Review: A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh

UK Cover

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can't mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer...

On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbours; the children, more than schoolmates.

That is until one fateful summer - and several vanished bodies - shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that's left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement not to look back. But they can't run from the past forever.

Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape.

It's not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I don't usually read thrillers but Nalini Singh is such a favourite author of mine that she's an auto-buy no matter what genre she decides to write in. I was still a little nervous going into A Madness of Sunshine though because I really had no idea what to expect. It was very different to her other books with a much slower and more character driven plot that concludes in an action packed, edge of your seat finale and I found that I just couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed getting to explore this small sleepy costal town in New Zealand through Nalini's eyes, we get an in depth look at the culture and atmosphere of small town living and it made me want to pack a bag and book a flight so I could go and explore Golden Cove for myself. There are a lot of secrets in this town, everyone seems to be hiding something and there were so many possible suspects that I really had no idea who was the killer. It was actually a bit disturbing the way most of the men in the town had such possessive and controlling feelings about the women around them.

Anahera left her hometown years ago and never planned to come back but after the death of her husband she just needs some time to lick her wounds and it's almost an automatic reaction to return to the place that is most familiar. So much about Golden Cove has stayed the same in her absence but there are some changes, like the addition of a permanent police officer, Will. It's only when a local girl goes missing, bringing back memories of past disappearances that haunt the town, that they realise there might be a killer still living among them.

I loved the slow build romance between Anahera and Will but that definitely wasn't the focus of the story. These are both complex and layered characters who have plenty of secrets to uncover and it was fun getting to know them but I do wish we'd found out a little more about Will, about his family and where he came from before he ended up in Golden Cove. I made multiple guesses about the killer along the way but I was never able to pin down exactly who they were, they were one of my suspects but pretty low down on my list.

A Madness of Sunshine was very different to my usual reads and very different to the books Nalini usually writes but I enjoyed it all the more because of that. I really hope she decides to explore this genre further in the future and I'll definitely be first in line to buy the books if she does.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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US Cover

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Review: The Bone Farm - Dean Koontz

An audio original novella featuring bestselling author Dean Koontz's compelling new heroine, Jane Hawk. From the case files of the former FBI agent before she became the nation's most wanted fugitive - The Bone Farm details a desperate man-hunt for a serial killer before he murders again.

Katherine Haskell, a young college co-ed is on her way back to school, but she never makes it there. Instead, she becomes the latest prey of the rapist and murderer dubbed by the tabloids the "Mother Hater." He is a twisted soul who kidnaps young girls for pleasure then discards them.

Katherine is missing, but she's not yet dead. FBI agents Jane Hawk and her partner Gary Burkett must descend into the hell of this killer's mind to solve the case before it is too late. The question is - will they both get out alive?

Jane Hawk Series:
The Bone Farm (Audio Novella)
The Silent Corner
The Whispering Room
The Crooked Staircase
The Forbidden Door
The Night Window (2019)

Visit Dean Koontz's website for more information

Review:
I've been a Dean Koontz fan for years now and I'm really enjoying the Jane Hawk series so I was looking forward to reading The Bone Farm even though I don't often listen to audiobooks. As far as the audio goes I thought this story was read well and the narrators, Elisabeth Rogers & James Anderson Foster, did a good job with it but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy the actual story.

This is a prequel to the Jane Hawk series so it's back in the days before she was suspended from the FBI and Jane is working a missing persons case alongside her partner Gary. They know they're dealing with a serial killer but he keeps his victims alive for a long time before killing them so they're desperately trying to find him before he can murder the latest young woman he has abducted.

I think one of my biggest issues with the story was the amount of time we spend inside the killer's head, his thoughts were creepy and disturbing and I REALLY didn't want to hear so many of them. I also found that the story didn't have the amount of tension I'd expect from Dean Koontz because as a reader we know who the killer is from the beginning since much of the story is from his point of view. It's hard to build the suspense when you know who the bad guy is so yes we're watching Jane try to figure it out but she's always one step behind us which is a little frustrating.

To be honest I don't think this story really added anything worth knowing to the Jane Hawk series, it doesn't touch on anything that is happening in the full length books so it's only  aboutone random case Jane worked before she was suspended. Since I didn't find it very enjoyable and I don't think it really had any impact on the rest of the series I'd have a hard time recommending it to people but as always these things are down to personal taste and you may end up loving it so it wouldn't hurt to at least listen to a free sample before making up your mind.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Whispering Room - Dean Koontz

The second gripping thriller in an exciting new series featuring FBI agent Jane Hawk, from the master of suspense and New York Times No.1 bestselling author.

‘Do what you were born to do’

These are the words that ring in the mind of a mild-mannered and beloved teacher as she drives a car full of burning gasoline into a hotel. This catastrophic act of terror, which kills herself and many others, is deemed to be the tragic death of someone who was clearly insane.

But rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk knows the truth. In the wake of her husband’s inexplicable suicide, she picks up the trail of a secret cabal of formidable players who are bent on obtaining world power with a terrifying piece of technology.

Driven by love for her husband and fear for her five-year-old son who she has sent into hiding, Jane has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them.

Jane Hawk Series:
The Bone Farm (Audio Novella)
The Silent Corner
The Whispering Room
The Crooked Staircase
The Forbidden Door
The Night Window (2019)

Visit Dean Koontz's website for more information

Review:
The Whispering Room picks up Jane's story and continues the relentless, edge-of-your-seat action from The Silent Corner. It takes us deeper into dangerous territory as Jane works harder than ever to uncover exactly who is behind the increasing suicide rates and the terrifying nanotechnology she's discovered. Her son is at risk and that means she will do whatever it takes to end this conspiracy, or she'll die trying.

It's so hard to go into much detail about this series because I honestly don't want to give anything away but this is Dean Koontz at his best. I think what makes it so frightening is that it really isn't that hard to imagine that this technology exists, or at least could do in the very near future, and it's definitely not hard to believe that the powerful and wealthy elite are willing to use that technology to further their own agenda without a care for the normal working class people it affects the most.

Jane is a fantastic character, she's smart and absolutely ruthless when it comes to uncovering this conspiracy. She knows the only way to protect the people she cares about is to bring this out into the open and put a stop to it but she's in such an impossible situation and she has no way of knowing who can be trusted. She has great instincts though and she's not the only one who has reason to be suspicious of recent events so she picks up a few allies along the way.

This series is definitely one I can't wait to continue and I'm glad we have two new books to look forward to in 2018!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Silent Corner - Dean Koontz

A dazzling new series debuts with a remarkable heroine certain to become a new icon of suspense, propelled by the singular narrative genius of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

I very much need to be dead.

These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demands: find the truth, no matter what.

People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so important so terrifying that they will exterminate anyone in their way.

But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.

Jane Hawk Series:
The Bone Farm (Audio Novella)
The Silent Corner
The Whispering Room
The Crooked Staircase
The Forbidden Door
The Night Window (2019)

Visit Dean Koontz's website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of Dean Koontz since I was a teenager but I've not really been reading thrillers and suspense for the last few years so I have to confess it's been a while since I read one of his books. Then The Silent Corner cropped up on Netgalley and I just couldn't resist requesting it. You know that feeling you get when you rediscover an old favourite author and start kicking yourself for missing out on a few years of their stories? That's totally how I felt pretty much as soon as I started reading this but the best thing is that I now have plenty of new books to binge read!

When her husband commits suicide leaving a chilling note that just says "I very much need to be dead" Jane Hawk is convinced that there is more to his death than meets the eye. As a member of the FBI she has the means to investigate and she quickly discovers a disturbing pattern of suicides under strange circumstances. When her family is threatened she is forced to go into hiding, quitting her job, selling her home and leaving her young son with distant friends she focuses all her energy into uncovering what could be a major conspiracy.

The Silent Corner was a totally addictive read, short snappy chapters swiftly built momentum and I found myself devouring the story at a record pace. Ever increasing rates of suicides and now murder suicides. Human programming. Nanotechnology. Multibillionaires who think they can do whatever they like with absolutely no consequences. This is seriously creepy and scarily easy to imagine actually happening in the not too distant future. Who says technology is always a good thing?

Jane can come across as a little cold and unemotional at times but it's quite easy to see that she is so devastated by everything thats happened that she has to lock it up tight just to keep going. She focuses all of her energy into figuring out what happened to her husband so that she can try to stop it happening to anyone else but it's very hard to investigate when you don't know who you can trust. I loved the strength she shows and the fierce determination she has to stop the bad guys no matter how much it costs her. She's a very easy character to root for and I can't wait to carry on with the series to see how things unfold. This was a fantastic start to the series and I think things are only going to get better from here!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: False Hearts - Laura Lam

To save her twin, she must take her identity

One night Tila stumbles home, terrified and covered in blood. She's then arrested for murder, the first by a civilian in decades. The San Francisco police suspect involvement with Verve, a powerful drug, and offer her twin sister Taema a chilling deal. Taema must assume Tila's identity and gather information to bring down the drug syndicate. The police may then let her sister live. However, Taema's investigation raises ghosts from the twins' past.

The sisters were raised by a cult, which banned modern medicine - yet as conjoined twins, they needed life-saving surgery to replace their failing heart. And with help from co-conspirators, they escaped. Taema now discovers that Tila had found links between the cult and the city's criminal underworld. The twins were once unable to keep secrets, but will learn the true cost of lies.

False Hearts Series:
False Hearts
Shattered Minds (2017)

Visit Laura Lam's website for more information.

Review:
When her twin sister comes home covered in blood and is promptly arrested for murder Taema is convinced that there must be some kind of explanation. She is sure that Tila must be innocent no matter how much evidence is stacked against her. With the police determined to press charges there is only one thing standing between Tila and the death penalty and that's Taema. The police offer her one chance to save her twin's life, if Taema goes undercover as her sister and helps them bring down a drug syndicate they claim Tila was involved in then Tila's life will be spared. Taema will do whatever it takes to clear her sister's name but the deeper she digs into Tila's life the more she starts to realise that she never really knew her sister at all.

False Hearts is Laura Lam's first foray into the world of adult sci-fi thrillers and what a great start it is. As a huge fan of the author's Pantomime series I had high hopes for this one but the genres are so different that I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Laura Lam has created a believable futuristic world full of completely believable advances in technology. Even people's dreams can be monitored and there are drugs that allow people to live out their fantasies in dreams that feel so lifelike that they never want to leave. Crime rates have fallen considerably and Tila is the first person arrested for murder in 10 years because violent personalities are able to play out their dark fantasies in dreamscapes rather than reality.

Conjoined twins Taema and Tila were born in an isolated commune that had no access to all the technology the rest of the world take for granted. They'd still be living in Mana's Hearth now if they hadn't started suffering with health issues. When their heart started to fail their only option was escape and it was at this point they were successfully separated and for the first time ever they were able to lead their own lives rather than spending all their time together. It was so interesting to see how they went from knowing every little thing about each other to keeping so many secrets from each other. Tila was the outgoing twin who found it much easier to adapt to being separate, she had a large circle of friends and was the life and soul of any party. Taema on the other hand was shyer and more reserved, she'd built a successful career for herself but was more isolated than her sister and found it harder to fit in.

Their completely different personalities made it so much harder for Taema when she went undercover as her sister but playing a role actually really helped to build her confidence and it was great to see her blossom as she became more sure of herself. I don't want to say too much about the direction the investigation takes her in but it definitely kept me guessing. The story is told across two different plot threads, Taema talks of the present and shows her fight to clear her sister's name while Tila writes about the past from her prison cell working forward to show how she ended up in her current situation. Gradually the two narratives come closer together and we find out exactly what is going on in their world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I loved the characters, the world building was fantastic and the plot was brilliantly woven together. I'm so glad that Laura Lam is writing another book set in this world, even though it will feature different main characters, and I'll definitely be picking up Shattered Minds as soon as it's released.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Great Zoo of China - Matthew Reilly

It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for forty years. They have found a species of animal no one believed even existed. It will amaze the world.

Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever constructed. A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous creatures for the first time. Among them is Dr Cassandra Jane 'CJ' Cameron, a writer for National Geographic and an expert on reptiles.

The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these beasts, that they are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go wrong . . .

GET READY FOR ACTION ON A GIGANTIC SCALE

Visit Matthew Reilly website for more information.

Review:
The Chinese government has spent the last forty years creating the most spectacular zoo the world has ever seen and now they're ready to share it. They have invited a small group of prominent international journalists for an exclusive VIP tour so that they can go out and spread the word before the grand opening. China's best kept secret is about to be exposed and nobody will be expecting the majestic beasts that await them but is the zoo really as safe as they think it is?

It's been a long time since I've had so much fun reading a novel and I devoured all 544 pages of The Great Zoo of China in a single day. I've seen a lot of comparisons between this novel and Jurassic Park and to be honest I can completely understand why, in fact the author states that Jurassic Park is one of his favourite novels and I very much got the feeling that this is an homage to the original story. In spite of the similarities I feel that Matthew Reilly has done enough to make this stand on it's own two feet, he did a fantastic job of creating a believable mythology for his dragons and how the Chinese discovered them and he really brought the animals to life.

Reading this novel is like watching a movie, I could totally see this appearing on the big screen and you can be sure I'd be first in line to buy a ticket. The action is pretty much non stop and the characters bounce around from one crazy situation to the next surviving against impossible odds. You have to take things with a grain of salt, it's like the best possible blockbuster films where you know the events are ridiculous but you're having so much fun waiting to see what will happen next that you just don't care.

These dragons are big, they're intelligent and they have a plan. All that remains to be seen is whether they can be stopped and who will live to tell the tale. I honestly don't want to say too much more about the plot so I'll just tell you to expect the unexpected, buckle up and enjoy the ride. You can't take this novel too seriously, it's meant to be fun and I'm pretty sure you're meant to be rolling your eyes at the ridiculousness of it but I'm sure you're going to enjoy every minute of it. This was my first book my Matthew Reilly but it definitely won't be my last and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Conspiracy Girl - Sarah Alderson

Everybody knows about the Cooper Killings. There was only one survivor - sixteen year-old Nic Preston.

Now eighteen, Nic is trying hard to rebuild her life. But then one night her high-security apartment is broken into. It seems the killers are back to finish the job.

Finn Carter - hacker, rule breaker, player - is the last person Nic ever wants to see again. He's the reason her mother's murderers walked free. But as the people hunting her close in, Nic has to accept that her best chance of staying alive is by staying close to Finn.

And the closer they get to the truth, and to each other, the greater the danger becomes.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
Once again Sarah Alderson has hit the ball out of the park with her latest YA thriller and created a story that will have readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Sarah's, I absolutely love her writing style and she is so good at creating heroes that I want to fall in love with so I had high expectations for Conspiracy Girl and I wasn't disappointed.

Nic's life was turned upside down when her mother and step-sister were killed during a home break in, she was the only survivor but only escaped with her life because the burglars didn't immediately realise she was in the house. Since then Nic has lived in fear, she is extremely conscious of her safety and finds it hard to let people close thanks to the media backlash after the murders. All Nic wants is to live in peace but when she once again faces the terror of a break in Nic finds herself on the run and in desperate need of protection. Fate brings her to Finn, a genius ex FBI trainee turned hacker, who now holds her life in his hands. Finn's testimony helped clear the people charged with her mother's murder but he believed in their innocence and has been hunting the real killers ever since. He is the only person who stands a chance of figuring out what is going on but Nic isn't going to find it easy to put her trust in him.

Conspiracy Girl gets off to a high paced start and the action continues throughout as Nic and Finn work together trying to uncover why she is being targeted. Nic initially comes across as quite a nervous character, someone who has taken to hiding from life because of her fear, which I have to say was quite understandable considering everything she has been though, but once she is under pressure she really starts to come into her own. It takes her a while but when she starts to fight back she really impressed me. Finn was easy to love, he is a hacker who isn't averse to crossing into grey areas but the more you learn about him the more you start to see how much good he does. He puts a lot of effort into helping the people around him and the internet is a much safer place thanks to his actions. I loved getting to see his relationship with his grandmother and nieces, they were a really cute addition to the story and I thought they really showed an important side of his character.

The romance between Nic and Finn was really well done, they have brilliant chemistry but their relationship is a slow burner and they take time to get to know each other before anything happens between them. I enjoyed seeing Nic's opinion of Finn change as she learned more about him and I thought they made a great couple. I don't want to say too much about the conspiracy because it's much more fun if you go into the book blind but I thought it was really well written and it raises some interesting questions for readers. It touched on subjects I know very little about but makes you think about the way the world works and how much we take for granted every day. If you enjoyed Sarah Alderson's previous thriller, Out of Control, then I'm sure you'll love this one too and I'm definitely continuing to add all her future books to my "must read immediately" pile.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Captive - A.J. Grainger

I open my eyes. The cell is flooded with sunlight; the window is a splice of pale blue. Dust particles dance in the sparkling light, pirouetting in a golden line from the window to the opposite wall of the cell, where they seem to converge into shapes. It is like looking into a kaleidoscope.

Dad isn't here. No one is, but me.

Robyn Knollys-Green is an A-list celebrity, famous for being the daughter of one of the world's most powerful men. But not even the paparazzi can find her now.

Robyn begins to realise that she is trapped in a complicated web of global corruption and deceit - and that the strange, melancholy boy who has been tasked with guarding her might not be an enemy after all . . .

A thrilling, well-crafted, ever-relevant story from a talented new voice in YA fiction.

Visit A.J. Grainger's website for more information

Review:
Captive is a new UKYA thriller from debut author A.J. Grainger and it's a great addition to the genre. This is the story of sixteen year old Robyn, daughter of the British Prime Minister, who has been taken hostage by environmental activists so they can use her as leverage to get one of their group members released from prison. Robyn has already witnessed an attack on her father but that was nothing compared to the terror she now faces as she is held prisoner by a group of masked assailants. Unfortunately for Robyn, the kidnapping is only the beginning and as she gets to know one of her captors she realises she's at the centre of a conspiracy that may turn her whole world upside down forever.

This is a very fast paced story that throws readers into the action quite quickly as we see Robyn's capture in a terrifying second attack on her family. Robyn was very easy to relate to and I thought her reactions to the situation she found herself in were very realistic, she is frightened and uncertain but she is also incredibly brave as she tries several times to escape. Robyn is forced to examine the relationship she has with her father and it is incredibly upsetting for her when she realises that he won't do the one thing that will guarantee her release. She also has to ask herself some difficult questions about her family and whether her Dad has been lying to her.

Captive is the kind of book that makes you think, it touches on environmental issues, love and loyalty to your family and about being brave enough to face the truth even when that means uncovering something distressing. I think my only complaint was that the ending felt a little rushed and as much as I ended up liking both Robyn and Talon their relationship was a bit too Stockholm Syndrome for me to be able to take it seriously. What I did like was that all of the characters took responsibility for their actions and they suffered the consequences for them. I think I would just have preferred a longer epilogue to give us a bit more detail about how things turned out, I guess the advantage of a fairly open ending is that readers can all choose how they would like to see the character's futures. Either way, Captive is a great debut and A.J. Grainger is definitely an author to watch out for!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Every Second Counts - Sophie McKenzie

Outlawed teenagers Charlie and Nat are on the run, falsely accused of terrorism and kidnapping. With few people they can trust, they are desperate to bring down their accusers and return to their former lives, but time is running out.

Charlie has a plan that might just save them - but it will only work if she goes alone.

Could being together be even more dangerous than being apart?

Split Second Series:
Split Second
Every Second Counts

Visit Sophie McKenzie's website for more information

Review:
It is impossible to review Every Second Counts without including major spoilers for the previous book so please don't read this review unless you've already read Split Second (you can always find my review of that HERE if you haven't - it's a fantastic start to the series that I would highly recommend). So, if you're still reading I'm going to assume you've already read the first book & if you haven't it's entirely your own fault if you end up ruining the series for yourself!

As we saw at the end of the previous book Charlie and Nat have both been framed by Roman Riley and they're now wanted by the police for terrorism. Proving their innocence isn't going to be easy when Roman is such a powerful political force but that doesn't mean Charlie and Nat aren't going to try. They don't have long before the general elections though and unless they work fast Roman could end up becoming even more powerful than he already is.

Both Charlie and Nat have been through so much since we first met them, they thought they were working to stop the terrorists who killed Charlie's mum and put Nat's brother in a coma only to find out that they had been working for the very people that they hate. How can they show the world what Roman is really up to though? Is there anyone they can trust with the truth and to hopefully fight alongside them? It looks like the only way to get proof of Roman's plans is for Charlie to go undercover, she has a good excuse for going back to him but it won't be easy to pull off the deception. At the same time Nat will try to find backup from the resistance so they are ready to move as soon as Charlie gets hold of the information they need.

Every Second Counts is just as fast paced as it's predecessor and I couldn't put it down. I have to admit that this story felt a little less realistic than the first one, Charlie and Nat seem to get out of so many impossible situations without a scratch on them and it did start to get a little on the ridiculous side. I also felt that Charlie in particular was far too trusting and willing to take things at face value. Nat seemed to have more sense in that regard but even he was led into quite a few traps by not thinking things through properly. As much as I found it hard to believe some of the situations they got themselves into I did find myself really enjoying the ride, if you're willing to suspend belief a little then this really is a very action packed story. It also raises some interesting questions about the balance of political power and the potential for things to go very, very wrong if a leader has bad intentions. Overall I've really enjoyed this duology and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fast and thrilling read.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Split Second - Sophie McKenzie

Charlie's life is torn apart by a terrorist bomb in a London market. Months later she meets Nat, whose family has been left devastated by the same explosion. But as Charlie gets closer to Nat she starts to wonder if he knows more about the attack than he is letting on . . .

Life can change in the blink of an eye - whether you're ready or not.

Split Second Series:
Split Second
Every Second Counts

Visit Sophie McKenzie's website for more information

Review:
Split Second is non-stop action from the very first page. Any book that opens with one of the main characters running through a busy London market trying to stop a terrorist attack is bound to capture my attention and I was immediately hooked into the story. The subsequent bomb blast changes both Nat and Charlie's lives forever and links them together in a desperate need for answers and revenge.

This is a really hard book to review because I want to shout from the rooftops about how amazing it is but I'm incredibly wary of giving anything away because there are just so many twists and turns that you'll never spot coming. I'm keeping this deliberately vague but I can tell you that this is set in a not too distant future, one that it is very easy to picture happening, although I really hope it doesn't! Rather than some kind of global disaster or epic war the world has been changed by a continuing downturn in the market, the recession has continued getting worse leading to extreme poverty amongst the masses. There is overcrowding and food shortages and unless you're one of the wealthy minority life isn't great. With a large number of unhappy people rioting isn't uncommon and terrorism is on the rise.

The story is told from the dual perspectives of Charlie and Nat, both of whom witnessed the bomb that destroyed half of the Canal Street market and we see that event through both of their eyes. They are unable to put their memories of that day behind them because it continues to have such a huge impact on their lives in the present. They are both desperate for answers but searching for them may just lead them down a crazy rabbit hole that they'll never escape from. I loved both of these characters, they are each flawed in their own ways but at the same time they're incredibly strong and brave enough to stand up for what they believe in.

I really can't say much more about Split Second so I'm going to finish this review by saying that it is my favourite Sophie McKenzie book to date and I'm so glad that the sequel, Every Second Counts, is already available because I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: Deep Oblivion - Matt Dickinson

One beat of a butterfly's wings is all it takes.
One beat that will change lives.
One beat that will end lives.

Hannah [AUSTRALIA] homeless and on the run.

Gwen and Tehpoe [LIBERIA] kidnapped by violent rebels.

Todd and Isabella [BRAZIL] threatened by piranha attack.

Wai Yan [Myanmar] hunted by a cruel dictator.

Stian Olberg [CRUISE SHIP CAPTAIN: SYDNEY] fighting to save his vessel from imminent destruction.

For them, and many others, things will never be the same again.

Some will live.
Many will die.
All are connected.

Mortal Chaos Series:
Mortal Chaos
Deep Oblivion
Speed Freaks

Visit Matt Dickinson's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed Mortal Chaos when I read it a couple of years ago but for some reason I never quite got around to reading the sequels. Deep Oblivion popped back up on my radar a few weeks ago and I immediately ordered a copy and as it turns out I ended up enjoying it even more than the previous book. Although there are three books in this series the titles are linked more by the style in which they are written than anything else, there is no cross over of characters so it would be very easy to read the books in any order.

The premise behind these books is the Butterfly Effect, the books are all incredibly pacey reads written in short 1-2 page chapters and have a large cast of characters. You might think that would make things confusing for readers but I find it incredibly easy to keep track of who everyone is and what is going on with them. The hardest thing about these books is making yourself put them down once you've started reading them!

Have you ever wondered how a butterfly trapped in a high rise building in Australia could effect a backpacker in Brazil, a missionary worker in Liberia, a monk in Myanmar and a cruise ship? In Deep Oblivion Matt Dickinson manages to make connections between very different people who are all over the world, sometimes it is easy to see how their lives entwine but other times the connections are much more subtle and take a while to be fully revealed. I love the way the author constantly manages to surprise you, he'll build things up so you are expecting one outcome and then at the last minute throw something at you completely out of the blue.

It's obvious from the tag line "Some will live. Many will die. All are connected." that not all of the characters are going to make it to the end of the book but I guarantee that you won't guess what happens to most of them! Deep Oblivion is a fast paced, action packed story that I devoured in one sitting, the story is intense, edge of your seat reading and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Out of Control - Sarah Alderson

She's not a witness - she's a target!

An onlooker to a brutal murder, Liva is taken into police protection. But the police station is attacked and bullets start flying - and it's Liva in the gunmen's sights.

With a car thief called Jay, Liva escapes the massacre. Alone in New York, they are desperate to outrun and outwit two killers who will stop at nothing to find them.

When you live on the edge, there's a long way to fall.

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
When the people she is staying with are murdered Liva is taken into protective custody while the police try to figure out who was behind their deaths. Before she can even finish giving her statement the police station is attacked and Liva finds herself in the middle of a gun fight. She escapes with the help of a car thief called Jay but now the two of them have to stay one step ahead of the killers who will do whatever it takes to find her. Can Liva and Jay figure out who the killers are before they end up the last in a long line of victims?

It's no secret that Sarah Alderson is one of my favourite authors, I've devoured all of her books and loved every one of them so I couldn't wait to get started on Out of Control. I think this is her most action-packed book to date, the intensity is high from the very beginning and it doesn't let up until the end, I actually have to thank Sarah for yet another lost night of sleep because I just couldn't put it down!

Liva is a fantastic main character, she is smart and incredibly kick ass. She grew up with bodyguards and has had self defence training since she was a young girl so she knows how to stand up for herself. As a dancer she is physically fit but she is also mentally tough and her ex-military father taught her to use every weapon available to her - not just guns or knives but also her brain. Liva is thrown into a nightmare situation and she comes very close to losing it in the beginning but once her brain has time to catch up with what is going on she really starts to come into her own. She takes control of the situation and starts to make plans to ensure her own safety.

Jay was at the police station after getting arrested for car theft and now they're on the run he's technically a wanted criminal but there is a lot more to him than first meets the eye. I don't want to say too much about his character because it's better for you to discover his secrets for yourself but he was nothing like I imagined he would be and I loved how protective he was of Liva even when she was pretty much a stranger to him. He is the kind of guy who goes out of his way to help others even when that means putting himself at risk and you have to admire that about him.

Out of Control is a fast-paced thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat and it has some fantastic twists guaranteed to shock you. Sarah Alderson touches on some very difficult issues in a way that enhances the story without overwhelming it. There is a hint of romance but since the story happens over such a short period of time the characters don't fall madly in love by the end of the book which is something I found much more realistic. Liva and Jay have been thrown together and they have to learn to trust each other quickly, they share some fantastically intense kisses but the focus of the story isn't on them falling in love. Although this story works well as a stand alone I'd actually love to revisit these characters in the future. If you're looking for a pacey thriller with non-stop action, great characters and a fantastic setting then look no further - I can't recommend this one highly enough!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Everest Files - Matt Dickinson

A THRILLING JOURNEY TO THE DARK SIDE OF EVEREST.

In the deepest Himalaya a story is spreading like wildfire. The story of an Everest expedition unlike any other. An expedition that ended with mysterious disappearances ... and death.

This is the mystery that eighteen-year-old Ryan Hart sets out to solve.

Ryan is on a gap year adventure, working for a medical charity in Nepal. When a local girl begs him to investigate why her sixteen-year-old friend Kami never came back from Everest, Ryan cannot resist the challenge.

A solo journey takes Ryan deep into the mountains where his detective work finally pays off. What emerges is a shocking tale of lies, betrayal and obsession.

All played out on the lethal slopes of the highest mountain in the world.

Little by little Ryan is falling under Everest’s deadly spell.

Everest Files Series:
The Everest Files
Killer Storm (release date to be confirmed)
North Face (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Matt Dickinson's website or the Everest Files website for more information

Review:
Ryan is in Nepal as part of his gap year, working for a medical charity and helping to deliver supplies to small Nepalese communities. When he is asked to investigate the disappearance of a young Sherpa boy Ryan finds himself unable to resist the mystery but what he uncovers is a web of lies and deceit like nothing he could ever have imagined.

Matt Dickinson is brilliant at writing adventure stories that will have you gripped from the first page. I loved Mortal Chaos so jumped at the chance of reading the first book in his new trilogy and The Everest Files is a fantastic start to that series. I have never had any ambitions of climbing Everest (I'm much more of an armchair adventurer!) but I loved going on this journey with Ryan and getting to know more about Shreeya and her missing friend Kami. You can tell that the author has personal experience of climbing Everest, he paints a vivid picture of Nepal and you'll feel like you're climbing the mountain alongside Kami.

Kami is so proud when he is chosen as one of the Sherpas to help carry equipment for the the expedition of a wealthy American politician. The money he makes from just one trip will be enough to allow him to start a life with his childhood sweetheart Shreeya but it means so much more to him than that. He always dreamed of one day reaching the summit of Everest and this is his chance to do that. He had absolutely no idea quite how dangerous the journey would be though. I don't know a great deal about climbing so I was a little nervous that I might get confused by the details of the different equipment used and how it all worked but I needn't have worried because the author manages to bring it to life in a way that is very easy to understand. I actually enjoyed learning more about the process of climbing a mountain but I was most interested in the emotional effects the journey had on Kami and the rest of the team and that was what really held my interest in the story.

I don't want to say too much more because I would hate to accidentally give a spoiler so I'll just say that I was very surprised by the direction things took. I was completely invested in Kami's story and along with Shreeya I was desperate to know what had happened to him. I'll confess that I wasn't so interested in what was happening to Ryan, particularly at the beginning of the book, but once he'd started investigating Kami's disappearance I was totally hooked. This is the first book in a trilogy so it will be interesting to see what happens to Ryan next, I believe that we have reached the end of Kami and Shreeya's journey but Ryan seems determined to have his own adventure and I'll definitely be picking up the next book to see where that takes him.

Source: Received from Vertebrate Publishing in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Sound - Sarah Alderson

He is out there, holding his breath as I hold mine. Ears pricked, eyes scouring the darkness. I can sense him there waiting, just a few feet away . . . 

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying fora wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets; falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy; and falling out with a dangerous serial killer . . .

Visit Sarah Alderson's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson's writing style and particularly loved her action packed (and totally swoon worthy!) Lila series so when I found out she was writing a stand alone thriller / romance set on Nantucket it went straight to the top of my wish list. Once again she has hit the ball out of the park and created a story that will have you hooked from the very first page and reading from the edge of your seat.

After a nasty split from her ex Ren is looking forward to getting away for the summer and a job nannying in Nantuket is the perfect way for her to get out of England. She has dreams of becoming a music journalist so she plans to spend her time off listening to music and working on her music blog, considering how her last relationship ended the last thing she wants is a summer fling. That may change when she catches the eye of not just one but two very sexy boys though. First there is Jeremy, the son of a wealthy family that are friends with the people she is working for, he invites her to hang out with him and his friends and gives her the opportunity to see more of the Island. Then there is Jesse, the local bad boy who everyone keeps warning her away from but won't tell her the reason why, he shares her passion for music and she can't help feeling drawn to him even though she knows she should keep her distance. As if juggling the attentions of two very different boys wasn't enough she also has to try and avoid catching the attention of a serial killer, one who seems to be targeting foreign nannies who are working on the island. What if she becomes the next target?

I've already mentioned how much I love Sarah Alderson's writing style and that was no different in The Sound. I thought Ren was a fabulous character and I loved seeing a British character in an American setting and how uncomfortable she was surrounded by the wealth of the families she came into contact with. She was obviously completely out of her comfort zone and didn't know quite what to make of the rich kids and their attitudes to the locals. I appreciated the fact that she didn't immediately fit in and her clumsiness was highly amusing to watch. She does make mistakes and I was irritated by the way she was drawn to both Jeremy and Jesse but to be honest I think most of us would be flattered by the attention of two hot boys and would find it hard to make a choice between them.

I took an instant dislike to the majority of Jeremy's friends, it was obvious that most of them looked down on Ren and weren't happy to have them as part of their group. I have to say I wasn't a fan of Jeremy either, he came across as far too smarmy and I always worried that he had some kind of ulterior motive. My favourite character would have to be Jesse, I wasn't so sure about him at first because he has quite an attitude problem when Ren first meets him but as you get to know him and learn the reason why he really grew on me. I didn't always agree with Jesse's actions but when you find out exactly what happened I could understand why he did what he did and I think in his situation I'd probably have had a very similar reaction. He is incredibly protective of his family and you can't fault him for that.

I'll admit that there were some things I figured out well before Ren did but there were still a few surprising twists that I hadn't expected. I loved watching her figure out exactly what was happening and the fact that she was brave enough to confront the person she thought was behind the attacks. There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity but it's one I don't think she crossed - particularly considering she took backup with her. The Sound is another great story from Sarah Alderson and one I'm sure fans of her Lila series will love. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Cruel Summer - James Dawson

He'd assumed Janey's death was the finale. Turned out, it was only the beginning . . .

Ryan is looking forward to spending the summer with his old school friends at Katie's luxurious Spanish villa. He hasn't seen the gang since their friend, Janey, committed suicide a year ago. He hopes this summer they'll be able to put the past behind them and move on - until someone else arrives, claiming to have proof that Janey's suicide was murder!

Ryan was hoping for sun, sea and sand. Suddenly he's facing a long, hot summer of death, drama and deceit . . .

Visit James Dawson's website for more information

Review:
I loved James Dawson's debut novel Hollow Pike so I've been looking forward to getting my hands on Cruel Summer ever since I first heard about it. I'm happy to say it completely lived up to my expectations and I loved every minute of it! Cruel Summer reminded me of a British version of the movie I know What You Did Last Summer and I could easily picture this being turned into a film in the future (I really would love to see that happen!). It also has a flavour of the old Point Horror books I grew up on which I absolutely loved.

The story is of a group of friends who are reconnecting on holiday together in Spain after spending a year doing their own thing at different universities. Their last summer ended badly when their friend Janey committed suicide but when an old school friend turns up claiming to have proof that Janey was actually murdered their relaxing holiday by the pool takes a sinister turn. When Roxanne's body is found before she is able to show anyone her evidence the friends are forced to face reality. One of them is a murderer, but who is it, what's their motive and who will be their next victim?

Cruel Summer is a fantastic thriller that is full of unexpected twists and supported by a great cast of characters. I did eventually figure out who the murderer was but it wasn't easy and I think I'd suspected pretty much every character at some point during the story. The author has done a great job of creating a group of friends who all have distinctive personalities, some are more likeable than others but all feel like real people. The story is told from a couple of different points of view but I have to admit I loved spending time inside Ryan's head the most. The way he thought of life as a TV show was incredibly amusing and I liked the way he went about adding drama to the story. Alisha was another complex character though and one I enjoyed getting to know.

Another fabulous book from James Dawson and one I'd highly recommend to fans of this kind of teen thriller!

Source: Received from Orion Indigo in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Last Minute - Eleanor Updale

9:21 a.m: business as usual on a high street in England.

9:22 a.m: the explosions are heard for miles around, and in the early confusion there is talk of a gas leak, a plane crash, and even terrorism . . . 

The people of Heathwick had been preparing for Christmas unaware that many would die, and the rest would be transformed forever. Travel with them, second-by-second, through the hopes, fears, love, worries, gossip, cruelty, kindness and trivia that dominated their final minute before tragedy struck.

And in the everyday story of an ordinary street, look for clues to what happened - and why.

Visit Eleanor Updale's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely loved the way The Last Minute is written, it was so completely different to anything I've ever read before and I found it practically impossible to put the book down. It reminded me of the TV series 24 except instead of each episode covering an hour long time period each chapter of the story covers one second of the last minute before an explosion rocks the sleep village high street of Heathwick. You know from the prologue that something terrible is going to happen and you're left trying to piece everything together and figure out what causes the disaster.

I found myself constantly asking myself questions as I was reading - Is that person a terrorist or are they just an innocent person minding their own business? Why has that white van just been abandoned in the middle of the high street? Why are drivers such morons when there are roadworks? Why is that plane passenger refusing to turn off their mobile phone? Will the beggar get to the punchline of his joke before the explosion happens? Who is going to survive? I'm not going to answer those questions for you here but if you read the book you'll find out all of that and so much more.

I will say that it took me a couple of chapters to get into the swing of reading the story, you are introduced to a huge number of characters and it took a little while to get everyone straight in my head. Some characters have larger roles than others but it doesn't take too long to get a feel for who they all are. What I liked most was that everyone was so normal, they are everyday people who are just going about their day to day lives with no idea of what is about to happen to them. They have the same problems, thoughts, fears and dreams as the rest of us and although you don't have time to get to know them very well you do become surprisingly invested in their lives. In a way it was actually quite scary to think about how normal everything seemed until the explosion hits, very few people even noticed anything suspicious going on around them and you're watching from the sidelines with baited breath just trying to put all of the clues together.

The Last Minute is an edge of your seat read, the pacing is fast and you know that with every chapter that passes you're a second closer to disaster. I devoured this book very quickly and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Eleanor Updale in the future. For anyone who has read the book already you really should make sure you checkout the extra information on Eleanor Updale's website. She has created all kinds of newspaper clippings and even an inquiry report to give you more information on exactly what caused the explosion and what happened in the aftermath. Whatever you do don't look at those extras before you've read the book though - it would completely spoil the story for you if you did!

Source: Received from RHCP in exchange for an honest review

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Guest Review: Follow Me Down - Tanya Byrne

Today I have a guest review from the lovely Kirsty at The Overflowing Library. Kirsty is a fab blogger and a great friend so if you've never visited her blog make sure you drop by and see her. Thanks for letting me post this as a guest review Kirsty! This review will also be appearing on Kirsty's blog.

The sensationally good Tanya Byrne returns with her new novel - a dark, compulsive tale of obsession and betrayal.

When sixteen-year old Adamma Okonma, a Nigerian diplomat's daughter, arrives at exclusive Croften College in Wiltshire, she is immediately drawn to beautiful, impetuous, unpredictable Scarlett Milton. Adamma and Scarlett become inseperable - until Adamma falls for Scarlett's boyfriend Dominic. Soon the battle lines are drawn and Adamma is shunned by Scarlett and her priviledged peers. But then Scarlett goes missing and everything takes a darker turn. As Adamma begins to uncover a series of ugly scandals at the school, she realises there was more than one person who wanted Scarlett to disappear and indeed that Croften has its own disturbing secrets to hide...

Visit Tanya Byrne's website for more information

Kirsty's Review:
Follow Me Down is a cracking read which will hook you from the very first page and won't let me go until you're done. If you dare to have audacity to put it down it'll niggle at you continually and beg to be picked up until you give in and devour it in one greedy go.

This review is deliberately short for two reasons. Firstly because I'm still now 24 hours on after finishing mulling it over in my mind and coming to terms with what I read and I think this will continue to go on for a few days to come. Quiet honestly I don't think I have the words to do justice to all those feelings just yet. Secondly I fear that if I gush or say too much I won't be able to rein myself in and I'll end up spoiling things for others. So please be sure in the knowledge that I loved this book from the very start.

This book follows the story of Adamma as she arrives at her new boarding school. She is the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat and has been moved to England for his new job. The story is told in two timelines some chapters from before and others after an event. As you go through you find yourself piecing the story together to make one whole and connected narrative and blimey it is a thinker. The are so many twists and parts of the story that keep you guessing that I found I couldn't second guess where the story was going and was constantly surprised about where it went meaning I quite literally couldn't put the book down. I loved the characters and how well they were done and I loved the whole variety of relationships developed as the book went on and seeing the comparison between them. The ending was brilliant and as I said earlier will stick with me for a while to come. I'm actually on the verge of wanting to reread straight away so I see everything again with that more informed brain in gear.

All in all you've got to pity the books I read next as they are never going to live up to Follow Me Down.

Source: Received from Headline in exchange for an honest review

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Quick Review: Origins: The Fire - Debra Driza

Heart-stopping and electric, MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire contains a short prequel story and an excerpt to MILA 2.0, the first book in a riveting Bourne Identity–style trilogy by Debra Driza.

Mila can't remember anything before the fire that took her father's life. It's normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn't remember if she's ever learned to ride a bike, or if she's ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn't know is that she isn't supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see?

Mila 2.0 Series:
Origins: The Fire (Short Story)
Mila 2.0

Visit Debra Driza's website for more information

Review:
Origins: The Fire is a very shot prequel to Mila 2.0 but even though it is only about 15 pages long it certainly packs quite a punch! If I hadn't already been wanting to read Mila 2.0 this would have convinced me I needed to. I don't want to go into too much detail because it would be so easy to spoil the story for you but this is Mila's memories of the night of the fire that killed her father and it was edge of your seat stuff. It feels like you're right there in the fire with Mila, struggling to breathe through the smoke, terrified that you can't find an exit and worried that your parents are trapped somewhere inside the house. For Debra Driza to make me feel so much emotion in such a short story just proves to me how much skill she has as a writer.

This short story is currently free to download from Amazon and it includes several chapters of Mila 2.0 (which I didn't actually read because I already have a copy of the book) so it is a great way to test the series if you're not sure about buying it or not. It definitely left me needing to know what happens next and I'm looking forward to learning more about Mila.

Source: Downloaded for free from Amazon

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