Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for the latest addition to DCI Satterthwaithe series by Jo Allen. Death at Rainbow Cottage At the end of the rainbow, a man lies dead. The apparently motiveless murder of a man outside the home of controversial equalities activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie, is shocking enough for a peaceful local community. When it’s followed by another apparently random killing immediately outside Claud’s office, DCI Jude Satterthwaite has his work cut out. Is Claud the killer, or the intended victim? To add to Jude’s problems, the arrival of a hostile new boss causes complications at work, and when a threatening note arrives at the police headquarters, he has real cause to fear for the safety of his friends and colleagues… A traditional British detective novel set in Cumbria. Purchase Link Amazon My thoughts: Death at Rainbow Cottage is the fourth book in the DCI Satterthwaite series written by British writer Jo Allen. A solid police procedural with complex characters and a clever plot, it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but you will probably want to go back and read the other books in the series as well. The book starts with a bang. A middle-aged man dies of stabbed wounds in a remote place, a couple hundred meters away from Rainbow Cottage that belongs to Natalie and Claud Blackwell. Natalie suffers from anxiety and OCD and often goes on long runs. She was the one who tried to resuscitate the dying man and then horrified, ran home, leaving bloody footprints on the cottage path. Jo Allen immediately pulls us into her fictional world set in Cumbria. We meet DI Jude Satterthwaite as he is taking Natalie's statement and immediately note his compassion and humanity as well as his observation skills. There is obviously a lot of character development, both within this book and in the series. Police procedurals often have to balance the investigation side of the story, the police work itself and the back story which shows how complex professional relationships get intertwined with the detective's personal life. Jude still has unresolved family issues, although he is in a relationship with one of his colleagues. There's also a new boss with her own policies and her own vision of what should be done to ensure greater equality and diversity in their workplace. The book's main topic is diversity, representation, and tolerance. The issues raised in the book are relevant to any workplace. Jude is criticised for being promoted just because he fit the traditional idea of a DCI should be like, but then again his work and the fact that he is a capable police offcer and team leader isn't taken into consideration. The victims are gay and we see how deep homophobic attitudes run and how much sensitivity, consideration and determination changing them requires. Jo Alen has a wonderful writing style. It is very easy to follow the story despite a fairly large set of characters. Although this was my first book in the series, at no time did I feel lost or missing 'the insider' knowledge. I still want to go back and read books 1-3, but more because I appreciate the author's writing and her ability to create a clever tight plot and complex. multi-layered characters. I can highly recommend Death and Rainbow Cottage to all readers who enjoy gripping and thought-provoking police procedurals. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources and the author for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. Author Bio Jo Allen is the author of the successful DCI Satterthwaite series of detective novels set in and around the English Lake District, where she lives. After a career in economic consultancy she took up writing and was first published under the name Jennifer Young in genres of short stories, romance and romantic suspense. In 2017 she took the plunge and began writing the genre she most likes to read – crime. In common with all her favourite characters, she loves football (she's a season ticket holder with her beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers) and cats. Social Media Links – Twitter @JoAllenAuthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor Instagram @JoAllenAuthor Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Sunday!
If you would like to find out what other bloggers thought of the book, here is the full tour schedule: The Silent Speak
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- PROLOGUE: She read the note again. Twice in the past three years, similar notes had been splashed all over the newspapers. She knew immediately what it meant, but her brain wouldn’t allow her to process it. For several minutes she just stared at it. Her lips formed words that never came. When her brain caught up, it went straight to denial. This could not be happening. Things like this did not happen in ordinary families. Not in families like hers. She pulled down the door handle. The door was unlocked. That was a good sign, right? She would go into the house and find everything exactly as it had always been. There just had to be some simple explanation for that note. Yes, she nodded to herself, relieved to have come to a decision. She nudged the door open and put one foot on the wooden floor. The house was eerily quiet. No kids running around. No noise from the kitchen. ‘Now don’t panic,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Everything will be fine. Just go inside.’ She tried to lift her foot, but her brain wouldn’t cooperate. Hands shaking, she pulled out her mobile and dialled 999. She was still frozen in the doorway when the police arrived.
GIVEAWAY! Synopsis: A dejected filmmaker lets his curiosity get the best of him and plunges into a web of depravity and danger from which there might be no escape. Theo Snyder is at the end of his rope. One minute he was on top of the world, his documentary film The Basement a massive critical and commercial hit, the next crestfallen when his latest film was canceled after an embarrassingly public misstep. As his desperation grows, he makes a bold decision: to pursue the story of the notorious "Halo Killer," Jasper Ross-Johnson. But delving into the life and mind of a serial killer could prove more deadly than Theo ever could have imagined. At first, things are looking up. Jasper is willing to talk, the footage of the jailhouse meetings is spectacular, and famed investigator Zora Neale Monroe joins him on the project. Theo is sure he's getting close to something no one else has discovered: the truth about why Jasper was captured before he could kill his final victim. Someone else was on the beach that day, someone who knows a lot more than they're telling and just might know how it all happened. The truth could lead to more killing--unless Theo can uncover the real ending to the story of the Halo Killer first. My thoughts: This was a surprisingly addictive thriller with my favourite kind of narrator- yes, the unreliable one- who managed to confuse me to the point of not being able to predict what was going to happen next page, chapter or at the end of the book. Theo Snyder took me on a wild ride and I mostly enjoyed it. So, what was the book about? Theo Snyder, a documentary filmmaker who had his five minutes of fame once his film was uploaded on Netflix. He was LA's golden boy and it seemed he couldn't have put his foot down wrong. He did. When we meet Theo at the beginning of the book, he is on a hunt for his next project and it might be his last chance to salvage whatever remains of his once illustrous carreer. When a convicted serial killer contacts him and asks to tell his story, Theo isn't sure at first. The topic isn't new, so unless Theo comes up with a new fascinating angle, nobody's going to be interested. If Theo is good at anything, it is getting stories out of people, andhis gut instinct is telling him he just needs to dig deeper and discover not what Jasper Ross-Johnson did or why he did it, but what stopped him in the end, what was his undoing, his cryptonite. With the support of one of his rich and well-connected producer friends, Theo hires the best investigator in LA, Zora Monroe, and off he goes in search of the perfect story with the perfect ending. He discovers (or he thinks he discovers) the events are connected to a new-born baby girl being abandoned in an outhouse on the beach where coincidentally one of Jasper's victims was found. The baby was adopted and given name of Miracle Jones. It becomes very clear that Theo isn't just passionate about his work, he is obsessed, even driven. His exhaustion and sleep deprivation mean he begins to lose bits of his own narrative, however hard he tries to put it all together into a coherent whole. The pace and rhythm of the book make you feel as if you are watching unedited footage of a new film. Theo isn't exactly blessed with excessive modesty, so he even thinks a fellow filmmaker has started making a documentary on him. If you like following unreliable narrators and trying to piece together what is real and what is 'fed in' and who is playing who at any point of this thriller, Let Her Lie might be a book for you. This isn't a character-driven story, despite Theo looming large and overshadowing everybody else. The character who potentially could develop the most is Miracle, but we do not interact much with her, we see her through the lens of other people's anecdotes or opinions, and we never feel we finally see what 'really' happened. Past is always remembered and re-created in a subjective way, which is easier to accept when we are talking about fiction, but is nevertheless true for all films and books, whether the writer had a lot of information to work with or had to rely on 'the internal logic of events'. The ending delivered a few final twists and it was almost too much for me. I felt like poor Theo who kept seeng clues which needed to be interpreted and re-interpreted time after time. But the last page was kind of satisfying and brought it all in focus once again. Overal, I did enjoy this fast-paced, twisty story with its pervasive subtle irony. This is a story that never takes itself seriously and doesn't work too hard to make you like its characters. Of course, this is just my subjective take! Thank you to Edelweiss and Crooked Lane Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Book details: Overland by Ramcy Diek Published by: Acorn Publishing Publication date: November 10th 2020 Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller Synopsis: Skyla Overland is proud to work for Overland Insurance, the company founded by her grandfather. She enjoys sharing an apartment with her best friend, Pauline, and is in love with Edmond. Besides one nerve-wracking insurance fraud case in the past, her sheltered life is uneventful and just the way she likes it. Until one day, everything changes… Skyla and Troy, the manager at Overland Insurance, are the last ones to leave the office. In the empty parking lot, Troy takes her in his arms. Why would he ruin their easy-going friendship by kissing her, especially since he knows she’s dating Edmond? Left alone, Skyla hurries to her car, puts on her seatbelt, and glances in her rearview mirror. The face of a stranger grins at her from the backseat. “How nice to see you again,” he hisses close to her ear. Regaining consciousness, Skyla finds herself on the backseat of her own car, with her hands tied behind her back. Is she getting kidnapped? Who is he? And where is he taking her? Goodreads Purchase Amazon / B&N My thoughts: Content warnings: sexual violence, mental abuse, exploitation, child abuse This was a surprisingly quick read, you might even say I felt compelled to keep turning the pages until I got to the end of Skyla Overland's terrifying ordeal. Skyla has been working for her father's insurance company for six years. In this time she has had to deal with a lot of claims. Most of them are genuine. Others are fraudulent and they are the ones Skyla would much rather not work with. Luckily for her, her co-manager Troy is always ready to support and help her. Although Skyla has a boyfriend, handsome, self-assured, almost perfect Edmond, deep down she knows there are some unaddressed feelings between her and Troy. Just before the Thanksgiving, Skyla gets abducted by a stranger who drives her to a log cabin in woods. To her surprise and utter dismay, the abductor has three young children who have been severely neglected for years. You see the man intended Skyla to become a substitute mother /wife/ domestic help. WhileSkyla may try to fight back or escape, what about the three innocent children. She might be their own hope for salvation and life without abuse. Meanwhile, Skyla's family keep on searching for and we know it's only a matter of time she is going to be found. This is obviously a plot driven novel. Straight from the beginning we get the sense of foreboding that Skyla is in danger and that she isn't a random victim. Once she is taken to the cabin, we are horrified at what she has to endure to survive these long months. I also appreciated that the author included a part of what happens afterwards. There is also a bit of romance to counterbalance the focus on the kidnapping and survival, although I felt it wasn't entirely necessary for the story or character development. Skyla is such a resilient character, strong and independent. She might not have entirely clear ideas about her romantic life, but she'll get there with time. What I liked the most about her is how she took care of the children and her sense of responsibility. The abductor's character is more difficult to understand, but, then again, perhaps it is just my mind that refuses to comrehend how a human being, whatever their circumstances and past mistakes are, can do such things to other people, including the most fragile and innocent of them all- children. The author herself included a few content triggers at the beginning of the book and I really appreciated her thoughtfulness. The story includes some dark moments and it is important to beware of them. If you like fast-paced, plot-driven thrillers with just a touch of romance, try Overland. Thank you to NetGalley, Acorn Publishing and Xpresso Book Tours for the complimentary copy, provided with no expectation of a favourable review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. AUTHOR BIO: A long time ago, I fell in love with the United States while traveling around in an Oldsmobile station-wagon with my husband. We are both born and raised in the Netherlands. Together, we eventually found our way to the Pacific Northwest, built up a business, and raised our two boys into amazing young adults with their own careers. During this time, I also made a slow transition from reader to writer of many different stories. My multiple award winning debut novel "Storm at Keizer Manor" sets the bar high for my second novel, Eagles in Flight. All my books are stand alone novels in different genres. You might be in for a surprise, or a disappointment. Author links: https://www.ramcydiek.com/ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ramcy-diek https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c0f3o0 https://www.facebook.com/RamcyDiek/ https://twitter.com/RamcyDiekAuthor https://www.instagram.com/ramcydiekauthor/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16967126.Ramcy_Diek Thank you for reading the post! If you would like to know what other bloggers thought of Overland, here is the full blog tour schedule: January 18th –breen.rb >> Review –Why I Can’t Stop Reading >> Review –Movies, Shows, & Books >> Excerpt –Iron Canuck Reviews & More >> Review January 19th –Rockin’ Book Reviews >> Guest post –The Eclectic Review >> Review –Rajiv’s Reviews >> Review –Adventures in Writing >> Excerpt January 20th –Sara In Bookland >> Interview –I’m Into Books >> Excerpt –Mrs Pope’s Bookshelf >> Review –The Phantom Paragrapher >> Review January 21st –Cocktails & Fairytales >> Review –Reading tonic >> Review –What Is That Book About >> Excerpt January 22nd –Jessica Belmont >> Review –Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author >> Excerpt –The Avid Reader >> Review –underneath the covers >> Excerpt –Radioactive Book Reviews >> Excerpt –Live Through Books Blog >> Excerpt Book & Author Details: The Collectors by Greg Jolley Publication date: December 15th 2020 Genres: Adult, Suspense, Thriller Synopsis: Pierce Danser’s soon-to-be ex-wife, the glamorous actress Pauline Place, has disappeared. She’s been kidnapped by a very dangerous man, intent on adding her to his bizarre and twisted collection. But Pierce is determined to find and rescue her, no matter the obstacles, even if it means the loss of his own life. The clock is ticking, his resources are slim, and he’s up against a sick man with a twisted, cruel vision. Goodreads Pre-order: Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play AUTHOR BIO: Greg Jolley (also published under Gregory French) earned a master of art in writing from the University of San Francisco. He is the author of sixteen novels and one collection about the fictional, film industry-based Danser family. He currently lives in the Very Small town of Ormond Beach, Florida Author links: https://thedansers.com/ https://www.facebook.com/greg.jolley.581 https://www.instagram.com/gfjolle/ https://twitter.com/Gfjolle https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8261931.Greg_Jolley Book & Author Details: A Shattering Glimpse by Nicole Putter Publication date: December 10th 2020 Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller Synopsis: The dreams: For years, Claire Baxter has been haunted by ceaseless dreams of an FBI Agent. The dilemma: She has no idea who he is or if he even exists. The death: Right before she’s set to graduate from college, a dream reveals him dying in a brutal explosion. One touch and not-so-normal Portland girl, Claire Baxter, can get a glimpse of your nearby future. She considers nothing about her clairvoyance a gift, it’s a curse, to say the least. Her parents raised her with the rule that she is to keep the secret at all cost, leaving little room for relationships of any kind. As if the burden isn’t enough, FBI agent Byron Black becomes the phantom of a series of sinister dreams. The night before her final college exam, she has another dream, except in this one, he dies in a nuclear explosion. Does he exist? Will she find him? If so, can she save the countless lives affected by a blast that can crush steel like it’s a piece of paper, or… is this something her lost, psychic mind conjured up? AUTHOR BIO: Nicole Putter is the author of the Shattering Series and several short stories. She completed four creative writing and journalism courses with honours between a successful career in finance. When she’s not writing fiction, she blogs about her passion for books and writing. She’s also happily married, and a proud mom of one son and a Jack Russel Terrier named Striker. You can connect with Nicole on: Author links: https://twitter.com/NjpWriter https://nicoleputter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/nicoleputterbooks https://nicoleputter.com/signup/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20767066.Nicole_Putter GIVEAWAY (ends December 17th) Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
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Claire had no sooner ended the call than the fleeting nightmare returned, as tangible as the test she would take in an hour. Her hands started to shake, causing her phone to drop to the floor. Sweat striped the back of her neck. Her phantom was in danger. As she raked her trembling fingers through her blonde curls, she experienced a sense of déjà vu from her 14-year-old self. 30 March 2014 Claire woke in a pool of cold sweat. That was a first. She had always been able to predict the future of those with whom she came into physical contact. Never before had she seen someone without touching them, let alone not knowing them at all. Her visions were subjective. If she warned the receiver of her touch, it could change, though she would never tell. Only her parents and best friend, Brent Lee, knew about her unique gift. They called it a gift, Claire often considered it a damn curse. The man from her vivid dream was tall, not buff, but rather lean and toned. He was at the beach with his friends: Tanned with dark, ruffled hair and deep, brown eyes above a sharp jawline. A deep scar puckered his left cheekbone. Attempting to impress some girl, he meandered deeper and deeper into the ocean. Later, he was laboring for breath as the wild rollers clutched at him and the desperate torrent sucked him further and further from the shore. It was a battle of arms, legs, and waves. He coughed and gasped, splashed and jolted, doing everything in his power to stay alive until a coastguard came to his rescue. Once they reached the safety of the beach, she learnt his name as everyone bustled around to ensure he was okay. He was alive, smiling and called Byron. That night Claire had met Special Agent Black of the FBI for the first time. He had been the centerpiece of her dreams for the next eight years. Okay, perhaps centerpiece was overdoing it, but he did feature often. Not every night, but at least once a month. Maybe less. Definitely less. The dreams changed. Sometimes they reflected significant instances in his life, like graduation and his sister’s wedding. Other times, she merely saw his face. No sound, just him. She knew a lot about the man of her dreams. Nope, the man from her dreams. Now she even knew how he would die. If he even existed. I can’t let this happen. She squeezed her eyes shut and flopped back down on to her black-and-white mess of a bed. I must warn him. Synopsis: From author Kia Abdullah, Take It Back is a harrowing and twisting courtroom thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page is turned. One victim. Four accused. Who is telling the truth? Zara Kaleel, one of London's brightest legal minds, shattered the expectations placed on her by her family and forged a brilliant legal career. But her decisions came at a high cost, and now, battling her own demons, she has exchanged her high profile career for a job at a sexual assault center, helping victims who need her the most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe. When Jodie, a sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, accuses four boys in her class of an unthinkable crime, the community is torn apart. After all, these four teenage defendants are from hard-working immigrant families and they all have proven alibis. Even Jodie's best friend doesn't believe her. But Zara does--and she is determined to fight for Jodie--to find the truth in the face of public outcry. And as issues of sex, race and social justice collide, the most explosive criminal trial of the year builds to a shocking conclusion. Published December 8th 2020 by St. Martin's Press (first published August 8th 2019) Goodreads My thoughts: Content triggers: sexual assault, racism, misogyny, parental neglect, bullying I won't lie- this was not an easy read. I had to put the book down several times, because I needed a short break to cope with my feelings. And then I'd be drawn back into this compelling story. Zara Kaleel, Zara the Brave, a brilliant barrister, left her high-flying job that gave her every kind of imaginable privilege to work as a legal advisor in a voluntary organisation that helps victims of sexual assault. Zara, who never stopped battling her own demons, knows how difficult the process of getting justice for her sixteen year old client will be. Jodie accuses four Muslim boys from good, hard-working families of sexually assaulting her and Zara believes the girl with all her heart. Zara knows what she is going to go against: people who believe that nobody would want to have sexual relations with Jodie, who has severe facial deformities, as if rape is not about using violence to gain power and humiliate the victim, people who will see her going against those who already have to fight discrimination and disadvantage, people who will use this drama and tragedy for their own selfish aims. Even Jodie's mother and her best friend don't believe the girl and think she made up the story to get attention. Even Zara's family accuses her of dragging their good name through tabloids in a rebellious attempt to defy tradition. Gradually, Kia Abdullah lets us see the families of the defendants and their lives, Jodie and her daily struggle to keep up believing that there will be better times ahead for her, Jodie's alcoholic mother, Zara's volatile relationship with her own family, based on her past and her uncertain present. Some parts of the narrative are so vivid they will always stay with me: Zara fleeing her abusive husband to escape her arranged marriage, her mother talking about the sacrifice first generation immigrant women made by putting up with blatant sexism and discrimination to make sure their children had freedom to live their lives differently, the mothers of the accused boys. Take it back is such a great title. Countless times, we hear Jodie regret going to the police and starting the process. It also refers to justice and control over your own life it can give you back and this s why Zara believes in it, even when her own life seems to spin out of control. A powerful story, executed in a masterful way, Take it Back will make you listen, empathise, question, doubt and feel a whole range of emotions. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking book. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. Book & Author Details: The Cry of the Lake Charlie Tyler Publication date: July 21st 2020 Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller Synopsis: A gruesome discovery unravels a dark trail of murder and madness. A six-year-old girl sneaks out of bed to capture a mermaid but instead discovers a dead body. Terrified and unable to make sense of what she sees, she locks the vision deep inside her mind. Ten years later, Lily is introduced to the charismatic Flo and they become best friends. But Lily is guilt-ridden – she is hiding a terrible secret which has the power to destroy both their lives. When Flo’s father is accused of killing a schoolgirl, the horrors of Lily’s past come bubbling to the surface. Lily knows that, whatever the consequences, she has to make things right. She must go back to the events of her childhood and face what happened at the boat house all those years ago. Can Lily and Flo discover what is hiding in the murky waters of the lake before the killer strikes again? Goodreads Purchase Amazon AUTHOR BIO:
Charlie signed with Darkstroke Books in May 2020 and The Cry of the Lake is her debut novel. Charlie lives in the UK and is very much a morning person. In fact, she likes nothing more than committing a fictional murder before her first coffee of the day. She studied Theology at Worcester College, Oxford and now lives in a Leicestershire village with her husband, three teenagers, golden retriever and tortoise. She is currently working on her next novel 'The Curse of the Emerald Cross'. Two dead bodies are found down a priest hole within the grounds of Collyhurst Abbey; a sixth-form boarding school for girls run by nuns. One of the bodies belongs to a local drug dealer, the other is the charred remains of Mother Agnes who went missing ten years ago and is found with an emerald cross stuffed inside her jaw. But what are they doing there? DS Ruby Simmonds is sent in, undercover, to investigate. She must puzzle her way through well-dressed scarecrows, bonfires, emerald crosses and fallen oak trees before she breaks the wall of silence and discovers exactly why both the victims were killed and by whom. website / facebook / twitter / instagram / goodreads Book & Author Details: Overland by Ramcy Diek Published by: Acorn Publishing Publication date: November 10th 2020 Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller Synopsis: Skyla Overland is proud to work for Overland Insurance, the company founded by her grandfather. She enjoys sharing an apartment with her best friend, Pauline, and is in love with Edmond. Besides one nerve-wracking insurance fraud case in the past, her sheltered life is uneventful and just the way she likes it. Until one day, everything changes… Skyla and Troy, the manager at Overland Insurance, are the last ones to leave the office. In the empty parking lot, Troy takes her in his arms. Why would he ruin their easy-going friendship by kissing her, especially since he knows she’s dating Edmond? Left alone, Skyla hurries to her car, puts on her seatbelt, and glances in her rearview mirror. The face of a stranger grins at her from the backseat. “How nice to see you again,” he hisses close to her ear. Regaining consciousness, Skyla finds herself on the backseat of her own car, with her hands tied behind her back. Is she getting kidnapped? Who is he? And where is he taking her? Goodreads Purchase Amazon / B&N AUTHOR BIO:
A long time ago, I fell in love with the United States while traveling around in an Oldsmobile station-wagon with my husband. We are both born and raised in the Netherlands. Together, we eventually found our way to the Pacific Northwest, built up a business, and raised our two boys into amazing young adults with their own careers. During this time, I also made a slow transition from reader to writer of many different stories. My multiple award winning debut novel "Storm at Keizer Manor" sets the bar high for my second novel, Eagles in Flight. All my books are stand alone novels in different genres. You might be in for a surprise, or a disappointment. Author links: https://www.ramcydiek.com/ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ramcy-diek https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c0f3o0 https://www.facebook.com/RamcyDiek/ https://twitter.com/RamcyDiekAuthor https://www.instagram.com/ramcydiekauthor/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16967126.Ramcy_Diek #Blog Tour #Book Review of Into the Void by Christina O'Reilly @rararesources @Christina O'Reilly11/11/2020
Thank to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this exciting thriller. Synopsis: Into the Void How easy is it for a man to simply disappear? When rural banker Richard Harper is reported missing, DSS John (Archie) Baldrick and DC Ben Travers are drawn into the tangled details of the man’s life. Would Harper really have chosen to leave his seriously ill wife, and abandon his pregnant girlfriend? Or is there a real threat behind the abusive emails he’d been receiving from desperate clients in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis? On the home front, Archie’s marriage is rocky and his two teenage daughters are giving him all sorts of trouble. The frail but beautiful Helena Harper and her magnificent house offer an oasis of calm as Archie struggles to discover who is responsible for her husband’s disappearance. Has he really been abducted, tortured or killed? Or is Richard Harper himself behind everything that has happened? Archie and Travers ultimately face a race against time as the case descends into a bewildering morass of obsession, violence and murder. Longlisted for the 2019 Michael Gifkins Memorial Prize for an Unpublished Novel Finalist in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards for Best First Novel Purchase Links US / UK readers can email Christina via her website www.christinaoreilly.com or her Facebook page Christina O’Reilly – Author for a paperback copy. My thoughts: Some thrillers start with a bang and get more and more frenetic. Others begin quetly and keep getting better and better with every page. Christina O'Reilly's Into the Void is one of them. The mystery of a forty-two year old married banker who left his home to go on a business trip to Aukland and vanished into thin air should have been easy to solve. Richard left a wife undergoing chemotherapy treatments (what kind of man would do that) and a pregnant mistress (apparently he was delighted with the news)- perhaps, the stress of leading the double life had got to him and he simply ran away from his troubles? DSS Archie Baldrick and his partner Ben Travers suspect there is more to the case. When Lisa Carpenter, Richard's pregnant girlfriend, is brutally attacked and later murdered, Archie feels guilty for not having taken enough precautions to protect her. He is not a man to give up easily, although the lack of progress is frustrating and it isn't easy to admit it to increasingly more fragile Mrs Harper. What makes this police procedural stand out is the second storyline: Archie's messy, chaotic family - his super easy-going wife Jenna and his teenage daughters Summer and Alicia. Anybody who's trying to raise a teenager and deal with their growing desire for independence will recognise the familiar parental scenes. All characters, main and secondary (even Mrs Harper's cleaner) are well-written and I can only hope that Into the Void is the beginning of a new series and we'll get to meet them again. Although the book is quite short, the plot is well-developed and all the loose ends were tied in in the end. Did I guess the criminal mastermind behind the events- yes, I did, but I was also thoroughly entertained and happy to lose myself in this gripping whodunnit. The Devil is always in details, and Christina O'Reilly knows how to paint a picture with a few well-chosen words. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. Don't miss it, it's a good one. Thank you to Rachel and the author for the review copy gifted with no expectation of a favourable review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. Author Bio Christina is an author and proofreader living in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Several of her short stories have been published in anthologies, most recently in Fresh Ink: A Collection of Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand 2019. Into the Void is her first crime novel and was longlisted for the Michael Gifkins Memorial Prize in 2019. It is also a finalist in the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards for Best First Novel. Social Media Thank you for reading the post. Please, check out what other bloggers thought of Christina O'Reilly's book:
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