The Fire Child - A Netgalley Review

The Fire Child 

by S.K. Tremayne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rachel follows David to live in the beautiful family estate in Cornwall, she feels she has everything she could wish for. Her life is about to change though and she will uncover some dark and disturbing family secrets. Her stepson Jamie displays some worrying behaviour and she will have to do whatever she can to protect the child.
A twisting plot keeps the reader guessing and intrigued. This is a unique mix of (almost) paranormal mystery, historical fiction and thriller. The author goes to great lengths to describe the scenes and the reader is transported to the untamed country that is Cornwall.

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The Night Stalker 

by Robert Bryndza

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

DCI Erika Foster returns for a second case. This book works very well as a stand alone. Just over a year has gone by since her last case and this time she is not only up against an unusually hot British summer but also a new killer. When three men are found, brutally murdered in a similar fashion, Erika is racing against the clock to make sure there is no other victim. Will she outrun the killer? Will she succeed and not also sacrifice her career and all she has worked for? The reader is taken on another cat and mouse game by Robert Bryndza. He manages to cement DCI Foster as a firm favourite, a strong female character in a male dominated world.
The plot hurtles along and the reader is captured and swept away. Robert Bryndza has found a perfect formula for new crime and thriller protagonist. Anyone who enjoys a fast, well thought out and clever crime story will love this installment of the DCI Foster series.

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Nina Is Not OK - A Netgalley Review

Nina is Not OK 

by Shappi Khorsandi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nina is not OK is Shappi Khorsandi's debut novel. This author arrives on the scene with a bang! We meet 17 year old Nina on the possibly worst night of her young life. We experience from Nina's point of view how one fateful evening can impact your life.
Shappi Khorsandi tackles serious topics such as consent and addiction with sensitivity, kindness, compassion and a big portion of humour. Nina is not ok is a raw and honest story of coming of age, growing and growing up.
The book brings to mind the struggles young women in this day and age face, the prejudices that still exist and how social media amplifies misgivings and mistakes.
Nina is a complex character, the author did a great job developing the many layers and facets of our protagonist. The story moves along at a nice pace and we meet Nina's besties and a host of supporting cast along the way. Definitely a recommended book for young adults.

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All That Is Buried - A TBC review

All That Is Buried 

by Robert Scragg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book for review.
"All that is buried" is book 3 of Robert Scragg's Porter and Styles series. The book works as a stand alone and numerous references and flashbacks to the previous books give some context and background for the dynamics the characters display.

When little Libby goes missing at a funfair, the team is faced with a harrowing investigation. After months, nothing has led them closer to solving the crime. Libby remains missing and, additionally, the investigation uncovers 9 more murdered children. Will Porter and Styles unravel the mystery? Will Libby's parents find a happily ever after? Twists and turns throughout will keep the reader guessing.

I have never read a book quite like this. At times, I got very confused and lost the thread as so many story lines are opened and run parallel. Some of the discoveries have absolutely nothing to do with the original crime, they kind of pop up, setting the scene for another book more than adding anything to the story line of this one. The author does manage to pull the strands together in the end, but I am sorry to say, it did not convince me. The sheer amount of side stories were just a bit overwhelming for me.This being the 3rd installment means that some back story is required, however I felt at times that the amount of flashbacks was a little more than necessary. There are some cliches in this book that left me feeling a bit uneasy, such as the "Eastern European" drug lord, the "good" Western European, description of accents etc. The characters are well developed and work well together. The reader gets a very good understanding of each of the main players and "who they are". Little bits of personal life flesh them out and make them personable. This book is definitely one for those who enjoy a multi layered plot evolving.

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Lost Girl - A TBC Review

Lost Girl

by Holly Kammier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book by Holly Kammier I have read. Readers have to keep in mind, that this is a Young Adult mystery novel and, as such, some older readers may find the format is not as expected. I enjoyed the book and felt it was an intriguing mix between mystery and romance.
Shelby Day is a 21 years old hopeful in the fast paced world of journalism. Her aspirations to make it big in the world of investigative journalism drive her actions. When a double murder of two young women happen in the sleepy little town she interns in, Shelby finds herself more than just professionally interested. Her investigation soon leads to her being targeted by the brutal killer herself.
This book is very clearly written to appeal to a younger audience, the characters are well developed and show complexity and relatable struggles of their own. This is not only a mystery story but also one that touches on personal growth and realtionships between the characters.
The author clearly researched the characteristics a young heroine would display in the 21st century and I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author did not opt for the "obvious choice" when it comes to solving the mystery. It is well worth a read if you are looking for a quick, fun book.

Gerald Oddman - A TBC Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an advance copy of the book for review.
Gerald Oddman is a very odd man. He arrives, seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of nowhere. Not a penny to his name, he has to throw himself on the mercy of complete strangers. He is used to being a celebrity, so when his approaches are met with a mix of pity, indifference, hostility and, sometimes, human kindness, he feels more than a little jilted. We encountered the people Gerald meets, an unlikely bunch and not all likable at all. A group of young hopeless men become Gerald's new entourage. As Gerald's desperate attempts to find his former glory and followers in the 21st century get more curious and daring, we meet his daughter. Instead of helping her father, she manages to expose him as an attention seeking, out of touch and thoroughly unlikable. As quickly as Gerald had found fame, he loses it again.
This book is a quick, easy read. The characters and storylines are all neatly interwoven and the plot development is well paced. This book is somewhat thought provoking as it touches on subjects such as God, the reason for being and the meaning of life. It is not overbearing however and more tongue in cheek.
I gave 4 stars as i found the end somewhat strange, I am hoping that it is a set up for a sequel. If you are looking for a quick, touching read, this is definitely a book I would recommend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gerald-Oddman-T-W-M-Ashford-ebook/dp/B07ZBFN4YZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=gerald+oddman&qid=1574884639&sr=8-1

Redemption - A TBC Review

Redemption 

by Jessica Therrien

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Redemption is the final instalment in Jessica Therrien's "Children of the Gods" trilogy.

All our favourite characters are back for more adventures and action. In this final book, the descendants' world is given an almost post-apocalyptic make-over.  The story moves
 at a a fast pace and character, world and plot development all hurtle along.

Will it all end in a "happy ever after"? Will humans and descendants finally embrace their differences and work together to create a new world?

Jessica Therrien successfully combines ancient myth with modern problems and ideology. Although all three books seem to have a different focus, all are well written, with continued character and story development. This final book definitely has some darker moments that would delight any fan of  post-apocalyptic fantasy  fiction.