Ashley Cooke is determined to prove himself to his pregnant wife Shelby, the daughter of gangster Pete Baker. But he turns to the Boland brothers for a loan he can’t repay. Shelby is viciously attacked which triggers an early labour. Were the Boland brothers and Ashley reponsible and will any of them be safe from the wrath of Pete?
No Going Back is the third book to feature DC Lucy Murphy and the notorious Griffin estate. I have previously reviewed the previous books in the series: No Escape and No Fear.
This case gets much too personal for Lucy as it brings back a huge heap of emotions as her own mother was murdered while pregnant. Lucy is anxious to prevent other families going through what she has experienced and is utterly dedicated to catcthing the killer before any more pregnant women can be attacked.
Lucy’s personal life inevitably features heavily in this case which has such similarities to her own mother’s murder. She has the dilemma of remembering the killer’s face from 20 years ago and now has to determine whether to search for him. This is confused by her grandmother’s health and concern for her wellbeing that could be negatively affected by reoprning the case. There is further development of Lucy’s professional relationships and a potential romance…
The characters created by Casey Kelleher are just so realistic because the writing is so good. I felt like I could understand the motivations of every single person in the book whether I could relate to them myself or found them repugnant. Each character was multi dimensional and had nuances to their behaviour and personalities.
The case is brutal and obviously attacks on pregnant women is very emotive. There is also gang related violence but this is not gratuitous or prominent. The plot and setting are compelling due to their authenticity.
No Going Back is gritty, emotional, thrilling, tense and excellent!
I have also reviewed The Forgotten by Casey Kelleher.
MEDIA PACK Info Sheet
Author: Casey Kelleher
Book: NO GOING BACK
Publication Day: April 29th 2021
Description:
A child has been taken. A family is out for revenge.
Riley Cooke is just one day old when he is stolen from the hospital. His young mother, Shelby, is beside herself. DC Lucy Murphy and her team face a race against time to find the vulnerable baby and bring him home – before the child’s grandfather, fearsome gangster Pete Baker, takes matters into his own hands.
Pete is sure he knows who’s behind baby Riley’s abduction, and he thinks they ought to pray Lucy finds them before he does. Because someone is going to pay dearly for causing this much pain to his family.
They say never stand between a gangster and his target. But that’s exactly what Lucy must do – because if Pete is wrong, innocent blood could flow.
A shocking and addictive read that will keep you turning the pages. Fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Emma Tallon will love this.
Author Bio:
Born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, Casey Kelleher grew up as an avid reader and a huge fan of author Martina Cole.
Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up her three children together with her husband, Casey penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time.
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Twitter: @caseykelleher
Jem Jago returns to her home town on the Isles of Scilly. She left under a cloud after a devastating accident which the islanders have never forgotten. On the night of her arrival home, she discovers a body and the local animosity towards her sees her as the prime suspect…
A Death at Seascape House is a darker than usual cosy murder mystery. The setting is beautiful and the narrative clearly evokes the island landscape.
Jem is an interesting character, a librarian with passion and an edginess. This sharpness puts her at odds with many other characters and I struggled to warm to her at first. However, she is haunted by her past so I think she is brave to face her mistakes and gradually becomes more likeable as we find out more about her.
There is a frisson of romantic tension between Jem and her old flame Rhys as well as the newly arrived police sergeant. This adds an extra dimension to the plot as well as making Jem a more rounded and believable character.
The murder happens quite early on in the book so we are thrown straight into the mystery. Being an island community, there are differences to usual police procedures. We do not get much forensic detail but there are some brutal descriptions.
There is a strong emotional thread running through the book as Jem faces her childhood ghosts. The incident which forced her away from the islands was not unexpected when finally revealed but the unfairness towards Jem really gained her my sympathy.
A Death at Seascape House was an intriguing start to a new series and I look forward to seeing what awaits Jem next.
MEDIA PACK Info Sheet
Author: Emma Jameson
Book: A Death at Seascape House
Publication Day: 27/04/21
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Description:
With its sweeping sandy beaches and rolling emerald hills, the island of St. Morwenna is an idyllic escape. But behind the perfectly pruned primroses and neighborly smiles a killer lies in wait…
When librarian Jemima Jago is offered the opportunity to catalogue Cornwall’s largest collection of antique shipwreck records it is a dream come true. The only problem? The collection is housed on the island of St. Morwenna, the childhood home she left years ago and vowed never to return to.
Shortly after Jem arrives back in town, island busybody and notorious grump Edith Reddy is found dead, with duct tape clamped over her mouth and nose. Jem, caught seemingly red-handed at the scene of the crime, mistakenly becomes the police’s number one suspect. The handsome Sergeant Hackman in particular can’t seem to leave Jem alone…
Jem must take matters into her own hands if she wants to clear her name. Snooping around Edith’s once-grand home, she is struck by the mess before her. The bedroom is completely ransacked and in the living room all the photographs have been removed from their frames. Was Edith’s death simply a break-in gone wrong, or is there more to the mystery that the police are missing?
Jem has a sharp eye for a clue and she soon realizes that many of the island’s eccentric residents had reason for wanting Edith out of the way. Could Declan, the curious café owner, or Bart, the fishy ferryman have killed Edith? Jem won’t rest until she uncovers the truth, but doing so will put her right in the killer’s line of sight…
A totally charming cozy mystery from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emma Jameson. Brimming with intrigue and warm humor, fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love A Death at Seascape House.
Author Bio:
Emma Jameson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Lord & Lady Hetheridge cozy mystery series. Book #1, ICE BLUE, Book #2, BLUE MURDER, Book #3, SOMETHING BLUE, Book #4, BLACK & BLUE, Book #5, BLUE BLOODED, and Book #6, BLUE CHRISTMAS are available now.
Her newest venture with digital publisher extraordinaire BOOKOUTURE is the Jem Jago cozy mystery series.
Ms. Jameson is also the creator of amateur sleuth Dr. Benjamin Bones. Set in Cornwall during the Second World War, book #1 is MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER; book #2 is DIVORCE CAN BE DEADLY. Dr. Bones fans will also want to read the companion series, Magic of Cornwall. This includes DR. BONES AND THE CHRISTMAS WISH and DR. BONES AND THE LOST LOVE LETTER, two charming novellas set in untamed, romantic Cornwall
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Jill takes her granddaughter Beatrice and friend to the fairground but a happy day out turns into a nightmare when Beatrice disappears. Beatrice’s parents Oliver and Claire are panicked. Who could have taken their daughter and will they ever forgive Jill or trust her again?
My Little Girl is a book about every parent’s nightmare: a missing child. The book is written from the first person perspectives of Jill and Claire as they wait for news. There are occasional short passages from the abductor.
The character and plot development of Jill and Claire is utterly captivating. The two women have a difficult relationship at the beginning of the book and things obviously worsen during Beatrice’s disappearance. However, as the women begin to understand each other better, they soften and adjust their behaviour which was really heartwarming amidst the crisis.
The style of writing is engaging and both women are handled sensitively. I think I would have been much more frantic and less reasonable but I hope I never have to find out!
It becomes clear from the abductor perspective that cruel mind games are behind their actions. I did guess the person responsible but the full reveal at the end was so enthralling that it didn’t matter. The epilogue was a superb and made me go ‘oooooh!’
Your daughter is missing. Did someone close to you take her?
Seven-year-old Beatrice has gone missing. Her mother Claire’s whole world has been turned upside down in just one moment and she can’t stop shaking. She’s desperate to find her precious daughter, but nothing about the day she disappeared makes sense…
The mother-in-law: Jill was meant to be looking after Beatrice. She says she didn’t take her eyes off the little girl but her version of events doesn’t add up… Claire has never got on with her, so why should she trust her now?
The husband: He should have been with their only child. Instead, he changed the plans without telling Claire. She didn’t think there were any secrets between them, but maybe she was wrong?
The first wife: Laurel has always been jealous of Claire’s family. Has her husband’s ex-wife taken her daughter?
Which one of them is lying? And who really knows where Beatrice is?
From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally addictive psychological thriller will keep you guessing all the way to the final shocking twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.
Author Bio:
Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and Jess their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).
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A young couple find a body at the romantic beauty spot midway through a marriage proposal. The medical examiner confirms the woman’s identity thorugh DNA as Rose Harrelson, a child who went missing over a decade earlier. But then another family claim the body is Alyssa Caldwell. Can Kay Sharp discover the true identity of the murdered woman and bring justice to her killer?
Beneath Blackwater River is the second book to feature Kay Sharp, a doctor and former FBI profiler who is now employed as a detective in her home town. I must also confess to loving the title and setting as I live near the River Blackwater in the UK! Thankfully our location seems less dangerous 🙂
The murder plot is compelling as an obvious ID of the victim is quickly discounted. This puts pressure on the team to find the truth in order to save the medical examiner from embarrassment at the potential damage through the discrediting of his professional opinion. As well as the murder plot, there is a secondary plotline of a teenage runaway. Kirsten has been picked up by a seemingly friendly person but is soon frightened by their behaviour.
In amongst all the crime investigations, Kay and Elliot Young have a frisson of attraction. This adds to their characters being more rounded and human as they try to negotiate their feelings for each other.
The whole book is written in the third person, with the majority showing Kay’s perspective as she unpicks the strands of the various cases. However, there are some chapters which reveal Kirsten’s experiences and those of her captor which raise the anticipation and fears for her safety. The writing itself was very engaging and made me feel connected to the characters.
Beneath Blackwater River was a hugely enjoyable police thriller and I can’t wait for the next book. I have previously reviewed the first book in the series: The Girl From Silent Lake.
LESLIE WOLFE Media Kit:
Title: Beneath Blackwater River
Publication Day – 23/04/2021
Author: Leslie Wolfe
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Description:
She looked alive, her hair drifting freely in the water, her red lips gently parted, as if to let her final breath escape. A small locket floated by her face, attached to her neck with a silver chain…
When Detective Kay Sharp first left Mount Chester—population 3,823—in her rear-view mirror, she promised never to look back. The town only contained bad memories and dark secrets. But when a brutal crime surfaces, she finds herself home once more, and this time she’s not going anywhere.
Kay is called to Blackwater River, where the body of a seventeen-year-old girl has been found. Surrounded by snowy peaks and a forest alive with the colors of fall, the victim floats in the water, a hand-carved locket around her neck.
The locket seems strangely familiar. Digging into cold cases, Kay discovers that three-year-old Rose Harrelson was wearing it when she vanished fourteen years ago. In the middle of the night, the little girl’s bedroom—with Mickey Mouse on the wall and a hanging baby mobile—was suddenly empty. The unsolved case still haunts the town.
But the teenager they have found has been dead for only a few hours. If the girl in the river is Rose, where has she been? Who has been hiding her all these years? Kay knows she must solve the kidnapping in order to untangle the mystery of the dead body.
Then Kay receives a shocking call. The dead girl has been identified—and she’s not Rose. So why is she wearing the locket, and what happened to the missing child from all those years ago? As Kay unearths a web of lies and deceit spun for decades, the close-knit community will never be the same. And Kay will find herself facing a truly terrifying killer…
A totally gripping page-turner that should come with a health warning! Be warned: you’ll lose sleep and your heart will race like crazy as you read twist after twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Kendra Elliot.
Author Bio:
Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.
Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. It was very well received, including inquiries from Hollywood. Since then, Leslie published numerous novels and enjoyed growing success and recognition in the marketplace. Among Leslie’s most notable works, The Watson Girl (2017) was recognized for offering a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and a rarely seen first-person account of his actions, in a dramatic and intense procedural thriller.
Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you.
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Email: LW@WolfeNovels.com
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Dr Leah Wright is at the country fair when she finds a woman in labour who refuses to give her identity. Soon after the birth, both mother and child vanish. Newly appointed detective Naomi Harper finds herself thwarted at even turn in the case of a murdered prostitute. Detective Luka Jericho investigates an apparent suicide and missing millions. Could there possibly be a link between any of these cases…?
Save Her Child is the third book to feature Jericho and Wright. There are no spoilers about the outcomes and perpetrators of the crimes in the previous books although the friendship between the police team has developed. This would worked perfectly well as a stand alone novel.
Leah, Luka and Naomi are investigating three very different cases. The action of the plot is fast paced as the three strands increasingly connect with each other. Each lead character has a different focus leading to a little conflict between them as they each think their own case should have priority.
The team are also dealing with personal concerns as Leah struggles to adapt to being a widow and the psychological effects on her young daughter while Luka has become an adopted father to his nephew. There is further development of Naomi Harper’s character and the personal side to her life experience. In particular her relationships with her adopted family members as well as an event from her teens that continues to haunt her.
There is some forensic detail but this is handled objectively. Descriptions of the murder scenes are not overwhelming. The emotion in this book for me comes from Naomi’s interactions with her family, her determination to find justice for the murdered teen, and Leah’s anguish for the missing woman and newborn.
Save Her Child is a very enjoyable police crime thriller with engaging lead characters. I have previously reviewed The Next Widow and The Drowned Woman by CJ Lyons.
CJ Lyons Media Kit:
Title: Save Her Child
Author: CJ Lyons
PUBLICATION DAY: 19/04/2021
BUY LINKS:
Description:
The woman held her baby in her arms and she knew in that moment that he’d be coming for her. She couldn’t tell anyone her name, she couldn’t let him find her. She had to keep her child safe.
In the summer heat at the Craven County Fair in rural Pennsylvania, Dr Leah Wright is shocked to find a pregnant woman hiding from view and in labor. Leah manages to deliver the baby safely, but the woman won’t reveal her name. She’s terrified, running from someone, and days later both she and her newborn son go missing…
Desperate to save them, Leah turns to Detective Luka Jericho for help. Eager for Leah’s help with a complex case of his own, Luka asks Leah to interview the widow of a man who has just been murdered. Soon they uncover a shocking connection between the two cases: the widow’s lawyer, a local minister, Reverend Harper, was spotted driving the missing mother away from hospital. Is this the man she was so afraid of?
When Reverend Harper refuses to talk, Luka and Leah turn to the only person who he might speak to: his daughter and Luka’s newest detective, Naomi Harper. But Naomi’s childhood in her father’s stark white house up in the mountains was more painful than Luka and Leah could ever have imagined. Is it already too late to save the woman and her baby?
Fast-paced and utterly gripping from the very first chapter, Save Her Child will keep you up all night. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Kendra Elliot and Tess Gerritsen will love New York Times bestselling author CJ Lyons.
Author Bio:
As a pediatric ER doctor, New York Times and USA Today Bestseller CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart.
CJ has been called a “master within the genre” (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as “breathtakingly fast-paced” and “riveting” (Publishers Weekly) with “characters with beating hearts and three dimensions” (Newsday).
Learn more about CJ’s Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net
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