thriller – Bibliophile Book Club

Blog Tour~Die Cold (Jake Boulder #4) by Graham Smith Ellen’s Review

Hey guys,

Today Ellen is one of the stops on the blog tour for Die Cold, the latest Jake Boulder novel, by Graham Smith and I’ll be sharing her review with you all a little further down!

About the author:

Graham Smith is a time-served joiner who has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. Since Christmas 2000, he has been manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.

He is an internationally best-selling Kindle author and has six books featuring DI Harry Evans and the Cumbrian Major Crimes Team, and four novels, featuring Utah doorman, Jake Boulder.

An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer and interviewer for the well-respected website Crimesquad.com since 2009

Graham is the founder of Crime and Publishment, a weekend of crime-writing classes which includes the chance for attendees to pitch their novels to agents and publishers. Since the first weekend in 2013, ten attendees have gone on to sign publishing contracts.

Social Media Links:

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/GrahamSmith1972 @GrahamSmith1972

Website www.grahamsmithauthor.com

About the book:

Boulder is back.

Jake Boulder is working as a bartender, at an exclusive Vermont ski resort on New Year’s Eve, when armed terrorists hold up the lodge and take the guests hostage.

Trapped with the other hostages, Boulder watches in horror as the female terrorist leader disfigures a singer to make her point. He wants to fight back, but is unarmed and being held at gunpoint.

When Boulder finds a way to escape from the terrorists he searches for a way to raise the alarm. After he discovers the terrorists plan to leave no witnesses to their crime, he knows he has a race against time to save as many innocent people as he can…

But will Boulder be the reluctant hero and save the day?

Die Cold (Jake Boulder #4) by Graham Smith

Ellen’s review:

Die Cold is a high octane thriller from first shot fired to the final punch thrown! Book four in the Jake Boulder series – a series that just keeps getting better and better.

After being concerned about how Jake would recover from the events of Past Echoes (book 3) it was fantastic to see him back on form and then some!

Jake is working as a barman for an exclusive ski resort favoured by the uber rich when a group of terrorists descend and take everyone hostage. This gang are obviously professionals and it is clear to Jake that no one is going to get out of this situation to tell the tale unless he takes action.

An absolutely gripping read that I could not put down, this book would make an amazing film although I’m not quite sure who would star as Jake, I’ll leave that to your own sordid imagination….

If I had to say there was anything missing from this book it would be a white vest for Mr Boulder.

Yippee Ki-Yay Boulder lovers!! Bring on book five!

Previous reviews:

Watching The Bodies- Graham Smith Ellen’s Review

The Kindred Killers by Graham Smith Ellen’s Review

Past Echoes by Graham Smith Ellen’s Review

Check out the tour:

One Dark Night by Tom Bale

Hi all,

Today I’ll be reviewing One Dark Night by Tom Bale, which is published by Bookouture, and is available to buy from today!

About the author:

Tom Bale decided that he wanted to be an author from the age of seven but, after another career got in the way, it wasn’t until much later that his dream was fulfilled. After several books with Random House, Bookouture published two stunning ‘everyman’ thrillers by Tom See How They Run and All Fall Down.

About the book:

He sees his wife’s eyes watching him in the rear-view mirror, the kids up on their knees to get a better look. That’s when he hears the scream…

You’re driving home from a family outing one afternoon, when a speeding car cuts you up, nearly causing you to crash. Like anyone would, you pull over to confront the driver.

But a glance into the backseat of the speeding car reveals a woman fighting to escape. She is terrified and she’s screaming for your help: these men have murdered her husband…

What would you do?

Out today, you can order your copy by clicking the link below:

One Dark Night by Tom Bale

My thoughts:

I’ve been waiting for a new Tom Bale book for what seems like ages, but it’s only really since his last one! And it’s safe to say he’s returned on form with One Dark Night.
As with his other books, Bale has a knack for putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, and that’s no different in this book.
One Dark Night focuses on Adam, Katy and their two children as they deal with the fallout from a split decision. What follows is an adrenaline-pumping thriller with plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages.
I always find that I end up wondering if I would have done the same if I was in the situations that Bale puts his characters, but to be honest, I don’t think I’d want to as they always get tangled up in something far bigger than the reader expects.
One Dark Night is a really enjoyable book. It’s got plenty of action, some seriously shady characters and lots of shocking moments. These are really what drive the plot forward, and even in the quieter moments, there is an underlying sense of urgency that is woven through the plot that ramps up the tension.
These quieter moments are where you learn the motivations behind the characters decisions, and though it slows the pace, it really is the only way to explain why things are happening the way they are. Without them, the story would not be as believable. And even though these kinds of plot lines can be a little far-fetched, I think that Tom Bale has pulled it off with One Dark Night. It all lies with that split second decision.
I really felt for the family in this one. They are put through an absolute wringer, and just when you think they’re out the other side, the author pulls the rug out from under them again and the tension is back with a bang.
One Dark Night is a gripping thriller, Tom Bale is on top form with this one!

Previous reviews:

See How They Run by Tom Bale

All Fall Down by Tom Bale

Each Little Lie by Tom Bale

Blog Tour ~ Hush Hush by Mel Sheratt ~ Ellen’s Review

Hi all,

Today, Ellen is taking part in the blog tour for Hush Hush by Mel Sherratt and I’ll be sharing her review with you all a little further down!

About the author:

Mel Sherratt is the author of ten novels, all of which have become bestsellers. In 2017, she was named as one of her home town of Stoke-on-Trent’s top 100 influential people.

She lives in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with her husband and terrier, Dexter.

About the book:

A killer is on the loose, attacking people in places they feel most safe: their workplaces, their homes. It’s up to DS Grace Allendale to stop the murders, and prove herself to her new team.

All clues lead to local crime family the Steeles, but that’s where things get complicated. Because the Steeles aren’t just any family, they’re Grace’s family. Two brothers and two sisters, connected by the violent father only Grace and her mother escaped.

To catch the killer, Grace will have to choose between her team and her blood. But who do you trust, when both sides are out to get you?

Hush Hush by Mel Sherratt

Ellen’s review:

I have a confession to make….this is the first thriller type book that I have read by Mel Sherratt! Previously I have been a massive fan of her sparkly alter ego Marcie Steele’s books so I was a little nervous of reading a switch in genre from the same author. Well, there was no need for nerves as Hush Hush blew my little sparkly socks off. I’m not averse to crime/thrillers/grit lit so loved all the elements of this novel which mixed together perfectly.

DS Grace Allendale returns to her home town and is immediately recruited on to a gruesome murder case, the only fly in the ointment is that her estranged family are involved. Is blood thicker than water? Where do Grace’s loyalties lie; with her new team or the family who suffered under the brutality of the same father (George Steele)? As much as Grace has grown up apart from her half-brothers and sister you do wonder if her head will be turned and having an insider on the force certainly appeals to the Steele brothers who have taken over the criminal side of their father’s legacy.

The murders are particularly vicious and the thought that they are committed in places where the victims would consider themselves safe gave me the shivers. I was definitely checking over my shoulder when I was out and about in public! I do love a gruesome death scene and Hush Hush definitely delivered.

There are some characters in Hush Hush from the previous Allie Shenton trilogy but enough detail was given about them that I could keep up and in fact it made me want to bump up these books on my TBR. Mel Sherratt writes excellent female protagonists and I want to get to know them all! The men aren’t always the driving force and we see this in all the strong women in Hush Hush; Grace, her mother, Allie and her estranged sister. None of them are willing to bow down to the men in their lives and in some cases they have been irrevocably damaged mentally and/or physically.

I loved Hush Hush and can’t wait for Tick Tock the next book in the series which is due April 2019!

Check out the tour:

Blog Tour ~ The Proposal by S. E. Lynes Ellen’s Review

Hey guys,

Today Ellen is taking part in the blog tour for The Proposal by S. E. Lynes and I’ll be sharing her review with you all a little further down!

About the author:

After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen to be with her husband. In Aberdeen, she worked as a producer at BBC Radio Scotland before moving with her husband and two young children to Rome. There, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She now combines writing with lecturing at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children. She lives in Teddington.

https://www.facebook.com/susie.lynes

https://twitter.com/SELynesAuthor

About the book:

The first thing you should know, dear reader, is that I am dead…

Teacher Pippa wants a second chance. Recently divorced and unhappy at work, she uproots her life and moves to the countryside, determined to make a fresh start. But Pippa soon realises: your troubles are never far behind.

When Pippa meets blue-eyed Ryan Marks, he is funny and charming. He is haunted by his past – but insists he is a changed man.

He might just be the answer to all of her problems. And Pippa can tell the truth from lies. She’d know if she were in danger. Wouldn’t she?

From Amazon chart bestseller S.E. Lynes, The Proposal is a page-turning and utterly gripping thriller about the lengths we will go to for someone we love. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window and The Wife Between Us.

The Proposal by S. E. Lynes

Ellen’s Review:

I have been a huge fan of SE Lynes since her debut Valentina and have been eagerly awaiting the next release – as always I wasn’t disappointed! The Proposal is the perfect example of a psychological thriller, all the ingredients are there to create an explosive read and one that left me feeling like I needed a hot shower.

The main character of Pippa is someone who I loved to hate; Self-centred, selfish and pretty moral free. Her behaviour got serious eye rolls from me throughout the whole of the book. She is a teacher who has published one novel and has serious writer’s block over her second. An ex con (Ryan) turns up on her doorstep selling household wares so what’s the sensible thing to do? Well, if you’re Pippa (already half sozzled) you invite him in and after feeding, watering and clothing him end up with an agreement (the proposal) to use the details of his criminal past and weave them into your new novel. No strings attached. Yeah, how did you envisage that would ever end well Pippa!? She is so desperate for success she is seemingly oblivious to the chaos that follows her around, divorced from her husband, picks up then drops her best friend as and when and now indebted to a potentially deadly individual.

The Proposal is told in various ways; Pippa in the future looking back on these events via journal entries, blog posts from her author page extolling about her perfect life as a best-selling author at Cairns Farm with the inimitable housekeeper Mrs Danvers and voice recordings from Ryan detailing his spiralling obsession with Pippa. This book is a serious lesson in not trusting everything/everyone at face value. I am loathe to spoil this book for future readers but just be prepared and DON’T miss the editor’s note at the end.

If you’re looking for a novel packed full of suspense, shocks and a sting in the tail then The Proposal is the one for you. Five stars for this outstanding read!!

Check out the tour:

Blog Tour: The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham

Hey guys,

Today its my turn on the blog tour for The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham and I’ll be sharing my review with you all!

About the author:

Alison Belsham initially started writing with the ambition of becoming a screenwriter — and in 2000 was commended for her visual storytelling in the Orange Prize for Screenwriting. In 2001 she was shortlisted in a BBC Drama Writer competition. Life and children intervened but, switching to fiction, in 2009 her novel Domino was selected for the prestigious Adventures in Fiction mentoring scheme. In 2016 she pitched her first crime novel, The Tattoo Thief, at the Pitch Perfect event at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival and was judged the winner.

Twitter:@alisonbelsham

About the book:

A policeman on his first murder case
A tattoo artist with a deadly secret
And a twisted serial killer sharpening his blades to kill again…

When Brighton tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, newly-promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help. There’s a serial killer at large, slicing tattoos from his victims’ bodies while they’re still alive. Marni knows the tattooing world like the back of her hand, but has her own reasons to distrust the police. So when she identifies the killer’s next target, will she tell Sullivan or go after the Tattoo Thief alone?

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed The Tattoo Thief. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, but I found myself getting pulled into the story really quickly. I liked the tattoo angle, not least because I have a few myself, so it was interesting to read about.

Marni Mullins is a tattoo artist, and she stumbles upon a body in a dumpster when taking a break at a tattoo show. Conflicted, she calls it in but then goes back to work at the tattoo show, not expecting anything to come of it. Until the police find her.

What follows is a twisty-turny read with lots of things going on. DI Sullivan is investigating the discovery, but he has a lot more going on than what he’s letting on. I enjoyed reading about him and his thinking processes.

I loved the interactions between Francis and Marni too, especially as the book progresses. Their back and forth banter is good fun to read. There is definitely a connection there, and I liked them both as characters.

The Tattoo Thief is a really interesting crime thriller, told from multiple viewpoints, including the killer. It is graphic, and more than a little tense at times. Hard to believe its a debut!

Recommended for sure!

Check out the tour:

Blog Tour~The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham Ellen’s Review

Hey guys,

Today Ellen is taking part in the blog tour for The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham and I’ll be sharing her review with you all further down!

About the author:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/alisonbelsham

About the book:

A policeman on his first murder case
A tattoo artist with a deadly secret
And a twisted serial killer sharpening his blades to kill again…

The Tattoo Thief by Alison Belsham

Ellen’s Review:

The Tattoo Thief is one of those books that will really get under your skin…sorry I couldn’t resist! It is true though, I really struggled to put this book down and was walking round my house with kindle in hand permanently. It is a really fast paced, intriguing tale and the action kicks off early doors when Marni (tattoo artist) discovers a mutilated body in a dumpster. After phoning this in to the police anonymously she soon becomes deeply involved in the case as it becomes obvious there is a serial killer on the loose with a penchant for tattoos. Not just any old tattoo, this killer desires the best work out there and has a very specific wish list.

The tattoos of the victims are removed while they are still alive so be warned this book is quite graphic and gruesome. As I’ve said before I’m a bloodthirsty soul so I really enjoyed these elements of the story. I also loved the relationship between Marni Mullins and DI Francis Sullivan, never a truer example of chalk and cheese have I seen! Marni is wary of the police due to past life events and Francis is an ardent church loving individual. Their worlds clash and both must bend a little to assist in the case.

Marni Mullins was definitely my favourite character in this book and I’d actually like to know more about her life before her dealings with the tattoo thief. A fiery French ex-husband, time in prison and unresolved issues from her past…there’s another story waiting to be told!

A fantastic debut and I look forward to seeing what is next from Alison Belsham.

Check out the tour:

Blog Tour ~ The Hangman’s Hold (DCI Matilda Darke 4) by Michael Wood Ellen’s Review

Hi everyone,

Today s Ellen’s stop on the blog tour for The Hangman’s Hold by Michael Wood and I’ll be sharing her review with you all a little further down.

About the author:

Michael is a freelance journalist and proofreader living in Sheffield. As a journalist he has covered many crime stories throughout Sheffield, gaining first-hand knowledge of police procedure. He also reviews books for CrimeSquad, a website dedicated to crime fiction.

About the book:

Your life is in his hands.

In the gripping new serial killer thriller from Michael Wood, Matilda Darke faces a vicious killer pursuing his own brand of lethal justice. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons and Helen Fields.

There’s a killer in your house.
The Hangman waits in the darkness.

He knows your darkest secrets.
He’ll make you pay for all the crimes you have tried desperately to forget.

And he is closer than you think.
DCI Matilda Darke is running out of time. Fear is spreading throughout the city. As the body count rises, Matilda is targeted and her most trusted colleagues fall under suspicion. But can she keep those closest to her from harm? Or is it already too late?

Click HERE to order your copy now!

Ellen’s Review:

Having loved the three previous novels in the DCI Matilda Darke series by Michael Wood and being an ardent #TeamDarke member I couldn’t wait to get stuck into book four, The Hangman’s Hold. This book could be read as a standalone but personally I’d recommend you read them all – why deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know Matilda and her team?

Michael Wood has gone really dark in The Hangman’s Hold and poor Matilda’s fragile mental strength is certainly pushed to its limits. There is a serial killer who appears to be carrying out murders in the manner of a vigilante, unhappy with how the victims have seemingly got away with crimes they decide to deal with them in the old fashioned way of hanging. Matilda and her team are being pushed from every angle, superiors, the press and even the killer, and it’s clear that not everyone disagrees with the killer’s reasoning. Matilda struggles to keep her team focused at times and it was upsetting to see cracks in what has always been a great working relationship between them all.

It was interesting to see a possible love interest on the scene for Matilda, I’d like to think she deserves a little dose of happiness (especially after the events in The Hangman’s Hold). I love the friendship element that has run through this series and watching the team grow closer and probably heavier after indulging in Sian’s treat drawer!

There are some truly horrific scenes in this book, it’s definitely not for the faint hearted! My heart rate must have been through the roof at certain points and just when you think you can’t take anymore…BAM..another gut punch of a reveal. Speaking of reveals there’s an absolute humdinger but I’ll let you discover that for yourself…..

All the stars for The Hangman’s Hold and bring on book five!!

Follow the blog tour: