Every Step You Take by M A Hunter #bookreview #blogtour @AnAutieAuthor @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by M A Hunter, Every Step You Take. With thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part.

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Run for your life…

This year’s London Marathon is my last chance to win the final place on the Olympic team. The months of rehabilitation after my injury will feel worth it to cross that line.

But I wasn’t expecting the man who’s been making my life a living hell to be there. Last I knew, my stalker was behind bars, but he says he’s going to be at the race watching.

I have 26 miles to figure out whether it’s him, and what he wants, or I could lose more than just the race.

MY THOUGHTS

Every Step You Take is a tense thriller by M A Hunter which follows famous runner, Molly, as she steps up her training to take part in the 2024 Olympics. This has been the goal she has been working towards for years, but a haunting incident in her past is once again threatening to make her life hell. Molly is terrified that a man, who once stalked her, has been released from prison, and is out to make her life a misery again. Molly becomes even more concerned when it is clear that her own life is in danger and she has no idea where he is.

I really felt Molly’s fear in this book, and especially her frustration, when it appears that no one, not even her own agent, appeared to want to take her seriously. I could also really sense her anger at the way some men were treating her, especially the people who were jeering at her from the side-lines, as she took part in races. This made me angry as I was reading it. I thought M A Hunter explored this really well and it does add to the tension and the suspense in the book.

The messages that Molly continues to get, really do get quite scary. M A Hunter shows us what effect these messages have on her. We can see that she is really distressed. Like Molly, I couldn’t believe that no one appeared to take her claims seriously. This leads her to having some dark and scary thoughts. I can imagine that many people, who go through similar situations to Molly, do have similar reactions from people. She’s almost told to put her fears to one side and forget about it, almost as if they don’t matter.

M A Hunter does a brilliant job of bringing Molly and her situation to life. I wanted to follow Molly’s journey. The tension is there on every page and I raced through this book really quickly as I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed Every Step You Take. It is definitely the type of psychological thriller that can be devoured in one sitting, and I’m sure it’ll be a hit with thriller fans. 

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication date: 28th March 2024

Print length: 338 pages

Every Step You Take is available to buy:

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Day One by Abigail Dean #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new novel by Abigail Dean, Day One.

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Marty told the reporters that she saw it happen. She saw the gunman enter the hall. She saw her mother die trying to protect them all.

That’s the version of Day One Marty wishes was true.

But strange inconsistencies in her story begin to surface. Details that don’t add up. Questions she can’t answer.

The story ignites. Amidst the media frenzy, conspiracy theorists become obsessed with exposing what really happened. And at the epicentre of it all is a small community changed forever. Survivors crushed by guilt. Families torn in half. Outsiders consumed by the hunt for truth.

Each has their own version of Day One. Each must grapple with this tragedy, even as fanatics question whether it ever really happened at all.

But what did Marty really see?

And why would she lie?

MY THOUGHTS

In Abigail Dean’s new novel, Day One, she explores some tough themes, as she looks at the aftermath and the effects a horrific school shooting, has on the local community, and the victims. We see the trauma the case has inflicted on the innocent victims, and what makes matters for them even worse, is that there are conspiracy theorists out there, who insist that the shooting never happened, and they go to great and disturbing lengths, to try and prove their claims.

What I really liked about this book was that we hear about the crime from different perspectives. The shooting takes place while a year group are performing a play, and so there are not only pupils and teachers among the victims, when the gunman opens fire, but parents as well. The different perspectives make it really fascinating to see what each individual experienced that terrible day, and how their versions of the same event can differ from each other. With the rise of the conspiracy theorists, those who were there that fateful day, are forced to revisit the horror again, and even years down the line, you can see the effect recounting that day has on them. But it is also clear that there are some secrets that people are holding onto.

One point of view we hear from is Marty, whose mother, Ava, was killed on the day of the shooting, while she was trying to protect the pupils at the school from the gunman. Marty’s mother was a much loved, and respected teacher at the school, but soon Marty finds herself being the point of focus of some cruel conspiracy theories. Abigail Dean explores Marty’s emotions really well in her writing, and we see this come through strongly, as she deals with the shock of her mother’s death, and with how she finds herself in the spotlight as well. Marty’s relationship with her dad is a complex one, and this was also explored really well. We also meet Trent, who has become obsessed with the case, and he is embroiled in the conspiracy theories, which puts his path on a collision course with Marty.

The final chapters really were tense, and I loved how Abigail Dean turned the tension up a notch. Abigail Dean is a writer who knows how to delve into the emotions of her characters, and it comes through so strongly in her writing.

I really enjoyed reading Day One, and I’m looking forward to reading what Abigail Dean writes next.

Publisher: Hemlock Press

Publication date: 28th March 2024

Print length: 383 pages

Day One is available to buy:

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Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley #bookreview #blogtour @writer_suzy @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the debut novel by Suzy Aspley, Crow Moon as part of the blog tour. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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When the crow moon rises, the darkness is unleashed…

Martha Strangeways is struggling to find purpose in her life, after giving up her career as an investigative reporter when her young twins died in a house fire.

Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her life changes when she stumbles across the body of a missing teenager – a tragedy that turns even more sinister when a poem about crows is discovered inked onto his back…

When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows.

As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha…

Both a nerve-shattering, enthralling and atmospheric thriller and a moving tale of grief and psychological damage, Crow Moon is a staggeringly accomplished debut and the start of an addictive, unforgettable series.

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve been desperate to get my hands on a copy of Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley for ages and once I started reading I could not put it down. This is a really creepy debut with a supernatural edge to it that I really liked, especially with the discussions of witch craft, and the burning of witches that took place in the fictional town centuries earlier. It is so, so good.

Suzy Aspley introduces us to Martha Strangeways, an ex-journalist, who becomes involved in a local police investigation, following the disappearance, and the discovery of the body of her son’s friend, Fraser. Whoever killed Fraser left a chilling clue by inking part of a poem on the boy’s back. Martha is desperate to find Fraser’s killer, even more so when she believes her son, Dougie, is in danger.

I really liked Martha, and I hope that we are going to be seeing more of her. Her determination to crack the case comes through really strongly, as well as her desire to protect her son. Martha has suffered incredibly difficult losses in her past. As Suzy Aspley reveals more about her, it made me connect emotionally to Martha. She is the one who finds Fraser’s body in the opening pages of the book. Suzy Aspley describes this scene so well, and she made me feel as though I was there with Martha. It does make for an absolutely brilliant opening and it compelled me to want to read on.

There is a real sense of dread and this hangs over the town, and the local community, as the police try to find the killer. Suzy Aspley ups the tension as suspects in the case emerge and it feels as though Martha is sailing close to danger, especially when sometimes, it appears that the police aren’t quite taking her seriously enough. I wanted to know why the killer was committing these atrocious crimes and who they were. It does create a really creepy atmosphere.

The tension continues to drive the plot of this book forward and I was rooting for Martha and the police to find the person responsible. I had a few suspicions about who the killer might be and I loved how Suzy Aspley kept me guessing, right up until the final revelations.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and Suzy Aspley did a brilliant job of immersing me in the story. The town and the surrounding areas are so vivid, as are the characters. Suzy Aspley is an exciting new writer and I’m really excited to read what she writes next. I highly, highly recommend Crow Moon. I’m sure it’ll be in my top ten reads of the year.

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 14th March 2024

Print length: 401 pages

Crow Moon is available to buy:

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Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood #bookreview #blogtour @imranmahmood777 @BloomsburyRaven @Tr4cyF3nt0n

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new thriller by Imran Mahmood, Finding Sophie. With thanks to Tracy from Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part.

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Sophie King is missing.

Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they’ve done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she’s gone.

The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways. Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won’t open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they’re going to have to take the matter into their own hands.

But just how far are they both prepared to go for the love of their daughter?

MY THOUGHTS

Finding Sophie is a tense, emotive thriller by Imran Mahmood that follows two desperate parents, Harry and Zara as they search for their daughter, Sophie, who has been missing for several months. Sophie seems to have vanished without a trace. Zara is desperately clinging onto her belief that her daughter is alive, and she believes that there is one person on their street who is keeping secrets from them. This pushes Zara to the brink, and as it seems that though they are on their own in searching for their daughter, Zara soon takes matters into her hands.

This novel has a really interesting structure. We start with a scene in the Old Bailey, but Imran Mahmood holds back the full story here, but it’s here we meet Zara for the first time. Then we go back several months earlier to when Zara and her husband are searching for their daughter. We can see the pain they are both going through at the loss of their daughter and Imran Mahmood reveals this really well in their dialogue, as well as in their internal thoughts. It really made me connect to Zara. I wanted her to find her daughter, or at least, find out what has happened to her. I could really see her frustration, especially when it is clear to see that there are people holding information back from her, including Sophie’s friends. I couldn’t believe that people, who Sophie knew, would still want to hold back information, especially as Sophie’s life could be in danger. This made me think that Sophie’s friends could know more about Sophie’s disappearance than they were letting on, and this really made me feel for Zara.

The courtroom scenes are really tense, and I think this is where Imran Mahmood’s writing really shines, particularly as this is where he has had a lot of experience from working as a barrister. I was shocked with the direction that these courtroom scenes took. Imran Mahmood gradually reveals why this court case is happening gradually over the course of the book. This is what keeps the tension ticking up a notch.

Finding Sophie is an utterly gripping and a tense read. I flew through it in a couple of sittings. Psychological thriller fans, you are in for a treat, I highly, highly recommend it.

Publisher: Raven Books

Publication date: 14th March 2024

Print length: 352 pages

Finding Sophie is available to buy:

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Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the gripping debut novel by Marie Tierney, Deadly Animals.

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Thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney possesses an unusual intellect far beyond her years. While her friends play, Ava’s fascination lies in the intricate process of animal decomposition, studying roadkill found in the streets around her home.

But, one night, Ava’s secret nocturnal routine takes a chilling turn when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of fellow schoolmate, Mickey Grant.

As Detective Seth Delahaye takes charge of the perplexing case, Ava refuses to sit idle. Determined and resourceful, she embarks on a daring quest to unveil the truth behind the string of chilling deaths plaguing her community.

Armed with her unique skills and unrivalled local knowledge, Ava becomes an unlikely force in the race to apprehend the elusive killer before more lives are claimed.

MY THOUGHTS

Deadly Animals is a creepy and a brilliant debut by Marie Tierney. This book introduces a fantastic lead protagonist in thirteen-year-old Ava Bonney. She has a very unique interest: the decomposition of animals. She collects animal corpses, often roadkill, and studies them. One night, when Ava is out in the early hours of the morning, she stumbles across the body of a young boy, who has been missing for several days, a young boy who Ava knows very well.

Ava’s voice comes through really strongly on the page and she is a character who I definitely will not be forgetting about any time soon. From the first page we get a sense of how unique she is. I couldn’t believe that she was getting up at this time of the morning to go looking for animal corpses. This is what makes her so intriguing. I wanted to follow her journey. She is very grown up for her age and it seems that once she sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her. Ava soon finds herself involved in the police investigation trying to find the killer of the boy whose body she found. The police don’t know that she was the one who found him, and Ava tries her best to keep this from them.

It is clear that the police are trying to find a sadistic killer. It’s also clear that no one in the local community particularly liked the victim, and no one has a good word to say about him, even Ava weighs in on this. This could mean that there are many people in the village who could have had a motive to kill him. But soon he isn’t the first local boy to disappear, and the police now find themselves in a race against time element to find the perpetrator before they kill again.

I loved the tension in this book and there is a lot of darkness and foreboding which Marie Tierney uses brilliantly to up the stakes in the story. It feels as though Ava is putting herself closer and closer to danger, the more she gets involved in the police investigation. I really liked Detective Seth Delehaye, I liked how he treated Ava like she was an adult, and you can see how much he really values her opinion.

If you love psychological thrillers with a real creepy edge to them, then I highly recommend Deadly Animals. This is a fantastic debut and I’m excited to see what Marie Tierney writes next.

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication date: 15th February 2024

Print length: 404 pages

Deadly Animals is available to buy:

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The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas #bookreview

On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the new thriller by Claire Douglas, The Wrong Sister.

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You’ve known her all your life…
Or have you?

Tasha and her older sister Alice might look alike, but they couldn’t be more different.
Tasha’s married with two children and still living in her home town near Bristol. While Alice is a high-flying scientist travelling the world with her equally successful husband.
But each would trust the other with their life.

So when Tasha and husband Aaron want a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids,
Tasha knows they’re in safe hands.

But she couldn’t be more wrong.

The call from home is unexpected: Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked.
Alice is in intensive care. Kyle is dead.

Rushing to Alice’s bedside, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together.
She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.
Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:

It was supposed to be you . . .

MY THOUGHTS

I’m a big fan of Claire Douglas, so I was really excited to read her latest novel. The Wrong Sister is a twisty psychological thriller that I did not want to put down. We meet sisters, Tasha and Alice, who are both very much alike but live very different lives. Tasha is thrilled at the prospect of staying in Alice’s holiday home in Venice with her husband. Her sister’s agreed to stay at their home with her husband, Kyle, in the UK, and look after their children. The moment Tasha and her husband arrive in Venice though, Tasha senses something is wrong, and only a couple of days into their stay they receive a devastating call which means they have to fly straight home.

The scene is shocking when Tasha and her husband return home. Alice’s husband, Kyle, is dead, and Alice was attacked in Tasha’s home, while their children slept upstairs. Tasha is terrified that whoever the attacker was mixed them up by mistake, and that she and her husband were the intended target. But there are some unexpected results during the police investigation which will end up having big implications for Tasha’s family. One of these revelations really shocked me as I was reading the book. It really does turn the story on its head, and it made me connect even more to the characters.

The twists in this story keep on coming as Claire Douglas delves deeper into the history of Tasha and Alice’s family. You can really see the emotions coming through in the characters as they come to terms with what is happening. This was especially interesting to see develop, especially as they are still reeling from the loss of Alice’s husband. I had to know what the full story was here, and I loved how Claire Douglas revealed her secrets, and these revelations are what, for me, made this book so gripping.

The Wrong Sister is another highly entertaining psychological thriller. Claire writes some really intense scenes that kept my eyes glued to the page. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I’m really excited to see what Claire writes next. I know it’ll be going to straight to the top of my TBR pile whenever it is out.

Publisher: Penguin

Publication date: 14th March 2024

Print length: 375 pages

The Wrong Sister is available to buy:

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The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone #bookreview #blogtour @doug_johnstone @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours

On my blog today, I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the new novel by Doug Johnstone, The Collapsing Wave. With thanks to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part.

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Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.
 
Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.
 
Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.
 
When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…

MY THOUGHTS

In The Collapsing Wave, Doug Johnstone hits the ground running, and following on from the events in the last book in the series, Lennox, Heather and Ava are in a desperate situation. In the previous book they made contact with Sandy, an alien creature from Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, which has a sub-surface ocean which has the perfect conditions for life to evolve. The Enceladon’s have fled their home world in search of refuge on Earth, only to find now, that they are being met with hostility and their future is now threatened.

This is far from just an ordinary science fiction novel. This is something that is always apparent with whatever genre Doug Johnstone is writing in, and it is always down to his well-rounded characters. Doug Johnstone writes characters with real emotional depth, and we see this in his characters here. You get the sense that there is a real fight about to happen here and that Lennox, Heather and Ava will do anything to help protect Sandy and the Enceladon’s from harm. Although the Enceladon’s are the ones who have come to Earth, Doug Johnstone portrays the human race as the real villains in this story, except those, like Lennox, Heather and Ava.

As Doug Johnstone explored in the last book, Ava, Lennox and Heather, each have their own backstory which helps us to connect to them. The three of them are suffering from their own emotional trauma, and Doug Johnstone makes their feelings feel so real in his writing. He has a real talent for making his character’s leap off the page, and it’s why I always fly through his books as I am always desperate to find out what is going to happen to them. I really liked their connection to Sandy and the Enceladon’s; I could see how much this connection means to them.

The pace does not let up at all throughout the book. I loved how Doug Johnstone kept upping the stakes by adding real threats of imminent danger. This is particularly shown in the scenes when Heather and Lennox are being held in an American military camp, which is also where they are holding captured Enceladon’s. Doug Johnstone does a brilliant job of making the reader feel emotionally connected to the Enceladon’s, particularly through what they are going through when they have been captured. There are some humans on the base who, it is quite clear to see, don’t care about them and about Ava, Lennox, or Heather at all, and this is what makes them so scary.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Collapsing Wave and I am now eagerly awaiting the third book in the series. If you haven’t started reading this series yet, I highly, highly recommend it. 

Publisher: Orenda Books

Publication date: 14th March 2024

Print length: 300 pages

The Collapsing Wave is available to buy:

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