#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

#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.

Recorder by (Children of the Consortium Book 1) Cathy McCrumb @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #Scifi #Books

Congratulations to author Cathy McCrumb! This week marks the release of Recorder, the first book in her Sci-Fi series, Children of the Consortium. Read on for more info and a chance to win a signed hardcover of the book!

Title: Recorder by Cathy McCrumb

Publication Date: 9th November 2021

Genre: Science Fiction/ Speculative Fiction

Publisher: Enclave

Description:

Children of the Consortium

When a research station goes dark and a rescue mission goes wrong, a young woman with no name, no family, no friends loses everything that defines her…

Donated to the Consortium before birth, the Recorder’s sole purpose is to maintain and verify the records. A neural implant and drone ensure compliance, punishing any display of bias.

Suddenly cut off from the technology controlling her, she tastes freedom and what it means to be human. But if the Consortium discovers her feelings, everyone she knows will be in danger.

With no name, no resources, and only an infinitesimal possibility of escape, the Recorder’s time is running out.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

I did not have a name—none of us did—but once when I was young, I had a friend.

Early in my tenth year I slipped away from the other girls of my cohort. Their approved games did not interest me, and since I had fulfilled my physical activity requirements, I took refuge at my favorite place near the artificial brook.

Light sparkled on water rippling over smooth brown stones. Either the brook’s engineers or its gentle flow had sculpted rounded banks in the loam, and lavender and thyme grew between orange lilies. The self-pollinating plants bobbed and dipped in the breeze created by the giant fans in the lofty, domed ceiling. It was a close approximation of a real brook, from what I had read.

Available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble!

About the Author:

Cathy graduated from Biola University with a degree in literature and a love for stories. She and her husband, whom she met while writing letters to soldiers, have five children and currently live within the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. While writing is one of her favorite things, she also enjoys reading, long hikes, long naps, gluten-free brownies, raspberries, and crocheting while watching science fiction movies with friends and family.

Cathy McCrumb | Facebook | Instagram

Giveaway! 

Win a hardcover edition of Recorder signed by the author!

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The Restoration by J.H.Moncrieff @JH_Moncrieff @flametreepress @RandomTTours #RandomThingsTours #BookReview #Horror

Title: The Restoration by J.H.Moncrieff

Publisher: Flame Tree Press

Date Published: 19th October 2021

Genre: Horror

Description:

Inspired by the author’s overnight stay in a historical haunted house, The Restoration is a thrilling tale of intrigue, murder, and family secrets that refuse to stay buried.

It was the perfect opportunity…or so she thought. When Terri Foxworth is hired to spend a year restoring a crumbling manor house, she believes she’s hit the jackpot. She moves in with her young daughter and high hopes for the project’s success. As the restoration begins to go terribly wrong, she realizes dark forces won’t let her leave the house until its horrible secrets are revealed.

This job could very well be the death of her.

Review:

I want to thank Anne Cater for inviting me on this tour and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy of The Restoration in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for a haunted house story, so when I read the synopsis for The Restoration, I knew I had to give it a read.

The Restoration is a mix of mystery and ghostly goings on which created an additive read. I devoured this book in two sittings which I haven’t done in ages!

Terri is desperate for money, so she takes on the restoration of the old Miss Vandermere’s childhood home, Glenvale. She moves in with her daughter Dallas, but things don’t seem right and the hauntings begin. The ghost refuses to leave them alone and, along with another unwanted guest, Terri finds herself pulled into the mystery surrounding Glenvale.

I felt for Terri. Trying her best to provide for her daughter in the tough business of restoring houses, also while keeping her ex from getting full custody of her daughter.

I enjoyed the fact it showed a realistic parent/child relationship, the ups and downs. One minute they hate you, the next you’re firm friends and all the other nuanced stuff that goes on in between.

The tension builds nicely, culminating in an explosive ending, which while it didn’t entirely surprise me, was extremely satisfying. 

I wished there had been more of a buildup at the beginning of the story. I felt the ghost showed itself a little too soon for my liking.

The Restoration is a quick spooky read that I’d recommend to any mystery lover out there who likes a ghostly twist to their stories.

This may be my first J.H. Moncrieff book, but I will certainly be on the lookout for more of her books in the future.

About The Author:

J.H .Moncrieff’s City of Ghosts won the 2018 Kindle Book Review Award for best Horror/Suspense.

Reviewers have described her work as early Gillian Flynn with a little Ray Bradbury and Stephen King thrown in for good measure. She won Harlequin’s search for “the next Gillian Flynn” in 2016. Her first published novella, The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave, was featured in Samhain’s Childhood Fears collection and stayed on its horror bestsellers list for over a year.

When not writing, she loves exploring the world’s most haunted places, advocating for animal rights, and summoning her inner ninja in muay thai class. To get free ebooks and a new spooky story every week, go to http://bit.ly/MoncrieffLibrary.

The Country Village Winter Wedding by Cathy Lake @LakeAuthor @Tr4cyF3nt0n @ZaffreBooks #BookReview #BlogTour

Title: The Country Village Winter Wedding by Cathy Lake

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication Date: 28th October 2021

Genre: Romance

Description:

Clare Greene and Sam Wilson are getting married and everyone in Little Bramble is excited for the event of the year. But Clare and Sam are busy people and have left organising their wedding to the last minute.

Luckily, wedding planner Hazel Campbell has recently moved to the village. She had what she thought was a wonderful life in Edinburgh with a successful business, a loving fiance and her own wedding coming up. But when she caught her groom-to-be in bed with her best friend she fled, leaving everyone and everything behind.

Little Bramble seems like the ideal place for Hazel to start over. As she throws herself into planning the perfect country village winter wedding, she starts to find herself again. And soon she realises that a second chance at happiness might just be on the cards . . .

Escape to Little Bramble with the rest of The Country Village Series – The Country Village Christmas Show and The Country Village Summer Fete, available now, and The Country Village Allotment, coming in Spring 2022.

Review:

I want to thank Tracy Fenton for inviting me on this blog tour and Zaffre for providing me with a copy of The Country Village Winter Wedding in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually one for Christmas stories, I’m a bit bah humbug about the whole thing, but I loved The Country Village Summer Fete earlier this year, so I thought I’d give this book a go. I must be mellowing in my old age!

This is the third in the series, but it can be read as a standalone, but there are cameos from characters from the previous books to get the most out of this series.

I absolutely loved the pairing of Hazel and Jack. Both are carrying hurt from their past, Hazel from a cheat of a fiance and Jack from the death of his wife. It was sweet to watch their romance grow.  

I have to say I have a bit of a soft spot for Jack. He cooks, cleans and is good with children, not to mention the fact he gave up his dreams to support his wife. He seems like the ideal man!

What I liked about this story, compared to the previous book, is there were a few more funny moments and there were a few scenes that made me snort with laughter. 

The Country Village Winter Wedding is a sweet, Christmassy read that is the perfect blend of romance and feel good festive fun.

About The Author:

Cathy Lake is a women’s fiction writer who lives with her family and three dogs in beautiful South Wales. She writes uplifting stories about strong women, family, friendship, love, community and overcoming obstacles.

Find Me In The Dark (Detective Harlow Durant 1) by Dea Poirier @bookouture @deapoirierbooks #BooksOnTour #BookReview

Title: Find Me In The Dark (Detective Harlow Durant 1) by Dea Poirier

Publisher: Bookouture

Date Published: 21st October 2021

Genre: Police Procedural

Description:

She’d been running for so long, it felt like her legs were on fire. Her heart was pounding so hard, she was sure it would give out. Around her, the snow was falling, casting an eerie silence over the town. A crack behind her, a foot snapping a branch, it warned her that he was still coming. She whipped around and saw the knife gleaming in his hand…

As the snow begins to melt across Plattsburgh, New York, the body of a young woman is found buried in a snowbank. When Detective Harlow Durant arrives at the scene she discovers that the victim has lain there for months: her arresting beauty, brightly-coloured nails and a distinctive gold bracelet perfectly preserved in the ice.

Searching missing person reports, Harlow soon identifies the victim as college student Alyssa Trent. Her grieving family describe her as someone who had no enemies and was a dedicated student. But Alyssa’s tutor has a different view: they claim Alyssa had another life that she kept hidden. But who would want her dead?

Harlow knows all about secret lives. She has spent years running from her past and from her father, a convicted serial killer. As the only female detective at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Harlow has vowed to bring killers to justice. Now she needs to find justice for Alyssa.

When another female student is found in the thawing snow, Harlow knows that she is hunting a twisted killer. The victims knew each other but what dark secret connects them? With the small-town reeling in shock and more snow coming, Harlow knows she needs to stop a killer dead in their tracks before another innocent life is lost.

From the bestselling author of Next Girl To Die comes an addictive crime thriller perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series.

You can buy your copy here: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ax5vki

Review:

I want to thank Bookouture for providing me a copy of Find Me In The Dark in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first in the Harlow Durant series and my first book by Dea Poirier, but it certainly won’t be my last.

What an utterly compelling read Find Me In The Dark was! 

Harlow is a complex character. Raised by a serial killer and abusive mother, she’d used to people letting her down and moving from place to place, never feeling at home. She’s a bit standoffish, understandably, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly, which I enjoyed, especially when faced with the vile local officers she had to deal with.

Lucas made a nice foil for Harlow. New to the homicide department, he’s still a little inexperienced, but he’s loyal and determined. He also carries his own hurt from the past. It was also nice to see that there was any romance between him and Harlow, which made a pleasant change.

With all the buildup and tension in the story, I found the murderer reveal a little lacklustre, although at the end there is a little surprise that will lead nicely onto the next book.

Find Me In The Dark is a gripping serial killer thriller packed with action from the very beginning.

About The Author:

Author Dea (D.H) Poirier is the author of NEXT GIRL TO DIE, which hit #1 in the Amazon charts. She was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she got her start writing in creative writing courses. She attended The University of Central Oklahoma for Computer Science and Political Science. Later, she spent time living on both coasts, and traveling the United States, before finally putting down roots in Central Florida. She now resides somewhere between Disney and the swamp. She spends her days at her day job as a President of Digital Marketing, and her nights writing manuscripts.

Welcome

https://www.facebook.com/dhpoirier/

https://www.instagram.com/deapoirier/

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Beyond the Veil Anthology (Edited by Mark Morris) @flametreepress @RandomTTours #RandomThingsTours #BookReview #Horror #FlameTreePress #BlogTour

Title: Beyond the Veil Anthology (Edited by Mark Morris).

Publisher: Flame Tree Press

Date Published: 19th October 2021

Genre: Horror/Short Story

Description:

Beyond the Veil is the second volume in an annual, non-themed horror series of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer, and edited by Mark Morris. This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2-week open submissions window.

Review:

I want to thank Anne Cater for inviting me on this tour and Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy of Beyond The Veil in exchange for an honest review.

Last year I read and enjoyed the previous short story collection from Flame Tree Press, After Sundown, last year, so I was eager to see what was on offer this year.

Beyond The Veil is a collection of short horror stories with something for every type of horror fan, from classic monster tales to mind bending sci-fi to gruesome body horror. 

I will just put a trigger warning here before I go any further. This novel contains themes of grief, suicide, child abuse, and the death of an animal. 

In all honesty, most of the authors were unknown to me, so it was nice to find some new authors to add to my must read list.

Like most types of collections, I found it a good mix of styles. Of course, there were some stories I enjoyed more than others.

My standouts were:

God Bag. The story that followed a man and his dying mum who was in the last grips of dementia. She carried around a strange little God bag containing prayers that started off innocently enough until he started digging. It was both heartbreaking and creepy at the same time.

For All The Dead. A historical story about a young woman who lived in a small fishing village, where life and death were controlled by the sea. There was almost a fairytale-like quality to this one that I found magical. 

The Girl In The Pool. A thief breaks into a house planning to rob the place, instead finds a young girl dead in the pool. This was a gripping tale of monsters and morality.

A Mystery for Julie Chu. A young woman has a knack for finding strange artifacts, but when she picks up an old radio from a car boot sale, she gets more than she bargained for. I loved the mix of mystery and spookiness of this one.

The care and feeding of household gods. This is a story about a stay at home dad who makes household gods to help him get everything done. This one took me by surprise, starting off innocent enough, then got more and more sinister. I still can’t stop thinking about this one!

I would highly recommend Beyond The Veil if you’re looking for a variety of short, sharp and shocking stories.

About The Editor:

Mark Morris has written and edited almost forty novels, novellas, short story collections and anthologies. His recent work includes the official movie tie-in novelizations of The Great Wall and (co-written with Christopher Golden) The Predator, the Obsidian Heart trilogy (The Wolves of London, The Society of Blood and The Wraiths of War), the anthologies New Fears (winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Anthology) and New Fears 2 and many more.