In The Dark by Cara Hunter

In The Dark by Cara Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For a detective story this seemed to be too simple but it turns out to be the opposite. Cara Hunter takes us to the university town of Oxford for this extreme case of of abduction. She starts out with what appears to be and straight forward abduction of a young female but as the case develops the detectives have to revise their thinking and find other suspects as the main suspect is increasingly bring ruled out. Excellent twist and turns build the excitement and catch out some of the detectives into displaying their weaknesses. In the main it is fairly fast moving and exciting however once or twice it gets a bit bogged down in mostly unimportant detail. Well worth a read.

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Skin Deep by Liz Nugent

Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was never quite what I expected and was surprisingly good. The format was new to me, the end was at the beginning (starting with a murder) and finished with the same murder. The story is essentially a life story but with this murder hanging around in your waiting for it to all join up. Full of unusual twists and turns with very atmospheric locations and events. The story is also a bit of a history lesson as it spans around four decades which only goes to increasing the interest. Good book I have given 4 stars to so is worth a read.

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Girl on Fire by Tony Parsons

Girl On Fire by Tony Parsons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my second Max Wolfe novel and it delivered the same excitement, thrills and twists of the first. This time Max is involved in finding the terrorists who brought down a helicopter on a shopping mall. A complex enquiry but Max uses his natural instincts to make good progress discovering a family of immigrants who are suspected. From then on it is action all the way. The story like the previous one is interwoven with the trials and tribulations of Max's private life and his efforts to cope and handle the issues he has. Overall the story is very topical with the terrorist angle and Max as a single parent. This is a good series and when I get the chance will read the others.

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The Break Line by James Brabazon

The Break Line by James Brabazon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you like fast paced action thrillers with a little violence and gore thrown in then this is for you. Max McLean is a British state assassin who technically does not exist and sent on missions to kept us all safe from all sorts of enemies. His next mission is to West Africa but decides to do his homework before leaving and it all kicks off. The author gives us thrilling action from the very beginning and does not stop until everything is resolved, or is it. He also adds a few twists to increase the tension and ends up with an extremely entertaining book. Recommended.

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The Cyclist by Anthony Neil Smith

The Cyclist by Anthony Neil Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Never quite got there, Judd is a marine recruit who failed to make the grade who loves cycling. As luck would have it he meets his ideal mate whilst working for a bank but she lives in Scotland. Fed up with his job and the promise of a good time with Cat he drops all and flies to Glasgow. From the start of his visit things are not quite right. The author has moved very quickly and has you asking why, why and why but not giving anything away. This a great fast moving thriller that takes you places that make your toes curl. As a Scot I can confirm we are not all like the characters in this gruesome but exciting novel.

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Star of the North by D.B. John

Star of the North by D.B. John
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy a great story that uses current events as its base, add in politics and espionage and all my needs can be catered for. Did D.B John succeed with this recipe, yes he did. North Korea and the USA are at the brink of war and the author uses this to explore what life is like under this regime whilst delivering a thrilling political novel.

Jenna Williams joins the CIA an hopes that she might uncover the truth of her twin sisters disappearance 12 years previously. Now during a high level meeting in New York she meets Cho a representative of the North Korean government sent to lead their diplomatic mission. As we progress through the story with each event the dots are being connected and the tension is rising on how this will resolve itself.

This is a very skillful piece of work drawing on all available knowledge of the workings of this terrifying regime. A thrilling and revealing adventure into North Korea.

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Redemption Point by Candice Fox

Redemption Point by Candice Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is second in the Crimson Lake series but Candice Fox expertly provides a stand alone novel as well as the continuing story of Ted Conkaffey. With Amanda Pharrell they take on a gruesome murder in the Barking Frog pub providing the main storyline however it is meshed with the continuing story of Ted's predicament of how to prove his innocence of the child abduction crime he was accused of. The pub murder is giving up few clues but Amanda's unique perspective starts to unravel this very clever mystery. Although a very ugly crime the author adds some light humour to ease the horror of the investigation but still retaining all the thrills and excitement of a good crime thriller. Ted is reluctantly drawn into into investigating his own case following an incident with the victim's father who is looking for answers and justice for his daughter. This is a first rate crime thriller which keeps you captivated until the end. Hopefully the series will continue.

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