Book Review: The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth is a compelling mystery thriller centred around two married couples, Pippa & Gabe and Amanda & Max, and their unconventional love stories.

The Soulmate had me totally hooked right from the start! Sally Hepworth highlights all the messiness of marriage in this domestic suspense novel, and questions what makes the perfect marriage.

This is one of those stories where everyone is behaving badly and all the main characters have something to hide. So be prepared for unlikeable characters.

There is lots of back and forth with the then and now timelines which did cause some disconnection with the story for me.

The omniscient point of view of a character after they had died was a novel idea and I loved it!

The Soulmate is an  entertaining read filled with twists and turns. A story about love, family, betrayal, secrets and forgiveness. Sally Hepworth raises the question; What lengths would you go to for your soulmate?

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Content: suicide, postnatal depression, infidelity, mental illness.

Publisher: Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 25th October 2022

Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Pages: 320

Source: Own copy

Other books I've read by Sally Hepworth

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

 

Book Review: Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson

Before I Go to Sleep is the tension-filled debut novel from S. J. Watson.

 

Christine wakes each morning in a strange house in bed with a stranger. She has no memory of her life. Each day she has fragments of memory from her past and flashbacks of the accident but as soon as she goes to sleep it is all erased.

 

Every morning her husband Ben patiently explains about the accident and who he is and leaves her a list of chores to keep busy until he gets home from work. But why does she feel so frightened and why does she feel she can't trust Ben?

Before I Go to Sleep was an instant hit when it was released in 2011 and was nominated for a whole host of awards. I was expecting a real page-turner and I wasn't disappointed!

 

Watson slowly builds an atmosphere of unease and I found myself, along with Christine, not knowing who she could trust.

 

Before I Go to Sleep is a dark psychological thriller with a slow-burn mystery and plenty of twists and turns I didn't see coming.

 

Before I Go to Sleep is a deeply disturbing story about repressed memory, obsession, manipulation and trust. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Text Publishing

Publication date: 1st October 2011

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 368

Source: Own copy

 

 

Book Review: Shadow Lives by Neil A White

Shadow Lives is an unforgettable and moving story. I was completely enamoured with Matt by the end of the book. His growth from a man who only thought of himself to someone who risked his life for a woman he didn't even know was so realistic and well plotted.

 

Addicted to prescription drugs and having an open contempt for authority Matt has no trouble getting himself into, and out of, life or death situations. This makes for a suspenseful and action packed story.

 

Foreign Correspondent Matt Latham is in Ukraine to interview Russian Billionaire philanthropist Arkady Voronin. A bomb goes off as he is about to enter the club in which the interview was to take place, killing his interpreter Katya Formina and causing Matt to end up in hospital with memory loss.

 

Feeling responsible for Katya's death Matt visits her parents and finds out Katya has been searching for her sister who left home two years ago for a modelling job. Matt decides he will find Nadiya and bring her home.

What starts out as an exclusive interview with a Russian Billionaire soon turns into a story of spys, human trafficking, rape, abuse, political intrigue and corruption. 

 

Shadow Lives is at times hard to read, especially the chapters on the trafficked teenage girls.

 

Fans of noir fiction will love this flawed protagonist. Matt Latham is both frustrating and endearing in equal measures.

 

I found Shadow Lives to be gripping, tension filled and highly engaging.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Content: rape, abuse, drug use, suicide. 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 30th July 2024

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 325

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Book Review: Prize Catch by Alan Carter

I've always enjoyed Alan Carter's writing and Prize Catch is no exception. Not only are his characters engaging the settings are always evocative and beautifully described.

 

With Prize Catch Alan Carter has mixed a cleverly crafted plot with superb character development.

 

Sam Willard is a complex mixture of hero and villain. I haven't come across such a likeable anti-hero as Sam since Jack Dunne in Outrider.

Prize Catch is rich in suspense and although I found the beginning slow the pace soon picked up and I became totally immersed in the story.

I liked that it was set during the early days of Covid lockdowns which made an isolated Tasmania the perfect setting for a manhunt.

 

With dual plot lines of activists against a big salmon farm and war crimes in Afghanistan, I was eager to see how these two vastly different areas would come together.

 

Prize Catch is a riveting crime novel but I think it was the fabulous characters that really stood out to me. 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 1st October 2024

Genre: Crime

Pages: 312pp

RRP: AU$34.99

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Good Reading Magazine

*This review appeared first for the Good Reading Early Bird reviews.

Other Alan Carter books I've reviewed:

DOOM CREEK

CROCODILE TEARS 

 

 

Book Review: All You Took From Me by Lisa Kenway

 All You Took From Me

by

Lisa Kenway

Publisher: Transit Lounge Publishing

Publication date: 1st August 2024

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 336

RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media

 

Review: All You Took From Me

All You Took From Me is a compelling debut novel from Lisa Kenway. Cleverly plotted to slowly release vital information which kept me eagerly turning the pages to find out what Clare had blocked from her memory.

 

Clare Carpenter wakes in UCI in a Sydney hospital to be told she had been in a car accident in which her husband died. She has been in a coma for months and can't remember the accident or the months leading up to it.

 

After being released from hospital and returning to her isolated Blue Mountains home Clare finds she is being stalked and someone is leaving threatening notes. Feeling she must solve the mystery behind her memory loss Claire, an anaesthetist herself, believes an anaesthetic drug may help her remember, but she will be putting her life and career in danger.

 

I quite often struggle with a first person narration and I did struggle with this one. Clare is erratic and complicated. I couldn't warm to her. But that aside, I found the story was gripping, tension filled and carried an overarching sense of menace. Clare's memories, revealed through hypnosis and anaesthetic, were vivid and suspense filled. I loved the slow reveal.

 

All You Took From Me is a powerful debut which explores the world of repressed memory. 

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: Codename Parsifal by Martin Roy Hill

 Codename Parsifal

by

Martin Roy Hill

A WWII Thriller

Publisher: 32-32 North

Publication date: 4th September 2023

Genre: Military Thriller

Pages: 221

RRP: AU$11.99 (kindle)

Source: eBook courtesy of the author

 

Review: Codename Parsifal

The Spear of Destiny. The Roman Legionnaire's lance that pierced Christ's body as he hung on the cross.

Legend claims whomever possesses it will become a great conqueror.

Martin Roy Hill has taken this legend and developed a compelling read that intricately weaves themes of betrayal, myth and WWII into the high-stakes world of special services as the Americans, Germans and Russians all race to find the legendary spear.

 

Codename Parsifal has a masterful blend of action and character development as we get to know the thoughts and actions of soldiers from each side of the war.

 

Hill skillfully portrays the psychological effect of belief as the spear is sort after for its power.

 

Set against the backdrop of the final days of WWII Hill uses vivid imagery and meticulous attention to detail to give a believable portrayal of the special services mission to find the authentic spear.

Hills expertise in crafting engaging action sequences is complemented by his ability to develop a rich, believable plot line.

 

Codename Parsifal is a thought provoking exploration of the idea of talismans, superstition and mysticism. 

 

my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: Outrider by Mark Wales

 Outrider

by

Mark Wales

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Publication date: 25th June 2024

Genre: Thriller / Military / Dystopian

Pages: 368

RRP: $34.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Outrider

Australia has a new hero! Jack Dunne - Soldier, Father, Survivor.

 

I will start this review with a little insight into the author, Mark Wales. Mark is a former troop commander with the SAS and 2 x survivor contestant and 1 x winner of Survivor Australia. Great credentials to be writing a book that entails warfare and the fight to survive.

Outrider is a highly imaginative and gripping story featuring a dystopian Australia. It's 2034, Victoria and parts of SA, NT & WA have been invaded by the Chinese Communist Party. Jack Dunne is an Outrider, one of three highly trained operatives, and the Resistance's only hope of curtailing the Chinese invasion of the Hill. The Hill is an outposting in Victoria with Resistance fighters warding off the CCP's further invasion into Australia.

I found Outrider to be a powerful and haunting tale of a future Australia where a civil war has broken out between the resistance and those supporting the CCP.

The fighting scenes are quite graphic, so not for the squeamish. Wales' writing is very technical,  he knows his weapons, and there are lots of initials, acronyms and armory details which may be a bit confusing if you haven't read military thrillers before.

Wales pulls on his experience as a former troop commander with the SAS to deliver a tense and atmospheric thriller rich in strategic military scenarios and weapons beyond my comprehension.

I raced through the last third of the book - that's what I want - fast paced and tense - edge of your seat stuff.

I would have liked more on what the Chinese were doing in Australia and how they breached our defenses.

An underlying theme of a loving father / son relationship was a nice sideline to the blood and gore.

After reading Mark's fictional debut 'Outrider' I am keen to read his memoir 'Survivor: life in the SAS published in 2021.

Recommended for readers of Tom Clancy.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Book Review: The Surprise Party by Julia Crouch

 The Surprise Party

by

Julia Crouch

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 28th June 2024

Genre: Psychological thriller

Pages: 343

Source: eCopy courtesy of the publisher 

 

Review: The Surprise Party

Eve and her husband Will are returning to the place they spent their honeymoon 29 years ago. A holiday in a secluded fishing village on the Crete coast is just what Eve hopes will rekindle their marriage. But first she has a confession to make! A long held secret she needs to divulge.

 

Poppy is also holidaying in the village. She is angry over her mother's lies and has recently broken up with her cheating boyfriend. Poppy is on a mission and she has it all planned. 

 

Eve's whole family arrives the next day for a surprise party for Eve's 50th birthday. Both Eve and Poppy now need to reassess their plans. When the morning after Eve's surprise party dawns, one guest will be dead.

This book had me hooked right from the gripping prologue where someone is in a life or death situation. This was such a great teaser because I then had to race through the book to see who it was and also how it ended.

A lot of the characters were messed up and honestly I thought the murderer could have been any one of them.

Lots of suspects, accusations, outbursts, unlikeable characters and great twists made The Surprise Party hard to put down. This is a read-in-one-sitting book!

I finished The Surprise Party eager for a follow up book.

My rating 4 / 5 🍷🍷🍷🍷

 

 

Book Review: All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

 All the Colours of the Dark

by

Chris Whitaker

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Imprint: Orion

Publication date: 25th June 2024

Genre: Crime/ Mystery/ Thriller

Pages: 580

RRP: $32.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Good Reading

 

Review: All the Colours of the Dark

When Teenager Joseph 'Patch' Macauley is kidnapped his best friend Saint Brown makes it her mission to find him. Long after the authorities have given up Saint relentlessly looks for clues.

 

All the Colours of the Dark is a compelling crime read. I loved the short chapters that kept the story moving along at a fast pace and the 500+ pages flew by in no time.

 

The story starts with the abduction of a young teen and soon turns into a fast-paced mystery thriller that had me totally captivated.

 

A small town setting, flawed nuanced characters, lyrical prose and perfect imagery make All the Colours of the Dark an immersive and emotional read that spans almost three decades.

 

All the Colours of the Dark is an epic love story that will change the lives of two people forever, steering them towards an unknown destiny filled with heartache and despair. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book Review: You Me Her by Sue Watson

 You Me Her

by

Sue Watson

ONE MARRIAGE       THREE PEOPLE        ONE MURDER

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 3rd June 2024

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 390

RRP: $4.99AU (Kindle eBook)

Source: eCopy courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: You Me Her

Rachel has recently moved to their new family home with her four-year-old son. Her husband Tom has been renovating the house over the last few months whilst Rachel sold their flat in Manchester. It was her husband's dream to live by the sea in Cornwall however past demons have caused Rachel to be terrified of water and overprotective of her son.

Maybe I've simply read too many domestic thriller books (the gas-lighting husband, devoted wife, crazy ex scenario) as I did find the plot of You Me Her to be a little predictable and I guessed the ending quite early.

 

That little quibble aside, I found Sue Watson's writing utterly addictive. I was totally creeped out by the story and even found myself holding my breath at times.

 

The suspense escalates throughout the book and I found myself jumping back and forward with who to believe.

I liked that  there were mentions of COVID and isolation and the effect this had on some people's mental health.

 

You Me Her is filled with chilling suspense which kept me glued to the page.

If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller You Me Her will not disappoint.

 

My rating 3.5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐½ 

 

 

Book Review: Family Trust by Peter Wilson

 Family Trust

by

Peter Wilson

A trust fund to die for...

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 26th April 2024

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 222

RRP: $4.58AU (Kindle Ebook) 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

Review: Family Trust

Family Trust by Peter Wilson is a highly entertaining and engaging crime thriller with themes of wealth and corruption. Wilson takes his readers into the murky world of money, privilege and power.

 

The story is told through multiple timelines covering three generations.

In the 1960's financial lawyer Henry Taylor was employed to set up a trust fund owned by good friends William Harris and Edward Griffon, two of the wealthiest men in Australia.

 

Present time is Harris & Griffon's grandchildren, Mel, David & Rachel. They have all had tumultuous childhoods and Mel believes someone is trying to kill her.

Family Trust is a story about greed, wealth and betrayal. I didn't know who or what to believe as twist after twist is revealed. I found the majority of characters to be very unlikeable as greed takes over from good manners and honesty.

 

Det Senior Constable Kirsty Campbell is introduced to the story as she investigates the murder of a male sex worker with strong links to the Harris family. I would love to see Kirsty Campbell as the main character in a series of her own.

Wilson adds moments of  humour amongst the tension and mayhem.

 

Fans of crime fiction will love this story of money, murder and manipulation. It will have you second guessing all the way through.

 

my rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Available now in eBook on Amazon.

Book Review: Shock Waves by Fleur McDonald

Shock Waves

by

Fleur McDonald

When a bomb blast rips apart a quiet country town Detective Dave Burrows kicks into action.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd April 2024

Series: Detective Dave Burrows

Genre: Crime / Thriller / Suspense

Pages: 352

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Shock Waves

Shock Waves opens with gripping suspense right from the first page when a bomb is set off in a quiet country town. I was pulled straight into the mystery and I loved that Fleur McDonald didn't divulge too many clues making it nigh on impossible to guess the final reveal.

Fleur highlights many issues that are faced by farmers today and the bureaucracy they must all deal with via laws that have no leeway for compassion, driving some farmers over the edge.

Dave's greatest struggles in this novel are his own personal demons. The plot not only deals with the issues of farming and the bomb investigation but also Dave's psychological problems over not seeing his young daughters. We also see the heartfelt interactions between Dave and his boss, Bob Holden, as Bob struggles with ongoing medical treatment and letting go of his working career.

Shock Waves is another brilliantly written novel that champions farmers and remote communities whilst also giving readers a great dose of drama and suspense.

If you've read the later Dave Burrows novels we see a strong, resilient Dave sure of himself and happily married to Kim but he wasn't always like that. In Shock Waves we learn more about the young Dave, heartbroken after his marriage breakdown, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviews for other Fleur McDonald books I've read:

DECEPTION CREEK

INTO THE NIGHT

RED DUST 

RED DIRT COUNTRY

RISING DUST 

THE SHEARER'S WIFE 

SOMETHING TO HIDE

VOICES IN THE DARK

WITHOUT A DOUBT 

 

 

 

Book Review: Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey

 Body of Lies

by

Sarah Bailey

A MISSING CORPSE. A SHOCKING CRIME. 

FAMILY SECRETS TOO CLOSE TO HOME.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 27th February 2024

Series: Gemma Woodstock #4

Genre: Crime / Mystery / Thriller

Pages: 480

RRP: $34.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Body of Lies

Body of Lies opens about 18 months after Where the Dead Go and Gemma is on maternity leave. She is currently living back in her hometown of Smithson with partner Mac, son Ben and baby Scarlett.

 

When a woman dies in a car accident and her body is stolen from the hospital morgue and the next day a newborn baby is found abandoned on a walking track Gemma is convinced these two cases are related and asks if she can return to work to work on the case. Gemma has to juggle motherhood and working, along with rivalry in the workforce.

 

Body of Lies is another shrewdly plotted police procedural. The action never stops which keeps the pace up throughout the book.

It was nice to see Gemma in a good place psychologically in this novel. She had grown up a lot but still had trouble distancing herself from the victims which caused her much distress.

 

Body of Lies is another highly entertaining novel from Sarah Bailey with plenty of jaw-dropping twists and a light exploration of some ethical issues.

I found it a fitting finale to the series.

 

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Other Sarah Bailey novels reviewed:

THE DARK LAKE

INTO THE NIGHT 

WHERE THE DEAD GO

 

 

 

Book Review: Where the Dead Go by Sarah Bailey

 Where the Dead Go

by

Sarah Bailey

A MISSING GIRL. HER MURDERED BOYFRIEND. A COP ON THE EDGE.

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th August 2019

Series: Gemma Woodstock #3

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Pages: 464

RRP: $22.99AU (B format paperback)

Source: Uncorrected proof from publisher

 

Review: Where the Dead Go

As Into the Night wasn't a big hit with me I was eager to read the next Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock novel. Can Sarah Bailey recreate the atmosphere and suspense from The Dark Lake? Well that was a resounding Yes! I could not put this book down! I read it in two days picking it up every spare minute I had.

 

Where the Dead Go hooked me right from the prologue. A young teen out late at night after a fight with her boyfriend disappears without a trace.

 

In Into the Night Gemma was living in Melbourne and we find out she has since been living in Sydney with a new love interest, Mac. She is visiting her hometown of Smithson when a report of a murder and a missing teen, in a small town just north of Byron Bay, comes through. Gemma is keen to take the case and get away for a while.

 

Gemma is still full of self-doubt and crippling anxiety and has flash-backs of another missing teen case that didn't end well.

I love how Sarah Bailey portrayed the small seaside town of Fairhaven where everyone knew each other but there was still the underlying feeling that people were being evasive and secretive. I was quick to think many of the characters were a bit suspect and that Gemma shouldn't trust anyone.

 

Where the Dead Go was well plotted with plenty of drama that kept me turning the pages. 

The story ends with a bombshell from Gemma which I am sure will be played out in the next book. 

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

THE DARK LAKE REVIEW

INTO THE NIGHT REVIEW

 

Book Review: Devil's Lair by Sarah Barrie

 Devil's Lair

by

Sarah Barrie

A lonely widow, a sinister act, a darkness rising from the past.

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 17th June 2019

Series: Calico Mountain #2

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 448

RRP: $29.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Devil's Lair  

I just found out whilst posting my review that this is book 2 in a series! I can confidently say it reads well as a standalone. 

Devil's Lair opens with a ritualistic cult-like killing and I initially thought the story might be too dark for me however it soon settles into a compelling mystery with dark elements, allusions to paranormal activity and some nice creepy stalking. There are more killings but they are spread throughout the book and by this time I was hooked on the mystery.

Devil's Lair is a taut, gothic small town thriller and the perfect setting of a Tasmanian winter adds to the atmosphere of seclusion. I enjoyed the light romance thread that ran through the novel. It gave me some relief from the spine-tingling drama that had me on the edge of my seat.

Sarah Barrie pulled me into the world of gothic Tasmania and when the jaw-dropping twists started revealing themselves I was totally addicted.

 

If you enjoyed The Dry and The Dark Lake you will love Devil's Lair

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you haven't read Sarah Barrie before I highly recommend her Lexi Winter series.

UNFORGIVEN: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-review-giveaway-unforgiven-by.html

RETRIBUTION: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2023/02/book-review-retribution-by-sarah-barrie.html

VENDETTA: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2023/11/book-review-vendetta-by-sarah-barrie.html 

 

#tbrchallenge

Book Review: A Shadow at the Door by Jo Dixon

 A Shadow at the Door

by

Jo Dixon

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 3rd January 2024

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 373

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: A Shadow at the Door

Remi has built a new life for herself since her marriage breakdown and thrown herself into renovating her dilapidated sandstone house. When her savings mysteriously disappear from her bank account and her ex-husband starts pushing her to sell the house Remi decides to take in tenants to cover her mortgage repayments. 

Josephine and Emerson, both women having moved to Tasmania to start a new life, move in.

 

A Shadow at the Door is a compelling domestic thriller. Jo Dixon once again immerses her readers in the beauty and seclusion of Tasmania, highlighting the bitter cold of a Tasmanian winter. The story held my interest as the multi-generational friendship evolved and inner secrets emerged.

 

Jo Dixon realistically depicts how online trolls can destroy a reputation and how years of emotional abuse can undermine a person's confidence and self-worth. I love how Jo Dixon built  empathy for her characters in A Shadow at the Door. I couldn't help but want them to succeed.

 

Told through multiple points of view Jo Dixon delivers a gripping thriller with an enticingly twisty plot and an underlying message of friendship.

 

A Shadow at the Door is a worthy second novel to Jo Dixon's block-buster debut The House of Now and Then.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

 

Read my review of The House of Now and Then

Book Review: The Diemen Alexander by Marie Heitz

 The Diemen Alexander

by

Marie Heitz

Publisher: Clan Destine Press

Publication date: 16th October 2023

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 316

RRP: $32.95AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Diemen Alexander

The Diemen Alexander is a science fiction / fantasy genre mash-up.

 

After a fire rips through Kunanyi (Mount Wellington) Luke is gripped with guilt as it was exactly what he had wished for as his final school photography 'ecological nightmare' project.  

Taking a trip up the ravaged mountain Luke finds a small lizard amongst the devastation. Not wanting to leave it there to die he takes it home to feed and water it. The lizard now named Alexander, eats everything Luke offers. He is surprised he can eat so much and seems to be growing just as fast.

After lots of research Luke suspects that Alexander may be a modern-day Tasmaniosaurus Triassicus. Now he must find out more and also protect Alexander from ruthless profiteers.

 

I loved the concept of the story. Alexander was so little and cute it was easy to fall in love with him and I could see why Luke would do anything to protect him. As Alexander grew the story became darker - themes of dominance, anorexia, murder and child abuse emerge.

Heitz raises moral questions about who gets to judge whether people are fit to live and whether humans are protecting animals or dominating them.

 

I read a few reviews that stated they found the book humorous. Maybe it's just my sense of humour but I didn't see any humour. I actually found the story quite dark. I would classify it as a science fiction thriller with moral undertones.

 

Science fiction fans will enjoy!

 

my rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

Book Review: Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan

Deep in the Forest

by

Erina Reddan

What lies behind the walls of the Sanctuary? 

 

Publisher: Pantera Press

Publication date: 28th November 2023

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 296

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher via DMCPRMedia

 

Review: Deep in the Forest

Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a fascinating story rich in secrets, lies and betrayal. Filled  with simmering menace it has me hooked from start to finish.

Town pariah Charli Trethan is fed up with being blamed for a crime she didn't commit and plans to leave Stone Lake for a new life overseas.

A gruesome discovery just a few weeks before she is due to leave sees her under police scrutiny again. Then Charli finds a hidden message, a cry for help, from someone within the nearby closed community called The Sanctuary. 

Narrated in first person by Charli who has bouts of depression, I found myself questioning her actions and reasoning. Erina Reddan had me reeling back and forward with who could be trusted and what the truth was.

Reddan digs deep into communal living and exactly how voluntary joining a cult is when they prey on the vulnerable.

Deep in the Forest starts out at a slow pace as the scene is set but as the story twists and turns and the suspense ramps up it had me questioning what I thought was true right up to the adrenaline fuelled ending.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you are on Instagram you can follow along on the blog tour below:

 

Book Review: Vendetta by Sarah Barrie

 Vendetta

by

Sarah Barrie

COP OR CRIMINAL? UNDERCOVER, THE LINES ARE A LITTLE BLURRY

 

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 15th November 2023

Series: Lexi Winter #3

Genre: Crime / Thriller

Pages: 400

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Vendetta

The much anticipated Lexi Winter #3 is here! 

In Vendetta by Sarah Barrie Lexi finds herself with no one to turn to for help, once again relying on her hacking skills to keep herself alive. It is not only Lexi's life that is at stake.

Dawny is back in book 3 and she is in fine form. Her quick wit and sarcasm cracks me up.

Lexi is still not sure if the police force is the right job for her when people from her past pop up again in her life.

Lexi didn't disappoint! She was tough and wanted it all her way, she doesn't concede to anyone, police or criminal.

The suspense ramps up as the pages turn and I was worried this could be the case that destroys Lexi.

The book ends on a teaser which makes me feel that the next book is  going to be even more heart-stopping - if that's possible!!

Vendetta is fast-paced and suspenseful, readers following the Lexi Winter series will not be disappointed.

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Other books in the series:

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-review-giveaway-unforgiven-by.html

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2023/02/book-review-retribution-by-sarah-barrie.html

 

 

Book Review: Out of Breath by Anna Snoekstra

 Out of Breath

 by

Anna Snoekstra

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 6th July 2022

Genre: Suspense / Thriller

Pages: 320

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: Out of Breath

Out of Breath fell a little flat for me. There were a lot of scenes were a sense of foreboding built and then everything was fine. I felt maybe the author was trying to tease the reader with suspense building throughout the novel but it didn't really work for me.

 

The pace was slow however I did find the plot intriguing. Jo is on a working holiday in Australia and to maintain her Visa she must work as a fruit picker in the outback for a specified number of weeks. When the charismatic Gabe suggests she find the commune he is living on she leaves the farm but Jo soon finds she is in way over her head and she doesn't know who she can trust.

Reader empathy for the main character, Jo, is built up early in the novel and I found myself interested in her journey and wanting her to find peace within herself.

 

There are many wonderfully described moments throughout; with time on a mango farm, a trip through the Australian outback and deep diving for oysters. I think it was these moments, and the excellent sense of place that Snoekstra evokes, that saved the novel for me.

 

Out of Breath is an evocative read if you want to experience the remoteness of outback Australia, but I wouldn't really call it a thriller. 

3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

About the author

Anna Snoekstra is the author of Only Daughter, Little Secrets and The Spite Game. Her novels have been published in over twenty countries and sixteen languages. She has written for The Guardian, Meanjin, The Griffith Review, Lindsay, LiHub and The Saturday Paper.