#BookReview The Perfect Life by Valerie Keogh @ValerieKeogh1

Title: The Perfect Life by Valerie Keogh 

Date Published: 24th June 2020

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

How far would you go to maintain the illusion of The Perfect Life?

Appearances can be deceptive…

Molly Chatwell has a beautiful house, a handsome husband, two children and a job she likes. It all seems so perfect but when her two children leave for university, she realises her life has become dull and empty. When her husband refuses to go away with her, Molly decides to go alone.

But what should have been a relaxing break turns into a nightmare.

Back at home in London, Molly tries to put it all behind her but when the police arrive at her door and tell her that a body has been found with connections to her, Molly realises that her perfect life is under threat…

Review:

I want to thank Valerie Keogh for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Valerie Keogh’s psychological thrillers so I was looking forward to this one.

The Perfect Life is a domestic noir story focussing on Molly Chatwell whose life seems perfect. She has a nice house and job. A great husband and two kids off at university. It’s only when she starts to really look at her life that she begins to see the cracks. A chance meeting with a stranger leaves her perfect life under threat.

I always love the way that Valerie Keogh creates such realistic and flawed characters. I really felt for Molly, suffering from empty nest syndrome and her husband is less than sympathetic about it.  

There’s plenty of peril for poor Molly along the way but I have to be honest I wasn’t entirely shocked by the ending.

The Perfect Life is a fast paced story with plenty of tension and intrigue, perfect for domestic noir fans.  

About The Author:

Valerie Keogh grew up reading Agatha Christie so when she started writing it seemed natural to write crime novels.

In March 2018, Valerie signed a two book contract with the publisher, Bookouture. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, was published in Nov 2018 and the second, The Housewife, in Feb 2019.

In June 2019, Valerie signed a three book contract with Bloodhound books. The first psychological thriller, The Three Women, was published in Feb 2020, the second is due in June 2020 and the third in Sept 2020. Bloodhound are also publishing Valerie’s Irish Crime series, the first of which, No Simple Death was published in Dec 2019, the second, No Obvious Cause in Jan 2020, the third, No Past Forgiven in March.

Valerie also writes a series based in the UK featuring Nicola Connolly, a serial killer. The Hudson and Connolly series: Deadly Sleep, Twisted Power, Bitter Business, and Wicked Secret.

Valerie has also written a stand-alone psychological thriller, Exit Five from Charing Cross

Like Valerie Keogh’s facebook page: facebook.com/valeriekeoghnovels

#Review I Know You by Erik Therme @ErikTherme @bookouture

Title: I Know You by Erik Therme

Publisher: Bookouture

Date Published: 12^th April 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller.

Description:

‘I can help you save your sister. But I need something from you …’

Sisters Bree and Alissa Walker share a special bond. Neglected by their parents, they have always looked out for one another. But one day, sixteen-year-old Alissa goes missing. When Bree discovers her green backpack with all her belongings, abandoned on the steps of their run-down trailer, she knows that something bad has happened …

Then she receives a chilling text message. Someone has Alissa. But Bree will have to give up something very precious in exchange.

Desperate to save Alissa, Bree looks at everyone close to their family. She’s sure that Alissa’s best friend is keeping something back about her little sister and a boy at school, and why has their estranged uncle, who they’ve not seen in years, been hanging around again?

It soon becomes clear that the person behind the message knows a lot about the dark truths within the Walker family and will go to any lengths to get revenge. And as the search for Alissa continues, Bree discovers something about her brother Tyler that she wishes she hadn’t, a dangerous secret, which is also the key to bringing her little sister back home …

A gripping and addictive thriller about family secrets and lies and the lengths people will go to protect them. Perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll and Louise Jensen.

Review:

Bree and her siblings, Tyler and Alissa have had a tough childhood living in a trailer park. Their mum worked two jobs, their dad often drank and took his temper out on those closest to him.

Bree has become hardened over the years but nothing is stronger than her love for her little sister. Then Alissa goes missing.

Someone wants revenge on her family but Bree has no idea who or why but it’s up to her to bring her sister home.

So this is the second book I’ve read by Erik Therme and I have to say his writing keeps getting better and better!

I Know you is a novel all about family and the fraught and difficult relationships that come along with it.

Bree felt so realistic, I just found myself rooting for her. As the oldest, she became the surrogate mum to her siblings which they didn’t always appreciate her for but she still did it anyway.

I can’t say too much more about the plot, like most psychological thrillers, I don’t want to give away any of the twists or turns, and believe me there are plenty in this book!

My only slight issue was the storyline felt a little similar to the other novel I read, Keep Her Close but of course that’s just my opinion.

I Know You is absorbing and emotional read that will have you hooked from that very first chapter.

About The Author:

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering for his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his seventeen-year-old. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa–one of only twenty places in the world UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature.

WEB: http://www.eriktherme.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/erik.therme
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/ErikTherme

#BlogTour #Review When He Vanished by TJ Brearton @JoffeBooks @BreartonTJ

Title: When He Vanished by TJ Brearton

Publisher: Joffe Books

Date Published: 14^th May 2019

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Description:

A HEART-POUNDING THRILLER WITH A STUNNING TWIST

WHAT IF YOUR HUSBAND DISAPPEARED AND THE POLICE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE KILLED HIM?

Jane Gable returns from her shift at the hospital one night to find her two children asleep in bed and her husband gone, his phone and wallet left behind.

John has long been a responsible and dependable man, maintaining a predictable schedule. He is a former alcoholic, and so Jane fears he has relapsed and may be in trouble.

An ‘old friend’ of John’s, Bruce Barnes, turned up on their doorstep the day before his disappearance.

Jane’s son Russ had seen a mysterious blonde woman at the house.

An SUV keeps showing up. Jane feels watched and under threat.

Then John’s abandoned car is found with blood on the steering wheel and Jane fears the worst. And there is a revelation that will make her question her own sanity.

Jane desperately begins investigating on her own. Suspects include her ex-husband, her stepbrother, and the mysterious blonde.

Is she being framed? Can she even trust herself?

HOW FAR WILL SHE GO TO SAVE HER FAMILY?

Perfect for fans of Rachel Cain, Harlan Coben, or Julianne MacLean.

ALSO BY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR T.J. BREARTON
Titan Series – HABIT, SURVIVORS, DAYBREAK, BLACK SOUL
Tom Lange – DEAD GONE, TRUTH OR DEAD
Kelly Roth – THE HUSBANDS
North Country Books – DARK WEB, DARK KILLS, GONE

Review:

So like most psychological thrillers, I feel like the less I say the better because I don’t want to spoil it for you, which makes reviewing it that bit harder but I’ll try my best!

Jane comes home from her night shift to find her writer husband John has disappeared leaving their two children alone in their house. John is usually so responsible and level-headed but he seemed to have changed after the arrival of his old friend Bruce Barnes.

After his car is found abandoned, Jane feels that she’s a suspect and goes about investigating herself, finding that her husband has secrets that will put their family at risk. Will she find out the truth before it’s too late.

This is a stand-alone psychological thriller by TJ Brearton that I think would really appeal to those of you who love a good bit of domestic noir.

I felt for Jane so much, she’s got a troubled past which really comes back to haunt her through the course of book. Her desperation and paranoid really comes off the page, so much so, I found myself looking over my shoulder occasionally as I was reading it.

Truthfully it wasn’t the most shocking or twisty book I’ve read this year but it’s a good solid thriller with plenty of drama.

When he vanished is drama packed mystery with realistic characters that was both unsettling and intriguing.

About The Author:

I started out wanting to make movies. My brother and sister were my first stars. After attending the New York Film Academy, I worked in showbiz for a little while and wrote my own screenplays. I always wrote prose fiction, too, and before I knew it, I had more books than movie gigs. Hey — Ridley Scott says writing novels and directing films are the “same thing”, and this way, I get to stay home.

I’ve had a lot of jobs. Construction, bartending, waiting tables — even weird things like cleaning tombstones and working for a non-profit. I’m fortunate to now write full time. And I’m lucky to have had my books hit the top 30 on Amazon Kindle US.

My fifteen novels are below. More coming soon. Thanks again, and please keep reading because without you I’m just a guy sitting alone in his basement..

LINKS

Website: http://tjbrearton.net/about

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

Twitter: @BreartonTJ

#Review Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce @harriet_tyce @Wildfirebks @headlinepg #newrelease

Title: Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce

Publisher: Wildfire Press

Date Published: 21^st February 2019

Genre: Domestic Noir

Description:

AN ELECTRIFYING DEBUT THRILLER FOR FANS OF APPLE TREE YARD AND ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL – INTRODUCING A STUNNING NEW VOICE IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE

Alison has it all. A doting husband, adorable daughter, and a career on the rise – she’s just been given her first murder case to defend. But all is never as it seems…

Just one more night. Then I’ll end it.

Alison drinks too much. She’s neglecting her family. And she’s having an affair with a colleague whose taste for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle.

I did it. I killed him. I should be locked up.

Alison’s client doesn’t deny that she stabbed her husband – she wants to plead guilty. And yet something about her story is deeply amiss. Saving this woman may be the first step to Alison saving herself.

I’m watching you. I know what you’re doing.

But someone knows Alison’s secrets. Someone who wants to make her pay for what she’s done, and who won’t stop until she’s lost everything….

Review:

Blood Orange is a novel I’ve seen about since I went to the Harrogate crime festival last year and I had the opportunity to go to Headline New Voices last month and got my hands on a proof copy, I can’t tell you how excited I was!

Blood Orange is classed as a domestic noir, which means it’s a little slow burn at the beginning but there’s that sense of foreboding that makes you want to read on. I’d also say it’s got aspects of a legal thriller in there too, the author really draws on her experience as a former barrister to give it that realistic edge.

This is a real character driven novel, each are flawed and believable. I may not have liked her the whole time but I understood Alison. She’s a driven barrister, settled with a husband and daughter but she’s also insecure and unhappy. She turns to alcohol and starts an affair with another barrister Patrick. Both the men in her life, her husband Carl and Patrick, are just well horrible in my eyes. Patrick takes advantage of her and Carl makes sure she feels like a failure as a mother and wife.

While certain aspects of the ending were a little predictable, there’s a few shocks in there that made it a really enjoyable and intense ending.

I will also say that there is a fair bit of legal jargon, which will explained in a straightforward way, still went a little over my head.

Blood Orange is a fabulous debut, packed with tension, intrigue and flawed characters that will really stick in your mind once you’ve finished reading it. I can’t wait for Harriet Tyce’s next book!

About The Author:

Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated from the University of Oxford in 1994 with a degree in English Literature before gaining legal qualifications. She worked as a criminal barrister for ten years, leaving after the birth of her first child. She completed an MA in Creative Writing – Crime Fiction at UEA where she wrote Blood Orange, which is her first novel.

#Review Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh @ValerieKeogh1

I hope you’re still enjoying your Christmas holidays, maybe tucking into a few leftovers and hopefully don’t have a hangover! Today I’m bringing you a review of Secrets Between Us which was kindly giftedto me by Valerie herself in exchange for an honest review.

Title:Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh

Publisher:Bookouture

DatePublished: 14^th November 2018

Genre:Psychological Thriller

Description:

How safe are your secrets?

One letter a week for fifteen years. Identical white envelopes brimming with my sister’s darkest secrets. All the intimate details of a life as different to mine as could possibly be.

I read each letter slowly: Ellie’s friends and enemies, her career in the city and dreams of a family, the terrible secret she’s hiding from her husband, the devastating lies she’s telling herself…

So I still feel close to Ellie. Even though we haven’t seen each other her since we were children; since our parents died.

But now I need help, and I know Ellie won’t fail me. My twin sister will take me in and we will never speak of why, at the end of each letter, she always scrawls:

Don’t forget to burn this letter.

A jaw-dropping psychological thriller that you will read in one sitting. If you loved dark, twisty thrillers like The Girl on The Train, The Couple Next Door and Friend Request, this unputdownable novel will have your heart racing long after you’ve finished reading.

Review:

Tia hasn’t seen her twin sister for fifteen years, after their parents died but Ellie sends her a letter every week telling her all abouther life. Now Tia’s sheltered accommodation is closing down and Ellie and her husband Will are forced to take her into her home.

At first everything seems fine but Ellie starts to notice Tia looking strangely at her. Will tells her it’s all in her mind but Ellieisn’t so sure. Is she as sweet and naive as everyone thinks?

This is another really difficult book to review because I don’t want togive away any spoilers but I’ll try my best!

Now I know this is a psychological thriller but it’s actually, for me anyway, more domestic noir which tends to be a little more slow burn and has a lot more family drama in it.

There is that sense throughout the book that you know something bad is going to happen but you don’t know what or when, keeping you on tenterhooks.

I did feel sorry for Ellie, I don’t know how she handled so much with both parents dead by the time she was a teenager. She always feeling in her sisters shadow as Tia needed extra attention and love because she was ‘special’. I don’t personally know what it’s like to be a twin but it must be hard to stand out from someone who looks thespitting image of you.

As for the other characters, I did find Will hard to like and especially selfish but of course that is just my opinion. Also Tia was a bit of an enigma for most of the book, sort of lurking in the backgroundbeing a little creepy.

I have to be honest I kind of guessed the way the story was heading quite early on and the middle lacked a little bit of tension but again that is just my opinion.

I would recommend Secrets Between Us for anyone who loves a good family drama or domestic noir.

About The Author:

My name is Valerie Dickenson – I write under the name Valerie Keogh. I qualified as a nurse many years ago, and I also have a BA in Englishand an MA in American Literature. I worked as a nurse until last month when I decided to give it up to write full-time.

I grew up reading Agatha Christie so when I started writing, ten years ago, it seemed natural to write crime novels. I self-published two different series, one based in Ireland featuring Garda Sergeant Mike West, and a grittier one based in the UK, the Hudson and Connolly series featuring Nicola Connolly, a serial killer.

GardaWest Novels: That One May Smile; Close Ranks; Murder on Clare Island;Death in Foxrock Hudson and Connolly: Deadly Sleep; Bitter Business;Twisted Power; Wicked Secret

I’ve also written a stand-alone psychological novel, Exit Five from Charing Cross.

In March, 2018, I signed a two-book contract with Bookouture, the firstof which, Secrets Between Us, was published in November. The second,The Housewife, is due out the end of February.

I love to hear from readers, and can be contacted here:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ValerieKeogh1