The thirteenth coffin by Nigel McCrery

The thirteenth coffin is the fourth book in the DCI Mark Lapslie series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the other books in the series.  While you can read them on their own you will enjoy the series more if you read them in order.



When DCI Lapslie is called to a possible crime scene on his weekend off his is understandably annoyed, especially because it is a 'possible' crime scene.  The possible victim is a homeless man who dies in a room that was apparently sealed and impossible to enter, but the man is definitely dead and a search of the crime scene reveals a shocking surprise - carefully crafted coffins with carefully crafted dolls.  Some of the dolls are inside the coffins and show signs of violence and death, but there are also dolls that seem to be in perfect condition.


While they are trying to figure out the puzzle of the dolls outside the coffins a young bride is shot on her wedding day, and when Lapslie and his team return to the original crime scene they find the bride doll has been moved to a coffin and bears signs of having been shot - including a rather incriminating blood stain right where the bride was shot.  Lapslie is convinced that the dolls have a more sinister meaning than just representing gruesome deaths, and when his team uncover another murder that seems to be related to the dolls it seems as though his hunch is paying off - but Superintendent Rouse  is not convinced.  

When another victim is found the pressure builds as the team races to find the final victim before the killer can strike again.  When a thirteenth coffin is found at the original crime scene DCI Lapslie has a terrible sense of foreboding that the coffin is meant for him.  As the team begins to uncover more deaths that might be connected to the killer they have no idea just how determined the killer is to complete their mission, and the lengths they will go to to get what they want.  



This is a fantastic series, and although it may seem a little far fetched in places it is well written and keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.  There is great character development from story to story, and the characters have their faults and their flaws which makes them more relateable and realistic.  You can tell that Nigel McCrery has a television background, and there is a strong feel of the police procedural drama here, but that is what makes this such a great series.  

This series is really hard to review because the little twists and turns are what make it so great, racing against the book to try and solve the mystery before the big reveal and close at the end of the novel.  I have been really challenged at times to solve the mystery before the end, in this case I figured it out but there were enough twists that I was wondering if I really had until the end.

If you like this book then try:

• Mercy killings by Lisa Cutts
• Cut short by Leigh Russell
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• The slaughter man by Tony Parsons
• The girl in the ice by Robert Bryndza
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton
• Swimming in the dark by Paddy Richardson
• City of fear by Alafair Burke
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• What was mine by Helen Klein Ross
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• One step too far by Tina Seskis

Reviewed by Brilla

Scream by Nigel McCrery

Scream is the sequel to Still waters and Tooth and claw and while you can read the books separately you will enjoy the series more if you read the books in order.

DCI Mark Lapslie has struggled with his synaesthesia in the past few years, and after a rather public collapse there have been concerns about his ability to do his job - especially from some of his fellow officers.  It has been a struggle, but thanks to cognitive therapy and a new drug regime the negative symptoms of his synaesthesia have become more bearable.  The timing couldn't be more perfect because while he is overseas preparing to deliver a presentation at a conference he receives a sound file - a woman screaming in absolute pain and terror.  Sending the file off for analysis, Lapslie jumps on the first available flight so he can follow the case - expecting to get in trouble for abandoning his presentation, but not really caring.

Back home DS Emma Bradbury has picked up a murder case, taking the lead in the absence of more senior staff.  It is a chance for her to prove what she can do, especially in a quiet little town where they don't see murder victims who appear to have been tortured very often.  The victim is a woman who appears to have suffered for some time before her death, and once they identify the victim she realises that the case is more complex than she first thought.  When it becomes clear that there is a link between the sound recording Lapslie received and the case Bradbury is working it results in an uncomfortable shift of power between DS and DCI as they both want to solve the case in their own way - and because there might be victims out there who are still alive if they can solve the case in time.

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series, more so than I would have expected because McCrery has quite a punchy writing style that at times almost seems a little abrupt, but that keeps the story moving along at a brisk pace.  This series is really tricky to review because there are little twists and turns that make the story thoroughly enthralling - but they are the twists and turns that you want other readers to discover rather than have you talk about them!  I highly recommend reading this series in order, and I am currently waiting with anticipation for the next book in the series to arrive so I can read it!  

This is a great series and with each book we learn more about both Lapslie and Bradbury which makes them even more engaging/endearing as characters, and makes you care about what happens to them just that little bit more (and in contract makes you glare balefully at some of the people who seem to delight in trying to mess things up for them!).

If you like this book then try:

• Mercy killings by Lisa Cutts
• Cut short by Leigh Russell
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• The slaughter man by Tony Parsons
• The girl in the ice by Robert Bryndza
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton
• Swimming in the dark by Paddy Richardson
• City of fear by Alafair Burke
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• What was mine by Helen Klein Ross
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• One step too far by Tina Seskis

Reviewed by Brilla

Broken by Rosie Lewis

Life as a foster parent is never dull, and in her time as foster parent Rosie Lewis has met and helped children facing all kinds of challenges.  Nothing so far has quite prepared her for Archie and his younger sister Bobbi.  The children have been removed from their mother and moved into foster care because there are concerns they might be neglected, but it is soon abundantly clear that there is more to their story than simple neglect.  As a foster parent Rosie has to engage with the parents, and she soon discovers that Archie and Bobbi's mother Tanya is more interested in her partner Jason and putting on the appearance of being a good mother - rather than actually being a good mother.

Archie is a little gentleman, perfectly polite and full of compliments - but it is only on the surface, and Rosie is more than a little concerned about what might be lurking under his civilised exterior.  Bobbi is completely different, a child that never seems to stop moving and is constantly demanding attention and hurting herself when she doesn't get what she wants.  Although the children are showing very different signs, it is clear to both Rosie and their social worker Danny that something is not right with the children.  As they slowly peel back the layers of protection the children have built around themselves, Rosie discovers that Archie has been hiding more than she knows.  As the pieces finally fall into place there is finally hope for Archie and Bobbi to heal and move on with their lives.

Broken tells the story of the months that Archie and Bobbi spent with Rosie - and it is a story that is moving, terrifying, and ultimately makes you believe in the kindness of strangers.  Some of these kinds of stories are just heart breaking, but Rosie tells the story of Archie and Bobbi in such a way that it gives you hope that things can change, and gives you hope that children can recover from neglect and abuse.  One of the most interesting aspects of this story for me is the manipulation of the children, and the sentiment that neglect is worse than abuse - something that I have long felt and didn't realise that some experts agree.  I have seen children who have been neglected and it just tears at your heart to see them suffering, while people say things like 'at least their parent isn't hitting them' - but the damage left by neglect seems to be linger much longer than cuts and bruises.

Rosie Lewis has a very personable writing style, and while she is sharing a story that is deeply personal (to both her and the children) she doesn't descend into gratuitous tactics, rather laying out the story 'warts and all' as it happened.  This story has moments that are almost too painful to read, and I would challenge anyone to read this book without feeling sympathy for Archie, Bobbi, Rosie and her family.  While it is a confronting read, we need stories like this to remind us that life can be hard, and it can be cruel - but there are also people out there who care and can pick up the pieces.

Take your time with this story and pause when you need to.  If you read this book and want to read other biographies from people who have lived through difficult experiences and trauma, then try:

• Etched in sand: A true story of five siblings who survived an unspeakable childhood on Long Island by Regina Calcaterra
• A child named It by Dave Pelzer
• Damaged by Cathy Glass
• When rabbit howls by Truddi Chase
• The little prisoner: A memoir by Jane Eliott
• Sickened: The memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory

Reviewed by Brilla

Blood and chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

When their rural property is attacked by the local towns people Vivian and her pack flee with their tails between their legs, licking their wounds and mourning the loss of key members of their pack.  Living in the city is challenging, the pack has been split up into different households and instead of wide open forests they have small patches of wood to run free in.  It's a dangerous time for the pack, their last leader died in the fire and they can't decide on a new leader which leaves everyone unsettled and playing power games.  For Vivian it is a time of coming to terms with loss, being disgusted by the behaviour of her age mates in the pack, and trying to avoid the attentions of the men who are starting to notice her change from girl to woman.  It seems as though nothing is going right - and then she meets Aiden.

Aiden is like no one she has ever met before - he is nothing like the brash and crude Five, and nothing like the men and wolves who have started sniffing around.  For the first time Vivian is spending time with humans rather than pack, and while the others can't understand her fascination with the 'meat boy', Aiden and his friends accept her as one of their own.  As the summer moves on there is an almost dream like quality to their relationship, a sweetness that Vivian has never seen with the wolves and for the first time she is tempted to tell a human what she really is.  It's a bad time to expose her secret though, because someone has killed a human - and everyone knows that once you have a taste for blood you can't stop the craving.

Blood and chocolate appeared on a recommended reading list recently and it made me want to pick it up and read it again to see if it had stood the test of time - and basically the answer is yes.  Annette Curtis Klause wrote a story focused on relationships, so although this is quite an old story now, it doesn't have all the little place markers that pinpoint it to a certain place in time.  It is the characters that make this such an amazing story, and it is the characters that stay with you long after the story ends.  In some ways the story is too short, because the story is so neatly written and the pace is quite quick, but it is a very enjoyable read.  If you have never read Blood and chocolate before then I highly recommend it, because while it is a very well written and interesting twist on the werewolf genre, it is also a very well written first love story and coming of age story.

If you like this book then try:

• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Anna dressed in blood by Kendare Blake
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• The girl in the steel corset by Kady Cross
• Sweet shadows by Tera Lynn Childs
• Born at midnight by C.C. Hunter
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• The glass spare by Lauren DeStefano
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Court of fives by Kate Elliott
• Bound by blood and sand by Becky Allen
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• The demon trapper's daughter by Jana Oliver

Reviewed by Brilla

The dead ex by Jane Corry

Vicki has left her old life behind - the good and the bad.  Living in a small seaside town and working as an aromatherapist, her old life is just a memory.  Her peace and quiet is shattered when there is a knock at her door and she discovers that her ex husband has been reported missing, and that she is a suspect in his disappearance.  It's a nightmare situation, especially when the police start to uncover little things that she has keep hidden, little secrets and little actions that may be innocent on the surface but made the police very suspicious.  When she is forced to admit that she has epilepsy it changes the tone of the investigation, especially when she admits that the seizures and medication she takes can cause memory lapses.  As the police and her lawyer investigate her past, secrets that Vicki thought long buried bubble to the surface and threaten to bury her - in grief, or in prison.

As a child Scarlet and her mother would play the game.  Sometimes it was a little scary, but Scarlet was proud of the fact that she and her mother played the game together and that she did a really good job even though she was only eight years old.  That all changes when they are playing the game and the police swoop in arresting Scarlet's mother and dumping Scarlet into the foster system.  For a sheltered young child like Scarlet the foster system is a nightmare of older children who bully her, a foster mother intent on making money and taking as little care of them as possible, and moments that will scar her for life.  The only thing she wants is to be reunited with her mother, but with her mother locked up in prison that is unlikely to happen anytime soon - and when her mother does something unspeakable in prison Scarlet is left confused and vulnerable.

The dead ex is a fast paced read that switches viewpoints between characters in the past and the present.  As you move through the present time, the glimpses of the past help you to unravel the story and untangle the little mysteries about why things have happened the way they have - helping you find little clues to what might be happening and why.  For some readers the switching viewpoints and points in time may be a little confusing and/or frustrating, but using this technique allows Corry to keep the story moving along at a decent speed without clumsy introductory chapters.  

This style suits Corry very well and it was a nice challenge to see if you could figure out where the story might be moving next.  It was also unusual to have a story focused around prisons and prison staff, and the tightly controlled world that exists behind those bars - and the things that aren't as tightly controlled as they should be.  Hopefully there are many more books to come from Corry.

If you like this book then try:

• Blood sisters by Jane Corry
• Still waters by Nigel McCrery
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge 
• City of fear by Alafair Burke
• Spare me the truth by C.J. Carver
• Crimson lake by Candice Fox
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The slaughter man by Tony Parsons
• What was mine by Helen Klein Ross
• Cut short by Leigh Russell
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
  

Reviewed by Brilla

Oathbreakers by Mercedes Lackey

Oathbreakers us the sequel to The oathbound, and while you can read it as a standalone book you will enjoy it more if you have read The oathbound or the short stories in Oathblood.

After years of working on their own and building their reputations, Tarma and Kethry joined the ranks of Idra's Sunhawks.  It may seem an odd move for two mercenaries to join a company and follow someone else's lead, someone else's rules, but they both know that being part of a good mercenary company will teach them more about their chosen trade and help them go from good to great.  It is a lot of work, and their current campaign is both tedious and hard fought in the rain and cold.  Thankfully, Tarma and Kethry both have useful skills that have helped them rise within the ranks of the Sunhawks, and those skills are soon put to very good use in the campaign - and beyond.

When Idra returns to her home in Rethwellan to help sort out family business Kethry and Tarma are free to spend time in the Company's home town of Hawksnest - a chance for some much needed rest and relaxation.  Their R&R is short lived however, because Idra has not returned from her little trip 'home' and those closest to her are no longer receiving letters from her or news about her.  Travelling to Rethwellan is the only way to find out what happened, and it falls to Kethry and Tarma to make the journey to find out what they can.  

What they find is worse than they feared - Idra has disappeared without a trace and the no one seems to be willing to speak about Idra or the brother who allegedly betrayed the Crown and his family.  When Kethry and Tarma are forced to reveal themselves as more than the horse traders they pretend to be, they have to flee for their lives.  It is a race against time and the weather as they flee in the direction of the runaway Prince, hoping to find out what happened to Idra while also dreading what they will find.  The truth they uncover on their journey will set them on a path that will bring the wraith of the Sunhawks down on those responsible.

Someone recently reminded me that Mercedes Lackey is sometimes seen as 'puff' fantasy, or not 'serious' fantasy - and they discovered pretty quickly what I thought of that opinion!  Pretty covers not withstanding, this is some pretty hard hitting fantasy with some pretty heavy themes.  Tarma and Kethry are one of the most enduring fantasy partnerships for me not only because they compliment each other so well, but also because they are not perfect - they fight, they disagree, they have good days, they have bad days, and they face real lose.  The challenges they face are also an intriguing mix of brains, battles, and clever disguises. 

It was a pleasure to return to their lives and reconnect with them, especially as I moved on to Oathblood as soon as I finished Oathbreakers!  I hope to re-read By the sword sometime soon as with all the reminders about Tarma and Kethry it feels like it might be time to reconnect with their 'clan' too.

If you like this book then try:

• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Magics pawn by Mercedes Lackey
• Winds of fate by Mercdes Lackey
• The Elvenbane by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton
• Throne of glass by Sarah J Maas
• Sing the four quarters by Tanya Huff
• If I pay thee not in gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara

Reviewed by Brilla

The oathbound by Mercedes Lackey

When her entire clan is slaughtered, her body defiled and left for dead, Tarma defies the odds and survives.  Needing revenge for all that she has lost, Tarma seeks out the service of her goddess and becomes one of the Sword Sworn - an elite group of Shin'a'in who leave behind their clan names and become weapons for their goddess, as sexless as the weapons they weild in Her name.  It was the only choice for Tarma to make, one that she would make again, even though it means her clan will die because the Sword Sworn belong to all the clans and not just one.  As Tarma tracks the men that destroyed her clan she develops the skills she will need for her revenge, taught by warriors that have tread the same path she now walks.  

When she closes in her quarry she discovers that she is not alone in her pursuit of the bandits - although her fellow hunter is something of a surprise.  Kethry is the last thing Tarma would have expected - she is a beautiful and talented sorceress.  It is also a surprise to discover that Kethry is not alone, she keeps the company of a sword named Need, who has bonded to Kethry with the simple purpose of helping women.  It soon becomes clear that Kethry has brains to match her beauty, and that they make very good partners indeed - even if Need seems determined to put them in harms way.  When the kyree Warrl joins their team it makes them formidable and easily underestimated.

As Tarma and Kethry set out to develop a reputation and build a name for themselves they will come across some very interesting stories indeed.  With her skills as  Sworn Sworn Tarma is a match for most, able to defend herself with steel and attack with steel and arrow.  When Tarma is outnumbered she can count on Warrl to lash out with teeth and claws, an ally smart enough to know when to fight and when to run.  With Need at her side Kethry can protect herself in a fight, while lending her magical skills of attack and disguise to whatever adventure they happen upon next.  They are a true partnership, sharing a bond deeper than friendship, but they also have to learn to trust each other and know when to trust that the other can take care of themselves.  A lesson they must learn quickly, because danger lurks around every corner and not even the deepest bond to the Goddess can protect them from everything.

The oathbound is the first book in the Vows and honour series and is both an enjoyable fantasy romp and a thoroughly inspiring read about family, friendship, and looking out for each other.  What begins in quite a brutal and horrifying fashion manages to bring elements of magic and a good dose of humour.  I have not read these books for quite a few years and it was nice to reunite with the characters and see where they started - although the original short stories are in Oathblood which is considered the third book in this series.  A great read, and a great start to re-reading the series.  

If you like this book then try:

• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Magics pawn by Mercedes Lackey
• Winds of fate by Mercdes Lackey
• The Elvenbane by Mercedes Lackey and Andre Norton
• Throne of glass by Sarah J Maas
• Sing the four quarters by Tanya Huff
• If I pay thee not in gold by Piers Anthony and Mercedes Lackey
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara

Reviewed by Brilla

Exile by S.M. Wilson

Exile is the sequel to The extinction trials, and while you can read it as a stand alone book you will enjoy it more reading the series in order.  This review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read The extinction trials.

Returning from Piloria should have been the start of something amazing for Storm and her fellow trialists, but instead it has proved to be anything but.  Storm has gone from living alone and working in the outdoors to living with her "extended" family and working in the parliament.  All her years of carefully hiding what she is really capable of blown because of the Trials.  For Lincoln life after Piloria is all about trying to find a way to help his sister while trying to hold onto his job at the labs.  It seems as though there might be some hope when he discovers that the ointment they used on Piloria can help with the disease that is ravaging Arta's body - the only problem is that the cure and all it's ingredients are across an ocean that he has no hope of crossing.

When the announcement is made that they are ready to try the viruses that the labs have been developing it catches everyone by surprise - but not as much as the announcement that the former trialists are the ones who will travel to Piloria to release the diseases.  It's a sucker punch for Storm and Lincoln, and for all the other trailists hastily assembled to return - along with one rather unwilling and unexpected tag along.  Storm longs to return to Piloria, even with all the danger it was a land of rich smells and vibrant colours - not to mention the fact that no one on Piloria has to worry about rations.  It is a race against time, not only to release the virsuses where they have the greatest chance of infecting the dinosaurs, but also to find Blaine in the desperate hope he can help them make more of his miracle ointment and help them find plants to take back home.  Returning to Piloria is risky, even for the trialists because even though they have been there before they haven't seen everything - good and bad.

The extinction trials was a fast paced read, and Exile picks up shortly after it ends and carries on the story at the same speed dragging you along for the ride.  One of the great things about both The extinction trials and Exile is that Wilson swaps the viewpoints around which means you get to see and hear more of the story through the characters, but you also avoid the more impersonal "voice of god" approach to storytelling.  This makes the story more interesting and engaging, and in Exile it gives you a more intense window into the internal struggles of Storm and Lincoln, and makes them feel much more real.  You don't have to wonder about what they are going through because you feel it with them. 

This is a very good series, and is one that crosses over into a couple of different genres and will appeal to wide audience.  This is not a 'girl' book or a 'boy' book, and while it was written for teenagers it does appeal to adult audiences as well (or at least this adult audience anyway).  This series holds a great deal of promise and it will be interesting to see where Wilson takes it next, and if we get more of the backstory about how they ended up with the split between humans and the dinosaurs of Piloria (because it feels like there could be a very good backstory involved!)

If you like this book then try:

• XVI by Julia Karr
• Soundless by Richelle Mead
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Honor among thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
• Court of fives by Kate Elliott
• The 100 by Kass Morgan
• Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• The testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• Proxy by Alex London
• Long may she reign by Rhiannon Thomas
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• In the after by Demitria Lunetta
• ACID by Emma Pass
• Reboot by Amy Tintera
• What's left of me by Kat Zhang

Reviewed by Brilla

The hills have spies by Mercedes Lackey

From the time they were little children Perry, Abi and Trey have been raised to keep their wits about them, keep themselves safe, and figure out how to escape if they happen to be captured.  Normal children might find the training and testing tiresome, but when your parents are both Heralds and you have grown up with the Royal children as playmates you are anything but normal.  Life in the palace complex is interesting and challenging, with classes and training, but Perry is very aware that he has not been Chosen - and so are his parents.  Despite his strong gift for animal mindspeech, Perry has not attracted the attention of any of the Companions, and with two of the Royal children Chosen it is becoming clearer that he may never be.  

On one hand Perry is okay with not being Chosen as he has other options, but on the other hand he has been raised to be a Herald and everyone expects him to follow in the footsteps of his parents.  When Mags is asked to investigate some mysterious disappearances near the Pelagirs it seems like the perfect opportunity for Mags and Perry to spend some time together alone and to work on skills that Perry will need if he is a Herald.  Disguised as a merchant trader and his son, Mags and Perry start the journey uncertain of what they will find.  It seems like something of a fools errand at first, the nebulous worries of a retired Herald with too much time on his hands, but it soon becomes clear that there is indeed something strange going on.

Someone, or something, is taking the people that no one will miss and spiriting them away.  With the help of some new strange and unexpected allies, Mags and Perry investigate, putting their own lives at risk to get to the bottom of the mystery.  With part of the conspiracy uncovered Mags must report back to the King, but Perry is determined to act, even if it means going against his fathers wishes.  It's a race against time to find the answer to the mystery, and by putting himself in harms way Perry may solve the mystery, but he risks disappearing like the other victims.  Mags has been preparing Perry for his future, but with the future upon him can he cut the apron strings and let Perry tackle the problem on his own?

One of the most startling things about reading The hills have spies is that the dust jacket description of the book and the contents of the book don't match - in any way - apart from the fact the story is about Mags and his family.  Once you get over that fact and get involved with the story it is a thoroughly engaging story that brings us back into the lives of some very familiar characters, while also introducing the next generation.  Perry and his siblings are what you would expect from children of Heralds, they are strong of character, care for the people around them, and in Perry's case have a powerful gift of animal mindspeech.  Perry is a great character and very quickly won me over, particularly because he wasn't perfect in the way that some of the other characters are/were.  The story was well paced, has lots of little interesting twists and moments that make it feel like a real quest, and you get an ending that is satisfying without being too pat and perfect.  

A very enjoyable addition to the Valdemar universe and now comes the wait for the next book in the series to see where it goes next!

If you like this book then try:

• Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Burning brightly by Mercedes Lackey
• Sing the four quarters by Tanya Huff
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The diamond throne by David Eddings
• Omens by Kelley Armstrong
• Cast in shadow by Michelle Sagara
• Court of fives by Kate Elliott
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas

Reviewed by Brilla

Lost Creed by Alex Kava

Lost Creed is the fourth book in the Ryder Creed series, and while it can be read as a stand alone novel I highly recommend reading the series in order starting with Breaking Creed, Silent Creed and Reckless Creed otherwise this review contains ***SPOILERS***.

For years, Ryder Creed has been driven to help find the lost - his passion driven by the loss of his sister more than a decade earlier, a pain that has never healed and never gone away.  Training search and rescue dogs lets him give the rescue dogs he finds, or that are abandoned on his property, a new life and purpose to help people in need.  Not everyone in search and rescue knows the pain of that loss, the pain of never knowing what has happened to a loved one, the pain of not being able to bury someone you loved and lost - but Ryder Creed does, because they never found his sister Brodie.

Nearly sixteen years to the day since she disappeared, FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell makes an unexpected discovery - a clue about what might have happened to Brodie all those years.  Despite being exhausted after a grueling search and rescue with Bolo, nothing is going to stop Ryder from getting involved with the case - even though being involved will open up old wounds and bring him face-to-face with the past he has worked so hard to distance himself from, and the one person who lost just as much as he did.  No case is every straight forward though, especially when you are dealing with a cunning and manipulative criminal who wants to make sure the truth never sees the light of day.

Lost Creed is the latest book in the Ryder Creed series, and with each book I fall more in love with the characters and the dogs that fill his life.  Ryder is impulsive, driven, and not afraid to go after what he wants - even when it lands him in trouble.  The people around him are battling their own demons, making their own mistakes, and finding their own salvation.  The dogs are all bright and individual characters, holding their own in a world that is complicated and messy, little beacons of hope that keep the story moving and keep you wanting and hoping for more.  

Hopefully we don't have to wait too long for the next book in the series!

If you like this book then try:

• Breaking Creed by Alex Kava
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
• One step too far by Tina Seskis
• Never never by James Patterson and Candice Fox
• Kill switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene
• The edge of normal by Carla Norton
• City of fear by Alafair Burke
• The slaughter man by Tony Parsons

Reviewed by Brilla

A court of frost and starlight by Sarah J. Maas

While you can read A court of frost and starlight as a stand alone novella I highly recommend reading it after you have read the trilogy that starts with A court of thorns and roses.  There are ***SPOILERS*** in this review and in A court of frost and starlight if you have not read the rest of the series.

Winter Solstice is a time for family and friends, a time to remember and a time to celebrate.  For Feyre, it is her first Winter Solstice as High Lady of the Night Court, and her twenty first birthday.  It is supposed to be a time of celebration and joy, but it is hard to celebrate when everything seems so fragile and ready to fall apart.  The once beautiful and peaceful city of Velaris bears the scars of the war that threatened to tear their world apart, and there are people who are just as scarred as the buildings around them.  

The war has left Freyja, Rhys and their family battered, bruised, and scarred - and some members of their family are changed for ever by what happened during the war.  For Freyja the changes are no less great, not only was she Changed into Fae, so were her two sisters.  The shock of the change is bad enough, as being Fae is so much MORE than being human, but it is all the other changes that make it hard for them to bear too.  The loss of their humanity is bad enough, but now Nesta and Elain have to deal with being Fae and what it means to be Fae - Mates and all.  Will Freyja, Rhys and their family make it through this Winter Solstice in one piece?  And will they be able to find the peace they all seek?

I have been looking forward to reading A court of frost and starlight for months, and I was not disappointed one bit.  Once again Sarah J. Maas has taken us into the city of Velaris and the lives of the people who live there - people we have come to care about a great deal as they have planned, plotted, fought, and survived.  As well as being a great read, this is also a very good story for bridging the gap between the series, and giving you more story without being another epic and exhausting read.  Highly recommend reading A court of frost and starlight as it focuses on the humanity of surviving a war - and that sometimes just because you survive the war doesn't mean you aren't scarred by what happened.

If you like this book then try:

• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• The Fire rose by Mercedes Lackey
• Home from the sea by Mercedes Lackey
• Reserved for the cat by Mercedes Lackey
• Steadfast by Mercedes Lackey
• Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey
• From a high tower by Mercedes Lackey
• Deerskin by Robin McKinley
• Beauty by Robin McKinley
• Rose daughter by Robin McKinley
• Spindle's end by Robin McKinley
• Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by Brilla

Now you see by Max Manning

It starts with the murder of Lauren Bishop, a young woman who dies publicly - a before and after picture splashed across the screens of users all over the world thanks to the social media power of Instagram and a clever username of @IKiller.  For Detective Chief Inspector Dan Fenton the murder is shocking, because not only did the killer take a life, they shared the murder through social media.  The Police race to shut down the account, but with anonymous emails the norm, tracking the killer themselves is going to be tricky.  When a second victim is murdered, and the death is shared through another social media platform it becomes clear that they are not dealing with an ordinary killer, they are dealing with a serial killer who is trying to engage with the world through popular social media platforms.

Lauren's former boyfriend is an obvious suspect for the murder, especially as they broke up, but he has an alibi for her murder.  That doesn't stop the Police from keeping him on the suspects list - especially when the second body, and then a third body appear.  For DCI Fenton it is the worst kind of case, not only is the killer clever and seemingly intent on taunting the Police, the killer also seems on step ahead of the Police.  As the body count continues to grow Fenton is under increasing pressure at work and at home - and as the killer becomes bolder he finds himself making choices he never thought he would make.

Now you see me is an intriguing read that raises some interesting questions for the reader - if a killer like IKiller existed would you look at the images online and become part of the story?  This is a story that could have been taken from the headlines, a shocking story of a calculating killer and the Police team that seems to be constantly one step behind - a story that challenges you to figure out what is happening before the conclusion.  This is a well crafted story with a clever premise and some very punchy chapters that keep you hooked from the first page - and one of those stories that is a nightmare to review because of the things that make the story so good are the little twists and clues dropped along the way.

If you like this book then try:

• Mercy killings by Lisa Cutts
• Cut short by Leigh Russell
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• 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
• One step too far by Tina Seskis

Reviewed by Brilla