointed in your purchase at all. You really have no idea which way the jury are going to go but you definitely make up your own mind before it comes in. So get reading it!

Happy reading. 

My Rating: 5 Stars




Date Finished: 24/01/20





Date Published: 01/12/19





Goodread Synopsis:


Carson has been hired to locate a client’s missing brother, and it quickly gets complicated.
Somehow the missing brother is linked to a gangster who has stolen thousands from the mafia, but that link isn’t clear. Carson’s search doesn’t turn up the brother, but it does turn up a body – the body of a gangster who was on a mission of murder.
It seems that the Memphis Mafia and the Memphis Police are also searching for his client’s brother. Finding him first becomes a real priority.
The pursuit takes him to New Orleans, where a whole new mystery unfolds, which puts Carson in some very serious danger.
Then, if possible, things get worse.
More bodies appear while the Mafia chases their money, and it seems people are not who they claim to be.
This old fashion crime story takes Carson Reno and his crew on a complicated adventure, where it seems the solution may be worse than the problem.
Join our Cast of Characters and come along to help Carson find the clues, search for the truth and try to solve the Disappearance of Robin Murat.

My Review: 

I have been reading the Carson Reno mysteries for quite some time now and never have I got bored of this series. Darnell keeps pulling these great books out and I have yet to be disappointed by one yet. So lets start at the beginning. The Carson Reno series is set around the 60s and follows Reno's detective agency 'Drake Detective Agency' at the Peabody hotel. Although this is the 19th book in the series, I can definitely recommend that any book in the series can be read as a standalone. I began reading the series around about the middle of the series and have not been disappointed yet. 

Reno travels over to New Orleans in this latest page turner to discover the mystery around a missing person called Jake Furman. I really turned the pages fast on this one and I have probably said this about every book so far but this was definitely one of my favourites so far. Darnell really seems to get better with his writing and substance within his books every time. 

There was plenty of action as always in this one. Darnell really knows how to develop his characters as well as the story. The connections between Robin Murat and Jake Furman was just one of the storylines here that really got me going to wanting more.

The cover for this book is also really great. It's stylish and has a very simple and mysteries feel about it. I have to say it's one of my favourite covers so far. It feels up to date and keeping with the premise of the book. 

Overall, another great read from a really great author. I am definitely looking out for the next book in the series and hope Darnell carries on to keep it alive!

Happy reading.

My Rating: 5 Stars



Date Finished: 15/05/2019



Date Published: 07/05/2019







Goodreads Synopsis: 


The line between good and evil isn’t always clear…


Detective Madison Knight has risked her badge—and her life—in the pursuit of justice before, and she just might need to do so again. Two victims are found murdered and naked in the home of Steven Malone, who is the largest contributor to the Stiles PD. One victim is his wife. The other victim is a John Doe. This high-profile double homicide immediately pits Madison against her sergeant, who seems more intent on protecting the Malones’ reputation and retaining a benefactor than catching a killer. 

Madison will need to pull on her tenacity and courage if she’s going to follow the evidence without prejudice. In the process, it becomes clear that finding justice isn’t always black and white, and often the shades in between tell the fullest story—and it’s not something she will forget anytime soon. 

My review:

I have read a few of the previous books in the series of Madison Knight and each one has been just as good as the last. With this being the 9th book in the series, the excitement and effort that has gone into the writing has not tuned down one bit. The book, and each one previously, can be read as a stand alone book too which I always find to be the sign of a really great author. 

Detective Knight has it all thrown into her with this book; a murder, her best friends, Cynthia, wedding and an internal investigation into the corruption at the police department. This, mixed with her own personal life, makes for a roller coaster of a read. The dialogue and the environment in which Arnold writes in, the town of Stiles, are very immersive and you can picture all the scenes throughout the book. There was plenty of action from start to finish and very fast-paced; it didn't take me long to get through the book once I started. 

I enjoyed the book from start to finish and cannot wait to see what is next in store for our characters. Arnold always seems to set herself a new bar when she writes the next book in the series and has not let the series get dry like some authors do with their series. Arnold has spent so much time researching her work, her characters and the detective world. Detective Knight and those that follow within the books such as her partner, Terry, are so well written and I always enjoy each character for what they are in the book. 

I would highly recommend 'Shades of Justice' and all the books in the Madison Knight series to anyone looking for a great crime thriller book. You will not be disappointed. More people should be picking up Arnold's books and hopefully with the reviews out there, they will. 

Happy reading :) 

After a long time out of the review game, I have decided to try and get back in there. So, to begin publishing again I am taking part in book cover challenge. The challenge will cover 7 days of book covers I love to promote literacy. 


Day 1


I have accepted a challenge to post covers of seven books I love (1 book per day for 7 days) - no explanations, no reviews, just the covers. 
Each day I’ll ask a friend to take up the challenge who I have tagged on my Facebook profile. 
Let’s promote literacy & a book list. 

My Rating: 5 Stars



Date Finished: 23/12/18



Date Published: 4/12/18







Synopsis from Goodreads: 


 And they thought prison was hell… 

When a woman’s disappearance ticks off all the same boxes as two unsolved murders, Miami homicide detective Kelly Marsh is convinced there’s about to be a third. If she’s right and the killer sticks to their previous MO, she only has three days before Jenna Kelter’s decapitated head will show up somewhere in the city. With no time to waste, Kelly reaches out to the one person she knows can help: her former mentor and family friend Jack Harper, who just happens to lead a team with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. 

BAU special agent and profiler Brandon Fisher easily sees the similarities between Detective Marsh’s missing person case and the two cold cases: all three victims served time for DUI vehicular homicide and disappeared three days after being released from prison. But is that enough to assume Kelter has been abducted by a serial killer? Brandon’s not so sure and fears his boss may have let his personal connection to Marsh cloud his judgment. Surely there isn’t any other explanation for why they jumped into an investigation less than twenty-four hours after Kelter was reported missing. Then again, maybe Brandon is letting his own differences with the detective affect his perspective. He’ll need to move past it, though—and quickly. 

After all, this killer has evaded capture for the past six years, and they may be looking at a lot more victims than originally suspected. This serial killer is calling the shots and pulling them into a macabre game of cat and mouse. While the team has no choice but to play, if they don’t make the right moves, one of them may not make it out of Miami alive.

My Review: 

Reviewing books has recently taken a back seat in my life and I hate it. I love reading and I have really struggled to find the time for it recently. I don't do New Year resolutions but it is a good way to start something fresh and make changes in your life. My New Year's resolution is definitely going to be to find more time for myself and the things I love; one of them being reading and reviewing books. I can only apologise to the many individuals who have contacted me over the last six months and I haven't gotten around to their reviews yet. I promise you are not forgotten about. 

So onto the actual review. Arnold is a brilliant writer and I enjoy everything she writes. I have read a few of her Brandon Fisher series and a few of her Madison Knight series. Arnold has also started a more recent series which involves the character Matthew Conor. Every single one I have read has been a five star read and this book is no exception. A lot of hard work has gone into these books and the story lines are just so good. 

Arnold is very good at her detail and has you engrossed in the story line from start to finish. Although there are a large range of crime/thriller writers out there, Arnold should be one of your top go to books if not already. She should definitely be up there with some of the top writers. I also enjoy how there is always plenty of involvement with the characters in her books. Although Brandon Fisher is the main character of this series, we also get plenty of dialogue from the other characters and how their back stories intertwine with one another. This book in particular brought about quite in that aspect for our main character Brandon with it's setting in Miami. 

Arnold's book can all be read as stand alones which is also another great factor of all of her series. I haven't read all of the books in any of the series but I know when I start any of the books that that will not be an issue. Even though is book seven in the series, Arnold has consistently made each one just as great. I really enjoyed the story line around the serial killer in this book and the psychology with it. 

Overall, Arnold has delivered yet another great book in her Brandon Fisher series. I really hope she will keep it going. Also a big thank you to Hibert and Stiles Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is always appreciated! 

Happy reading :) 

My Rating: 5 Stars




Date finished: 10/11/18




Date published: 19/5/18




Synopsis from Goodreads: 



A famous author is murdered, Carson is at the scene of the crime and considered a prime suspect – but he doesn’t remember anything! 
Missing manuscripts, a missing diary and strange stories from the past bring an unusual group of characters together in this tangled web of deceit, blackmail and murder. The mystery travels from Memphis to New Orleans, while Carson works to prove his innocence – without success. 
Come along for the ride and follow the clues to a strange and unforgettable ending in the adventure called: Murder My Darling.

My review: 

I have enjoyed every one of the Carson Reno books I have read so far and this one is no exception. This is the 17th book in the series and I think I have read four of them so far. All of the Carson books can be read as standalone which is really great too. The cover for this book in the series is one of my favourites so far and I really think it has a much more professional and endearing quality to it. It feels as though as Carson is evolving throughout the book series, so is the quality and covers. 

Darnell writes really well and I would recommend any of his novels to anyone who reads the crime/thriller genre. He may not be as well known as some authors but he definitely deserves to be as well known as the big players in his genre. Each time I have read another Carson book, Darnell has always brought something new to the series. This one is no different and it was really great to read this book from a slightly different view point whereby Carson is in some serious trouble and not exactly on the right side of the law. 

Overall, this is another great addition to the Carson Reno series. I never have anything negative to say about Darnell as an author and Carson as a book series. So, this review is a little short and sweet but all I can really say is give them a go. You will honestly be surprised as to how much you end up enjoy this series and how much this series still relates to the present time; very realistic feeling and well thought out. Thank you for the opportunity again, even if it is a little late in posting. 

Happy reading :) 

My rating: 4 Stars.



Date finished: 24/4/18



Date published: 20/9/16




Synopsis from Goodreads: 





Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

My review: 

I had been looking at this book for a few months and deciding whether to read it. If you follow my reviews you may notice that crime/horror/thriller are my top favourite genres. I am also always on the look out for something a little different. What drew me to this book (apart from the gorgeous cover) is the strong female lead in a time where this wasn't really allowed. I don't specifically go out of my way to just read books with female leads, although I do read alot of them.

This book did actually take me a good several sittings to get through. Sometimes I would read big chunks and other times I wouldn't. The story read somewhere between fast and slow paced. Overall it was generally quite easy to read which I always like in a book. There was only one thing that niggled me whilst reading this book. Although it doesn't say in this synopsis from Goodreads, on the back of the book it does mention that our main character loved the ripper and this gave me a biased approach to looking for who the ripper might be. If you are going to read this book, don't fall into this trap as we don't really have any clues to who the ripper is until the back end of the book and it is not quite as obvious as you may think. 

The author does a really good job of creating a dark atmosphere and letting us into an environment of the late 19th century London. The way Maniscalco describes London and the way the bodies are shows an author who has done her research and create the perfect atmosphere. These were some of my favourite parts of the book. I'm not too sure on how much I really liked Audrey. She was an ok character but I'm not sure if I felt like I was rooting for her to find out who the ripper was.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The series is definitely going to be something I will look to keep reading. Although there is quite a bit of detail to the murders and everything that goes with it, I can still feel the YA side of this book. If you're only starting to get into this genre, then this book is a great start. I look forward to picking up the next book! 

Happy reading :) 

My Rating: 4 Stars. 



Date finished: 12/4/18



Date published: 17/4/18



Synopsis from Goodreads: 






In Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know it.
 
Archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a global disaster.
 
So when a former colleague stumbles across an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a pharaoh’s tomb and the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.
 
The road ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting legends, they can’t trust anyone.

My review: 

This is the third book I have read by Arnold and completely different to the previous two. Arnold is known for her crime writing series's featuring Brandon Fisher and Madison Knight. I accepted the offer of reading this book as I completely loved the books I have read previously; they were both definitely 5 stars worthy books! I also, like many individuals I think, have a real interest in Ancient Egypt and mysteries in general. This book gave a feel of a real adventure type book and something any Indiana Jones type lover may really enjoy. 

Arnold has kept up on her excellent writing skills in this book as with the previous ones I have read and has also done a really good job of describing everything and the characters. One thing I really enjoy about Arnold's work is that she does a really good job of researching her ideas and the genre she is writing in. This book is no exception to that and it is well thought out and informed. 

This is the second book in the Matthew Connor series and I haven't read the first book. Arnold has done another good job here of allowing the reader to jump into a series without reading the previous book/s. The book had a fast paced read to it and it didn't take me long to get into the storyline once in. The storyline is pretty much go from the first pages. All things I like in a good book. 

Overall, this was a really good book; fast paced and entertaining. My own personal opinions however, are that I didn't love it just quite as much as the previous books I had read by Arnold. This is definitely not a reason to not pick this one up, I do just love my crime books more. I always appreciate a very well written book and I was still very entertained by this one. I would pick up another book in this series as I am fascinated by mysteries of this type. I look forward to the next book I pick up by Arnold, whichever the series!

Happy reading :)