This book is a fascinating read about morality and the ethics of using violence for avenging the innocent.
We are introduced to Ellie and Mia. They are on different sides of the law.
Ellie wins the lottery and sets up rescue centres for animals but also hires a team to get revenge on those that abuse and kill animals. Mia is a doctor helping the police with their investigation into the human murders and acts of terrorism. She goes off on her own and searches for the killers at the behest of the lead detective who is in love with her.
Halfway through the book is a major development (I won’t spoil it!) and Mia finds herself with an unthinkable dilemma.
The author Chris Clement-Green has really spun a good tale. This book would be brilliant for a book club as the opposing viewpoints would provide an excellent debate. It is so thought provoking and relevant to today’s modern society as well as my own personal journey to be vegan and cruelty free.
The title She Will Rescue You has multiple meanings. Ellie is rescuing animals as well as saving humans from their own worst excesses. She is saving those who work for her by providing a safe home and a reason to live. In the second half of the book, Mia is trying to rescue and protect others (no more details, my lips are sealed!)
I admit that it took me a while to get into this book as the two strands seem worlds apart to begin with. However, it is definitely worth persevering as the twist is fabulous and the whole book is stunningly intelligent.
SHE WILL RESCUE BY CHRIS CLEMENT GREEN
TWO WOMEN ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LAW WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING FOR WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT
Dr Mia Langley is a criminal forensic psychologist working for the National Crime Agency. Elegant, intelligent, and ambitious but lonely. She works among society’s darkest minds in perpetrator profiling.
A man is murdered in a Norfolk turkey shed. Just another violent incident or something more?
Ellie Grant is a lonely young woman. She works for minimum wage at an animal shelter and nurses a simmering hatred for all those who abuse animals.
When she “finds” a winning lottery ticket, she face a terrible choice: use the money for what she believes in or give the ticket back to its rightful owner.
THE TWO WOMAN WILL BECOME LOCKED IN A BATTLE WHICH WILL TEST ALL THEIR BELIEFS. HOW FAR WILL EACH OF THEM GO?
And both women fall in love with the same man.
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Discover a race-against-time thriller which will have you gripped from the first page to the last.
THE AUTHOR
Chris(tine) Clement-Green retired from Thames Valley Police after sixteen years as a uniform sergeant followed by five as a civilian investigator on serious and organised crime teams in Humberside and Wiltshire – which included working on several murder incident rooms and national drug operations. She is the author of the memoir, “Into the Valley.”
Chris Clement-Green Author Bio
I retired from Thames Valley Police after sixteen years as a uniform sergeant followed by five as a civilian investigator on serious and organised crime teams in Humberside and Wiltshire – which included working on several murder incident rooms.
My serious writing started in 2007 when I entered the National Association of Writer’s Groups annual short story competition. It was my first competition so I was astonished to win with Pebbles. This win encouraged me to undertake the Open University Creative Writing and Advanced Creative Writing courses, which I completed with distinction. In 2013 I was accepted onto the prestigious Bath Spa University Creative Writing MA, where I completed a humorous but gritty life-writing manuscript Into the Valley which was subsequently published by Mirror Books in 2017.
I have had several articles and letters published in national UK magazines, most notably Writing Magazine, and in September 2016 I was published in The New Guard Volume V a literary journal based in New York. I have also been short listed in the Literature Works First Page Writing Prize and in several Writing Magazine competitions. In 2016 my fantasy short story, Layla, was published in Divinity Fantasia Magazine and I won the Oriel Davis Prose Competition with Cosmic Tiger and was also a finalist in the Women in Comedy Festival with my monologue Queenie. This year my article Food for Thought was runner up in the Scribble annual article completion, and I co-wrote a piece on the subject of Mentoring with James McCreet which was published on the 6th September 2018.
My recently completed debut novel She Will Rescue You is being published on the 30th May 2019 by Joffe Books and I am currently working on a new crime novel – Rage Hard which is another police procedural set in Oxford revolving around a white WPC and black criminal during the race riots of Thatcher’s Britain.
I also run tutored and untutored writing retreats from my home in mid Wales – thewelshwritingshed.co.uk
Granny Franny and her big red bus are off on another adventure!
In Granny Franny’s Big Zoo Rescue, we meet up again with Granny Franny and her grandchildren Jax and Ronni. The talking bus bell Thinkerbell also returns with her rhyming speech.
The premise of this book is a trip to the zoo but things quickly go wrong when the children climb on board the bus and spot escaped animals on their journey. Can Granny Franny and the children use the bus to round up the animals and get them safely back to the zoo…?
As you can see from the photos above, the illustrations are fun and bright. Thinkerbell has the word ‘push’ on her nose so Zach obliged each time! This is a lovely book to share with younger children and is a fun way for older siblings to enjoy time with little ones whilst practising their expression and fluency of reading.
In these tricky lockdown times, some escapism and adventure is very much appreciated! Happy memories of bus trips and visits to the zoo as well as time with grandparents are all evoked with this sweet children’s book.
Whilst writing this book, author and illustrator Sonia Beldom was visited by a little robin so has decided to make a donation to the RSPB for every book sold. She has also hidden a little robin on each page adding an extra fun thing to spot.
My favourite part of the book was the lion’s rescue while Zach enjoyed hunting for the robin among the other animals. Matthew enjoyed an incident with elephant poo!
Take a look at my review of the first book in the series: Granny Franny’s Big Red Bus, or for more information, take a look at Granny Franny’s website.
About Granny Franny’s Big Zoo Rescue and its author:
Granny Franny’s second adventure on her big red bus starts when her special Zoosday Tuesday appears to be over before it has begun. With the help of her resourceful grand children, Jax & Ronni, Thinkerbell the talking bus bell and a host of funny new characters, Granny Franny comes to the rescue of a zoo whose animals have escaped overnight. Will she be able to pick up the penguins, marshall the monkeys and lure the lion back?
This funny story is about the unbreakable bonds between grand parents and their grand children, the spirit of adventure, generosity, conquering fears, kindness and helping each other.
While Sonia was writing Granny Franny’s Big Zoo Rescue, a tame robin came to visit her every day; sometimes sitting on her laptop screen, often eating out of her hand and exploring the house. Sonia was heartbroken when a sparrow hawk swooped down to take her robin away, so in the little robin’s honour Sonia has planted a picture of him on every page and a percentage of sales is going to the RSPB.
Sam and Maggie head off on a cruise. He is hoping to kindle a romance in the sun while she wants to head to the Nordic countries. Then the pair spot some familiar faces and death isn’t far behind…
Death on the High Seas is the 4th book in the Shires Mysteries series to feature amateur sleuths Sam and Maggie. I have previously read and reviewed the 2nd book in the series, At Death’s Door.
The book is written from Maggie’s first person via journal entriees as well as third person narrative to show the plot developments. Her personality really shines through (I described her as eccentric in my last review but would perhaps update this to vivacious) which contrasts with the more reticent Sam.
I found it really interesting that the author has chosen to depart from the usual setting and supporting characters. I have always wanted to go on a cruise and felt immersed in the setting, however I am afraid I agree with Sam and would want a warmer one!
The mystery side of the book has several layers and I wasn’t sure which direction the book was going to take. Maggie can see spirits which adds another dimension to her character and the plot. Maggie and Sam spot a mother and son with a criminal background from their hometown, Maggie meets up with an old flame, and the cruise ship picks up a distress signal from a fishing boat with injured people onboard.
Death on the High Seas is an entertaining cosy mystery and I love the dynamic between the two main characters.
Death on the High Seas
Maggie and Sam take a break from the murder and mayhem of Bishops Well and embark on a relaxing mid-winter cruise across the northern seas. The brochure promises smooth sailing, good food and dazzling entertainment. Sam is hoping to sprinkle the mix with romance.
But nothing goes to plan.
Maggie runs into an old lover, the mesmerising Benedict Rawbotham, who goes out of his way to sweep her off her feet. Sam is left seething with jealousy.
A mayday signal sent by a fishing boat forces the cruise liner off course. But there is something fishy about the rescued crew and Maggie insists that two young women have died on that boat. Alas, no one believes her.
Soon one of the alleged fishermen is also dead and so is one of the cruise passengers. Cordelia Conti Lang, nicknamed the Bitcoin Queen, with links to London’s criminal underworld, is found in her cabin, stabbed to death.
In pursuit of the killer, Maggie hurtles from one disaster to another and Sam begins to fear for her life. Has he taken her on a cruise to hell?
Author Bio – Although she writes in a wide range of genres, Anna Legat is best known for her DI Gillian Marsh detective series and The Shires, her cosy murder mysteries. Anna is also the author of the historical thriller, Buried in the Past. She lives near Bath.
A successful serial killer who has avoided attention for years. A DCI trying to prove he is fit to work and a journalist looking for a career-making story. Let battle commence!
The Genius Killer is a serial killer crime thriller set in the north of England.
Karl is a killer, we know that from the start. He began his killing due to abuse he suffered as a child. He also targets those who have wronged him and this makes his killings almost understandable. Part of me admired his strength and passion whilst abhorring his behaviour.
The killer, detective and journalist could all be classed as genius and this is why they are such good adversaries. The methods of death are so clever and the emotional background almost make you sympathise with Karl, but is anyone really deserving of death?
Tex Deacon is also someone who is soooo easy to like. He has has a devastating experience with the death of his wife but is eager to be back catching killers. He forms an unlikely but respectful relationship with an up and coming journalist looking for her big break.
The stage is set for the opponents to collide. I was rooting for both sides. Karl is ‘sinned against’ as well as ‘sinning’ whilst Tex is so easy to like and we want him to overcome his own demons. The writing style is very engaging and the plot develops rapidly.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator uses accents to define the different characters effectively. I increased the speed to x2 or x2.5 as I sped towards the end. This allowed me to listen to the book in less than 6 hours which kept me focussed on the characters and events.
The Genius Killer is a very clever and enjoyable detective and serial killer thriller.
The dark heart of a brilliant and ruthless psychopath
A celebrated but haunted detective
A determined young reporter hunting for justice – and the big story
Karl Jackson is a particularly vengeful sociopath with his unique way of ‘problem-solving’. DCI Tex Deacon suffers from the trauma of his beloved wife’s death and finds it immensely difficult to come to terms with it. As a Detective Chief Inspector specialising in murder and killer profiling, Tex has a relentless workload from his base on the edges of the mountains of the Lake District.
Tex is under pressure from his superiors to take a step back to grieve properly. It’s clear that Susan’s death has ripped out part of his soul. There is no doubt that Tex is suffering, but this DCI is a driven man. Tex’s welfare is the responsibility of his boss Chief Constable Barbara Bracewell, and she and Tex go back a very long way. However, Bracewell must do what is right for Tex and the Cumbrian police force.
Despite falling into a mental abyss, Tex’s instincts for the hunt never leave him. A hyper-intelligent and devious murderer appears in his crosshairs – the self-styled ‘Genius Killer’. So what will Tex do? What can he get away with doing with the Chief Constable monitoring his every move?
And then there’s Debbie Pilkington, a tenacious and hugely ambitious cub reporter at the local paper – The Rimpton Chronicle. Debbie has big stories and a big future in her own sights. A young journalist, a craggy and vastly experienced detective, and one of the most dangerous serial killers Britain has even seen. Their lives were about to intertwine. The chase to stop a cunning killer begins. Tex is a master at breaking down the thinking processes of those he hunts but with Tex enduring his own psychological meltdown, can he penetrate the mind of this supremely malevolent psychopath?
Mark’s Bio
I’ve been a journalist and broadcaster for over forty years working almost exclusively in sport. I was employed for fifteen years by SKY Sports, eleven years by the BBC, and three years by UTV. Elsewhere I have worked on significant national contracts for ITV, Eurosport and Viaplay Sport and have freelanced for many top class broadcasters like BT and NEP. I have been involved in BAFTA and Sony award winning programmes. For the last number of years I have focused on rugby, my main sporting passion, as a commentator and reporter with SKY, as well as Premier Sport and, formerly, Setanta Sport and Eirsport. I’ve commentated on four Rugby World Cups and two football World Cups and covered the Olympics in Sydney in 2000. I was working on the Six Nations Rugby as a commentator for NEP when all sport stopped due to the corona virus pandemic, so, after some persuasion from my then girlfriend Petra, I decided to write my first novel.
The seed for the novel came from a comment made to me by a senior member of the fell running community who knew well many members of the amazing, life saving Mourne Mountain Rescue Team in Northern Ireland. We were out for a fell run one day and were talking about the thousands of rescues Mourne Mountain Rescue had carried out. Out of the blue my craggy companion whispered, “If you want to commit murder – and get away with it – the mountains are the perfect place to do it” .Fell running has been a passion for me. I’ve run over a hundred races and competed in many navigation focused Mourne Mountain Marathons. Unbelievably, for me, I managed to crawl to the finish line in a couple of 50 mile Ultra races. One was in the Addo Elephant Safari Park in the Zuurberg mountains in South Africa and the other was the Grand Raid des Pyrenees. I was rubbish – always one of the stumblers right at the back of the field! I’ve hiked in the Andes, the Blue Mountains, the Picos de Europa, the Alps and other ranges around the globe so no surprise then that quite a bit of ‘The Genius Killer’ is set in the mountains. In this case the magnificent peaks of the Lake District.
A criminal family turned good. A police officer as best man. But one of the guests is planning a murder….
Murder at the Wedding is the 9th book in the Rina Martin series. I have read and reviewed the previous book in the series, Murder at the Willows.
The book begins with a gangland killing and the escape of an undercover officer. The plot then jumps forward to the upcoming nuptuals of Bridie and Fitch, a chance for a new future on the right side of the law. But there are issue with a will and someone is prepared to murder in order to gain success and power for themselves.
There is plenty of build up to the murder which doesn’t occur until after the wedding, a third of the way through the book. Even Rina is almost a secondary character in this opening third as she enjoys the wedding preparations. Mac, a police officer has a better idea that something dangerous is brewing as he has been asked by his boss to keep an eye on proceedings, leaving him the difficult task of juggling the personal and professional.
As with the previous book, I felt a little overwhelmed by the number of characters and their pre-established relationships. I definitely think that the whole series should be read in order to understand the development of character profiles and their relationships.
I liked the claustrophobic atmosphere of the remote wedding venue which increase the tension. There were multiple layers of plot and I enjoyed the different viewpoints of the wedding location and guests.
Murder at the Wedding is a enjoyable murder mystery but a little slow at times as it relies on prior knowledge of the characters.
MURDER AT THE WEDDING (Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 9) by Jane Adams
If you love Miss Marple or Agatha Raisin, you’ll love Rina!
Meet Rina Martin, a retired actress with a taste for tea, gardening and crime solving.
She played a TV sleuth for years, but now she has to do it for real.
Rina’s friend Bridie Duggan is tying the knot! At a majestic country house on a private island. Rina and thirteen other guests row out for the ceremony.
One of them has murder in mind . . .
The next day, Rina’s out exploring the island when she hears a blood-curdling scream. She races down the twisty steps to shore — to find a dead body!
This guest didn’t fall to their death. They were pushed.
A storm is rolling in on Bridie’s perfect day. Now there’s no way on or off the island.
Rina can’t stand by and wait for the police to come to their rescue.
But what if Rina’s snooping just moved her from the guestlist to the kill list?
If you love Agatha Christie, Jeanne M. Dams, Glenda Young, Stella Cameron and Frances Evesham, prepare to be hooked by this page-turning whodunnit mystery.
THE DETECTIVE
Determined and compassionate, Rina Martin on a mission is an unstoppable force. When Rina retired from acting, she bought a B&B in Frantham on Sea. There, she has a quirky cast of full-time boarders, including wannabe magician Tim. She only wanted a quiet life. Instead, events propel Rina into full investigation mode, and she gets a taste for sleuthing. Can she help it if crimes just keep turning up on her doorstep?
THE SETTING
Tucked away in a charming little bay on the Jurassic coast, Frantham on Sea is a typical Victorian seaside town, with a picture-perfect promenade, B&Bs, and a grand hotel perched atop the headland. At the end of the promenade is the police station, where the officers’ days have always been short and uneventful — until Rina comes to town, and things take a turn for the sinister.
JANE ADAMS
Jane Adams is the author of more than thirty published crime novels. The first, The Greenway, was nominated for both the Authors’ Club award and the CWA John Creasey for best debut novel.
Jane is constantly amazed at where life has taken her. Writing had never been on her ‘possible careers’ list, but she says once stories take root in your brain, they just have to be told – and she feels very fortunate that people want to read them.
In addition to writing, Jane teaches creative writing, read and mentor for The Literary Consultancy, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and FRSA.