Book Review: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

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Published in 2007, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult is set in the ordinary town of Sterling in New Hampshire where nothing ever happens – until the day its complacency is shattered by a school shooting. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state’s best witness, but she can’t remember what happened before her very own eyes–or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show–destroying the closest of friendships and families.

Book Review: The Kill List (Inspector Anjelica Henley #3) by Nadine Matheson

“He will come for them, one by one…”

The third book in Nadine Matheson‘s Inspector Anjelica Henley series, The Kill List follows DI Henley as she is faced with a crime from her past, when Andrew Streeter was arrested for the brutal murders of five young people, including Henley’s best friend. Streeter’s ‘kill list’ of victims was found in his home, and he was convicted of all five crimes. Now, Streeter’s convictions are being overturned, as new evidence implies the original investigation was corrupt. No one is more shocked that DI Henley. But when the killings start up again, Henley must face the truth: they got it all wrong twenty-five years ago. Because the real killer is still out there, and he’s working his way through a new kill list…

BLOG TOUR: The Puppet Master (Major Crimes #3) by Sam Holland

“You think you’re in control of your own life? Think again. “

The third book in Sam Holland’s Major Crimes series, The Puppet Master follows the crimes of a madman across the country who’s carefully choosing his victims. He’s known as The Puppet Master, and he’s coming for you. Now, he won’t stop until you’re dead. And once he has you in his sights, he won’t let go. He watches your every move, and he will make you pay.

BLOG TOUR STOP: Profile K by Helen Fields

“He’s going to kill you. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Released last month, Profile K by Helen Fields follows Midnight Jones, an analyst trained to understand the human mind. But everything changes when, in the course of her work, she discovers Profile K’s file – because K stands for killer, and she knows that someone more dangerous than she could have ever imagined walks among them.

Midnight knows what Profile K is capable of before he even commits his first crime. But as the news rolls with the brutal murder of a local woman, no one believes what she tells them: that he is capable of so much worse.

Profile K will kill again – and, terrifyingly, Midnight realises that the moment she found his file was the moment she became his next target. Because Profile K is coming for Midnight – and the only way to escape with her life is to find him before he finds her…

Book Review: Lies We Bury by Elle Marr

“I was born in captivity…”

Published in 2021, Lies We Bury by Elle Marr follows Marissa Mo who, two decades ago, escaped a basement prison—the only home she’d ever known. At twenty-seven, Marissa’s moved beyond the trauma and is working under a new name as a freelance photographer. But when she accepts a job covering a string of macabre murders in Portland, it’s impossible for Marissa not to remember.

Everything is eerily familiar. The same underground lairs. Sad trinkets and toys left behind, identical to those Marissa had as a child. And then there is the note meant just for her that freezes Marissa’s blood: See you soon, Missy. To determine the killer’s next move, Marissa must retrieve her long-forgotten memories and return to a past she’s hidden away. But she won’t be facing her fears alone. Someone is waiting for her in the dark.

April 2024 Wrap Up

I don’t know if April felt like the longest month or the quickest…

I feel like it has ended too quickly, but I also had a month of sickness bugs, chicken pox, car troubles, and other stresses, so it feels like it has been hectic 😂

I also didn’t read nearly as much as I hoped to, but with five 5-star reads this month, I can’t really complain!!

In April, I read 18 books.

Here are my monthly stats:

Book Review: Belladonna (Belladonna #1) by Adalyn Grace

Published in 2022, Belladonna by Adalyn Grace follows 19-year-old Signa, orphaned as a baby, has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her last remaining relatives are the Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at the glittering and gloomy estate of Thorn Grove. Thorn Grove’s patriarch, Elijah, mourns his late wife, Lillian, through wild parties and drink, while eldest son Percy grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and daughter Blythe suffers from the same mysterious illness that killed her mother. And when Lillian’s spirit confronts Signa and claims she was poisoned, Signa realizes that Blythe could be next to die.

Signa’s best chance of uncovering the culprit and solving Lillian’s murder is an alliance with Death himself—the very man she hates most. And Death, that fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side, shows her that their connection may be more powerful than she ever dared imagine.

Book Review: Misery by Stephen King

“Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now he’s writing to stay alive.”

Published in 1987, Misery by Stephen King follows bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon who has finally met his biggest fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes, and she is more than a rabid reader – she is Paul’s nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house.

Book Review: Wild by Kristin Hannah

Published in 2006, Wild by Kristin Hannah is set in the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.

Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.

Book Review: The Trial by Jo Spain

Published on 25th April, The Trial by Jo Spain begins in 2014 at St Edmunds, Dublin, an elite college on the outskirts of the city, twenty-year-old medical student Theo gets up one morning, leaving behind his sleeping girlfriend, Dani, and his studies – never to be seen again. With too many unanswered questions, Dani simply can’t accept Theo’s disappearance and reports him missing, even though no one else seems concerned, including Theo’s father.

Ten years later, Dani returns to the college as a history professor. With her mother suffering from severe dementia, and her past at St Edmunds still haunting her, she’s trying for a new start. But not all is as it seems behind the cloistered college walls – meanwhile, Dani is hiding secrets of her own.

BLOG TOUR: Death In A Lonely Place (Jake Jackson #2) by Stig Abell

Published on 11th April, and the second book in the Jake Jackson series, Death In A Lonely Place by Stig Abell follows former London detective Jake Jackson who has found a new life in a quiet idyllic country village, where he enjoys tending to his chickens, swimming in his lake, and spending long, lazy evenings with his new love, Livia. It’s the perfect setting for their relationship to blossom.

Then a case from the past re-emerges, shattering the calm and plunging Jake into the shadowy world of No Taboo — a clandestine group which serves the extravagant whims of Britain’s elite. And when Livia accepts a position working for a powerful publishing magnate, suspicions arise about her new employer’s connection to the mysterious group. As unseen forces manipulate those around him, Jake races to expose the deception that threatens his peaceful world. Amid the desolate beauty and seemingly friendly faces of this small, cosy community, Jake must decide who he can really trust . . . or learn just how far No Taboo will go to protect their secrets.

Book Review: The Last Murder At The End Of The World by Stuart Turton

“Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world.”

Published in 2024, The Last Murder At The End Of The World by Stuart Turton is set on an idyllic island, where one hundred and twenty-two villagers and three scientists live in peaceful harmony. Outside the island there is nothing: the world was destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists. Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And then they learn that the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay. If the murder isn’t solved within 107 hours, the fog will smother the island—and everyone on it. But the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer—and they don’t even know it. And the clock is ticking.

Book Review: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins

Set to be released on 9th May, The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins is set in 1820 when Sophia Ashmore-Percy reluctantly accompanies her husband James to a remote Greek island, where he searches for rare biological specimens. Once there, however, she sets on her own voyage of discovery—stumbling across the very creature he is looking for, making an unexpected connection with a local woman, and ultimately reconsidering her marriage, life, and own desires.

Decades later, audiologist Henry Latimer is sent to the home of industrialist Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy and tasked with curing the man’s young daughter, Philomel, of her deafness. But Henry, eager to escape a troubled past, quickly becomes obsessed with the fascinating nature of Sir Edward’s business: spinning silk with a rare and magical breed of spiders. The extraordinary silk shields sound, offering respite from bustling streets and noisy neighbors. The result is instant tranquility, as wearers experience a soothing calmness. Yet, those within earshot of the outward-facing silk are subjected to eerie murmurs that amplify with proximity. Bystanders suffer the consequences of this unnerving phenomenon, manifesting in physical and mental afflictions ranging from headaches and drowsiness to severe cases of madness.

As Henry becomes entangled in the allure of the silk and Sir Edward’s charm, he glimpses a more sinister family history. The closer he ventures into the inner circle of Carthmute House, the more he unravels the horrifying underbelly of the silk business.

Book Review: Daughter Of Mine by Megan Miranda

“Daughters are different…”

Published earlier this month, Daughter Of Mine by Megan Miranda follows Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s long-time local detective, who unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

Book Review: Watching From The Dark by Gytha Lodge (DCI Jonah Sheens #2)

“You never saw him. But he saw it all…”

Published in 2020 and the second book in the DCI Jonah Sheens series, Watching From The Dark by Gytha Lodge follows Aidan Poole who logs onto his laptop late at night to Skype his girlfriend, Zoe. But to his horror, he realises she is not alone. Completely helpless, all he can do is listen to the sounds of a violent struggle. And then a chilling silence. He’s desperate to find out if she is okay. But then why is he so hesitant to call the police?

Book Review: The House Guest by Mark Edwards

“A perfect summer. A perfect stranger. A perfect nightmare.”

Published in 2020, The House Guest by Mark Edwards follows British twenty-somethings Ruth and Adam who are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, they can’t say no. Young, in love and on the cusp of professional success, they feel as if luck is finally on their side.

So the moment that Eden turns up on the doorstep, drenched from a summer storm, it seems only right to share a bit of that good fortune. Beautiful and charismatic, Eden claims to be a friend of the homeowners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York. They know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers—let alone invite them into your home — but after all, Eden’s only a stranger until they get to know her. As suspicions creep in that Eden may not be who she claims to be, they begin to wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake…

Book Review: Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake #1) by Rachel Caine

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Published in 2017 and the first book in the Stillhouse Lake series, Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine follows Gina Royal who is the definition of average — a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

Book Review: Can Anybody Help Me? by Sinéad Crowley (DS Claire Boyle #1)

“It was crazy really, she had never met the woman, had no idea of her real name but she thought of her as a friend. Or, at least, the closest thing she had to a friend in Dublin.”

Published in 2014 and the first book in the DS Claire Boyle series, Can Anybody Help Me? by Sinéad Crowley follows Yvonne who, struggling with a new baby, turns to Netmammy, an online forum for mothers, for support. Drawn into a world of new friends, she spends increasing amounts of time online and volunteers more and more information about herself.

When one of her new friends goes offline, Yvonne thinks something is wrong, but dismisses her fears. After all, does she really know this woman? But when the body of a young woman with striking similarities to Yvonne’s missing friend is found, Yvonne realises that they’re all in terrifying danger. Can she persuade Sergeant Claire Boyle, herself about to go on maternity leave, to take her fears seriously?

Book Review: The Gathering by CJ Tudor

Published in 2024, The Gathering by CJ Tudor is set in Deadhart, Alaska, where a detective investigates a grisly crime after a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?

Book Review: The Other Tenant by Lesley Kara

“They say she left…
But you think she’s been taken.”

Set to be published on 25th April, The Other Tenant by Lesley Kara follows Marlow who has always lived in unusual places. But when she accepts a vacancy as a property guardian, she finds herself moving back to a place she swore she’d never return to.

Right from the start, she knows it’s a terrible mistake. Something sinister is happening on the site – the previous tenant, Hayley, has disappeared without warning, and Marlow suspects the other guardians know far more than they’re letting on. She’s determined to find out what happened to Hayley, but which of these strangers can she trust? And what secrets from Marlow’s own past are about to make things even worse?