Review: Black Rock Bay by Brianna Labuskes

Detective Mia Hart never planned to return home. One terrifying summer night, Mia lost two of her closest friends to suicide. Scarred and broken, she fled St. Lucy's, a small island off the coast of Maine. Now fifteen years later, when the body of a journalist is fished out of the bay near St. Lucy's cliffs, Mia is forced to help with the case--and face all she's been running from. As she approaches the island, the wintery winds of Black Rock Bay usher Mia home again. When Mia digs into the reporter's death, she finds he left behind a written clue: It wasn't suicide. Mia soon discovers it's her own tragic past he was referring to. Now, as she tries to untangle a web of lies, Mia realizes that solving this case means becoming the next pawn in someone's blood-chilling game of truth or die. A brilliant and atmospheric mystery involving past and present deaths. Mia needs to solve the first, which happened when she was a teenager, to understand the second in present day. Set on an isolated Maine island during bleak Winter storms, the weather and intermittent phone service/internet cause added obstacles to her search for the truth. #NetGalley 

Review: Don’t Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell

You don't know him. But he knows you. Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him. As DC Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked by what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave. When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper - from over 20 years ago. A killer her mother helped convict. Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play? With her mother's terrifying legacy spiraling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer - but to save herself and those she loves. This is my second foray into the paranormal policing world of Detective Jennifer Knight and the one that starts the whole series. Although a bit slow to begin with I was soon pulled in to the story and couldn’t put it down. Reading them out of order was slightly off-putting as I already knew the outcome from reading the third book (oops) but it didn’t really hinder my enjoyment of the story. Jennifer Knight is a strong female lead with psychic abilities which add an extra dimension to the normal crime genre. I’m off to find book 2, Time to Die. 

Review: Date Night by Samantha Hayes

Returning early from a disastrous date night with my husband, I know something is wrong the moment the wheels crunch the gravel drive of our home. Inside, the TV is on and a half-eaten meal waits on the table. My heart stops when I find our little girl is alone in the house and our babysitter, Sasha, is missing.... Days later, when I'm arrested for Sasha's murder and torn away from my perfect little family, I'll wish I had told someone about the threatening note I received that morning. I'll hate myself for not finding out who the gift hidden inside my husband's wardrobe was for. I'll scream from the rooftops that I'm innocent - but no one will listen. I will realise I was completely wrong about everything that happened that night.... But will you believe me? Another exciting book from the pen of Samantha Hayes. I was quite honestly flummoxed with this one and truly hadn’t worked it out until it was all laid bare for me. It has it all, mystery, suspected foul play, romance and betrayal.