This is the 4th Tara Thorpe book from author Clare Chase. Previously a journalist and now a police officer, Tara and her colleagues are called in to investigate the murder of Cambridge student Julie.
The victim’s personal and political background must be investigated for potential motives for her death. During the investigation, police discover another body but it is not immediately clear if this is another murder, accidental death or suicide.
This book has lots of background to the police officers especially the relationship between Tara and Blake. I think it would work as a standalone novel because the case is contained and resolved within its pages but I feel like I benefitted from understanding the development of the police team through the previous books.
The murder itself is not described graphically at any point and the focus of the book is upon the police investigation and the potential motives of the characters. The author’s choice of setting in Cambridge is reminiscent of Colin Dexter’s Morse series so it feels familiar yet unique.
Murder in the Fens sets up the next book and I can’t wait to read it and find out what happens next between Tara and Blake, plus I’m wondering what will happen with the news uncovered by disgraced former police officer Patrick…
Read my review of the third Clare Chase book featuring Tara Thorpe: Death Comes To Call
Media Kit:
Title: Murder in the Fens
Author: Clare Chase
Publication Day: 24/06/2019
BUY LINKS:
Description:
When the body of twenty-year-old Julie Cooper is found – her pockets stuffed full of wilting flowers – in an iron-age hill fort on the edge of the fens, Detective Tara Thorpe and her team are called in to investigate. The evidence points to an illicit affair gone wrong… but is there more to the story?
As always at the Cambridge Constabulary, the case turns personal. Detective Blake is exhausted after the arrival of a new baby with wayward wife Babette, and Tara is keen to put as much distance between herself and Blake as she can – both at the station and on the hunt for the killer. Charming rookie officer Jez is the perfect distraction… but is he a little too good to be true?
Then Tara makes a startling breakthrough when she finds an unsettling family heirloom hidden in the late victim’s bedroom – a golden statue of a sinister-looking cat with emerald eyes. As she traces its origins, Tara begins to realise that Julie’s murder is no one-off crime, but a sinister plot with its roots in a terrible secret that was covered up decades earlier.
An unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Joy Ellis. Can be read as a standalone.
The Tara Thorpe Mystery Series:
Book 1 – Murder on the Marshes
Book 2 – Death on the River
Book 3 – Death Comes to Call
Book 4 – Murder in the Fens
Author Bio:
Clare Chase writes women sleuth mysteries and recently signed a three-book deal with Bookouture for a new crime series set in Cambridge. The opening book, Murder on the Marshes, is available for pre-order and will publish in July 2018. The mystery follows investigative journalist Tara Thorpe as she teams up with Detective Garstin Blake to solve the murder of a young female professor at Cambridge University. The case takes them through the dark underbelly of Cambridge and in to the murky fens that surround the centuries-old city. The second and third books in the series are scheduled for publication in late 2018/early 2019.
After graduating from London University with a degree in English Literature, Clare moved to Cambridge and has lived there ever since. She’s fascinated by the city’s contrasts and contradictions, which feed into her writing. She’s worked in diverse settings – from the 800-year-old University to one of the local prisons – and lived everywhere from the house of a Lord to a slug-infested flat. The terrace she now occupies, with her husband and teenage children, presents a good happy medium.
As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.
Clare’s debut novel, You Think You Know Me, was shortlisted for the Novelicious Undiscovered Award 2012, and an EPIC award in 2015. It was also chosen as a debut of the month by Lovereading.
You can find Clare’s website and blog at www.clarechase.com
Author Social Media Links:
Charlotte and Tris are a couple struggling with work and home life balance. She is an author so works from home and does most of the child care while Tris has a well paid job in the city and feels like he gets everything wrong with regard to the children. They snipe and argue with each other as they are both unhappy.
Meanwhile, Charlotte is carrying guilt because she blames herself for her father’s temporary absence during her childhood after she recorded him kissing another woman in her diary which her mother may have read.
Charlotte meets Mia at a book signing and is instantly struck by how similar they are in looks. Mia is an actress trying to rebuild her life after her fiance left her for her best friend. She is also recovering from dealing with looking for her biological parents. She has a new boyfriend Seth and is attending counselling.
Her counsellor just happens to be Charlotte’s sister Florence who breaks all confidentiality rules by telling Charlotte what Mia has told her during their session.
Charlotte hatches a plan but the exact motives are unclear. She wants Mia to pretend to have written a book that Charlotte has actually written as her own career is quite stagnant and the book will receive a better reception being from a debut author. Mia agrees and soon the publishing world is going crazy for the manuscript with deals of over a million pounds being discussed.
Just over halfway, we get the big reveal and I won’t spoil it but I did rush to my husband beacuse I had to share it! It is done so subtly on the first page of chapter 11 that I actually acted like this:
The characters in this book are very realistic and the mystery behind Charlotte’s motives keep the momentum of the plot. The final third leaves the reader with a real dilemma over how to feel about the characters and decide who is ‘more sinned against than sinning’ (to quote my A Level King Lear 🙂 )
The narrative is split between Charlotte and Mia’s perspectives allowing us insight into both main characters to develop sympathy and empathy with them.
Don’t Ever Tell is so very different to author Lucy Dawson’s last book The Memory. The style and tone are completely different. Both books make you question your own responses to dilemmas and have a great psychological dimension.
Don’t Ever Tell by Lucy Dawson
This is a story about Charlotte, who has two sweet children, a stay-at-home job she loves and a drama-free marriage to a caring and successful man. Life is nearly perfect… at least, that’s how it looks from the outside.
But behind closed doors, the marriage is breaking. Every day, after she kisses her husband Tris goodbye, Charlotte works a little more on her plan to destroy his life.
Was it when he stopped looking at her in that way, that she first felt something was wrong?
Or when he lied about where he was going, so he didn’t have to watch their sick children?
Or perhaps it’s the smiling photo of him on a beautiful stranger’s phone. Charlotte can think of only one way it got there…
Charlotte thinks she has every one of her husband’s sins neatly filed away… but there’s something big that Charlotte is missing. And by the time their story is finished, you’ll be questioning if you can ever really trust those closest to you.
From the bestselling author of The Daughter and White Lies comes an unputdownable psychological thriller unlike anything you’ve read before!
About the author
Lucy has been writing psychological suspense novels since 2008, when her first bestseller – His Other Lover – was published. Since then her work has been translated into numerous languages.
Her gripping books jump in at the deep end… the extraordinary things that can happen to ordinary couples, families and friends with devastating conclusions.
You can reach her at lucy@lucydawsonbooks.com or find her on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @lucydawsonbooks
This book opens with the abduction of 14 year old Lindy. I’ll be honest I had a certain amount of dread based on my reading of DK Hood’s other books (The Crying Season and Where Angels Fear), and knew that her chances of survival were zero.
Whisper in the NIght sets a mass killer against Sheriff Jenna Alton and her team but the killer has the intent to make Jenna herself suffer. Can she find him in time to save the girls and herself…?
This is the 6th book in the series but works as a standalone novel.
The killer is wickedly clever in thinking of ways to make his games more fun for himself and more terrible for the victims and the police. Some chapters are seen from his point of view, giving us an insight into his twisted logic.
I had no idea who the killer was so the suspense was maintained until the very end. The interviews with suspects were just as frustrating for us as readers as they were for Alton and her colleagues. The police procedure was focussed on in this book and they rely on routine to keep them on task when matters get personal as one of their own is abducted.
To be perfectly honest, I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the previous two but they had set the standard VERY high. The drama and chase were definitely there in abundance but it was less graphic with the killer always being detached from his victims, and there was also less focus on Alton and Kane’s relationship which had been developed over the last books. Overall a very good read though!
DK HOOD Media Kit:
Title: Whisper in the Night
Author: DK Hood
PUBLICATION DAY: 20/06/19
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B07Q1DXRJFSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2TUjzPh
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2UVtS1U
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/D5m630oaNFD
Description:
She opens her eyes and struggles to make out the dark room around her. One thing she knows instantly – her wrists are bound and she’s tied to a chair, unable to move. As she screams for help, she hears footsteps outside. He’s coming…
Fifteen-year-old Lindy Rosen has been having nightmares for weeks, waking in a panic, screaming that there’s a man in her room watching her sleep. Her parents assumed it was her overactive imagination, but when one morning they find Lindy missing from her bedroom, they’re not so sure. Detective Jenna Alton is called in to investigate.
Within hours of the schoolgirl going missing, the kidnapper reaches out to Jenna with a video of Lindy bound and tied to a chair, crying to be set free. And a simple message – you’ve got 24 hours to find her or I kill her.
Jenna’s team work around the clock to try to find Lindy before the deadline, but time runs out, and Jenna receives a devastating message. The killer has made good on his promise. He’s playing a dangerous game. And no one knows what his next move will be.
But just two days later, one of Lindy’s school friends is taken in the middle of the night and the countdown begins again.
Completely addictive from the very start, if you like Lisa Regan, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott you’ll love Whisper in the Night.
**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
Author Bio:
I‘ve always had a wicked sense of humour and was the kid who told the ghost stories around the campfire. I am lucky to have family all over the world and have spent many vacations in places from Paris France to Montana USA and Australia. I use the wonderful memories from these visits to enhance my stories. My interest in the development of forensic science to solve crime goes back many years. I enjoy writing crime, mystery and thrillers. With many stories, waiting for me to write I’ll look forward to sharing many spine-tingling stories with you.
D.K. Hood is an active member of International Thriller Writers.
Author Social Media Links:
Website: www.dkhood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkhoodauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DKHood_Author
TRIGGER WARNING: this book deals with domestic violence and abuse
Stella and Jack have moved to the coast and bought a huge house that used to be a women’s refuge. One night Lori arrives battered and bruised seeking sanctuary at Westhill House. Jack wants to call the police but Lori refuses. Stella allows her to stay and her relationship with Jack begins to crumble.
Meanwhile, other parts of the book are set in the 1970s and we see Kay, a wife abused by her husband: will she find the strength to leave him and protect both herself and her daughter?
This is a very powerful book and the abuse is graphically described and heartbreakingly vivid.
There are some major twists along the way. I was really unsure whether to distrust Lori or Jack as they both seemed to take advantage of Stella’s good nature and desire to help others. I could easily understand why Jack doesn’t want a stranger in the house but the human instinct to care for others often surpasses concern for our own safety so Stella’s reaction was realistic too.
The links between the 1970s and present day narratives are cleverly revealed by author Jess Ryder over the course of the book. The situations faced by the characters are realistic and thought provoking as we as readers are encouraged to explore how WE might react under similar circumstances.
The title of The Dream House has meaning for Stella and Kay. It is a fresh start for both of them, capturing their dreams for the future. But just like dreams, there is no certainty or tangible definition so they often evade us. Westhill House has offered hope for women for decades but for dreams to be come reality the women need to concentrate on their own needs.
Title: The Dream House (previously titled The Guest)
Author: Jess Ryder
UNIVERSAL Buy Link:
Publication Day: 21/06/19
Description:
It’s everything she’s ever wanted…
When I first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea I knew Jack and I could make this our forever home.
It may be falling apart with an overgrown garden, but with some tender loving care, we can repair this beautiful building and perhaps our relationship too…
But the more time I spend renovating our new house, the more time Jack is spending at work.
At least Lori is here to keep me company.
She has her own troubles yet she always listens to mine.
She’s helping to restore the house, uncovering its secrets one by one.
Like the children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.
The hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room.
And the fact that Westhill House is a place women used to go to feel safe…
Lori seems to know a lot about Westhill House.
The question is, why?
A gripping, spine-chilling read brimming with secrets and lies. If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us or The Woman in the Window then this dark, twisting psychological thriller from Amazon chart bestseller Jess Ryder is guaranteed to have you gripped.
Author Bio:
Jess Ryder is the author of three psychological thrillers – ‘Lie to Me’ (April 2017) and ‘The Good Sister’ (August 2017), and The Ex-Wife (June 2018) -all published by Bookouture. She also writes books for children, teens and young adults as Jan Page, with many titles published including ‘Selina Penaluna’. With many years’ experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers. She blogs about writing, reviews books and interviews writers at www.jessryder.co.uk and www.janpagewriter.com.
Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.
Author Social Media Links:
We meet Tansy on New Year’s Eve as she is recovering from a devastating break up from Renzo. Her resolution for the year ahead? To get him back!
Meanwhile Tansy’s career and family life are causing her worry. She enjoys her job but her boss is a nightmare. She is struggling financially as all her friends have way more money than she does and she is trying to keep up. Heartbreakingly, her mum is supporting her dad’s gambling addiction so Tansy feels obliged to send home money to keep the family afloat.
Right from the start, we know that Tansy could do SOOOOO much better than Renzo and are desperate for her to see her own worth rather than chasing after a man who doesn’t deserve her.
The blurb desrives It’s Not You It’s Him as hilarious and whilst I agree that it has a lot of humour, it is so much deeper than that.
Many of us have been through bad break ups and found it difficult to move on and this is really well described by the author. There are also chapters dedicated to her dates with Renzo and I just wanted to scream with frustration at the way she allows herself to be treated.
This is such an emotional book due to the chapters dedicated to her miserable school days. Sophie Ranald accurately and devastatingly evokes those hideous days of feeling excluded and inadequate, as well as the cruelty of teenagers.
Media Kit:
Title: It’s Not You It’s Him
Author: Sophie Ranald
Publication Day: 18/06/2019
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B07NL1LSSDSocial
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2HvX8ct
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2TOCVVR
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/lNUv30o87mm
Description:
New Year’s Eve. The most overrated night of the year, right? I have to get through a night of enforced fun, drink all the prosecco and talk about new beginnings. But I don’t want new beginnings. I want my old beginning back.
It’s been ten days, two hours and forty-three minutes since Tansy got dumped. Two heartbreaking weeks since Renzo, who made her weak at the knees and dizzy with excitement, found out Tansy’s secret – and ended it on the spot.
Since then, she’s spent every evening scrolling through their old photos, drunk texted him twenty–six times (he stopped reading after five), and lost count of how many packets of Kleenex she’s cried her way through.
That’s where Operation Get Renzo Back comes in. She ropes in a new wing–woman, maxes out her credit card and accidentally–on-purpose bumps into him at every opportunity. Oh, and she finds a fake boyfriend, as you do…
But while she’s busy pretending, Tansy’s plan is thrown a major curveball. She has to learn the hard way that it’s not her, it’s him – and that sometimes, a break-up can end up being the making of you.
A fresh, funny and fabulous novel for anyone who has been dumped, got a post- break–up haircut, stalked an ex on Facebook, and then realised they were WAY better off without them. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Matt Dunn will love this laugh-out-loud read.
Author Bio:
Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid–20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction–writing skills describing holidays to places she‘d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full–time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn‘t It?) seemed to write itself. Her second, third and fourth novels followed, and The Truth About Gemma Grey was released in summer 2017. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance and running. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and Purrs, their adorable little cat.
To find out about Sophie‘s forthcoming releases and get access to free books and special offers, sign up to her newsletter at sophieranald.com
Author Social Media Links:
Website: sophieranald.com
Twitter: @ SophieRanald
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SophieRanald.
