My Review for The Case of the Dreaming Dragon: an Elemental Detectives Mystery by Patrice Lawrence

'What if a dragon started the Great Fire of London?'

I regularly return to the books I read as a child—especially when I'm feeling a bit down or stuck in a reading slump. There's nothing quite like rediscovering that first love of losing yourself in a world within a book. So when I was asked if I wanted to read Patrice's new book, I jumped at the chance, knowing I'd love it—I mean, just look at that cover! Sometimes, even as an adult, it’s fun to step back into childhood and just 'be'.

Anyway, back to the book. It was fun, fast-paced, and full of weird and wonderful fantasy creatures—most of them good! (The human-like characters were the villains, of course.) I loved the idea of the elemental spirits who helped Marisee and Robert—our two brave adventurers—and always had their backs. Whether ensuring they landed safely after jumping into a well or sweeping them away with the help of the wind, the spirits were always there.

Patrice’s imagination is astounding. I was completely drawn into her strange and magical version of London; I could picture myself right there with the mudlarks on the banks of the Thames, and with the giants at the bottom of the riverbed.

Although The Case of the Dreaming Dragon is the third book in the series, it reads perfectly well as a standalone. I had no trouble following Marisee and Robert’s latest adventure—though now I definitely want to go back and read the earlier books!

Thank you to Scholastic for the gifted copy of The Case of the Dreaming Dragon by Patrice Lawrence. I’ve already passed it on to my granddaughter, and she’s excited to read it too.

About the Book

Step into a London lit up by the Elemental spirits: the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and the earthbound Magogs. Marisee and Robert - the Elemental Detectives - are back to solve another mystery on the streets of multi-cultural eighteenth century London. A dragon is dreaming of a time when plague blighted the city, when a mysterious cauldron was used for wicked magic and what this would mean if it fell into the wrong hands now...

On a mission from the shores of the Thames, to the ghost-filled gardens of Hyde Park and the forbidding Tower of London, Marisee and Robert must use every ounce of ingenuity they possess to defeat the most villainous foe yet... and find out some secrets about their own families.

About Patrice

Patrice Lawrence was born in Brighton and brought up in an Italian-Trinidadian household in Sussex. Her first novel ORANGEBOY was one of the most talked-about YA books of 2016 and won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Fiction and the Bookseller YA Book Prize that year. Ever since, her work has consistently featured on prestigious prize lists. NEEDLE has recently been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Patrice has been awarded the MBE for services to literature in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

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My Review for Dying to be Here by T.J. Emerson, read by Claire Storey and Karen Cass

'You’d die for a stay here. But would you kill for it'?

I joined a listen-along for this book back in July 2024 (it was called The Last Resort then), and apologies for the delay in posting my review!

I wasn’t sure what to expect—maybe a Death in Paradise style mystery—but what I got was a story full of dark secrets, a slow-burn mystery, and some truly sinister goings-on. I enjoyed learning about the history behind the retreat and the events of the past, though I could have done with less of the spiritual wellbeing stuff—that just isn’t my cup of tea.

The characters were fascinating, annoying, and downright awful in equal measures. Not awful in a bad way, but I definitely wanted to shake a few of them! Reviews for this book are mixed; it seems people either love it or hate it. It’s a slow-paced story with deep dives into each character, so give it a try if you enjoy character-driven mysteries—you might just love it.

Thank you to Boldwood for the opportunity to listen to and review Dying to be Here (The Last Resort) by T.J. Emerson. 

About the Book

As soon as you first see the House in the Hills, an old hotel in a picturesque enclave of the Cypriot hills, you know it's the perfect home for you – with breath-taking views, a refreshing pool, and peace and quiet, away the rest of the world. A place to recover and grow.

But paradise isn’t cheap, and as the debts mount, you could lose everything you've worked so hard for.

Until someone makes you an offer: to keep your home, you have to take a life.

But you could never do that… could you?

You’d die for a stay here. But would you kill for it?

About T.J. Emerson

As the daughter of a soldier, Tracey Emerson spent her childhood and most of her teenage years moving between army camps in the UK, Germany, the Middle East and the Far East. After a short stint in boarding school, she did a degree in Dramatic Arts at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds. Not long after graduating, she moved to Edinburgh on a whim, intending to stay for six months. She has lived in Scotland ever since.

Before writing fiction, Tracey worked in theatre and community arts. As well as acting, she ran drama workshops in hospitals, focusing on adults with learning difficulties and mental health issues. After a period of poor health, she began writing as a way of reconnecting with her creativity. She started attending creative writing classes at the University of Edinburgh’s Lifelong Learning Centre and was lucky enough to meet the author Helen Lamb, who encouraged her to send in one of her first short stories to The Scotland and Orange Short Story prize. The story, ‘Our Big Day Out’, was a runner up in the competition, and this early success gave Tracey the confidence to keep writing. Other story publications in anthologies and literary magazines followed, and Tracey went on to study for an MSc in Creative writing at the University of Edinburgh. After completing this course, she received a scholarship to do her PhD in Creative Writing at the university, working on the novel that would eventually become her debut thriller, Mother’s Day.

Since then, she has continued to publish short stories and her feature writing has appeared in Stella magazine, Woman’s Own and The Sydney Morning Herald. In June 2021, she signed with Boldwood Books to publish her second thriller, The Perfect Holiday, under the name TJ Emerson.

As well as writing her own fiction, Tracey works as a literary consultant and writing tutor and is also the Creative Director of The Bridge Awards, a philanthropic organisation that provides micro-funding for the arts.

When not travelling, Tracey lives in the hills of Perthshire. She can often be found tramping around the countryside and, occasionally, braving a dip in the chilly rivers and lochs.

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My Review for Britannia Strikes by Russell Dumper

“If you don't trust us, why tell us?”

And so Leo’s ominous plans for expanding the British Empire continue, while the Resistance fights back, in the second instalment of Russell Dumper’s Britannia series.

Having got my head around the world-building in the first book, I settled into Britannia Strikes very quickly this time, now that I know who everyone is and what their roles are. I still can’t help picturing our current Royal Family as this fictitious one though 🙈 — it’s been very cleverly imagined by the author.

I’m not usually a fan of political stories, but this series has really grabbed my attention. The level of research that must have gone into it is phenomenal, and I’m full of admiration for Russell’s dedication to a world he’s been developing since his teenage years.

This is a dystopian novel full of intrigue and mystery — and it’s quite frankly unsettling at times, as you realise how easily its events could mirror the real world, with all its relentless and often controversial decisions.

If you’re a fan of dystopian fiction, sci-fi, politics, or spy thrillers, this book has it all. I’m already eager to see what happens next.

Thank you to Russell Dumper for the gifted copy of Britannia Strikes.

About the Book

With King Alfred concentrating on Outpost, the British Empire is following a new, more sinister path. King Regent Leopold is pushing through his dream of expansion as he seeks to crush the rebellions rising in opposition. His plans, formed in the shadows, will have a devastating effect on his enemies and confirm The Empire as the only, true world superpower.

The Dayak are enjoying support and growth, following their victory in the Battle of Serpent Valley. With Nepal on the cusp of independence from the iron grip of The Empire, they must consolidate their position. But the British never give up so easily and the East India Company should never be underestimated. Letitia Pearl, Bob Royce, and the monks, must all spot the dangers lurking just across the border. And maybe closer to home, too...

Jamie Bayston is recovering from the loss of his family the only way he can - by throwing himself into his work. As Ed MacLoughlin and Trevor Layttle train him, and try to find answers, it looks increasingly likely that they will need to head back into the jaws of the lion to find them. 

About Russell (taken from The Spalding & South Holland Voice)

Russell Dumper has followed his childhood dream of becoming an author. “I’ve always loved writing and it has brought be so much joy since I was a small boy. It’s a fire that burns inside of me, a passion that I’ve always had. I have so many more books to write, and I can’t wait to write them,” he said.

His book, Britannia Rises, is set in an alternate near future ruled by the British Empire.

“There are all kinds of characters, twists, links into modern events, action, suspense and surprises galore. “When asked, I describe it as a kind of modern Game of Thrones meeting a James Bond origin story. There are many plots overlapping each other and the main characters are deep and complex,” he added.

The father of two small children, who lives in Spalding, said he had the idea for the story aged 14 or 15.

“It’s developed a lot over the years, as you can imagine, with several rewrites to get to where it is now. It will appeal to anyone who loves thrillers and suspense books, from young adults upwards.

“It’s a story that will make you love and hate the same character. I suspect the full series will be seven or eight books,” said Russell.

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My Review for Dark Horse by Felix Francis

"'You have no idea how much we've saved,' Marina said. I was more worried about how much they'd spent."

Quick off the start and a fast pace all the way to the finish line! Dark Horse is another surefire winner from Felix Francis. I devoured Dick Francis books as a teenager, and Felix has expertly picked up the reins to continue his father’s legacy. Sorry — was that a bit corny?! 😂

Imogen is our protagonist, and although she can come across as a bit over-dramatic, she does have good reason. She ditches her controlling and abusive boyfriend and moves to another country for a fresh start. From there, with the occasional high point, it’s pretty much a downhill ride — and not in a good way!

There are also little touches of humour scattered throughout — the quote I used at the beginning  made me laugh, and there are lots of little snippets like this throughout. 

Dark Horse is a quick read, with lots going on and an ending I definitely didn’t see coming. If you’re not familiar with racing lingo, don’t worry — Felix weaves everything you need to know neatly into the story so you won’t get lost.

Thank you to Zaffre Books for the gifted copy of Dark Horse, for letting me read and review it, and for including me on the blog tour.

About the Book

Imogen Duffy is a young Irish jockey, whose fledgling career is given a huge boost when she wins a prestigious horse race at the Cheltenham Steeplechasing Festival. But all is not well in her life. She has a violent and controlling boyfriend, also a jockey, and he becomes increasingly jealous of her success. As a result, she tries to break off their relationship, but he won't take 'no' for an answer. He attacks her, and claims that he'd rather kill her than allow her to leave him.

Imogen flees her home in Ireland, coming to England to get away from him, and to continue her riding career at a racing stable in Lambourn, where she finds increasing success. But the abusive boyfriend follows her across the Irish Sea, stalks her, steals from her, attacks her again, and then tries to ruin both her career and her reputation.

About Felix

Felix Francis is Dick Francis’s younger son. Born in 1953, Felix studied Physics and Electronics at London University and then embarked upon a 17-year career teaching Advanced Level physics at three schools, the last seven as head of the science department at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire. After leaving teaching, Felix then became a businessman, spending 13 years as deputy chairman of World Challenge Expeditions Ltd, before starting his third career as an author.

As a child, Felix remembers that conversations around the Francis breakfast table were somewhat unconventional. “The production of a Dick Francis novel has always been a mixture of inspiration, perspiration and teamwork. The first one was published when I was nine, and I grew up in a house where talk would be about the damage a bullet might do to a man’s guts rather than the more mundane topics of everyday life”.

Over the next 40 years, Felix assisted Dick with both the research and the writing of many of his novels. They shared a love of racing and often worked together on plot and character details at Dick’s home in the Cayman Islands. This partnership allowed Dick to draw upon Felix’s knowledge and experience as a physics teacher and marksman in Twice Shy, and as an outdoorsman in Longshot.

With the publication of Under Orders in 2006, Felix took over the writing of the ‘Dick Francis’ novels from his father. This was followed by Dead Heat in 2007, Silks in 2008, and Even Money in 2009. Crossfire was the book Felix was working on when Dick died in February 2010, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in the Dick Francis brand. 

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My Review for The Bystander by John David

'She's turned her lemons into the equivalent of a lemonade conglomerate.'

If an author asks me to read their book, I’ll skim the synopsis, say yes or no, and then forget all about it — so I usually go in blind. It could be fantasy, romance, or thriller and I’d have no clue until I start reading! That’s exactly what happened here. When I picked up The Bystander on Sunday, I was a little cautious (as I often am with debut novels), but I needn’t have worried. I was hooked from the very beginning — mystery, suspense, thrills, and even a few cringe-worthy moments!

The story felt unique — I’ve never read anything quite like it. The description mentions a shooting, but things quickly take an unexpected turn I didn’t see coming. It also shines a light on issues that are more common than many of us might realize, which made it all the more impactful.

Corruption, deceit, violence, and even a dash of romance — if you love a thriller with all that wrapped in, definitely grab a copy of The Bystander!

Thank you to John David and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Bystander.

About the Book

TV reporter Pete Lemaster anticipates nothing more riveting than filming a short lifestyle segment for an upcoming college football rivalry when he arrives at the Jacksonville Waterfront pregame tailgate party. Then chaos erupts as a bystander stops an active shooter with an act of stunning bravery. And Pete suddenly holds a golden career opportunity in his hands—an exclusive video that goes viral.

With the citizen hero’s star rising among the Second Amendment folk, Pete, too, enjoys the perks of fame. But something about that now-famous moment feels off, so he uses his journalism skills to poke around. Suddenly, he’s not sure what he captured is the truth.

And now opportunistic political and media figures are threatening Pete’s life if he doesn’t back off. Can he blow the whistle on a coverup, out the real villain, and stay alive?

About John

John David is a long-time public relations and crisis communications consultant, author of a non-fiction business book, and a corporate ghostwriter. 

His debut novel, The Bystander (The Lemaster Files Book 1), was longlisted for the BPA First Novel Award, was awarded as a finalist for the 2025 Storytrade Book Award for traditional mysteries, and was named a finalist for the 2025 Page Turner Award for mysteries and cozy mysteries. It will be released by Tule Publishing in September of 2025. 

Though not a big joiner, he is a member of the International Thriller Writers Debut Author program. When not working or writing, he enjoys fishing, talking about politics, and following the Florida Gators. He and his beautiful wife Pamela live in Pinecrest, Florida.

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My Review for IT by Stephen King, read by Steven Weber

“What can be done when you’re eleven can often never be done again.”

I enjoyed IT a whole lot more than Carrie. Even though it was a stonker of a listen at 45 hours, I was invested in the story, the kids, as they navigated their way through their traumatic teenage years in Derry. Twenty-eight years later, when they returned to their hometown to fight whatever the monster is, all over again. 

Occasionally I got lost in the narration as the story skipped from the past to the present and occasionally somewhere in-between, but aside from that, I did actually like it. I definitely wouldn't like the movie version, but I treated the monster as some sort of paranormal fantasy creature that I've encountered in numerous other books, and it was all good.

I'm sure I'm not the first person who's thought this, but whether intentional or not, I think some of J.K. Rowling's ideas came from this book. The monster is eerily reminiscent of Aragog, and, she moves around in the pipes, just as the monster does in Chamber of Secrets. Anyone else??

Thank you to #thatindiebookclub for the decision to try a Stephen King club for people who were maybe a little sceptical!

About the Book

Stephen King's terrifying, classic #1 New York Times bestseller, "a landmark in American literature" (Chicago Sun-Times)—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It.

Welcome to Derry, Maine. It's a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real.

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city's children. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry's sewers.

About Stephen

Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1971, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world's most successful writers. King is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to the American Letters and the 2014 National Medal of Arts.

Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. They are regular contributors to a number of charities including many libraries and have been honored locally for their philanthropic activities.

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My Post for I Found You by Lisa Jewell, read by Helen Duff

“I’d been secretly fantasising about you waking up fully restored back to factory settings.”

I Found You is another one that I'm just catching up with my review for. I listened to this in the summer of 2024 and I remember so much about it, which is unusual - I usually forget about a story as soon as I finish it!

I definitely wouldn't have done what Alice did, and invited a stranger inside my house to stay with me and my kids! But her heart is in the right place and thankfully, she has the support of her friend to keep an eye on her!

The story is written from three points of view, two from the present day and one from 1993, from the point of view of two kids who holidayed in the same place where Alice now lives. 

I really enjoyed listening to this, I thought I'd worked out who the man on the beach was, and then there was another twist and I was back to the drawing board!

About the Book

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.

Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother.

Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel, filled with the “beautiful writing, believable characters, pacey narrative, and dark secrets” (London Daily Mail) that make Lisa Jewell so beloved by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

About Lisa

Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nineteen novels, including The Family Upstairs and Then She Was Gone, as well as Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her novels have sold over 10 million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into twenty-nine languages. Connect with her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.

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My Review for The Guilty One by Kiersten Modglin, read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Chad Ackerman, Evan Sibley and Melissa Kay Benson

'Someone is lying. Someone is missing. Someone is guilty'.

The Guilty One was twisted with a capital T and so messed up that I spoke out loud to my audiobook more than once! 😂 I really enjoyed it, even if Tate was a total douchebag, and that's being kind. Urgh, many of us will know how it feels to be bullied and to be so scared of someone that you will do what they tell you to do, no questions asked and this is what Tate does to people and how he makes them feel. 

The story was told between two different timelines, then and now and there were so many twists and turns, I was exhausted - but in a good way! Everyone lies, everyone has something to hide and just when I thought I had worked out what was going on, Kiersten threw another spanner in there and contorted it that little bit more! 

The narrators each brought their own special touch to the book, and yep, the characters you're supposed to dislike, you definitely did! They all did a great job.

If you like twisted, domestic thrillers, that keep you guessing until the end, then I would really recommend this one, but check the triggers first!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Guilty One by Kiersten Modglin.

About the Book

Your husband was involved in a fatal accident.

One horrific sentence, delivered in an impersonal phone call, changes Celine Thompson’s life in a second. But when she’s asked to identify his body, what she discovers sends everything she thought she knew about her life crashing down.

This man is not my husband.

But who was the man who died driving Tate’s car? How did he have Tate’s possessions and, more importantly, why do they sport identical tattoos?

We’re going to find him.

When Tate doesn’t answer his phone or arrive home after the accident, Celine fears the worst. Still holding on to hope her husband may be alive, Celine is desperate to track Tate down and figure out what’s going on before it’s too late. The only problem? There are dark truths waiting to come out that are so atrocious she won’t ever be able to look away from them.

As she begins to put together the pieces of the mysterious day her husband went missing, it paints a picture of a man she never really knew. Is it possible Tate is still alive, or is she wasting her time searching for someone who will never be found? And if he is alive, how will they ever survive all that she’s unearthed?

With time running out, Celine must push the limits of the law and her safety to shed light on the secrets that have been hiding in the dark corners of their life together. In doing so, she may just uncover the final missing piece to the puzzle surrounding her husband’s fate.

Someone is lying.

Someone is missing.

Someone is guilty.

In this menacing, dark, and completely twisted domestic thriller, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin deep dives into a marriage riddled with lies, a couple with wicked secrets, and a woman who will stop at nothing to discover the truth about her husband’s disappearance. 

Forget everything you think you know…

About Kiersten

KIERSTEN MODGLIN is a #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over two million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Kiersten is a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her family. Kiersten's readers across the world lovingly refer to her as "KMod." A binge-watching expert, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her favorite people and evenings with her nose in a book.​

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My Review for My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, read by Jonathan Pryce

'..If we killed women for their tongues all men would be murderers.'

Back in 2024 I listened to My Cousin Rachel for the September read for #classiclitbookclub and as always, Daphne's writing just blew me away. A storyteller like no other, she kept me enthralled for the entire book. Just as with Rebecca and Jamaica Inn, the gothic atmosphere shines through and once again, there are some really, really dark turns of events. 

Philip is naive and immature and just doesn't seem to understand why Rachel doesn't want to be with him - she's just lost her husband for goodness’ sake, give the woman some space! I didn't like Philip at all, I'm not sure whether Daphne du Maurier's intention was for us to feel sorry for him or get annoyed with him. He was just a namby-pamby who had been molly-coddled his entire life and hadn't a clue how to live in the real world. 

Ambrose, in my opinion, expected far too much of Philip as he asks him to take over the running of his estate. Philip doesn't have the experience or knowledge to even begin to understand where to start.

Rachel - well, you'll probably change your mind, time and again in regard to Rachel. Is she evil, clever, yet manipulative? Or is she just a very sad widow who has lost her husband and is looking for something which was close to her dead husband for comfort? I'll leave you to ponder on that one as you read it - and long afterwards. 

I will be suggesting Frenchman's Creek for inclusion on the list for next year for #classiclitbookclub. It's been many years since I read that one, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it!

About the Book

I threw the piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn ...Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?

About Daphne

Daphne du Maurier (13th May 1907 - 19th April 1989) was first and foremost a really excellent storyteller but she was also part of the remarkable du Maurier dynasty - a granddaughter, daughter, sister, military wife, mother and grandmother. Daphne is often thought of as reclusive; she was perhaps solitary, comfortable with her own company and the make-believe world that she lived in and which enabled her to bring us her wonderful novels and short stories. Her social media accounts are approved by her estate.

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My Review for The Crash by Freida McFadden, read by Leslie Howard

I was disappointed....

I’ve never read a Freida McFadden before, no particular reason, it just hasn’t really been on my radar, plus I have an ARC backlog of 9 million years, plus an endless and ever-growing TBR! But, #bookstabritsbookclub chose The Crash for their May read and so here we are. 

I listened to this one and it was enjoyable, if predictable. To be honest, Tegan, who was the female main character was a bit of a wet lettuce. At the beginning I thought she was going to have a lot more spunk than it turned out she had! Hank was two sandwiches short of a picnic and Polly was just devious, manipulative and as mad as a March hare! 

There were inconsistencies that annoyed me, and if this had been an ARC, I would have overlooked them - knowing (hoping) they’d be picked up in the final edit. However this wasn’t an ARC and so I couldn’t just ignore them. A couple of people I spoke to said they were part of the story/plot but actually, I don’t think it was. I was disappointed, there are so many people who rave about this author, but nope, I just didn't get it. 

Anyway, it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, it passed a few hours whilst I was listening, but would I rush back to read another one - no, probably not. 

About the Book

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn't realize she's heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she's made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle occurs: she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn't right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn't what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

About Freida

#1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a physician who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages.

Freida lives with her family and cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

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My Review for This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter, read by Kathleen Early

One toxic family. Eight suspicious guests. Everyone is guilty. But who is a killer?

I may be a bit of a dunce, but I had no idea what a locked-room mystery was - but now I've worked it out! Duh - pretty self-explanatory, really! Anyway, this is one, and I loved it, it was such a great listen, and because we are kept in the dark about so many things, it was really difficult to try to work out who the killer was. Throughout, I was guessing, and with each chapter I was wrong and had to try to think again!

I enjoyed the constant back-and-forth from the present time, to specific times before the murder, it made it much more exciting and definitely helps clarify events, so the reader can decide who is and isn't in the frame!

Each and every one of the characters brought an element of 'screwed up' to the story and yep, many of them had a reason to be the killer! Kathleen Early as the narrator brought that element of mystery and suspense to the story, which always makes a book stand out for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter.

About the Book

One toxic family. Eight suspicious guests. Everyone is guilty. But who is a killer?

Welcome to the luxury McAlpine Lodge…

Nestled in the misty mountains, it’s the perfect getaway. Until a woman’s body is found.

Everyone is a suspect.

The cruel father.

The toxic mother.

The bitter family.

The silent staff.

The suspicious guests.

Each of them is guilty of something. But only one is a killer. You’ll never guess who…

About Karin

Karin Slaughter is one of the world's most popular and acclaimed storytellers.

She is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette, and WILL TRENT, based on her Will Trent series, is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally). False Witness and The Good Daughter are in development for television. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

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