A brutal murder and a serial sex attacker lead Detective Dan Lockhart to seek advice from psychologist Lexi Green again, going against the orders of his superior officer. Meanwhile Dan’s personal life is at the fore with the search for his missing wife and flashbacks to his army days.
Who’s Next? is the second is Chris Merritt’s Lockhart and Green series (I have previously reviewed Knock Knock, the first book)
I really love Dan’s character. He is so human and realistic, with guilt about his tangled emotions towards his wife and Lexi, devotion to his mum and dedication to his work. Lexi’s character is also engaging with her tenacity and anxiety over real life struggle (financial) that many of us can identify with.
We also see the killer’s perspective via chapters that use a first person narrative. This helps us to understand their motivation despite the heinous crimes they commit. It also provides us with an insight that the police are struggling to uncover, particularly dangerous as we find out that Lockhart is on the list of planned victims…
The entanglement of the two cases makes for an intricate plot that is entertaining but also a little lengthy. Meanwhile, the personal element to Dan’s search for his missing wife keeps the human interest relevant until the very last page.
Who’s Next? is a good police procedural book. I think the writing style is high quality and the personal element is realistic which raises the standard of the whole book even further.
Media Kit:
Title: Who’s Next?
Author: Chris Merritt
Publication Day: Sept 11th 2020
BUY LINK:
Description:
Stumbling to the ground, he claws at the earth around him, trying to stabilise himself, but his attacker is on him in seconds. As he stares at the lights of the bustling streets on the other side of the park gates, he doesn’t even have time to shout for help before everything goes black.
When the body of wealthy businessman Charles Stott is found dead on Wimbledon Common, covered in bruises just feet away from his luxury home, Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate the shocking scene. Examining the sickeningly disfigured body before him, Lockhart knows he’s dealing with a brutal killer. Looking more closely, he notices something on the victim’s neck: a small, crudely drawn symbol in black ink. It seems the murderer has marked his victim, but why? Dan needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, so he contacts psychologist Dr Lexi Green.
As the ensuing media circus puts pressure on Dan and Lexi’s investigation, another victim is found and the headlines are quick to report a serial killer is on the loose. The body of a successful lawyer has been discovered in a park with the same bruising and hand-drawn symbol on his neck. Dan fears that more victims will follow.
As the case intensifies, Dan uncovers a new lead on his missing wife, Jess, who disappeared eleven years ago. Determined to follow it up, he must choose between tracking down a serial murderer and finding Jess. Can he make the impossible decision before the killer strikes once more?
Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Cara Hunter will love this thrilling new series from Chris Merritt. From an explosive start to a heart-stopping finale, you will not want to put this book down!
Author Bio:
Chris Merritt is a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.
All his novels are set in London, where he lives. He began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. He specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked his interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now he spends most of his time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When he’s not writing, he loves climbing and playing basketball.
Author Social Media Links:
Zoe fainted on her wedding day 10 years ago, badly hitting her head and didn’t really enjoy the ceremony. But her marriage has been wonderful… until now. As she plans a big anniversary party, she notices her sister in law is treating her oddly. Plus she thinks she has seen her missing sister around town. Is she going crazy with stress or are there secrets in her family…?
Zoe elicits our sympathy and we are drawn to relate to her sense of unease and confusion about her missing memories. Readers are also led to be concerned about the state of her marriage and upset about her unhappy family life so there is a real emotional pull to the lead character.
I enjoyed the mystery of the past. The plot is delivered through different timelines to give us some perspective on the present day events. Looking back now I have finished the whole book, I think these developed Zoe’s character but were a bit of a red herring.
The Wife keeps the momentum flowing throughout the whole book. Doubts and suspicions and their insidious way of preying on your mind were portrayed very realistically. There is an effective mix of psychological thriller and family drama which builds anticipation to the final reveal of the truth.
The ending was brilliantly tense and dramatic. I’m not sure the events were totally credible but they made for an entertaining finale and I could definitely understand the motives of the characters (no spoilers!)
The Wife book description:
Zoe fainted on her wedding day, and she never knew why. She’s always felt sure something bad happened. Ten years later, she’s going to find out what…
It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Zoe was sitting in her hotel room, in her perfect white dress, looking forward to the moment when she would make kind, handsome Toby her husband.
Then, there was a blank.
They said she must have fainted, overcome with emotion. But nothing felt quite right afterwards. Did something happen in that missing time?
Now, Toby and Zoe have two beautiful children and a perfect life. They’re planning their ten-year anniversary party for their family and friends. The invitations have been sent, the food ordered. They’re going back to the grand hotel where they got married.
But as the anniversary gets closer, it becomes clear not everyone is looking forward to celebrating. Zoe catches Toby lying about where he’s been. One of her best friends seems to be ignoring her. And someone is spreading stories that might stop the party from happening at all.
Zoe is increasingly sure that she doesn’t have the full story. But does she want to know the truth, if it will destroy everything?
From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally gripping psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first page to the last jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.
Author Bio:
Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing psychological thrillers (in between school runs and sorting endless baskets of laundry).
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Giuseppe is a teenager growing up in the inter wars years in Tuscany. His traditional rural life is changed forever by his experiences at a seminary and then with the rise of Fascism.
In the present day, Giuseppe’s grandson is struggling with bullies at school. He begins to explore his traditions and heritage.
A Tuscan Memory is the second book by Angela Petch to feature Anna, an English woman now relocated and married to an Italian. However, I haven’t read that previous book so it is not necessary as this works perfectly well as a stand alone novel.
The writing is rich and clearly evokes both the Italian landscape and the historical era. The narrative is full of the language and culture which draws the reader in to completely immerse us in the story and lives of the characters.
I found myself enjoying Giuseppe’s experiences. He is extremely likeable but faces numerous challenges including bullying, sexual assault and unexpected fatherhood. His reactions and integrity endear him to us as readers, making us care about him as well as wonder what happens in the interim before the events of the present day.
In contrast, Davide’s experience seems almost trivial as the bullying he faces is more psychological and he has less vulnerability. The plot was engaging with the two timelines but I was a little disappointed that there was not a greater discovery in the present day of Giuseppe’s life although I am unsure if there could be a sequel planned.
A Tuscan Memory book description:
In a tiny hamlet nestled in the Tuscan mountains, farmers gather after a hard day in the meadows, and children’s laughter rings across the square: but one little boy does not join in their play. Behind his deep brown eyes, hides a heartbreaking secret…
Ninety years later. When elderly Giselda Chiozzi discovers a lost little boy, curled up asleep in the beech forest outside her grand but empty home, she can’t help but take pity on him. It’s been a long time since she had a visitor. Waking up to her kind smile and the warming smell of Italian hot chocolate, Davide soon blurts out what drove him into the cold Tuscan night: he’s different from everyone else, he’s never belonged anywhere, and now his beloved mother is ill.
With her heart full of sadness for this lost child, Giselda promises to help Davide trace his family history – she knows better than anyone that connecting with your roots can ground you in the present, and hopes it will make Davide realise that home is where he truly belongs.
Together the unlikely pair discover the story of Davide’s great-grandfather, Giuseppe Starnucci, a young boy who spent his days milking cows, helping with the harvest, and hammering horseshoes in the forge. But after a terrible incident that changed his life forever, Giuseppe also ran away. Forced to become a man before his time, Giuseppe joined the treacherous pilgrimage all Tuscan farmers must make from the mountains to the plains, sacrificing everything to ensure the survival of their families.
Engrossed in the story, Davide is slowly starting to heal when he and Giselda discover a shocking secret which Giuseppe took to his grave – and which now threatens to tear apart Davide’s family for good. Will Davide let the pain of the past determine his future, or can he find the courage, love and loyalty within him to return home… and even if Davide himself finds peace, will it be too late for Giselda?
Inspired by true stories of rural Italian life, this absolutely stunning historical read is perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries, Rhys Bowen, and anyone who’s ever longed to stroll beneath the cypress trees and taste the fresh mountain air of Tuscany.
Previously published as Now and Then in Tuscany.
Author Bio:
I’m an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.
Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable.
In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I’m not helping out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.
Twitter: @Angela_Petch
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American heiress Laurel Van Gilder arrives in Oxford to award a prestigious prize at St Bede’s college. Hours after arrival, she is in hospital after being hit by a car because she forgot that we drive on the left in the UK. Gideon Welles stays by her bedside until she wakes. Their paths cross again at the awards evening when Gideon wins the prize. But soon the pair are investigating the theft of the chalice.
An Oxford Scandal is the third in the series but they all work as stand alone novels, only linked by the location and some subsidiary characters.
The mystery of the theft is an interesting plot device to drive the narrative and their relationship along. The investigation allows Laurel and Gideon to explore their own hopes for the future whilst having a joint purpose which brings them closer together.
The animosity between the lead characters is enjoyable and the sexual tension is ready to explode! There are sex scenes which were not quite as steamy as those in the earlier books in the series.
It was nice to return to St Bede’s and meet some of the peripheral characters again. This lent a continuity and familiarity to the novel which I really enjoyed. The main pair as well as the other characters have a range of motivations which make them feel more human and natural.
Overall, An Oxford Scandal was an entertaining book with romance and mystery.
An Oxford Scandal
AN UTTERLY GRIPPING PAGE-TURNER FULL OF SUSPENSE AND ROMANCE
Faith Martin is the author of the beloved Hillary Greene series. Her books have sold over 2 million copies. Now discover her writing as Maxine Barry.
Please note this book was first published as MELTING THE ICEMAN.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO AVOID A SCANDAL?
American heiress Laurel Van Gilder has arrived in Oxford to present a prestigious award. Laurel rents a bicycle and crashes into a car belonging to Professor Gideon Welles. Knocked unconscious, she is taken to hospital and wakes the next day, Gideon having stayed by her side all night. Bickering and sniping at each other over whose fault it was, they are relieved to see the back of each other, but there is a spark Laurel can’t ignore.
Days later, at the gala to present the award, guess who is the winner?
SCANDALOUS LOVE AND MYSTERIOUS ATTRACTION
That evening, a precious heirloom, belonging to Laurel’s family and being given to the award-winner, is stolen. Despite their caustic relations up to now, Laurel turns to Gideon for assistance. Although he’s infuriating, she’s actually rather besotted with him.
Can they solve the mystery without involving the police and avoid bringing scandal to the college?
WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT TWO-MILLION-SELLING FAITH MARTIN WRITING AS MAXINE BARRY
“I’ve read a lot of novels by Faith Martin and always thoroughly enjoyed them, this novel is different but just as gripping and you really become invested in the characters and their lives and can’t wait to see how it all works out. Brilliant.” Barbara
“Perfect romance and mystery!” M. Adlington
“A great read and a fast paced romantic adventure.” Laura T.
“An enjoyable book. Romance with a little intrigue too.” Alexandra
“Totally loved it.” Yona
“When you reach the end you will wish there was still more.” Reader
MAXINE BARRY BOOKS
1: THE LYING GAME
2: AN OXFORD REVENGE
3: AN OXFORD SCANDAL
FAITH MARTIN
Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time. The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style ‘whodunits’ under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.
Links
Twitter: @faithmartin_nov
A Year at Appleyard Farm was originally published as four separate stories based on the seasons.
This combined version begins with Christmas approaching and Freya is dreading it. Her beloved dad has died and left her with a house and business she needs to sell. Gentle giant Amos Fry (who we have met in other Emma Davies books) arrives to help smooth the transition and helps Freya to face the past as well as look forward to the future.
In the other parts or seasons, Freya’s best friend Merry and Tom are setting up a new home and business while coping with a newborn, Freya’s apple orchard and Merry’s shop have a new work contact in their old friend Willow, and finally Freya’s ex gets a chance at redemption.
There is a beautiful warmth to Emma’s writing and the use of the seasons makes it so easy to identify with the events of the books: the hope for snow, spring changes, long summers and crisp autumn days all clearly evoke a recognition from the reader.
The weather descriptions are rich and vivid as are the emotional highs and lows of the characters. The change in seasons represents the beginnings and ends of different parts of life, the inevitability of change. Love and loss are key themes throughout all sections of the book as well as the anxiety about change which often proves unfounded.
The plot is engaging, full of human interest with characters that are realistic and easy to empathise with. I loved meeting Amos again as he is such a wonderful character. Every parent will enjoy the hilarity of Freya being in charge of baby Robyn, explosive poo and all!
A Year at Appleyard Farm is a rich and warm novel that would be a perfect beach read or great to snuggle down with under a winter blanket.
Emma Davies Media Kit:
Title: A Year at Appleyard Farm
Publication Day: Sept 3rd 2020
Author: Emma Davies
Buy Links:
Description:
Down a winding lane lined with strawberry trees and wildflowers lies Appleyard Farm, a beautiful orchard in the English countryside. And in a little farmhouse in the furthest corner, a young woman has a difficult decision to make…
Life on Appleyard Farm is all Freya Sherbourne has ever known. Having spent her childhood playing in the emerald green meadows and berry picking until sunset, Freya intends to call the farmhouse home forever. But when her father suddenly passes away and Appleyard Farm goes up for sale, Freya’s world comes crashing down.
Holding back the tears, she starts packing boxes while waiting for a buyer. Now the river no longer sparkles, and the apples taste a little less sweet. Until Freya learns the exciting news that her best friends Merry and Willow are moving nearby to open a local shop. And when someone from her past re-emerges, handsomer than ever and offering to mend the cracks in her broken heart, Freya’s eyes begin to twinkle once again.
But falling in love is scary, especially when you don’t know what the future holds. And when Freya discovers that her new love has been keeping a secret, one that threatens both their fragile relationship and the farm, she risks losing everything.
With the clock ticking, will Freya choose to follow her heart or save the farm? Or can she find a way to do both?
Told in four parts, this is a gorgeous story about love, friendship and new beginnings. Fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Debbie Johnson should grab a cup of hot chocolate, curl up on the sofa and prepare to be carried away!
A Year at Appleyard Farm was previously published as four short stories: Merry Mistletoe, Spring Fever, Gooseberry Fool, and Blackberry Way.
Author Bio:
After a varied career, Emma Davies once worked for a design studio where she was asked to provide a fun and humorous (and not necessarily true) anecdote for their website. She wrote the following: ‘I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.’ Well the job in the design studio didn’t work out but she’s now a forty something mother of three and is happy to report the rest of her dream came true.
After many years as a finance manager she now writes full time and is far happier playing with words than numbers. She lives with her husband, three children, and two guinea pigs in rural Shropshire where she writes in all the gaps in between real life. It’s a county she adores, her love of its beautiful people and landscapes providing endless inspiration for her books, and in fact the only thing that would make Shropshire more idyllic is if it were by the sea.
Author Social Media Links:
Pop over to her website www.emmadaviesauthor.com where, amongst other things, you can read about her passion for Pringles and singing loudly in the car. You can also wave to her on twitter @EmDaviesAuthor / https://twitter.com/EmDaviesAuthor or find her on Facebook (a little too often than is good for her): https://www.facebook.com/emmadaviesauthor/
