A military widow believes she is being haunted. Then she is found dead, an apparent suicide but the evidence suggests murder. Dave Kane is concerned that his own military secret identity is at risk…
Chase Her Shadow is the 17th book in the Kane and Alton series. There are no spoilers about cases from previous books. However, the main characters’ past plays a key role in this book although I feel that there is enough information for it to work as a stand alone (but I think you should read them all!)
Willow Smith’s husband died on Halloween. Now on this Halloween she hears his voice, feels his presence and senses he is near. Her body is found a few hours later and the early assumption of suicide is soon discredited and a murder investigation begins.
Kane is convinced that a link with Willow’s husband’s military death is key. But his investigation threatens his own protection. The majority of the book is written in the third person to show the victims and police but a third of the way through there is a first person chapter which is really sinister.
The tone of this book is much more spooky than previous books in the series. Isolated locations, creaking old buildings and ghostly footsteps: I really felt the creepy atmosphere and think I will reread this next Halloween!
Chase Her Shadow is a great addition to the series.
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Book: CHASE HER SHADOW
Author: D.K. Hood
Pub Day: DECEMBER 9TH 2022
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She wakes suddenly. Dawn is still hours away, but through the window of her log cabin in the woods, something moves in the distance. A lone figure in the forest. Her blood runs cold as the shadow begins to walk slowly toward her…
It’s Halloween in Black Rock Falls and Sheriff Jenna Alton and her deputy David Kane are called to a small lodge on the outskirts of town. Jenna is devastated to find the lifeless body of Willow Smith, a military widow whose husband went missing in action and has been presumed dead for years. Her breath catches in her throat when she notices the heart-shaped purple medal on Willow’s pale chest. Was Willow clinging to it when she died, or was it placed there after she took her last breath?
Desperately chasing down every lead, Jenna hears that Willow had been receiving silent phone calls in the dead of night. Witnesses say Willow thought her missing husband was trying to make contact. Wishful thinking of a lonely wife consumed with grief, or a heartless killer hoping to terrify her?
Days later, another woman’s body is found at the bottom of a perilous ravine. Jenna’s worst fear is confirmed the moment she spots a purple medal: a dangerous serial killer is preying on the wives of soldiers from the same platoon, and if she doesn’t act fast, more lives will be at risk.
The key lies in discovering what happened to the missing soldiers, and whether any of them made it back alive. But, separated from her team in a secluded forest, Jenna hears a branch snap behind her. She is not alone. Will she be the next victim of a twisted trained soldier on the loose? And how many more grieving widows will have their lives snatched before he’s caught?
Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot, Chase Her Shadow is a truly unputdownable crime thriller from USA Today bestselling author D.K. Hood. Prepare to be hooked!
**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
Author Bio
D.K. Hood is THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY and AMAZON bestselling author of the Detective Kane and Alton Series. Her spine chilling, fast-paced serial killer thrillers revolve around Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex-special forces Deputy, Dave Kane. As the main characters fight crime, their secret pasts are never far away. Set in and around the fictional backwoods town of Black Rock Falls, Montana, known locally as Serial Killer Central, D.K.’s imagery takes the reader into the scenes with her. Given the title “Queen of Suspense” by her reviewers, D.K.’s writing style offers her readers a movie style, sizzling fast thrill ride.
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Scarlet’s love affair with a cop is over and he has been secretly moved abroad for his own safety. She is intent on revenge on the woman who betrayed them: her own cousin Ruby…
Her Fight is the 5th book in the Drew gangland crime series. The personal relationships have developed over the course of the previous books and play a key role in this plot, however I think it would be easy to catch up.
We are thrown straight into the action as Scarlet is questioned by police about the murder that her lover covered up. The police officers involved have a vendetta against her for both personal and professional reasons. However, my sympathy was automatically with her due to the justification of the murder. They live by a different code to others but have strict rules so her involvement in the murder is acceptable.
The writing is very engaging and the characters are well written. I felt that the animosity betwen the characters has been building over the prevous books but now the family relationships are crucial to the survival of certain characters. There is violence as you would expect from the genre but it fits with the plot and characters.
The wonderful Lily Drew (who I feel is the real star of the books) has trouble with all of her children but wants to keep the family bonds sacred. Her mixed emotions about the Scarlet and Ruby situation alongside the truth about her children’s father threaten the security and respect she has previously enjoyed.
Her Fight is a great addition to the series and I love the emotional side to the dark characters.
MEDIA PACK
Title: Her Fight
Author: Emma Tallon
Publication day: December 13th 2022
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If you love reading Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, you won’t be able to put down this absolutely gripping gangland crime thriller from bestselling author Emma Tallon.
Scarlet Drew is hellbent on getting revenge on her cousin Ruby after she exposed Scarlet’s illicit affair with a Met detective. Scarlet fears she’ll never see her boyfriend again now he’s in hiding, and she wants to make Ruby pay.
With all her focus on Ruby, Scarlet fails to notice an old enemy rearing its ugly head. Trapped in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of London with her aunt Lily, she realises too late the danger they’re in, and that someone has been feeding their most dangerous rival information – someone from inside the family firm…
As the Drews face their most deadly fight yet, they know that with just one wrong move, their entire world could come crashing down. Can they catch the mole working alongside them? And when Scarlet finally gets her hands on Ruby, will she get the revenge she’s been waiting for?
Author Bio:
Emma Tallon is a British author of gripping, gritty, organised crime thrillers. With a number of bestsellers published by Bookouture since early 2017, Emma continues to write full time and has many ideas in the pipeline for future novels.
For more information on Emma or to join her mailing list, please go to: www.emmatallon.com
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Celebrity marriage guidance couple Beau and Claudia are all set to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. But he arrives late and finds his beloved wife dead….
The Innocent Wife is the 16th detective thriller novel to feature Josie Quinn and her team. There are no spoilers about previous cases whilst their personal lives and relationships have developed over the course of the series.
Beau and Claudia appear to have the perfect life but Josie is convinced that someone isn’t happy with them. Could someone’s marriage have failed despite their advice? Her theory is challenged when more of their acquaintances are killed and the killer leads Beau and the police in a chilling game.
I enjoyed the dynamics of this book. Josie and Noah are newly married but the marriage advice makes them consider their own relationship. There is a tension as Josie’s ex returns and she has mixed emotions about him. But everyone loves his dog!
Most of the book is written in the third person to show the investigation. We do get some unnamed diary entries which show a person in turmoil and this raises questions about their identity and how it relates to the plot. The chapters are quite short and full of action so the plot races along.
The Innocent Wife is a good addition to the series and I love the relationship between Josie and Noah.
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Title: THE INNOCENT WIFE
Author: Lisa Regan
Publication Day: DECEMBER 12TH 2022
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Description:
Candles are lit and their rich vanilla scent twists its way through the cabin. The table is set for a romantic anniversary dinner with fresh roses dropping crimson petals on crisp white linen. But the woman seated at the table is cold to the touch, and there’s blood trickling down her neck…
When Denton’s most loved TV presenter returns home to find his wife dead at the dining table, it shatters the close-knit community. Beautiful and absolutely besotted with each other, Beau and Claudia Collins were idolized for being the perfect couple. But the devastating scene Detective Josie Quinn finds in their remote hideaway has her asking what dark secrets lurk beneath the surface of this seemingly flawless marriage?
Beau is grief-stricken by the loss of his kind-hearted wife who gave so much to others as a therapist, but Josie needs to know the significance of the small wooden puzzle box found clutched in Claudia’s hand. A prop in a popular game Beau played with his viewers to test the strength of their relationships, is it a twisted calling card, or a challenge from the killer?
The broken body of one of Beau and Claudia’s assistants is found the next day, a matching little box left in the dirt beside her. It’s clear that if Beau doesn’t start telling the truth about the flaws in his marriage, those dearest to him will die.
Caught in a cat and mouse chase with disturbing revelations and a mounting body count at every turn, Josie and her team work night and day to keep Beau’s loved ones safe. What kind of calculating monster would do this? A faded newspaper article about a tragic accident is the break Josie desperately needs. But she may already be too late, an innocent child is in danger…
An absolutely gripping rollercoaster of a crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Guaranteed to have you sleeping with the lights on and shouting from the rooftops about the twists, it’s perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio:
Lisa Regan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. Lisa is a member of Sisters In Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the U.S. with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com
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TRIGGER WARNING: rape, adoption, cancer
Ruth has a wonderful husband and a thriving business: everything she could wish for. But she is also harbouring a secret. Nadia arrives on her doorstep declaring that Ruth is her biological mother and starts to blackmail her…
The Secret She Kept is a psychological thriller set in America.
At the start of the book we meet Nadia as she commits murder in revenge for the death of her adopted mother. This sets her up as a very dangerous individual and creates a tension and anticipation as she then sets her sights of Ruth. She inveigles herself into Ruth’s life, threatening her personal and professional relationships.
Ruth has kept her teen pregnancy and the identity of the baby’s father a secret for over 20 years. Now she is desperate to stop Nadia revealing the truth and destroying her marriage. She becomes increasingly scared of Nadia and feels powerless in the face of her vengeful daughter.
The book is written from the first person perspectives of Ruth and Nadia. This allows the reader to empathise with both even though we dislike their choices and actions. Both women are flawed and haunted by events out of their control. I felt that the ending stretched my credulity a little too far but the epilogue left me wanting more.
The Secret She Kept is a powerful novel about the danger of secrets.
I have previously reviewed The Favorite Child by Cathryn Grant.
Book Blurb
There are some things you just don’t see coming. Like Nadia.
Ruth feels like she’s living the dream. She is happily married to the love of her life, Cameron, and she is deeply fulfilled in her work – running the wellness center that grew out of their shared vision.
But something feels off to Ruth about a new client, Nadia. She asks so many probing and personal questions about Ruth’s life. It feels intrusive to the point where Ruth asks the young woman to leave.
But Nadia isn’t going anywhere.
Because she knows far more about Ruth than she let on. In fact, she knows everything about Ruth’s past, including the dark secret Ruth thought was locked forever inside her own heart.
Now, Nadia is blackmailing Ruth, putting her under unbearable stress. Ruth can’t get rid of Nadia – who has inserted herself into the family home – but she has no way to get the money Nadia is demanding without Cameron finding out. And if Cameron discovers what happened all those years ago, she knows she’ll lose him forever.
Ruth feels utterly trapped, on the brink of losing everything that matters to her. And she begins to wonder just what she is willing to do to protect… the secret she kept.
Author Bio
Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.
When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.
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Patsy is the new head of the Diamond family and gang so she needs to assert her authority as well as deal with some issues from the past…
Queen of Diamonds is the 3rd book in the Diamond series. I would advise reading the books in order as this is the first book that I have read and I was confused by the relationships between the characters and the whole host of backstory given at the start.
I felt that the main plot didn’t really start until a quarter of the way through the book. The first part of the book seemed to be recapping the past plotlines and the connections between the characters.
Patsy needs to assert her new power and prove she is a worthy leader after the death of her husband and his grandmother. She also has to deal with the fallout from their choices and her own within the family as well as the criminal underworld. The past plays a strong role in this book but the present is just as dangerous. Family and loyalty are important themes in the book.
The characters have a softer side and this allows us to understand them and their emotions and actions. There is also the darker level that you would expect from a gang novel so there is swearing, drug dealing, prostitution, violence and death.
Queen of Diamonds is a gritty gang crime novel.
Queen of Diamonds
Is the Diamond reign over?
Head of the Diamond family, Patsy is determined to make a success of husband Nick’s gangland empire – whatever the cost. Nick was ruthless and cold-blooded, but he built a legacy that Patsy wants to protect.
So when a mysterious woman from Nick’s past turns up claiming to be Patsy’s new business partner, she senses trouble. Karen Duret demands Patsy’s help, but it comes with a catch. If Patsy refuses, Karen threatens to expose the Diamond family’s darkest secrets…
Patsy needs the help of her trusted allies more than ever, but when a rival gang start a turf war, the stakes suddenly become deadly.
Torn between loyalties, Patsy knows that blood will be spilled. And as battle commences, the question on everyone’s lips is – who will be crowned the queen of diamonds?
Author Bio –
Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories.
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