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Former police officer John Tynan is romantically involved with a woman who is stabbed to death one night. Their relationship began as she insisted on being a long lost relative. The subsequent police investigation determines  she lied about her identity and even her name was false.

The previous books in the Mike Croft series had been published in the 1990s and I had enjoyed being reminded of a time before being addicted to technology. Time has moved on and in The Liar the characters have mobile phones but they don’t play a major part in the investigation.

Croft and his team have also moved on and emotionally his situation has changed: he is now settled down with Maria but their hopes of having a family have been dashed. He is still devastated by the loss of his son from an earlier relationship. His raw and honest emotion makes him an appealing character and we instantly sympathise with him. He is also a fantasticaly dedicated police officer, 10 years hasn’t changed that!

I admit to finding myself a little overwhelmed by John’s complicated family history and the multitude of names involved. However, I am also very aware from my own family history research just how realistic this is!

The book is quite wordy but there is a careful balance between the dialogue which pushes the plot forward and wonderful evocative descriptions, particularly of the coastline.

Jane Adams has delivered a complicated but believable plot which can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a stand alone book.

Take a look at books 2 and 3 in the Mike Croft series that I have reviewed previously: The Secrets and Their Final Moments.

THE LIAR (Detective Mike Croft #4) by Jane Adams

DISCOVER A BRILLIANTLY GRIPPING CRIME THRILLER FROM A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR MIKE CROFT RETURNS TO THE GREENWAY TO FACE HIS MOST DIFFICULT CASE YET

A BODY ON THE BEACH.

In the hot, dry heat of high summer, Martha Toolin is found stabbed to death. She was a stranger to the area and had been seen arguing with a teenage boy.

BUT SHE IS A LIAR.

Detective Mike Croft is called into investigate and quickly discovers that the victim was not who she says she was. She was a con artist who exploited the vulnerable and elderly. Even her name is false.

EVERYONE WAS TAKEN IN BY HER. EVEN THE POLICE.

The number of suspects who wanted her dead begins to multiply. Who was she and what did she want with Mike Croft’s friend, former police detective John Tynan?

SOMEONE WILL KILL AGAIN TO PROTECT LONG-BURIED SECRETS.

And then another body is found on the beach . . .

THE LIAR is a stunning psychological crime thriller which you won’t want to put down.

Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney or Mark Billingham.

Praise for JANE ADAMS, author of the sensational best seller THE GREENWAY.

“Few debut novels achieve this level of suspense. The Greenway lingered in my mind for days. It takes the psychological suspense novel into new realms of mystery.” Val McDermid, Manchester Evening News

“A haunting debut.” Minette Walters

“Compellingly told and rich with psychological insight.” Independent

“Nail-biting stuff.” Ms London

“An assured first novel, with a strong cast and a plot which twists and turns without a glitch.” Yorkshire Evening Post

DETECTIVE MIKE CROFT SERIES
Book 1: THE GREENWAY
Book 2: THE SECRETS
Book 3: THEIR FINAL MOMENTS
Book 4: THE LIAR

Jane Adams Author Bio

Why do I write?

Like most writers, it’s a kind of compulsion. The stories are there and I have to try and grab hold of them and pin them onto the page. Most of the time, I enjoy the process; sometimes, I’d rather be doing just about anything else, up to and including the ironing – and I hate ironing.

I started writing when my youngest child went to school. I was incredibly lucky and my first novel, The Greenway, was picked up by Macmillan in 1994 and published in 1995.

I currently write two series; Naomi Blake and Rina Martin. Rina was a character I’d had in mind for years before committing her to paper. An elderly, ex thespian who had played the part of a popular TV detective, she had retired to the seaside and bought a boarding house for other ex performers. Rina’s feisty, no nonsense character is, I suppose, based on the rather powerful and opinionated ladies I grew up surrounded by – mother, teachers in the all girls school I attended, aunts and pseudo aunts, all of whom had opinions about everything and made sure these were unstintingly shared.

Naomi Blake, on the other hand, was the brainchild of my late agent, Bob Tanner at International Scripts. ‘You should write a blind detective,’ he said ‘ and she needs a big, black guidedog, called Napoleon’.

I thought it was a daft idea, and told him so. I just couldn’t see how to do it. But, like a lot of seemingly daft ideas, this one wormed its was into my brain and I realised he was right. It could work and so, the Naomi Blake series came into being.

I have always written in other genres too, short stories in the SF, Fantasy and Gothic Horror genre, and am working on longer projects when time allows. I also teach Creative Writing and have had the great priviligde of being a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at three different universities.

Links

Twitter: @JaneAdamsAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jane.adams.16547

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5158042.Jane_A_Adams

An evening out for DS Ava Merry turns to murder when 2 people are found stabbed through the heart. The investigation uncovers plenty of secrets but which ones relate to the case?

Merry and Neal are two very likeable police detectives in a great team of colleagues. Both feel slightly awkward about their rank as they consider all the others to be friends rather than subordinates. There is romantic tension between Merry and Neal which adds an extra dimension of interest to the book.

The murders are brutal but there is not too much graphic detail or forensics. The focus is on the investigation and interrogation, the gathering of clues and statements then sifting through to work out the relevance.

I did guess the killer’s identity despite the red herrings designed to mislead us, but I had no idea on motive until it was revealed at the end of the book. The plot is well planned and executed to hold the reader’s interest throughout and the narrative style is easy to read.

This is the 6th book to feature this police team but the first that I have read. There are occasional references to previous cases and past events but they do not require the reader to have read the others in the series.

MURDEROUS SECRETS (Merry & Neal #6) by Janice Frost

Looking for a totally gripping crime mystery which you won’t want to put down?

DISCOVER THE NEW CRIME THRILLER FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JANICE FROST

TWO BRUTAL SLAYINGS AT A BARN DANCE

Detective Ava Merry goes to a forties-themed dance at Northfields Farm on Valentine’s Day. A young couple, Nick and Samantha are found murdered. Nick is found in a wartime ambulance with and Sam is found stabbed multiple times in the glamping tent they were staying in. DS Ava Merry is confronted by a man fleeing the tent. Who is he and is he really innocent?

SECRETS THAT SOMEONE WILL KILL TO KEEP

Then another frenzied murder ups the stakes still further. Can DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal expose the killer?

Great for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham.

PRAISE FOR JANICE FROST

“A very good storyline with so much happening in the family to keep the reader engrossed.” Viv

“Really enjoyable read.” Nerys

“Good entertaining read, with heart in the mouth moments.” Carole

“A fast-paced mystery with plenty of suspects.” Barbara

“I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.” Dawn

THE DETECTIVES

DS Ava Merry is a young policewoman, recently promoted to detective sergeant. She is fitness

fanatic with a taste for dangerous relationships. DI Jim Neal is single dad who juggles his

devotion to his job with caring for his son.

DS MERRY & DI NEAL SERIES

Book 1: DEAD SECRET

Book 2: DARK SECRET

Book 3: HER HUSBAND’S SECRET

Book 4: THEIR FATAL SECRETS

Book 5: DIRTY SECRETS

Book 6: MURDEROUS SECRETS

Mist is convinced there will be snow this Christmas at her hotel but is also preparing to make a winter season to remember for her guests new and old. Everyone get set for holiday happiness!

Tinterton Hotel has an interesting array of guests this year, including workaholic Max and a vegan mother and daughter where the daughter yearns for independence. We also are reintroduced to a range of locals who love the festive experience provided by MIst, plus she is accompanied by her new love.

Being a novella, Snowfall at Moonglow was a quick read. The plot and narrative are warm and festive, with important messages about the real meaning of Christmas. I liked the continuation of some threads from previous books such as Mist’s new relationship but I wanted to find out more about the guests and allow them extra time to develop as characters and see what they have learned during their visit.

Author Deborah Garner has included recipes at the end of the book once again so that readers can interact with the content and bring the cookie exchange to life. My only disappointment was that there were no vegan recipes included at the end after having veganism running through the novella. However, I’m sure they could be adapted!

Read my review of Gingerbread at Moonglow.

NEW RELEASE…

Each holiday season, new and returning guests gather in the small town of Timberton, Montana, to celebrate Christmas at the Timberton Hotel. Resident artist and chef Mist’s unique way of offering exceptional cuisine, exquisite décor, and a touch of the unexpected, has a way of bringing visitors and local townsfolk together in heartfelt camaraderie.

As this year’s guests arrive with hopes of a white Christmas, unseasonably warm weather hints at a less-than-wintery wonderland. But whether the snow falls or not, one thing is certain: with Mist around, there’s bound to be a little magic. No one ever leaves Timberton without renewed hope for the future.

*Cookie recipes included!

*Cookie and candy recipes included!

The Moonglow Christmas Series…
Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.

Mistletoe at Moonglow, Book 1
Silver Bells at Moonglow, Book 2
Gingerbread at Moonglow, Book 3
Nutcracker Sweets at Moonglow, Book 4
Snowfall at Moonglow, Book 5

Available to buy from…
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Nook   Paperback   Hardback

Also available in The Moonglow Series
Each book may be read as a stand-alone novel, or as part of the series.

Mistletoe at Moonglow, The Moonglow Christmas Series, Book 1

The Timberton Hotel has always provided a perfect Christmas retreat for regular guests, as well as newcomers. But the small town of Timberton, Montana, hasn’t been the same since resident chef and artist, Mist, arrived, bringing a unique new age flavor to the old western town.

When guests check in for the holidays, they bring along worries, fears and broken hearts, unaware that Mist has a way of working magic in people’s lives. Old-fashioned time spent together, exquisite food, conversation and a snowball or two offer guests a chance to trade sadness for hope. One thing is certain: no matter how cold winter’s grip is on each guest, no one leaves Timberton without a warmer heart.

Available to buy from….
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Nook   Paperback

Silver Bells at Moonglow, The Moonglow Christmas Series, Book 2

Christmas at the Timberton Hotel arrives each year with a unique set of guests, some returning, some new. When this holiday brings a celebrity seeking reprieve, sisters who are distant yet closer to each other than they think, a widow approaching a new horizon, and an eclectic smattering of local townsfolk and visiting relatives, the season is certain to be eventful. Add in a hint of romance and there’s more than snow in the air around the small Montana town.

Elegant decor and exquisite cuisine from resident artist and chef, Mist, form a backdrop to much needed camaraderie, bringing strangers and friends together. When the last note of Christmas carols has faded away, the soft whisper of silver bells from the front door’s wreath will usher guests and townsfolk alike back into the world with hope for the coming year.

Available to buy from….
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Nook   Paperback

Gingerbread at Moonglow, The Moonglow Christmas Series, Book 3

The small town of Timberton, Montana, boasts an ambiance of near-magical proportions during the Christmas season, due in no small part to resident artist and chef Mist’s mysterious way of working small miracles in people’s everyday lives. Each year, return guests and new arrivals mingle with local townsfolk to enjoy companionship, exquisite decor, and exceptional cuisine at The Timberton Hotel.

As the aromas of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and molasses mix with heartfelt camaraderie and sweet romance, guests share reflections on family, friendship, and life. Although decorating the outside of a gingerbread house may prove easier than deciding what goes inside, no one leaves Timberton without renewed hope for the future.

Available to buy from…
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Nook   Paperback

Nutcracker at Moonglow, The Moonglow Christmas Series, Book 4

The small Montana town of Timberton has a way of bringing magic to the holidays, especially for guests of the local hotel. Resident artist and chef Mist has a way of touching people’s lives with exquisite cuisine, imaginative art, and her own ethereal nature.

When a nearby theatre burns down just before Christmas, cast members of The Nutcracker arrive at the Timberton Hotel with only a sliver of holiday joy. Camaraderie, compassion, and shared inspiration combine to help at least one hidden dream come true. As with every Christmas season in Timberton, this year’s guests will face the New Year with a renewed sense of hope.

Available to buy from…
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Nook   Paperback

About the author
Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible.

Find the author on the following sites…
Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page

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Twelve years ago Jessie Tucker was attacked in Central Park and left for dead. She slowly battled her way back to health and saw her attacker put behind bars. In the present day, another woman is attacked in a strikingly similar incident but is not so lucky. A murder investigation is launched and quickly concluded with a shoot out with the suspect.

Jessie is now a journalist and the new crime makes her consider her own attack; she realises that there may be a connection and the conviction in her case unsound.

The first person narrative of Jessie in The Silent Victim is simply brilliant. Chatty at times and painful with the trauma of her past. Her emotional journey sweeps us up in her story, both past and present. She is feisty, tenacious and determined professionally but also vulnerable in her personal life.

The plot is fast paced and full of political intrigue and revelations. The ending in particular had major twists so just as I thought Jessie had found answers we find our thoughts upended.

Author Dana Perry has cleverly used her character to drive the plot in a personable way, making this so much more than just a crime thriller. The tension builds over the course of the book and I found myself reading faster and faster to reach the shocking conclusion.

Book Description:

The woman’s golden hair is spread out beneath her on the bed of leaves where she’s fallen, her beautiful blue eyes open wide. The police are calling it a random attack, but Jessie Tucker isn’t so sure – she’s seen this crime scene before… she was the victim.

Twelve years ago, Jessie Tucker was attacked as she made her way home from an outdoor concert. She still walks with a limp from that night, and every day since has been a struggle to rebuild her life. The police told her she was unlucky – that she was safe after they charged a local man for the crime. But Jessie has never managed to shake the feeling that there was someone else in the park that night… someone she knew.

But then Margaret Kincaid’s murder file lands across her desk, and Jessie knows she can’t keep silent any longer. Margaret’s wounds so exactly match her own it’s spooky – but Jessie’s attacker is in prison, and Jessie has never met the victim. What links her to Margaret Kincaid, and why did the attacker let one woman live, and the other die?

Nail-biting, gripping and absolutely unputdownable! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Gregg Olsen. 

Author Bio:

I am a New York City author who writes mystery thrillers for Bookouture about newspaper reporter Jessie Tucker. Coming this winter…THE SILENT VICTIM

Contact me at DanaPerryAuthor@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/DanaPerryAuthor
Facebook: @danaperryauthor

What a book! I couldn’t put it down!

A woman living a secluded life with her wife finds a dead body near their home. Anxious to keep the world away, she removes all trace of the body. But she doesn’t spot another body nearby and THIS one is discovered…

Detective Megan Carpenter investigates the disappearance of a married couple and is convinced that the female body is the wife and suspects her husband of killing her.

The second half of Snow Creek has plenty of surprising revelations and my jaw dropped at some points as I realsied we had been cleverly misdirected by the author.

Megan’s past is truly fascinating and gradually revealed over the course of the book through a series of psychologist’s tapes that she revisits to come to terms with her past. Gregg Olsen’s use of the first person narrative allows us to see Megan’s viewpoint and feel her emotions alongside her, making her more relatable and personable.

There is a little gruesome detail but I liked the police procedure and forensic investigation for their gravitas without being overdramatic. This contrasts nicely with the emotional and personal side to Megan and shows her professionalism.

I can’t wait to read more from this author and see more of Megan’s life as Snow Creek ends with a major cliffhanger!

GREGG OLSEN Media Kit:

Title: Snow Creek

Author:  Gregg Olsen

PUBLICATION DAY: 18/11/2019

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07XSB35SSSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2men9nf

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lS0LQ8.

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2lQLE9G

Description:

Footprints were scattered about like fallen leaves. She looked down into the ravine, and once more her lungs filled with fear. A body, blackened and motionless lay splayed out in the bushes.

Detective Megan Carpenter is no stranger to evil. Escaping the horrors of her old life, she’s vowed never to let anyone hurt her or those she loves ever again. Joining the small police force in Jefferson County’s Port Townsend, Megan is determined to get every victim of a crime the justice they deserve.

So when Ruth Turner walks into the Sheriff’s office claiming her sister Ida Watson has been missing for over a month, Megan’s instincts tell her that she needs to do more than just file a report.

Arriving at a secluded farmhouse in the hills above Snow Creek, she finds Ida’s teenage children alone and frightened.

Then a few days later, close to the Watsons’ home, the blackened body of a woman is discovered in an abandoned pickup truck.

Megan must unravel the disturbing secrets of the isolated Snow Creek community if she is to catch the killer.

But Megan has dark secrets of her own too…

Hidden in the back of her closet is a box of tapes containing every single recording of her therapy sessions with Doctor Albright over thirteen years ago. As Megan begins to play the tapes, she’s taken straight back to her terrifying childhood, back to the time she was a kid called Rylee, fighting to survive.

Can Megan finally confront the past she’s spent years trying to block out and will listening to her own painful story help her solve the complex case she is now entangled in?

From the Number One New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author, comes an absolutely heart-stopping and completely unputdownable crime series, introducing Detective Megan Carpenter.

Author Bio:

A #1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Olsen has written nine nonfiction books, seventeen novels, a novella, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife, twin daughters, three chickens, Milo (an obedience school dropout cocker) and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

Author Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.greggolsen.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreggOlsenAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Gregg_Olsen