Book Review ‘n’ Recommendation – Malice and Forethought

 

 

Malice and Forethought:

Short Stories of Malice and Murder

by Felicia Denise

Cover Design: perry elisabeth design

Genre: Crime Thriller / Suspense / Short Stories

Release Date: June 1, 2020

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Malice – noun; mal·ice | ˈma-ləs

1 : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another
//
2 : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse
//ruined her reputation and did it with malice

Everyone is capable of malice and no one is immune to its outcome.

A Hint of Malice – When her last living relative commits suicide after having her identity and assets stolen, a grieving niece longs for justice.

Burned – When the masterminds behind a major drug operation get off with a slap on the wrists, a frustrated police detective warns them their wealth cannot shield them from everything.

The Marshall Sisters – After seeing her sister mistreated by far too many men, Leslie Marshall is proud of Paula for standing up for herself and accompanies her on a cold winter’s night to confront her boyfriend, but even Leslie isn’t ready for the new, assertive Paula.

The Watcher – Shamed into exile by his family because of his sexual fetish and hanging on to the shreds of his sanity, a man plots the ultimate date night with his new neighbor.

What’s done in the dark always comes to the light.

99c / 99p

KINDLE UNLIMITED

https://geni.us/Malice

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About the Author

After writing as a hobby for most of her life, at the urging of a good friend, Felicia took on the challenge of NaNoWriMo in 2015, writing what would become her first published work, In the Best Interest of the Child. It was released in the fall of 2016. Free, a Novella, which began as a three-installment series on her website, was published as a short story in May 2017.

Currently working on projects in several genres, Felicia plans to release book 2 of In the Best Interest of the Child – Family Matters, as well as anthologies of her suspense and women’s fiction short stories in 2020.

A long-time blogger, she also features books by indie authors daily on her blog, Nesie’s Place.

Felicia lost her husband of nearly 36 years of May of 2019 and is a strong advocate and supporter of the National Kidney Foundation. She has three adult children, four grand-pups, and as one of nine children, she has too much extended family to even go into!

In her free time-when not reading-Felicia sews and enjoys experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen. She always has a cup of robust coffee and far too many pun jokes nearby.

~ Stalk Felicia on Social Media ~

Author Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsletter

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My Review

Some time ago, I read the author’s first book, “In the Best Interest of the Child”, and so I knew she could tell a story that pulled at the heartstrings. But let me tell you, whoa …does she have a dark side. And, you know what, it’s DELICIOUS! 😉

In A Hint of Malice, Jessalyn Hunter sets out to avenge her aunt’s death because, in her words, “Put in the right situation, anyone can kill.” And Jess was in that zone … the scumbag gigolo protected by his privileged family connections had it coming.

Vigilante justice served up beautifully for one newly stone-cold dead guy.

Burned tells the story of a stake-out in Creighton, where a multi-million dollar drugs haul puts the spotlight on an arrogant millionaire businessmen when his son is caught up in the raid. Soon-to-be-retired cop, Pat Sinclair understands that when drug barons don’t get what they paid for, then someone has to pay. Unfortunately for the wealthy tycoon, he doesn’t grasp the danger around the corner and opts to ignore the cop’s warning.

You know, some people just cannot be helped!!!

I love, love , love The Marshall Sisters. Doing what sisters do, Leslie Marshall takes on a supportive role as her older sibling, Paula, finally calls time on her relationship with Allen Bailey, a serial cheat and love-rat. What Leslie doesn’t know, however, is exactly how she is lending her support to Paula …not until the news anchor mentions those blue trash bags used to clean up the scene.

What a great twist!

Finally, The Watcher brings an end to this wonderful collection of sinister tales. Disowned by his family and exiled from Chicago, Hart Stanhope refuses to accept the new life imposed upon him. How dare they suggest his act was any worse than their own! He walks away from anything they’ve touched and starts over …watching his new neighbour and determined to make her his. But Penny Driver sees him watching her and she’s ready for him in a way he never suspects.

Turning the tables has never been so much fun.

Packed with twists and shocks aplenty, these stories are bound to entertain. Felicia Denise is a master at creating characters who draw you into their world and make you root for them. Indeed, she does that here, but she also dishes up some unsavoury characters who you would not wish to even share a lift with, let alone any substantial part of your life. Yet these are not caricatures, these are people we can all recognise, and each carries a secret that stains their lives and burns a hole in their soul. Acts of malice are their only escape …and their stories make for great reading.

Be sure to get your copy, and revel in the darkness.

As always,

 

 

PreOrder Blitz – Malice and Forethought

~~~

 

Malice and Forethought:

Short Stories of Malice and Murder

by Felicia Denise

Cover Design: perry elisabeth design

Genre: Crime Thriller / Suspense / Short Stories

Release Date: June 1, 2020

---

Malice – noun; mal·ice | ˈma-ləs

1 : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another
//
2 : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse
//ruined her reputation and did it with malice

Everyone is capable of malice and no one is immune to its outcome.

A Hint of Malice – When her last living relative commits suicide after having her identity and assets stolen, a grieving niece longs for justice.

Burned – When the masterminds behind a major drug operation get off with a slap on the wrists, a frustrated police detective warns them their wealth cannot shield them from everything.

The Marshall Sisters – After seeing her sister mistreated by far too many men, Leslie Marshall is proud of Paula for standing up for herself and accompanies her on a cold winter’s night to confront her boyfriend, but even Leslie isn’t ready for the new, assertive Paula.

The Watcher – Shamed into exile by his family because of his sexual fetish and hanging on to the shreds of his sanity, a man plots the ultimate date night with his new neighbor.

What’s done in the dark always comes to the light.

~ PreOrder ~

99c / 99p

KINDLE UNLIMITED

https://geni.us/Malice

~~~

Bloggers needed for release day blitz!

https://forms.gle/dpv4tbNt1uMr5Q8i6

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~ G I V E A W A Y ~

One randomly chosen winner will a $15 Amazon Gift Card or $15 in PayPal Cash!

(Open Internationally!)

E N T E R

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About the Author

After writing as a hobby for most of her life, at the urging of a good friend, Felicia took on the challenge of NaNoWriMo in 2015, writing what would become her first published work, In the Best Interest of the Child. It was released in the fall of 2016. Free, a Novella, which began as a three-installment series on her website, was published as a short story in May 2017.

Currently working on projects in several genres, Felicia plans to release book 2 of In the Best Interest of the Child – Family Matters, as well as anthologies of her suspense and women’s fiction short stories in 2020.

A long-time blogger, she also features books by indie authors daily on her blog, Nesie’s Place.

Felicia lost her husband of nearly 36 years of May of 2019 and is a strong advocate and supporter of the National Kidney Foundation. She has three adult children, four grand-pups, and as one of nine children, she has too much extended family to even go into!

In her free time-when not reading-Felicia sews and enjoys experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen. She always has a cup of robust coffee and far too many pun jokes nearby.

~ Stalk Felicia on Social Media ~

Author Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsletter

~~~

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Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – A Prison in the Sun

A Prison in the Sun

After millennial ghostwriter Trevor Moore rents an old farmhouse in Fuerteventura, he moves in to find his muse.

Instead, he discovers a rucksack filled with cash. Who does it belong to – and should he hand it in… or keep it?

Struggling to make up his mind, Trevor unravels the harrowing true story of a little-known concentration camp that incarcerated gay men in the 1950s and 60s.

Purchase Link: http://mybook.to/prisonsun

 

Author Bio

Isobel Blackthorn is an award-winning author of unique and engaging fiction. She writes dark psychological thrillers, mysteries, and contemporary and literary fiction.

Isobel was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019 for her biographical short story, ‘Nothing to Declare’. The Legacy of Old Gran Parks is the winner of the Raven Awards 2019. Isobel holds a PhD from the University of Western Sydney, for her research on the works of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey, the ‘Mother of the New Age.’ She is the author of The Unlikely Occultist: a biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey.

Social Media Links

https://isobelblackthorn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768657.Isobel_Blackthorn

https://twitter.com/IBlackthorn

https://www.instagram.com/isobelblackthorn/

My Review

4.5/5 stars

This is the second book I’ve read in the Canary Islands series, and I was absolutely bewitched by the whole tale. Trevor is in a rut from ghost- and copy-writing. He wants to write a novel under his own name – a desire made even greater when a client for whom he rewrote a novel is in line for a major literary award. He books a three-month break in Fuerteventura, determined to find his muse and write the next best-seller. But Tefia, while definitely perfect for isolationism, has a grim history.

Trevor finds the “camp” one day when he’s exploring the area. Tefia is way off the tourist path, and the brisk breeze and hardy terrain suits his mood, until the sun beats down on him and leaves him burnt, exhausted, and curious.

His lack of fitness spurs him on to join a gym where he learns about the history of the camp as well as about other sights to explore. In search of his muse he chooses to visit the smugglers’ caves, but doesn’t account for the return of the tide nor the abandonment of a rucksack. Concerned someone may be missing their belongings, he carries the rucksack back to shore, no mean feat as he battles rising water levels. When no-one claims the rucksack, he takes it home. Inside he finds a large amount of cash, a fact he shares with a couple he’d met earlier that day … a couple who he starts to see a lot of, a couple who he starts to suspect, especially when a body is found and the body turns out to be related to the couple. Also in the bag are notes – in Spanish – written by a young man, Jose, who was held at that camp. His crime: being gay in the Franco era.

For Trevor, already struggling with his own sexuality after his wife leaves him for a woman, and he can’t stop thinking of how much he enjoyed a boyhood friendship, his paranoia is firmly out of control. He tries to focus on his novel. Despite earlier misgivings, he decides to use the story of the camp as his premise; the notes seems to compel him to tell Jose’s story.

However, it’s not as straightforward as it may seem – since people know he has the rucksack and the cash. Scared for his safety, Trevor decides to return to the UK …which is also not as easy as it seems, or indeed should be.

The author has created an intricate story here, combining two men – Trevor & Jose – from different times, but struggling with similar issues, though with very different options.  Jose’s story at the concentration camp for homosexuals, where the daily regime is harsh, the treatment by guards is brutal, yet through it all Jose finds love. For Trevor, the future, while nowhere near as dangerous, is still uncertain and he is floundering in that uncertainty.

This is a mystery with a strong literary vibe. It’s compelling, fascinating, and intriguing. Though I have to say the ending left me ….ARGHHH!

For more news and reviews, you know where to go:

 

As always,

 

 

 

AudioBook Review – Secrets and Lies … plus Giveaway!

Author: Andrew Cunningham

Narrator: Greg Hernandez

Length: 5 hours 46 minutes

Series: Lies Mystery Thriller Series, Book 4

Publisher: Andrew Cunningham

Released: Nov. 15, 2019

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Horrific plane crash, murderous deception, and a deadly chase in the alligator-infested Florida Everglades!

On the afternoon of May 11, 1996, ValuJet 592 plunged into the Florida Everglades. There were no survivors. But something came through the crash unscathed: a small box with huge implications for humankind. And the one man unlucky enough to discover its whereabouts disappeared without a trace.

Now, 20 years later, the mystery of Flight 592 hits close to home for Del Honeycutt and best-selling mystery author Sabrina Spencer. A shocking revelation launches them into the middle of a dark conspiracy, and locating the box becomes a matter of life or death. They are not alone in the hunt for the mysterious package and very quickly learn that others will stop at nothing to find it, eliminating anyone who stands in their way.

With killers hot on their trail, Del and Sabrina must navigate dangers lurking both above and below the swamp waters of the Everglades in order to find the box…and to survive.

I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.

I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.

​I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.

In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.

I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Amazon

Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & Thrillers

Narrating audiobooks is highly gratifying. I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener. I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.

I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.

For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer. I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau. I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.

For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Twitter

5/5 stars

I listened to this story with a sense of glee at being reunited with Del and Sabrina again. It was like meeting up with old friends … but by the end I was happy to be the listener, and very glad not be to shot at!

Secrets and Lies is Seymour’s story. Until now, he’s been the grump in the downstairs apartment with a close bond only with Mo, a fact which bemuses and baffles Del as he’s never even see the two of them together.

Well, now the reason for that bond is revealed, as is Seymour’s true identity. Believe me when I say he’s one dark horse, and very handy with a shotgun. When two guys come to the apartment intent on killing him, it is Seymour who is victorious. His handiwork leaves the two men dead, and Seymour’s secret past can stay hidden no more.

Without giving away the plot, the four residents head for Florida’s Everglades, where twenty years earlier “Seymour” was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a plane crash left no human survivors. But, a box on that flight was recovered …and hidden. Now, “Seymour” wants to collect the box before more loons connected to those who came to kill him at the apartment get their hands on it.

This is a fast-paced story, with so many secrets and lies (great title, eh?) coming out of the woodwork, all leading back to “Seymour’s” old life. The revelations come in droves – his past life was certainly way more colourful than the life he’s been leading since. There’s little – if anything – to compare selling things on eBay to the race for the mystery box and its contents.

This seemed to be a fitting story to connect each of the four characters; they’ve all had major story-lines as individuals, and their relationships have grown stronger. It’s true, Del and Sabrina have a knack for being dragged into a drama; trouble seems to seek them out. But, the story – in fact, the whole series – is not just about solving a mystery. It’s about people: Del’s self-deprecating humour made him seem more vulnerable at times, and he found his strength through others. Sabrina, as an author, found fans everywhere – and I mean everywhere, and her ability to write best-selling mysteries allowed her to read between the lines and see clues that the others took for granted. Mo’s story is developed here, and despite everything that happens, she just wants to be a school teacher. As for “Seymour”, this story reveals a totally different character – a strong man, just and fair, and with a great sense of humour. Who knew?

As always, the narrator brings this all to life, keeps the pace up, lets the listener share in the humour and keeps the flow easy to follow. Once you start listening, then you’ll be hooked.

*** Update *** I was under the impression this was the last in the series , but … apparently there’s a fifth book; available on Kindle or in paperback. It’ll be interesting to see if real reading (and not listening to Greg’s narration) will be as satisfying.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

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4 the Love of Audiobooks

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Avonna Loves Genres

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The World As I See It

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Momma Says To Read or Not to Read

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Book Recommendation – Little Girl Missing

How can a little girl vanish into thin air?

Five-year-old Cassie Bailey’s mother tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. This morning she’s missing, her unicorn bedcovers are empty, and her parents are frantic.

DCI Rachel Hart knows that the first few hours after a child goes missing are the most crucial, and that the Baileys are living every parent’s worst nightmare. Rachel knows, because as a child her family lived through it too, when her sister was taken.

The days are ticking by with no sign of Cassie, and the cracks in the Baileys’ marriage are beginning to show. But are the holes in their stories because they’re out of their minds with panic – or because they’re lying?

Rachel’s convinced that Cassie knew the person who took her, but can she find the little girl before she’s lost forever?

A gripping and unputdownable thriller for fans of Close to Home, The Couple Next Door and Behind Closed Doors.

My Review

There aren’t many books I read in one sitting, particularly not full length ones anyway. But this was one of those.

It probably wasn’t a good idea to pick my kindle up at 4.30 in the morning, not when I expected my eyelids to droop within thirty minutes. Still, I was awake and needed something to do. I’d just finished an audiobook a few days earlier, and watching TV wasn’t an option, so I scrolled through the books on my TBR and came to a stop at Little Girl Missing.

It’s no coincidence that my current WIP as a writer features child abduction, and I’m reading as many stories I can lay my hands that feature that topic. Call it research, but I am fascinated by how other authors tackle the subject matter. And so it began … I did actually get some sleep though, but picked up where I left off as soon as I could after walking the dogs, eating breakfast, and even cleaning up a little. Somehow I knew that once I resumed with this story, then little else would get done that Sunday.

So, the book …. you want to know what happened?

Well, maybe I’ll give you a few teasers, but you really should check it out yourself if the subject matter intrigues you half as much as it does me.

Naomi Bailey’s life has been in turmoil since she threw her husband out for cheating on her with an old school enemy. Naomi refuses to let him even see their five-year-old daughter, Cassie, and the strain of being newly single is taking its toll on her ability to function. On the insistence of her best friend, Kate, Naomi takes a herbal sleeping tablet and wakes the next morning later  than usual. In a rush to get to school, she calls for Cassie but there is no answer. Minutes later, when she can’t find Cassie anywhere in the house, her worst fears are realised: Cassie is missing.

Charlie Bailey, Naomi’s husband, is living with his mother, Hazel, and hasn’t seen his daughter in five weeks – although he does stop by the house each night at Cassie’s bedtime just until her bedroom light goes out.

Could he be responsible Cassie’s disappearance? DCI Rachel Hart who is leading the investigation rules nothing out.

Grandma Hazel leaves her home early the following morning to visit her sister. Could she have taken Cassie with her, angry at Naomi for cutting all ties with them?

And then there’s a mystery surrounding the woman with whom Charlie cheated on his wife. A long-time enemy of Naomi, Jessica still bears a grudge from when Charlie chose Naomi over her. Could she be involved in Cassie’s disappearance too? There’s no love lost between her and Naomi, but could she and Charlie be in it together?

DCI Rachel Hart has her hands full, there are twists and turns throughout and everyone is a suspect. The real culprit’s identity soon becomes obvious, but their motives are well hidden until the end.

With all the obstacles facing her, Rachel wonders whether she is the right person to lead the case. She quickly pushes the doubt to one side, convinced that her personal experience makes her the best person to find the missing child before it’s too late. That personal experience is told in bite-size snippets, adding intrigue and interest to Rachel’s own history.

This is a fast-paced thriller that will grab your attention and hold it right till the end. Trust is such a fragile thing; you might never see the truth because of it.

Add to Goodreads

As always,

Book Review – The Mammoth Murders

The Mammoth Murders

Minokee Mysteries Book 2

by Iris Chacon

A Chinese Univ. of Fla. student & an old Florida farmer disappear, linked only by a canoe trip to a secret sinkhole. Neighbors, Shepard (a blind radio host) & Miranda (a shy librarian), soon find this double-murder puzzle could cost their lives – or at least their future together. Sequel to award-winning novel, “Finding Miranda.

About the author:

Iris Chacon is like a trip to sunny Florida, from the horse country of Ocala to the playgrounds and beaches of Pensacola, Orlando, Miami, Key West and all points in between.

Good, clean, fun is the Chacon mantra, whether on white sandy beaches, on theme park thrill rides, or on the pages of a novel. A good book is a vacation for the mind and spirit, and Iris loves vacationing with quirky characters in quaint locations.

Travel through laughter and tears with surprising people, and see the world in its happiest colors. That’s what reading can do for us. That’s what Iris Chacon writes for us.

My Review:

As soon as I saw the cover for this book, I instantly remembered the fun I had reading “Finding Miranda”, so it took less than a nanosecond for me to grab my copy of “The Mammoth Murders”.

Meeting up with Shep and Miranda was like catching up with old friends. Since the incident that took the lives of Pietro (Shep’s closest friend) and Dave (Shep’s dearest canine friend), Shep was still struggling to be 100% the man he used to be. But, with the help of Pietro’s twin brother, Carlo, one particular activity he had avoided – his morning jog -was now forced upon him – in the nicest possible way, of course.  And, as if that were not enough, after asking Miranda to marry him every day since, she finally said yes. But, take note – it was a secret (and possibly the worst kept secret in the whole of Minokee)

Talking of Minokee, how wonderful it was to catch up again with Miz Martha Cleary and the Coffee Ritual ladies, whose daily highlight was to see Shep and Carlo jog past, preferably shirtless, each morning.

And so it came to the couple’s ‘secret’ wedding – a secret that had morphed into a major event, organised with military precision by Shep’s mother, the high-society Hermione Montgomery Krausse. With her team of spies to hand, she was just waiting for the couple to set the date before her grand plans could kick in.

Shep had other ideas, a plan to marry quickly and quietly, but first a canoe ride to visit an ever-growing sinkhole on the land of a local farmer was in order. Together with some students from the university, the group enjoy a great day on the river, and peering into the vastness of the hole wondering what might be down there.

And so began the mystery – not just of the sinkhole. When one of the students – David Chang – disappeared, Shep and Carlo were asked to look into the case. The farmer’s strange ‘new’ behaviour, and some odd emails raised their suspicions – it was time to employ Shep’s secret weapon in the form of one of his fans from his radio days, and so began the surveillance exercise.

While all this was going on, Hermione had roped in Miranda’s parents too, and the wedding plans were getting more extravagant by the hour, something that did not sit well with Shep, and particularly with Miranda – the strain on the relationship was tested to its limits.

However, despite all of the issues facing them, it was an astonishing kitten, named Zeus (Carlo insisted the cat chose his own name!) who acted like the glue that would bind them together – eventually. Should Zeus finally decide to adopt Shep and Miranda, then expect those crazy, charming interactions to continue. I so hope they do.

The story includes a great balance of laughter and danger, of mystery and resolution, of hope and frustration, and all in all a good clean read that will keep any lover of cosy mysteries entertained from start to finish.
My thanks go to the author, and to Books Go Social via NetGalley for an advance e-copy, and I have reviewed this voluntarily.

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – Where the Snow Bleeds

Where the Snow Bleeds

“You want to know what I’ve learnt after living in Lone Creek all my life? I know the snow bleeds here …”

Former police officer Dean Matheson has been playing it safe since the case that cost him almost everything. But working as a PI doesn’t quite cut it, that is until a British woman walks into his office with a job that Dean can’t resist. 

The woman’s daughter, Hannah Walker, and her friend Jodie have gone missing whilst working at a ski resort in Colorado. It’s clear there’s something sinister about the girls’ disappearance, but then why are the local police department being so unhelpful?

So begins Dean’s journey to Lone Creek on the trail of the missing girls – and he’ll soon find out that in Lone Creek, everyone has something to hide …

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Where-Snow-Bleeds-Wendy-Dranfield-ebook/dp/B07SNFGYV2

US – https://www.amazon.com/Where-Snow-Bleeds-Wendy-Dranfield-ebook/dp/B07SNFGYV2

Author Bio:

Wendy is a former Coroner’s Assistant turned crime writer who lives in the UK with her husband.

Who Cares If They Die and Where the Snow Bleeds are the first two books in the Dean Matheson series, with more on the way. As well as her crime thriller series, Wendy has written a YA crime novel – The Girl Who Died – and she has several short stories published in UK and US anthologies. She has also been shortlisted and longlisted for various competitions, including the Mslexia Novel Competition.

For behind the scenes gossip and updates on her books (or photos of her cats), follow her on social media!

Website: https://wendydranfield.co.uk/

Twitter: @WendyDranfield

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyDranfield1/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7g8miK6akDG2pFqgGeLFAw

My Review

First up, I have to admit to not having read the first book in the series; in fact, I didn’t realise there was one. That said, it did not matter one iota, since the author gave enough backstory on Dean Matheson to follow this storyline without an urgent need to know more. That doesn’t mean, I don’t want to know more though … and I reckon the first book will be winding its way to my kindle any time soon.

Anyway, back to business as I saw it: After a traumatic time in the police force, Dean Matheson cannot give up the need to be on the right side of the law, and so has been working for some time as a PI. Unfortunately, interesting cases are few and far between until a British woman contacts him about her missing daughter who, together with a friend, has gone missing from a ski resort in Lone Creek where they were both working.  With little to no information forthcoming from the police, the mother is desperate for help, especially since learning the police have closed the case. Dean wastes no time in heading to the resort with his faithful four-legged friend, Rocky.

Over at the police station, the cop in charge is only too glad to close the case – it gives him more time for golf! Unfortunately, one of his team is less than impressed with police efforts. Eva Valdez has just lost her policeman husband, killed in the line of duty, and has returned to work only to find few of her colleagues even seem to care. Eva and the cop in charge of the girls’ case do not have the best working relationship; it’s safe to say they despise each other. He thinks Eva is an interfering woman who should mind her own business, she thinks he is a good-for-nothing time-waster and a disgrace to the force. To avoid any further clashes between the two, Eva persuades her boss to let her further investigate the missing girls.

And so it happens that Eva and Dean find themselves in Lone Creek, shortly before a major snow storm hits the town, cutting them off from the rest of the country. Each is unaware of the other’s reasons for being there, and so there conversation is initially restricted to pleasantries in the dining room. It soon becomes evident to them both that they are on the same side, and together they are quick to pick on significant issues with the police investigation. The incoming blizzard only compounds their problems as they begin to join the dots and discover exactly who is behind the girls’ disappearance.

What follows is harsh reality, as secrets are uncovered that indicate evil exists within the resort, and its impact has much closer links to the town and its police force than anyone could have imagined.

I’ll not say any more on the plot, suffice it to say that it was a compelling read, with amazing twists coming at such a rapid pace it was impossible to put down.

Now you know why I will be catching up on the author’s first book, and eagerly awaiting the next.

While there are gory elements to this story that made me squirm, it was Rocky who brought me to tears – not that that’ll surprise anyone #sorrynotsorry LOL

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PS – my Amazon reviews are posted to the UK and ES sites sites, under the username of meandthemutts 😉

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – The Kompromat Kill

 

The Kompromat Kill

They were preparing for decades – now it’s time to take them down.

When a British Diplomat is kidnapped in the heart of London, followed by a brutal double-assassination in Chelsea, MI5 braces for the threat of deep sleeper cells coming alive.

Hiding overseas with a price on his head, Sean Richardson is tasked to lead a deniable operation to hunt down and recruit an international model and spy. Moving across Asia Minor and Europe, Sean embarks on a dangerous journey tracking an Iranian spy ring who hold the keys to a set of consequences the British Intelligence Services would rather not entertain.

As Sean investigates deeper, he uncovers dark secrets from his past and a complex web of espionage spun from the hand of a global master spy. As he inches closer to the truth, the rules of the game change – and the nerve-wracking fate of many lives sits in his hands…….……..

Tense, absorbing, and insightful, The Kompromat Kill is a gripping thriller leaving
you breathless at the pace of intrigue, cleverly unravelled in a dramatic finale.

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QFSF44F

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFSF44F

Author Bio 

I started climbing at 13, survived being lost in Snowdonia at 14, nearly drowned at 15, and then joined the Army at 16. Risk and adventure was built into my DNA and I feel very fortunate to have served the majority of my working career as an intelligence officer within Defence Intelligence, and as an explosive ordnance disposal officer and military surveyor within the Corps of Royal Engineers.

I was privileged to serve for twenty-eight years in the British Army as a soldier and officer, rising through the ranks to complete my service as a major. I served across the globe on numerous military operations as well as extensive travel and adventure on many major mountaineering and exploration expeditions that I led or was involved in.

I was awarded the Geographic Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for mountain exploration in 2003 and served on the screening committee of the Mount Everest Foundation charity for many years. It was humbling after so many years of service when I was awarded the MBE for services to counter-terrorism in 2007.

The Failsafe Query is my debut novel, with The Kompromat Kill, my second.

Social Media Links 

https://twitter.com/FailsafeQuery

https://www.facebook.com/thefailsafethrillers/

Giveaway to Win 5 copies of The Kompromat Kill (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

RAFFLECOPTER LINK

 

My Review

A thrilling read where you can really hear the clock ticking.

Having read The Failsafe Query, the book that introduced the world to Sean Richardson, there was no way I was going to miss out on this second book. As expected, The Kompromat Kill was another thrilling adventure, filled with spies, drama and danger at every turn.

I must admit to finding the story heavy on the technical detail in parts, much of which went over my head, and long episodes of backstory slowed the pace at times. However, that said, it soon became obvious that everything was there for a reason. I loved the link back to the 80s and Sean’s mother; that proved to be very clever plotting. In fact, despite so many twists and turns, the many subplots all came together really well.

Once I found myself in the thick of the story, it was fast-paced and tense, with unexpected twists and turns coming like rapid fire. The author’s own experience in this world, combined with the many timely modern-day references, made this all the more believable, all the more intriguing, and all the more scary.

As for the characters, well, that Jack fella had a finger in every pie going. I didn’t quite follow his tie-straightening obsession, but loved how he seemed to have an answer for everything – even when it didn’t seem possible. The relationship between Sean and Nadège was intense; two wounded souls looking for some justification to explain how they became the people they did. The team surrounding Sean made me think of The A Team, each was an expert in their field, and each had the others’ back. I guess I wanted it to end with: “I love it when a plan comes together”, instead I’ll settle for: “I love it when there’s another book to follow.” No pressure, Michael 😉

As a spy / political thriller, this was suspenseful and detailed, relevant and uncompromising. If you enjoy a nail-biting thrill ride with a cast of believable, clever, flawed and focused characters, then I’d recommend this in an instant.

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Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – The Body in Belair Park w/Giveaway

The Body in Belair Park

by Alice Castle

Beth Haldane is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted. Her son is starting secondary school, her personal life seems to have settled down – even her pets are getting on. But then the phone rings.

It’s Beth’s high maintenance mother, Wendy, with terrible news. Her bridge partner, Alfie Pole, has died suddenly. While Beth, and most of Dulwich, is convinced that Alfie has pegged out from exhaustion, thanks to playing with Wendy for years, Beth’s mother is certain that there is foul play afoot.

Before she knows it, Beth is plunged into her most complicated mystery yet, involving the Dulwich Bridge Club, allotment holders, the Dulwich Open Garden set and, of course, her long-suffering boyfriend, Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Harry York. The case stirs up old wounds which are much closer to home than Beth would like. Can she come up trumps in time to stop the culprit striking again – or does the murderer hold the winning hand this time?

Purchase Link: http://mybook.to/BodyinBelair

Author Bio

Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Her first book, Hot Chocolate, set in Brussels and London, was a European hit and sold out in two weeks.

Death in Dulwich was published in September 2017 and has been a number one best-seller in the UK, US, France, Spain and Germany. A sequel, The Girl in the Gallery was published in December 2017 to critical acclaim and also hit the number one spot. Calamity in Camberwell, the third book in the London Murder Mystery series, was published in August 2018, with Homicide in Herne Hill following in October 2018. Revenge on the Rye came out in December 2018. The Body in Belair Park will be published on 25^th June 2019. Alice is currently working on the seventh London Murder Mystery adventure, The Slayings in Sydenham. Once again, it will feature Beth Haldane and DI Harry York.

Alice is also a mummy blogger and book reviewer via her website: https://www.alicecastleauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alicecastleauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceMCastle

Links to buy books:
MyBook.to/GirlintheGaller
myBook.to/1DeathinDulwich,
myBook.to/CiC
myBook.to/homicideinhernehill
myBook.to/revengeontherye

Death in Dulwich is now also out as an audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B07N1VNMLT/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-140657&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_140657_rh_us

Alice lives in south London and is married with two children, two step-children and two cats.

Giveaway – Win a signed copy of The Body in Belair (Open to UK and US Only)

*Terms and Conditions –US and UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

RAFFLECOPTER LINK

My Review

I could read this author’s books forever – her observational wit and perfect descriptions of people and situations are second to none.

Welcome to Dulwich society – where yummy mummies battle for dominance at the school gates with coffee morning invites at the ready while the more senior residents cross swords over allotment entitlements and Bridge Club etiquette (fortunately, “helmet” hairdos are not obligatory)

This is a cosy mystery, very much in the style of Murder She Wrote with its small community setting and everybody knowing everyone’s business. However, added to the mix of authentic setting, eccentric characters and a murder-mystery, is the author’s unique observational wit and satirical asides.

This is not a grand drama or gory massacre, but rather a very satisfying mystery where members of the Bridge Club are being poisoned. Eighty-year-old Alfie Pole – victim no.1 – is found stiff as a board on a bench in the gardens of Belair House. Most people, including our sleuth, Beth Haldane, think he’s had a heart attack or something typical of a man of his years, but Beth’s mum, Wendy thinks differently. Alfie was her bridge partner, and had never left her in the lurch during a club meeting before. So, what had tempted Alfie into the gardens where he met his untimely end?

Beth’s mind is already preoccupied: Her son, Ben, has just started at a new school, but he’s not very chatty and seems to be just getting on with things, including his homework – which worries Beth. Her boyfriend, Harry, the detective is, of course, not disclosing any facts the police case has found – which also worries Beth. Her mum’s obsession with the case, and her ideas to help find the killer – also worries Beth, and then there’s her new job in the archives dept at Ben’s school, and the fact she hasn’t been turning up for work much – which is also a worry for Beth. So, the last thing she needs, despite her sleuthing reputation, is another mystery to solve. Her mum has other ideas, and very quickly Beth sees that maybe Wendy is onto something, but not before there’s another death.

There are a lot of bridge rules mentioned, all of which are over my head, but, thankfully the author spices up these scenes with wonderful observations of the players, told through Beth’s thoughts as she comes across one eccentric character after another.

“She had what could only be described as a helmet of hair … as sugar-spun as Donald Trump’s”

“his thick black hair was slicked down with enough gel to keep a boy band going for weeks”

“with white hair collected into two tufts over his ears, like a cartoon professor”

With such imagery, it’s impossible not to get drawn into this world.

The story is rich in characters, outside of the mystery, which really builds the idea of a community. Even so, it seems Dulwich has more than its fair share of oddballs and eccentrics: the garden-crazed neighbour and her fear of Japanese Knockweed in Wendy’s garden; Alfie’s daughter and the Jane Austen film crew in his garden of plastic flowers, and Belinda, the school tyrant mum who leaves Beth out of her coffee morning get-togethers (probably the only thing that Beth is not worried about)

Beth’s antics and attempts to solve the mystery are frequently hilarious, notwithstanding the serious side to the investigation that endangers her and others. All of which, in true cosy style, is nicely tied up at the end, although you’d never think it possible. This is an easy-going, funny read, a lovely world to lose yourself in for a few hours.

As I’ve not read every book of the series, I’ve remedied that and picked up the books missing from my reading list – yep, it’s that good, and I really wish I’d been reading from the start. But hey, it’s never too late to catch up 😉

For more news and reviews, you know where to go ….

As always,

Blog Tour ‘n’ Book Review – Pink Ice Creams

Pink Ice Creams

by Jo Woolaston

Pink Ice Creams

Intent on fixing her broken marriage and the alcohol-fuelled catastrophe that is her life, Kay Harris arrives at her grim and grey holiday let, ready to lay to rest the tragedy that has governed her entire adulthood – the disappearance of her little brother, Adam.

But the road to recovery is pitted with the pot-holes of her own poor choices, and it isn’t long before Kay is forced to accept that maybe she doesn’t deserve the retribution she seeks. Will the intervention of strangers help her find the answers she needs to move on from her past, or will she always be stuck on the hard shoulder with no clear view ahead and a glove box full of empties?

Pink Ice Creams is a tale of loss, self-destruction, and clinging on to the scraps of the long-lost when everyone else has given up hope.

Purchase Links

Amazon.co.uk:

Paperback:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1984168231

Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RV49TKB

Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B07RYX3YWP

Amazon.com:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984168231

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RV49TKB

Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jowoolaston

 

Author Bio

Jo Woolaston lives in Leicestershire, England with her extreme noise-making husband and two lovely sons. She tries to avoid housework and getting a ‘proper job’ by just writing stuff instead – silly verse, screenplays, shopping lists…

This sometimes works in her favour (she did well in her MA in TV Scriptwriting, gaining a Best Student award in Media and Journalism – and has had a few plays produced – that kind of thing) but mostly it just results in chronic insomnia and desperate tears of frustration. Pink Ice Creams is her first novel, she hopes you liked it.

Social Media Links 

Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/nevermindthebloggers

Twitter @JoWoolaston

Website: https://www.jowoolaston.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19176972.Jo_Woolaston

My Review

Wow – what a book!

Kay’s story switches between one major life event to another. As a pre-teen, her younger brother, Adam went missing while on holiday – a caravan holiday with her mum and little bro. She harbours some guilt about his disappearance, and it’s clear she hasn’t really grieved and recovered from it all.

Years later she is back at the same caravan park, this time having left her husband Martin. We learn he’s a bully, an abuser with violent and manipulative tendencies, and even now, whilst in a safe place, she contemplates going back to him. But, this time, she fears he won’t forgive her actions.

Vulnerable, traumatised and paranoid, the events that play out at the caravan park and the local area are indicative of her disturbed state of mind. Yet, despite being at her lowest, she still has the strength of character and sisterly love to unravel the details surrounding her brother’s disappearance.

Peppered with nursery rhymes, holiday nostalgia as well as less happy memories relating to her marriage, the story drifts between the past and present. Sometimes, this is a little confusing and jarring – but maybe that’s just the Kindle version. I can imagine a print copy would break the text up more successfully, thus avoiding any confusion as the timeline changes.

The story totally took off, for me, in the second half, where the pace of events sped up, and Kay became clearer as to what happened to Adam – after a series of very unfortunate mistakes, generally due to her drunken state and paranoia and an ability to jump to conclusions at those times.

A powerful read, with moments of humour and sadness. The author’s character observations are uniquely made, but with such clarity and detail that brings every scene to life. Jo Woolaston is definitely a great talent, and one I’ll be following with interest, awaiting her next tour de force.

 

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