KINDIG

IMAGINARY FRIEND STEPHEN CHBOSKY ** I must admit a book blogger’s worst nightmare with Imaginary Friend, I requested the ARC back before the hardback version came out and it’s been sat on my shelf until just before it will be published in paperback! So sorry to the publishers, I guess I was a little apprehensive at starting this 700 page tome but I’d heard some good things and wanted to get the review done before my second deadline at least! We’ll start with the positives; Im

THE THIEF ON THE WINGED HORSE KATE MASCARENHAS ***** When the most expensive and famous magic doll is stolen right from under the Kendrick’s noses, it’s obvious there is family betrayal afoot – who can they trust? I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Thief on The Winged Horse but I’m so glad I requested it and I have already begun recommending it to friends! Kate Mascarenhas has really built a well-developed and realistic world of supernatural doll-making in Oxfo

THE CURATOR M W CRAVEN ***** Disembodied fingers are appearing in seemingly random locations, all left next to the phrase #BSC6. Can Poe and Bradshaw discover the link before it’s too late? This was my first delve into a crime thriller by M W Craven and I was a little apprehensive having not read the previous 2 books in the Washington Poe series. However, I soon felt at home with the characters and their backstory without feeling left out or like I was given an overload of

THE PERFECT WIFE JP DELANEY ***** When Abbie wakes up with no idea who she is or what has happened to her, her husband Tim is more than happy to fill in the gaps. But what secrets are hiding within her past? The blurb of The Perfect Wife is a little misleading; I had the impression that Abbie would have no idea what she was – a woman woken up from a traumatic accident and told bits about her life only to find something more sinister lurking beneath the surface. However, 3 pag

A BIT OF A STRETCH CHRIS ATKINS **** I find day-in-the-life insight type books to be quite fascinating, particularly from perspectives that you might not get a chance to learn about any other way. As a female reader who has always been as much as a ‘model’ citizen as possible, the male prison system definitely fits the bill! It’s a very interesting topic with the scope to allow for some humorous and scary situations but also for more serious discussions of politics and govern

THE MEMORY WOOD SAM LLOYD ***** When Elissa is kidnapped she finds solace in a boy called Elijah who visits her – but will he be willing to help his new friend escape? The Memory Wood is a dark crime thriller that is not afraid to pull punches in its plot development. The chapters shift between a boy who knows his Memory Wood contains a dark secret, a girl who’s been abducted and a police detective with problems of her own – there is a lot to unpack here but it certainly lea

THE BLACK HAWKS DAVID WRAGG *** When Chel is tasked with escorting a Prince to safety, he meets the rag tag band of mercenaries – The Black Hawks. But who can he really trust? The Black Hawks is a fun fantasy with a streak of sarcasm and humour woven into its writing style (although there are no real laugh at loud moments that I was expecting from the hype). This makes for a fun read which flows well and keeps you engaged. However, as far as the fantasy genre goes it isn’t ex

WALKING TO ALDEBARAN ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY ***** ‘I think I used to talk to you because it kept me sane, but we’ve rather moved past that stage in the relationship, don’t you think?’ Walking to Aldebaran was a novella I simply could not put down – I devoured it in one sitting! I think part of what makes this such a compelling read is the narrative voice of our main character Gary Rendell. As he roams the desolate and scary passageways of the mysterious crypt you are utterly draw

PERFECT CRIME HELEN FIELDS ***** When Steve Berry turns up dead after a failed suicide the week before, the question is asked. Did he jump this time or was he pushed? Perfect Crime is the 5th book in the DI Callanach series and I think it does have some important plot points to the overall series arc, rather than being a standalone piece. You’d be better off at least reading the last book to get some context than jumping straight into this one. As someone who has read some of

THE DARK GAME JONATHAN JANZ * I was really excited by the premise of ‘The Dark Game’ – horror mixed with my favourite subject – books! Ironically however, I found the writing to be a let down! My first problem was how predictable it all was – the reader and the characters can easily guess what is going on by chapter 3 and there is no big twist or reveal which deviates from that in any way throughout the book. I feel like the whole thing needed more setup – we needed the illus

THE LOST MAN JANE HARPER *** When Cameron Bright is found dead in the Australian wilderness miles from his car, his brother Nathan is determined to find out what happened. But what secrets are lurking in the outback? I was really eager to read The Lost Man. It’s had a lot of pre-release excitement, 5 star reviews and even was a LibraryReads selection for Feb 2019. I was quite disappointed therefore, to have to give it a low star rating. I’ll start with the positives; the sett

BLACK WINGS MEGAN HART ***** Marian knows she should feel lucky to have a child genius like Briella but something is very wrong and her child’s obsessions and fantasies are starting to impact her life in a big way… Black Wings wasn’t at all the book I was expecting to read from its pre-release blurb. I was imagining a kind of dark Hogwarts story but instead it’s a sinister horror centred around a mother and her daughter who is growing up to be a troubled young lady. It’s an o

THE LAST HANNA JAMESON ***** When the end of the world happens, where will you be? Jon is at a conference in Switzerland when nuclear war hits, away from his family and friends he finds himself with a group of survivors camped at his hotel. However, when a body is discovered can he really trust the people around him? I always struggle a little with apocalyptic thrillers as my favourite book is The Stand by Stephen King and you very often get poor imitations or very similar wo

CUCKOO SOPHIE DRAPER ***** When Caro’s stepmother dies she finds herself living back in her old house as she sorts out the affairs of the women who made her childhood miserable. But what secrets are lurking in the house for her to find? I always a love a good psychological thriller but they can feel a little samey after a while. For the first half of Cuckoo I thought this might be the case as I correctly guessed one of the main twists. However the later part of the book compl

XX Angela Chadwick ***** Jules and Rosie are part of a brand new clinical trial which allows two women to have a child using their own DNA without needing a male donor. But their loyalty is tested as politicians, the press and the public begin to circle on their private lives. I always know the makings of a great book when I sit down to review it and don’t write any notes, just find myself lost in the plot and enjoy reading the story. XX is a great premise, set in a future pe

MY NAME IS ANNA LIZZY BARBER ** Anna lives in a strictly religious household and loves her mamma, but after her 18th birthday she starts to have some memories she can’t quite place – is everything really as it seems? I found My Name is Anna to be a very frustrating read, it’s an interesting concept and actually a quite a good story but the entire progression of the plot could be guessed before you even pick up the book! The blurb gives enough away that when the reveal comes a

THE FORBIDDEN PLACE SUSANNE JANSSON **** When a man is found unconscious in the mires of Mossmarken, a sacrificial bag of coins in his pocket a light is shone on the dark human and supernatural history of the area. It also begs the question - how many other victims are hidden in the marshes? The Forbidden Place is a psychological thriller told from the perspective of biologist Nathalie, a returning visitor with a secret past and photographer Maya who is on a mission to uncove

SKYWARD BRANDON SANDERSON ***** Spensa dreams of flying amongst the stars and fighting the mysterious Krell but with an unfortunate family legacy she will have to prove herself to get there. Where Skyward triumphs so much for me is in the main character Spensa. Spensa is a strong and determined female protagonist but is also refreshingly human. She’s no Katniss with a bow or Hermione with her books, Spensa has always dreamed of seeing the stars as a pilot but she finds flight

THE HOUSE IN THE HILLS ROWAN HANLON * When Harmony and Marc find their fantasy dream home for a steal of a price they buy it immediately – but why was it so cheap and what secrets does it hold within its walls? One of the reasons I love reading for NetGalley is how many 4 and 5 star books I have been introduced to across all genres. However, I have yet to find a horror story on NetGalley that I have given over 3 stars to. I have found most of the horror books I have read to b

THE WAY OF ALL FLESH AMBROSE PARRY **** When Will Raven starts his apprenticeship with the renowned Dr Simpson he gets more than he’s bargained for as women are being murdered around Edinburgh. Teaming up with housemaid Sarah, can they discover the truth before it’s too late? The Way of All Flesh is a historical fiction mystery that has strong medical base and knowledge thrown in. I felt this affected the pace quite a bit as it was a little slow to start, but sped up nicely t