TRIGGER WARNING: addiction
Lizzie’s life derailed when her father died. She self medicated with drink and drugs but has now completed rehab and is ready to reunite with her family. Her mum picks her up from the clinic after marrying again and they head to his home to meet his daughter and celebrate the union of the two families. But someone else turns up at the party: Lizzie’s dad is not dead after all and wants his family back…
The Party is a psychological thriller and murder mystery set in Ireland.
Lizzie and her family have been through a tough few years. They were in a serious financial crisis when Declan died at sea and his body was never recovered. Lizzie turned to alcohol and drugs to help her cope with her loss but this led to a car crash in which she injured her little brother. She confronted her addiction and got through rehab so is hoping that the future looks more positive. Her mother Claire has moved on with her life and married George. Then the bombshell hits the family as Declan returns and admits he faked his own death.
The book is written in the third person so we can see mulitple perspectives but not the depth of emotion in their innermost thoughts. This eases the tension as there are some really strong emotions in this book. Lizzie is furious that her life was ruined by her grief but now realise it was the selfishness of her father. She is also burdened with guilt due to her past behaviour and wants to make amends.
Love is an important theme in the book whether for yourself, family or partner, and the same is true of forgiveness and trust. Lizzie has to accept her past and wants to make amends but the arrival of her father affects her choices. I enjoyed the family dynamics and intriguing mystery. The characters are flawed which maintains the anticipation as the plot progresses and the twists unfold.
The Party is an enjoyable mystery and thriller.
The Party: A totally unputdownable, twist-packed psychological thriller by Tríona Walsh
It was only supposed to be a small wedding. Intimate and perfect. But my blood turns to ice when I see someone I know wasn’t invited. My first husband – who I thought was dead.
My world shattered when Declan disappeared five years ago. My grown-up children fell apart without their father, and it was up to me to pick up the pieces of our broken lives.
I never thought I’d get married again but then I met George. Some people might think we’re moving too fast. But as I look round on our wedding day at our little family, the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses ringing out, I know that I’ve made the right decision.
Until Declan steps out the shadows. He says he still loves me, and now he’s back for good. But where has he been all this time?
My legs shake so much that I can barely stand… Even though he lied to me so many times, as I stare into Declan’s sparkling blue eyes I realise that my new husband can’t compare to the love we once shared. But at least I can trust George. Can’t I?
Before I even have a chance to decide, Declan is found murdered. A chill races down my spine as I realise – his killer must be one of our wedding party. Did Declan bring back secrets that should have stayed buried?
Now, we’re trapped in this house in the middle of nowhere and my heart pounds as I realise there’s no escape. Why is Declan dead? And can I get me and my children out of here before one of us is next…?
A totally gripping psychological thriller, packed with secrets and gasp-inducing twists. Fans of Lucy Foley,K.L. Slater and Shalini Boland won’t be able to put this down.
Author bio
Tríona Walsh loves reading and writing crime novels but is fairly law abiding in real life. A twice winner of the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair competition she lives in Dublin with her four kids, three cats and one husband.
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Margo’s husband has just died. Cassie’s husband has walked out on her. These two women’s lives are then further thrown into turmoil as they discover their daughters are not theirs, that they were mixed up at birth…
My Only Daughter is a hugely emotional book with a massive dilemma.
Two families are already in crisis when things get even worse. The ‘what if’ situation makes us consider how we would react in the same circumstances. I cannot even imagine the shock and pain of discovering that your child isn’t actually yours. As a mother, my focus was on how the mothers felt but the girls’ confusion and fear must be as great.
Is biology stronger or more important that the love given to the ‘wrong’ child? The nature versus nurture debate is discussed in the book and I found it very thought-provoking. I felt that the behaviour and reactions of the mothers was very authentic and represented the confusion, panic and heartbreak effectively.
The book is written in the third person from the alternating viewpoints of Cassie and Margo which allows the reader a little distance from the intensity of emotion. The writing style is easy to read and allows the reader to be completely engaged with the plot.
My Only Daughter is a fascinating insight into a heartbreaking scenario.
My Only Daughter: A gripping and emotional tale of a mother’s love by Ann O’Loughlin
‘I love you, and you are my daughter, no matter what anyone says. Nobody can take you from me.’
In beautiful Rathmoney House nestled by the wild Irish Sea, Margo sits in her black suit, three strings of pearls at her neck, nodding at those offering their condolences. She never thought she would be here without her beloved husband. All she has left is their beautiful daughter Elsa and a house full of memories. Then, she receives a letter that turns everything she thought she knew on its head…
When Margo learns that her daughter was accidentally switched at birth with an American child and Elsa is not in fact her biological daughter, her world shatters. American Cassie and her daughter Tilly are equally shocked to learn about this tragic mistake, and both parents are terrified about the prospect of their daughters being taken away.
Margo and Cassie know that together they must protect their daughters, both biological and not. Cassie and Tilly fly to Ireland, and with the help of the local community they must learn to support each other through the most difficult times.
Will they be able to find a new version of family, or will the shocking revelation force them apart forever?
Previously published as My Mother’s Daughter
An absolutely glorious and emotional read that celebrates the power of female friendship. Perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Cathy Kelly and Kathleen McGurl.
Author bio:
Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.
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Katy is unemployed and has split from her boyfriend. She drunkenly applies for a job in the countryside, helping to organise a former train station. Ryan’s career has spectacularly imploded and now he returns home to find a mess. His brother hires Katy then does a runner. Can Katy and Ryan join forces to create a fresh start?
New Beginnings on Railway Lane is a light hearted and emotionally warm novel set in the English countryside. This is the second book in the series but each works as a stand alone as I have not read the first. I believe that the characters from the first book feature in this one but there are no spoilers about plot.
Katy is a confirmed city dweller with a penchant for high heels. So it is completely out of character for her to move to the country! Ryan kept secret about his mum’s affair but now she has abandoned his dad anyway and the guilt is eating away at him. Meanwhile he has lost his job so returns home and needs to adjust.
The book is written in the third person so that we can see both perspectives. This softens the impact of the big emotions that Katy and Ryan are feeling as they reflect on the past as well as adapt to their current circumstances. There is a warmth to the writing style that brings the characters and setting to life. The plot progresses steadily and builds a hopeful feeling as the future becomes positive.
New Beginnings on Railway Lane is a warm and uplifting book, perfect for a summer read.
New Beginnings on Railway Lane
When high flying, workaholic Katy Smith is suddenly made redundant, she needs to find a job fast!
After mistakenly answering an advert online, she quickly realises that the rundown railway station in sleepy Cranfield isn’t the 5-star London hotels she’s used to working in!
But a job’s a job. Right?
Chef Ryan Connelly is having a crisis of confidence after his Italian dream turns sour.
Returning home to try to pick up the pieces of his parents broken marriage, he soon discovers that his family home, the railway station, is close to financial ruin
Can Katy use all of her skills and find a way to save the railway station?
And can Ryan rediscover his passion of cooking once more?
As winter in Cranfield begins to sprinkle its magic, perhaps Katy and Ryan can find their very own new beginning on Railway Lane.
Author Bio –
Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold village.
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Claire is coming to terms with widowhood and supporting her best friend Vic as she escapes an abusive husband. She is totally unprepared for the discovery that her late husband has a secret child…
The Couple Across The Street starts as an emotional rollercoaster and then progresses into a murder mystery as well. I have reviewed other books by Anita Waller including One Hot Summer and The Family at No 12.
Claire and Vic have always supported each other. Claire is left reeling from the news that her husband has a secret child at the same time that their own child died. She feels utterly betrayed and doesn’t know what to do next. Meanwhile she is supporting her best friend who lives across the road. Vic has left Rob and he isn’t happy about it. Vic and Claire wait until he is out and head over there to remove Vic’s belongings but find Rob’s murdered body instead.
I liked the big change in direction as the murder plot is introduced. The twists are delivered at quite a fast pace and I was eager to keep reading to find out how the two strands would resolve. Most of the book is written in the present day but we also see scenes from the recent past involving Jed as he searches for the truth about his parents. There were descriptions of events from last year concerning the Queen’s funeral and I felt that this grounded the story by adding to the realism.
The Couple Across The Street is relevant due to the modern detail and intriguing due to the host of lies which need to be unpicked as the plot progresses.
The Couple Across The Street
A darkness settles on this supposedly quiet street…
When Clare becomes a widow, her response is something that shocks her – relief. All she wants to do is move on and figure out how to continue her life, alone, no matter the guilt that brings.
So when Vic, her closest friend, comes to her, showing the signs of trouble in her own marriage, she is more than supportive in helping her leave Rob.
But Vic doesn’t get the chance to do that. Because as they go over to Vic’s house to collect her things, they find a body. Rob’s.
It appears someone else had an axe to grind. But for Clare, already reeling from secrets from her own late husband’s dark past, she’s about to find out this murder isn’t as straightforward as it may appear…
Author Bio –
Anita Waller is the author of many bestselling psychological thrillers and the Kat and Mouse crime series. She lives in Sheffield, which continues to be the setting of many of her thrillers. She was first published by Bloodhound at the age of sixty-nine. Her first book for Boldwood will be published in August 2022.
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Jade Collins is on death row awaiting execution. CIA agent Mark Brand offers her a chance to escape in exchange for using her deadly skills to take out a drugs boss. Can the pair trust each other when their lives depend on it…?
The Woman From Death Row is a tense spy and crime thriller set in America.
Jade killed an abusive man and is utterly unrepentant. She has killed before and the victims always deserved it. She faces her execution with the same cool detachment but is offered a deal. The CIA want her to kill for them and they will fake her death and set her free. Jade accepts the deal but not everything goes smoothly.
The book is written from Jade and Mark’s perspectives. I really liked both main characters as they are complex, brave and determined. However, neither of them is entirely trustworthy yet they need to rely on each other in order to survive. Both of them have suffered which creates an emotional link between them and the reader as we want them to overcome their pain and succeed in their mission.
The plot twists are fast and furious and it was difficult to know whether Mark or Jade could be trusted or where the plot was heading. I don’t want to give big spoilers but there is plenty of double dealing and massive danger to both main characters. Some of the medical detail is a little grisly but I found it fascinating. This looks to be the first book in a new series and I would definitely want to follow Jade’s story.
The Woman From Death Row is an entertaining, fast paced and tense thriller.
Jade Collins grew up on the seedy side of Los Angeles, but her tenacious nature pushes her to strive for a better life. After attending college and earning her medical degree, she feels good about where her life is going. But, bad things happen to good people, and Jade finds herself on death row after killing a man who had been abusing one of her patients.
Just three years after his marriage, Dr. Mark Brand’s wife passes away and his life is sent into a downward spiral. Depression steals everything from him—his medical license, his livelihood and his will to go on. Only a reunion with a powerful man he once knew gives Mark the strength to pick himself up again. He has a new job and a new life, but he is paying a steep price for his second chance. Nothing in life is free and this powerful man has plans for Mark.
Mark is sent to San Quentin to meet Jade and offers to get her off death row if she agrees to team up with him in a dangerous assignment. With no other choice, Jade agrees but aims to get out of the game at the first opportunity. Mark wants out too, but he’s sold his soul to the man who rescued him, and his only option is to follow orders and get the job done.
As danger mounts, Mark is pitted against the man who saved him and he’s forced to rely on Jade, a woman he hardly knows and doesn’t fully trust. The situation is made worse by the feelings he’s developing for her.
Will the opportunist destroy Mark’s life once more?
Will this game put Jade back on death row?
About the author
Peter Hogenkamp is a practicing physician, public speaker and author of medical fiction and thrillers living in Rutland, Vermont. Peter’s writing credits include The Intern (TouchPoint Press, April 2020); The Vatican Conspiracy book and audiobook (Bookouture/HachetteUK, October 2020), The Vatican Secret (Bookouture/HachetteUK, April 2021), The Vatican Secret audiobook (Saga Egmont, March 2022) and Cospirazione Vaticano (Newton Compton Editori 7/2021.) The Woman from Death Row, book one of the new Jade Stryker thriller series, will be published Spring 2023 by Tirgearr Publishing. Peter can be found on his Author Website, as well as his personal blog, Peter Hogenkamp Writes, where he writes about most anything. He is the creator, producer and host of Your Health Matters, a health information program, which airs on cable television and streams on YouTube. Peter was a finalist for the prestigious 2019 Killer Nashville Claymore Award as well as the 2020 Vermont Writer’s Prize. He tweets—against the wishes of his wife, four children and feisty Cairn Terrier, Hermione—on Twitter. He can be reached at his FaceBook Page and at peterhogenkampbooks@gmail.com.
