Fifth Victim

The only thing more terrifying than fighting for your life is fighting for someone else’s…Bodyguard and ex-Special Forces soldier Charlie Fox would do anything to take her mind off her partner; shot, left for dead and now lying in a coma. So concentrating on a new assignment seems like the perfect way to escape the pain, and her own empty apartment. The job: to protect the naive daughter of an investment banker from a gang of kidnappers who prey on the children of the wealthy Long Island set. Kidnap is a lucrative crime for those with the nerve to pull it off. Usually those who disappear are returned unharmed – except this syndicate likes to take a piece of the victim as part of the pay-off. Still, it all looks simple at first.

A round of exclusive boutiques, charity auctions, luxurious parties aboard million-dollar yachts – and few risks for an experienced operative. But Charlie soon finds out that defending a girl determined to put herself in danger is far from easy. And when her instincts lead her to suspect an inside job, she discovers that not everyone who mingles with the jet-set is what they seem – and the idle rich can be as ruthless as any criminal.

Fifth Victim has been sitting patiently on my To Be Read pile for a number of months, more months than I care to remember. I recall briefly meeting Zoë Sharp in May last year and although it was a quick meeting one thing was clear, her passion for Charlie Fox – her protagonist – was infectious. I knew there and then that I wanted to read one of her adventures but it has – rather ashamedly – taken me eight months to finally pick up the book and read. They say good things come to all those who wait, what about great things? I have to admit I couldn’t put the book down and finished this magnificent novel in two days, I had to make myself a cup of tea to relax – Fifth Victim is electrifyingly good.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to read but I was hooked in from the very beginning and when I turned over the final page of the opening chapter I cursed the author for changing the time line and leaving me on a cliff-hanger – there really was no need for that Zoë! I spent the first half of the book wondering how she was going to tie in the opening salvo but thanks to an imaginative and intelligent storyline that was married with a wonderful narrative, I’d put the opening sequence behind me.

One of the great things about Fifth Victim was its pace. Sharp’s love of cars and motorbikes comes through clearly but the thing that impressed me – perhaps more than anything – was the way the book resembled the advancement of gears. When we first meet Charlie Fox there is no doubt something rather frenetic is happening at the beach but when the author leaves this initial scene the speed slows down. She takes her time building a steady and solid foundation – it never felt rushed – filling in the history of previous encounters for those new to the series like yours truly. First gear while the engine warms up. What then follows is an extremely well-paced progression through the gears as she delivers one twist after another.

My jaw nearly hit the floor when I was half way through the book. Normally you have to wait until the conclusion to receive a twist as big as this but not with Sharp. With a little over 200 pages left in the tale she manages to pull something out of left field, just when I was relaxed and thought I had things figured out. I was blown away. She teases with double cross and twists until the final chapter ends leaving me breathless. This final surprise left me exhausted and eager to find out what happens next. I guess you can’t ask for more than that from any book.

Characterisation is impressive with Fox and Parker – her boss – leading the way with aplomb. Charlie Fox is a terrific character, both loyal and driven. She knows what she wants – more or less – and certainly knows how to get it. Intelligent and sassy she carries the novel. I think I may have a little crush!

The narrative and multi layered plot is well developed and taut. In fact I struggled to find fault with the storyline which was undeniably well structured. The dialogue was crisp and bang on the money. Did I mention money? When the rich have everything they could ever want, what makes them tick and seek adventure?

Fifth Victim is a tremendous read; I only wish I’d picked up the book sooner. It’s clear Zoë Sharp knows her stuff and what it takes to deliver an intelligent and believable action thriller. Although the ninth in the Charlie Fox series Fifth Victim can be read on its own merits. Finally – even though she’s been around for a while! – we have a female protagonist who could compete effortlessly with the best of the best – Jack Reacher. I can’t wait until I read another Charlie Fox novel and one thing is certain; I won’t leave it so long to read next time! You can take that to the bank!

Compelling and provocative, Fifth Victim is highly recommended and if you ever need a bodyguard – I know just to gal!

Published by Allison & Busby, Fifth Victim is available in Hardback & Kindle formats.

• ISBN-10: 0749009322
• ISBN-13: 978-0749009328

The Fall by Claire McGowan

What would you do if the man you love was accused of murder?

Bad things never happen to Charlotte. She’s living the life she’s always wanted and about to marry wealthy banker, Dan. But Dan’s been hiding a secret, and the pressure is pushing him over the edge. After he’s arrested for the vicious killing of a nightclub owner, Charlotte’s future is shattered.

Then she opens her door to Keisha, an angry and frustrated stranger with a story to tell. Convinced of Dan’s innocence, Charlotte must fight for him – even if it means destroying her perfect life. But what Keisha knows threatens everyone she loves, and puts her own life in danger.

DC Matthew Hegarty is riding high on the success of Dan’s arrest. But he’s finding it difficult to ignore his growing doubts as well as the beautiful and vulnerable Charlotte. Can he really risk it all for what’s right?

Three stories. One truth. They all need to brace themselves for the fall.

Although billed as a crime and police procedural novel, The Fall by debut author Claire McGowan – Director of the Crime Writer’s Association – is so much more than interviewing suspects and listening to witnesses give evidence in a murder trial – for me this book is about an unlikely relationship between two very different women and to some extent a police detective focussing on his career and gaining promotion.

I don’t normally begin a book review discussing characterisation but as I personally found it to be the main ingredient in the story I think I’ll allow myself a little latitude just this once! Told from three very individual perspectives, that of Charlotte, Keisha and Hegarty, I enjoyed how McGowan developed the story and relationships, never forcing either, allowing them to flow effortlessly and develop naturally.

Charlotte and Keisha’s relationship is intriguing to say the least. From two very different backgrounds they form a bond that some will possibly question its legitimacy. Would they meet in the real world? Human nature is a very funny thing and who knows what lies just around the corner. My personal take on it – anything is possible! Charlotte has spent months organising a glamorous and extortionate wedding with her banker fiancé Dan and is where she wants to be in life; Keisha on the other hand is in an abusive relationship with Chris and is fighting to regain custody of her daughter Ruby, a daughter now in the care of the Social Services. Both women are on opposite sides of the spectrum and unlikely to ever meet. The only thing they have in common is the Jamaican night club where Anthony Johnson, the club’s owner is murdered.

Claire McGowan

When Keisha turns up on Charlotte’s doorstep she discovers a once confident and beautiful blonde destroyed and seemingly out of control living in her very own nightmare. Unable to focus on anything Charlotte has stopped working, let herself go, the flat is in a mess and food is the last thing on her mind. Charlotte begins to rely on Keisha’s company and personality and as we slowly discover both women edge forwards, tentatively at first, and begin to fight back.  As their relationship grows Keisha exerts a strong influence over Charlotte and the two, although it is never acknowledged, heavily rely on each other.

The only character I had any difficulty with was Charlotte’s very own mother! Hate is such a strong word so I’d best not use that one, I think detest is a favourable replacement! Charlotte’s mother is very well written and just evokes a feeling of anger, certainly from me, others may love her! I just wanted to grab her by the scruff of her neck and shake her until she stopped talking or went back home! Fortunately she doesn’t play a leading role but for a few pages I could feel my blood pressure rising uncontrollably! Well played Claire!

The narrative is intelligent and absorbing, the individual voices McGowan lends her three protagonists is impressive and distinctive. She captures Keisha’s essence – more than any other character – and her rough and ready language is arresting and colourful. Whenever Keisha speaks she does so with individuality and realism I hadn’t anticipated. McGowan has certainly researched this aspect incredibly well.

Keisha went out, banging the door behind, so angry she almost forgot to peer into the bushes just in case someone was hiding. As she stomped along to the bus stop, she was getting more and more pissed off. Bloody Charlotte, little miss snooty-pants! Who’d she think she was, buying biscuits for the cops, springing it on her like that! Bloody bitch, she’d told her, she’d said she didn’t want to talk to the police, when they wouldn’t believe her anyway, when she had no proof, not even a bit, when Chris was still round somewhere, and hello, he wouldn’t exactly be loving it if she told the fucking cops on him! Charlotte was so stupid sometimes, like she came from another planet, where the police were your chums. 

The story itself is well thought out and although I had a rough idea what would happen at the end of the book McGowan certainly surprised me with one aspect of the story and it’s not until the very final pages that it unravels and finality ensues.

An entertaining and strong debut, The Fall is a taut and engaging crime thriller that not only examines the key relationship between two very different women but stands resolute in its police procedural. A quick read the story flows well and before you know it you’ve reached the end. Highly commendable.

Published by Headline, The Fall is available in Paperback & Kindle Formats

• ISBN-10: 0755386345
• ISBN-13: 978-0755386345

Tom All Alone's

The narrator of Tom-All-Alone’s takes up the same stance in relation to the story as Charles Dickens does himself in Bleak House: I talk to my readers directly, just as Dickens does. We both make comments about what’s going on in our own narratives, but while Dickens often uses this technique to point out social injustice to his readers, or rail against the pitiful state of the London poor, my own use of it is rather different. The key contrast between us, of course, is that Dickens is talking about 19^th century London to a 19^th century audience, while my own readers have the benefit of nearly 200 years of hindsight. And while many of Dickens’ middle-class readers would have had very little notion of the brutal reality of the contemporary city, my own readers are under no such illusions.

Dickens, of course, was even more aware of what was really going on about him than we can possibly be. He walked the London streets all his life, often by night, and was active in the management of a home for so-called fallen women. So he knew all about prostitution, he knew all about crime and disease, he knew exactly how close most of the street-sellers were to ‘starving poor’. Some of these things he could write about; others he could only hint at. But now we can look the truth of Victorian London squarely in the face. And that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do in Tom-All-Alone’s.

Tom-All-Alone’s looks at Dickens’ London through 21^st century eyes. All its filth, all its degradation, and all its hypocrisy. I show my readers these things, and I can talk to them about them too, because my readers and I share a level of knowledge that my characters cannot possibly have. We know what really ails old Maddox, even if his great-nephew does not; we know how serial killers operate, though the term – even the very idea – would have meant nothing to an officer of the Metropolitan Police in 1850. But such murderers still existed all the same, preying upon their helpless victims under the cover of the fog and the shadows. A fact young Charles Maddox will soon discover, and at a perilous cost….

The Solitary House will be published in the US by Random House on the 1st of May, 2012.

Tom All Alone's by Lynn Shepherd

London, 1850. Fog in the air and filth in the streets, from the rat-infested graveyard of Tom-All-Alone’s to the elegant chambers in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, where the formidable lawyer Edward Tulkinghorn has powerful clients to protect, and a deadly secret to hide. Only that secret is now under threat from a shadowy and unseen adversary – an adversary who must be tracked down at all costs, before it’s too late. Who better for such a task than young Charles Maddox? Unfairly dismissed from the police force, Charles is struggling to establish himself as a private detective. Only business is slow and his one case a dead end, so when Tulkinghorn offers a handsome price for an apparently simple job Charles is unable to resist. But as he soon discovers, nothing here is what it seems.

An assignment that starts with anonymous letters leads soon to a brutal murder, as the investigation lures Charles ever deeper into the terrible darkness Tulkinghorn will stop at nothing to conceal. Inspired by Charles Dickens’ masterpiece Bleak House, Tom-All-Alone’s is a new and gripping Victorian murder mystery which immerses the reader in a grim London underworld that Dickens could only hint at – a world in which girls as young as ten work the night as prostitutes, unwanted babies are ruthlessly disposed of, and those who threaten the rank and reputations of great men are eliminated at once, and without remorse.

There aren’t many authors today who will happily take on Jane Austen, there are even fewer around who will also take on the great Charles Dickens. Who in their right mind – and you have to question their sanity – would take a classic Austen book and add a murder giving her own unique spin on Mansfield Park? In 2010 Shepherd did just that with her version – Murder at Mansfield Park – and although my introduction to Austen’s language and style it unexpectedly ended up in my top 15 list of 2010. A year down the line and Lynn’s second book – Tom All Alone’s – sees the author change pace and move into the realms of Dickensian London, further giving voice to her very own creation – thief taker Maddox – basing the novel on Charles Dickens’ Bleak House.

Maddox has aged considerably since we left him in Murder at Mansfield Park and is now ailing, showing signs of madness, dementia and irritability and although not recognised for another 50 years it’s a disease we know today as Alzheimer’s disease. With Maddox confined to his house we have a new protagonist in our midst, his nephew young Charles Maddox. Maddox does have the odd moment of lucidity and his knowledge and wisdom aids Charles Maddox in this his latest case. Shepherd treats his illness with a wonderful degree of sensitivity and insight giving the disease a refreshing approach.

Solitary House

The narrative is sumptuous and bleak [did I really say that?] with an incredibly descriptive prose to envy; this is one book you’ll wish you’d written. Make no bones about it, Tom All Alone’s is a dark literary crime thriller and leaves very little to the imagination. Along the way Shepherd introduces the reader to rat infested streets, dog and rat fights in the pubs, homeless urchins, ladies – and I use the term loosely – of the night and lodging houses that sport blackened walls encrusted with cockroaches. The depravity of mid-19^th century London jumps from the pages and it effortlessly transported this reader to a world where class distinction is prevalent.

Unlike Murder at Mansfield Park I found a natural rhythm to Tom All Alone’s within a few pages, it was clear to me, comparing both titles, that what we have here is Lynn’s true voice. It felt more natural, less structured and certainly not subject to the constraints of Austen’s old style English. Reading Tom All Alone’s I felt a distinct ease, a comfort and warmth I hadn’t expected despite the grim subject of murder and prostitution we find within.

Characterisation is impressive and assured and together with her main protagonists – Maddox and Tulkinghorn – one little girl caught my imagination. Sarah, a 12 year old girl, and prostitute, is only in the book for a few pages but there’s something about her that simply caught my eye. When you realise that 12 year old girls working the streets just to make a paltry living – and survive – was the norm for Dickensian London, you begin to have serious doubts about the era. Sarah has an attitude to envy, a colourful and cheeky personality and is a girl who knows how to look after herself.

Cripplegate – Christ no! Ave you seen the place? Tried it out when I first came to Lunnon. Terrible bloody dump. But I ain’t goin’ back to McCarthy’s neither. Some ‘orrible old tooler wanted some for free, and then kicked off when I told ‘im he could pay up or ‘ook it. And then I was just settin’ meself up for the night on that bench when some bastard nicked me coat. Christ it was cold. 

Charles Maddox is a wonderful and creative invention, full of determination, he’s fallible, obstinate, has an eye for the ladies and is most definitely his own man –although his Uncle always has something to say about that. Forced to move in with his uncle because of his illness it shows a caring side to the former detective endearing himself to the reader. Although an intelligent man he finds himself in predicaments he could quite easily have avoided but he somehow manages to fight his way out and becomes stronger for it. Development is key to any book and as with her previous book Shepherd certainly knows what works and what doesn’t allowing her characters to grow as the story unfolds.

Upon finishing Tom All Alone’s I began to wonder what Bleak House – the original – was like and, eager to discover the nuances between the two books, I promptly downloaded the book to read in a year that marks the 200^th anniversary of Dickens’ birth, I guess as an author you can’t ask for much more than introduce a reader to the classics.

Please Sir, I want some more. You want more boy? More? – To be honest yes I do! I could’ve quite happily sat and read more; I didn’t want the book to end but end it did and I now long for Shepherd’s third book. Magnificently opulent, delivered with aplomb, Dickens would have approved.

Published by Corsair Tom All Alone’s is available in Hardback & Kindle

Published by Random House in America, Solitary House is available in Hardback format.

336 Pages  – ISBN-10: 1780331665 – ISBN-13: 978-1780331669

Over the last 16 months I have loved every minute of reading, reviewing and getting to know authors, publicists and reviewers alike but I knew towards the end of last year there was no way I could continue to read and review on the scale I had been. I decided, before burn out occurred and I began to detest picking up a book, the best course of action would be to take a break. This is after all a hobby for me and something I try to fit in with my training and daily work life. Training and fitness is possibly the most important thing in my life right now, those who know me well will know what a struggle the last few years have been – that I will not give up!

Before I began reading in earnest towards the end of 2010 I can’t remember the last time I’d picked up a book to read. I knew nothing of the crime genre, in fact I knew very little about fiction full stop and was totally unprepared for what was about to hit me. 16 months later I’m still learning and discovering new authors every day, whether established veterans or relative newcomers, most are new to me and it will take years before my knowledge is half what it is to some reviewers in the field. The word journey tends to be overused these days but to be honest I can’t think of a better word to use.

One thing I promised myself when I began reviewing regularly was to remain true to myself and be honest in my reviews. I’ve never had any formal training in writing, as my reviews clearly show (!), and it is important to me and for people I know and who trust me that what I write I mean 100%. There are many who will read the same book and totally disagree with me, what’s the point of everyone agreeing with everyone else? There isn’t, it’s what makes the world go round. I do try to remain positive about a book and do look for the positives and if I find something negative to say I try my best to balance that out with something positive. If I’ve enjoyed a book and it has allowed me to escape for a few hours a day, I’ll say so.

Shutting down the blog for a few weeks was a lifesaver and although for a number of reasons, some of which will remain private, I hope I can now move forward and renew my passion for reading and commenting on the books I read. There are so many wonderful reviewers out there across a number of genres and I can hand on heart say that it is a privilege to be part of the community. I have a lot to learn and I am only on the first rung of the ladder but it’s a wonderful place to be.

Over the past few weeks I have been incredibly touched by the numerous messages, emails, texts and phone calls I’ve received from people checking in to make sure everything was ok and my silence from twitter and the blog was temporary and not permanent. I cannot tell you how much this has meant and it is thanks to your support that I came back a lot sooner than I had anticipated. My initial intentions were to take a few months off, maybe more! These actions confirmed my suspicions that the publishing world is – on the whole – a wonderful and caring community and one I definitely want to be part of, no matter how small my contribution.

Unfortunately there are far too many people to thank but you know who you are and I do appreciate the kind thoughts. So I guess this is onwards and upwards, a little more sedately than before, who knows where 2012 will lead!

V is for Vengeance

Las Vegas, 1986. A young college graduate is murdered when he is unable to pay back a loan funded by notorious criminal Lorenzo Dante. Two years later private investigator Kinsey Millhone finds herself assisting to apprehend a shoplifter – Audrey Vance – in a shopping centre. Events take a much darker turn when Audrey’s body is discovered beneath the Cold Spring Bridge, a local suicide spot. Unable to believe she took her own life, Audrey’s fiancé Marvin Striker hires Kinsey to investigate. It soon emerges that the shoplifter had become caught up in a much larger operation. Meanwhile Lorenzo Dante has begun to grow weary of his life in organised crime and frustrated with his violent and impulsive younger brother Cappi. While the police net begins to close in on him, Dante meets the beautiful Nora, who exerts a powerful pull over the gangster. As Kinsey’s enquiries reach a dramatic head, it becomes clear that she and Dante have one thing in common – they must be careful who they trust . . .

Until I received V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton a few weeks ago I have to admit I’d never heard of either the author or her protagonist Kinsey Millhone, a colourful, balsy and determined private detective. I had no idea this was part of a series and as I read the book I began to wonder if it was a standalone or continuation of a long standing storyline. The further I read the more I wanted to discover – on finishing the book – that there was more to ascertain about our heroine. Imagine my delight when I discovered this wasn’t Kinsey’s first outing as a private eye! When time allows I’ll certainly explore the rest of the series if this title is anything to go by.

The narrative is fast and fluid and it didn’t take me long to find myself engrossed in Kinsey’s world that included regular visits to Rosie’s, a local Hungarian restaurant and her magical relationship with Henry, her aging next door neighbour. Although we don’t get to spend a great amount of time with Henry in this book, I’m led to believe he’s a long standing character of note. He certainly comes across well and my only regret was that he wasn’t in this novel as much as I would have liked. An endearing fellow he lights up every scene he’s in and although as I’ve already mentioned he only plays a fleeting performance he was my favourite character of the book.

Characterisation is well developed throughout, effortlessly so, and I enjoyed following Kinsey as she struggles to make ends meet and hold on to her clients while at the same time staving off the unwanted attention of a local reporter she appears to dislike with a passion. Lorenzo Dante Junior was a surprise for me. I didn’t expect to like him when I first met him but the longer the book went on the more I warmed to him and his story. I enjoyed his journey and the change in his persona as the storyline progressed, his depth was one of the highlights for me.

The multi layered plot is assured and the great thing is you never quite know where the story will end with more than enough twists and turns along the way to keep the most discerning of readers satisfied.  I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read and will definitely look forward to her next novel in the Kinsey Millhone series – if only to discover what Henry is up to next! If you are looking for a quick read, intelligent and multi layered storyline filled with engaging characters then this is the book for you.

Published by Mantle, V is for Vengeance is available in Hardback and Kindle (UK)

437 Pages  —  ISBN-10: 0230745873 — ISBN-13: 978-0230745872

Tideline

One winter’s afternoon, voice coach Sonia opens the door of her beautiful riverside home to fifteen-year-old Jez, the nephew of a family friend. He’s come to borrow some music. Sonia invites him in and soon decides that she isn’t going to let him leave. As Sonia’s desire to keep Jez hidden and protected from the outside world becomes all the more overpowering, she is haunted by memories of an intense teenage relationship, which gradually reveal a terrifying truth. The River House, Sonia’s home since childhood, holds secrets within its walls. And outside, on the shores of the Thames, new ones are coming in on the tide…

I came across Tideline by Penny Hancock completely by accident, in all honesty I hadn’t planned to read it, and had it not been for twitter I wouldn’t have. I remember I was in the middle of reading Finders Keepers [Review] by Belinda Bauer when I noticed @keithbwalters and @alice_murphy from Simon & Schuster raving about the book. I wasn’t on the lookout for another January title – I have more than enough – but when Alice and Dawn offered me the chance to read it I simply couldn’t refuse!

Tideline is a dark and enveloping psychological thriller that will hook you from the very first page and keep you captive until the final early morning tide of an old and well-documented river is but a distant memory. I don’t think I can remember reading a book where the main protagonist had such an effect on me literally moments after beginning a book. I distinctly remember having to put the book down after ten pages to take stock of who Sonia was, this really is powerful stuff. Sonia frightened me, psychologically. It was clearly evident this was a woman who had seen better days – mentally – and had arrived in a place where her life was anything but ordinary. Scarred and carrying an inordinate amount of baggage Tideline is a tale of one woman’s fight to keep hold of the past but live in the present, very rarely do they mix without consequences and this book is no different.

Sonia drives this book. Tideline is written – for the most part – in the first person, through her eyes. We follow her highs and lows, her decision making, her doubts, her anxiety and lies – for there are many – all said and done in the name of love and infatuation. This is undoubtedly Sonia’s story.

When Jez Mahfoud arrives at the River House to borrow a rare album from Sonia’s husband, I’m convinced – as a reader – Sonia initially had no intention of keeping the teenager captive. However, within minutes of his arrival she hatches a plan to keep him locked away. It’s clear she is capable of making decisions, what is questionable is her unhinged thought process. She is infatuated with the youngster, or is she? We aren’t quite sure why she wants to keep him hidden away in a Greenwich river front property but as the book develops it becomes clear why.

Penny Hancock

Tideline is a great example of how one decision – no matter how big or small – can change the course of one’s life and how it affects others. Sonia spends most of her time reacting to the smallest of events and when things don’t quite go to plan she has to think on her feet and change her plans, ensuring his abduction remains a mystery. I remember sitting back – more than once – wondering where on earth Hancock was going to take this storyline but with every turn of the page she somehow manages –effortlessly I may add – to take the book forward.

This is a complex and multi layered tale and is as unpredictable and sweeping as the dangerous currents found in the River Thames. An immersive thriller, Tideline entertains and works on so many levels and it’s hard to believe that this is Hancock’s authorial debut. Frankly it’s astonishing and it reminds me of last year’s smash hit from SJ Watson called Before I Go to Sleep [Review]. With a number of twists and turns along the way, Tideline is one book not to be missed and although far too early to begin talking about the book of the year, January is shaping up to be a monumental and competitive month, a terrific way to kick start a new year. If you’re a fan of the psychological thriller then I urge you to pick up this title, Tideline is going to be big in 2012 and could possibly sweep all other pretenders aside; you can take that to the river bank.

Published by Simon & Schuster, Tideline is available in Hardback & Kindle.

352 Pages — ISBN-10: 1849837686 — ISBN-13: 978-1849837682

Death and the Olive Grove

April 1964, but spring hasn’t quite sprung. The bad weather seems suited to nothing but bad news. And bad news is coming to the police station.

First, Bordelli’s friend Casimiro, who insists he’s discovered the body of a man in a field above Fiesole. Bordelli races to the scene, but doesn’t find any sign of a corpse.

Only a couple of days later, a little girl is found at Villa Ventaglio. She has been strangled, and there is a horrible bite mark on her belly. Then another little girl is found murdered, with the same macabre signature.

And meanwhile Casimiro has disappeared without a trace.

The investigation marks the start of one of the darkest periods of Bordelli’s life: a nightmare without end, as black as the sky above Florence.

It’s great to be back in Florence, even if it is only for a short while. When I first reviewed Death in August by Marco Vichi back in June 2011 I knew before I’d finished reading the book that Hodder had a hit on their hands. The publishers, securing the rights for the first four books in the Inspector Bordelli series, have once again delivered an outstanding package combining an envious narrative, a colourful and multi-faceted detective and a cornucopia of Italian food to die for. Seriously, the food on offer in this book is enough to tempt anyone off a diet!

Although there were a few moments when I found myself laughing out aloud – much to my embarrassment when I realised co-workers were watching me – Death and the Olive Grove (Inspector Bordelli 2) is a much darker novel than I had anticipated and has a very different feel to Death in August. It would be fair to say Bordelli drives much of this dark atmospheric tension and save for a few romantic dalliances which appear to momentarily brighten his spirit; he struggles on a daily basis to make sense of his current predicament.

The narrative is as sumptuous as ever, once again brilliantly translated by award winning Stephen Sartarelli, effortlessly transporting the reader to Florence at a time when smoking in public places was allowed and not frowned upon. Talking of smoking, Bordelli, although no stranger to the nicotine stick in the first book, appears to be severely addicted on a whole new level in Death and the Olive Grove. Health and safety would clearly have something to say in our modern world but in the mid-sixties nicotine driven detectives could and would light up where they damn well pleased, Bordelli is no exception.

They rode for a few moments in silence. The beetle descended slowly towards the city. At San Domenico, Bordelli turned to pass by way of the Badia Fiesolana for no reason in particular, perhaps only because he wanted to see one more the steep descent he used to take in his toy wagon, always risking a broken neck.

How would I best describe Inspector Bordelli? Our beloved detective, sorry Inspector, is a quarrelsome, prickly, petulant and obstinate fellow – on the surface not a great start I admit – who likes to greet each day on his own terms, yet despite all this is enticingly loveable! He goes to bed smoking a cigarette and drinking cognac and wakes up the following morning with a headache and does more or less the same for breakfast before chain smoking his way to his office at the police station, immediately sending Mugnai to fetch food and drink on arrival from the nearest bar.

Bordelli is his own man and cannot be controlled, however hard they try, by his superiors. He begrudgingly organises raids and when face to face with the criminals and ladies of the night he finds an excuse to send them on their way. Whether he does this to avoid the paperwork or to annoy his boss is anyone’s guess but the criminal fraternity appear to love him – I wonder why! Caught up in a spate of child murders and a crime that takes him back to the 1940’s – thanks to numerous and well positioned flashbacks – our protagonist struggles to make sense of the events and becomes increasingly downhearted while the body count increases.

The cover art is wonderful and still evokes memories of Agatha Christie for me, it simply oozes class, I just hope Hodder continue the theme in book three! A very quick read, Death and the Olive Grove is an ideal companion as we endeavour to shake our back to work blues following the festive holidays. Magical and moreish, just like the Italian food Marco Vichi shares with us in this volume. I’m now going away to cook Botta’s Pork Chops – lean pork chops cooked in tomatoes, fennel seeds and milk – yes milk!

Published by Hodder, Death and the Olive Grove is available in Hardback & Kindle.

248 Pages — ISBN-10: 1444712233 — ISBN-13: 978-1444712230

Total Immunity by Robert Ward

Smart, tough Los Angeles FBI agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo breathe sighs of relief after violent diamond smuggler Karl Steinbach is finally arrested in a complex sting. Vowing vengeance on the agents who brought him down, Steinbach is imprisoned – only to be offered a release with total immunity in a dodgy deal with Homeland Security. As Jack and Oscar’s team of agents start to die, it becomes clear that Steinbach’s is no idle threat. But when the pair investigate their slain comrade’s lives, they discover that what looked like retribution is actually tied to a web of deceit that stretches to the highest echelons of the FBI.

Navigating car chases, shootouts, and even venomous reptiles, Jack and Oscar furiously pursue clues scattered throughout the underbelly of Los Angeles, in a desperate attempt to find the killer – before he finds them. With a storyline crackling with action, a dazzling cast of thugs, traitors, killers and creeps, and a cinematic portrait of a seamy Los Angeles clogged with corruption and greed, Robert Ward’s turbulent new thriller is clever, contemporary and cool as ice.

I’ve always enjoyed FBI, Homeland Security, based thrillers and although they don’t turn up as often as I would like – the last one being Cold Vengeance by Preston & Child in September – I was rather excited to start Total Immunity by Robert Ward. Ward, perhaps best known for his work as a producer and writer for Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice, has written a number of books but Total Immunity marks the first in a series concentrating on main protagonists Agents Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo.

A fast paced narrative I found Total Immunity a very quick and entertaining read, nothing too taxing and not overly complex, the storyline is well delivered and thoroughly enjoyable. It slowly builds into a veritable page turner and once you reach the half-way point in the book you’ll find it difficult to put the book down, I certainly did. Often humorous at times the narrative is clichéd in parts but it never becomes tiresome and the dialogue is inventive holding your interest throughout. The exchanges between Oscar and Jack are worth the admission fee alone!

Total Immunity is available in hardback & Kindle (best price) formats

Characterisation is well developed although I would have liked to have seen more depth to both Oscar and Jack. Don’t get me wrong, there is a back story to both protagonists but I wanted just that little bit more to complete my reading experience and discover what made them truly tick. Jack is struggling to keep his occasional rebellious teenage son under control and a new relationship with Julie on the right track since his alcoholic wife left them both in the lurch. Jack has, as you would expect, more than enough baggage in his daily life but the Agent is so focused on solving this latest conundrum that he lets his personal life slide. Finding solace in a beer or a Jack Daniels, Harper is as hard working as they come often to the detriment of his relationships.

Now and then, when reading a book, I get the urge to meet a character, share a drink or shoot the breeze with and Total Immunity is no exception. Oscar Hidalgo, a Mexican by birth, isn’t what you would expect from a Federal Agent but it’s not only his short stature and ethnicity that intrigued me – it was his Grandmother and Grandfather! While conversing with Jack on a stakeout or during the course of a regular working day he would come up with some magnificent sayings and it made me want to meet not only Oscar but his Grandparents. Who knew his Grandmother would have such a foul mouth!

Like my old grandmother said The future is a cloud that no one can see. So the wise mutherfucker takes his shot today. And doesn’t whine like a pussy when he does it, either.

Ward rounds the story off well and although I had an inkling as to who was responsible towards the end I didn’t quite get everything right! I enjoyed the reasoning behind the murders; perhaps more importantly they were believable. A thoroughly enjoyable and light read Total Immunity is one book that will entertain from beginning to end. Its complexity is delivered through its main characters and you never quite get to the bottom of their stories, but there is certainly plenty of scope in future publications.

Published by Corvus Books, Total Immunity is available in hardback & Kindle (best price) formats.

• 358 Pages — ISBN-10: 1848875673 — ISBN-13: 978-1848875678

Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer

The eight-year-old boy had vanished from the car and – as if by slick, sick magic – had been replaced by a note on the steering wheel . . . ‘You don’t love him’…

At the height of summer a dark shadow falls across Exmoor. Children are being stolen from cars. Each disappearance is marked only by a terse note – a brutal accusation. There are no explanations, no ransom demands… and no hope.

Policeman Jonas Holly faces a precarious journey into the warped mind of the kidnapper if he’s to stand any chance of catching him. But – still reeling from a personal tragedy – is Jonas really up to the task?

Because there’s at least one person on Exmoor who thinks that, when it comes to being the first line of defence, Jonas Holly may be the last man to trust…

There’s nothing like starting a New Year with a positive outlook on life but I thought I’d begin with a warning – If you’re ever offered a job or holiday let in Shipcott my advice would be not to take it! Although it may sound like an idyllic location in Exmoor I’m positive Miss Marple would have her work cut out for her, Poirot too, in fact she’d probably have to call in reinforcements to make sense of the kidnappings and murders found in abundance in the small village. No one is safe, believe you me!

Finders Keepers represents the third title from Belinda Bauer and although a standalone title – as they all are – you’ll certainly take a lot more from the book if you read them in order, I’m glad I did. Blacklands – the first in the Shipcott series – introduces us to the moor, the Lamb family, and of course the gruesome murders. Bauer swiftly moves on to Darkside and although – for me at least – not as powerful as her debut CWA winning Dagger title it’s a tremendously dark read and well worth picking up a copy, it also affords continuity. A year or so later and we return to Exmoor with Finders Keepers and for me it marks a significant change of gear. The book is more grown up, like her characters, Bauer has clearly found her feet with this one and there’s an underlying confidence that I’m delighted to say is back – and then some!

All three books are well-structured and intelligently crafted, Finders Keepers is without question the best of the three with a prose that’s not only fluid but definitely keeps you turning the page at a rapid pace until you reach a shocking and unexpected dénouement. There are a number of surprises in store of course and the ending isn’t the only shock you’ll encounter. One event had a profound effect on me, so much so I put the book down and my only thought was ‘wow’. The narrative is fairly gritty and edgy throughout but this first surprise – which incidentally stayed with me long after I finished the book – was handled with an unexpected sensitivity that it took my breath away, unfortunately I can’t say much more than that for fear of spoilers.

Finders Keepers is available in Hardback & Kindle Format.

Character development is impressive to say the least and I really felt as if Steven Lamb came alive in this book. He has clearly aged since we last saw him and in Finders Keepers he embarks on his first teenage romance, his first kiss, his first grope, his first love. The relationship between him and horse loving Em is a bright spot for me and having read the two previous titles I feel as if he’s grown up before my very eyes into a young man with a purpose and direction in life. The fledgling relationship allows the reader to see a different side to Steven adding depth to an already endearing character.

Although Jonas Holly returns as the local bobby he’s still recovering from the psychological scarring he suffered in Darkside. Even though he is cleared to return to work Jonas is struggling to make it from one day to the next and when he gets caught up in the child kidnapping case it pushes him further than he’s ever been pushed, both mentally and physically. Another wonderful character, Bauer continues to add more depth and complexity to the policeman as he strives to make sense of his past and future.

Finders Keepers is a magnificent addition to the Shipcott family and I for one can’t wait to see where she goes from here. Belinda Bauer – as an author – has come of age with this title, very much like Steven Lamb. We hear you Belinda; your voice is coming through loud and clear. Intense and wonderfully taut, Finders Keepers is a must read for 2012 and although far too early to mention best of the year this early in January this is one title that will be incredibly hard to beat. I eagerly await the fourth title, but this is without hesitation a gripping way to begin the New Year.

Published by Bantam Press, Finders Keepers is available in Hardback & Kindle Format.

400 Pages — ISBN-10: 0593066901 — ISBN-13: 978-0593066904

Previous Belinda Bauer reviews

Sherlock Holmes – A Scandal in Belgravia (Series 2, Episode 1 of 3)

So let me get this straight – oh where are my manners, happy new year everyone – according to Dr Watson, yes he of Sherlock Holmes fame (BBC One HD) all one has to do is begin a blog, write about crime, speckled blondes and such like, offer my services as a private detective and the hits will come? Simples! So here I am then, I’m now standing back as I watch a wave of adoring fans enter the blog, virtually of course – as I don my deerstalker hat for anonymity! Welcome one and all, you can of course contact me in the usual ways or if you prefer a one on one – I do charge of course – then I can be found along with my non deerstalking companion – Dr Watson – at 221B Baker Street. Series 2 is now available to pre order.

Sherlock Holmes starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman has once again returned to our screens in the UK, once again showing what the BBC does best – drama. Following the plaudits from series one it was always going to be hard following up such a successful debut but Paul McGuigan (Director) and his team have triumphed, makes no bones about it this is a classy performance.

A case of blackmail threatens to topple the monarchy itself, but soon Sherlock and John discover there is even more to it than that. They find themselves battling international terrorism, rogue CIA agents, and a secret conspiracy involving the British government.

But this case will cast a longer shadow on their lives than they could ever imagine, as the great detective begins a long duel of wits with an antagonist as cold and ruthless and brilliant as himself: Irene Adler.

Production values are slick, if possible slicker than last year, the acting is sublime and Cumberbatch and Freeman light up the screen with witty banter, one liners and arguments. The on screen graphics are back and appear when Watson is typing away on his blog or Sherlock is sizing up all and sundry – that is until he comes across Irene Adler – played by the gorgeous Lara Pulver [Spooks, True Blood, Robin Hood) – where our magnificent hero fails to read her. He just can’t work her out, she’s an enigma and roles are reversed. Sherlock is on the back foot and Adler is very much the dominant character, given her profession as a dominatrix confidence is never going to be a problem, even when dealing with the illustrious Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock – If I want to look at naked women I’d borrow John’s laptop

If you happened to miss the first series then I urge you all to go out and grab the first series on DVD and Bluray. What a magnificent way to begin a new year – splendid job Holmes, elementary.

One wonders if Sherlock is simply infatuated with Irene Adler for her beauty or the fact that she has outsmarted the great detective, a curious thing indeed. Adler’s beauty lights up the screen with a natural and understated elegance – when she’s not naked that is – and is nearly as thrilling as John Watson’s Christmas Jumper. Ok who am I kidding, Watson’s jumper pales into insignificance as time and time again we are treated to Adler applying her blood red lipstick, and rather seductively I hasten to add.

Credits

Sleepwalker

When rookie cop Micayla Lange arrests a man she discovers breaking into her old family friend Nicco Marino’s mansion, her troubles have only just begun.

Because, as she pulls a gun on professional thief Jason Davis, he drops the bag he’s stolen – and it spills open to reveal photographs of Kristen’s genial “uncle” Nicco handing money to a number of Detroit’s most powerful politicians and law-makers.

No-one was meant to see those photos, least of all a police officer. And – with close circuit cameras capturing every moment of Micayla’s realisation that Uncle Nicco is seriously involved with the mob – she may now be in mortal danger.

But Jason has a suggestion. Perhaps if they team up – then maybe there’ll a chance they’ll both get out alive… He’s her only hope. But can she trust him with her life?

I’m not quite sure where to begin reviewing Sleepwalker by Karen Robards and although I have now finished the book it has left me in two minds! I guess I’ll begin with the covert art, had it not been for a simply stunning book jacket I sincerely doubt whether I’d have picked this book up – testament to a superb job done by the designer and art department. Sporting a woman on the run, the headlights of a car visible in a snowy landscape it just begs to be read.

I have to admit I hadn’t heard of Karen Robards before receiving this book and was surprised to see that she is an established author with more than 30 books to her credit, mostly in the romance genre. Sleepwalker however borders two genres – namely action and romance – and for the most part she successfully pulls it off. As many of my regular readers will know I shy away from reading romance novels, it’s not something I do and had I known this book contained its fair share of passion I simply wouldn’t have picked it up. There were a couple of occasions when I thought I’d stop reading due to the passionate encounters but I persevered – perhaps too strong a word – and I’m glad I did because I was rewarded with a thrilling dénouement.

The storyline is fairly predictable, girl meets boy, wrong side of the tracks, playing a game of cat and mouse while on the run from a mob boss and his foot soldiers. Given this is a romantic thriller of sorts there are no prizes for guessing if the pair will share the odd passionate embrace. Having said all that I did enjoy the book and as I approached the final third of the book I really wanted to see what happened to the main protagonists. I’m not saying the book made me a fan of romantic thrillers but it was thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining – and a very quick read.

The narrative is well delivered and the storyline offered a few surprises along the way but the majority of the plot concentrated on our two main characters “the cop” and “the thief”. Both characters refused to give an inch, both positive they were right and both refused to budge from their beliefs. Delivered with both humour and tension Sleepwalker is an enjoyable read and by the end of the book I did have a vested interest into what would become of our hero and heroine.

Published by Hodder, Sleepwalker is available to buy in Hardback & Kindle.

370 Pages — ISBN-10: 1444710001 — ISBN-13: 978-1444710007

For another review why not check out the Notes of Life review .

The Sick Rose by Erin Kelly

‘You kept my secret. I know yours now. That makes us even.’

Paul has been led into a life of crime by his schoolyard protector, Daniel – but one night what started as petty theft escalates fatally. Now, at nineteen, Paul must bear witness against his friend to avoid imprisonment.

Louisa has her own dark secrets. Having fled from them many years ago she now spends her days steeped in history, renovating the grounds of a crumbling Elizabethan mansion. But her fragile peace is shattered when she meets Paul; he’s the image of the one person she never thought she’d see again.

A relationship develops between them, and Louisa starts to believe she can experience the happiness she had given up on; but it soon becomes apparent that neither of them can outrun their violent past . . .

When I began reading The Sick Rose by Erin Kelly two days ago I wasn’t quite sure what I was expecting. Sure I was aware of the gardening references, the horticultural theme, an Elizabethan renovation and of course mystery but what I wasn’t prepared for was an emotively dark and psychological journey involving two protagonists, both very different in their own way, yet somehow kindred spirits magically drawn together by fate.

The narrative is very well paced, Kelly using numerous flashbacks to aid the current storyline, and is intelligently written with an effortless yet highly complex prose. The story itself is a well-structured multi layered drama that works on a number of levels. The crime and mystery element, for me, is secondary to Paul and Louisa, the two protagonists, both of whom are trying to start from fresh, hidden away from those that could do them both damage. As the story progresses their lives become entangled and an unexpected and unlikely relationship ensues.

Louisa, a 39 year old garden designer, is running away from a youthful relationship with Adam, an attractive lead singer in a local band called Glasslake. The relationship is intriguingly dark – with very few bright spots – and as a reader you find yourself begging Louisa to grow up and smell the coffee, or should that be the aromatherapy oils! Both Adam and Louisa are ironically meant for each other in a curious way, both have issues in their lives that mean they are afraid to commit and settle down. Twenty years down the line and Adam is long gone, a distant memory to Louisa, Paul, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Louisa’s former lover, walks into her life.

The only sounds in the room were the soft rhythmic click of the tape recorder and a light nasal whistle every time Rob exhaled. When Paul spoke it felt like jumping off the highest diving board at the pool: you didn’t so much decide to do it as find that, after a few seconds of tiptoeing on the edge, the water was rushing up to meet you.

Paul on the other hand is in his late teens and has lived a troubled life. As a kid he was bullied daily in and out of school and that in itself leaves an indelible mark on his life. Daniel walks into his life and they share an unlikely friendship with Daniel acting as his protector. The book is so much more than just Louisa and Paul’s relationship, Daniel is a pivotal part to the storyline and it’s his actions that force Louisa and Paul together in the first place following Daniel’s lack of restraint landing him in hot water with the police. Daniel is confident, successful with the ladies yet at the same time is insecure when it comes to Paul. The book charts the invisible and mesmerising hold Paul has over Daniel.

There were three points in the story that surprised me and for fear of spoilers I won’t mention them in this review but one scene is pivotal to the way Paul reacts to the site of blood throughout the book. Even as I read this early scene and approached the crucial part I still didn’t see it coming. Gripping stuff, it wasn’t the last time I would be holding my breath!

The Sick Rose is a wonderfully written novel, intelligent and extremely well structured. Charting the lives of three people the book is as much about relationships as it is about gardening and new beginnings! The way Kelly pulls all aspects of this novel together in a seamless narrative is testament to her literary talent. If you’re looking for a book that will take you down an emotive journey and produce an explosive ending you won’t see coming then The Sick Rose is definitely one for you. Highly recommended.

Published by Hodder The Sick Rose is available in Hardback & Kindle formats.

352 pages – ISBN-10: 144470107X & ISBN-13: 978-1444701074

Christmas in Covent

2011 will, in a little over a week, be a distant memory for most of us. Copious amounts of turkey – and alcohol – will have been consumed by the end of the festive period – substitute that with goose, chicken, duck or pheasant if you are that way inclined – but if it was good enough for Henry the Eighth in the 16^th century I see no reason why I should be any different! Turkey it is and to keep it regal, it will be a crown – stuffed! I digress!

As I write, I’m celebrating one of the most interesting and rewarding years I can personally remember as an adult, 2011 has been a real eye opener for me. It marks my first full year reviewing books and my second and most productive – certainly as far as results go – fitness year. Many of you will be aware of my decision to change my life in late 2009, my way of living, and although it was hard going initially I am now starting to see the rewards of all the hard work. It hasn’t been plain sailing, but then I never expected it would be, but I have somehow stuck to my goals and I feel a very different person to the one I was way back when.

It’s embarrassing to admit but in the dark days of 2009 I weighed 315lbs – that’s 22 1/2st to us brits – and with a blood pressure that was incredibly troubling I couldn’t see a way out. Something clicked – long story – and I knew I had to change my eating habits and the way I lived – looking back I seriously doubt I’d be alive to share this with anyone today and for the support I’ve received from many of my friends this year I cannot thank you enough. I now weigh 193lbs and fitter than I can ever remember – the fact I train six days a week may have something to do with that! I have re-educated myself, changed my lifestyle appropriately and have moved on – I will never ever go back to the old me!

I will continue to push myself to reach more goals in 2012, work harder, train even harder and although I have reached my ultimate weight loss goal, I’m not satisfied! We never are are we?!!

Enough of my weight issues. The main reason for this post is to thank the number of people who have supported me in my first full year as a reviewer, visited my blog, sent me incredibly nice emails and messages and retweeted my tweets! There are so many people I’d like to mention and I know for a fact I’d forget someone so please accept this as a blanket thank you! You all know who you are! I cannot begin to tell you how much it has been appreciated.

When I began reviewing in late 2010 I never ever thought I’d be in the position I am today. Working in media as I do on a day to day basis I approached the publishing world with a great deal of scepticism and with one eye open. I didn’t know if there was room for another reviewer and I certainly didn’t know if I’d make enough contacts to make it worth attempting. Within a few months my hesitation was forgotten and I was accepted – at least I think I have now! – as a family member. The publishing world surprised me, it’s a magnificent industry to be part of and the publicists who look after authors and help promote books are some of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Sure they have a job to promote books but most go above and beyond their roles in promotion, they care about what they do, they love what they do. How many of us can actually say we love doing the job we do day in day out?

With the help of my new found friends in publishing and weight loss I have gained a level of confidence I never expected I would ever achieve and the relationship I now have with books and London will remain steadfast, loyal and true – as Elvis once sang in King Creole! Publishing has given me a new outlook on life, a new vitality, a longing to pick up a book and discover what the next page or chapter will bring. It’s the unexpected that keeps me going, the anticipation that a new challenge is just a page turn away!

Twitter has been another amazing discovery – and tool – this year. It has allowed me to keep in touch with publicists, promote reviews, ramble – as I’m doing right this very minute – and meet like-minded people. Twitter is an amazing tool. It has not only made the world a smaller place but it has opened up the lines of communication with authors and fellow book lovers around the world. We can now get in touch with our favourite authors in 140 characters or less and invite them into our living room or study asking questions or commenting on their books. Use it wisely and it’s a thing of beauty!

So all that remains for me to say is to wish all my friends, new acquaintances and new followers a wonderful Christmas and a very prosperous new year in 2012.

Beecher White, a young archivist for the US government, has always been the keeper of other people’s stories, never a part of the story himself . . . Until now.

While Beecher is showing Clementine Kaye, his first childhood crush, around the National Archives, they accidentally uncover a priceless artefact – a two-hundred-year-old dictionary once belonging to George Washington. Suddenly Beecher and Clementine are entangled in a web of conspiracy and murder.

Beecher’s race to learn the truth behind this mysterious treasure will lead to a code that conceals a disturbing secret from the nation’s founding. A secret that some believe is worth killing for.

The Inner Circle

For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a fascination with the United States, the history and her Presidency and when the paperback edition of Brad Meltzer’s The Inner Circle landed on my desk a few days ago I jumped at the chance to pay a visit not only to the West Wing – minus Josiah Bartlet unfortunately – but the National Archives. Try as I might I couldn’t get Nicholas Cage’s National Treasure and the multiple copies of the Declaration of Independence out of my head, and that was before I began reading!

The Inner Circle combines betrayal, the presidency, murder and a deep rooted conspiracy to deliver a complex and compelling political thriller, an intriguing thriller that will keep you guessing until the final pages. Meltzer  takes you one way and then another, all the while constantly introducing more than enough red herrings to confuse matters, and then, just when you think you have it all figured out, he switches things around and no one – nothing – is who they first appear to be.

Although the narrative is pin sharp and well thought out, I found the first few chapters a little sedentary and the beginning a little slow going as a result. Laying a solid foundation for a multi layered thriller such as The Inner Circle is no mean feat; I can’t begin to tell you how complex this plot is! One thing is certain, and take this from a fast reader, it’s not the quickest of reads, however I have to assure you that this is by no means a negative, the narrative is there to be appreciated.

Meltzer introduces a number of characters along the way and every once in a while I found myself turning back the odd page to make certain I understood a particular phrase or what position a character held. Having said all that it’s what I love about these types of books; an unexpected depth can often throw you off course and surprise you – The Inner Circle certainly did that – but if there was one thing I took from the book more than anything else it was unquestionably Beecher White.

Characterisation is impressive and very well developed. Beecher stole the show for me, a character who visibly grew from an innocent staffer, initially keen to help as many people as possible in his role as an archivist, to a more assertive pistol wielding archivist hell bent on discovering the dark secrets of the serving President and a secretive 200 year old affiliation. Beecher is torn between loyalty for his 70 year old friend – and colleague – and a childhood sweetheart – Clementine – who has unexpectedly reappeared in his life. Still recovering from a failed relationship with his former Fiancé Iris, Clementine uses her feminine guile to confuse the young archivist and secure his help in finding her father.

As I’ve already mentioned things aren’t quite what they appear to be and part of the charm of The Inner Circle is discovering the underlying truth, you never quite know who the good guys are until the climactic dénouement – just as it should be. As the book matures the pace increases – slowly at first – and with it comes an intensity I wasn’t expecting. Incredibly atmospheric, I found myself wandering the halls of the White House and National Archives as I made sense of each discovery, no matter how big or small. Make no bones about it, this book will make you think, have you searching google to see if something actually happened and in the end I didn’t want to put the book down.

Electrifying, intriguing and intense, The Inner circle is an accomplished and entertaining book, a book that introduces us to Beecher White and The Culper Ring, a group of people determined to protect the Presidency at all costs. I only hope this isn’t the last we hear of either.

Published by Hodder The Inner Circle is available in Paperback & Kindle.

Alison Bruce’s The Calling, the third in the DC Goodhew series, is a strong police procedural and an incredibly entertaining crime novel. If you are looking for a standalone novel with an evocative story, stunning landscape and vibrant characters then look no further than Peter Robinson’s Before The Poison. We change the pace a little with two books I struggled to put down Death Mask by Kathryn Fox and Already Gone by John Rector. Finally we have The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz a throwback to Arthur Conan Doyle and the first Sherlock Holmes title to receive the blessing of the Conan Doyle estate.

And so without further ado my top 15 reads of 2011:-

15	Beauty and the inferno – Roberto Saviano Few people have had to endure – or will ever have the courage to do so – what Roberto Saviano has since the release of Gomorrah in 2006. In Beauty and the inferno he continues to name names and never shies away from adversity or death. The fact that this book took two years to publish is testament to the dogged determination of Roberto and the crew at Maclehose Press. Exceptional. Published by Maclehose Press- Review
14	Before I Go To Sleep – SJ Watson There’s something so powerful and natural about this book that makes me want to read it again and again. His Staccato styled narrative is beautifully written and hooks you in from the very first page and never lets go until its conclusion. A spellbinding offering from a rising star – SJ Watson is clearly here to stay. Get it now – before you forget! Published by Transworld – Review
13	Herring on the Nile – LC Tyler An incredibly light summer read, best served with a nice chilled white or a fruity Pimms, Herring on the Nile – despite the murder – will have you yearning for a sojourn up the Nile taking in everything the Egyptian landscape has to offer. Highly infectious, thoroughly entertaining and most definitely recommended. Take a bow LC Tyler, you’ve gained a fan in this reviewer. Published by Macmillan – Review
12	Sequence – Adrian Dawson The construction is breath-taking and a book of this magnitude deserved a well thought out and structured dénouement. It never once felt rushed and it was as if I was watching Dawson sitting in an armchair, feet up with a glass of Jack in hand, reciting his very words, slowly yet deliberately, just so that those following would understand. Every minute detail cared for, every miniscule and insignificant number dealt, every sequence of events finalised and every character accounted for – this is one bang on finish. Published by Last Passage – Review
11	Someone Else’s Son – Sam Hayes “Someone Else’s Son” is a well-crafted psychological thriller that examines many of today’s troubling issues and will leave you emotionally drained – The final fifty pages will leave you breathless. Highly recommended this is a wonderful read, beautifully written and a title not to be missed. Published by Headline – Review
10	Mercy – Jussi Adler-Olsen Re-visiting the crime element for a moment I’d like to applaud Jussi himself. It always amazes me how authors come up with these ideas – I often find myself wondering if they themselves are a little unhinged! – or a tad depraved – but it’s this imagination that serves as the foundation for any good book – Mercy is no exception. Wonderfully written, and a sublime translation, this is one book – one series – not to be missed. Published by Penguin – Review
9	The Terror of Living – Urban Waite “The Terror of Living” is a complex tale of survival, greed, drugs and brutality – leaving nothing to the imagination, Waite has a sure fire hit on his hands Published by Simon & Schuster - Review
8	Sanctus – Simon Toyne A stunning debut from an exciting new author, “Sanctus” isn’t your average high octane thriller – it’s more than that. If Ruin actually existed I would have booked the first flight to Turkey by mid-morning – if only for the bottled water! Published by HarperCollins – Review
7	The Affair – Lee Child An enthralling prequel, The Affair commands your attention from the moment Reacher walks through the corridors of power at the Pentagon and receives his orders for the very last time. Highly recommended, this is the book Reacher aficionados will return to time and time again. Brilliant. Published by Transworld – Review
6	Girl 4 – Will Carver Considering Girl 4 is Will Carver’s debut it’s hard to imagine how he’ll top this book. The book reads like a runaway train – no matter how hard you try to stop it – you just can’t! Just when you think the driver has control of the train, Carver adds more coal to the fire, stokes the narrative up a notch and we set off on another journey! Enough train talk?! You get the point! Brilliant debut, highly imaginative and so compelling. Published by Arrow – Review
5	Julia – Otto De Kat It’s very rare for me to give marks out of five or ten for any review but this book – for me – is faultless. With that in mind there’s only one score I could award this wonderfully evocative tale of lost love – 5 out of 5. I can’t say much more than that. If you’re looking for a little escapism on a dreary winter’s night then look no further than Julia by Otto de Kat, beautifully written, you won’t be sorry. Published by Maclehose Press – Review
4	Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet – Jamie Ford With a wonderful characterisation, mesmerising relationships, a breathtaking narrative and a story that will most certainly leave you wanting more, Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet is one of my highlights of the year. I cannot rate this title any higher – a remarkable read and a voyage not to be missed. Spellbinding. Published by Allison & Busby – Review
3	The Leopard – Jo Nesbo As with previous novels, there’s so much depth to Nesbo’s narrative that it’s never a simple case of shoot, kill and detect. Personal trials and tribulations withstanding, the Scandinavian police procedural is taut, as is the prose, and one never feels let down upon reaching the conclusion. Set over 600 pages of majestic writing, “The Leopard” is a complex fast paced crime novel with all the hallmarks of the noir tradition. A simply divine book, bounteous characterization and a plot to die for – Nesbo has done it again. Published by Random House – Review
2	11.22.63 – Stephen King A truly wonderful book, 11.22.63 is without doubt a masterpiece and a story that will remain with me for years to come – unless I travel back in time – and should I begin to forget I will simply pick up the book and start from the very beginning. Highly recommended. Published by Hodder – Review
1	Perfect People – Peter James A brilliantly imaginative and thought provoking thriller, Perfect People is an incredibly engaging scientific thriller that will have you debating long into the night. With numerous twists and turns, well developed characters and a solid plot this is one not to be missed, highly recommended. Published by Macmillan – Review

As we near the end of another year I thought I’d have a little fun with a couple of top 10 lists. The first, the top 10 debut titles released and reviewed in 2011 and an overall top 10 that includes debut authors and established authors.

Top 10 Debuts in 2011

A number of titles that have caught my eye this year and I thought, before I list my top 10 titles,  I’d start with a few titles that almost made it into my top 10 list and all deserve a special mention. In August Roxy Freeman shared her heart breaking story in Little Gypsy, a book that is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye. July gave us an emotional story of a woman accused of murdering her best friend – Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante and finally Spiral by Paul McEuen a stunning bio-tech thriller from the Cornell professor.

10	Twists and turns in abundance, “Random” will shock you to the core – Robertson weaving his magic with fluidity that belies his experience. Highly recommended but not  for the fainthearted!  Take a bow Craig – clean up on aisle 4!Published by Simon & Schuster – Review
9	If you’re looking for an adrenaline pumping adventure, believable characters and a few jaw dropping moments then look no further than Hunted by Emlyn Rees. Danny Shanklin is about to set the world on fire, the only question remains – can anyone stop him?Published by Corsair – Review
8	An intelligent novel, Pariahis a remarkable debut from David Jackson. In Callum Doyle, Jackson certainly has a protagonist well worth protecting – I for one can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. New York’s finest battle it out in this pulsating crime thriller.Published by Macmillan – Review
7	I didn’t see the ending – didn’t think it was possible but Julia writes with such authority that it felt the right thing to do – it will quite possibly leave you breathless for a second or two. In fact, like her characterisation, the conclusion will satisfy readers on multiple levels. Cuckoo, so aptly titled, is a stunning introduction to her work and I for one can’t wait to read her next novel.Published by Headline – Review
6	With numerous twists and turns along the way, Creep will entertain and enthral from beginning to end. Just try and read this book without humming along to Radiohead’s Creep – I dare you!Published by Sphere – Review
5	A truly remarkable book that had me guessing right up to the end. There’s something so powerful and natural about this book that makes me want to read it again and again. His Staccato styled narrative is beautifully written and hooks you in from the very first page and never lets go until its conclusion.Published by Transworld – Review
4	“The Terror of Living” is a complex tale of survival, greed, drugs and brutality – leaving nothing to the imagination, Waite has a sure fire hit on his hands.Published by Simon & Schuster - Review
3	A stunning debut from an exciting new author, “Sanctus” isn’t your average high octane thriller – it’s more than that. If Ruin actually existed I would have booked the first flight to Turkey by mid-morning – if only for the bottled water!Published by HarperCollins – Review
2	Considering Girl 4 is Will Carver’s debut it’s hard to imagine how he’ll top this book. The book reads like a runaway train – no matter how hard you try to stop it – you just can’t! Just when you think the driver has control of the train, Carver adds more coal to the fire, stokes the narrative up a notch and we set off on another journey! Enough train talk?! You get the point!Brilliant debut, highly imaginative and so compelling. Published by Arrow – Review
1	With wonderful characterisation, mesmerising relationships, a breathtaking narrative and a story that will most certainly leave you wanting more, Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweetis one of my highlights of the year. I cannot rate this title any higher – a remarkable read and a voyage not to be missed. Spellbinding.Published by Allison & Busby – Review

Creep by Jennifer Hillier

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behaviour. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

. . . no one else can.

2011 has been quite the ground breaking year for me and incidentally marks my first full year reviewing and I can honestly say I wouldn’t change the experience for the world. As we approach the festive season – happy holidays, the coke lorry, turkey (cooked), stuffing, did I mention the coke lorry?  – the books are still arriving thick and fast and despite a volatile financial market there appears to be no let-up in publications, January is going to be a very busy month. Apparently crime does pay!

Creep is available in the UK (Paperback & Kindle) & US (Hardback)

With that in mind choosing the next book to read/review is never easy, people often ask me how I make my decision, sometimes it’s as simple as taking pot luck, closing my eyes and picking up a book off the shelf and other times it’s a long drawn out process depending on my reading mood and publication deadlines. When Creep – by debut Canadian author Jennifer Hillier – arrived in the mail, the cover garnished with handcuffs attached to a metal chain, I was in the middle of reading John Rector’s Already Gone and about to begin She’s Never Coming Back by Hans Koppel. The cover art – for Creep – immediately sucks you in; the words he’s watching you in red and aforementioned handcuffs demand your attention. I couldn’t wait to start reading it.

Fortunately I didn’t have long to wait.

With an intelligent narrative, an engaging multi layered storyline and an ending to die for, looking back I realise I was hooked within a matter of pages. Creep will eat away at your psyche, delve into your subconscious and little by little, page by page, it will wear you down, hold you captive until the final throws announce a climactic ending that leaves the door wide open in the most mesmerising of ways. The further I read and the closer I came to reaching Creep’s dénouement I realised I had conjured up my perfect ending in my mind and I have to say, I certainly wasn’t disappointed! The final imagery will remain in my mind for some time, there’s something so evocative, eerie and simple about the final scene that made me wish I had the follow up title – Freak – locked and ready to read! Unfortunately I’ll have to wait until August next year to find out what happens next!

Character development is impressive and incredibly well structured to say the least; Hillier has done a magnificent job allowing each character, no matter how big their role, to grow and develop with minimum effort. Key to any good book is a leading character – or characters – you can associate or empathise with along the way, a character who will allow you to explore a range of emotions from one chapter to the next, a character that will have you shouting at the book evoking an unexpected reaction to a scene or decision, big or small. Creep has that in droves.

Dr Sheila Tao is an intriguing character. She has everything to live for, a loving Fiancé, a good job, financial security and a wedding to look forward to in a matter of months, yet she decides to throw it all away when she embarks on an illicit affair with student Ethan Wolfe. Slowly, as her story unfolds, we begin to understand her actions, it all becomes clear – but can you forgive? Can Morris forgive? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

All three main protagonists have strength and weaknesses, Ethan an incredibly intelligent and evil sociopath – I never tired of his character – and Sheila and Morris both recovering addicts who have supported each other over the last 12 months. I felt Hillier could have easily gone a different route with Sheila, salaciously exploring her addiction but the author handles her addiction with care and a sensitivity I didn’t expect.

Considering Creep is the work of a debut author, it’s frankly astonishing how fluid and pacy this book is, a veritable page turner. She establishes a solid foundation in the opening chapters and then, slowly but surely, moves the story along changing gear as and when required, Hillier somehow managing to pace the book with an ease and confidence that belies her authorial experience. The final third of the book is gone in a flash and will most certainly leave you wanting more; I guess you can’t ask for more than that, experienced or not.

With numerous twists and turns along the way, Creep will entertain and enthral from beginning to end. Just try and read this book without humming along to Radiohead’s Creep – I dare you!

Published by Sphere, Creep is available in the UK (Paperback & Kindle) & US (Hardback)

She's Never Coming Back - Hans Koppel

Hans Koppel is a new voice in the Swedish Thriller genre – in the UK at least – and if his first novel She’s Never Coming Back is anything to go by then I can say with a high degree of certainty that he’s going to be around for some time to come, this is a very polished performance.  Better known as children’s author Petter Lidbeck, Koppel has had four novels published in his native Sweden under this new pseudonym. She’s Never Coming Back is an intelligent and assured title that will have you gripped from start to finish, complete with a satisfying and unexpected twist to conclude this terrifying psychological tale and keep you on your toes.

One of the things I found utterly fascinating with this book – apart from a captivating and incredibly fluid narrative – was characterisation.  There are a number of intriguing characters in the book but the main protagonist – Mark Zetterberg – stands head and shoulders above everyone – certainly as far as his journey development goes – a journey I found incredibly palatable.

When we first meet Zetterberg he comes across as a relatively weak man, he’s forgiven his wife for an affair with a restauranter the previous year but he can’t shake her betrayal and constantly questions her whereabouts and actions. Ylva eventually gives him an ultimatum, shape up or ship out – he has no option – and given the fact he’d prefer to live with her duplicitous ways than live without her, he isn’t shown in the best light. However as the tale unfolds and time goes on he gains confidence – ironically from her disappearance – and he moves his life forward with the help of his daughter and mother. The book is as much about relationships as it is with murder and crime.

Victims are constantly given negative feedback and brainwashed into believing that they lack human worth. The woman is scorned and denigrated, told that she is disgusting, a dirty whore, and told her body is only good for one thing. By means of verbal and physical abuse, the victim is robbed of the right to her own thoughts and body.

Sanna, his daughter, is an amazing character and another eight year old in literary circles who appears to be older and wiser than her years in many ways. She is utterly moreish and I loved her attitude, her personality and the way Koppel has portrayed her, questioning everything and anything in her small little world.  She adapts incredibly quickly to her mother’s departure and like her father she settles down to a life without a mother figure.

The story itself is imaginative and well delivered, Koppel cranking up the terror with each passing chapter. We soon discover the reason behind Ylva’s kidnapping and confinement in a purpose built studio apartment in the cellar. It’s pretty brutal stuff, and certainly not for the fainthearted, Koppel pulling no punches as far as a graphical and descriptive narrative is concerned. There are a number of scenes depicting sexual assault that leave very little to the imagination but I never once felt they were included purely at the whim and pleasure of the author, they were necessary to portray Ylva’s dreadful plight and to develop the story.

As I mentioned at the top of the review the ending surprised me – totally un-expected – and although your attitude to certain characters may change throughout the book, it’s refreshing to see and read an author who isn’t afraid to shake things up a little. A rapid and fluent read, very well translated from Swedish to English, I read the book in two fairly lengthy – but somehow short -sittings, and I’m still not sure where the time went!  I can’t wait for the next title to be released!

Published by Sphere She’s Never Coming Back is available in paperback and Kindle formats.

Julia by Otto de Kat

One summer’s afternoon in 1981, a factory owner, Christiaan Dudok, is found dead in his study having taken his own life. He has left no suicide note, but on his desk is a newspaper from 2 April 1942, reporting on the bombing of the north German town of Lubeck. The list of the dead includes the highlighted name of Julia Bender. As a young man finishing his studies in Lubeck in 1938, Christiaan is irresistibly drawn to Julia, a courageous German who has emphatically rejected the Nazi regime. But that same year he is forced to leave both Germany and the woman he loves, even though he suspects that he is making the greatest mistake of his life. Julia is the story of a life lived wrongly, of a love so great that it endures for decades, and yet still fails. Fear of life and loss of courage, and terrifying inhuman fanaticism are the compelling themes explored in Otto de Kat’s elegantly accomplished, elegiac novel.

I’ve had Julia by Otto de Kat on my bookshelves for a few months now – this review unfortunately missing the publication date by a few weeks – and although I’ve walked past the shelves daily, catching the title in my peripheral vision on numerous occasions, I’ve never been tempted to pick up the book and start reading. I couldn’t tell you why, just one of those things I guess, but one thing I can categorically say now, without hesitation; is that I wish I’d read it when it first arrived!

Physically it reminds me of another title from Maclehose Press I reviewed back in September – Good Offices by Evelio Rosero – and although similarly small in stature, Julia certainly packs a literary punch with an evocative and beautiful narrative that effortlessly reaches the hidden depths of your soul. It is a magical book, heart wrenching at times, and a tale of one man’s infatuation with a beautiful and intriguing German woman who always appears to be just out of reach. From the moment Christiaan meets the secretive Julia – a skilled engineer – at work in the company director’s office, he is captivated. Smitten and desperate to learn more about her he does his best to steal a glance here and a glance there. Julia is his story.

Was the frequency of her visits to the company director a coincidence? One day, on leaving Knollenberg’s office, she put her head round the door of his room.

‘Don’t work too hard, now. No need for them to know all our secrets over in Holland.’ She laughed.

‘As long as I haven’t deciphered you I shall stay right here, nose to the grindstone.’

She laughed again. ‘Not an easy code to crack, Chris. Keep trying.’

Their relationship is a curious one, on one hand playful, on the other hesitant and at arm’s length. Julia is an extremely cautious woman and with the Nazi regime growing in power the couple struggle to find time to develop a relationship that will always be at odds with the third Reich and the totalitarian dictatorship of the Nazi party. Over the course of the book we learn how their friendship began, grew and inevitably fails.

Beautifully translated by Ina Rilke – a prize winning translator of books including Cees Nooteboom and Margriet de Moor – Julia is a veritable work of art. Weighing in at a little under 200 pages my only negative comment would be with its size, I simply fell in love with the book and like all good relationships I wanted more. It was over far too soon.

The prose is an example of one of the most beautiful and heart felt books I’ve had the pleasure of reading this year. There’s something magical about it that simply draws you in, the combination of storytelling, a love lost and a country at the most uncertain of times effortlessly holding your attention throughout.

The book is written in two distinct timelines, the early eighties and the late thirties in pre-war Germany. Otto de Kat begins his tale with the discovery of our main protagonist’s – Christiaan Dudok – body in his study. Discovered by his driver Van Dijk, we remain with the pair until the doctor arrives to pronounce his death, an act of suicide, the driver recounting his final moments with his boss while scurrying around his house. Otto de Kat swiftly turns back the time to an era of major uncertainty and political unrest. Germany is about to go to a war it will inevitably lose and a time when the smallest act against a state is severely punished with banishment to one of the numerous concentration camps available to the tyrannical ruling party.

It’s very rare for me to give marks out of five or ten for any review but this book – for me – is faultless. With that in mind there’s only one score I could award this wonderfully evocative tale of lost love – 5 out of 5. I can’t say much more than that. If you’re looking for a little escapism on a dreary winter’s night then look no further than Julia by Otto de Kat, beautifully written, you won’t be sorry.

Published by Maclehose Press, Julia is available in Hardback & Kindle.