KINDIG

THE CHALET CATHERINE COOPER ***** When a body is found on the ski slopes of the French Alps it will change the lives of the guests forever – what secrets are about to be revealed? From its blurb and cover I was expecting ‘The Chalet’ to be a quick and predictable standard murder mystery story. I feel bad for making this assumption as it was actually a well-constructed thriller that kept me hooked throughout. We get chapters which alternate both character perspectives and time

THE DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER STUART TURTON ***** Having read and raved to anyone who would listen about The Seven (and a half) Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which was Stuart Turton’s debut book I had very high expectations of The Devil and The Dark Water. Firstly, the books are in no way related to each other, besides the author’s skill at creating a complex and thrilling plot. The Devil and the Dark Water is set in the 1600s as a ship sets sail with a curse aboard. We meet a t

THIRTEEN STOREYS JONATHAN SIMS ***** I was really excited to start reading the ARC for ‘Thirteen Storeys’ as I’d been hearing a lot of chatter and excitement about it and boy, it did not disappoint! Jonathan Sims really hooks you in at the beginning with an obituary to Tobias Fell, a billionaire who built and lives in ‘Banyan Court’ where the story is set. Banyan Court is an interesting setting, part fancy, expensive block of flats and part slum. I would have loved a picture

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 SECRETS OF STRANGERS CHARITY NORMAN ***** When a shooter opens fire inside a busy café, people scramble for safety but not everyone is able to escape. What secrets will these strangers share and how will it help them to leave with no-one getting hurt? This was my first book by Charity Norman and I will certainly keep an eye out for more of her books in future. The Secrets of Strangers seems like quite a simple premise centring around a hostage situation in a café but it’s

Q CHRISTINA DALCHER ***** ‘Are we born like this? Or are we taught? Either answer is horrible in its own way’. When Elena’s daughter is downgraded to a feared State School because her ‘Q’ level isn’t high enough, she risks everything to find her. But what dark secrets will she uncover along the way? Having missed out on getting the ARC of Vox also by Christina Dalcher recently I was really excited to read Q instead. It reminded me heavily of the Black Mirror episode ‘Nosedi

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

DRACUL DACRE STOKER & J.D. BARKER ***** Bram Stoker was always a very sickly child, but when he’s miraculously cured by his nanny with a mysterious past he finds himself linked to her and her dark world in a way he could never have imagined. I must admit I was a little wary of Dracul by Dacre Stoker - Bram’s great grand-nephew. I initially thought it would be a chance for the author to cash in on his famous name and nothing more. How wrong I was! Firstly, I really enjoyed the

THEN SHE VANISHES CLAIRE DOUGLAS ***** When Jess goes to investigate a double homicide she finds her childhood friend at the centre of the allegations – but what actually happened and why? I was excited to get to read Then She Vanishes as I have read and enjoyed one of Claire Douglas’ other books – Do Not Disturb (read my 5* review on my blog here: https://www.kindig.co.uk/post/review-do-not-disturb). I’m happy to say that even with high expectations going in I wasn’t at all

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

THE HOMECOMING ANDREW PYPER ***** When a family are brought to a large estate after their Father’s death they are read his will with an odd clause – they each get a share of his immense fortune on the condition they spend 30 days on the estate with no outside world contact. What could possibly go wrong? I absolutely devoured The Homecoming, I started it in the morning and finished it before I went to sleep (whilst still going to work and wishing I could read it there as well!

THE DREAMERS KAREN THOMPSON WALKER ***** It starts with one college student, a girl who wont wake up no matter how hard you try and spreads through a city. Their eyes all move in REM sleep – they are dreaming but what about and will they ever wake up? The Dreamers reminded me very much of the first half of Stephen King’s The Stand – certainly not a bad thing as it is one of my favourite books! I really enjoy the suspense of getting to know certain characters really well and t