Now You See Her - Heidi Perks

Description

SHE WAS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. AND NOW SHE'S MISSING.

Unputdownable psychological suspense from an exciting new talent, perfect for fans of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and Claire Mackintosh's I LET YOU GO.

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NOW YOU SEE HER
She’s playing at the school fete with your children. You pull out your phone, scroll through Facebook, and look up again.
NOW YOU DON'T

Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second.

Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable, tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching.

Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again.

Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface.

Someone is hiding the truth about what really happened to Alice

Review

This book is billed as "unputdownable" and for the first hundred pages or so I am afraid I did not agree. It was ok - there was a story to be told and tragic as it was I just happy to read along when I had time.

Then all that changed! A simple sentence and I actually exclaimed out loud "wow!". I began to recalculate what I had read so far and realised that the author had done something very clever, she had led me to believe what I wanted to believe whilst reading the book. What followed was such a gripping story that I read the rest of the book in one sitting. I just had to know what was going to happen.

With up to date references to social media and how it can alter perception about those suspected, those missing, the parents, in fact everyone involved in the case this novel is also very thought provoking and chilling.

The story is told in the present with it flipping back and forth to the past. Clear labelling ensures you know where you are in the story and I didn't find that aspect at all confusing or annoying, as it can sometimes be in a book.

The only thing left to say is that I am giving this book 5 out of 5 very well deserved stars. But you dear reader have to wait a little longer to read it and for that I am sorry - but read it you must.

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for an advance copy of the book for review.

The Perfectly Imperfect Woman - Milly Johnson

Description

Marnie Salt has made so many mistakes in her life that she fears she will never get on the right track. But when she ‘meets’ an old lady on a baking chatroom and begins confiding in her, little does she know how her life will change.

Arranging to see each other for lunch, Marnie finds discovers that Lilian is every bit as mad and delightful as she’d hoped – and that she owns a whole village in the Yorkshire Dales, which has been passed down through generations. And when Marnie needs a refuge after a crisis, she ups sticks and heads for Wychwell – a temporary measure, so she thinks.

But soon Marnie finds that Wychwell has claimed her as its own and she is duty bound not to leave. Even if what she has to do makes her as unpopular as a force 12 gale in a confetti factory! But everyone has imperfections, as Marnie comes to realise, and that is not such a bad thing – after all, your flaws are perfect for the heart that is meant to love you.

The Perfectly Imperfect Woman is the heart-warming and hilarious new novel from the queen of feel-good fiction – a novel of family, secrets, love and redemption … and broken hearts mended and made all the stronger for it. 

Review

This is the first Milly Johnson novel I've read and it won't be the last.

When we first meet Marnie she is a businesswoman determined to do the best she can in a male dominated world. She has a history of picking the wrong men and is out to make sure that changes - of course it doesn't and so the foundations for the usual chick lit novel I thought were laid out. How wrong I was!

What followed was the most engrossing read. Marnie meets a lady on an internet chat board about Cheesecakes and again at first it seemed a little contrived that the lady goes on to offer Marnie a cottage rent free.

Once Marnie is settled in the cottage a whole whodunnit is unleashed, both about the village and it's lost well, which legend states contains a dead witch - and is Marnie in some way connected to the village? I got totally lost in this book once Marnie began making cheesecakes and living in the village. 

This has to be the first book of this type that I have found to contain so many twists and turns within it. If you think this is going to be a formulaic read, then think again. Yes, there is a love interest and there is some romance but there is also so much, much more.

I found Milly's writing to be very down to earth and at times was a little taken aback at the ground roots language she used - but I liked it. I also liked the way Marnie's character developed and loved the village of Wychwell - I could imagine it, inhabitants, cottages and all through Milly's words.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks go to Netgalley for a copy of the book for review.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton

Description

How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?

The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade at their home, and their daughter Evelyn Hardcastle will die. She will die everyday until Aiden Bishop is able identify her killer and break the cycle.

But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up each day in a different  body as one of the guests. 

Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend. But nothing and no one are quite what they seem. 

Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that's an Agatha Christie mystery in a Groundhog Day Loop, with a bit of Quantum Leap to it.  Perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson and Claire North. 

Review

I was drawn to this book because I love Agatha Christie books, I love time travel books, and this seemed as if the two were going to be combined in a groundhog day kind of way.

I would say if you absolutely have to see black and white in a book and not a million shades in between, if you need a plot to be set in the here and now with no fantasy element, then this is NOT the book for you. I struggled at times to make sense of it all, but I just blindly read on, not understanding at times a word of what I was reading.

I think I was rewarded at various points in the book with a glimpse of what was happening and this led me to read on. At times I cared little about what was happening and had no ties to any of the characters, should I just stop reading? About two thirds of the way through I actually started to want to know again what was going on.

Then not far from the end some semblance of normality if you can call it that was revealed to the reader, a chance to actually play along to some degree. Just like Agatha Christie you are never going to be able to solve this whodunnit, because you don't have all the cards in the playing pack and what's more you don't even know which ones are missing. 

I can say now I have finished this book it is absolutely brilliant - I think it would be better as a film - as it is quite descriptive and a lot of that bogs down the reading of the plot. Reading the same story over and over again wasn't as dreary as I feared it would be as it is from a different perspective each time.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars as I think it could have been edited a little more and condensed. My thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book.

K.I.A. - Alexander Charalambides

Description

Hildegard lives in a real-life dollhouse, surrounded by prop houses and actors who play friends, teachers and foster parents. Only one man ever seemed real, and after his disappearance, she’s had enough playing along. As Hildegard makes her final preparations to run away from home, a swarm of black clad soldiers appear, controlling the police and swarming across her home town. She can evade them for now, but after learning their mission, she decides to play along one last time, following them to Truman, a lonely military academy on a freezing aleutian island. Hildegard knows it for what it is: just another prop, but not everyone feels the same way. Through the hell of endless drills and marching, Hildegard befriends the stealthy Grace and bloodthirsty David, and enlists them in an effort to unravel the plan of the man called G and his monstrous menagerie of inhuman soldiers.

Review

This book is pitched as a YA novel, however don't let that fool you into thinking it is any less than a full on thriller, worthy of a read by any adult.

I was really drawn to the book from the description - and was intrigued to find out what it was all about. When we first meet the lead character Hildegard she has stopped taking medication and is aware that there is more to her adoption than meets the eye.

She plans to run away from home and find answers and avoid being enlisted into Truman, a military academy. But then on a routine visit to the hospital she sees from her window a group of people arrive with guns. Now while you would have thought her instinct would be to wonder what is happening, Hildegard pulls all the wires out of a fuse box - it's at that moment you realise this is not going to be a boring novel.

However, instead of eventually running away Hildegard actually submits to being enrolled into Truman. Again not being a shrinking violet she teams up with two fellow pupils Grace and David, getting into some very serious scrapes that James Bond would be proud of. Each time she went a little further my stomach was in knots - what was going to become of her.

The book is really well written and I enjoyed the writing style. There is just enough intrigue for you to wonder how is this all going to end. Then it did end - and I was left thinking what just happened. Did I miss a page? So I went back to the beginning thinking I had misread some of the "file" notes. Still trying to figure it out but maybe it's going to have a sequel?

I'm giving this book five out of five stars .

My thanks to Alexander for supplying me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Attention Span - Pauline Wiles

Description

Revenge, rejection, resilience and revival: they’re all represented in this collection of fourteen short stories from author Pauline Wiles.

Ranging in length from just 99 words to long-enough-for-a-second-cup-of-tea, these stories feature locations from Switzerland to Seattle and the popular fictional English village of Saffron Sweeting in between. Some are light, several are quirky and one or two a little on the darker side. They explore the meaning of family, the search for true love, and the overwhelming importance of home.

Review

What a fabulous selection of short stories this is. I love Pauline's writing as she is able to capture the most mundane and everyday occurrences that has you thinking - yes! that's exactly what happens. Such as when Becky has the thin plastic handles cut into her fingers from the groceries she's carrying. 

Some stories are very short - just a page. Unlike some short stories where you turn that last page and are left wondering - "what just happened" or "is that it!" These stories have a satisfying ending and feel complete, with more depth than short stories usually have.

Two quirky stories are "On the Shelf" - the lives of items on a charity shop shelf and "Attention Span - the Facebook feed that comes to life. I just loved both of these for the unusual subject matter. Then there is the "Checking In" story another absolute gem. 

Do you know what an IFB is? You really need to find out by reading "Seating for Singles"!

I usually reserve short stories for reading in between other books. However I got so hooked on these that I read the last half all at once.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and my thanks to Pauline for my copy to review.

The last story is actually the beginning of  a full length novel by Pauline called "Saving Saffron Sweeting". You can read my review here for that book. This is also the first novel in a series the others being Sweet Pursuits and Secrets in the Sky. If you click the links you will go to my reviews of those books.

Bring Me Back - B A Paris

Description

The million-copy bestselling author returns with a breathtaking thriller – available to pre-order now

‘We’re in a new Golden Age of suspense writing now, because of amazing books like Bring Me Back, and I for one am loving it’ Lee Child

The Disappearance
Twelve years ago Finn’s girlfriend disappeared.

The Suspicion
He told the police the truth about that night.
Just not quite the whole truth.

The Fear
Now Finn has moved on.
But his past won’t stay buried…

Review

I thought B A Paris's first book was great, the second was ok and now I can't decide about this one. Yes, it kept me reading as I had to know what happened - but I am not sure that I didn't spot a huge glitch in the whole plot. 

However, there is nothing worse than a reviewer with the benefit of hindsight, and I have to say that I did read the whole thing in a couple of sittings, as there were a lot of twists and turns to keep me guessing and second guessing. 

It is really difficult to say what happens as I may unwittingly reveal something and spoil the book for you. The story flips between "before" when Finn's girlfriend Layla goes missing and "now" when he is living with his current girlfriend Ellen who happens to be Layla's sister. it also flips to when he first met his girlfriend, Layla - which is "before" but not in sequence. I didn't find the characters relate-able in any way  they all appeared to be very cold people and had little back story - but that is probably part of the plot.

I was taken aback by the final solution to what was going on - I found it a little improbable but really good reading.  I am giving the book four out of five stars. It is still an ingenious book plot.

My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy of the book.

Surprise Me - Sophie Kinsella

Description

A witty and emotionally charged novel that delves into the heart of a marriage, and how those we love and think we know best can sometimes surprise us the most—from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella
 
After ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they communicate so seamlessly they finish each other’s sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it’s casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years . . . and panic sets in. 
            
They decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me—from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to sexy photo shoots—mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all.
            
With a colorful cast of eccentric characters, razor-sharp observations, and her signature wit and charm, Sophie Kinsella presents a humorous yet moving portrait of a marriage—its intricacies, comforts, and complications. Surprise Me reveals that hidden layers in a close relationship are often yet to be discovered.

Review

I have read all of Sophie's novels in her different genres and I was really looking forward to reading this book. So, imagine how disappointed I was when I began it and it was just different - can't put my finger on it but I didn't really like it. I wasn't keen on the what I thought the book was going to be about and felt a little disquieted by it.

However, that all changed - thank goodness! - as I got into the book and project "Surprise Me" began and some real laugh out loud moments were forthcoming. The other thing that happened is that we got introduced to Sylvie's workplace and it was divine. I loved the descriptions and really could see myself being there. The owner of Willoughby House where Sylvie works was a brilliant character and so enchanting if not a little eccentric. 

This book has a few different story threads to it beside the project "surprise me" so that kept my attention too. Tilda the hilarious neighbour and her son Toby (with his ingenious conspiracy theories) were well drawn characters and I could just imagine all the "secretive" exploits Tilda and Sylvie carried out together. I just loved the episode with the cardigan.

There is a thread in the book which is a little darker and not normally found in one of Sophie's books. It seems as if she has combined her different writing genres into this one book and very successfully too. My initial disquiet did disappear and I loved the book racing through it to find out what would happen.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of the book for review.