Category Archives: Murder

Murder at the Bridge (Exham on Sea Mysteries 5) by @francesevesham #FridayReads #novella

Posted in Book Review, Books, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Murder, Novella, Reading by
  • Author: Frances Evesham
  • Published: June 2017 on Kindle
  • Category: Cozy Murder/Mystery, Book Review, Books, Reading

It’s summer, the sun’s shining, and Libby Forest is celebrating her son’s country wedding in Somerset, surrounded by friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Taking a moment to relax in the marquee after her son, Robert’s wedding to Sarah, Libby Forrest has a strange conversation with Belinda, the bride’s mother, which is interrupted by an unnerving man in a kaftan, causing Libby to prickle with discomfort and Belinda to make a hasty exit. Libby’s innate curiosity is aroused but before she could process her thoughts she is dismayed to hear an altercation break out over a supposedly stolen ring.  Continue reading →

Point of No Return (DCI Hatherall) by @DianaJFebry #Crime #Suspense #Book Review #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Book Review, Books, Crime, Murder, Mystery, Police Procedural, Reading, Suspense by
  • Author: Diana J Febry
  • Published: August 2015 by Wings ePress
  • Category: Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Book Review, Books, Reading

“Nothing to be sorry about. Your mother can’t wait to have you home. We’ll soon have you back on your feet again.”

Digby shuddered. Gratitude at their blind faith clashed violently with anger. The fear of facing another person, who still believed in him when he no longer believed in himself, sliced through him. The knife glowed red hot, the butter creamy and soft. He reached for the door handle. If he hurled himself from the car, the pain would stop.

Digby Pearce, wrongly accused of causing the death of his best friend by dangerous driving, was acquitted at the trial. Maintaining all along that James Palmer had lied about his involvement, the resulting anger and grief crushed and overwhelmed Digby completely, to the point where he made a terrible and drastic decision, hoping to point the finger of blame squarely at Palmer. Digby’s inner struggle and emotions were depicted extremely well, conveying the strength of feeling that ultimately ended in tragedy. Continue reading →

Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton @AuthorSJBolton #FridayReads #BookReview Psychological #Thriller

Posted in Book Review, Crime, Murder, Psychological, Reading, Suspense, Thriller by
  • Author: Sharon Bolton
  • Published: June 2016 by Transworld Digital
  • Category: Book Review, Crime, Murder, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological, Reading

Famous killers have fan clubs.

Hamish Wolfe is no different. Locked up for the rest of his life for the abduction and murder of three young women, he gets countless adoring letters every day. He’s handsome, charismatic and very persuasive. His admirers are convinced he’s innocent, and that he’s the man of their dreams.

Hamish Wolfe, handsome and charming, swears he is not guilty of the crimes for which he’s been imprisoned. His mother and posse of devotees also believe he has been wrongly convicted and, although the evidence against him seems beyond doubt, Wolfe steadfastly maintains his innocence. He and his supporters want to engage the services of Maggie Rose.  Continue reading →

Last Breath (Detective Erika Foster #4) by @RobertBryndza #TuesdayBookBlog @bookouture #BookReview

Posted in Book Review, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Murder, Police Procedural, Reading, Serial killer, Suspense, Thriller by
  • Author: Robert Bryndza
  • Published: April 2017 by Bookouture
  • Category: Crime, Serial Killer, Police Procedural, Book Review, Reading

He’s your perfect date. You’re his next victim.

When the tortured body of a young woman is found in a dumpster, her eyes swollen shut and her clothes soaked with blood, Detective Erika Foster is one of the first at the crime scene. The trouble is, this time, it’s not her case. 

Detective Chief Inspector Erica Foster is not happy. She hates being stuck behind a desk writing reports, and has been refused her requested transfer to the Murder Investigation Team. She and former colleague, Detective James Peterson, are in a tentative relationship and were together when a call came through to Peterson about a body found in a dumpster. Erika can’t resist taking the initiative and is soon involved in the investigation. Continue reading →

Broken Dolls (Jefferson Winter #1) by James Carol @JamesCarolBooks #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Murder, Mystery, Police Procedural, Reading, Suspense, Thriller by
  • Author: James Carol
  • Published: January 2014 by Faber & Faber
  • Category: Crime, Thriller, Book Review, Books, Reading, Procedural

Jefferson Winter is no ordinary investigator.

The son of one of America’s most renowned serial killers, Winter has spent his life trying to distance himself from his father’s legacy.

After a successful career with the FBI, the last few years as a high achieving profiler, Jefferson Winter’s unconventional approach prompted him to leave the constraints of an organisation and go freelance. He now consults on serial killer cases worldwide.

His father was a convicted serial killer and the three words he mouthed as he lay on the prison gurney waiting to be executed, haunt Winter. It’s one of the incentives that drive him, motivating him to do what he does and also to dissociate himself from his father. Continue reading →

Murder at the Cathedral (An Exham on Sea Mystery #4) by @FrancesEvesham #FridayReads #cozy murder/mystery

Posted in Book Review, Cozy Mystery, Murder by
  • Author: Frances Evesham
  • Published: February 2016 by AinsleyAssociates
  • Category: Cozy Murder Mystery

The respectable ladies of the Knitters’ Guild plan a surprise for the cathedral city. The surprise isn’t meant to include murder…

Libby Forrest and her friend Angela Miles are enjoying coffee and a chat in Wells Cathedral café. Angela is a volunteer guide at the cathedral. They are unintentionally witnessing an argument between Libby’s lodger, Mandy and her boyfriend, Steve who is Angela’s nephew. As Mandy storms out Angela’s phone rings. There’s been a murder…..

Giles Temple, a historian, has been researching at the cathedral library and was found that morning by Dr Phillips, the librarian. Libby is determined not to involve herself in another investigation. She is busy organising her son’s wedding, her own business and her plans to set up a private investigation service with Max Ramshore. Not only that, she had found herself agreeing to marry Max as well and was getting cold feet about giving up her independence.  Continue reading →

As The Crow Flies by Damien Boyd (DI Nick Dixon #1) #Crime @DamienBoydBooks #Mystery #TuesdayBookBlog

Posted in Book Review, Crime, Murder, Mystery by
  • Author: Damien Boyd
  • Published: January 2015 by Thomas & Mercer
  • Category: Crime, Suspense, Police Procedural

Rock climbing is now a blood sport.

Detective Inspector Nick Dixon’s former climbing partner, Jake Fayter, is dead. Killed in a fall whilst practising a new route on High Rock, Cheddar Gorge. Convinced that Jake would not have made such a simple mistake, Nick Dixon starts digging and uncovers a web of intrigue and criminal activity that will rock the sleepy seaside town of Burnham-on-Sea to its core.

DI Nick Dixon recently left the Metropolitan Police and returned to his home county, joining the Avon and Somerset force and, although few people could understand his reasoning, Nick knew he’d made the right decision. He wasn’t particularly interested in advancement, it was all about solving crimes, even if it had left him in an unfurnished rented cottage. That didn’t matter so much when he was on the beach with his eight month old rescued Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Monty. He is enjoying being on his home turf. Continue reading →

Irex by Carl Rackman ~ based on fact #BookReview for #RBRT @CarlRackman #Histfic #FridayReads

Posted in Book Review, Books, Historical Fiction, Murder, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller by
  • 51gv4vgjy-lAuthor: Carl Rackman
  • Published: September 2016 by Rackman Books
  • Category: Historical, Fiction, Drama
  • five-stars

In the harsh winter of December 1889, the sailing vessel Irex leaves Scotland bound for Rio de Janeiro. She carries three thousand tons of pig iron and just three passengers for what should be a routine voyage. But Captain Will Hutton discovers that one of his passengers hides a horrifying secret.

First of all, I have to say it’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. It’s so good and the quality of the writing is excellent throughout. The story is based in history, the ship, a couple of the main crew members, reason for the wreck and the attempts at rescue, are all fact. Carl Rackman has woven an incredibly imaginative and compelling tale around that tragic event. Continue reading →

The Skeletons of Birkbury by @DianaJFebry #Murder #Mystery in the Cotswolds #FridayReads

Posted in Cozy Mystery, Murder, Mystery by
  • 61etjg0qvilAuthor: Diana J Febry
  • Published: May 2012 by Wings ePress, Inc.
  • Category: Murder, Mystery
  • four-half-stars

Twenty years ago no connection was made between the disappearance of a girl from Cheltenham and a fatal car accident in the small village of Birkbury. But that changes when the body is found buried in Birkbury and there are two further car accidents and a local girl goes missing.

On the strength of reading and enjoying Who Killed Vivien Morse? a little while ago, I added The Skeletons of Birkbury, the first in the series and Diana J Febry’s debut novel, to my reading list. And I wasn’t disappointed. The setting, in a rural village location, was realistically described with the horse and farming community. A great mix of diverse and representational characters add to the appeal, from the ‘gentry’ to the older more civil, sometimes nosey, salt of the earth villagers, although they can appear quite uncooperative at times. Continue reading →

Self-Serve Murder (Death by Cupcake #3) by D.E. Haggerty #RBRT #SundayBlogShare #CozyMystery @denaehaggerty

Posted in Book Review, Books, Cozy Mystery, Murder, Novella, Reading by
  • 32715636Author: D.E. Haggerty
  • Kindle Edition
  • Category: Cozy Murder/Mystery
  • four-stars

Kristie is kind with a capital K, so it’s quite the surprise when she wakes up next to a dead man with no recollection of the previous night. Even worse? She’s naked. Kristie may be a sweetheart out to save the world, but sticking her nose into an investigation of rapes across campus makes her the target of a murderer.

As well as being a grad student and working part time at the local youth centre, Kristie Larson helps out as a barista at Callie’s Cakes. When she finds herself in bed one morning with a man she doesn’t know, and soon realises is dead, dazed and shocked she calls her best friend Anna.  Kristie has no memory of the previous night, the man or how he ended up at her house, much less in her bed. She and her two friends, Callie and Anna, and their police detective boyfriends, Logan and Ben, begin to unravel the mystery and find out more than they bargained for.  Continue reading →