Review: A Deadly Brew

A little pre-Halloween spookiness fell into my lap via #NetGalley. It was enjoyable and very short but the creepiness I craved fell a little flat. The story of a group of friends spending the weekend in a haunted house before its demolition appealed to my sinister side but it was more of a mystery than a ghost story. Still a good read though.

Synopsis

As Halloween approaches South Cove, California, four couples get into the spirit of the holiday by conjuring up spirits. . . The house has sat empty for fifteen years, taking up prime real estate along the picturesque coastline. Built by one of the founders of South Cove, its last known owner, Maryanne Demerit, vanished without a trace. Now her home will be demolished for a condo development, but until then, it’s the perfect spot for a Halloween haunted house. Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, her boyfriend, and three other couples are spending the weekend in the Demerit home. But what begins as an all-in-good-fun fright fest turns into a mystery begging to be solved as Jill is contacted by the ghost of Maryanne .

Review: Broken Dolls

Broken Dolls tackles a difficult subject, the seedy underworld of human trafficking and prostitution but does it with compassion and insight. The discovery of a dead preterm baby, abandoned with the rubbish, leads the police on a hunt for her mother which ultimately uncovers the prostitution network responsible for bringing innocent, foreign girls to their tragic fate.

I was fascinated by the police procedures involved in tracking down the suspects in this case. the advantages of an author being in the police department herself are obviously staggering. I haven’t read any of the other DC Charlie Stafford books but that wasn’t important as the story flowed independently and gave enough backstory to make it unnecessary.

Thanks as always to #NetGalley for making it possible for me to read and review this book.

Review: The Pupil

A gripping story which started with a slow burn and ultimately erupted into a blazing finale. The subtle hints of the traumatic history of the main character were interspersed with the struggles of balancing her writing with her family life, and when the mysterious past was finally revealed the story came together with heartbreaking clarity.

Book Description

One moment of carelessness. Four shattered lives. Psychological suspense that explores a labyrinth of lies, manipulation and revenge. Perfect for fans of Louise Jenson and Katerina Diamond. Literary agent Viola Matthews is sure she's met Katherine Baxter before. So when her husband and bestselling novelist Samuel Morton introduces Viola to the quiet, unassuming woman he has offered to mentor, she knows their paths have crossed before. The question is where? As their worlds collide and the bond between Samuel and Katherine deepens, Viola realises she must take control.

If Viola is right, then Katherine needs to pay for something that happened twelve years ago. Psychological suspense that explores a labyrinth of lies, manipulation and revenge. Perfect for fans of Louise Jenson and Katerina Diamond.

Sincere thanks, as always, to #NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.