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Today's recommended read is another from the pile of Christmas and birthday presents.
I have enjoyed Karin Slaughter for years. I first discovered her around about the same time I stumbled across Lee Child, so that's another massive thank you to Manchester City Council's public library system.
I started with her Grant County series, continued with her Will Trent series and kept on going as the two series merged. I've never been to that part of the US but Slaughter is a native of the state of Georgia and these books capture the good, the bad, the ugly and the quirky of that unique state. Slaughter's unflinching, often brutal stories are nevertheless beautifully written and I find them a true pleasure.
Alongside her series, she also does a mean line in standalone thrillers, and Pieces Of Her is her 2018 entry (I am baffled as to how I missed its publication, but hey-ho, I got it for Christmas).


The story concerns Andrea, a meek, unfulfilled young woman living above her mother's garage. The two women are in a coffee shop, when a gunman enters. What happens next stuns Andy and turns on its head everything she thought she knew about her mother.


Slaughter excels at writing richly-layered, flawed characters and pushing them to their extremes, and this book is no different. Even better are her complex, clever plots that really do keep you guessing.
For example, in this book, I was pretty convinced early on that I knew what the big twist would be. It was the only logical explanation. That's fine; even if I've figured that out, I know that I am still going to enjoy a damn good ride.
But readers can be a fickle bunch - for everyone that feels somewhat smug that they have guessed the author's intentions (yeah, that'd be me), there are those that get in a huff and write grumpy Amazon reviews claiming that the book is predictable, the author is running out of ideas etc etc.
So about 100 pages in, Slaughter had one of her characters voice my theory - and promptly shot it down.  Emphatically. No room for deception by the character. Basically Slaughter is telling the reader directly that if you think that I have taken the easy way out and gone for the obvious explanation, you're wrong.
Awesome, now we're cooking!
And so for the rest of the book the reader finds themselves slowly unpicking the story as each clue is revealed, piece by piece. What puts Slaughter at the top of her game is her very clever manipulation of the reader. She is extremely good at giving you just enough information so that sometimes you feel that you are running a few pages ahead, feeling triumphant that you have foreseen what's happening next. Then on other occasions pulls the carpet from under you, confounding your expectations. That's a real skill.
So, like all of Karin Slaughter's books, this one that I heartily recommend and I look forward to seeing what NetFlix do with it!

Welcome to a first for this blog, a review of an entire series.

I first came across Rachel Lynch's DI Kelly Porter in the summer of 2019, when her publisher sent me an early copy of the third book, Dead End. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and was more than happy to let a quote of mine be used on the cover blurb. A few months later, the convenor of my local Crime Writers' Association chapter announced that we would have a new member joining us for our semi-regular lunch-time gatherings. Guess who turned up the following Sunday!

Since then, Rachel has written a further five books, a work-rate that puts many of us to shame!
Fast-forward to the end of 2020 and the wonderful folks who run the UK Crime Book Club Facebook page asked if I would like to do a live 'in conversation with'  interview. And if I did, who would I like to speak to? The decision took seconds, and I fired off a quick Facebook message to Rachel. Regardless of her response, I happened to be standing outside a small bookshop in Bakewell (quite literally the only time I had been out in public since March!), and it gave me the perfect excuse to march in and buy her whole back catalogue with a view to binge-reading them before our conversation.

The conversation took place on Friday 12th of February and is archived on both the UK Crime Book Club Facebook page and YouTube.

Reading the whole series back-to-back has been an absolute pleasure! As a writer of police procedurals myself, I know how difficult it can be to tread the fine-line between accuracy and the need to tell a good story, and Rachel nails it.
The stories encompass a range of different types of crime and societal issues including knife crime and teenage drug use, illegal immigation and people trafficking and a cracking messed-in-the-head serial killer! Rachel also touches on more unusual fare - the sixth in the series, Blood Rites explores ancient religions and cults. Unlike some authors, she resists the urge to over-sensationalise and treats these alternate beliefs with respect, and I came away feeling that I had learnt something genuinely interesting. Some of the themes (and antagonists) explored in earlier books are revisited later, which is extremely satisfying.

The books are set in the lake district, an area Rachel knows intimately and whilst the alarmingly regular murders, and hidden secrets are probably not entirely to the Cumbria Tourist Information Office's taste, I think they are more than compensated for by her clear love of the area. DI Kelly Porter is a keen runner and outdoorsperson, and Rachel's descriptions of this breath-taking National Park, through all its varied seasons, remind me of the wonderful visits I have made there. I think that readers of her books who are unfamiliar with the area will be entranced, and may contemplate a future holiday there.

Porter is a compelling character; dogged and determined, she follows a really satisfying arc over the course of the books. Her personal life is well mapped-out, and whilst it has enough drama to keep readers hooked and keen to catch-up with her in the next book, she isn't a dark, depressed alcoholic.
In many ways, I find this comforting; my own DCI Warren Jones isn't plagued by as many demons as some of his fictional peers, and Rachel has proven that you can write dark stories without the need for a relentlessly dark central protagonist.

There are many excellent crime series out there, and this is up with the best of them. And with its beautiful backdrops, complex and likeable central character, and satisfyingly complex plots, this is one that is crying out for TV. The success of Vera, DCI Banks and Shetland have shown that there is a big appetite for stories such as these. Perfect fodder for Sunday evening on ITV1!

I highly recommend this whole series!

Please feel free to share your thoughts here or on social media.

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I am a massive fan of US author Harlan Coben, so it was with great anticipation that I plucked The Boy From The Woods from the teetering pile of paperbacks that I received for Christmas. Coben is well-known for his Myron Bolitar series, however this is one of his equally excellent stand-alone thrillers.

The premise is as original as ever: Thirty years ago, a young  boy was found alone in a forested area of New Jersey. No name, no memories, nobody claims him as their own. Today, he is a decorated former soldier. He has friends and people that love him, but Wilde still prefers to live outdoors alone. But when a local school girl goes missing, Wilde is asked to help find her.

There are certain things that you will always get with a Harlan Coben novel, and each of them is here:

• Compelling, original and well-thought-out characters. Check.
• Suburban, middle-class New Jersey. Check.
• Sharp, witty dialogue that makes you laugh out loud, even though the book is not a comedy. Check.
• A twisting, turning plot peppered with surprises and reveals. Double Check.

If all that sounds a bit too much like a formula, then don't be fooled. Coben's books may have a loose framework, but that's because it is a damn good way to tell a story, and it is certainly never predictable. Instead, think of it as a list of the ingredients necessary for a meal. It's the quality of those ingredients and what you do with them that determines how good the meal is.

A couple of things stood out for me, as I raced through the book in four sittings:
Hester Crimstein, TV attorney - acerbic, unsubtle and witty in the way that Coben is so good at. Her dialogue is peppered with NJ Jewish phrases. Think Judge Judy meets Joan Rivers. I really hope they film it one day; this character will be worth the price of admission alone.
Coben's trademark journey of twists, reveals, apparent resolutions and double-backs. He manages to surprise repeatedly right until the very end.
A bogey man that will feel very familiar to anyone who has watched US politics over the past few years.

A final thought. This is ostensibly a stand-alone. The story is fully and satisfyingly resolved at the end as always. But of all his recent novels, this is the one with the most scope for him to dig back into the sandbox and bring out the characters for another go. If there is any sort of sequel or series, they'll be on my Christmas list again for sure.

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This book is an absolute blinder. The first six pages of the paperback's front filler are testimonials from fellow writers and the media, and I can well imagine the publishers having to trim that list down. It really is that good, and is well-deserving of The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award that it nabbed in 2020 and the many other awards that it has won or been shortlisted for.
The premise is ingenious:
Rachel O'Neil receives an anonymous phone call. They have her daughter and if she doesn't follow their exact instructions, she will be killed. The kidnapper's own child has also been snatched and the only way that their kid will be returned safely to them is for Rachel to choose and then kidnap another child, whose parents need to follow her exact instructions... It's not about the money, it's about maintaining The Chain.

I love a story where an ordinary person is forced by circumstance to perform extraordinary acts; Harlan Coben's standalone novels are excellent examples of this.
However, an excellent premise is nothing if it isn't executed properly, and this is where McKinty has excelled. Doubtless there will be many suspiciously similar books published over the coming years - especially if the movie comes to fruition. Many good writers are quite capable of taking such a strong idea and making a solid and enjoyable thriller. But McKinty has taken his time and carefully crafted a masterpiece.

McKinty's prose is descriptive and skilled and the chapters are short and punchy, keeping the pace brisk without ever feeling rushed. The chapters switch between several different points of view, perspectives and even timelines, but are populated by characters distinctive enough that it the reader is easily pulled into their world. McKinty is also not afraid to occasionally foreshadow events, so that the reader knows more than the protagonists. This can be tricky to pull off - get it wrong and the characters can come across as foolish; instead, the reader finds themselves racing through the pages, desperate to see what happens.

I've already alluded to the great Harlan Coben, and I feel that even he would be extremely pleased with this effort. And if you've ever seen my bookcases, you'll know that is high praise indeed.
I very highly recommend this book!

Today is another double bill!

Steve Cavanagh's Eddie Flynn series is fast becoming one of my 'can't miss' reads, and these two latest entries have raised the already high bar he set with his previous books even more. The books have won numerous awards and are quite rightly bestsellers.

For those unfamiliar with the set-up, Flynn is a New York-based con-artist turned defence lawyer. He only represents those that he knows are innocent; unfortunately his shady past and successful reputation have sometimes made him the 'go to advocate' for some decidedly unsavoury characters, who will make him an 'offer he cannot refuse', leaving Flynn with the unenviable task of trying to balance his own, ethical standards with the demands of his employers.

The books are legal thrillers in the vein of Michael Connelly's Micky Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) series, with a mixture of courtroom drama and outside thrills. Both aspects of the story are equally exciting. Remarkably, Cavanagh is a Belfast-born lawyer in real-life, who has never practised in the state of New York, yet his stories are filled with authentic detail and procedure, often with a very clever twist that demonstrates his deep understanding of the NY legal system.

The series started with a bang in 2015's The Defence and a very tasty short story The Cross, before continuing with The Plea and The Liar.
The subjects of this post are the two latest, Thirteen and Fifty-Fifty.

Thirteen has, in my opinion, the most gripping tag-line in recent years.
'The serial killer isn't on trial. He's on the jury.'
I mean, seriously, how can you not pick that off the shelf?
The premise for the book is summed up in that tag-line. The question, of course, is why? Why is he so desperate to get onto that jury? The serial killer is named on the novel's jacket blurb - an audacious move that tells you immediately that you can trust nothing in this book. Of course, Eddie Flynn doesn't take what he is presented with at first glance, and whilst the reader is shown glimpses of the killer that Flynn is not privvy to, you are chasing clues alongside Flynn throughout the book.

Fifty-Fifty is another high-concept thriller, that lives up to the standard set by the previous book. The book opens in characteristic style - full-on, straight into the action, setting up the premise immediately. No slow-burn here!
A man has been murdered in his own home. The 911 dispatch operator is called by a terrified young woman who claims that the killer is still in the house and the murderer is her sister. Moments later another call is received. Same house, same murder, different sister - and she's pointing the finger at the sibling who made the first call...
It's a high-profile case and when both are charged, Flynn fights for the right to represent the sister that he is convinced is innocent. The other sister is represented by a young, inexperienced lawyer, and she is equally convinced of her client's innocence.
As in Thirteen, we are shown extensive glimpses of the killer covering their tracks. But again, Cavanagh skilfully hides their identity. As the story unfolded, I found myself convinced that I knew who the killer must be - before having my mind changed. Repeatedly. The book is a masterclass in plotting and the art of the precisely placed reveal, and most importantly - a thumping good read!

I can't recommend these two books highly enough. And whilst I've known Steve personally for several years, as always his books are featured here on their own (considerable) merits.

 Time for another double bill!

Today it is the turn of Alex North. Full disclosure - despite what the marketing for The Whisper Man may lead you to believe, Alex North is not, strictly-speaking, a new writer. And that was not his debut novel. A touch naughty perhaps, but when you write this well it can be forgiven. North already had a successful career, writing some excellent stand-alones, each with a terrific premise. I've known him for a number of years, enjoying those previous works, and he'd be a recommended read regardless. North's real identity is an open secret within the crime writing community but I'll respect his privacy and refer to him by his pseudonym.

Before I get into the reviews though, let's just take a moment to appreciate those amazing covers! I splashed out on the hardbacks, which are embossed, and they look absolutely lovely on the bookshelf.

North writes  standalone thrillers. A hallmark of these, and his previous works, are a really clever premise, populated by beautifully-realised characters and a deep understanding of the psychology and motivations behind both protagonists and antagonists. Both of these novels could be categorised as psychological suspense, with an element of the supernatural* - real or imagined - but at the heart of each is a damned good mystery.

In The Whisper Man, Tom Kennedy and his young son move to a new area for a fresh start after the death of his wife, Jake's mother. Fifteen years before they arrived, a serial killer murdered five children. The killer was caught and imprisoned, and became known as The Whisper Man. The new start seems to be working, until Jake starts acting strangely. He says he hears whispering at his window...

Where The Whisper Man is a beautiful exploration of what it's like to be a father, The Shadow Friend​ examines what it is to be a son. Twenty-five years after a troubled teenager, Charlie Crabtree, disappeared after committing a shocking, unprovoked murder, his then friend, Paul Adams finally returns home. He's never forgiven himself for his part in what happened that day, but his mother has a fall and he finally decides to stop running. The old town is full of things he'd rather forget, but by coming back, he's forced to confront them.

I recommend these books, because not only are they very good, original page-turners, they are extremely well-written and they linger with you long after you close the cover. North has earned enough trust from me that I will buy whatever he writes next, in hardback, sight unseen.

*BTW if the mere mention of the word 'supernatural' puts you off - don't let it. I've never been a fan of the so-called supernatural genre. The scientist in me tends to scoff and roll his eyes as soon as anyone mentions ghosts, spirits, and the 'paranormal'; I spend the month of October skimming through the TV guide looking for something else to watch, and have never read any Stephen King! However, North slips these hints into his stories in an ambiguous way that is more creepy and disturbing than supernatural, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions based on their personal outlook.

Coming February 2021
Available to pre-order from Amazon.

One of the great priviliges of being a writer, is that you often get sent early copies of yet-to-be-published books, to see what you think.

Karin Nordin's debut thriller is set in Sweden and I am delighted that it is the first outing for the gloriously troubled Detective Kjeld Nygaard. I really do look forward to seeing where she takes him and his side-kick Esme in years to come.

The story centres around the return home of Kjeld Nygaard to the tiny Swedish mining town of Varsund that he escaped years before. His father, Stenar, leaves a rambling, incoherent message on Nygaard's phone, claiming he's witnessed a murder. Having not spoken to his father in many years, Nygaard is sufficiently concerned to take advantage of his temporary suspension (imposed after his last case went catastrophically wrong), to drive up north to investigate.

Arriving, he is confronted by a father suffering from Alzheimer's, still obsessed with the shed-full of ravens he tends to daily, and no evidence that he didn't imagine the whole episode. With the relationship between the two estranged men hardly improved by Stenar's confusion, and frequent angry outbursts, Nygaard wants nothing more than to escape back to his life - such as it is - in Gothenburg.

And then he discovers a human tooth in the raven's barn...

This is classic Scandi-Noir, the story set against the frigid, icy weather, and endless hours of darkness that make such tales so atmospheric. Nygaard is a well-rounded character with many flaws and a complicated relationship with his family. His father's deteriorating mental condition is dealt with honestly and at times brutally, and the toll on his loved-ones described with sympathy and compassion. The old man's obsession with his ravens is integral to the story and adds another disturbing layer; there's something especially creepy about corvids that you just don't get with a budgie!

The investigation has more than enough intrigue and twists to make it a satisfying and compelling read, and whilst it is fully resolved, leaves enough should the author choose to return to that setting.

As to the future? Well it is the first in a series, and Nordin has carefully built a cast of characters that will work even if Nygaard doesn't return to Varsund for a couple of books. Throughout the novel, we are treated to hints at what actually happened to earn Nygaard his suspension, and I will be interested to see to what degree that features in later entries in the series. Aside from that, we are introduced to his partner, Esme and even though this isn't a traditional police procedural as such - given that he is working an investigation for personal reasons, well-outside his jursidiction - we see hints at how they work together.

Although this is the first in the series, it doesn't feel like it. It could almost be book three or four, and that's a very clever decision by Nordin. It leaves her options to look both forwards and backwards. I have no insight into the author's plans, but I look forward to seeing what comes next and I am excited that I was afforded the chance to join in right at the beginning!

Very highly recommended.

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This was a wonderfully refreshing read. Feted by reviewers and readers alike as 'a literary sensation', this really stands out, and is another that I have gifted as a Christmas present (shhh...).

Told in the first person, it relates the story of Korede, a nurse whose wayward sister has a rather awkward habit of killing her boyfriends 'in self defence'. Self-centred, a bit useless and frankly sociopathic, Ayoola's first thought after each of these mishaps is to call her older sibling to come and clean up her mess. Literally.

The book is fast-paced, gloriously daft, and tremendous fun. I found myself laughing out loud, both at the witty prose and the sheer audaciousness of the characters. It also provides a glimpse into modern, upperclass Nigerian society, which is as obsessed with social class as any episode of Downton Abbey. 

The chapters are short, which helps maintain the book's rapid pace. Braithwaite is a poet, and you can see that influence in her careful attention to word choice. She also peppers the dialogue with Yaruba phrases, skillfully balancing the addition of a language perhaps unfamiliar to many of her readers to add flavour, without making it inaccessible. It is a great example of what the author Leye Adenle refers to as 'Sunshine Noir'.

As a bonus, there is also a short interview with the writer at the end of the paperback (I'm afraid I can't comment on whether it is in the electronic version). I don't know what Braithwaite's future plans are, but I fully recommend this book and will be keen to see what she produces next! 

Today you are treated to a double-bill!
I've known Craig Robertson for a number of years and he is a generous and lovely man. A stalwart of the Scottish crimewriting scene, The Mirror says that "Robertson is doing for Glasgow what Rankin did for Edinburgh". High praise indeed.
But as always, these two books are listed here as they are damn good reads (which I have bought people for Christmas... shhh), not because Craig is a mate.

These are the two latest releases in Robertson's Glasgow-based DI Rachel Narey series. I like Robertson's writing as he always brings an original twist. As a writer of police procedurals myself, I know how hard it is to make a book stand out, and both of these distinguish themselves in a crowded field.

In The Photographer, a dawn raid by the police leads to the discovery of a chilling collection of photographs hidden under floorboards. The story has a nice balance of surprising twists with a growing sense of impending dread, with readers never sure what will come next. 
As always, the book has a strong supporting cast - both series regulars and new characters for this book, and each is written as an individual with their own strengths and foibles, with readers easily becoming invested in their fates. 

The next in the series Watch Him Die is another high-concept idea. The book opens in Los Angeles, with the apparently non-suspicious death of a man in his own home. However, closer inspection of the residence soon reveals something disturbing...
Back in Glasgow, Robertson's series regular, Rachel Nary is embroilled in a missing person case - she believes she knows who is responsible, and furthermore believes that he has killed her. 
These two seemingly unrelated cases, thousands of miles apart, become linked when the detectives in California discover a live internet feed broadcasting the slow and painful death of another victim...
I love this book. The marrying together of these two disparate cases is both chilling and plausible, and the blending of the familiar world of DI Nary with the radically different culture of US law enforcement is handled skilfully.
In 'race against time' books, it can be difficult to engender a true sense of danger for the victims. We want our heroes to succeed, and we know that the writer is also rooting for them. Here, Robertson genuinely has you wondering 'will they or won't they'? From the outset, there is no foregone conclusion, and it really is a 'page-turner'.

I heartily recommend both of these books, and others by Craig Robertson. He deserves the respect that he receives from reviewers, readers and his peers. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever he releases next.

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I raced through The Last Resort in just three sittings, it was that good!
I've known Susi for a few years, and we both had short stories in the CWA Mystery Tour Anthology, but this is the first time I've read a full-length novel of hers. 
It seems that I've been missing out! I will be sure to read her other books, including those penned under SJI Holliday. As always though, the book is a recommended read because I really enjoyed it, not because I know the author.

The book is a great blending of a modern, hi-tech thriller with some futuristic technology, and a traditional 'strangers trapped on an island together' mystery.
The basic premise is that seven people agree to travel to a 'luxury resort'. They've all been summonsed individually, and aside from one couple, are unknown to one another. The way that the whole thing has been organised is sketchy from the outset, but as is common with these stories, the protagonists all have their own reasons for accepting the invite. You, the reader, are already shouting "run away, you fools, it's a trap"... I love that sort of set-up.

It gives nothing away to tell you that each of the guests have their own hidden pasts, and the pleasure is trying to guess what secret each person harbours that they would rather nobody else knew. As the book progresses, things start to go horribly wrong...

The book is told in short chapters, and although it is 3rd person narration, each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the seven characters. This allows the reader a privileged glimpse into the mind of that chapter's subject, even as they strive to maintain their own facade. It's a technique that works really well, avoiding the need for extensive exposition from an omniscient narrator. 

Interspersed between the chapters is a shocking event that happened long ago in the summer of 2000. Which character is hiding this secret and how will it feed into the modern day narrative?

As I said at the start, I raced through this in three sittings, and it was only heavy eyes that stopped me from reading 'just one more chapter' in bed. Definitely a page-turner, and definitely a recommended read.