Price to Pay by Dave Sivers-Crime

 

Price to Pay by Dave Sivers-Crime

DCI Lizzie Archer has just about stopped looking over her shoulder after an incident that left her wounded and is rebuilding her life. Her ex finds her and wants to get back together however Lizzie is now very happily married. One of her team, Dan, has a shadow of a murder still hanging over him. The perpetrator was incarcerated as was his accomplice but there are other murders which may or may not be attributed to them. Lizzie receives a threat from a well known crime family as she helped put away one of them, who was killed in prison. When there is a murder close to home, her nightmare gets worse as she and husband Dominic are under suspicion. Who is doing this and why?

I quickly got into this and liked Lizzie and her fierce determination and tenacity in the face of adversity. Its a very well written police procedural which puts the reader right in the heart of things. This is a multi-angled read as there are two crime lines to be dealt with - Lizzie's and Dan's. It’s clever, it’s twisty and very engrossing with an unexpected twist at the end.  A highly entertaining read I most thoroughly enjoyed.

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''Fast-paced, devious and twisty - the pages turned themselves! I loved it!'  - Liz Mistry The more you have, the more you have to lose… Following an arrest that went wrong, leaving her disfigured and her life in ruins, DCI Lizzie Archer transferred to Buckinghamshire’s Aylesbury Vale, hoping to rebuild her confidence, her career and her life. Eleven years later, she’s happily married, her career is back on track, and she has friends she would trust with her life. But things can change in a heartbeat. Meanwhile, her friend and colleague, DI Dan Baines, has worries of his own as the long shadow of the serial killer known as the Invisible Man continues to hang over him. When the chance comes to finally get answers to some troubling questions, he is almost afraid to learn the truth. Because sometimes the reality can be worse than your imagination. Soon after receiving unsettling threats from local criminals, an old flame makes an unwelcome return to Lizzie’s life. Days later, a grisly murder too close to home plunges her into a nightmare that could cost her everything as suspicion falls on her and her husband, Dominic. Dan and his team are sidelined from the murder investigation, but they’re not going to let that stop them when a friend is in trouble. And the clock is ticking. Because, if they can’t uncover the truth soon, things will get even worse for Lizzie and Dominic.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTYNSSQX

DAVE SIVERS

Dave Sivers grew up in West London and has been writing all his life. His books include the popular crime series featuring the Aylesbury Vale detectives, DI Lizzie Archer and DS Dan Baines. The Scars Beneath the Soul and Dead in Deep Water were both top three bestsellers in the Amazon Kindle Serial Killers chart. In Ice is the second in the DI Nathan Quarrel series. His other works include the Lowmar Dashiel crime fantasy novels. Dave also writes plays and other material for the amateur stage and is a founder of the annual BeaconLit festival of books and writing. He lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Chris. To keep up with Dave’s news and upcoming releases, subscribe to his newsletter at www.davesivers.co.uk.

You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here- A Psychiatrist’s Life by Benji Waterhouse

 

You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here- A Psychiatrist’s Life by Benji Waterhouse

This is a wonderful read for anyone interested in either medicine or the life of a Dr. Although aimed at anyone, a little knowledge of medicine or the NHS is useful for reading  this, if only to understand some of the gallows type humour (which is explained- it's a little like those at crime scenes - when faced with trauma day in and day out, humour often relieves the  stress). This tells of the life of a registrar in psychiatry, a doctor of the mind. As Benji explains, not an easy thing to do, as unlike broken limbs there  isn't always an obvious solution. There are umpteen stories about his patients and explanations as to the whys and wherefores of psychiatry which makes for a very interesting, entertaining read. Some are very sad stories but interspersed with humour. Sadly it's hard not to smile at some of the antics until the reader realises that these things do happen and people really do believe that the man living above them is trying to kill them through bugs in their electrical items for example, making this a difficult read in parts. I was once told “ never underestimate the power of the mind” and this book reinforced that. The blurb says “ Humane , hilarious and heart breaking” which covers this well. A very different read and an enlightening one. 

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Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley

 

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley- women’s fiction/mystery

Gina has had enough. Her husband of forty years is off “finding himself” and wants a divorce and hence they are having to sell the house- not great when one of his ideas was to equity release a while ago. She sees an advert for being a companion to an elderly lady just for a week but may lead to a more permanent position, which interests her. When she meets Dorothy they get on well and she gets the job, however it appears Dorothy has another job for Gina, one that wasn't mentioned in the interview- to find out if the wedding host stole a picture from Dorothy’s husband that led to his death. Is Gina in over her head or can she play sleuth without being detected?

I really enjoyed this from the off and would love it to be a series. It's a light-hearted read with a smile and a cozy type crime/mystery with lots more thrown in. It’s about being true to yourself and that at any age your light can still burn very brightly if you let it and not letting things get in your way- be it age or relatives! A wonderful, charming read I most thoroughly enjoyed. Different, upbeat and entertaining. 

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Old Girls Behaving Badly A delightfully heartwarming and funny story that proves it's never too late to change the habits of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Judy Leigh, Hazel Prior and Maddie Please. Something old, something new, something stolen…? Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to 'find himself' – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving divorce papers in his wake. Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-three, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party. But when Georgina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house. Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief? Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/oldgirlssocial

Author Bio – Kate Galley writes UpLit and Bookclub fiction full of heart and humour. The older generation are at the centre of her stories and are usually wrapped up in a mystery. She lives with her family in Buckinghamshire and works part time as a mobile hairdresser in the surrounding Chiltern villages. In her spare time she crochets blankets, knits jumpers and also disappears into her workshop to play with kiln formed glass. Kate is the author of The Second Chance Holiday Club – which has been optioned for TV – and The Golden Girls' Road Trip. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083291782773 Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateGalley1 Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/KateGalleyNews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-galley

Gone not forgotten by Mark Newman

 

Gone not forgotten by Mark Newman- crime

‘Where shadows hide secrets, one woman seeks redemption, another craves revenge.’ A gritty, raw edged tale of life on the streets and a woman doing the best to get away from a life she never chose. 

This tells of Gracie who is a young mother caught up in drug running. She gets away from one partner and finds a life she likes with Luke, however it's never that easy to get away and her past catches up with her, not helped by a corrupt undercover policeman, Carter. Gracie and Luke are determined to protect their children and themselves but when a gun is held to your head wanting information, it’s not that straightforward. Can they get away and even survive?

This is a read quite unlike anything I've read- in a good way. I had to get my head around the street language but once I did it gave that mettlesome feel that puts the reader right amongst the action with the characters. I liked Gracie, she came across as one determined, loyal and protective woman. Chapters alternate between the perpetrators, Gracie (to begin with in two timelines) and the police which is skilfully done, it's easy to follow. A very well written, gritty crime read that kept me engrossed right the way through. A very interesting read that widened my horizons.

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Becoming Ted by Matt Cain

 

Becoming Ted by Matt Cain- Literary Fiction

Oh wow! One of my books of the year. A read I loved from the start and didn’t want it to end.

Ted has just split up from his husband Giles, much to Ted’s surprise. He found pictures of Giles with another man on his phone in more than friendly positions. Ted has been with Giles for a long time and it was his first proper relationship. He works at his parents company and shop- Ainsworth’s ice cream, which he has never dared to tell them he doesn't love as much as them and he doesn't even like ice cream. Slowly Ted realises his life isn't what he thought it would be and splitting from Giles just might encourage him to follow his dream of becoming a drag queen. Egged on by his best friend Denise he tries out heels and more. On the way he discovers more about himself than he ever thought possible. Who is the real Ted and is his dream just that?

Oh be still my beating heart. I loved Ted so much I wanted to give him a hug. This is a read about far more than a story, it's about life and being true to yourself not living the life others may choose for you. About not feeling guilty and being grateful to others for things that should be taken for granted. Something some of us sadly don’t realise until much later in life. There’s nothing wrong with dreams and whilst not all of them may be completely achievable the fun on the journey can be immeasurable. Thank you Matt, you’ve reaffirmed a few things for me, things we all should know but often forget in the busy-ness of day to day life. More than a book, this is a life affirming read for everyone. Be who you are, One life live it. 

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Death in Bacton Wood by Ross Greenwood

 

Death in Bacton Wood by Ross Greenwood (DS Ashleigh Knight #3)

A man wakes up to find himself buried but thankfully manages to escape. His friend is then found missing. DS Ashleigh Knight and her team are left scratching their heads rather, and how did the father know about the man in hospital when he had no phone? The man is part of a powerful family something Hector knows all about but will his career now take a new direction? When there are more murders it is clear there is something big going on, but who is against these people and why? 

This is a terrific series. They do stand alone but why miss out on other brilliant reads (all 5* from me). They are all wonderful easy reads and very much kept me between the pages each and every time. There are numerous plot twists and turns and the characters come across well. I learned something (thank you Ross)- what Pathetic Fallacy is, as well as some Roman and Greek mythology. It's an exciting read with lots of intrigue about family feuds , organised crime gangs and long fingers. A brilliant, highly entertaining read I highly recommend. 

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Death in Bacton Wood A family’s secrets lie buried. The time has come to uncover the truth… When a mud-splattered man staggers from Bacton Wood with a terrifying tale about being buried alive, DS Ashley Knight and her team are called in to investigate. Soon, another victim is found, and more men are missing – all with connections to the well-known Vialli family. The Major Investigation Team find themselves attempting to untangle a case that stretches from Eastern Europe through to North Norfolk. Along with rookie detective, the whip-smart Hector Fade, Ashley is in a race against time trying to help a family who seem determined to take matters into their own hands. And when Ashley suspects there is a department rat, the stakes get even higher.

As the evidence continues to point in different directions, and as new victims are uncovered thick and fast, Ashley and Hector begin to fear they have finally met their match in a killer too ruthless and clever to be caught. Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bactonwoodsocial

Author Bio –

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world. I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now. Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours. It's surprising for me to realise I've written ten books now. There are two strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO, with the second and third in the series not far behind. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoodAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/greenwoodross Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossg555/ Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RossGreenwoodnews Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ross-greenwood

The Life Sentence by Jackie Kabler

 

The Life Sentence by Jackie Kabler- Psychological thriller

Heather lives a quiet life working in a bookshop. She lives alone and enjoys her solitude. On visiting another bookstore for an author talk she picks up her bag at the end and realises it isn't hers, but there is a note in it inviting her to call a number to meet up with the person who has her things. When she finds they are talking about someone she used to know who is now in prison, she really isn't comfortable but one thing leads to another and her interest is piqued. Can she help to find the truth and get her friend out of prison?

Oh wow! I had only read a couple of chapters of this before I found myself engrossed and wanting to read more. There’s that air of uncertainty and tension between the pages which Jackie does brilliantly. I read The Vanishing Of Class 3B of Jackie's last year and was on tenterhooks the whole way through so when the opportunity to read this arose, I jumped at the chance, and wasn't disappointed. A read I wanted to race through. A brilliant premise so beautifully executed. A crime that didn't quite happen as portrayed, yet it put someone behind bars. A rollercoaster of tension, a clever plot. One I highly recommend.

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The Life Sentence My name is Amber Ryan. I’m in prison, but I’m innocent. And I’ve been jailed not just for a crime I didn’t commit, but for a crime that never even happened. Now, my friend is going to try to prove it. But to do that, she has to go back. Back to the dark. Purchase Links https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Sentence-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B0C8F985C3 https://www.amazon.com/Life-Sentence-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B0C8F985C3

Author Bio – Jackie Kabler is a television presenter and award-winning crime writer. Her bestselling psychological thrillers have been translated into eight languages. They include Am I Guilty?, The Perfect Couple, The Happy Family, The Murder List and The Vanishing of Class 3B. A former TV news reporter, when not writing Jackie now works as a presenter for UK TV shopping channel QVC; she is also an ultramarathon runner and keen gardener, and lives in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, with her husband. Social Media Links – Website www.jackiekabler.com Twitter @jackiekabler Instagram @officialjackiekabler