The lost by Simon Beckett

Jonah Colley is a sergeant with the Metroplitan Police firearms unit, he has to deal with intense and unpredictable situations regularly as part of his job, but nothing he's done before could have prepared him for Slaughter Quay.  When he answers a call from an old friend while on a night out with the other members of his team he has no idea that he is about to walk into a nightmare.  He hasn't seen his former friend Gavin McKinney in ten years, not since Jonah's young son Theo went missing and his world fell apart.  Gavin and Jonah grew up thick as thieves, and when they both married their wives Marie and Chrissie, they became closer rather than drifting apart.  That all ended when Theo went missing and Jonah and Chrissie got divorced.  

Jonah has no idea why Gavin would contact him for help, but he can't ignore the call and ends up in a dodgy old warehouse - and discovers four bodies, including Gavin.  He tries to help, but ends up attacked himself, nearly dying in the process.  When Jonah wakes up in hospital with a potentially permanent injury that seems like the worse news he could have - until he realises that he is a suspect in the deaths.  Detective Inspector Fletcher and Detective Sergeant Bennet are investigating the case, and Fletcher in particular seems determined to pin the murders on Jonah.  It's a nightmare he can't wake up from, and once he realises there is a potential connection to his sons disappearance Jonah finds himself sucked down the rabbit hole of the case.  As Jonah tries to untangle the case building around him, one of the things that DI Fletcher latches on to is why Gavin would call Jonah for help after all these years, and why their friendship drifted apart in the first place.  It is a race against time - and Jonah has no idea who he is dealing with.  

I read a lot of crime and police procedural fiction, and The lost was one of the stand out books in the genre(s) from the past few years.  Simon Beckett has struck the right balance between building his character (Jonah) and the world he lives in, without distracting you with too much detail or adding too much weight to the story.  I personally like a story that keeps moving, which means I am quite partial to books where the story starts and then details are added by having glimpses into the past, or having the story introduce pieces of the past through interactions between characters.  Not everyone does this well, in some cases it feels like a contrived writing style - but Beckett does it very, very well.  Jonah is the focal point of the story (as he should be) but you do get a sense of the other characters, and you feel for them as well as events unfold.

This is a slightly different take on the police procedural, mainly because Jonah is a police officer but he is on the outside of the case.  The story as it unfolds was also a welcome change, something I have not come across before, or at least not often enough to recognise what was happening too early in the book.  This is the start of a series, and it will be interesting to see where Beckett takes the series from here based on how the book ends (don't worry, no spoilers).  The lost starts the Jonah Colley thriller series with a bang.

If you like this book then try:

• When you are mine by Michael Robotham
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin
• The puppet show by M.W. Craven
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• 2 sisters detective agency by James Patterson and Candice Fox
• When darkness calls by Mark Griffin
• The coast to coast murders by James Patterson and J.D.Barker

Reviewed by Brilla

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wroble

All through her childhood Rose Gold Watts was seriously ill - at least, that is what her mother led her to believe.  Chronic nausea and vomiting, strange symptoms that couldn't be pinned down to any one illness, and an inability to keep her weight up stunted Rose Gold's growth and left her with a terrible smile and a certain amount of ridicule in her hometown of Deadwick.  The most shocking part of the case is that her mother, Patty, was charged with aggravated child abuse for deliberately starving and mistreating Rose Gold - which earned her a five year jail term.  When she is due to be released she has nowhere to turn but Rose Gold, and more than a few people are surprised when Rose Gold agrees to let Patty move in with her and her infant son Adam.  

The relationship between Rose Gold and Patty is strained from the start - Patty blames Rose Gold for what happened, especially after Rose Gold testified against her at the trial.  Patty is determined to pick up her life where she left off, return to being the mother Rose Gold obviously, desperately needs - but Rose Gold keeps her at a distance, and seems reluctant to leave Adam with her.  The town of Deadwick isn't exactly welcoming either, all her old friends and neighbours have turned against 'Poisonous Patty' after what she did to Rose Gold, and no one seems to be willing to listen to her side of the story.  Patty knows that Rose Gold is up to something and thinks that she knows exactly what Rose Gold is capable of doing, she raised her after all, but a lot can change in five years.

Darling Rose Gold was a surprising find in the new books list for my local public library.  The blurb for the book suggested it was a psychological thriller (which it is) which appealed to me as well written psychological thrillers are amazingly addictive to read - and this was a very well written psychological thriller indeed.  I have read about Munchausen syndrome by proxy before in the memoir Sickened: The memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory, and I have seen and read other things as well so had some idea of what to expect.  

The main characters of Patty and Rose Gold bring the realities of Munchausen syndrome by proxy to life - Rose Gold ignorant of what was happening to her throughout her childhood, and Patty determined to see herself as the victim of a system that fails to recognise everything she did for Rose Gold.  Told in a mix of current time with flashback chapters that slowly bring you up to date, this is a story that will drag you into the story and keep you there from start to finish.  It is challenging to really sell the story without dropping too many potential spoilers, but the relationship between Patty and Rose Gold is what drives this story forward - not just the relationship they have, but also the relationship Patty thinks they have.  This is a very well written book that is both engrossing and thoroughly believable.  Highly recommended.

If you like this book then try:

• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin
• The wife by Alafair Burke
• Safe by S.K. Barnett
• When darkness calls by Mark Griffin
• The puppet show by M.W. Craven
• The liar's daughter by Claire Allan
• The better sister by Alafair Burke
• Gathering dark by Candice Fox
• Spare me the truth by C.J. Carver
• The half sister by Sandie Jones
• Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• Look what you made me do by Elaine Murphy

Reviewed by Brilla

Six crimson cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Princess Shiori'anma is the youngest child of Emperor Hanriyu and his only daughter - she is head strong, strong willed, and can use forbidden magic.  As the daughter of the emperor she has been betrothed to a total stranger, a pawn for the benefit of the kingdom.  On the day of her betrothal ceremony she runs and jumps into the Sacred Lake, where she meets a dragon and seals her fate.  She has embarrassed her father in front of the whole kingdom and must make amends, but she has also found a teacher of magic - the dragon Seryu.  As Shiori learns about magic from Seryu and learns to harness it, she also toils under the watchful eye of her stepmother to produce an apology to her betrothed Takkan Bushian and his family.  

It is a careful balancing act, Shiori is eager to learn about magic, but she also has to keep a watchful eye on her stepmother - who seems to be keeping an equally careful eye on Shiori.  When Shiori's curiosity gets the better of her and she spies on her stepmother she makes a startling discovery - and suffers a terrifying punishment.  Her stepmother uses magic to turn Shiori's brothers into cranes and hides Shiori under a magical disguise.  When she wakes far away from home she learns her stepmothers cruelty doesn't end there, because for each word she says one of her brothers will die.  The only chance to save herself and her brothers is a magical quest that will push her to the limits.

Six crimson cranes is a stunning retelling of the 'Six swans' traditional tale - and it is a vibrant and rich story that uses the traditional story as a base but brings so much more to the table.  The world of Princess Shiori and her family is richly imagined and totally engrossing, with little cultural details and hints that make it a complete world in it's own right.  I have read a previous duology by Elizabeth Lim, and she has once again proved that she is an exceptional writer with an easy style that lets you drop right into her world and feel right at home.  Not every reader will recognise the source material for Six crimson cranes, but that doesn't matter because Lim has taken the source and woven her own story that stands on its own merits.  Often retellings of traditional stories keep their story short, but at more than 400 pages Lim has created an epic story - with the potential for more stories set in the same world.

I love reading modern retellings of traditional stories as they can keep those traditional stories alive in a new form, and they can offer unique perspectives on those stories by adding cultural elements or other touches that give the story a unique flavour.  Elizabeth Lim, along with Julie C. Dao, are two authors who are taking traditional tales and adding to them with a distinctly Asian cultural feel that is both very satisfying and leaves you wanting more!  Hopefully Elizabeth Lim will have many more stories to share as they are a real treat.

If you like this book then try:

• Spin the dawn by Elizabeth Lim
• Forest of a thousand lanterns by Julie C. Dao
• Kingdom of the blazing phoenix by Julie C. Dao
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Girls of paper and fire by Natasha Ngan
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
• Warrior of the wild by Tricia Levenseller
• Sea witch by Sarah Henning

Reviewed by Brilla

2 sisters detective agency by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Rhonda Bird is a public defender in Denver, Colorado.  She's worked hard to get where she is, and she stands out from the crowd - not just because of her physical size, but also because of the way she dresses.  She is used to rolling with the punches and dealing with challenging clients - ignoring the anger and frustration from some, dealing with the fear and anxiety of others, and staring down the threats.  When she receives a call out of the blue from her estranged fathers attorney she is not particularly interested in what he has to say - even after he informs her that her father is dead.  Rhonda has no interest in the man who walked out of her life twenty five years ago, and she has no interest in his estate - but heads off to Los Angeles when the lawyer insists and makes a startling discovery.  She has a teenaged half sister, who everyone calls Baby, and she is now her legal guardian.

Baby is everything Rhonda is not - model thin, gorgeous, and she had a relationship with their father.  To say they are not thrilled with the news is an understatement - Rhonda can't help but feel some resentment towards the sister who their father actually stuck around for, and Baby is used to doing her own thing and does not need Rhonda watching out for her.  It is a rocky start to the relationship, and when someone Baby knows arrives at the detective agency their father left them asking for help, things get a whole lot worse.  Ashton and his friends are in over their heads - they just don't know how deep - and Rhonda and Baby may be the only ones who can save them.  Assuming they aren't too busy avoiding the other inheritance daddy dearest left them with.

2 sisters detective agency is a fantastic read, but is one of those annoying books that is hard to review without introducing too many spoilers along the way.  We are introduced to Rhonda and Baby's world with a bang, and just like real life their world and relationship are complicated from the get go.  In many ways I connected with Rhonda quickly because I know what it's like to have a dad who didn't stick around, but who came back into my life later, and who was quite happy to play happy families with the children of partners.  I also liked Baby (after a while) - might be because of all the psychology that comes into it.  They are interesting characters, and you can see the depth to them both, layers that get peeled back as the story goes on.  There is also a certain humour that runs through the story, including some very funny moments - which balances out some of the not so pleasant parts.

There is a teaser that this is the start of a series, and there is a lot to like here - particularly as Patterson and Fox have very similar writing styles so the story is seamless.  Hopefully we get to see a lot more of Rhonda and Baby.

If you like this book then try:

• Never never by James Patterson and Candice Fox
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• Gathering dark by Candice Fox
• 1st case by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts
• Look what you made me do by Elaine Murphy
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The puppet show by M.W. Craven
• The better sister by Alafair Burke
• The liar's daughter by Claire Allan
• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin

Reviewed by Brilla

The cult by Abby Davies

Hannah and Greg Woods are missing - they disappeared from their home in the early hours of the morning, leaving their parents in a panic.  Greg was planing to sneak out on his own to meet his special friends, but Hannah wouldn't let him leave the house on his own so now they are both in trouble.  Their disappearance gains instant attention, not only because of a nearby murder, but also because they are not the first children to disappear without a trace in the local area.  Detective Inspector Pearline Ottoline used to be with Missing Persons and was involved in the search for little Isabelle Hart, and her failure to find her follows her around like a cloud - even though she is now with the Major Crimes.  With two missing children the stress levels are rising, and she is putting herself under increasing pressure to solve the disappearance of the Woods children.

While DI Ottoline and her team are investigating the disappearance of the children their mother, Lily Woods, is frantically conducting her own search.  She is determined to find her children, and she is not content to stay and home with her distant husband - she is going to find them.  The horror of her missing babies is amplified by her forgetting to take her medication, and it feels like everyone is against her.  As the case ramps up it slowly becomes clear that there is a link between current events and events at a commune where Uncle Saviour promised to lead his followers to Eternal Life.  One of his most faithful followers is his niece Love, and as she grows up in the commune she develops a true and deep devotion to their goals - but what connection does the events of the past have with current events?

The cult is a somewhat predictable story if you look at the big picture and story arc - but it is one of the best examples of this type of story I have read in a long time.  The technique of switching between events in the past and events in the current time is well used by crime authors, and there definitely seems to be a tendency for British crime authors to use it - but in this case Davies has done an excellent job of using the technique as it was intended.  The tension in the story builds in the present, and the events of the past build in parallel, making you think you might know what is happening/happened but you're not 100% sure.  

Davies has created some memorable and very relateable characters.  No one is perfect, everyone has flaws, and you get to peel back the layers of the different people as you share their story.  As someone who reads a lot (really a lot) of crime I can find it challenging to see past the cliché to really enjoy books and a lot of what I read (again really lots) ends up discarded after a chapter or two because the author fails to engage you with the story, or because the characters/setting just feels like every other book I have read.  In contrast, I thoroughly enjoyed The cult and resented not being able to read the book in one setting - though on the positive side I can say that it is easy to keep track of the story if you have to pick it up and put it down a few times.  A fantastic find and a great way to kick off 2022.

If you like this book then try:

• Mercy killing by Lisa Cutts
• Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell
• When I was ten by Fiona Cummins
• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin
• When darkness calls by Mark Griffin
• The puppet show by M.W. Craven
• When you are mine by Michael Robotham
• The slaughter man by Tony Parsons
• The girl in the ice by Robert Bryndza
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• What was mine by Helen Klein Ross
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• Without trace by Simon Booker
• The liar's daughter by Claire Allan
• Good me bad me by Ali Land

Reviewed by Brilla

Look what you made me do by Elaine Murphy

For the past ten years Carrie has been helping her older sister Becca move furniture.  Sounds innocent enough, but in Becca's case asking Carrie to help her move furniture is a euphemism for helping Becca dispose of a dead body.  It started with one body when they were teenagers, and the planting of evidence on the body that would lead back to Carrie if the body was ever discovered.  Suitably terrified of what could happen Carrie helped her sister, and helped her, and helped her until it just became the way they were.  If someone got in Becca's way she took them out and made Carrie help her - is it any surprise that Carrie is a bundle of resentful nerves towards her sister?

Becca is self-centered, does what she wants when she wants, and makes herself at home in Carrie's life as often as she likes.  Their parents know what Becca is like, but instead of dealing with it they moved away to a part of the country Becca can't stand - leaving Carrie to deal with her on her own.  When the latest piece of furniture they move happens to be someone that was up against Carrie for a promotion Carrie is worried it will be traced back to her in some way - something that is assured when multiple remains are found in the park where they buried the body.

Suddenly it seems as though the world is closing in - does Carrie really know her sister at all?  Although she denies being responsible for the other bodies, Carrie struggles to believe that there could be another serial killer in their little town - what are the chances?  Carrie knows what Becca is like though, and when things start happening that point the murder investigation in her direction, and items appear that look like someone is trying to frame Carrie for the murders, she finds it all too easy to believe that Becca is to blame.  Does Carrie know her sister as well as she thinks she does?

Look what you made me do was a surprise find that I had to read in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down.  The story starts with a bang, hooking you from the start, and dragging you through a psychological thriller.  There are so many parts of the story that are relateable - being the responsible sibling, helping your sibling clean up their messes (though not this literally), wondering if you are losing the plot when things aren't as they seem, and many many more.  The characters of Becca and Carrie are well defined and fully developed, the little bits and pieces of their shared memories and lives bringing them to life - and while there is an element of psychology and profiling the characters avoid the cliché minefield of crime novels.  

I read a lot of crime and thrillers and can get jaded with stories easily, especially if they 'fell' like other books or characters I have read - no fear of that with Look what you made me do.  While it would be challenging to come up with another fresh take on the serial killer genre, hopefully this is not the last book we see in this vein from Murphy as it was very, very good.

If you like this book then try:

• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin
• The tattoo thief by Alison Belsham
• When darkness calls by Mark Griffin
• The puppet show by M.W. Craven
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton
• Every last fear by Alex Finlay
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The liar's daughter by Claire Allan
• The better sister by Alafair Burke
• Gathering dark by Candice Fox
• Spare me the truth by C.J. Carver
• The coast to coast murders by James Patterson and J.D.Barker
• Good me bad me by Ali Land

Reviewed by Brilla