TRIGGER WARNING: grooming
Tate Kinsella is accused of murder. A woman fell from the roof of her employer’s building. Initially she thinks it is the mysterious Helen who she met at the Christmas party but the body is identified as that of Maddy. Her boss’s wife… Her boss who she was having an affair with…
The Woman on the Ledge is a psychological thriller about a mysterious death in London. Wow, I loved this book!
Tate meets Helen on the ledge of the building where she works. She manages to talk her down and the next day Helen asks to be readmitted into the building. Shortly after this a body is discovered on the ground and Tate becomes the main suspect when murder is proved. The book shows us Tate in the present day as she explains to her lawyer the truth, while also showing us episodes from the past in the lead up to Maddy’s death.
Tate is a very unreliable narrator. She frequently lies to us, to the police, to her lawyer. This allows for plenty of plot twists as we discover new truths that make us reassess our knowledge of events. Whenever I thought I had the whole picture, BAM! another lie would be revealed and my whole understanding of the plot and characters would change. The misdirection is so skillfully done and the plot is gripping.
The Woman on the Ledge was a fabulous book and I was absolutely gripped by the concept and how it was accomplished on the pages.
Tate Kinsella is a single, out of work actor working as a temp at a London bank when the police arrest her for murder.
A woman falls to her death from the bank’s twenty-fifth floor roof terrace. Tate confesses to having been alone with the victim moments before she died, but insists she had nothing to do with the tragedy, telling her lawyer she’s been framed. Her lawyer, Sarah Kellerman, agrees to help Tate prove her innocence. But it soon becomes clear Tate knows a lot more than she is letting on. Whose secrets is she keeping? And why? As the mystery unfolds it becomes apparent that the key to the truth lies in the past, and nothing about the woman on the ledge is as straightforward as it first appears…
About the Author
Ruth Mancini was born in south-west London, and has worked as a lawyer for the past twenty-five years in and out of courts and police stations, representing those accused of crimes. She has worked as police station’s ‘duty solicitor’ – aka the person you ask for when you are first arrested.
Ruth still practises as a lawyer for a large criminal law firm with offices in London, conducting advocacy in the courts and defending people arrested at the police station. She also reviews trial files across the firm and juggles her legal work with writing crime and psychological fiction. She can be found on Twitter @RuthMancini1 and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ruth.mancini.author
TRIGGER WARNING: fertility issues, adoption
Alana was deeply affected by the disappearance and subsequent death of a young girl. Now she advocates that everyone should have a binder packed full of information including fingerprints and passwords, to help police in the event of a person’s disappearance. She never expects that her best friend will rely on one to save her…
If I Go Missing is a psychological thriller set in America.
Alana lost touch with her former best friend Chloe and her husband Ray who Alana loved first. Then the couple move in next door and Alana is forced to confront the past. Chloe vanishes, leaving behind a binder of information that hints at Alana’s guilt for several crimes. Meanwhile a child at Alana’s school also disappears and her interest in the case sparks police concern.
The book is written from Alana’s first person perspective as she deals with events in the present day and reflects on the past as well. She has been keeping secrets from her husband and is pretending to have fertility issues to avoid telling him the truth. Meanwhile the arrival of Chloe and Ray back into her life causes emotional pain and confusion. This is then compounded by the disappearance of her pupil and friend in two apparently separate incidents. Her heart breaks as she reads Chloe’s diary and reconsiders her own memories of the past.
I didn’t find much of the book particularly credible but this didn’t affect my enjoyment as I was swept along on the rollercoaster of plot twists. Alana’s lies keep growing and spiral out of control. I liked the police detective and could empathise with his frustration and suspicion about Alana’s involvement in the two missing person cases as well as an accident in the past.
If I Go Missing is full of mystery and suspense but also emotion.
Media Pack
Author: Leslie Wolfe
Book: If I Go Missing
Publication Day: Jan 2nd 2024
Description:
If you’re reading this, I’ve gone missing.
I close the binder I’ve been writing in, and walk into the living room. As I stare out of the window at your house next door, I think about all the things I stand to lose if someone comes for me. My handsome, loving husband, who has no idea what I’ve done. My family, who have supported me no matter what. This beautiful home near the ocean, where I thought I would be safe.
Everyone says that I’m paranoid, but I just think I’m prepared. My secrets have placed me in terrible danger.
So if the worst happens, this binder contains everything you’ll need to find me, hidden in a place only you could guess. You’ve always known me best of everyone, ever since we were girls. You’ll be able to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.
Only you can find me. But you’ll need to do it fast.
Because if you don’t, all your lies will come to light too…
From the no.1 Kindle and Amazon charts bestselling author of The Surgeon, comes an outrageously twisty and compelling psychological thriller that you simply won’t be able to put down! Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Gillian Flynn and Freida McFadden.
Author Bio:
Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they’re also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.
You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett’s relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you’ve followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.
Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that’s pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.
Whether you’re into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson’s, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni’s mysteries, Leslie’s got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.
Author Social Media Links
Guy and Sara have a close relationship with their son Jacob so they know instantly that something is wrong when he starts behaving oddly. Jacob is being bullied and the worried parents decide they have no option but to take matters into their own hands…
The Couple’s Revenge is a psychological thriller that plays on parents’ fears for their children’s mental and physical wellbeing.
Poor Jacob is obviously upset and finally confesses that he is the target of the school bully. This bully left his last school after his victim committed suicide. Jacob’s parents are determined to protect their son at any cost and also prevent any other child suffering at the bully’s hands.
The book is written using the first person perspectives of Guy and Sara via alternating chapters. Their fears and emotions are wonderfully written and I’m sure every parent will identify with the minutiae of their relationship with each other and their child. The prologue gives massive clues about the lengths the parents would go to in order to protect their son, and then the book goes back to show how they came to this terrible choice.
I found that I had to suspend my disbelief when the parents decide to take control of the situation. This didn’t stop me loving the way the plot twisted and I was absolutely gripped. I had several theories about who and why events proceed as they do. I was not disappointed by the resolution which ties up all the loose ends.
The Couple’s Revenge is a tense, dramatic and emotionally engaging psychological thriller.
The Couple’s Revenge by Daniel Hurst
How far would you go to protect your child?
I knew something was wrong. It’s a mother’s instinct.
I could tell when my son started hiding things from me. He used to walk to school with a mischievous grin on his beautiful face. Now he avoids eye contact and keeps his head down.
Since I discovered he’s being bullied by a classmate, I’ve spent every day worrying, my stomach churning with anxiety from the moment he leaves the house to the second he walks back through the door.
Everyone keeps telling me I’m overreacting, but I won’t risk my child’s safety. My husband and I try to talk to the other boy’s parents, but it only makes things worse…
Then our precious child is hurt. Enough is enough. It has to stop. Even if that means taking matters into our own hands.
Because we know the truth about the family targeting our son – it’s not the first time they’ve done this.
So the question is, exactly how far will we go to get revenge?
A nail-biting, page-turning psychological thriller from the number one bestselling author of The Doctor’s Wife. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Housemaid, you’ll be hooked on The Couple’s Revenge.
About Daniel Hurst
Daniel Hurst writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England, returning to his roots after several years away exploring the world and garnering plenty of ideas for future books!
Social media
Book club choice for January! It was lovely to read a festive themed book over the Christmas holidays 🙂
Lucy wants to save her beleaguered PR company and has a radical idea to bag a new client. The Miller family are gathering for Christmas but there is an unexpected guest…
Snowed In For Christmas is a romantic novel with gentle family drama and comedy.
Lucy needs to secure a wealthy client in order to save her struggling company for the team who are like a family to her. She has a gift wrapped proposal and is going to hand deliver it. Ross Miller is heading home for Christmas and is ready for the usual interrogation about his private life. He has made up a girlfriend but then Lucy turns up for real!
I liked the humour of the unfolding events and mistaken identity. The tone is wonderfully light hearted but I did describe this book as vanilla. Now, I love vanilla, it’s simple, straightforward, uncomplicated. Nothing to dislike but no wow factor. There are no big surprises but the book is reassuring in its simplicity and gentle confidence.
There are some big emotions in this book. Lucy has no family left and is struggling with grief. Ross and his family have some issues to work through and communication is a major problem that drives them apart. These elements added depth to the plot and characters. I have to mention the delightful Nana Jean, a fount of wisdom and wry comment!
Snowed In For Christmas is an easy to read, festive themed book about love and families.
Book blurb
She’s snowed in with the family. The only problem? They’re not her family.
A family gathering
This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal – to avoid their family’s well-meaning questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don’t intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.
An uninvited guest
Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone, and the prospect of losing her job – unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller. She’ll deliver her proposal to his family home in the Scottish Highlands and then leave. After all, she wouldn’t want to intrude on the Miller’s perfect family Christmas.
A Christmas to remember
When Lucy appears on the Miller’s snow-covered doorstep, she is mistaken for Ross’s girlfriend. But by the time the confusion is cleared up, a storm has hit and Lucy is stuck. As everyone settles in for a snowed-in Christmas, tensions bubble to the surface and suddenly Lucy finds herself facing a big family fallout with a family that isn’t hers…
Three men are discovered dead in a cellar after dying of dehydration. Three more men have gone missing and DS Jason Smith is back from sick leave to crack the case. But can he find the killer before anyone else dies…?
The Cellar is the 26th book in the Smith crime thriller series. There are mentions of events and outcomes from previous books and this series is just soooooo good that I would advise reading them all!
Jason Smith is waiting to be allowed back to work from sick leave. His colleagues can’t wait for his official return and he jumps at the chance to get back into action slightly early. The case is quite grisly as three men died of thirst after being locked in a cellar whilst another man resorted to cannibalism before succumbing to death as well.
We then witness others being tricked into another cellar and this really ramps up the tension as we know the intended outcome and anticipate the desperation. Once again the style of writing is dialogue led and this makes the pace super fast. Chapters are short and the plot drives on with twists and turns.
As usual, I was swept up into Smith’s world as he struggles to catch a killer and prevent more deaths. I felt the fear and dread of the victims as they realise the danger they face. The book is set at the start of Covid so I liked the context which added authenticity. The conclusion and outcome of the book are directly associated with a previous book so again I will say ‘read the whole series!’
The Cellar is a tense, dramatic and gripping police procedural and crime thriller.
The Cellar (A DS Jason Smith Thriller Book 26)
From bestselling author: Stewart Giles comes another brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith series.
Something nasty is happening in York.
When the bodies of three men are discovered in the cellar of a house it soon becomes clear that their deaths were not peaceful.
Detective Jason Smith is itching to get back to work after a case that almost killed him and he soon realises he’s dealing with something he’s never come across before.
With a global pandemic looming, nobody in the city is paying much attention to the homeless people who are mysteriously vanishing from the streets.
But Smith senses there is something more to this.
Something else is happening here, and he’s not wrong.
A horror, far worse than he imagined is happening in a dark place somewhere in his city and Smith is going to have to face his deepest fears to stop it.
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 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. I also have another series featuring an Irish detective who relocated to Guernsey, the Detective Liam O’Reilly series. There are also 3 stand alone novels.
Twitter: @stewartgiles
