The Man Who Died Twice – Richard Osman

The man who died twice

The book had a really promising start. I enjoyed how quickly the septuagenarian characters unique traits were drawn and the group dynamic was lively and enjoyable. The plot also had plenty going for it as the group embark on an undercover mission into the criminal underworld to locate some stolen diamonds. There were a few moments that made me laugh – mostly one-liners or the way Richard Osman captured so well the conversations that you might hear your nan have. He’s a witty writer but sometimes this got lost in the plot which I did find a bit slow and at times I struggled to pick the book up. There’s plenty to live about this book but in this case it wasn’t for me.

Rating: 3/5⭐️

Genre: Cosy crime mystery

The Wild Girls – Phoebe Morgan

If you like a ‘locked-in’ thriller then this is the book for you. Set in a luxurious retreat in Botswana this group of friends think they’re in for a fantastic few days of reconnecting with one another and relaxing in the sun.

Someone has other ideas.

Soon after their arrival, strange notes appear and one friend is missing. It isn’t long before things turn sinister but with no way of getting help, they’re on their own.

From page one, I knew I’d like this book. It had mystery and kept me guessing. I loved the setting and the number of characters was spot on – it’s the sort of book you can’t wait to get back to.

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 5/5⭐️

The Sanatorium- Sarah Pearse

The opening of this book really set the scene for snowy seclusion. With Overlook hotel vibes, Le Sommet is an eerie setting with a sinister past and the atmosphere the author sets is chilling.

Ex-police officer and heroine Elin, is attending her brother’s engagement party at the newly opened hotel when his fiancée goes missing. When things take a horrifying turn and a body turns up, an avalanche prevents the police from accessing the crime scene so Elin steps in. Without jurisdiction, she works under the instruction on local police. With no hope of help, it’s a race against time to stop the killer as they pick off guests one-by-one.

I loved the setting of this book and the pace mostly kept me turning the pages, especially in the latter parts of the book. There was plenty to digest and overall it was an engaging read and an excellent debut.

Rating: 4/5⭐️

Genre: Psychological thriller / crime thriller

Two Wrongs- Rebecca Reid

I absolutely loved Truth Hurts and was thrilled when Transworld got in touch to offer me a review copy of Rebecca Reid’s latest book ‘Two Wrongs’.

The book is an enjoyable, easy read with a believable plot. Whilst it was a much gentler ‘thriller’ than Truth Hurts it had enough mystery to keep you guessing to the end.

Rebecca Reid has a fresh and modern style that I enjoy and even though I didn’t connect with the characters myself, I found them incredibly realistic.

Genre: Domestic Noir

Rating: 3/5⭐️

His & Hers – Alice Feeney

His & Hers

The story is told from two points of view; ‘his’ and ‘hers’. After a tragic event, the couple parted ways but a murder brings them back together when they realise they’re both connected to the victim.

The narrations on the audiobook are really good and really being the characters to life. The voice changer used for the ‘killer’ took me a little while to get used to but was certainly atmospheric.

The story was well paced and hooked me in straight away – I was desperately listening in every free moment I had. It unfolds really well and there are plenty of twists and turns.

Whatever format you choose – you’ll enjoy this book.

Genre: thriller

Rating: 4/5⭐️

The Craftsman – Sharon Bolton

This book came highly recommended by a friend. With a strong female lead, a chilling case to crack and a witchy theme I couldn’t resist bumping it up my TBR.

The opening scene grabbed my attention straight away. Sharon Bolton is a fantastic writer and her plot, characters and descriptions are very well crafted. The richness to her writing invoked a creepy atmosphere and set the tone for the book from the outset and was maintained right through.

The ‘mystery’ element kept me on my toes. Whilst I did twig ‘who’ was going to be a perpetrator before the halfway point I didn’t know the ‘how’ or ‘why’ so there was plenty to get my teeth into and I really enjoyed the twisty ride.

The ending did feel a little rushed, especially in comparison to the rest of the book but it was all wrapped up nicely with a little teaser for a next-in-series which I’ll be sure to read. Having said that, this was a spine-tingling, atmospheric book that was well developed and gripped me from page one.

Genre: crime / thriller with a supernatural element.

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️