Month: Dec 2019

#Blogtour – THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE by Carmen Radtke #historical #crime @carmenradtke1

I am thrilled to be sharing my Blog Tour review of THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE which was republished by Carmen on 1st December. This stunning book that is perfect for anyone who loves historical crime or any crime will be released at the discounted price of 99p/c for a short period.

The Case of the Missing Bride

An Alyssa Chalmers mystery

Available from AMAZON

It was supposed to be the start of a happy, new life …

1862 – a group of young Australian women set sail for matrimony in Canada. Their presence is withheld from the male passengers and all but a select few members of the crew. But their worlds collide when one of the gentlemen stumbles over the women.

When one of the intended brides goes missing, only Alyssa Chalmers, the one educated, wealthy woman in the group, is convinced the disappearance is no accident. She sets out to find out what happened.

Has there been a murder?

Alyssa is willing to move heaven and earth to find out the truth. She is about to discover that there is more to her voyage into the unknown than she bargained for …

My Review

It is the 1860s and the Artemis’ Delight is setting sail from Australia to Canada docking shortly at San Francisco.  It is a sail ship but with the advantage of steam power back up but even so the crew and passengers are looking at 3 months at sea before they reach San Francisco,  What only a select few people know is that it contains a secret cargo of young women that are travelling to a new life.  What the girls/ladies have in common is that they are all alone in the world with no family many have spent a large amount of their lives in orphanages.

The main character is Alyssa who differs from the other girls in that she has a more upper class background and is not so poverty stricken.  She is also more educated and is immediately put to good use in helping to educate and lead the others. Her character is very complex and fits well within the era as do all the other characters.  The story progresses and the reader joins the Artemis’ Delight and its passengers on its journey encountering storms, illness, murder and romance along the way with some of the passengers forced to turn detective it all makes for a very gripping read that will have the reader turning page after page.

Author Bio

Carmen Radtke has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

“The Case of the Missing Bride” is a former Malice Domestic finalist, inspired by a true event. Its heroine Alyssa Chalmers will soon return in “Glittering Death”.

When Carmen is not writing, reading or dreaming of travel, she is busy acting as resident cat servant.

She’s currently working on her first contemporary crime novel.

Follow Carmen on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carmen-radtke

Or on Twitter: @carmenradtke1

Her website (very much a work in progress) is carmenradtke.com

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#Blogtour – THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE by Carmen Radtke #historical #crime #guestreview @CarmenRadtke1 @dmmaguire391

Today I would like to share a review from Donna Maguire of THE CASE OF THE MISSING BRIDE which was republished by Carmen Radke on 1st December. This stunning book that is perfect for anyone who loves historical crime or any crime is available at a discounted price of 99p/c for a short period.

The Case of the Missing Bride

An Alyssa Chalmers mystery

Available from AMAZON

It was supposed to be the start of a happy, new life …

1862 – a group of young Australian women set sail for matrimony in Canada. Their presence is withheld from the male passengers and all but a select few members of the crew. But their worlds collide when one of the gentlemen stumbles over the women.

When one of the intended brides goes missing, only Alyssa Chalmers, the one educated, wealthy woman in the group, is convinced the disappearance is no accident. She sets out to find out what happened.

Has there been a murder?

Alyssa is willing to move heaven and earth to find out the truth. She is about to discover that there is more to her voyage into the unknown than she bargained for …

Guest Review

This review is by Donna Maguire who kindly agreed I could share it. You can read the full review on Goodreads here

It is the 1860s and the Artemis’ Delight is setting sail from Australia to Canada docking shortly at San Francisco.  It is a sail ship but with the advantage of steam power back up but even so the crew and passengers are looking at 3 months at sea before they reach San Francisco,  What only a select few people know is that it contains a secret cargo of young women that are travelling to a new life.  What the girls/ladies have in common is that they are all alone in the world with no family many have spent a large amount of their lives in orphanages. I loved the cover of this book, a combination of seeing that and reading the blurb made me realise that this is a book I must read!!  I have two real passions in books, crime fiction and historical fiction, this being a combination of the two made this book right up my street and after the first few chapters I was in love with the story and knew it was going to be one I didn’t want to put down until I reached the end!  Such a well written book, it is graceful and elegant and really in keeping with the era in which the book has set – I highly recommend getting a copy of this – you are definitely going to be in for a treat – I loved it!!  Thank you so much Carmen for writing such a fabulous book!!! It is the 1860s and the Artemis’ Delight is setting sail from Australia to Canada docking shortly at San Francisco.  It is a sail ship but with the advantage of steam power back up but even so the crew and passengers are looking at 3 months at sea before they reach San Francisco,  What only a select few people know is that it contains a secret cargo of young women that are travelling to a new life.  What the girls/ladies have in common is that they are all alone in the world with no family many have spent a large amount of their lives in orphanages.

The main character is Alyssa who differs from the other girls in that she has a more upper class background and is not so poverty stricken.  She is also more educated and is immediately put to good use in helping to educate and lead the others. Her character is very complex and fits well within the era as do all the other characters.  The story progresses and the reader joins the Artemis’ Delight and its passengers on its journey encountering storms, illness, murder and romance along the way with some of the passengers forced to turn detective it all makes for a very gripping read that will have the reader turning page after page.

Author Bio

Carmen Radtke has spent most of her life with ink on her fingers and a dangerously high pile of books and newspapers by her side.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter on two continents and always dreamt of becoming a novelist and screenwriter.

When she found herself crouched under her dining table, typing away on a novel between two earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, she realised she was hooked for life.

“The Case of the Missing Bride” is a former Malice Domestic finalist, inspired by a true event. Its heroine Alyssa Chalmers will soon return in “Glittering Death”.

When Carmen is not writing, reading or dreaming of travel, she is busy acting as resident cat servant.

She’s currently working on her first contemporary crime novel.

Follow Carmen on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carmen-radtke

Or on Twitter: @carmenradtke1

Her website (very much a work in progress) is carmenradtke.com

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#BookReview – Silent Winter by Maggie James #psychologicalthriller #crimefiction @mjamesfiction

Today I would like to share with you my review of this brilliant, stand-alone thriller by the very talented Maggie James.

Silent Winter

by Maggie James

Available from Amazon

No sound. No light. No hope.

On an icy November night, Drew Blackmore is beaten unconscious, then abducted.  He awakes to find himself in total darkness, naked and chained to the floor.  Fed just enough to keep him alive, Drew is unable to identify his captor, or the reason for his incarceration. As reality fades, hallucinations take over. Can Drew escape his prison before madness claims him?

Meanwhile Drew’s wife, Holly, despairing of ever seeing him again, turns to his brother for comfort. As the worst winter in decades sweeps the UK, she learns of Drew’s tragic past. Could his disappearance be connected with that of a prostitute years before? 

A story of how the mind responds to solitary confinement, Silent Winter examines one man’s desperate attempt to survive the unthinkable.

My Review

Drew and Holly have a relatively happy marriage but a difference of opinion on when or if to start a family.  Holly is a bit peeved at Drew and as he set off to work that fateful morning it was after harsh words were said.  Little did anyone know that life would never be the same again.

Drew and Todd are brothers and have a very good relationship.  However, Todd is carrying a torch for Holly.  She was dating Todd when she met and fell in love with his brother.  Todd is now happily married to Nessa with twin boys to confirm their love and Drew is married to Holly.  It is a complicated relationship as the four people are very close so the lines between are very blurred.

The characters are very complicated but build well throughout the story.  Secrets are about to be revealed and connections made that go way back into the past and the entanglement between the characters gradually unwinds over the course of the story.

A fast paced story with many twists and turns as the truth is slowly revealed and not just one truth there are many shocks and a very unexpected ending.

A great read that will appeal to all who love Crime Fiction.

Thank you to the author, Maggie James for the advance digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.

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Blog Tour – WRONG VICTIM (Detective Rachel King #3) by H. H. Durrant #crimefiction #policeprocedural #detective #netgalley #WrongVictim #bookreview #newrelease @joffebooks @hhdurrant

Today I am thrilled to be kicking off the Blog Tour for WRONG VICTIM with my #bookreview of this awesome addition to the Detective Rachel King series by one of my favourite authors: Helen H Durrant. Fast paced, full of twists and turns this is an absolutely gripping page-turner that is a must read for any crime fiction fans.

Wrong Victim

Author: Helen H Durrant

Published by Joffe Books

Publication Date: 5th December 2019

Genre: Crime Fiction

Available from: AMAZON

A man is found dead in his bed, suffocated, covered in confetti and with his ring finger missing. Detective Rachel King informs his daughter and takes her to identify the body. But she’s never seen the man before in her life.

WHAT IF YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO THE KILLER REALLY WANTED TO MURDER?

Then a second murder. This time a woman, Alison, also suffocated and with her finger severed and confetti strewn over her body.

The team desperately search for a link before anyone else dies.

Meanwhile, someone has been running a property scam, selling dream houses that will never be built.

And the love of Rachel’s life has disappeared. Is he really the mastermind of a people-trafficking gang? Or does Rachel have enemies on her own team?

A MYSTERY FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS AND WITH NO ONE RACHEL CAN TRUST.

My Review

This is book 3 in the brilliant Detective Rachel King series by Helen Durrant.

A sick old man in a nursing home is found murdered with confetti sprinkled over him and his wedding finger missing.  Who would want to kill a man who is dying and what is the confetti all about?  These are just a few of the questions that Rachel King and her team need to find answers to but as they delve into the victim’s life they open Pandora’s box and are faced with shocks and more secrets than they ever expected.

Rachel King is a character who grows on you.  She is in love with Jed but he lives on the wrong side of the law (or does he) so her feelings have to be kept locked inside.  She relies heavily on her partner Elwyn and as everyone seems to have secrets he is the only colleague she is able to trust.  In the previous book we saw her at loggerheads with Kenton, a detective from a nearby station.  This very rocky relationship is carried through to this book as Rachel is forced to work with him.  But can she trust him?  Who can she trust?

Elwyn comes accross as the dependable type the voice of reason.  He is not easily ruffled and is a perfect character to offset Rachel’s lack of patience.

Jonny takes a bigger role in the story as he develops his detective skills we see more of his gut instinct come to the fore as he gains the confidence to act on his hunches.

The story is fast paced as I expect from Helen Durrant.  There are many twists and turns as we are taken on a journey through mistaken identity, corruption, drugs and revenge.  But knowing the why doesn’t mean the who will be revealed it is all a very tangled web that Rachel and her team have to untangle to find the right path to cracking the case.

What readers are saying about HELEN H. DURRANT

“I couldn’t put it down.” Barbara

“This new series by Helen H. Durrant certainly has got off to a thrilling start.” Viv

“If you want a book to get your teeth into, this is the one. A massive 5*” Greta

“Another fast-paced murder mystery” Aileen

“The writing wastop notch and the characters were very real.” Kat

THE DETECTIVE
DCI Rachel King. Thirty-nine year-old mother of two teenage daughters. Divorced from Alan. She lives in the Cheshire village of Poynton – about ten miles from central Manchester. She is good at her job, gets results but does make mistakes. One of them was getting involved with a budding villain in her teens. No one, family, friends or colleagues know anything about this.

ALSO BY HELEN H. DURRANT
RACHEL KING
Book 1: Next Victim
Book 2: Two Victims
Book 3: Wrong Victim

THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
Book 9: DEAD GUILTY

THE DCI GRECO BOOKS
Book 1: DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE
Book 4: DARK ANGEL

MATT BRINDLE
Book 1: HIS THIRD VICTIM
Book 2: THE OTHER VICTIM

Helen H Durrant

Author Bio

Helen sets her books in the area she has lived in for many years. The towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. This is an area between two counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and between the city and the hills. It offers a rich mix of the industrial and the countryside and all the character therein.

Helen always planned to write crime novels. But until she retired from full-time work in a local further education college, it had to go on the back burner. Once she did retire – there was no excuse. She now writes full-time. Retirement proper will have to wait!

Currently there are nine books in the ‘Calladine & Bayliss’ series available – Dead Wrong, Dead Silent, Dead List, Dead Lost, Dead & Buried, Dead Nasty, Dead Jealous, Dead Bad, and the latest – Dead Guilty. There is also a box set of the first three books.

Also available are four books in the ‘DI Greco’ series – Dark Murder, Dark Houses, Dark Trade, and the latest – Dark Angel.

There are two books in the DI Matt Brindle series – His Third Victim and The Other Victim.

The DCI Rachel King series has two books – Next Victim and Two Victims

LINKS

Twitter – @hhdurrant

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pg/helenhdurrant/about/?ref=page_internal

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BLOG TOUR – He Knows Your Secrets (Maddie Ives #4) by Charlie Gallagher #crimefiction #detective #newrelease #bookstagram @gloriouscharlie @joffebooks

Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for this new addition to the Maddie Ives series.

He Knows Your Secrets

Maddie Ives book 4

Available from Amazon

an absolutely gripping crime thriller with a massive twist

THE MOST HEART-POUNDING THRILLER YOU WILL READ THIS YEAR

THREE WOMEN:

ONE WILL SACRIFICE HER LIFE TO STOP HIM.

ONE IS HIS NEXT VICTIM.

ONE MUST TRY TO PUT HIM BEHIND BARS.

Holly Maguire takes a taxi to a clifftop location. She is determined to make things right. Then the car goes over the edge of the cliff.

As Holly falls to her death, she tightens her grip on a rucksack.

SHE WILL GIVE HER LIFE TO BRING HIM DOWN.

Kelly Dale wakes up to her first day without her mother. Her mum passed away late the previous night after losing a battle with cancer. Kelly receives a text from Holly, sent just before the accident, and rushes to the clifftop. She is too late.

Kelly has lost her mother and girlfriend in the space of a few hours.

Now she must face her own battle to stay alive.

HE WILL KILL KELLY NEXT. HE WANTS TO LIVE-STREAM HER MURDER.

Detective Maddie Ives is called out to inspect the wrecked vehicle. She is under pressure to write it off as a murder-suicide or a terrible accident. Holly was a known sex worker and the running theory is that she may have been engaged in activity with the taxi driver when it rolled over the side.

Maddie doesn’t buy it. Holly’s rucksack contains seemingly random and worthless items but Maddie quickly finds numerous links to a crime boss.

MADDIE MUST STOP A POWERFUL MAN WHO EXPLOITS AND CONTROLS WOMEN.

It’s a tense and thrilling ride as the net closes in. But time is running out to save Kelly.

HE KNOWS YOUR SECRETS: the new thriller from Charlie Gallagher. Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney or Mark Billingham.

My Review

Maddie Ives is back and ready to fight for the people who nobody cares about.  She is a very addictive character, feisty, determined and underneath the hard exterior she shows when needed lies a very compassionate, caring personality.  She has grown on me book by book so I am now at a place where I am nagging Charlie Gallagher to write faster.

A taxi goes over a cliff killing the taxi driver and a prostitute who is known to the Police.  Maddie attends and her gut instinct is telling her there is something wrong.  There are several very probable theories about what happened: a sex act gone wrong, murder/suicide ….. But Maddie is not buying any of them. When her boss, Harry tells her to leave it and concentrate on the cases she already has, she uses her own time to continue investigating, determined to put the pieces together and find out what Holly wanted her to know.

The story develops and we see the police view and the view from the criminal side as we are immersed in the sickening and violent world of abuse and exploitation masterminded by a known criminal that keeps escaping justice.

This is a fast paced story but we really get into the detective side as we follow Maddie as she tries to join up the dots and help people that don’t want to be helped.

I do love this series and in this one Maddie takes more of a central role with Harry taking a back seat for once.  As always the banter between Maddie and Vince adds humour to offset the darkness that shrouds Major Crimes.

Another excellent story by the brilliant Charlie Gallagher.

What people are saying about CHARLIE GALLAGHER:

“You will not want to put this book down.” Barbara

“A brilliant book.” Viv

“Another highly entertaining, twisty and tension-filled read.” Lou

“Up there with the best.” Carole

“You just cannot put this book down once started. Loved it!” Rita

THE AUTHOR
Charlie Gallagher has been a serving UK police officer for more than ten years. During that time he has had many roles, starting as a front-line response officer, then a member of a specialist tactical team and is currently a detective investigating serious offences.

ALSO BY CHARLIE GALLAGHER

MADDIE IVES
1: HE IS WATCHING YOU
2: HE WILL KILL YOU
3: HE WILL FIND YOU
4: HE KNOWS YOUR SECRETS

LANGTHORNE POLICE SERIES
Book 1: BODILY HARM
Book 2: PANIC BUTTON
Book 3: BLOOD MONEY
Book 4: END GAME

MISSING
THEN SHE RAN
HER LAST BREATH
RUTHLESS

Charlie Gallagher author bio

I have been a serving UK police officer for twelve years. During that time I have had many roles, starting as a frontline response officer, then a member of a specialist tactical team and also as a detective investigating the more serious offences.

My books are a series of thrillers and, rather unsurprisingly, policing is central to the stories.

The central themes are greed, ambition, corruption and addiction. Characters from both sides of the law will fall foul to their respective temptations.

I am inspired by what I do and see in my day-job as a police officer, though my books are entirely fictional. I am aware that the police officers in my books are not always shown positively. They are human and they make mistakes. This can be the case in real life too, but the vast majority of officers are honest and do a job in trying circumstances. From what I see on a daily basis, the men and women who wear the uniform and among the very finest, and I am proud to be part of one of the best police forces in the world.

The books are set in and around the fictional town of Langthorne. This is an area that is typical perhaps of many seaside resorts on England’s south coast: beautiful scenery, raw and rugged terrain and a dark underbelly.

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**FAITH MARTIN FANS** @faith.martin_nov @joffebooks #romanticsuspense

New Faith Martin romantic suspense books coming soon!

I have some brilliant and very exciting news for FAITH MARTIN fans. Following the success of the brilliant Hillary Greene, Jenny Starling and Monica Noble series’ that have been republished by the awesome JOFFE BOOKS the series’ previously published under the pen name: Maxine Barry are also to be republished by Joffe Books in the new year.

I cant tell you how excited I am about this and I am even more excited that I will be organising Blog Tours for all these fantastic books.

If you are a blogger or reviewer and would like to be invited on the Blog Tours (and you are not already on my list) you can sign up here:

BLOGGER SIGN UP LINK

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BLOG TOUR – Unscripted by Claire Hanscombe @bookishclaire #bookreview #bookstagram

Today I am thrilled to be part of the Blog Tour for UNSCRIPTED by Claire Handscombe

Unscripted

Author: Claire Handscombe

Publisher: Unbound Digital

Publication Date: 4th April 2019

Available from: Amazon UK independent bookshops Kobo Apple Books Google Play   Book Depository Waterstones Blackwells

Nobody is a bigger fan of actor Thomas Cassidy than Libby is. Nobody. That’s why she’s totally going to marry him.

She is going to write a novel, name the main character after Thom, and find a way to get it to him. Intrigued and flattered, he will read it, fall in love with her prose, write to her and ask to turn it into a movie. She will pretend to think about it for a week or so, then say, sure, but can I work on it with you? Their eyes will meet over the script, and fade to black.

It is a fail-proof plan. Except for the fact that Thom is a Hollywood star, and she is, well, not. Except for the fact that he lives in America. Except, too, for the tiny age gap. Not even twenty years! Totally overcomable.

All of the obstacles are totally overcomable. It’s all about determination.

My Review

Claire Handscombe is a new author to me so I was very excited to be invited on the Blog Tour for Unscripted.

The story begins with a love triangle. Dan is in love with Libby who is starstruck on Thom, a famous actor.  Not content with adoring him from afar Libby has a plan.  She will write a book then Thom will want it adapted for the screen and they will work together and he will fall in love with her.  Poor Dan helps her with this because he loves her and wants to make sure she is okay.

Libby is a character I would describe as flaky.  She is hopeless with money and lets her heart rule her head.  She is also totally blind to Dan’s feelings.  However, you cant help liking her and I found myself smiling many times over the course of the book. 

Thom appears to be a lovely man his marriage fell apart when an old flame of Ebba’s came back into her life so he is ‘available’ which suits Libby’s plans perfectly.

This wasn’t the fast paced book I am used to but it kept the pages turning as I was eager to find out whether she succeeds in her quest.

A very entertaining read.

Thank you to BotBS and the author for the digital copy of this book.  This is my unbiased review.

Claire Handscombe author bio

Claire Handscombe is a British writer who moved to Washington, DC in 2012, ostensibly to study for an MFA, but actually, let’s be honest, because of an obsession with The West Wing. She was recently longlisted for the Bath Novel Award, and her journalism, poetry, and essays have appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Bustle, Book Riot, Writing Magazine, and the Washington Post. She works as a bookseller at East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill and is the host of the Brit Lit Podcast, a fortnightly show of news and views from British books and publishing.

LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireHandscombe/

Twitter: @bookishclaire

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5178862.Claire_Handscombe

Blog: https://britlitblog.com/

Website: https://www.unscriptednovel.com

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