The Anniversary by Laura Marshall #NetGalley @BooksSphere #TheAnniversary @laurajm8

 

The Anniversary by Laura Marshall

Publication Date 5th August 2021

Published by Little, Brown Book Group UK, (Sphere)

Genre: General Fiction

Book Description:

Eleven murders. Twenty-five years ago.
Are some truths better left buried?

On 15th June 1994, Travis Green - husband, father, upstanding citizen - walked through the streets of Hartstead and killed eleven of his neighbours. The final victim was four-year-old Cassie Colman's father.

As the twenty-five year anniversary approaches, Cassie would rather forget the past - even as her mother struggles to remember it at all. Then something hidden in her mother's possessions suggests those eleven murders were not what everyone believes.

Once Cassie suspects she's been lied to about the most important event of her life, she can't stop digging up the past.

But someone will do anything to keep it buried . . .

My Thoughts:

This book looks at tragedies which affect not just one person in a town but the whole community. Just about everyone knows someone touched by the actions of Travis Green that day 25 years ago, when he took his gun and seemingly randomly shot and killed 11 locals including himself. The quarter century anniversary is coming up and the echoes from the past are getting louder - but someone wants them quitened. Who would that be and why?
Cassie has returned from her life in London with a young baby and no partner, home to her mum whose dementia is going downhill fast. Cassie had hoped to be able to manage for sometime yet but it is quickly apparent that she's going to need more support than she'd thought. Struggling with the demands of a new baby and with no other family or friends to call on, life is taking its toll on her. Then when journalist Alison Patchett approaches her for her slant on the anniversary of the shootings, Cassie wonders whether coming back to her home town was a good idea.
But help comes in strange guises and Cassie is soon re-evaluating the relationships she has begun to form.
Although the main subject of this book is unpleasant the story is well written and sympathetic to some really quite sensitive issues. There's a lot more to it than the story of a small town shooting.
Overall I enjoyed the book and was keen to get back to the story whenever I had to put it down. I wasn't sure who was to be trusted and there are some nice subtle little twists which I wasn't expecting all throughout the story.  People aren't always who you expect them to be - and that can lead to good things as well as bad. It's just a case of working out who's worth investing in.

About the Author:

Laura Marshall is the Sunday Times top ten and Kindle No. 1 bestselling author of three psychological thrillers. Her first two novels, FRIEND REQUEST and THREE LITTLE LIES have sold over half a million copies in the UK and been translated into twenty-five languages.

She grew up in Wiltshire, studied English at the University of Sussex and currently lives in Kent with her family.

For more information visit Laura's website www.lauramarshall.co.uk or find her at www.facebook.com/lauramarshallauthor or on Twitter @laurajm8.

The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter #NetGalley @AvonBooksUK @Alice_Hunter_1

 

The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter

Publication Date 27th May 2021

Published by Avon Books UK

Book Description:

They’re saying he’s a monster. And they’re saying she knew.

Beth and Tom Hardcastle are the envy of their neighbourhood – they have the perfect marriage, the perfect house, the perfect family.

When the police knock on their door one evening, Beth panics. Tom should be back from work by now – what if he’s crashed his car? She fears the worst.

But the worst is beyond imagining.

As the interrogation begins, Beth will find herself questioning everything she believed about her husband.

They’re husband and wife – till death do them part…

My Thoughts:

This is a tricky book to review without giving away too much of a spoiler.  

Tom, Beth and daughter Poppy have moved to the Cotswolds from their bustling lives in London to set up a much nicer family life for the 3 of them. Beth has her ceramics cafe which is building up trade nicely, although this has taken its toll on Beth's ability to get to know the locals as it has taken up so much of her spare time. 
So when the local constabulary knock on the door asking to interview Tom, Beth has very few friends to call on for support. What would they think of her? She hears mutterings among the school mums suggesting she must be involved too - but Tom's innocent isn't he? 

I wasn't sure whether I really liked Beth to be honest, despite there being nothing I could put my finger on to say why. I felt sorry for her having to deal with the fallout of Tom's arrest - her privacy was destroyed for a while, as is the case when a big story hits the media. But probably the last quarter (if that) of the book started to get me thinking. What if the school mums were right after all?

As I say, I don't want to spoil the tale but for me the jury is still out as to whether the book worked as a whole. It felt a bit like the author changed her mind part way through as to which of two paths she was going to take the story. Overall yes, I enjoyed reading it but it doesn't rest comfortably for me how the tale concluded. And I think it's best to leave things there before I say too much! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
My thanks to the publisher for approving the review copy of the book via NetGalley.

About the Author:

After completing a psychology degree, Alice Hunter became an interventions facilitator in a prison. There, she was part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to men serving sentences for a wide range of offences, often working with prisoners who'd committed serious violent crimes. Previously, Alice had been a nurse, working in the NHS. She now puts her experiences to good use in fiction. THE SERIAL KILLER'S WIFE draws heavily on her knowledge of psychology and the criminal mind.

56 days by Catherine Ryan Howard @AtlanticBooks @CorvusBooks @cathryanhoward #56Days #NetGalley

 

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Published by Atlantic Books

Publication Date: 19th August 2021

Genre: Crime, Mystery & Thrillers

My sincere thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this title ahead of publication via NetGalley.

Book Description:

No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead.

56 DAYS AGO

Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores.

35 DAYS AGO

When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who - and what - he really is.

TODAY

Detectives arrive at Oliver's apartment to discover a decomposing body inside.

Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?

My Thoughts:

56 days is the book which has had me most invested in a book so far this year,  It is contemporary, intriguing and full of mistrust between the characters. 

Ollie and Ciara meet in the queue at Tesco, the beginnings of the covid19 restrictions meaning they are both a little wary of one another due to social distancing and all the other new rules being enforced by the supermarket. But is it just the restrictions which make them cautious of getting too close or is there more to their backgrounds which makes them so?

The chapters are told from the different characters' point of view and at various times between when Ollie and Ciara meet and the present day, 56 days later when it's obvious something awful has happened behind the closed doors of Ollie's apartment at The Crossings.  But where are all the characters now? And more importantly - WHO are they?

I loved trying to work out which of the characters was the bad guy, who had what information about the other -and what did the mysterious woman across the courtyard have to do with all of it?

The reader gets snippets about each of the characters drip fed throughout, just enough to raise even more questions rather than answer any of the existing ones.  The time switching set up won't suit everyone as you do need to keep track of the the chapter headings to keep with the story, but I found it extremely clever and intricately woven. I do hope people don't let this put them off though as it is SO worth working with. You can really feel the discomfort of the detectives as they attend the scene, including the very green (literally!) pair of newly qualified PC's who are first on the scene. The writing is descriptive enough for the reader to really imagine being on scene, and at times maybe even wish that they weren't! 

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Howard's debut novel Distress Signals was published by Corvus in 2016 while she was studying English literature at Trinity College Dublin. It went on to be shortlisted for both the Irish Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA John Creasey/New Blood Dagger. Her second novel, The Liar's Girl, was published to critical acclaim in 2018 and was a finalist for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Novel 2019. That same year, Rewind was shortlisted for the Irish Crime Novel of the Year and was an Irish Times bestseller. She is currently based in Dublin.

The Wedding Party by Tammy Cohen #NetGalley @MsTamarCohen @TransworldBooks #TheWeddingParty

 

The Wedding Party by Tammy Cohen

Publication Date: 19th August 2021

Published by Transworld Publishers (Black Swan)

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

My thanks to the publishers for approving my request to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Description:

Till death do us part . . .

Lucy has dreamt of her wedding day for as long as she can remember.

And now the day is almost here. Her nearest and dearest are gathered on an idyllic Greek island and she just knows it's going to be perfect. It has to be.

But even the best-laid plans can go horribly wrong. Why are her parents behaving so strangely? Why won't the rather odd lady from the airport stop hanging around? Who is the silent stranger her sister brought as a plus-1?

And then they find the body.

It's going to be a day to remember.

My Thoughts:

It's been a while since I've read one of Tammy's books but this one has reminded me of why I should be reading them. Set on a Greek island it's all based around bride Lucy Collins' desire for the perfect wedding day and how far people will go to get what they want. The book starts at the end, with a body at the foot of a cliff, then returns to the beginning to relate all the necessary details plus a good few red herrings - as is necessary for a good whodunit.
There are a good selection of characters to work with, from Bride-zilla Lucy, her husband to be Jason who seems to be a bit too close to his mum for a man of his age, chief bridesmaid and total nightmare Jess who has brought along a random bloke as her plus one, parents who are harbouring secrets from their daughters and a best friend who has a dangerous history and is more involved with Lucy's family than everyone realises. Add in a wedding planner with issues of her own and it's not looking too promising for Lucy's planned idyll.
As a girl who has never been into pretty dresses or planning a wedding from a very young age I wanted to give Lucy a hefty shake and get her to realise that you don't have to spend thousands of pounds to have the most wonderful wedding day. It's the people who make the day special not the flower arrangements or which brand of bubbly you choose. She wasn't the only infuriating character who needed a good wake up call but I'll leave you to make up your own minds as to who else I could be referring to in that statement.
The author sets up virtually everyone as a suspect for the eventual fall from the cliff top - I particularly loved the fact that we don't even know who the victim was either so the reader's mind is trying to work out the whole picture not just the perpetrator of the crime. Very cleverly written, the story literally fills every page from first to last. A most enjoyable holiday read which would be perfect for by the pool if you can find a way to get away this year - if not, grab a copy and save it for when you can! Either that or snuggle on your sofa and enjoy a bit of escapism.

About The Author:

Tammy Cohen is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction (and to other things besides) she has now written four novels:The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives. Someone Else's Wedding and The Broken. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Kingston University and lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog. Follow her on Twitter @MsTamarCohen

The Beach Hut by Veronica Henry @veronica_henry @orionbooks #bookreview #bloggersbuybooks #TheBeachHut

 

The Beach Hut by Veronica Henry

Published by Orion Books

Publication Date: 22nd July 2010

Genre: Womens Fiction, Romantic Comedy

Book Description:

On Everdene Sands, a row of beach huts holds the secrets of the families who own them - secrets of unrequited love, plain old-fashioned lust, childhood dreams and long-forgotten hopes...

'FOR SALE: a rare opportunity to purchase a beach hut on the spectacular Everdene Sands. "The Shack" has been in the family for fifty years, and was the first to be built on this renowned stretch of golden sand...'

Jane Milton doesn't want to sell her beloved beach hut, which has been the heart of so many family holidays and holds so many happy memories. But when her husband dies, leaving her with an overwhelming string of debts, she has no choice but to sell.

THE BEACH HUT follows the stories of the people who own the beach huts, families who come to Everdene each year, people who fall in - or out of - love, remembering their pasts, or trying to forget them...

My Thoughts:

Unfortunately we're not going to get our much needed coastal break this year so I needed a book to replace that sun and sand experience, and whilst 'surfing' my TBR shelves I came across this little gem.

Welcome to Everdene on the north coast of Devon where we are introduced to the residents and/or visitors to a row of beach huts. Each chapter is the story of an individual hut, and the chapter is entitled with the hut name, the first of which is 'The Shack', owned by Jane Milton - but sadly not for much longer as her financial position has changed suddenly and dramatically following her husband's untimely death. We follow her reminiscences of her time at the hut, from excited teen to disillusioned grandmother.  

It took me a few chapters to realise what the format of the book was, with plenty of characters to work with. Once I sussed out how it worked though I moved through the families and their circumstances quite easily and enjoyed finding out about their day to day lives and how the week or so at the beach huts was a welcome break for the majority of visitors to the area, offering some much needed down time. Gradually the families come together as they get to know one another over the years of regular visits and it's a rather emotional final party which Jane and her family find themselves hosting as their time at Everdene comes to a close.

This book had me yearning for not only a trip to the coast but also to be in a position to be the proud owner of a hut such as those described at Everdene and the opportunity to be part of such a lovely community. A strong 4 star easy to read, flowing book and just what I needed. Plus I have found there are further books which mean I can continue with my seaside dreaming. What's not to like?

About the Author:

Veronica Henry has worked as a scriptwriter for THE ARCHERS, HEARTBEAT and HOLBY CITY amongst many others, before turning to fiction. She won the 2014 RNA NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD for A NIGHT ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Veronica lives with her family in a village in north Devon. Find out more at http://www.veronicahenry.co.uk or follow her on Twitter @veronica_henry

Clean Break by Tammy Cohen #QuickReads @readingagency @MsTamarCohen#CleanBreak

 

Clean Break by Tammy Cohen

Publication Date 1st February 2018

Published by Black Swan

Genre: Short Story/Thriller

Book Description:

Marriage is complicated, especially for Kate. Her husband Jack has a temper on him, and has been an absent father for years. Kate knows it's time for a divorce. The trouble is, Jack refuses. And now that he has found out Kate has met another man, his jealous rages escalate. Can Kate rid herself of her jealous husband before it's too late?

My Thoughts:

I'm pretty hooked on these quick reads at the moment, with life being rather chaotic they are just the thing you need to fill a gap. They do unfortunately steal some of my reading time from the full-sized novels I prefer, but sometimes you just need something short and snappy to fill the space you have available to read. This book is an excellent example of just how much punch a good author can cram into approximately 100 pages and as a divorcee I absolutely loved it!

Jack is the epitome of why some women want a divorce - he's controlling, he is manipulative, with a temper which fires off quite freely then he comes back all puppy dog eyes asking for another chance, it won't happen again, he'll change, blah blah blah. Kate is tired of the rollercoaster ride of his personality and I was glad she stuck to her guns regarding the divorce as the counselling sessions clearly weren't achieving anything. 

The lengths Jack went to to try and control Kate's life despite knowing she was trying to move on were actually quite scary if you put yourself in her position and I felt myself trying to communicate with her exactly what he was up to, a proper pantomime exclamation of "he's behind you!" kind of thing.

I loved this book, short as it was, and the ending was very satisfying if a little sinister - Tammy Cohen you have a fantastically twisted mind and I love it!

About the Author:

Tammy Cohen is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction (and to other things besides) she has now written four novels:The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives. Someone Else's Wedding and The Broken. She is a Writer-in-Residence at Kingston University and lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog. Follow her on Twitter @MsTamarCohen