#OneMustDie by Mark Tilbury @MTilburyAuthor #BookReview

Title: One Must Die by Mark Tilbury

Date Published: 24th June 2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

I have both your sons, Mr Levitt. One of them must die. You choose.

Widower Sean Levitt receives the ominous message in the post a few days after his teenage boys go missing on their way to army cadets. As time progresses, the abductor makes increasingly horrific demands of Sean by sending him DVDs, and telling him to post videos online of the shocking assignments he sets him.

One Must Die is the story of one man’s fight to keep his sons alive, and the terrible lengths he must go to in order to do so.

Can Sean do what the police have failed to do and find his sons?

Or will the abductor achieve his twisted aim of destroying his entire family?

Review:

I want to thank Mark Tilbury for inviting me on this blog tour and providing me with a copy of One Must Die in exchange for an honest review.

Mark ‘Twisted’ Tilbury certainly lives up to his nickname with One Must Die!

The story starts off with every parent’s worst nightmare, Sean’s sons go out but don’t come back. A DVD arrives asking Sean to do tasks to keep his sons alive. The tasks start out a minor, slowly getting more and more sinister. But why is he being targeted?

The story is told from several points of view, from Sean, to his son Peter, to the kidnapper. Getting inside the mind of the kidnapper was particularly entertaining, even if he was a deeply deranged individual.

Sean is a heating engineer and widower, who doesn’t seem to have a nasty bone in his body, which makes it even more shocking that he’s been targeted in such an irrational manner. His son Peter, was also a solid character who I really rooted for throughout. 

I will warn you that there are a few scenes which are fairly graphic/unsettling, meaning that it may not be for you if you like your crime fiction on the lighter side.

There were a few aspects of the story I found a little unbelievable, but of course that’s just my opinion.

One Must Die is a dark and disturbing read packed with tense moments that will keep you hooked throughout.

About The Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

He’s always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark’s writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He’s published 10 thrillers, and an 11th is due out 24th June 2021

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

The Devil’s Mark (DI Graves 3) by WD Jackson-Smart #TheDevilsMark @wdejackson @PantherPubs @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours

Title: The Devil’s Mark by W.D. Jackson-Smart

Publisher: Panther Publishing

Date Published: 1st February 2021

Genre: Thriller

Description:

Bloody remains. Multiple victims. Ritual sacrifice?

When a blood-stained effigy of body parts is found in a central London park, D.I Daniel Graves must set about trying to discover what it could mean and find the person responsible. Symbols at the crime scene suggest the occult. Who would leave a murder victim in such a way, and why?

As Graves and partner DI Charlie Palmer begin to investigate the ritual and the act of human sacrifice, they enlist the help of Charlotte Gooding, a talented professor specialising in the subject. They hope to narrow down on a motive. Could the killer believe in the supernatural? Witchcraft even?

Then the next crime scene is found. More blood, more symbols, and out in the open. It seems the killer wants the world to pay attention, but why? How are they choosing their victims?

The pressure is on for Graves to put an end to the murders before more remains show up in brutal tableaus. One thing is for sure, this killer is out for blood and is not afraid to make it a very public display.

There’s just one problem. Grave’s past is still not behind him. Someone is eager to make sure he doesn’t forget, cannot move on. And they’re not playing games anymore. There may be an occult killer out there, but now there’s another out for blood, Daniel Grave’s blood.

You can buy your copy here:

Panther Publishing: http://bit.ly/2N14usm 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/3cOmIZ8 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3jtetCT 

Review:

I want to thank Emma at Damppebbles blog tours for inviting me on this tour and Panther Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Devil’s Mark in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first in this series, The Demons Beneath, so I thought I’d give this one a go. It is the third in the series and it can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the other books in the series as some storyline runs over into this one.

The Devil’s Mark is a fast-paced ride of a book. The elements of horror and police procedural combined to make a really enthralling story.

DI Daniel Graves and DI Charlie Palmer made a good double act. Their banter and friendship is so fun to read, giving a bit of light relief in quite a dark tale. I also enjoyed the fact there were some love interests for both characters after what the author puts them through, they deserve some happiness!

I felt this book was a little heavier on the violence/graphic scenes than I remember from The Demons Beneath, but I didn’t mind that too much.

The Devil’s Mark is a thrilling and action packed read that really kept me hooked until the very end. A brilliant addition to the series!

About The Author:

WD Jackson-Smart, 35, is a London-based horror and crime fiction author who has been writing crime and horror fiction since 2011. His novel Red Light was self published on Amazon and charted in the top twenty best selling Suspense / Thriller Kindle books on release. 

His horror short story, What’s Yours Is Mine, was shortlisted for the Horror For Good anthology.

His first crime thriller Slasher, about a serial killer targeting slasher movie actresses in Hollywood, is out now, and he has launched a brand new crime series set in London and starring D.I. Graves. The Demons Beneath is the first in the series, and the sequel From Inside The House was published on July 1st 2019.

As well as his passion for horror and crime thrillers in all forms, WD Jackson-Smart also loves art and design, having studied Fine Art and Art History in Leeds and Toronto and working as a graphic designer for the majority of his career.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wdejackson

Website: https://www.wdjacksonauthor.co.uk/

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

Degrees Of Darkness by Tony J Forder @TonyJForder #RePublished #BookReview

Hello lovelies! Today as part of the re-publication celebrations, I’m re-sharing my review of Degrees of Darkness by Tony J Forder! It’s from way back in 2017 during my first year reviewing here on On The Shelf Reviews. It is also still one of my favourite novels by Tony Forder! Now a little about the book:

Title: Degrees of Darkness by Tony J Forder

Date Re-Published: 5th February 2021

Publisher: Spare Nib Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

From the bestselling author of the addictive DI Bliss series and the compelling standalone novel, Fifteen Coffins, comes a dark, psychological journey into the nightmare world of a serial killer.

Nothing is ever entirely black or white.

Pre-teen girls are being abducted from their homes and their families murdered. When Frank Rogers, ex-DI with the Metropolitan Police, is told that his own daughter is missing, his son a victim, he sets aside his grief to help old colleagues investigate the case. 

Soon Frank’s face is all over the news. And in an unexpected turn of events, the killer contacts the police to say he is willing to talk. But only to Frank.

When the body of the first abducted girl is discovered, Frank realises the investigation has become a race against time to save his daughter’s life. 

In order to solve the case, Frank must work out how the killer is choosing his victims. To do that, he must first enter the killer’s mind. But is Frank able to drag himself into its darker reaches? And if so, will he be able to pull himself back?

First published by Bloodhound Books in 2017. Republished by Spare Nib Books February 2021.

You can buy your copy here: http://tiny.cc/gbm7tz

Review:

Frank Rodgers used to be a policeman until he quit and became a debt collector. He is pulled back into police work when his ex-wife and son are brutally murdered and his daughter goes missing. But she is not the first. Frank wants to make sure she is the last.

I have not read a more aptly named book this year. Degrees of Darkness is indeed a very dark book. It covers a lot of distressing subjects like murder, kidnapping and child abuse. It’s not for the faint of heart!

The serial killer in this book is one of the creepiest and most disturbing I have read for a while but I found them utterly fascinating. 

As for the story, it really builds to a nail biting ending, you hope and pray that Frank gets his daughter back.

 My only complaint was that it featured taxidermy, which featured in a book I read earlier this year, and frankly is one of those subjects that makes me a little queasy. (I know I read a lot about murder, I don’t quite know why taxidermy effects me so much).

Overall, a well written and fascinating book, and one I’d recommend to fans of Chris Carter.

About The Author:

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. The first seven books, Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, and Slow Slicing, were joined in December 2020 by a prequel novella, Bliss Uncovered.

Tony’s other series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder, and Cold Winter Sun. These are currently unavailable, but will be back in 2021.

In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, called Fifteen Coffins, released in November 2020.

Tony lives with his wife in Peterborough, UK, and is now a full-time author. He is currently working on Bliss #8, The Autumn Tree.

Links

Website: https://www.tonyjforder.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TonyJForder @TonyJForder

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01N4BPT65

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16166122.Tony_J_Forder

Fantastic Fiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/tony-j-forder/

Tony can also be found on Instagram.

In Darkness, Shadows Breathe by Catherine Cavendish @Cat_Cavendish @FlameTreePress @RandomTTours #BookReview #RandomThingsTours

Title: In Darkness, Shadows Breathe by Catherine Cavendish

Publisher: Flame Tree Press

Date Published: 19th January 2021

Genre: Horror

Description:

You’re next… Carol and Nessa are strangers but not for much longer. In a luxury apartment and in the walls of a modern hospital, the evil that was done continues to thrive. They are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions – bending and twisting time itself – and where danger waits in every shadow. The battle is on for their bodies and souls and the line between reality and nightmare is hard to define. Through it all, the words of Lydia Warren Carmody haunt them. But who was she? And why have Carol and Nessa been chosen? The answer lies deep in the darkness… 

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners,and exciting, original voices. 

Review:

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

I read and enjoyed The Haunting of Henderson Close by this author way back in 2019, so I thought I’d see what her new book had to offer.

In Darkness, Shadows Breathe is a psychological horror that follows the stories of Carol, a troubled young woman who had spent her life in care, and Nessa, a retired lecturer who’s suffering from cancer. They both seemed to be plagued by similar hauntings and visions from another time involving a woman by the name of Lydia Warren Carmody, a mysterious woman from the past.

There were plenty of spooky goings on throughout the novel, as I’ve come to expect from Catherine Cavendish’s writing. There was an interesting theme to the novel of time being nonlinear, so in theory you could be in several time periods all at once!

I found the little flashbacks to the days of the workhouse and asylum fascinating and more than a little disturbing. It was appalling how the women were treated, half the time as nothing more than things to be experimented on. 

The characters are really well drawn, flawed yet relatable. Nessa’s story really got to my heart, reminding me of my mother’s own battle with cancer.

For me the two halves of the didn’t quite mesh as well as I would have liked, it felt for the most part two separate stories. I also would have liked to have found out a little more about the evil entity known as the one and the many, but of course that’s just my opinion.

In Darkness, Shadows Breathe is an atmospheric read packed with tension and chilling moments.

About The Author:

Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Cat is now the full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels and novellas. She lives with her long-suffering husband and black cat in a 260 year old haunted apartment in North Wales.

#BookReview The Liar’s Promise by Mark Tilbury @MTilburyAuthor

Title: The Liar’s Promise by Mark Tilbury

Date Published: 3rd December

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

How does a mother protect her child from the unknown? 

During a visit to a local theatre, four-year-old Chloe Hollis becomes hysterical. But her mother, Mel, doesn’t realise that this is just the beginning of the nightmare. In the coming weeks, Chloe talks of The Tall Man – Of death. 

At her wits end, Mel confides in Charles Honeywell, the headmaster at the school where she works. But what Kim doesn’t know is that Charles is linked to what is happening to her daughter. 

Will Mel learn the terrible truth? And can she overcome her own tragic past and save her daughter before it’s too late?

The Liar’s Promise is a story of past lives and future torment.

Review:

I was gifted a copy of The Liar’s Promise by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read and enjoyed a few of Mark Tilbury’s books now and with the author himself re-releasing a number of books it’s a great opportunity to catch up on a few I’ve missed. The Liar’s Promise appealed to me as I really enjoy books about past lives or have a supernatural element to them.

The Liar’s Promise is a dark and at times disturbing read that gets you into the mind of a devious killer.

The POV’s mostly alternated between the unscrupulous killer and mother on the edge Mel.  Mel was a bit of a tough character to like but due to her troubled past but when you find out the true extent of her trauma you can forgive her for being the way she is.

My favourite part of the book is Mark Tilbury’s writing style. It’s vivid, visceral, a little gruesome at times but that lends to the authenticity of the ruthless killer.

The book really started off strong, with a lot of ‘whys’ and ”what ifs’ but I did feel like I wanted a little more mystery, a little more suspense but of course that’s just my opinion.

The Liar’s Promise is an intense read that gives you a peek at the darker side of humanity.

About The Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised. 

After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused. 

He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and having had seven books published by an indie publisher, has decided to return to self publishing. After successfully publishing The Last One To See Her, A Prayer For The Broken is following in October 2020. 

When he’s not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

Shadows of The Woods by Duncan Thompson @dthompsonauthor @PantherPubs @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours

Title: Shadows of the Woods by Duncan Thompson

Date Published: 6th June 2020

Publisher: Panther Publishing

Genre: Horror

Description:

Faceless shadows, a night that will never be the same, and a sinister force. If you go down to the woods tonight, you’re in for a sinister surprise.

When a stag party decides to camp in the woods, they soon discover that a malevolent force has them in their sights. As the unknown creeps ever closer, Joe and his friends must survive. To survive, Joe must learn to fight. If he fights, he could lose it all.

A rollercoaster ride of blood, sweat and tears, Shadows of the Woods will keep you hooked, all whilst throwing nostalgic homage to slashers of the late seventies and early eighties.

A Night Terror that you won’t be forgetting any time soon.

You can buy your copy here:

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2BHrKX9

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3dY4UYb 

• 

Review:

I want to thank Emma at Damppebbles blog tours for inviting me on this tour and Panther Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Joe and his friends decide to go camping for his stag do but instead of a nice lad’s night out, they find something sinister and end up fighting for their lives. Who will survive? 

Shadows of The Woods is a short sharp shock filled book! 

There was plenty of fast paced action, adventure and horrifying scenes for any horror fan to get their teeth into.

This very much a monster driven story and my goodness the monsters were a little terrifying! I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I’m very wary of shadows now.

The book did contain the old camping in the woods trope but I feel the author made it their own and took a fresh spin on it. 

There was quite a large cast of characters and with this being a novella, I felt we didn’t get to know the characters quite as well as I’d liked.

Shadows of The Woods is at times a gruesome and adventure packed novel that I genuinely couldn’t predict when I was reading it.

About The Author:

Duncan has spent most of his life in a small market town in West Yorkshire — the same town in which most of his stories are set under the guise of Ravenfield. Duncan has been writing works of fiction since the age of seven. In those early days, his stories often involved himself and his friends being transported to fantasy worlds. However, as a teenager, Duncan fell in love with horror movies and his writing took a whole new direction.

Duncan still lives in West Yorkshire with his partner and their two young children. He also has slight obsession with Spider-Man and the actor Bruce Campbell, as well as having an addiction to vinyl records, coffee and Lego.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dthompsonauthor 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duncanthompsonauthor/ Website: https://www.dthompsonauthor.com/

#BlogTour The Divide by Stewart Giles @stewartgiles @Books_n_all #BookReview #Horror

Title: The Divide by Stewart Giles

Date Published: 18th May 2020

Genre: Horror

Description:

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a bone-chilling horror story that will keep you up at night.

THE DIVIDE – Some things are best left buried.

Five teenagers head into Dartmoor’s bleak National Park for a final adventure together before they all go their separate ways after the summer.
These lifelong friends have no idea what terrible secrets this place holds.

One by one they start to realise something is not quite right about this moor. 

Something is lurking there – some malevolent and ominously primeval force is buried deep beneath this ground waiting to emerge.

The locals know the truth about what lies beneath this land but the five friends are met with a sinister silence everywhere they turn.

Then the Divide is split in two.

What is unleashed is hell itself and the friends know they need to find a way out before it’s too late. Lured into an ancient forest that appears on no maps, the friends’ fight for survival begins.

But who is the little girl in the white dress? With her hideously disfigured face and transfixing voice, why has she suddenly taken a keen interest in these teenagers?

The Divide is the chilling tale of five friends’ fight for survival against forces none of them could have imagined.

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5-Phobia
Book 1-Smith
Book 2-Boomerang
Book 3-Ladybird
Book 4-Occam’s Razor
Book 5-Harlequin
Book 6-Selene
Book 7-Horsemen
Book 8-Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker

DS JASON SMITH & DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl (coming soon)

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
Miranda
Mistress

Review:

I want to thank Jill at Books ‘n’ all promotions for inviting me on this tour and Stewart Giles for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So I’ve pretty much read all of Stewart’s police procedurals and when I found out he was writing a horror novel, a genre which I enjoy, I was intrigued.

The Divide is a place that hasn’t been disturbed for hundreds of years until the owners of the land, overcome by greed decide to develop it. Five teenage friends, Quinn, Steve, Jack, Hannah and Louise stumble across it and find themselves in a fight for their lives.

The Divide is a nightmarish and imaginative read. I won’t deny, it gave me a few bad dreams after I read it.

This book still had Stewart Giles trademark fast pace and action, although it is a little more gruesome than his usual books.

I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting of Dartmoor, which in itself is a fascinating place, with the inclusion of some folklore, it just made it all the more sinister. 

I have to be honest the second half of the book got a little bit head trippy weird but as it’s horror you’ve got to expect that a bit.

The Divide is an eerie read that will both entertain and horrify you in equal measure.

About The Author:

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live. 

In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later. 

3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.

The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well. 

I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results.  I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.

After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor. 

Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019.

The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction: Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye will be published in February 2020.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com

Twitter: @stewartgiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

#BlogTour #Review The Tower by Anne-Marie Ormsby @AMOrmsby @rararesources

Title: The Tower by Anne-Marie Ormsby

Date Published: 10th January 2020

Publisher: Darkstroke Books

Genre: Ghost Story/Horror

Description:

Sometimes the dead come back. And sometimes all they want is to hurt you.

When residents on an east London housing estate start dying in gruesome ways, housing manager Ada begins to worry that her past is coming back to haunt her.

Once a powerful medium, able to talk to the dead with amazing ease, she became more comfortable with the afterlife than real life, and with that openness she attracted something dark from the other side. Terrified by the experience she swore she would never communicate with the dead again.

Ten years later at the scene of an apparent suicide, her long closed-down connection to the dead is reopened, and she begins to receive information she shouldn’t know about the victims’ final moments.

Stalked in her dreams and in waking life by an angry male presence, Ada begins to relive the dark days when something from the other side wanted her to end her life.

But as the bodies stack up and the visions intensify, Ada realises that in order to stop more people from dying she has to let the dead back in to find out the truth of what is driving her residents to violent acts – and face up to her own ghosts.

Review:

I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this tour and providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ada was once a medium. She closed her connection to the dead but after the suicide of one of the residents in a tower block she manages, communications from the dead come back more powerful than ever. One in particular wants nothing more than to harm her and those around her. Can she stop him before he hurts anyone else?

The Tower is a gritty and dark ghostly thriller which I found quite moving at times.

Ada was a flawed and realistic character. She’s had such an unhappy life that I couldn’t help but feel bad for her, and I just wanted her to be happy with DI Harman. Of course it’s never that simple, especially when you’ve got a ghostly stalker like Michael.

Michael was so cruel and diabolical, genuinely one of those characters you’ll love to hate!

I will say this is not the most cheery read, there’s suicide, self harm and mentions of abuse, so if you’re looking for something light hearted you may have to find another book!

The Tower is a haunting and at times poignant read that will stay with you after you’ve finished the last page.

About The Author:

On a warm day in July 1978, a mother was admitted to hospital, awaiting the arrival of her new baby. She was reading Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie and the midwives thought it a gruesome choice for an expectant mother. A story of a long forgotten murder and repressed memories. As it turned out her new baby, Anne-Marie would grow up and find herself drawn to all things macabre, and would one day herself turn out a story of murder and memories lost.

Anne Marie grew up on the Essex coast with her parents and six siblings in a house that was full of books and movies and set the scene for her lifelong love of both.

She began writing short stories when she was still at primary school after reading the book The October Country by Ray Bradbury. He was and still is her favourite author and the reason she decided at age 9 that she too would be a writer someday.

In her teens she continued to write short stories and branched out into poetry, publishing a few in her late teens. In her early twenties she began committing herself to writing a novel and wrote one by the age of 20 that she then put away, fearing it was too weird for publication.

She wrote Purgatory Hotel over several years, but again kept it aside after several rejections from publishers. Luckily for her, she found a home for her twisted tale with Crooked Cat Books.

Her favourite authors include Ray Bradbury, Jack Kerouac, Stephen King, Denis Lehane and Douglas Coupland. She also takes great inspiration from music and movies, her favourite artists being Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Johnny Cash, Interpol, David Lynch and David Fincher.

After ten years living in London, Anne-Marie moved to Margate where she lives with her husband and their daughter.

Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza #BookReview @RobertBryndza

Title: Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza

Date Published: 1st November 2019

Publisher: Sphere

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Description:

From the breakthrough international bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice, a breathtaking, page-turning novel about a disgraced female detective’s fight for redemption. And survival.

Kate Marshall was a promising young police detective when she caught the notorious Nine Elms serial killer. But her greatest victory suddenly became a nightmare.

Fifteen years after those catastrophic, career-ending events, a copycat killer has taken up the Nine Elms mantle, continuing the ghastly work of his idol.

Enlisting her brilliant research assistant, Tristan Harper, Kate draws on her prodigious and long-neglected skills as an investigator to catch a new monster. But there’s much more than her reputation on the line: Kate was the original killer’s intended fifth victim . . . and his successor means to finish the job.

Review:

Robert Bryndza is an author that has been on my to be read list for a while now, so I was very excited when I got approved for Nine Elms on NetGalley.

Nine Elms follows the story of Kate Marshall, who was once a promising detective but was scapegoated after the capture of the Nine Elms cannibal. Fifteen years later she’s finally got her life back on track when a copycat killer decides to recreate his idols crimes.

Nine Elms is a dark and twisty thriller that shocked and surprised me at every turn.

To me it felt like a part police procedural, part psychological thriller, combining these two made a really taut and tense novel.

Kate is a fantastic character. Troubled, she is battling alcoholism, yet trying her hardest to have a normal life and throwing herself into teaching criminology. She’s tested to her limit during the course of the book and you can’t help but root for her.

The original Nine Elms killer really made my flesh crawl! Genuinely one of the creepiest killers I’ve come across in a while, especially the weird relationship he has with his mother.

I will warn you there were a few gruesome scenes in the book that may not be for everyone but I personally thought it wasn’t overdone.

If you love a serial killer thriller, then I think you’ll love Nine Elms!

About The Author:

Hello, I’m Robert Bryndza. I’m a crime writer and my books have sold 3 million copies, and they’ve been translated into 28 languages. I’m British and live in Slovakia.

My new novel, Nine Elms, the first in my Kate Marshall private detective series has just been published!

I’m the author of the international #1 bestseller THE GIRL IN THE ICE, which is the first in my Detective Erika Foster series, and to date, it has sold over one million copies. There are six books (so far) in the Erika Foster series, and they can be read as a series, and also work as stand-alone books, so can be read in any order;

THE GIRL IN THE ICE

THE NIGHT STALKER

DARK WATER

LAST BREATH

COLD BLOOD

DEADLY SECRETS

In addition to writing crime fiction, I have published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels. I hope you enjoy visiting my Goodreads page, and welcome!

Rob

You can find out more about me at www.robertbryndza.com and on Twitter and Instagram @RobertBryndza

The Children of Never (A War Priests of Andrak Saga) by Christian Warren Freed #Review #TheChildrenofNever #WarPriestsofAndrakSaga @ChristianWFreed @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours

Title: The Children of Never: A War Priests of Andrak Saga by Christian Warren Freed

Date Published: 30th July 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Description:

The war priests of Andrak have protected the world from the encroaching darkness for generations. Stewards of the Purifying Flame, the priests stand upon their castle walls each year for 100 days. Along with the best fighters, soldiers, and adventurers from across the lands, they repulse the Omegri invasions. 

But their strength wanes and evil spreads. 

Lizette awakens to a nightmare, for her daughter has been stolen during the night. When she goes to the Baron to petition aid, she learns that similar incidents are occurring across the duchy. Her daughter was just the beginning. Baron Einos of Fent is left with no choice but to summon the war priests.

Brother Quinlan is a haunted man. Last survivor of Castle Bendris, he now serves Andrak. Despite his flaws, the Lord General recognizes Quinlan as one of the best he has. Sending him to Fent is his best chance for finding the missing children and restoring order. Quinlan begins a quest that will tax his strength and threaten the foundations of his soul. 

The Grey Wanderer stalks the lands, and where he goes, bad things follow. The dead rise and the Omegri launch a plan to stop time and overrun the world. The duchy of Fent is just the beginning. 

The follow up to the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future award winning short: The Purifying Flame, the Children of Never is an all new novel set in a world of raw imagination. Get your copy today!

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Never-Priests-Andrak-Saga/dp/1387986074/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZTILN1AVQ06Q&keywords=the+children+of+never+christian+warren+freed&qid=1579528523&sprefix=the+children+of+never%2Caps%2C292&sr=8-1

 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Children-Never-Priests-Andrak-Saga/dp/1387986074/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+children+of+never+christian+warren+freed&qid=1579529018&sr=8-1

Review:

I want to thank Emma at damppebbles blog tours for inviting me on this tour and providing with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

In the duchy of Fent, children are going missing, snatched from their beds by a man brought back to life by magic. After a ghostly vision, Baron Einos, the ruler of Fent has no choice but to petition the legendary Priests of Andrak for help but the missing children is just the beginning of his woes… 

The Children Of Never is a dark yet epic fantasy with plenty of magic, mystical beings, battles and even a little bit of mystery thrown in there.

I don’t read that much fantasy but I found reading this book it didn’t matter, it just pulled me in from the start with its air of mystery and intrigue. I also appreciated the fact that the story wasn’t overly convoluted and I found it easy to follow.

I have just found out that this is the follow up to a short story,The Purifying Flame, something I didn’t realise as I was reading it but I found it fine to read as a standalone.

The writing was descriptive and I could picture things vividly as I read. There was also a large cast of characters and points of view during the book but I managed to follow each of their stories easily, as they were well rounded and unique.

One of the strongest characters, to me, was Lizette. Grieving for her missing child, she uses it to fuel her determination to see an end to the once dead man and get the Baron, to take notice of the villagers plight.

I did have a couple of issues. There was a tendency to switch POV within chapters, even within the same paragraph on occasion, without any real warning. Also, I felt the ending was a little rushed compared with the rest of the story but of course that’s just my opinion.  

If you enjoy your fantasy novels with a dark edge to it, then I would recommend The Children of Never.

About The Author:

Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active duty US Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has gone on to publish over 20 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, a children’s book, and a pair of how to books focused on indie authors and the decision making process for writing a book and what happens after it is published.

His first published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. Ok, so it was for 4th place in one quarter, but it’s still recognition from the largest fiction writing contest in the world. And no, he’s not a scientologist.

Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and is pursuing a Masters of Arts degree in Digital Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C. and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you drive by you might just find him on the porch with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other. You can find out more about his work by following him @ https://www.facebook.com/ChristianFreed or on Twitter @christianwfreed.

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristianWFreed

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

Blog: https://christianwfreed.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8137590.Christian_Warren_Freed

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005HP3EOW