Last Victim (Rachel King 5) by Helen H Durrant @hhdurrant @JoffeBooks #BookReview #BlogTour

Title: Last Victim (Rachel King 5) by Helen H Durrant

Date Published: 2nd December 2021

Publisher: Joffe Books

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

MEET DETECTIVE RACHEL KING IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES.

A BRAND-NEW MYSTERY FROM #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR HELEN H. DURRANT THAT WILL HAVE YOU GRIPPED FROM START TO PULSATING FINISH.

A two-month-old baby is missing. James’s parents left him with a babysitter while they went out for dinner. But when they get home, there’s no sign of baby or sitter.

This is the last thing DCI Rachel King wants to hear on her last night of maternity leave. But worse is to come. The missing infant belongs to Scott Agnew, alleged member of Manchester drug-dealing ring, the Trio.

Then the elderly mother of another Trio boss disappears. Rachel knows that if these are retaliation kidnappings, things will only go from bad to terrible.

And guess who everyone thinks is behind this? The prime suspect is Rachel’s partner Jed, ex-gangland boss and father of her youngest child.

FIND OUT IF THEY’RE RIGHT IN THIS RACE-AGAINST-TIME MYSTERY FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS.

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean, Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney, D.S. Butler or Mark Billingham.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HELEN H. DURRANT:

“I couldn’t put it down.” Barbara

“This new series by Helen H. Durrant certainly has got off to a thrilling start.” Viv

“If you want a book to get your teeth into, this is the one. A massive 5*.” Greta

“Another fast-paced murder mystery.” Aileen

“The writing was top notch and the characters were very real.” Kat

THE DETECTIVE

DCI Rachel King. Mother of two teenage daughters. Divorced from Alan. She lives in the Cheshire village of Poynton – about ten miles from central Manchester. She is good at her job, gets results but does make mistakes. One of them was getting involved with a budding villain in her teens. No one — family, friends or colleagues know the truth about this.

ALSO BY HELEN H. DURRANT

DETECTIVE RACHEL KING

Book 1: NEXT VICTIM

Book 2: TWO VICTIMS

Book 3: WRONG VICTIM

Book 4: FORGOTTEN VICTIM

Book 5: LAST VICTIM

THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES

Book 1: DEAD WRONG

Book 2: DEAD SILENT

Book 3: DEAD LIST

Book 4: DEAD LOST

Book 5: DEAD & BURIED

Book 6: DEAD NASTY

Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS

Book 8: DEAD BAD

Book 9: DEAD GUILTY

Book 10: DEAD WICKED

Book 11: DEAD SORRY

THE DCI GRECO BOOKS

Book 1: DARK MURDER

Book 2: DARK HOUSES

Book 3: DARK TRADE

Book 4: DARK ANGEL

MATT BRINDLE

Book 1: HIS THIRD VICTIM

Book 2: THE OTHER VICTIM

DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE

Book 1: THE GUILTY MAN

Book 2: THE FACELESS MAN

Review:

I want to thank Jill Burkinshaw for inviting me on this tour and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy of Last Victim in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth book in the Rachel King series. While it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading at least the previous book Forgotten Victim for a bit more background.

Rachel is back at work after having a baby, only to find herself looking into a kidnap of a two-month-old baby. To make matters worse, the baby’s father is a notorious criminal and member of a gang called The Trio. Another family member of The Trio is kidnapped, and it’s up to Rachel and her team to get to the bottom of it.

Last Victim is a character driven novel which, rather than trying to make you figure out a mystery, you have to work out the more complicated motives for the crime.

I still enjoy reading the character of Rachel, even though she’s happily settled with her on/off beau 

Jed and a new baby, it has not softened that suspicious nature of hers one bit and I love it! 

There were some good villains in this novel, in particular the slightly terrifying Grace Blackmore, wife of one of the members of The Trio. She’s definitely not someone you’d want to cross!

I felt like this edged more into a gangland thriller rather than a police procedural, but of course that’s just my opinion.

If you’re a fan of gritty, gangster filled novels, then I’d highly recommend Last Victim to you

About The Author:

OVER 1 MILLION BOOKS SOLD!

Helen is one of the ‘baby boomer’ generation and began writing when she retired from her job at a local college. Born in Edinburgh to an English father and Scottish mother the family settled in a Pennine village between the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is an environment which has shaped her stories. Writing is a second career and, despite having a bus pass, keeps her busy, and tuned in.

Helen’s children are all grown-up and she has five grandchildren.

A Friend Like Filby by Mark Wakely @PRBookPro @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #BookPromo

Welcome to the book tour for A Friend Like Filby by Mark Wakely. Read on for more details!

Title: A Friend Like Filby by Mark Wakely

Expected Publication Date: December 6th, 2021

Genre: YA/ Young Adult/ YA Contemporary/ Time Travel

George has been fascinated with the idea of time travel ever since the unexpected death of his mother when he was ten, and hopes someday to find a friend like Filby, the forever loyal friend of the time traveler in the 1960 movie The Time Machine. George’s two closest high school friends, Dave and Nancy (nickname Onion), struggle at times to understand his odd obsession as they deal with issues of their own both in and out of school. The story takes place during the three friends’ tumultuous senior year from beginning to end, with a major realization in store for George on graduation day.

“Mark Wakely weaves an unusual tale with characters that are both emotionally and psychologically rich…The story is told from George’s perspective and in a first person narrative voice that is as clear as it is compelling. The prose is beautiful and evocative at times and I enjoyed the author’s peculiar turn of phrase, the humor, and his knack for vivid descriptions…It is a delightful read.”  – Readers’ Favorite

Available on Amazon

About the Author:

Mark Wakely has held a lifelong interest in all things science-related, dating back to high school when he won the Bausch & Lomb science award in high school. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and is a college administrator at prestigious Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. He lives in a nearby town with his wife and three children, and is an avid reader and amateur astronomer.

Mark Wakely

Book Tour Organised By:

R&R Book Tours

#BookReview The Killer In The Snow (DI James Walker 2) by Alex Pine

Title: The Killer In The Snow (DI James Walker 2) by Alex Pine

Date Published: 28th October 2021

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.

Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…

James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold…

Perfect for fans of smash-hit TV series Whitehouse Farm, Simon McCleave’s The Snowdonia Killings and Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet.

Review:

I want to thank Avon books (via NetGalley) for providing me with a copy of The Killer In The Snow in exchange for an honest review.

I was so glad to see DI James Walker for a second outing after I read and enjoyed the first in this series, The Christmas Killer last year. There’s no need to worry if you haven’t read the first though, it’s easily read as a standalone.

The story starts off with the gruesome discovery of a family murdered in their own home. Eerily it’s similar to a crime that happened in the same house over twenty years earlier. Are they linked, or is it just a coincidence? It’s up to DI Walker and his team to find out.  

The Killer In The Snow is a fast-paced and entertaining read that had me glued to my kindle.

DI Walker is still his likeable self and even his wife Annie, who annoyed me a little in the first novel, has grown on me a little more during the novel.

I still absolutely love the setting of Cumbria. It’s almost like another character and the vast countryside really adds to the tension of the story.

This story felt a little more on the gritty side than the first, with a few more gruesome scenes which I don’t mind and weren’t over the top.

I would say the ending wasn’t overly surprising, but there were a good few twists in there to keep me guessing.

The Killer In The Snow is a definite must for all police procedural fans out there looking for a crime novel with a festive twist.

About The Author:

Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!

#TheLost (Jonah Colley 1) by Simon Beckett @BeckettSimon @OrionBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n

Title: The Lost (Jonah Colley 1) by Simon Beckett

Date Published: 25th November 2021

Publisher: Orion 

Genre: Thriller

Description:

A MISSING CHILD

Ten years ago, the disappearance of firearms police officer Jonah Colley’s young son almost destroyed him.

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY

A plea for help from an old friend leads Jonah to Slaughter Quay, and the discovery of four bodies. Brutally attacked and left for dead, he is the only survivor.

A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Under suspicion himself, he uncovers a network of secrets and lies about the people he thought he knew – forcing him to question what really happened all those years ago…

Review:

I want to thank Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting me on this blog tour and Orion for my copy of The Lost.

So I’m going to admit this is the first Simon Beckett book I’ve read, but after finishing The Lost, it certainly won’t be my last!

Out of the blue, Jonah Colley gets a call from his old friend Gavin, who needs his help and wants to meet right away. When he gets to the warehouse, he’s attacked and left for dead. When several bodies turn up, he becomes the number one suspect. Unable to leave it alone, he digs into the case. Could Gavin have discovered what happened to Jonah’s son, Theo, who disappeared ten years earlier?  

The Lost is one of those books that pulls you into the action from the very beginning, hitting with all sorts of twists and turns along the way.

My heart really went out to Jonah. He’s still tortured by the loss of his four-year-old son Theo, followed by his marriage breaking down. It makes him a little reckless and driven by his emotions, but it makes you root for him even more.

I can’t say too much more in case of spoilers, but I didn’t see the ending coming at all and it was both satisfying and shocking.  

If you’re looking for a thrilling, tension packed novel I’d highly recommend you pick up The Lost!

About The Author:

After an MA in English, Simon Beckett spent several years as a property repairer before a stint teaching in Spain. Back in the UK, he played percussion in several bands. He has been a freelance journalist since 1992, writing for The Times, The Independent on Sunday Review, The Daily Telegraph, The Observer and other major British publications. In 2002, as part of an article on the National Forensic Academy, he visited the Body Farm in Tennessee. This last commission was the inspiration behind the internationally bestselling The Chemistry of Death, which was shortlisted for the CWA’s Duncan Lawrie Dagger and has been translated into 21 languages. Simon Beckett is married and lives in Sheffield. The author of six novels, his second David Hunter thriller, Written in Bone, is published as a Bantam paperback in April 2008.

#HappyPublicationDay The Woman Who Felt Invisible by Lizzie Chantree @Lizzie_Chantree #Promo #Romance

I want to wish Lizzie Chantree a happy publication day for her latest book The Woman Who Felt Invisible! Read on for more about the book and an exclusive excerpt:

Title: The Woman Who Felt Invisible by Lizzie Chantree

Date Published: 23rd November 2021

Genre: Romance

Description:

A gorgeous romantic story of love and new beginnings. Learning to love herself and be content on her own is the first step. But will Olivia be able to leave her past behind, follow her heart and find lasting happiness? A read full of humour, romance and tear-jerking reality, from international bestselling author, Lizzie Chantree.

Have you ever felt invisible? 

Working as a stationery supervisor and a sitter to a pair of internet famous, delinquent dogs, wasn’t how former cyber-specialist, Olivia, imagined her life turning out. 

Working in a tiny cubicle with a decrepit computer and being overlooked had suited her for a while, but now she’s fed up, lonely and determined to make the world ‘see’ her again. 

Old school friend, Darius, wants to fill Olivia’s days with romance, but their love of technology has taken them on very different paths. 

Gorgeous undercover policeman Gabe, is steadfast in finding out if Olivia was part of an online scam, but something doesn’t feel right and he suspects someone else was manipulating her life. 

Can love blossom from the most deceptive of starts? And can someone who feels lost, find a way to flourish against all odds?

You can buy your copy here (ebook is on offer for the next few days for 99p/99c): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09J98F32J

Excerpt:

This was it. This was Olivia Tenby’s life, now. This was how low she had come. At the age of forty-one, she was sweating her guts out in a house that felt like a furnace, babysitting two delinquent Labradoodle dogs called Bertie and Belle, while their owners swanned around getting even richer somewhere else. Wiping her palms across her face, feeling glad she’d discarded her top so that she couldn’t drip on it, she pressed a button. Music blared out of speakers set into the ceiling. This house had everything – lights that came on when you spoke to them, a vacuum cleaner that tripped you over while it scurried along the floor of its own accord, and a fridge that dispensed perfectly shaped ice cubes into crystal glasses.

Olivia looked around furtively for a moment, and then laughed and decided to go for it. Her job as dog sitter extraordinaire had begun two weeks ago. She’d been told to entertain the excitable animals in any way she could think of, as they were naughty and destroyed everything while the owners were out – which they always were. Olivia hadn’t even met them, which was baffling. They left her notes with instructions on how to stop the dogs eating the walls and making a mess of the thick pile carpets. She actually quite liked the job, it was as easy as walking in a straight line. Then she thought about how wobbly she always was after three vodka and cokes, and quickly pushed that picture aside. The dogs were bored and, although her job included giving the house a cursory swipe with a duster, it was always immaculate when she arrived. Something was a bit weird, though, as the place was incredibly hot. The dogs liked to slobber all over her, making her even hotter. So she’d taken to stripping off as soon as she sat down with the pooches, otherwise she’d probably pass out and be found weeks later, mummified in dog hair.

If you like the sound of The Woman Who Felt Invisible, why not check out some of Lizzie Chantree other books:

The little ice cream shop: viewbook.at/IceCreamShopByTheSea

Networking for writers: viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters

If you love me, I’m yours: viewbook.at/IfYouLoveMe-ImYours

Ninja School Mum: viewbook.at/NinjaSchoolMumRomance

Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven

Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild

Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina

Shh… It’s Our Secret: https://www.bhcpress.com/Books_Chantree_Shh_Its_Our_Secret.html

About The Author:

International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at http://www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantree 

Social Media:

Website: www.lizziechantree.com

Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391757.Lizzie_Chantree

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/

FB Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/647115202160536/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-chantree

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizziechantreeauthor

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnCop-RlAcGqggZG3JfE-Mw

The Night Thief (Jackman and Evans 8) by Joy Ellis @JoffeBooks #BlogTour #BookReview

Title: The Night Thief by Joy Ellis 

Publisher: Joffe Books 

Date Published: 18th November 2021

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

FROM #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS, A TOTALLY ABSORBING CRIME THRILLER FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS AND TURNS. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN.

Discover the author who’s sold over two million books globally.

When everyone is sleeping, he comes into their houses.

He takes one thing. A photo of their child.

A thief on a power trip or something even darker and more sinister?

Detectives Jackman and Evans find themselves on the hunt for a highly unusual burglar who seemingly only steals photographs. But then, late one night, an elderly woman falls to her death after seeing someone in her home.

Did she really fall, or was she murdered?

And just how many mysterious intruders are there on the Fens?

With the body count rising, Jackman and Evans have their work cut out for them to track down the night thief — before it’s too late.

Full of twists and turns, this is a crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the shocking ending.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JOY ELLIS:

“Another breathtaking thriller from Joy.” Carole

“Great read from start to finish.” Nerys

“Just a wonderful enjoyable read.” Nicki

“A hugely compelling police procedural, with twists and turns that raise tension and suspense.” Paromjit

“All the twists and turns kept me reading.” Viv

“Another great book from Ms Ellis.” Barbara

Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Sarah A. Denzil, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

THE DETECTIVES

DI Jackman leads the investigation. He is extremely smart and has a knack for bringing out the best in his diverse team. DS Marie Evans is haunted by the loss of her husband in a motorbike accident. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and colleagues.

JACKMAN & EVANS

Book 1: THE MURDERER’S SON

Book 2: THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS

Book 3: THE FOURTH FRIEND

Book 4: THE GUILTY ONES

Book 5: THE STOLEN BOYS

Book 6: THE PATIENT MAN

Book 7: THEY DISAPPEARED

Book 8: THE NIGHT THIEF

 Review:

I want to thank Jill Burkinshaw for inviting me on the blog tour and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy of The Night Thief in exchange for an honest review.

The Night Thief is the eighth installment in the Jackman and Evans series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. 

A man is prowling the Fens, breaking into sleeping women’s houses and stealing pictures. At first they think he’s just a nuisance, but the bodies soon pile up and it’s up to Jackman, Marie and their team to find him before he strikes again. 

The Night Thief is a police procedural, a little on the lighter side than the usual gritty type, with plenty of clues and red herrings along the way to keep you guessing.

I love the relationship between the two main detectives, Jackman and Marie, that keeps me coming back to this series. There’s nothing romantic, but their friendship and support of each is just so sweet to read.

The first half of the book was a little slow burn for me, but the story really gets going in the second half to make up for it. It also felt like there were a lot more characters to keep track of in this book, especially new police officers, making it harder for me to remember who was who.

If you enjoy a more gentle mystery with likeable detectives and a cast of quirky characters, then I highly recommend The Night Thief! 

About The Author:

UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES

OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD!

“I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!”

#TheQuietPeople by by Paul Cleave @PaulCleave @OrendaBooks @RandomTTours #BlogTour #BookReview

Title: The Quiet People by by Paul Cleave

Publisher: Orenda Books

Date Published: 25th September 2021

Genre: Thriller

Description:

Cameron and Lisa Murdoch are successful New Zealand crime writers, happily married and topping bestseller lists worldwide.

They have been on the promotional circuit for years, joking that no one knows how to get away with crime like they do. After all, they write about it for a living.

So when their challenging seven-year-old son Zach disappears, the police and the public naturally wonder if they have finally decided to prove what they have been saying all this time… Are they trying to show how they can commit the perfect crime?

Multi-award winning bestseller Paul Cleave returns with an electrifying and chilling thriller about family, public outrage and what a person might be capable of under pressure, that will keep you guessing until the final page…

Review:

I want to thank Anne Cater for inviting me on this tour and Orenda Books for providing me with a copy of The Quiet People in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Paul Cleave novel and I can safely say this won’t be my last. I’m still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor after reading The Quiet People!

The story is told from two perspectives. The first is Cameron, a best-selling crime author, who, along with his wife, finds their son Zach missing. Zach is a bit of a problem child, but you see how much Cameron loves him and all the range of emotions that he goes through after he goes missing and he becomes more and more unpredictable.

The second perspective is DI Rebecca Kent, a solid and experienced copper tasked with finding out the truth, no matter the consequences. 

Goodness, you’re really thrown through a loop during this novel, both emotionally and with all the shocks and surprises the author chucks at you along the way. Honestly, there’s never a dull moment.

The story is also packed with tension. You’re not sure who to trust or whether it’s going to end badly for the characters or not.

I can’t say too much more in case I give away any spoilers, but I can safely say that The Quiet People is up there as one of my top reads of this year.

The Quiet People is a twisty read that will keep you on your toes throughout, not knowing what will happen next.

About The Author:

Paul is an award-winning author who divides his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where most of his novels are set, and Europe. 

He has won the New Zealand Ngaio Marsh Award three times, the Saint-Maur book festival’s crime novel of the year award in France, and has been shortlisted for the Edgar and the Barry in the US and the Ned Kelly in Australia. 

His books have been translated into over twenty languages. He’s thrown his frisbee in over forty countries, plays tennis badly, golf even worse, and has two cats – which is often two too many.

Follow Paul on Twitter @PaulCleave, and his website: paulcleave.com

#BookReview Finding Suzy by David Videcette #TrueCrime

Title: Finding Suzy by David Videcette

Date Published: 5th August 2021

Genre: True Crime

Description:

How can someone just disappear?

Step inside a real-life, missing person investigation in this compelling, true crime must-read.

Uncover what happened to missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, as David Videcette takes you on a quest to unpick her mysterious disappearance and scrutinise the shadowy ‘Mr Kipper’.

One overcast Monday in July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh vanished whilst showing a smart London property to a mysterious ‘Mr Kipper’.

Despite the baffling case dominating the news and one of the largest missing persons cases ever mounted, police failed to find a shred of evidence establishing what had happened to her.

Sixteen years later, following a second investigation and under pressure from Suzy’s desperate parents, police named convicted rapist and murderer John Cannan as their prime suspect. However, the Crown Prosecution Service refused to charge him, citing a lack of evidence.

High-profile searches were conducted, yet Suzy’s body was never found; the trail that might lead investigators to her, long since lost.

Haunted by another missing person case, investigator and former Scotland Yard detective, David Videcette, has spent five years painstakingly reinvestigating Suzy’s cold case disappearance.

Through a series of incredible new witness interviews and fresh groundbreaking analysis, he uncovers piece by piece what happened to Suzy and why the case was never solved.

People don’t just disappear…

Review:

I want to thank the TBC Review Group for providing me with a copy of Finding Suzy in exchange for an honest review.

Suzy Lamplugh’s name was vaguely familiar to me as I vaguely remember seeing something about them reopening the case when I was a teenager, but I didn’t really know the ins and out before reading this book.

The case was an intriguing one. A young estate agent goes missing after supposedly meeting with a mysterious ‘Mr Kipper’. The trail went cold quickly and to this day hasn’t been solved, even though there was a lot of speculation over the years and even a prime suspect.

With the help of his researcher Caroline, David Videcette uses his years as an investigator to put forward where the original and subsequent police investigations may have gone wrong and give a credible theory to what he thinks may have happened to Suzy.

Reading this story both horrified and fascinated me. Imagine a loved one just disappearing and never being found? I know in the UK there’s over two thousand missing persons cases each year, a fact which is quite scary when you think about it.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded, told in a mostly first person narration like you were there seeing the story through the author’s eyes and getting his insights.

You can honestly see the painstaking work that went into the book, tracking down people from over thirty years ago, probing into the memories and conducting detailed interviews. 

I found occasionally the story didn’t flow as well; it got a little bogged down in minor details, which in the long run didn’t matter too much to the story, but that didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment. 

Finding Suzy was an informative and gripping read that if you love true crime documentaries, I think you will love this. 

About The Author:

As an investigator David Videcette has chased numerous dangerous criminals and interviewed thousands of witnesses. He is a former Scotland Yard detective with expertise in the fields of counter-terror operations and organised crime.

David puts his policing knowledge to good use investigating cold cases in his true crime series, Investigations by David Videcette. He is also the author of the Detective Inspector Jake Flannagan thrillers.

When he is not writing, he consults on security operations for high-net-worth individuals and is a media commentator for broadcasters and newspapers around the world.

Burning Bright (The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart #2) by Michele Kwasniewski @michelekwas @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #YoungAdult

Welcome to the tour for Burning Bright, the next exciting novel in Michele Kwasniewski’s series, The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart!  

Title: Burning Bright (The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart #2) by Michele Kwasniewski

Publication Date: 1st November 2021

Genre: YA Fiction

Description:

Fresh off the debut of her EP, sixteen year old Dani Truehart is flying high on a string of number one hits.  After locking down her first full-length album in record time and furiously preparing for her world tour, Dani is torn between leaving her loved ones behind and embracing her burgeoning stardom.

Dani’s fame and fortune, along with her ego, explode as her tour moves across the globe.  Elated when two of Hollywood’s hottest young actors, Kayla Spencer and Trey Connors, befriend her, Dani finds herself living life in the fast lane and recording her second album as she tours. Constantly dogged by the paparazzi, Dani basks in the adoration of The TrueHart Nation, her loyal super-fans who are ready to follow her around the world and go to war with anyone who dares dis their favorite pop star whom they’ve dubbed The Queen of Harts.

But with her mother’s desperate attempts to cash in on her fame getting bolder, a public drunken scandal and her inability to connect with her boyfriend Sean and her best friend Lauren, Dani relies on her guardian Martin Fox and manager Jenner Redman to clean up her messes.  She also increasingly depends on the drinks tour dancer Beau slips her to cope with her overwhelming life.  Between juggling her drinking on the sly, the pressures of her public image and her ever-increasing fame, Dani and Beau wind up cornered in a huge lie in order to keep her secrets under wraps.  The pressure crescendos when Dani’s mother blackmails her about her drinking and best friend Lauren catches Trey kissing Dani at the launch of her third album.  Desperate to keep Lauren from telling Sean and Kayla about the kiss, Dani makes a choice that threatens not only to take her down, but everyone who has made her a star.

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Excerpt

Looking like a carbon copy of last night but feeling like a shadow of myself, I sit on a huge gold and red throne backstage, waiting for the video package to roll. “Sounds like you had quite the adventure last night, rock star?” Beau elbows me playfully. I wince, grateful for the darkness that hides my burning cheeks.

“You wouldn’t have thrown up on my watch. I’d never let you get that sloppy.” He winks.

“Uh, thanks, I guess. But trust me, that whole scene won’t be happening again. Jenner and Martin have me on lockdown, and my parents are threatening to pull me off tour if it does.”

“Yeah, right. Like MEGA’s going to let your mom and dad kill the cash cow that’s raking in millions of dollars.” He gives me a wry look, his features eerily highlighted by the dim blue stage safety light. “Not likely. They might talk a big game, but trust me, you could steal a car, rob a bank or slap the president of the United States and you’d still find yourself on stage at curtain time.”

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If you like the sound of Burning Bright, why not check out the first book Rising Star too:

Title: Rising Star (The Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart #1) by Michele Kwasniewski

Publication Date: 20th October 2020

Genre: YA Fiction

Description:

In the first book in THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series, RISING STAR, fifteen-year-old Dani Truehart is living a life that is not quite her own. Driven by her mother’s desire for fame and fortune, she has spent her childhood dutifully training for a career as a pop star. On the brink of discovery, doubts begin to creep into Dani’s mind as she questions her own desire for fame, and she wonders whether she can trust the motivations of the adults who are driving her forward.

Following a brilliant audition arranged by her vocal/dance coach and former ’80s pop icon Martin Fox, Dani is thrown full-force into the music industry. She leaves her friends, family and scheming mother behind to move with Martin, who has become her legal guardian, into the Malibu compound of her new manager, Jenner Redman. Jenner, the former swindling manager of Martin’s boy band, leverages what’s left of his depleted fortune to launch Dani’s career.

Isolated from her life at home and trying to stay apace with her demanding schedule, Dani struggles to keep in touch with those she loves, connect to her withholding mother and find her voice as an artist. With Martin and Jenner at odds over their rocky past and finding herself unprepared to handle the pressures of her future singing career, Dani’s debut album and future stardom are at risk of falling apart.

Goodreads

About the Author:

After graduating from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Technical Theater, Michele Kwasniewski spent over fifteen years in film and television production. Starting out as a film set assistant on movies such as INDEPENDENCE DAY, FACE/OFF, PRIMAL FEAR, and EVITA, she worked her way up to production manager on TV shows including BIG BROTHER, ADOPTION STORIES, EXTRA YARDAGE and MEET THE PANDAS. She is also a proud member of the Producers Guild of America. Michele’s colorful experiences in the industry inspired her to write THE RISE AND FALL OF DANI TRUEHART series. Michele lives in San Clemente, California with her husband, their son, and their disobedient dachshund. RISING STAR is her first novel.

Michele Kwasniewski | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Sojourn (Season of the Runer 2) by Abigail Lindhardt @Promthanius @RRBookTours1 #RRBooksTours #Sojourn

I’m thrilled to share this new release with you all today! This beautiful dark Fantasy is called Sojourn and it is the latest installment in the Season of the Runer series by Abigail Linhardt. Read on for more details and a chance to win one of two bookish loot boxes!

Title: Sojourn (Season of the Runer #2)

Publication Date: 8th November 2021

Genre: Dark Fantasy

Description:

“THERE MAY BE NO GHOSTS OR GHOULS HERE, BUT THERE ARE MONSTERS. IT’S OUR JOB TO STOP THEM.”

Fleeing Al’Myrah, Tzarik sails with Sybal as far away from Sharar as they can. Landing on the far eastern continent of Xia, they discover there are no Runers on Xia and a civil war is heating up between the traditionalists and those who believe it is time for Xia to join the ways of the modern world.

A mysterious creed called Wushito culls the monsters without runes or the white blood. Revered or feared, Wushito exists to support the ruler of Xia–the one touched by the White Dragon. But with Runers ashore, their secrets may soon be brought to light and the traditions on which Xia is built will be tipped into chaos.

Put in the middle, Tzarik and Sybal set events into motion they must see through to the end or risk unleashing a malevolent force into the world. However, a shadow from the past appears amidst their new struggle, complicating their sojourn and quest for sanctuary.

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Excerpt

The sulfates calming inside her, Sybal gathered all that remained of her patience and followed the general. Not wanting to ever be that close to the general again, she chose a perch a few yards away behind a boulder. Just as she ducked down, the small army came into view. She’d expected them to be out3tted in matching regalia, gleaming armor, and spears. The troupe that emerged was a ragtag team in mismatched pieces of armor. Some wore furs patched together with black leather. These had black paint on their faces and over their eyes. They looked harder and 3ercer than the others. The placards they carried were the only uniform item; it bore the familiar crest of House Xhiaoh.

“They’re peasants,” she whispered. “People.”

Wu-Zhiang scoffed. “What did you expect of a people who want to overthrow Wushito? Ignorant rats.”

Touching her runes under her tunic, Sybal said, “I will not kill them. I will stop them.”

The Masahk narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “As you wish. I have no qualms with killing those who seek to overthrow my creed. On my signal…”

Swallowing hard, Sybal prepared herself. For the 3rst time, her crime 6oated to the front of her mind. She could not cut down another sentient being. She didn’t know what would happen. All she knew was that the recompense was said to be horrifying to witness and painful for the oath breaker. A long, grueling death, no doubt.

Rearing up, Wu-Zhiang held her yari aloft and struck down into the army. Without hesitation, Sybal jumped after her, drawing halat as she landed. She opted for her bow, kiting away from on-coming attacks. Drawing buhkar, she misted away and was able to stay back from the attackers. Wu-Zhiang was not as merciful nor inhibited by a magical oath that would take her life. Her fangs 6ashing in the moonlight, she bit the enemy with quick, deadly strikes. Arching her spine, she turned upside down to 3re a fatal arrow into a man who threw a spear at her.

Sybal thought they’d gotten the upper hand too quickly. She’d released a half dozen arrows into shins and feet when the invading army turned and ran forward into the trees.

“Follow them!” Wu-Zhiang hissed, wiping blood from her lips. “They are heading right to Yasuke!” A wicked grin warped her face into demonic joy. “To the blus.”

Chasing after the serpentine woman took all Sybal’s speed and strength. When the Masahk went down onto her belly and shot o, she moved with the speed of a hunting viper. A whipping, hissing sound alerted her to ShanBao’s arrow going up from where the others waited. This should have been their signal, but Wu- Zhiang had preemptively struck. Now it signaled Yasuke and Jin to move in. Sybal saw how well ShanBao knew his generals when she heard Yasuke give a wild, canine cry.

The two women came over the rocky outcropping and stopped.

“A trap!” Wu-Zhiang shouted.

Below, another horde of Wu-Tang warriors waited, unleashing arrows towards Jin and Yasuke. Sybal prepared to scream for the boy to duck, but he easily dodged the arrows with elegant lips, scaling a tree before hopping across to another, shooting his own arrows down at the same time. Yasuke leapt into the frey for melee attacks, using his claws. His fur stood on end as he roared. A 3ery fox shadow appeared behind him as his attacks grew in rage.

From behind Jin and Yasuke, the Shiuki warriors emerged, spears and staves in hand. Sybal skirted around the edge, the blood from the Wushito general’s savage attacks painting the vibrant green grass red. She met with ShanBao and the royal commander.

“I will lose my rank for this,” Commander Zhen stuttered, his face white. “We are involved in a civil dispute. A battle! The Di- Huan will have my head.”

“This was unexpected, Zhen.” ShanBao watched, horri3ed at the bloodletting. “They played us for the peaceful fools we are.”

Below, Sybal watched a royal warrior brought to his knees by a man welding the banner of House Xiaoh. The royal warrior begged for his life before the Xiaoh 3ghter stabbed him with the placard, standing it up in his corpse. Unable to bear the sight, she leased an arrow into the Xiaoh warrior’s knee.

“Careful, Sybal!” ShanBao cried. “Your oath.”

Glaring at the evil sigil, she spat. “It is far worse a punishment that I cannot take my revenge.” In truth, she had killed Whoang Xiaoh twice. She had tasted her revenge. But the opportunity to fell more of his kinsmen and followers loomed before her in insatiable temptation.

“Guard your anger,” ShanBao whispered, touching her shoulder gently from behind. “I do this to protect Xia. House Xiaoh wants one of their own on the throne.”

“Why are they striking now?” Zhen cried as he watched his men fall. “I thought we were close to an accord.”

“Hardly,” ShanBao replied. “The Di-Huan is ignorant and indecisive. His son has no desire to rule.”

Zhen swallowed hard before he spoke. “He is not touched by the dragon. They must be frightened their rule will be challenged.”

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About the Author:

Abi has been a writer all her life, but is a mentor at heart. When she is not writing, you can find her slaying enemies online or hunting for the next bohemian adventure. She has published works of fiction, poetry, academia, and even won awards for her short stories in science fiction and horror.

Abi is also a proud mom of two…ferrets! She live streams on Twitch where you can enjoy her terrible gaming skills and join the live discussion. She works part-time as a freelance ghostwriter, editor, and audiobook narrator, hoping to one day make these passions her full-time job. She currently resides in Kansas.

She is one of nine children–all who share the creative spark.

Abigail Linhardt | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok 

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