On our way to Dymchurch in Kent, we visited Rochester. We began by using our English Heritage membership to visit the Castle.
The inside of the keep is quite magnificent with multiple floors accessed via spiral staircases.
Matthew was a bit scared but bravely persevered to reach the top! Anya boldly led the way, fearless as ever which Zach aimed to replicate.
There are wonderful views from all levels and we enjoyed looking out across the river and Matthew train-spotted to his heart’s content!
There was also an exhibition about the timeline of the castle and how it would have appeared during its prime.
We also explored the castle grounds which had plenty of free space for the children to run around in as well as a cannon to admire, flower displays to enjoy and more river views to soak up.
After lunch at Pizza Express (very yum) we visited the Guildhall Museum as an added extra for our trip. I couldn’t resist a bonus museum!
There were interactive displays as well as archaelogical artefacts about objects and history found in and around the local area.
The chamber can be used for weddings and has stunning portaits or royalty and other significant figures. Cases contain the regalia of office and this would be a wonderful place for a wedding or christening.
The Hulks exhibition informs visitors about the rather unpleasant life on board a prison ship. The children also enjoyed the chance to ‘drive’ a more modern boat simulation.
Our final destination in Rochester was the Cathedral. We had already admired the external view from the main street as well as the castle. Sadly there was a funeral being held on the day of our visit so part of the building was curtained off. The music was beautiful and made our experience very atmospheric.
The historical and the modern merged through the architecture and exhibits including a blanket dedicated to covid victims contrasting with the centuries old memorials and graves.
In the crypt were more significant historical artefacts including a multi lingual Bible and wall paintings. We then explored the grounds which had some ruins as well as tranquil gardens.
We really enjoyed our trip to Rochester and I loved the history side to our visit.
A killer uses death metal band Wishbone’s lyrics to kill his victims in a horrific way. DS Jason Smith is back from a traumatic vacation so can he stay focussed and find the murderer before the next lyric is brought to life (death)…?
Wishbone is the fifteenth novel to feature DS Jason Smith, his wife DC Whitton and the rest of their team. Smith and Whitton’s personal life is in turmoil following events in the previous book (which I have somehow missed 🙁 ) and there are major spoilers so I would advise reading the series in order.
I literally devoured this book. It is gory, gruesome, grisly and VERY graphic but I just couldn’t put it down. The murder methods and forensic details are described in detail and they are horrific.
Smith and Whitton begin the book on leave, recovering from events in Australia. But Smith is champing at the bit to get back to work and this case needs his expertise. Women are being killed in a way linked to song lyrics from a death metal band (not a genre of music that I was really aware of, and not one I’ll be following now!)
The pace of the plot is completely relentless and this is a real page turner of a book. There are not many suspects to choose from, unless it is a deranged fan, and the police are anxious to get ahead of the killer to prevent any more sickening murders. Our witnessing of the lyrics ramps up the anticipation of the murders which we then experience too, dreading what we know will happen but unable to tear our eyes away from the page!
Despite the grisly crimes and the worry over Smith’s daughter’s mental health, there are touches of humour such as when Smith and Whitton attend a death metal gig and wry comments about their superior officers.
Wishbone is a brilliantly gruesome police thriller and I absolutely loved it!
Book blurb
WISHBONE
‘BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.’
These seemingly innocent song lyrics are about to send Detective Jason Smith over the edge.
Still traumatised after a harrowing trip back home, Smith is sent headlong into the stuff of nightmares when he returns to work. When a woman is found dead with her spinal cord severed Smith and his team are thrown into the most disturbing investigation ever.
Then another body is found and when Smith realises what this woman was subjected to he knows he’s on the trail of the most sadistic killer he’s ever come across.
All clues point to a death metal band.
Wishbone are in town for a few shows and when Smith realises all the murders bear striking similarities to their song lyrics he starts to wonder if there is something more to this band than meets the eye.
This is the most horrifying case of Smith’s career and one the people of York will never forget.
Author bio
After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brought together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
The Miranda trilogy is something totally different. A psychological thriller trilogy. It is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow with book 16 coming soon. In addition I have an new series featuring an Irish detective who relocated to Guernsey. The first 4 books in the Detective Liam O’Reilly series are now available.
Two feuding families on the island of Guernsey where the malice escalates. Property damage, violence and murder, leaving DI Liam O’Reilly with a complicated case with 200 years of animosity to unravel…
Malice on the Island is the fourth book in Stewart Giles’ DI O’Reilly series and the second that I have read. There are references to events in the previous book (which was BRILLIANT!) but no spoilers that would detract if you want to go back and read them from the beginning.
Liam is a great lead character and detective. He has begun a new relationship so is tentative in that in a way that contrasts wonderfully with his confidence and bravado as a police officer. He is also feeling awkward as his daughter continues a relationship with his least liked colleague. Plus there is the antagonistic relationship with his cat which adds a delightful touch of humour!
Dialogue between the characters feels natural and realistic, bringing both police and suspects to life. The style of writing overall in engaging which makes this book a real page turner.
The crimes in this book didn’t quite have the shock factor of those in the previous book. However, they were more grisly so I felt affected in a more emotional way. Bodies are covered in black paint and I guessed completely wrongly as to its significance. The plot held my interest throughout and I had a suspicion about the motive and culprit which were partially right.
Malice on the Island was a hugely enjoyable police procedural novel and I look forward to the next book in the seires.
Malice on the Island (Detective Liam O’Reilly book 4)
A FEUDING FAMILY AND A DEADLY SECRET.
Nobody knows when it first started.
The tranquil island of Guernsey is suddenly besieged by a wave of malice. Shops are getting set alight, houses are being sprayed with paint and friends are no longer sure if their neighbours are who they thought they were.
When a woman is found dead, covered head to toe in paint outside a house covered in identical paint Detective Liam O’Reilly is brought into the midst. O’Reilly soon realises this is much more than a simple case of murder. And when more bodies are found O’Reilly starts to wonder if he made the right decision in coming to the Island.
This is a crime mystery you won’t want to miss.
Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis and LJ Ross.
BOOKS BY STEWART GILES
DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 – Phobia
1 – Smith
2 – Boomerang
3 – Ladybird
4 – Occam’s Razor
5 – Harlequin
6 – Selene
7 – Horsemen
8 – Unworthy
9 – Venom
10 – Severed
11 – Demons
12 – Deadeye
13 – Motive
14 – Australia
DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Book 1 – Blood on the Island
2 – Lies on the Island
DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
2-The Perfect Murder
3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3
DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
2 – Dropzone
3 – The Raven Girl
Trilogy: The DS Smith & Harriet Taylor box set
THE MIRANDA TRILOGY (psychological thrillers)
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa
STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide
Stewart Giles – Author Bio
After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.
DI Liam O’Reilly is waiting for dinner in a busy restaurant at the height of tourist season on the island of Guernsey. A biker strolls in and shoots the bartender twice in the face. Liam confronts him but is lucky to escape with his life. To his horror, the killer murders others in the same way over the next day. Fear controls the island: can Liam catch the killer…?
Fear on the Island was an absolutely gripping read and my only complaint is that it is much too short! The action is fast paced from the opening chapter and the murders happen in quick succession. The events of the whole book take place over only a couple of days.
There are plenty of twists and potential suspects for Liam to investigate. Liam is present at the beginning for the first murder but even with his police experience is unable to gain insight into the killer’s motive or identity. The murders are brutal but swift. There is not a great deal of graphic forensic detail but the stark crimes are described factually through the eyes of witnesses.
There are subplots of enmity with the press and the potential for romance as Liam falls for a possible suspect. This allows for further character development of Liam as well as peripheral characters. His relationships with the others in his police team gives another side to his personality, especially with the man dating Liam’s daughter.
Fear on the Island is the third book in the series but I have not read the previous books. It didn’t matter as there are no spoilers and now I want to catch up as the writing style was so good!
I have reviewed other books from other Stewart Giles series (see the purple links in the list below)
Fear on the Island: A compelling mystery with a dark twist. (Detective Liam O’Reilly book 3)
From bestselling author: Stewart Giles comes book 3 in the brilliant Detective Liam O’Reilly series.
It’s mid-summer on the island of Guernsey and Detective Liam O’Reilly is winding down for the day.
He’s enjoying a quiet drink with his daughter when a man in bike leathers walks inside the pub. O’Reilly doesn’t even register him until he hears the gunshot. The man has taken out a gun and shot the barman twice in the face. O’Reilly takes hold of his daughter and throws her to the floor.
“Not everything is as it seems.” Says the gunman as he leaves the people inside the pub with something to think about before he calmly walks out of the pub.
Then another man is shot dead in broad daylight. A figure in leathers tells the witnesses the same thing: “Not everything is as it seems.”
O’Reilly and his team have no idea what is going on. Even the experienced Irish detective really doesn’t have a clue what this is all about.
When the gunman takes a third victim the people on the island start to panic. Fear is rife and confidence in the police is at an all-time low.
O’Reilly knows it’s only a matter of time before this madman strikes again, but he’s running out of ideas. With his team working around the clock and running on empty, he knows time is running out before the most confusing killer he’s ever come across strikes again.
What readers are saying about Fear on the Island:
The DI Liam O’Reilly series just keeps getting better and better! Fear on The Island is fast-paced and gripping, drawing you in from the start with an interesting plot and likeable characters that are continuing to develop. If you enjoy detective crime thrillers this is a great read set in Guernsey. Can’t wait for the the next one! – Kirsty
Wow what a fantastic read, Liam is starting to grow on me as a very clever copper, it’s the best so far in this series so let’s bring on more of O’Reilly the hero of Guernsey. – Booklover Bev
Each new Detective Liam O’Reilly book just gets better and better. Fear on the Island is fast paced as our DI is faced with a clever killer seen by everyone but identifiable by no one. In between the investigation details we get glimpses into life on the island of Guernsey and our DI’s restricted personal life. A quick, satisfying read.- Alison
Expertly crafted, gripping and unpredictable. – Carol
Another brilliant read from Stewart Giles – Sue
BOOKS BY STEWART GILES
DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 – Phobia
1 – Smith
2 – Boomerang
3 – Ladybird
4 – Occam’s Razor
5 – Harlequin
6 – Selene
7 – Horsemen
8 – Unworthy
9 – Venom
10 – Severed
11 – Demons
12 – Deadeye
13 – Motive
14 – Australia
DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Book 1 – Blood on the Island
2 – Lies on the Island
3 – Fear on the Island
4 – Malice on the Island (coming soon)
DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
2-The Perfect Murder
3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3
DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
2 – Dropzone
3 – The Raven Girl
Trilogy: The DS Smith & Harriet Taylor box set
THE MIRANDA TRILOGY (psychological thrillers)
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa
STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide
Stewart Giles – Author Bio
After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.
DS Smith’s life is back on an even keel after a turbulent year. His wife and daughter have moved back in and they are looking forward to a long Christmas holiday together. But then the phone rings and Smith and Whitton are called back to work for a murder investigation. Two more bodies are discovered and the police are unable to find any connection. DS Smith suspects someone in the team…
Motive is the thirteenth book in Stewart Giles’ Jason Smith series. I have read books 10 and 12 (Severed and Deadeye) and was eager to catch up of the life and love of the lead detective.
The dynamics between the characters is just so good. Smith and Whitton are married with a young daughter so have to negotiate the personal and professional lives. Giles has a way of making you really care about the characters: they have a reality that is refreshing and the dialogue feels natural.
There are also the dynamics of the relationships with other characters, including superior officers, the forensic team and the colleague that Smith had a one night stand with. In Motive, the other characters have an increased significance as Smith believes that one of them is leaking information to the press and could even be the murderer they are searching for.
The plot begins with a murder and, while this is quite graphic, it does not seem gratuitous. Later murders are described in forensic detail but with the added personal reaction of Smith and his team.
The ending was certainly dramatic but didn’t feel very realistic. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation but felt a little let down with the actual reveal of the culprit. However, the rest of the book is such high quality that it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of Motive and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Smith’s life.
MOTIVE (Detective Jason Smith #13) by Stewart Giles
From # 1 bestselling author, Stewart Giles comes a new detective Harriet Taylor/Jason Smith thriller.
In the week before Christmas, two people are brutally murdered in their homes. There is no sign of a struggle and both victims have had their throats slashed open.
Detective Jason Smith is on holiday for the Christmas period, but he finds himself in the middle of the investigation before he knows it.
There are no clues left at the murder scenes besides a bizarre series of numbers and letters left in random places – E.6.T.0.M. Smith and the team are baffled. What is the relevance of this ambiguous message?
As the bodies start to pile up, and the tensions heat up within the team, Smith soon senses that someone in his team knows more about this than they are letting on. Is there a rat in their midst? And if so, who is it? And why is someone killing people without any obvious motive? In the most bizarre case of Smith’s career, will this be the murderer that finally beats him?
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MOTIVE:
‘Firstly I just want to say, Motive is one of this author’s best books so far, it’s got so much action and twist’s going on, I doubt this author will never ever bore me, Is there more on the way? I hope so.’ – Booklover Bev
‘MOTIVE throws a horrific, inexplicable incident out of nowhere. Swamped with indecipherable mysteries, heart racing suspense builds to harrowing proportions.’ – Eileen
‘I was so pleased to get stuck into another DS Smith story that I read this in one sitting!’ – Alison
‘An awesome read domestic intertwined with adrenaline pumping thrills keeps the pages turning and the ending …. Well that not only had my heart racing but also grabbing for the tissues.’ – I Love Books
BOOKS BY STEWART GILES
DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5-Phobia
Book 1-Smith
Book 2-Boomerang
Book 3-Ladybird
Book 4-Occam’s Razor
Book 5-Harlequin
Book 6-Selene
Book 7-Horsemen
Book 8-Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye
Book 13 – Motive
DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3
DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa (coming soon)
STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide
DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Blood on the Island
Stewart Giles – Author Bio
After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.
