amothersmusings1's reviews
1939 reviews

When I picked up ‘Best served Cold’ to read, I didn’t expect to be unable to put it down. Instantly I was drawn into the story as we see Lily at her book signing and a suspiciously acting woman, who later befriends her and Lily’s friend Alice.  Is she genuine? Or should Lily and Alice be guarded about how close they let her into their friendship circle? I enjoyed reading about Lily’s past and the intermittent chapters featuring her ex boyfriend Harry. Learning how the relationship spiralled so dramatically had me glued to the pages and made you realise something was definitely amiss with the sudden appearance of Rose. 

I really liked how Hilly Barmby’s writing was so engaging, with just the right amount of intrigue to make it believable and to keep you continually guessing as to what Rose could possibly achieve from befriending Lily. The denouement was exciting and unexpected and all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Hilly is a superb writer, I was pleasantly entertained over a full weekend as I was drawn deeper and deeper into the storyline and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend ‘Best Served Cold’ to all readers of the psychological fiction genre. 

#BestServedCold - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Monument to Murder” is the fourth in Mari Hannah’s ‘DCI Kate Daniels’ series set in North East England and is my favourite one so far. Although I have immensely enjoyed the previous three, the premise, the setting and the continued development of the characters in this book, made this for me more than a five star read, I enjoyed reading it so much. 

 

Set in and around the iconic Bamburgh Castle and its wild and weather beaten coastline, gave this story a sinister backdrop, especially with the discovery of skeletal remains and their manner of burial. Living myself in the North East, I always enjoy books set in my local area and it was an added enjoyment to be able to relate to the areas mentioned. 

 

Once again Kate’s private life is still in turmoil but I was pleased to read that this thread was given more scenes and I’m hoping in the coming books she finally gets to be happy in her chosen relationship, she’s a wonderfully developed character, a fantastic police detective and a really nice person. Her working relationship with her sergeant Hank Gormley is a delight to read and their camaraderie lightens the often dark theme of the books. 

 

All in all, another brilliant instalment in an engaging and addictive series of police procedurals that I wholeheartedly recommend to crime readers young and old. 

 

#MonumentToMurder - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

“The Rutland Connection” by Michael Dean is a superb book, intricately written and plotted with a smooth execution, likeable characters and an exciting and unexpected denouement. 

This is the first in a series featuring Frank McBride, a veteran customs and excise officer running a team of investigators, to snare and arrest criminals breaking customs law.  The author has used his own incredibly vast knowledge of this area of expertise from his own career and the details in the story show just how much experience he could draw on. Translating this knowledge into a readable and engaging story also takes talent and if this is a first book in a series, then I for one can’t wait for more to come. 

There’s plenty of twist and turns, live tactical surveillance, humorous dialogue from an intriguing, quirky septuagenarian and his amicable grandson and some really dumb criminals, you just have to shake your head at!

I like Frank and his pipe smoke signals, I truly believe this series will be really popular, not just due to the theme but also the characters, it’s a cracking crime thriller that will have you thinking about it, well after you’ve finished. 

#TheRutlandConnection - 4.5 stars 

“Pulpit Rock” is the fourth in Kate Rhodes’ series of crime stories set on the Isles of Scilly.  Kate has a superb talent for atmospheric writing, intricately describing the islands in such detail you really do feel like you know them personally and can smell and taste the bracing salty sea air. 

This series follows a very similar premise in each book but it takes a certain kind of imagination to devise such a variety of murders, killers and denouements to keep an author’s readers happy and Kate Rhodes has this talent in abundance.  

DI Ben Kitto is such a wonderful character who I fell in love with in the first book, along with his adopted dog Shadow who always plays a major part in helping to solve crimes.  As a native Scillonian, Ben knows exactly how the islanders think, interact and adjust to newcomers and it’s this knowledge that helps him to think like a killer, in order to keep one step ahead of them. 

I enjoyed the dark side this book took with the nature of the murders and the sinister feel of the killings. I’m never disappointed when I read Kate’s books and if you enjoy atmospheric crime novels with well developed characters that’s set in a rugged but beautiful location then this series of books is definitely for you. 

#PulpitRock - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a sick, twisted and warped killer Joy Wood has created for her novel “Dead Pretty”. I love dark storylines, the darker the better in fact and the author certainly fulfilled that criteria for me. You really do fear what is in the killer’s mind when they start to target the potential victims. 

I loved all the characters, getting to know the young nurses, male and female and learning their training process back in 1977. I love any books set in this decade as I can relate to the era and I thought the author captured it perfectly. 

I did have an inkling early on to the twist and turns the story was to take but I really enjoyed reading how this all panned out and the denouement was unquestionably intriguing and tense. I was pleased with how it all concluded and I found myself missing the characters when the book ended. 

All in all an excellent psychological thriller with a unique storyline with lots of interesting details of nursing training in a specialised hospital back in the 70’s. Highly recommended. 

#DeadPretty - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Irene Adler is a character in one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ series and author KD Sherrinford has created a series of short stories featuring Irene as a main character who is secretly married to Sherlock and living in Italy. It was nice to read about a little known character in a real life set of books and it was an interesting take for the author to develop. 

“Meet me in Milan” is the third book in the ‘Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries’. Set in 1905, Irene sets out to help her dear friend Renata after she is accused of the attempted murder of her husband. When Irene’s husband Sherlock returns from playing detective in London, she convinces him of Renata’s innocence and to assist her in helping to clear her name. Here we see Sherlock’s unique detecting skills put to the test and with the wonderful partnership he has with his wife, this doubles their sleuthing abilities and is a joy to read. 

“Meet me in Milan” is truly delightful example of classic detective fiction and it was wonderful to read about Sherlock’s relationship with a woman who easily matches his tenacity and powers of deduction. 

I haven’t read the previous two books but I’m definitely going to read them now as I have quick become a fan of this author’s writing.

#MeetMeInMilan - 3.5 stars

“Fatal Blow” is the fourth book in Brian Price’s, ‘DC Mel Cotton’ series of police procedurals. 

I’ve already read the previous three books and highly enjoyed them. Brian Price is a talented author, who with his own experience of teaching how to write science within crime and his ingenious imagination, produces first rate thrillers which keeps the reader addicted from the first page. 

Once again the story starts with an explosive prologue that really shocks the system.  Having built up an ongoing relationship with the characters this was quite a worrying scene and sets the tone for the rest of the book, with the police constantly on the tail of Albanian organised crime gangs. Along with this thread there’s an intriguing storyline involving a body found buried in Mel’s back garden, who had been murdered several years prior. Having last been seen in Australia, it was interesting reading how Mel and acting DC Sally Erskine solved the man’s murder, from the few clues they’re given.  

Although part of a series, any of the books can be easily read as a standalone but as with all series, the character development is best enjoyed when read in order. 

All in all, another superb book in an excellent series and if British police procedurals interest you then you need to invest in Brian’s books, I highly recommend them. 

#FatalBlow - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Committed” is one of the best action thrillers I have read in a very long time and one I’m not going to forget either. I absolutely devoured each page with fervour, it was addictive, engrossing, thrilling, tense and had the action speed of a non stop rollercoaster. 

 

I’ve often said certain books would make a good movie BUT this one really would be epic! I enjoyed how the threads of the story flowed seamlessly and connected to the main plot perfectly. The descriptive narrative was utterly superb, so much so, that I could picture each scene as if I was watching it on the big screen and actually hear the live action taking place. 

 

The only frustrating (but equally exciting) thing is the story continues into a second book after a major plot reveal, so I’m now chomping at the bit for the author, Chris Merritt to get writing, so I can satisfy my curiosity and be entertained once again. I do hope I don’t have to wait too long and in the meantime I’d recommend “Committed” to any and all thriller readers, you really don’t want to miss out on this blockbuster of a read and Chris, if you’re reading this, please get a move on! 😉 

 

#Committed - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ plus! 

I’ve just spent the last few days in the adorable town of Piney Peaks with their lovely families and in particular the gorgeous Elisha and handsome Ves. The author hopes that you fall in love with the town like she has and boy, did I fall hard! But oh my goodness, the smouldering tension in this cosy Christmas romance novel was just mind blowing. The characters were just perfectly portrayed and suited the storyline superbly. 

Elisha and Ves are two very cool people, modern, strait-laced, hard working and know exactly what they want from life but they come from two very different family backgrounds. When they meet in very awkward circumstances you can see their hearts explode with desire but can a guy from the city and a gal from a small town like Piney Peaks find a suitable compromise in pursuit of happiness?

I love all things Christmas and this book took me right into the heart of it, from candy cane garden ornaments, to gingerbread making competitions, twinkling snowflakes, tinsel decorated windows and even an enchanted forest. 

This isn’t for too young a reader due to some adult scenes but all romance readers will enjoy this book, romance isn’t even my first or second choice genre and I was hooked from page one. I’m already missing Piney Peaks and its inhabitants and I’m not sure that my own Christmas can compete now!

Cosy, romantic, fuzzy, festive, endearing (and not forgetting erotic) if you like your romance novels neatly wrapped in a Christmas bow, then “Wrapped with a Beau” will certainly be for you and it goes without saying I highly recommend this book and the author Lillie Vale. 

#WrappedWithABeau - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Deadly Deceit” is the third in Mari Hannah’s ‘DCI Kate Daniels’ series of police procedurals set in and around Newcastle. 

 

Kate is fast becoming my favourite female detective, she’s so professional, full of empathy for victims, a sympathetic boss and a genuine nice person and the cases she is tasked to solve are given her unconditional attention. 

 

The A1 crash that starts the book was very realistic and really quite harrowing to follow but gave a definite unique storyline, considering how it developed and formed the basis for the whole story. 

 

Being set in my local area, I loved being able to recognise the places mentioned and it always give a homely familiar feeling when settling down to read a book you can relate to. 

 

As usual with a developing series, they are best read in order but each can be equally read and enjoyed as standalone books. 

 

#DeadlyDeceit - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️