Six months ago, Darcie saved a little girl’s life. She has desperately tried on avoid any publicity but goes missing the morning after she receives a sinister note. Can DCI Dan Riley find her safely…?
The Housewife’s Secret is the 7th book in the DCI Riley series. I have previously read and reviewed books 5 and 6: The Night of the Party, and The Lie In Our Marriage. The cases are standalone but nuances of Dan’s private and personal relationships have developed over the series.
Darcie is a housewife, married to a cardiologist. But she has been keeping secrets from him. She is pregnant and she is seeing a psychologist to help her deal with her past. Dan is supposed to be heading on holiday with his family but is informed about the case hours before departure. He senses something is concerning about the case and swiftly find Darcie’s phone with probable blood on it. The holiday is postponed…
The book is written from Dan’s perspective in the present day to show the police investigation. There are also flashes of humour as he avoids his wife’s wrath at missing their holiday and is forced to wear an awful suit by his colleague. The case is interweaved with first person viewpoints at various points in Darcie’s past and present. This allows us to glimpse clues about the secrets and potential reasons for her disappearance.
I enjoyed the layers of this book. We see Darcie’s perspective at the very beginning but it then becomes clear we don’t know her at all. Poor Dan! He is all set to enjoy some family time and a holiday but he can’t resist this case. He immediately has bad vibes and fears for Darcie’s safety but needs to piece together the truth quickly. From halfway through, it is clear someone is acting oddly and is therefore responsible but I enjoyed seeing how Dan came to the same conclusion.
The Housewife’s Secret is a tense and engaging crime thriller and police procedural.
The Housewife’s Secret by Anna-Lou Weatherley
I cast my eyes over the impressive meal I’ve cooked and the half-empty crystal wine glasses. As our guests smile graciously, I squeeze my husband’s shoulder. It’s vital I get his friends to like me. To believe this version of me. Because I’ll do anything to stop them learning the truth…
Ever since I met my handsome husband Dr Gabe Bonneville, I started playing the role of the perfect housewife. He works hard as a surgeon, so I look after our home, and throw elaborate dinner parties with champagne cocktails for his best friends Hugh and Anita. He’s my safe place and my chance to have the family I’ve always wanted.
I’ve managed to hide the mornings when I wake up and see a face in the shadows. I haven’t told Gabe the truth about the woman who raised me, or told him about the therapy I’ve been getting so my secrets stay hidden in the dark. I haven’t questioned his past so he doesn’t ask about mine. I see the way Anita looks at him sometimes, but I’ll never say a word.
Until the letter arrives at the front door. The beautiful, expensive card shakes in my hand as I read the neat black handwriting.
Someone knows I’m not just a housewife. And the lies I’ve told will be all that’s left when I disappear…
Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and The Housemaid will be gripped by this unputdownable thriller and its non-stop twists and turns! A breathtaking ride from the very first chapter to the explosive ending.
About the author
I was born in Hampshire but grew up in London where I still live today with my two children. I was originally a dancer who re-trained after a ‘disco accident’ in Ibiza to become a journalist – I’ve even won some awards, though I don’t like to talk about them – ha! I’ve been a women’s lifestyle writer for over fifteen years and am the former editor and acting editor of the fabulous J-17 magazine and Smash Hits respectively and have written for all the major glossies including Grazia, Company, Marie Claire and More, where I was their resident tell-it-like-it-is advice columnist – loads of fun! I’ve also written for NME, Loaded and Front magazine (I can be down with the lads too!).
During my journalistic career I’ve seen and done some amazing stuff, highlights include becoming a nun (for a day), rally racing with the late, great Colin McRae, bunjee jumping off a 350 ft bridge in designer heels, whiskey tasting for a week in Kentucky (don’t remember much of that) and hanging out with all manor of A-list celebrities (er, Take That and Jordan, anyone?).
After I had my son I started to write novels (having children does strange things to a person) and had my first young adult novel, Ibiza Summer, published in 2004. My first adult novel (it is a little racy) Chelsea Wives was published in 2012, followed by Wicked Wives in 2013.
When I’m not writing, which isn’t often, I like to hang upside down on a pole – I’m a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that woud be dangerous). I adore creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is my speciality. My next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!
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1919, one nurse, one doctor and 5 patients remain at Merewood. But the owner wants to sell the property and a series of strange and deadly incidents lead to danger for all of the residents…
Murder at Merewood Hospital is an historical murder mystery set in England after WW1.
Helen Hopgood and Samuel Bingham are the only remaining medical staff to care for 5 patients who were significantly injured during the war. Now it is time for all to relocate but the pair struggle to find suitable alternatives for their remaining patients. Extra pressure ensues when a series of pranks is intermingled with murder…
I thought the historical element of the book was researched well and the setting and premise were quite unique. In the author’s note at the end, she mentions Merewood is loosely based on Minley which is right near where I live!
The book is written in the third person to show the various experiences of all characters. I was very mistrustful of all the characters, medical and injured as well as the other Merewood residents. There were multiple layers to the plot and a mix of relationships to unpick. I had great sympathy for the hardships and fears faced by the patients, but had mixed feelings about Helen and Samuel due to their single mindedness and even selfishness. There were plenty of red herrings and misdirections which meant the mystery was well maintained until the reveal at the end.
Murder at Merewood Hospital is an enjoyable historical murder mystery.
Murder at Merewood Hospital
The patients survived the Great War only to face a new danger…
In 1916, Sister Helen Hopgood was sent with a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers at Merewood Farm, a temporary military hospital in Hampshire.
Now the war is over, only five patients remain – and she is the only nurse. The last ward must close, and Helen is doing all she can to find new homes for the injured servicemen.
Joseph Wintringham has to sell the farm to keep Merewood Manor. But since the murder of Nurse Taplin, locals believe the place is cursed – perhaps by the doomed nurse or by the patients who perished from their war wounds.
Is the hospital haunted? Or is someone very real behind the unnatural deaths that begin on Midsummer’s Night 1919?
Can Helen discover the truth before it’s too late..?
Author Bio –
Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. The first book in her Iris Woodmore series, Death at Crookham Hall, draws on her interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.
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Mabel Canning has moved to London in1921 and joined the Useful Women Agency. Her first job is supporting a widow at a wake but the deceased has been declared dead after going missing 7 years ago. Then a man dies at the front door during the wake…
A Body on the Doorstep is the first book in a murder mystery series set in the 1920s. The second book, A Body at the Seance is also available now. In the author’s note at the end, I discovered that the Useful Women Agency was real!
Guy Despard disappeared 7 years ago and his wife Rosalind is finally able to have him declared dead. During the wake Mabel is helping with the guests when she opens the door to a dead man. Rosalind is under suspicion as it is her house and she was originally suspected of disposing of her husband. Her brother Park was a police officer but thrown out of the force for defending his sister.
I loved Mabel’s character. She has moved to London from a small village and is keen to be independent. She is keen, able and flexible, able to turn herself to any task to pay her way. However, she never expects to be at the centre of a murder investigation!
Park and Mabel make an unlikely alliance (could there be a spark of romance for later in the series…?), along with Gladys the dog, to find out the truth and exonerate Rosalind. I liked the 1920s setting and the exploration of London in that era. Class and gender norms are challenged as men and women adapt to life after WW1.
A Body on the Doorstep is an enjoyable start to a series and I look forward to reading the next book about Mabel soon.
Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can’t wait to begin working for the Useful Women’s Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client’s doorstep, it’s time to add solving murders to her job description…
London, 1921: Mabel Canning is proud to be a modern woman working for the Useful Women’s Agency, carrying out tasks for gentlewomen from flower arranging to washing muddy dogs. But when she answers the door for wealthy widow Rosalind Despard, she almost chokes on her cucumber sandwich when she finds a soldier’s body on the doorstep.
As she offers tea to the policemen of Scotland Yard, Mabel can’t resist getting drawn into the investigation. Who was the mysterious dead man? And why was he holding a letter for Rosalind, written by her husband on the day he disappeared?
As Mabel hunts for clues, she joins forces with Rosalind’s handsome brother, former detective Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. But when Mabel suspects she is being followed, the detective duo know that time is running out before the killer strikes again.
As she investigates, Mabel discovers dusty old photographs that help her reveal the soldier’s true identity. But as she gets closer to uncovering the young man’s murderer, she knows she’s also one step closer to danger… Can she outsmart the killer and save Park and Rosalind before they also turn up dead as doornails?
A totally unputdownable and utterly charming Golden Age cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.
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Second book in the series, A Body At the Seance (out on the same day): https://geni.us/B0CKC3MPYJsocial
Author Bio:
Marty Wingate is a USA Today best-selling author of both mysteries and historical fiction. Marty enjoys weaving humor into her books and creating characters—from quirky and loveable to sinister and duplicitous—that leap off the page. Before embarking on her series about the London Ladies Murder Club with Bookouture, Marty published three contemporary cozy mystery series (the Potting Shed, Birds of a Feather, and First Edition Library books). She has also published two standalone books of historical fiction and found stories of the past to be compelling. She’s delighted to combine her penchant for both mysteries and histories to bring her readers more satisfying stories. Marty currently resides near Seattle, Washington.
Lady Bea is celebrating Perry Juke’s upcoming nuptuals at an exclusive hotel and spa. The only other guests are attending a model’s birthday party and one of them is found dead the next morning…
A Cocktail To Die For is a cosy crime mystery novel in the Right Royal Investigation series set in a fictional England. Lady Bea is the niece of the king but often finds herself in the midst of a murder case!
Bea and Perry’s relaxing celebration is scuppered by the discovery of a body. One of the other party guests is found dead in their room and poison is suspected. Bea’s friend Em is in attendance so launches into her professional role as a police inspector. However, the local police are not keen on having the royal protection officer and her charge involved in the case.
Due to the cosy genre there is little detail about the murder or body. The main focus is upon the investigation and how Bea and her friends respond to developing events. There are a limited number of suspects due to the small guest lost for both parties so Bea uses her position and personality to gently interrogate the other characters.
I did enjoy this book and it was a quick read. It was interesting to see another police officer take the lead and I liked getting to know Em better than we had previously. However, I felt that there was missing something without regular characters Fitzwilliam, Simon and Daisy the dog.
A Cocktail To Die For is an enjoyable mystery and I love this fictional royal world.
A Cocktail To Die For
Cocktails, chaos, and an unexpected twist. Can Perry and his hens unveil the truth before time runs out?
Death at Prestigious Hotel and Spa, Chasingham House
We are hearing reports that a young woman has been found dead at Chasingham House, the exclusive venue in the Cotswolds. She has not been named, and the cause of death is unknown at this time. This will no doubt cast a cloud over the bachelor weekend being hosted there by Lady Beatrice (36), the Countess of Rossex, for her business partner Perry Juke (34) ahead of his wedding to bestselling author and celebrity chef Simon Lattimore (40). Also staying at Chasingham House are top models Camile Redmaine (35) and Mel Parks (35), who are celebrating newly-single Cammy’s birthday with a group of friends.
When one of the birthday girls is found dead in her room, it’s clear Bea plans for her, Perry, and their friends to chill around the pool, have a few treatments, and generally relax, seem to have gone down the drain. When the local police are quick to dismiss the death as an accident, Bea is determined to help investigate anyway, along with the rest of Perry’s party.
Can Perry and his hens catch the killer before the weekend is over and the trail goes cold?
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Author Bio –
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
Previously, I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes
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A young woman is missing and, judging by the amount of blood, probably murdered. Meanwhile Kane and Alton have found a gravesite with a series of bodies buried in triangles. The police fear that another two women may disappear soon…
A Song For The Dead is the 21st book in the Kane and Alton series of detective thrillers. It works as a stand alone book but there are personal plotlines which follow on from previous books, in particular Jenna and Dave’s family life.
Jenna and Dave find a link between a set of bodies and a current missing person case. They believe that there is a killer who kills 3 women every Halloween. The seasonal setting adds the backdrop to the plot and adds a spooky atmosphere and tension.
Most of the book is written from the third person perspective to show the police investigation and the victims being unaware of the danger they face. Some chapters are written to show the killer’s viewpoint and this is chilling as we witness their determination to harm others.
The murders are graphically and vividly described from the victim and murderer’s perspectives. I found this very unpleasant and this is mirrored in Jenna’s difficulty with dealing with this case. The phone recordings of the murders was especially harrowing.
Jenna’s maternal instincts have really kicked in now and this adds a different dimension to the book as she now has to keep her child safe and stay safe for him. I did feel that these elements slowed down the plot a little compared to earlier books.
A Song For The Dead is an intense crime thriller.
MEDIA PACK
Book: A SONG FOR THE DEAD
Author: D.K. HOOD
Pub Day: JANUARY 8TH 2024
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About the book:
As she steps out of the shower and wraps herself in a warm towel, her breath catches. There’s writing scrawled in the condensation on the mirror. I’m going to kill you. She doesn’t even have time to scream…
It’s Halloween when a young woman is reported missing from the small town of Black Rock Falls and Sheriff Jenna Alton and her partner, Deputy David Kane, race to her remote home. But all they find are signs of a struggle and blood on the bathroom floor. Freya Richardson has vanished.
With no leads on Freya’s whereabouts, Jenna hits a wall in the investigation. Then the bodies of three women are discovered buried in a local forest. Each one has been wrapped in a blanket. As Jenna takes in their pretty faces and long blonde hair, her blood runs cold. Freya isn’t here: but each body looks shockingly like her…
Jenna soon links the victims with an unsolved case where the killer attacked blonde-haired women in their homes and buried the bodies. She’s convinced it’s the same murderer, and seeing that he always takes three victims, she realizes that two more women could be in serious danger…
Working around the clock, Jenna’s heart sinks when a beloved friend makes a terrifying call telling her there’s an intruder in her house. Begging her to hide, Jenna and Dave race to the woman’s house. But can they get there in time to stop another innocent life from being taken?
Truly gripping and absolutely unputdownable, fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot will love this novel from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author D.K. Hood.
**Each Kane and Alton book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
Author Bio
D.K. Hood is THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, USA TODAY and AMAZON bestselling author of the Detective Kane and Alton Series. Her spine chilling, fast-paced serial killer thrillers revolve around Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex-special forces Deputy, Dave Kane. As the main characters fight crime, their secret pasts are never far away. Set in and around the fictional backwoods town of Black Rock Falls, Montana, known locally as Serial Killer Central, D.K.’s imagery takes the reader into the scenes with her. Given the title “Queen of Suspense” by her reviewers, D.K.’s writing style offers her readers a movie style, sizzling fast thrill ride.
NEW SERIES: SPECIAL AGENT BETH KATZ
Beth is a serial killer working for the FBI. By day she is a dedicated agent and by night she becomes the notorious Tarot Killer and hunts down vicious serial killers, who have slipped through the net of justice. With her handsome mountain man partner,
Agent Dax Styles, they fight crime by walking a very thin line of the law.
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