The Accident by Chris Pavone

The Accident by Chris Pavone
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This story started well enough setting out a decent plot however, that is where the the disappointment and frustration set in. I have not read a book like this for a long time, abruptly flitting about from character to character and present to past. This for me was very disjointed and did not make for an enjoyable read. It is also very disheartening as the storyline is actually very good with some good twists, but the entertainment is destroyed by the writing style.

Isabel Reed is a literary agent presented with a manuscript from an anonymous author. The author has written a revealing account of the life of a media mogul who appears to have friends who will go to extremes to prevent the publication of the book. Who will win the day and what is the truth is such hard work to find out it does not get my recommendation.

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The Double Silence by Mari Jungstedt

The Double Silence by Mari Jungstedt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is a shame that some things just don't live up to the billing. This is the case here! the author makes you wait for a third of the book before anything actually happens to let it make the thriller/mystery category. You might also think that during that time you would get some information that you could use later on in the book, but no it is just useless padding. That aside the remaining two thirds of the book are okay, and a reasonable crime thriller is told. Three murders take place during the holiday of a tight group of friends on the island of Faro in Sweden. A festival celebrating the film director Ingmar Bergman is attended by the holidaymakers when the killing starts. Anders Knutas is the local police detective who along with his colleague have to unravel the mystery of who done it.

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Lethal Metal by Harry Ledowsky

Lethal Metal by Harry Ledowsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in the northern Russian port of Murmansk in 2000, this is a story of the after effects of the decline of the Soviet navy. Murmansk is now home to the Northern fleet of the Russian navy, and has become a dumping ground of Soviet naval hardware no longer in use, including the radioactive waste products from all the ship reactors from the Cold War days. Some young children playing in the woods are contaminated and are seriously ill. What follows is the investigation by a local hospital doctor and friends to find and clear the waste responsible, unaware they are dragging themselves deeper and deeper into the world of illegal arms dealers, terrorists and local mafia. The author Harry Ledowsky cleverly builds up the tension page by page revealing clever twists and turns of this very good thriller. He also uses this story line to graphically describe the outfall from the breakup of the Soviet Union, highlighting how the military hardware and even the waste is up for sale to highest bidder fuelling betrayal and corruption.

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#coldwar #ledowsky #kursk #soviet

Runner by Patrick Lee

Runner by Patrick Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sam Dryden is out jogging minding his own business when a young girl bumps into him. This accidental meeting with Rachel is the start of a roller coaster ride to escape the clutches of corporations after the next big bucks. They are pursued by very determined groups of people who seem to have no limits to the resource they can use. As Sam is ex special forces, his skills come in very useful as he helps Rachel who has lost her memory, but does have some tricks of her own.

Patrick Lee has written a fast paced and thrilling story which I found very easy to read with no convoluted language, no unnecessary history or lectures, just excellent story telling. I recommend you don't miss it.

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Rooms To Die For by Jean Harrington

Rooms to Die for by Jean Harrington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like a good thriller that isn't too convoluted and easy reading but moves on well. This murder happened in a mall occupied by shops that are for the discerning interior designer and customer. What follows is an entertaining investigation by an interior designer called Deva and her Police boyfriend Rossi. This seems to be a tried and tested formula but it works really well with other characters portrayed sympathetically and believably, and yet with humour. I was a bit at a loss as to some of the designer brands and materials as it was set in America, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Reviewed by Felicity

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The Farm by Tom Rob Smith

The Farm by Tom Rob Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The synopsis of this book excited me but in the end I was a little disappointed and as a result only rated it at three stars, instead of four. Had the author provided more hooks a third of the way through, I would not have hesitated to award four. In the end I had to work hard to stay the course to receive the reward at the end. The style is mostly narration which in itself was a little tedious however the storyline was excellent.

Daniel's parents retired to his mothers homeland Sweden, buying a small farm in an isolated location in the rural south. The idea of setting up a guest house to generate income never got off the ground, as Daniel found out following Tilda's call announcing her arrival at Heathrow. With mixed messages from both his parents Daniel has to unravel the truth of his mother's illness.

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Grand Cru Heist by Jean Pierre Alaux & Noël Balen

Grand Cru Heist by Jean-Pierre Alaux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read the first wine detective story, Treachery in Bordeaux and enjoyed the brief foray into the world of wine. Grand Cru Heist is no different. The main character Benjamin Cooker is unique as ever, but ever so slightly annoying. The plot is a simple one and the setting is well suited for this, anything more complex would not work as well.

Car jacked in Paris the wine expert is drawn into a search for stolen vintage wine and the solving of a double murder. Cooker is helped in his investigation by his assistant Virgile. Throughout the story you given a lesson on French wines and regions, which is interesting but could be minimised? Overall a good book to pass a few hours.

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