Review ~ A Dark and Twisted Tide by Sharon Bolton

Random House UK, Transworld Publishers
2014

It would seem that Lacey Flint has a morbid fascination for water and for the River Thames in particular. Her current penchant for wild water swimming in the gloomy waters of the Thames leads her to a gruesome discovery which will take her into the very dark and twisted world of missing women. Attached as she is to the marine police division Lacey should really know to leave the investigative policing to her detective colleagues, but from necessity Lacey and her nemesis, Dana Tulloch, have to join forces in order to plunge, quite literally, into the murky depths that hide beneath the waters of the hidden creeks and wharfs of London’s ancient river.

As we have come to expect from a Sharon Bolton novel, the action is fast and furious. No stone is left unturned and no detail is left unexamined and as always, the deeper into the story you venture, the more questions are left unanswered. Lacey commands your attention, she is the quintessential enigma. She has so many layers it’s like peeling an onion to reach into her heart and soul, and truthfully, I’m not convinced that we will ever truly find out what make this complex young woman tick. Her heart, as always, remains hidden, but at least in this story, she is granted a very short respite, with a couple of tender moments, which make you hope that one day she’ll be able to find some sort of comfort.

Maintaining a long running crime series requires investment both from the author and the reader and a real emotional bond needs to develop between the characters. There is no doubt that Sharon Bolton has created in Lacey Flint one of crimes most unfathomable protagonists, whose multi layered character really does drive forward these novels to such a degree that as I turn the last page and read the last word, I am already longing for the story to be continued in the not too distant future.

My thanks to NetGalley for my review copy of A Dark and Twisted Tide.

Published by Random House UK, Transworld publishers in May 2014.

About the Author

http://www.sjbolton.com/

Review~ The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

Quercus Books
6 February 2014

When forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway uncovers a set of bones during an archaeological dig at Norwich Castle, they are believed to be those of the notorious Mother Hook, a nineteenth century baby farmer turned child murderer. The dig attracts the attention of a documentary film crew whose interest in 'women who kill' forms the basis for a voyeuristic television programme. At the same time, DCI Harry Nelson and his team of detectives are facing the worst of crimes as children are being inexplicably abducted. What then follows is which really focuses on human emotion.

This series of crime novels, this is currently number six in the pecking order, really do go from strength to strength and the ongoing relationship between Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson, as they attempt to make the best of their shared parental responsibilities, makes for lively and fascinating reading. As always the character analysis is incredibly specific, everyone is so utterly believable that you really could stumble upon them as they go about their daily business in Norwich and surrounding area. The police procedure feels authentic, and I am sure there are many CID teams who share the same amount of irreverent banter but who come together as fierce as lions when one of their own is threatened.

I devour these stories in one sitting, yes...they really are that good, and the need to find out just a little bit more will keep me enthralled in this series just as long as Ms Griffiths keeps them coming.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for allowing me a copy of this book in advance of its publication.

*~*~*

About the Author

Elly Griffiths was born in London. She read English at King's College, London and worked in publishing for many years. Her crime novels are based in Norfolk and feature Dr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist. She lives near Brighton with her husband, an archaeologist and their two children.

My author in the spotlight is .....Wendy Percival

Please welcome

Wendy Percival

Author 

of

Blood-Tied 

Silverwood Books
October 2013

A hidden crime, kept secret for 60 years... but time has a way of exposing the truth…

*~ Wendy ~ welcome to Jaffareadstoo ~*

Where did you get the first flash of inspiration for Blood-Tied?

It started with an old photograph, set as a Photo Short Story competition in Writing Magazine. It was of a family group (Edwardian, I think) standing on a railway station. I didn’t enter the competition, eventually, but I did draft out an idea for a story. When I started researching my family history, I recalled the story line and the two things fused together and became the starting point of the plot.

What can you tell us about the story that won't give too much away?

It’s about Esme Quentin, a former journalist’s assistant, who has returned to Shropshire to embark upon a new career as a genealogist and history researcher. Her sister’s apparent unprovoked attack proves to be the catalyst for Esme coming to terms with her own tragic past, as well as resolving the awkward relationship she’s always had with her sister.

Why do you choose to write in your particular genre?

I’ve always enjoyed mysteries, which I attribute to having The Secret Garden read to me as a child! I love being intrigued and surprised in stories, particularly ones where there’s a secret to unravel along the way. And they do say write what you enjoy reading!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?        

I’ve always enjoyed writing, even before I’d ever thought about ‘being a writer’. As a child, I was always dressing up and acting out elaborate stories, and I used to write great long letters to pen friends. It wasn’t until I saw a copy of Writing Magazine in WH Smith’s about 15 years ago that I wondered about writing more seriously. Even then I nearly didn’t buy it, thinking perhaps I was being a bit flaky! But eventually I went back to the rack, grabbed the magazine and marched to the check-out before I changed my mind. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Which writers have inspired you?

I used to read Catherine Cookson avidly. She tells a story so seamlessly. I was introduced to Daphne du Maurier by my mum so I’ve always had a soft spot for her books, particularly with their links to Cornwall, where I’ve been many times on holiday. Elizabeth George’s earlier Lynley novels are favourites. I’ve always enjoyed Dick Francis’s books, although I’m not at all interested in horse riding, which says a lot about his ability to capture his reader! Susan Howatch’s novels, especially her Starbridge series, are brilliant. In recent years I’ve read a lot of Peter Robinson, PD James, Ruth Rendell, Ian Rankin and CJ Sansom, amongst others. But one of my absolute favourites, and probably the writer who I find the most inspirational, is “master of the double twist”, Robert Goddard.

Have you any other novels planned, and if so, can you give us a taster of what is to come?

So many people told me how much they liked Esme Quentin that, after much deliberation as to whether to go down the ‘series character’ route, I decided to write another Esme novel. Again inspired by genealogy and influences from the past, it’s set on the north Devon coast, near where I live. Esme finds a dying woman at the foot of a cliff and gets caught up with the mystery of a 19^th century convict, transported to Australia in 1837. I'm currently working hard to get the final draft finished!

 More about Wendy can be found here:

 http://www.wendypercival.co.uk

http://engagewritebrain.blogspot.com
http://familyhistorysecrets.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/wendypercivalauthor

Wendy is very generously giving a printed copy of Blood -Tied to one lucky UK winner of this giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thank you so much Wendy for spending time with us.
Jaffa and I look forward to reading more stories about Esme.

*~*~*

My thoughts on Blood-Tied.

Esme Quentin is worried when her sister Elizabeth is attacked in a London park. Thinking that this is a random attack by a stranger, Esme is unprepared when the police reveal that Elizabeth’s attack may not be as random as first thought. With Elizabeth gravely ill in hospital, it falls to Esme and Elizabeth’s daughter, Gemma, to delve a little deeper into Elizabeth’s personal affairs. What they discover are long buried family secrets which span over sixty years, and which open up to scrutiny all that Esme and Gemma once believed to be true.

What then follows is a finely crafted family mystery which abounds with both trickery and deception. The author has a real skill with words, and with fine attention to detail has produced a very convincing crime story. There are more than enough twists, turns and unexpected red herrings in the story to keep you guessing until the very end. I rather liked Esme, she is a determined and feisty protagonist who uses her skill as a researcher to delve into the past; however, it is her tenacity and generosity of spirit which gives the books its heart and soul and which leads eventually to the conclusion of the family mystery.

Blood-Tied works well as a standalone story, it is well presented and professionally produced to a high standard. However, I can see great potential for future character developments as Esme deserves to put her sleuthing skills to good use in future follow-ups.

*~*~*

Review ~ A Final Reckoning by Susan Moody

Severn House Publishers
2013

Thirteen year old, Chantal Frazer’s happy-go-lucky childhood is overshadowed by her elder sister’s murder. Twenty-three years later, Chantal returns to Weston Lodge in the Cotswolds, the scene of her sister Sabine’s murder, which is now converted into a luxury hotel. Determined to find out more about Sabine’s, untimely death, Chantal finds that events were not as clear-cut as she was first led to believe.

The Gothic setting, the chilling characters and misleading clues all add up to a fairly standard murder/mystery, which didn't quite keep my attention. Somehow, the story lacked a sense of authenticity, and I found myself skipping parts of the narrative, which for me is never a good sign. There is potential in some of the novel but the epistolary communication between the sisters seemed a bit contrived and rather uninspired.In the end, I was left feeling let down by the whole story.

Not a great book, but, as always make up your own mind.

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for my digital ecopy of this book.

Review - The Funeral Owl by Jim Kelly

Philip Dryden #7
December 1 2013
Creme de la Crime
Severn House

The mysterious, and it must be said, rare sighting of the enigmatic Boreal, or ‘funeral owl’, in the fenland area of Brimstone Hill is seen as a portent of death. When this is linked with some strange occurrences and spate of violent crimes, the local newspaper reporter, Philip Dryden, can scarce keep up with events.

This is the first of the Philip Dryden mystery books I have read, and I was surprised to find that this is number seven in the pecking order. I half expected it to be difficult to understand the hidden nuances which can litter an established series, but I’m pleased to say that this one works rather well as a standalone mystery, but I am sure that as with all series, it is probably better to start at the beginning with a proper emotional investment in the main characters.

I was very quickly drawn into the story, and thought that the conjured images of the wild and lonely fens are really well described. The beginning of the book gets off to a dramatic start with the arrival of a violent dust cloud, something I have never experienced in real life, but I feel that the author did a great job of making this strange phenomenon appear scarily realistic. The mystery itself, which is after all, the heart and soul of the story had enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep me turning the pages long into the night. I think that it is commendable that the author can grab the interest of a new reader so quickly.

I am intrigued by Philip Dryden, that's always a good sign, and would like to find out more about his character, so I shall tootle off to the book store and find myself the first book in the Philip Dryden series.

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House and Creme de la Crime or allowing me access to this book in advance of its publication. 


More about Jim Kelly can be found here

 

In conversation with Susan Grossey....

I am delighted to welcome

Susan Grossey

Author of

Fatal Forgery

Susan ~ welcome to Jaffareadstoo....

Fatal Forgery is your first full length novel - what can you tell us about it that won't give too much away?

In my day job, I am an anti-money laundering consultant, which means that I am thinking constantly about financial crime.  I write a huge amount too – books on money laundering, articles for trade paper “Money Laundering Bulletin”, a work blog (www.ihatemoneylaundering.wordpress.com) and lots of policies and procedures.  I also write a weekly column for our local newspaper.  But, like most scribblers, I had always wanted to write a “proper book” – a novel.  And financial crime seemed the obvious topic.

“Fatal Forgery” is set in 1824, which is a fascinating time for this subject.  Paper money and share certificates were their infancy (people were much more used to dealing with physical coin) and – just as we today are coming to grips with e-banking and virtual currencies – the population was nervous about trusting them.  Those who forged them were sent to the scaffold – but public opinion in general was starting to turn against wide use of the death penalty.  There was still no standardised police force (the Met was not created until 1829) but some forward-thinking magistrates were encouraging their police officers not simply to arrest people, but to try and understand their motives – the birth of detection.  And my hero, Constable Sam Plank, is one such officer.

Sent to arrest the banker Henry Fauntleroy on charges of forgery, Plank is astonished to find the banker willing – even desperate – to plead guilty, when such a plea will see him hang.  Plank’s curiosity is piqued, and he resolves to find out more about Fauntleroy, his bank and his actions.  Along the way Plank meets a thought-provoking cast of characters, including a one-legged jailer who loves roses, a courtesan with a wicked sense of humour, and a well-connected lawyer with a plan.

Did you outline the plot first, or did you allow the story to go its own way?

Many of the characters in “Fatal Forgery” are based on real people – the banker Henry Fauntleroy, the magistrate John Conant, the lawyer James Harmer and the keeper John Wontner all really existed, but they did not interact in the way I describe.  And there was a Constable Sam Plank too – but I know nothing about him except that he testified in several cases at the Old Bailey and I just loved his solid, dependable name.  I came across the basic facts of Fauntleroy’s life when researching bank fraud in my university library, but I took great liberties with the story when I was partway through the novel and realised that the group of characters I had assembled had other ideas about what they wanted to do!

And I have actually written this novel twice.  The first time round the story was told from the point of view of the banker.  But then I realised that Sam Plank was keen to have his say, and so I re-wrote the whole thing from his perspective, and I think it works much better.  Quiet but forceful, that’s Sam.

In your research for Fatal Forgery, did you come across anything that surprised you?

Plenty!  One day I went to the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, because I had read that this famous architect had bought a particular book from Fauntleroy and I wanted to see it.  Archived along with the book was a small folder of papers – and in that folder was a confession, written by Fauntleroy while he was in Newgate.  The actual confession that he had held, a scrappy piece of paper covered in pencil writing!  I was more thrilled than you can imagine, and told the museum staff the significance of what they had – they have assured me that it is now properly catalogued and preserved.

I was also surprised to find how extensive was the debate about the death penalty during the Regency years, with many leading thinkers of the day very opposed to its wide usage.  And even the more ordinary people were going off it; juries would often find someone not guilty when they plainly were, to avoid having to impose a death sentence.  Despite this, executions – still public at this time – would draw enormous crowds of spectators.

Do you have a special place to do your writing?

Because I write so much for work, I thought it was important to create a separation for my fiction writing.  So I bought myself a second-hand Mac (my work machine is a PC), and most of “Fatal Forgery” was written on that in my local university library.  There is a desk I like up on the fifth floor, with a fabulous view over Cambridge, with King’s and the other colleges laid out before me for inspiration.  The fifth floor is chemistry, so I am not tempted to read the books – although several of my minor characters have been named from the index of a chemistry book picked at random from the shelves!

Can you tell us what are you writing next?

Indeed!  Several people who read “Fatal Forgery” asked me what Sam got up to next, so I have embarked on the second Sam Plank adventure.  It is tentatively called “A Fool and His Money”, and Sam is trying to work out the connection between four seemingly unrelated crimes.  All are based on the sort of real crimes that came before the Old Bailey in 1825 – and at this very moment I am researching what happens when you drink Prussic acid (it’s not pleasant).

And finally....

Are you inspired by any particular era, author or book?

As I say, I love the Regency period because – from a legal and financial perspective, and with the country trying to recover from the seemingly-endless Napoleonic Wars – it is a time of great change.  Also, although it is awash with romances, there are not many “detective” novels set in this period – most are Victorian.  My main inspiration among authors is CJ Sansom – I could not aspire so high, but the way that he takes you into the world of Matthew Shardlake, so that you are immersed and then learning about the time without realising, is simply masterful.  I hope one day to wear my research as lightly as he does.

Susan - thank you for spending time on our blog. Jaffa and I wish you continued success with your writing and look forward to more from you.... and Samuel Plank in the future.

 Susan has very kindly offered a copy of Fatal Forgery to one lucky UK winner of this giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway



***

My thoughts on Fatal Forgery

Was Henry Fauntleroy simply a common thief with a fine wardrobe and a good education?

Well, that’s what Constable Samuel Plank is determined to find out in this cleverly constructed financial crime story, which takes us on a journey though the complicated process of Regency justice. In 1824, methodical crime detecting is still in its infancy, and public trust in the burgeoning use of paper money is precarious. So much so, that anyone caught forging financial documents is sent to the scaffold. When Constable Plank is sent to arrest the banker, Henry Fauntleroy, who has been accused of financial fraud, Samuel has an inclination that there is more to this man’s crime than at first appears.

From the start of this story I felt as if I had been transported back in time to Regency London. Walking in Samuel’s footsteps, I could hear the same cacophony of sound, shared the same sense of disbelief in Fauntleroy’s modus operandi, and hung onto Constable Plank’s coat tails as he entered the squalid house of correction at Coldbath Fields.

I know absolutely nothing about bank fraud during the Regency era, but on reading Fatal Forgery, I was completely fascinated by the way the author has captured not just the spirit of the time, but also the minutiae of the financial world.  The description of the people who inhabited this complicated world is exemplary, from the solid reliability of Constable Plank, to the irascible and curmudgeonly court dignitaries, and the fatally flawed perpetrator Henry Fauntleroy, all combine to form a fascinating insight into a very different world.

I am reassured that this is not the last we have seen of Samuel Plank. His steadfastness is so congenial that to spend time in his company in future books, is a treat worth savouring.

~***~

Review ~ Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes

This tense and rather sinister psychological thriller held my attention from the beginning and without giving too much of the plot away, it is the intertwined story of three very different women who at first seem to have very little in common, and yet as the story progresses, the strands that bind them together are revealed in scary detail. We have Claudia, heavily pregnant who lives a fairly solitary life when her naval husband, James, is away at sea. She welcomes Zoe into her home to help as a nanny, but there’s something about Zoe which makes Claudia uneasy. And then there’s Lorraine, a police officer who is investigating some pretty horrific crimes against pregnant women. All three are strong women, capable in their own way but crucially flawed when it comes to their capacity to believe in themselves.

This is definitely not for the faint hearted and whilst the graphic nature of the narrative certainly cranks up the tension, the power of the writing comes from the observation of what makes these women behave as they do.

The story will appeal to those who have enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn but it's probably not a story for anyone who is expecting a baby in the coming months !

My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone for my copy of this book.

Review ~ Others of My Kind by James Sallis

 Published 

by

 No Exit Press

27 October 2013

James Sallis is hailed as the master of noir, and this latest novella goes a long way to prove just how expert he is in relating a story which should be quite shocking, but, which is, in the main, an uplifting story of one woman’s determination to rise above an horrendous childhood experience. To say more about the story would be to do both the book and the author a great disservice as Others of My Kind is best read without any preconceptions of either story or character.

The author is clearly a master of the succinct; no words are wasted and each sentence is constructed with such precision that even the most provocative of scenarios, and there are a couple of events in the book which I found difficult to read, are recorded in such an unemotional sort of way, that almost without realising it, a bond forms between reader and protagonist, which lasts until the story is finished.

In any other author’s hands, this story would probably have run on for several hundred pages, but without doubt, James Sallis has said everything that needed be said in just 157 pages of sheer brilliance.

My thanks to Real Readers for my copy of this book to read in advance of its publication.

About the author

 

James Sallis (born 21 December 1944 in Helena, Arkansas) is an American crime writer, poet and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.

 

Review - Cry of the Children by J M Gregson

 

  A Lambert and Hook mystery....

The disappearance of a child strikes fear into the very heart any police force and Chief Superintendent Lambert and his team of officers have very few clues to follow when seven year old, Lucy Gibson goes missing after spending an evening at a local fairground. What then follows is a fairly straightforward police procedural crime story which has the added advantage of being part of a series and which will no doubt appeal to the author’s legions of fans who follow the Lambert and Hook style of crime resolution.

In many ways this is a rather gentle story, which sits oddly alongside the story of child abduction, and yet, for me, what sets this story apart, is in the finely observed character detail and in the calm attention to the minutiae of daily life. Beautifully written, the story carries the reader along without ever needing to resort to sensationalistic tactics. Sure, there is more than enough gusto in the story, but the blood and gore is firmly left at the crime scene, and sometimes I enjoy that more than standing in a mortuary with the pathologist as they poke around in someone’s insides.

The severity of the crime being investigated and the outcome of the enquiry into child abduction is resolved by the end of the book, and whilst there are no great surprises in the outcome, the journey to get there is a very enjoyable reading experience.

Expected publication January 2014

My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for my advance e-copy of this book.

 

Review ~ Tell No Lies by Greg Hurwitz

Penguin Books UK
1 August 2013

A Counsellor for criminals finds himself entangled in a serial killer’s trail of death when he finds letters foretelling the next victims. In an increasingly tense story, he works alongside the Police to catch the killer, whilst juggling his own complicated life around work, his sick wife and his rich socialite mother’s controlling grip. As he gets drawn deeper into the violence, it emerges that he too is a target of the killer’s unknown quest for vengeance, but slowly and surely he uncovers the truth, leading him to question the motives of those closest to him.

This was a well-written, pacy novel that slowly and surely built the tension as well as the characters involved. The twists and turn were plausible and well thought out, and the main character was believably normal and reacted as such to events around him. He didn’t turn into a superhero, but overcame problems and difficulties with dogged determination. All the other characters were strong and fitted well into the evolving events.

A good read right to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK for my review copy and to JDB for this guest review.

Review ~ The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Sphere
An imprint of Little, Brown Book Group
April 2013

First off, I have to say that I probably wouldn't have got round to reading this book just yet, if  not for the fact that the news recently broke that J K Rowling was the author. I'm a big fan of the Harry Potter books, but not so much a fan of The Casual Vacancy, so it was with an open mind that I started to read this sophisticated crime story.

Set in contemporary London sometime in the last decade, the mysterious death of model Lula Landry causes something of a media storm, all the clues point towards Lula’s suicide, and yet, there are some who believe that her death was rather more complicated. Cormoran Strike is an ex-military veteran, eking out his civilian survival by working as a private detective. His chaotic life is completely shambolic, and from the necessity of survival, Cormoran grabs the lifeline to his failing business when he is hired by Lula’s brother to investigate the surroundings of Lula's death.

What then follows is a tightly controlled and well thought out crime novel. There is impeccable writing and fine attention to detail, and without ever having to resort to blood and brutality, the twists and turns, red herrings and loop holes are completely absorbing. The plot literally grabs your imagination from the beginning, there’s humour, pathos and incredulity, and very quickly into the novel you begin to love Cormoran, who is superbly flawed but bright as a button and brimming with character. The added inclusion of a sharp and sassy temporary secretary in the form of Robin Ellacott is inspired, as the rapport which builds between these two very different characters is joy to observe.

It would be easy to write this book off as media hype, and yet, that would be to do this accomplished author a great disservice. Robert Galbraith is a very fine crime writer and this series of Cormoran and Robin deserves to run and run.

Review ~ Unseen by Karin Slaughter

Random House Publishing Group Bantam Dell
July 2 2013

If you are a follower of Karin Slaughter’s series of crime novels, then you will be as delighted as I was with this latest offering. This book sees Will Trent doing what he does best, working undercover, and trying to infiltrate into the very centre of a particularly nasty criminal underworld. However, Will is about to find that criminality comes closer to home when his girl friend, Sara Linton finds that she is unwillingly drawn into close contact with her old adversary Lena Adams, and we all know the mayhem that has caused in the past.

The writing is as always exemplary, the pace of the plot never falters and the emotional commitment to her characters shines through with every word. As soon as I open the first page of a Karin Slaughter novel, I know that I am in for a roller-coaster of a ride, and as emotions run high, the feeling of terror never really goes away.

I'm really envious of people who haven’t yet discovered the allure of these books – they really are that good – but please start at the beginning and read the whole series in order - I promise you, it won’t be time wasted.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Bantam Dell for the opportunity to review this book

Review ~ Stop Dead by Leigh Russell

No Exit Press

30 May 2013

When a successful business man is found brutally murdered, the search for his killer will take DI Geraldine Steel and her team into a murky world of secrets and lies. Contained within the story are the usual smattering of stereotypical suspects, with one or two red herrings, and a few well written twists and turns, which add interest, to what seems to be a fairly average crime thriller. There are no huge surprises, the story is easy to read, and even picking up the book after an absence of a few days, I could still follow the plot, without the need to back track in case I had forgotten anything.

This is the first of Leigh Russell’s crime series featuring DI Geraldine Steel that I have read, and even though I didn’t know any of the back stories, I was soon able to learn enough about the characters to form some sort of impression. There are vague clues into why DI Steel had moved from Kent to work in the Metropolitan police force in London, which explains why she reacts as she does in certain situations.

Overall, I thought it was a good read. The story kept my attention and even though I had sort of guessed whodunnit  the final strands of the plot are pulled together nicely, and the ending, of course lends itself to a continuation of the series.

My thanks to Real Readers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Review ~ Closure by Gillian E. Hamer

Triskele Books
November 2012

There is an undeniable confidence in Gillian Hamer’s writing and even as the opening chapter of Closure gets underway there is a definite sense that this story is darker and dirtier than her previous book, The Charter. As always the rugged beauty of the North Wales coastline forms a stunning backdrop to a story of murder, mystery and the uncovering of long buried secrets.

In Closure, a serial killer is striking at the very heart of the university town of Bangor in North Wales, where young women are being randomly selected, and with no obvious clues left behind, the North Wales CID department have huge problems in tracking down the perpetrator. By coincidence, and seemingly unrelated, six year old Jake West experiences surges of memory from a past life which at first appear to have no connection with the main body of the story.

However, with great skill, the author intertwines two very different story strands and creates a plausible and totally believable story about irrefutable evil and the overwhelming belief that good will overcome wickedness. There are twists and turns galore and as the story gets under way there is a definite heightening of tension, with some truly dark moments which add a certain frisson of excitement.

As a reader it’s always reassuring when an author comes up with a second book which is every bit as good, if not better than the first book. There is huge potential for this crime series to continue and I really hope that Ms. Hamer has more stories to share with her readers.

5*****