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Stone Cold Dead, by Stephen Puleston
A freelance journalist is murdered on a bowling green. He was investigating a supposed cult that promises to revolutionise your life and fulfil your potential. DI Ian Drake and his team start investigating but there is soon another body…
Stone Cold Dead is the 11th book in the DI Drake series. I have previously read and reviewed the 10th book Time To Die.
Jack Holt is found dead on a bowling green, held in place by croquet hoops. DI Drake is instantly drawn to Holt’s journalistic background and his focus on the Peel Foundation as a potential motive. But it becomes clear that there may be a personal suspect and motive until a second body is found.
The book is written in the third person throughout to show the police investigation. I really liked Drake’s character. He also has a stable family life that is very important to him and further endeared him to me. Other police characters also have a personal link to the case which threatens their impartiality and focus.
The plot develops at a reasonable pace and there are two main lines of enquiry for the police team to investigate. There are little details of normality that make the characters seem authentic and natural, such as the on-off use of satnav. I also have to mention the realistic use of Welsh locations as I visited many of them on holiday this year!
Stone Cold Dead is a solid and enjoyable police procedural.
Stone Cold Dead (Inspector Drake Book 11)
A journalist’s brutal murder stuns a small community…But unravelling his life unearths surprises not even DI Drake could expect.
When a journalist is found pinned to a bowling green with croquet hoops, his head caved in, DI Drake and his team must unravel the man’s life.
The reporter was working on exposing the dark and sinister side of a cult led by a charismatic individual who Drake identifies as being their prime suspect. But the dead man’s private life isn’t what it appears to be and soon the detectives identify other persons of interest.
But who would want to murder the respected journalist? There are plenty of persons of interest with motive to kill the man and while Drake focuses on the cult and it’s leader another death forces a new approach.
When facing the startling truth Drake and his team are forced to protect the innocent no matter what the cost and the face a race against time to prevent more deaths.
Stone Cold Dead is the eleventh novel in the Inspector Drake crime series. Perfect for fans of JM Dalgiesh, JD Kirk, Damien Boyd, LJ Ross, Rachel McLean and Simon McCleave.
STEPHEN PULESTON
Stephen Puleston was born in Holyhead/Caergybi, Ynys Môn, in Wales. After leaving university he trained and practised as a lawyer.
He is now a full time author presently writing two crime series. Both are based in Wales, a country rich in history and spectacular scenery.
The Inspector Ian Drake books involve a detective inspector based in North Wales, the area where he was born and raised, who faces his own demons while solving gruesome murders.
The Inspector John Marco series follows the adventures of John Marco an inspector based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. He’s from a Welsh-Italian family catching the killers at large in the bustling city of Cardiff.
All the novels in the Inspector Drake and Marco series are available as audiobooks. All are narrated by experienced professional actors.
Stephen lives with his family in Ynys Môn/Anglesey.
Her Last Words, by Carolyn Arnold
An author is killed in the same manner as a character in her latest book. Her final phone call was to Detective Amanda Steele but was never answered so now Amanda is determined to find the killer but he strikes again…
Her Last Words is the 9th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series.
Amanda is on holiday but returns to work early when she discovers an acquaintance has been murdered. She was the last person that the victim phoned but she missed the call and has no idea what it would have concerned. The crime scene resembles that from the victim’s latest book although there are some differences and Amanda wants to know why.
The book is written in the third person throughout to show the investigation. Earlier books in the series had some chapters from the killer’s perspective but this one didn’t. This meant I had no insight into the motive or character of the killer. The focus is entirely on the case as it unfolds from the detectives’ perspectives. The chapters are short which means the pace is speedy and twists develop quickly.
Amanda feels huge guilt about being away from her family due to her work commitments. There is also a romantic tension between Amanda and Trent which returned in this book. Amanda’s link with the victim makes her even more determined to find the truth. I had no idea of the identity and motive of the killer so was kept guessing until the end.
Her Last Words is an interesting case for a really likeable pair of detectives.
MEDIA PACK
Book: HER LAST WORDS
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Pub Day: OCT 17th 2023
Buy Link(s):
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C7R2XG7Zsocial
About the Book:
The glow from the fireplace throws an eerie light over the woman’s carefully arranged body, her lifeless eyes reflecting the flames that slowly burn the evidence of who did this to her…
When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the brutal murder scene of successful local author Felicity Kelley, her blood runs cold. Because Amanda not only knew the victim, but was the last person Felicity called moments before she was murdered. Plagued with guilt that she never answered, Amanda is left wondering whether she could have prevented the murder, and vows to catch the killer, no matter what.
Desperately searching the crime scene for clues, Amanda is shocked when she discovers a Queen of Hearts playing card, suggesting the murder could be an imitation of a scene from Felicity’s bestselling crime novel. Terrified that she is dealing with a crazed fan who could strike again, Amanda’s worst fears are confirmed when another innocent woman is viciously murdered, with the same chilling calling card left behind.
But when Amanda connects the murders with a cold case from fifteen years ago, a case that Felicity appears to have been researching for her next novel, she is forced to question if the killer’s motive is even more sinister than she first suspected. But the closer Amanda gets to unearthing this motive, the closer she gets to becoming the next victim…
A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold/
X: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold
Website: https://carolynarnold.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarolynarnold/
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/carolyn-arnold
Where Hidden Souls Lie, by D.K. Hood
TRIGGER WARNING: child sexual exploitation and rape
Wanda wakes in a grave then escapes her captor into the woods. She meets Sheriff Jenna Alton who has been stranded in the forest but Jenna is unable to save her when the killer returns. Can Jenna prevent other young girls becoming the next victim?
Where Hidden Souls Lie is the 20th Kane and Alton book. Unfortunately I have missed the last couple of books in the series so events in their personal lives have moved on and I need to catch up!
The pair are separated by dangerous incidents in the first half of the book. Kane is called upon to help protect the US president when he spots an assassin he believed he had killed previously. Meanwhile Jenna is almost struck by ligntning and falls into the river. She makes it to shore but needs to use all her survival instincts to stay alive. Thankfully the pair reunite and race to investigate the murder of a woman who Jenna saw killed in the woods.
As always, the action and plot developments are fast paced and hugely dramatic. The personal lives of Jenna and Dave show their softer side and vulnerabilities hwhich contrasts with their professional personas. The child sexual exploitation ring makes for difficult reading and the descriptions of injuries, murders and victims are quite graphic. There is a wonderful link with the Tarot Killer who is central to D.K. Hood’s new series which begins with Dark Angel.
Where Hidden Souls Lie is a high energy, high drama thriller.
MEDIA PACK
Book: WHERE HIDDEN SOULS LIE
Author: D.K. HOOD
Pub Day: OCTOBER 11TH 2023
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CCYBHHT6social
Apple: https://ow.ly/98Hm50PmBxs
Kobo: https://ow.ly/UbYV50PmBub
Google: https://ow.ly/2vxu50PnmeM
Audible:
UK: https://ow.ly/WGuo50PSOo5
US: https://ow.ly/1JZ450PSOo6
Listen here: https://ow.ly/6Llo50PSOp9
About the book:
As she opens her eyes and takes in the dark, damp earth, her heart races. She tries to move but the rope binding her feet cuts tight—she’s trapped underground. Heavy footsteps pace above. A tear falls down her cheek as she stifles a scream. He’s walking away. He’s left her for dead…
When a shallow grave is discovered in the dark pine forest surrounding Black Rock Falls, Sheriff Jenna Alton rushes to investigate. After unearthing the old bones, Jenna scours the area for clues: and her heart beats wildly when she bumps into a teenage girl, breathless and covered in dirt. Wanda Beauchamp tells Jenna she was kidnapped from her foster home and buried alive. Could the kidnapper be linked to the shallow grave?
Taking in Wanda’s thin frame, Jenna knows the poor girl is close to death. She’ll do everything she can to save her, but they’re miles from anywhere and night is falling fast. When Wanda falls, the kidnapper makes his move and Jenna is powerless to stop him taking the young girl’s life. Escaping the same fate, she is wracked with guilt and vows to catch the ruthless killer and bring him to justice.
When another girl is reported missing from a foster home, Jenna and her deputy David Kane know they must act fast to save her. Jenna believes the murderer lives off-grid, and a clue at a local supply store finally leads her to a remote cabin in the woods.
Still haunted by Wanda’s last moments, can Jenna lay a trap to outsmart this twisted killer preying on young girls? Or did she just put herself in unthinkable danger?
This absolutely gripping crime thriller is perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author D.K. Hood, Where Hidden Souls Lie will have you gasping for breath!
**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.
Social Media Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DKHood_Author
Website: http://www.dkhood.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkhoodauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.k.hood/
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/dk–hood
The Alewives, by Elizabeth R. Andersen (audiobook read by Ella Lynch)
1353, Colmar in Alsace. Three women have survived the Black Death but need to adjust to the changes in their village. The need for money alongside a spate of thefts and murders leads to the women stepping out of their traditional roles to thrive within their community.
The Alewives is an historical novel with elements of murder mystery as well as humour.
Gritta, Appel and Efi are women trying to survive in a man’s world as well as having the danger of the plague. Gritta has 12 children and a useless husband while Appel and Efi are both widows. The community are reeling from shock at the devastation of the plague, murders in their midst and their church is threatened by the theft of precious items.
Loving history, I enjoyed being transported back to medieval times. The church and patriarchy dominate society and the women’s lives are governed by their status in relation to men. The plague has decimated the population and now the community is adjusting as well as families on a personal level. There were also accusations of witchcraft which is another topic close to my heart as I wrote my dissertation on it.
This isn’t a long book but I felt that I got to know the three women well although they wasn’t much emotional exploration or depth. There are lovely turns of phrase and comedic moments which lighten the tone and make the women more relatable. I enjoyed the narration which brought the characters to life and carried the plot developments with humour and wit.
The Alewives is a quick and interesting book about women’s lives in medieval Europe with a murder thrown in.
The Alewives
Colmar, 1353 CE
Gritta, Appel, and Efi managed to survive the Black Death, only to find that they are in desperate need of money. With limited options and lots of obstacles, they band together to become alewives – brewing and selling ale in the free Alsatian town of Colmar. But when an elderly neighbor is discovered dead in her house, the alewives cannot convince the sheriff and the town council that her death wasn’t an accident, it was murder. As the body count piles up, the ale flows and mystery is afoot!
Set in the tumultuous years after the most devastating pandemic the world has ever experienced, The Alewives is a playful romp through a dark time, when society was reeling from loss and a grieving population attempted to return to normal, proving that with the bonds of love, friendship, and humor, the human spirit will always continue to shine.
* * * * * A short, sharp, snappy, hugely entertaining, medieval mystery that portrays the realities of life at the time, with just the right amount of humour to make it thoroughly entertaining. A well-deserved 5/5 from me! – MJ Porter, author of Cragside and The Erdington Mysteries
* * * *.* ‘The Alewives’ is laid out with great compassion, insight and humour and the reader comes to care for these people! The strong and growing working relationship and friendship of the three ale wives in question and round which the action evolves is moving and profound. we are left hoping that good times – and further adventures – are just around the corner! – The Historical Fiction Company
Purchase Links
Audible
Spotify
Chirp
Kobo
Google Play
Libro.fm
Nook/Barnes & Noble
BingeBooks
StoryTel
Author Bio –
Although she spent many years of her life as a journalist, independent fashion designer, and overworked tech employee, there have always been two consistent loves in Elizabeth R. Andersen’s life: writing and history. She finally decided to put them both together and discovered her true love.
Elizabeth lives in the Seattle area with her young son and energetic husky. On the weekends she usually hikes in the stunning Cascade mountains to hide from people and dream up new plotlines and characters.
– Join Elizabeth’s monthly newsletter and receive the first two chapters of The Scribe for free. Sign up at https://www.elizabethrandersen.com
– Find photos of hikes and daily author life at Elizabeth’s Instagram: @elizabethrandersen
– Follow Elizabeth on Twitter for nerdy medieval history facts: @E_R_A_writes
– Watch Elizabeth try to explain the weird, wonderful world of Medieval life on her TikTok channel: https://www.tiktok.com/@elizabethrandersen
Elizabeth is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Social Media Links –
elizabethrandersen.com
Threads
Twitter (X)
TikTok
Narrator Bio
My name is Ella Lynch, I am an experienced British audiobook narrator and nature-loving treasure seeker on an ever-evolving journey of connection and expansion through the art of storytelling.
I am an empathetic, married mum of 1, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a mental health advocate. My lived experiences inform my art, helping me deeply connect with the intentions behind words and relay them intuitively to the listener.
I gained a triple distinction in my (BTEC) National Diploma in Performing Arts from Truro College, and have been working as a professional audiobook narrator since 2018. In this time I have narrated over100 audiobooks, voiced numerous healthcare explainer videos for the NHS, provided VO for children’s animated audiobooks and even dubbed a Russian commercial!
I have a particular passion and flair for Magical Realism, Literary Fiction and LGBTQIA+ Romance and Comedy, and as a voracious reader myself I absolutely thrive on bringing all words, across multiple genres, to life for listeners.
When I’m not in my booth you will likely find me walking my dog on the beach, paddleboarding an estuary, exploring the UK in my self-built campervan, playing boardgames and cooking up delicious plant-based feasts for my family. A vegan of over 20 years, I love crochet, painting, fires, swimming and hoola-hooping as well as meditating, practicing Reiki and EFT tapping and deep, heart-felt connection.
Social Media Links –
Ella Lynch (@narrator.ella) • Instagram photos and videos
Ella Lynch (@narrator_ella) / X (twitter.com)
