The Autumn Tree by Tony J Forder

It's been a bit of a time lately. I'm not long back at work after two months off unwell then a medical emergency (not me) towards the end of last week sent everything off the rails. Things are settling down now but I had hoped to get this out at the beginning of the week. Best laid plans and all that. Huge apologies, Tony. 

Regular visitors to the blog cannot have failed to notice me raving about Fifteen Coffins, the fabulous standalone from author Tony J Forder, published last November. On the strength of that, I bought all the books in Tony's DI Bliss series, which I think numbered seven at the time, plus a prequel. Being the chaotic, disorganised soul I am, I haven't got around to them yet, but Tony kindly offered me the chance to read and review number eight in the series, The Autumn Tree,  as a standalone (until  I catch up). I said yes.  

The Blurb

When dark desires have no limitations, anything is fair game.

After a young woman is found strangled to death, Bliss is called to the scene. When he learns that one of his business cards was found among the victim's clothing, and he is told what was written on the back of it, Bliss is immediately troubled. The card was one of five he handed out to trafficked young women he and his team had previously rescued from a shipping container.

When he sees the victim, Bliss realises she was not one of those saved that day. So whose card does she have? And why? And is it connected to her murder?

The murder investigation proves to be more complex and challenging than the team could possibly have imagined. But just as they think they have it figured out, they learn that depravity has no boundaries...

The Autumn Tree was published on 24th May 2021 by Spare Nibs Books and is available here. 

My Review

I came into this book knowing absolutely nothing about Jimmy Bliss or his background and wanted to see if The Autumn Tree worked as a standalone. It absolutely does. Sure, there were things I didn't know because I hadn't read his history but that was to be expected. When I am reviewing books which are part of a series, I always suggest that the reader will have a richer experience starting at the beginning. And I have no doubt that this applies here, however, I was able to enjoy the book just fine because whatever I needed to know was in the book. The other 'stuff' just made me more determined to catch up with the series properly.!

DI Jimmy Bliss has been demoted to DS. It doesn't really matter why (well, it does to Jimmy, of course) because what's important here is the relationship he has with the team. They are all struggling not to see him as the boss, including the new man in charge, who frequently defers to Bliss. There's clearly a lot of respect there. Jimmy is fair but firm, loves his job and is willing to bend the rules occasionally if he feels it necessary. There is a sub plot where we see Bliss very much doing his own thing. He comes across as really well rounded and really enjoyable to read. I LOVED his relationship with his partner and best friend Penny Chandler. I don't see enough deep platonic relationships between men and women in books, which I think is a shame. But these two, they just get each other, look out for each other and their banter is epic. Such a great duo. And those lighter moments, together with similar  exchanges with other members of the team, are very much needed. Because the subject matter here is dark. Very dark. 

When his business card is found on the dead body of a young woman Bliss is immediately worried as it is one given to a group of women trafficked to work in the sex industry who were rescued in a previous case. Bliss can't help but wonder if this woman was in a similar situation and this gives him a starting point. From there though, the investigation goes off in some unexpected directions. The storyline deals with the more specialised end of the sex trade, the sort of services found on the Dark Web (loved the TOR name trivia) and there is a graphic scene included but it is done in context. Things get very tense as they build towards a pretty heartbreaking denouement.  

I loved Tony's writing, as I knew I would after Fifteen Coffins, and felt like I was a fly on the wall watching Jimmy and the rest. There was some beautifully descriptive writing and I noted a couple of examples but there were plenty of others:

                '...bracelets of discoloured flesh.'

                '...the demons clawing their way to her soul.'

Of course, The Autumn Tree is a crime novel, and one that deals with true darkness and depravity, but, for me, this is as much a book about relationships - between Bliss and Pen, his team, his superiors, the women in his life and the criminals he encounters every day. It's beautifully written with an engaging, entertaining central character and a full and varied supporting cast. The storyline is a difficult one, sensitively handled, but might not be for everyone. But I loved it and can safely say that Jimmy Bliss has himself a new fan! And delighted there was a wee cliffhanger at the end... Now, where did I put the other eight books? 

The Author

Tony J Forder is the author of the bestselling DI Bliss crime thriller series. The first seven books, Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, If Fear Wins, The Reach of Shadows, The Death of Justice, Endless Silent Scream, and Slow Slicing, were joined in December 2020 by a prequel novella, Bliss Uncovered. The series now continues with The Autumn Tree, scheduled for release on 24 May 2021.

Tony’s other series – two action-adventure novels featuring Mike Lynch – comprises both Scream Blue Murder, and Cold Winter Sun. These books were republished in April 2021.

In addition, Tony has written two standalone novels: a dark, psychological crime thriller, Degrees of Darkness, and a suspense thriller set in California, called Fifteen Coffins, released in November 2020.

Tony lives with his wife in Peterborough, UK, and is now a full-time author. He is currently working on the first book of an intended new crime series, whose working title is The Huntsmen.


Author Social Media Links

Website: https://www.tonyjforder.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyjforder/
Twitter: @TonyJForder  https://twitter.com/TonyJForder 
Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01N4BPT65
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16166122.Tony_J_Forder
Fantastic Fiction: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/tony-j-forder/
Tony can also be found on Instagram.

Save Her by Abigail Osborne

I'm delighted to share my review today of Save Her by Abigail Osborne as part of the blog tour. Many thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for inviting me and to the author and publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

Bonded by their traumatic childhoods, Flora and Sophie are inseparable friends who married brothers.

What they could not have anticipated was their mother-in-law, Cecelia. Disappointed that her children have married beneath them, Cecelia takes every opportunity to belittle and taunt her daughters-in-law.

When Cecelia learns that Flora and her son are moving away, her wrath escalates, and Flora’s world begins to fall apart.

Meanwhile, Sophie’s life is also crumbling around her. Her marriage is not what it seems, and she is desperate to escape the clutches of the poisonous family she has married into.

Is Flora being tormented or is she losing her mind?

Will Sophie and Flora be forced to leave their husbands in order to survive?

With a mother-in-law like Cecelia, anything is possible…


Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57948793-save-her

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/3h4fvpV

My Review

Sophie and Flora have been best friends forever. With a strong bond forged through difficult childhoods, they are now living what many would consider as dream lives. They live next door to each other in beautiful houses, married to rich brothers and have access to all they could ever want. The only cloud on the horizon, and it's a big cloud, is the mother-in-law from hell. 

Although best friends, Flora and Sophie are very different. Flora is gentler, softer and doesn't want to rely on her husband's family money in any way. She doesn't buy the beautiful, expensive clothes she could, nor will she accept any funding into the art centre she runs for autistic children. I loved that she takes nothing from the family and I especially love her therapy centre, as someone who has experienced (much less severe) autism in the family. Sophie, on the other hand, has an eye for business and has been able to turn a profit since her early teens. She has joined the Cavendish family firm and is happy to spend the money she is now blessed with. Emotionally tougher than Flora, she will stand up to her mother-in-law in a way Flora won't. But she cares deeply for Flora (and vice versa) and feels very protective of her. Both of these woman are richly described and fleshed out by Osbourne, Flora in particular, for me anyway. 

The Cavendish family, oh goodness me! I tell you something, I wouldn't want to be invited to one of Cecelia's Friday Night Dinners! The woman has some serious issues, and Alistair is no saint either. I wonder if Abbie had fun creating this pair of monsters because I certainly had fun reading them. I adored Sam, but wished he would see what was blindingly obvious (at least to the reader) sometimes! 

Of course, everything is not all as it seems. Flora has some weird experiences one of which, I guarantee, will have you itching your face and checking your drawers! I guarantee it! As always Sophie is her rock. These chapters, combined with some from Sophie's own point of view, start to ramp up the tension which just steadily builds and builds towards an explosive conclusion. I did have an idea of what might happen but that turned out to be only a small part of the final picture. A family drama at its best! Or worst, depending on how you look at it. 

Whilst I did feel there was a little repetition, overall Save Her is an enjoyable, exciting, well written psychological thriller with three strong women at its core. It's a story about family, friendship, love, loyalty, trust and obsession. And it is well worth checking out! 

The Author

Abigail is originally from the Lake District but moved to the West Midlands for University where she completed an English Literature & History degree. She lives in Worcestershire with her husband and is a board game fanatic, owning over 70 games. She has a huge collection of books, plays the violin, and used to play the piano until her husband sold it because it was too heavy to keep moving. Save Her is Abigail’s second novel.


Author Social Media Links

Twitter: @Abigail_Author
Instagram: @Abigailosborneauthor

False Allegiance by Nick Thacker

The blog's been pretty quiet for a while because I was dealing with some stuff. But it's all good now and I'm back today with my stop on the Bookoutre Books-On-Tour blog tour for False Allegiance by Nick Thacker. Taking part in this tour was a no brainer for me as I loved the first Jake Parker novel, Containment. Big thanks to Noelle Holten at Bookoutre for inviting me on the tour and for my review copy which I received via Netgalley.

 

The Blurb

Someone wants Jake Parker dead. He’ll find out why, or die trying…

Ex-army, ex-police, widowed husband, estranged son. Jake Parker has no family, no one to care if one of the government-contract jobs he takes goes wrong. So he’s shocked to get a phone call from his father as he’s pursuing an anomaly from his latest mission. But his dad isn’t calling for a chat, he’s issuing a warning: stop digging around, let this job go.

Jake barely has time to register the news that his father has been keeping tabs on him before a bomb tears apart his apartment, and he barely escapes with his life. Now he’s injured, on the run, and determined to find out who wants to silence him, and why.

The more he digs, the more drastic the attempts on his life become, but Jake won’t be beaten at this game. When he gets hold of one of the thugs trying to take him out, Jake learns that he’s treading on the toes of an illicit arms deal and now he may be the only person who can stop a cargo of weapons getting into the hands of international terrorists. Terrorists with their eyes on the US and who seem to have a hold on his father. Now Jake has to make the ultimate choice: allegiance to his family, or to his country…? He can only save one.

A completely gripping thriller from a USA Today bestselling author. A pulse-pounding read for fans of David Baldacci, Tim Tigner and the Jack Ryan thrillers.

False Allegiance was published yesterday by Bookoutre.


Buy Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08VNR256Ysocial
Apple: http://ow.ly/BWpV50DqexQ
Kobo: http://ow.ly/2xm050Dqevc
Google: http://ow.ly/axrP50EGbQd

My Review

False Allegiance is the third novel in the Jake Parker series. As  mentioned above, I loved the first, Containment, and you can read my review here. I had originally thought this was the follow up but the second book is, in fact, The Patriot, published in January of this year. Somehow that passed me by at the time, but I've just bought it so I can catch up with what I've missed. Although it's part of a series False Allegiance works perfectly as a standalone too. There are references to events in the previous books but enough information is given for the new reader. 

This mission becomes personal for Jake following a couple of phone calls from his estranged father. Their relationship is colder than I've but Jake is nonetheless intrigued by his father's words. He's also pretty wound up after an event early in the book and finds himself a target for someone, he just doesn't know who. The mission takes him from the US all the way to Africa, all the time trying to stay one  step ahead of his pursuers. 

Jake Parker is one cool customer. He pretty much lives out of a go bag with very few possessions. He is able to think on his feet and remain calm when faced with danger, which he is frequently! It seems to follow him wherever he goes. And he has a strong moral compass, knows what's right and what's wrong. In my head he's very good looking, but I don't really know if that's the case! He's certainly fit, quick and agile. On this mission he is supported by Jackson Holland who he met on a previous job. I loved the description of Holland's looks and also the easy banter between the two men. They are really in tune with each other and work well together. You can feel the deep friendship and respect between the pair. I hope we'll  see more of Holland in future books (if any are planned). 

False Allegiance is a cracking action thriller. There is a bit of everything  - explosions, fights, car chases, gun battles and more. The action is  pretty much non-stop from beginning to end - I was exhausted by the time I finished it! Caught myself holding my breath more than once too. A real rollercoaster ride. Well written with two brilliant protagonists, I loved it and hope we'll see more of Parker before too long. And hopefully more of  Holland too - I'm definitely a fan of his!

The Author

.

Nick Thacker is the USA Today Bestselling Author of action-adventure thrillers and mysteries, including the Harvey Bennett Thrillers series. Often mentioned as a cross between Clive Cussler and James Rollins, his stories are written in a fast-paced, punchy style.

He lives on a volcano in Hawaii with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.


Author Social Media Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickThacker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNickThacker/

Third Kill by John Ryder

I really enjoyed the first two books on this series so I'm delighted to share my review of Third Kill, the new book in the Grant Fletcher series, from John Ryder. My thanks to Noelle Holten at Bookoutre for inviting me on the tour and for my review copy, which I received via Netgalley.

The Blurb

In a city of sinners, a killer is hunting…

Las Vegas, Nevada: a killer is on the hunt.
When  two of the city’s crime bosses are found brutally murdered within days of each other, the fragile balance of Sin City threatens to collapse. It’s exactly what the killer wants…

But there is one thing this killer hasn’t counted on…
Grant Fletcher has been sent to Vegas by a shady government agency. He has one job: find the killer, and stop them before more people die. Stop them, by any means.

Would you send a desperate man to find a vigilante killer?
It looks like a dangerous gamble. But what neither the killer - nor the government agency - know is that the odds are never good unless you’ve got Fletcher on your side.

Fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne and JB Turner’s Jon Reznick will love the Grant Fletcher series.

Third Kill was published by Bookoutre on April 28th 2021.


Buy Link

https://geni.us/B08V8TF5BYsocial

My Review

This is the third Grant Fletcher book and follows First Shot and Final Second but it can easily be read as a standalone. If you enjoy cracking action thrillers then this is a series you should check out. 

Grant Fletcher is an ex Royal Marine, now a specialist 'consultant' who, together with his 'handler' FBI Agent Zoe Quadrado, is sent to do the dirty jobs with which law enforcement agencies can't be involved. Here, they are sent to gambling mecca Las Vegas where an assassin known only as The Mantis is taking out casino bosses one by one and not caring if innocent people are killed in the process. The body count is huge, and nobody has any idea what The Mantis even looks like. Fletcher and Quadrado have a huge job in their hands but happily have the resources of the FBI at their disposal. 

Fletcher is a complex man. A trained killing machine, he prefers to use brain over brawn wherever possible. Not that he isn't above getting down and dirty if the situation calls for it, which it does on more than one occasion here. A single father following the death of his wife, his daughter Wendy is the most precious thing in the world to him. She is awise and understanding. Early in the book, before Fletcher has finished the phone conversation where he taken accepts the job, Wendy is already packing her things and has called her grandfather to come and pick.her up. It brought a wee sad lump to my throat. But I loved the use of 'Grandpops'. My own on grandfather was 'Pops', as is my dad for my kids, but I like this version.  Quadrado is a tough wee cookie with lots of great skills, and I love her relationship with Fletcher. With huge mutual respect, concern and understanding for each other, they are a tight little unit. And formidable. Not that everything always goes to plan...

We hit the ground running with an action packed prologue and we don't really stop! It's an adrenaline filled ride with just the occasional pause for breath.... Fletcher describing torture methods to 'Loser' had me smirking in my seat! That's another thing I love about Fletcher which makes me smile - he assigns the guys he comes across names according to his first impressions of them. My favourite was 'Bald-And-Not-Very-Undercover'! Not the snappiest title but I loved it. 

Third Kill is a brilliant action thriller which will keep you in the edge of your seat. Full of cat and mouse chases and spectacular fight scenes, you'll struggle to catch your breath. Fleshed out with a solid plotline and great characters, Fletcher particularly, the book has a bit of everything.  So much fun to read. My favourite of the series so far.

Before I go, I must mention my favourite line in the book, anything to do with the action or anything but I thought it was brilliant: '... a face that was more squatted in than lived in...' - I knew exactly what Ryder meant! 

The Author

John Ryder is a former farmworker and joiner. He’s turned his hand to many skills to put food on the table and clothes on his back. A life-long bibliophile, he eventually summoned the courage to try writing himself, and his Grant Fletcher novels have drawn inspiration from authors such as Lee Child, Tom Cain, Zoe Sharp and Matt Hilton. When it comes to future novels, he says he has more ideas than time to write them.

When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.


Author Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnRyderAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRyder101

Dead Secret by Noelle Holten

It's my stop on the blog tour for Dead Secret, the brand new book from  author and blogger Noelle Holten. This is the fourth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series which I have read and loved from the beginning. Dead Secret can also be read as a standalone. I'm delighted to share my review below. Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy at Book on the Bright Side for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy which I received via Netgalley.

 

The Blurb

‘Enthralling from the first page to the last. Devoured in one sitting. Noelle Holten has become one of my must-read authors’ Angela Marsons, bestselling author of the Detective Kim Stone series

Psychopaths can take root in the unlikeliest soil…

DC Maggie Jamieson crosses paths once again with Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood when a domestic violence survivor stumbles into her new refuge, unable to speak, desperate for help.

Then another case hits Maggie’s desk. A young man has been murdered, and a curious constellation of black dots has been inked onto his cheek.

That’s when DCI Hastings goes missing and Maggie uncovers a shocking connection that turns the case on its head.

Every family may hide secrets, but not every family buries them…

Dead Secret was published by One More Chapter on 25th April 2021. 

My Review

As mentioned above, Dead Secret is the fourth book in the Maggie Jamieson series following Dead Inside, Dead Wrong and Dead Perfect. You will enjoy it as a standalone - previous cases are mentioned but there is enough information given for new readers - so don't let not having read the others put you off. But I always feel that with a series you have a better reading experience if you start at the beginning. And they're all great books! 

In Dead Secret, Maggie finds herself dealing with two different cases - a murdered young man and her missing boss - whilst struggling with her private life. Nearby, Lucy Sherwood is getting ready to open her new women's refuge when a deaf and beaten young woman turns up on the doorstep. 

I really like Maggie but she does frustrate me a bit, lol! She's very dedicated to her job, it's clear that she loves it, and is often able to view things differently from her colleagues making her a valuable member of the team. But she doesn't always think things through and will sometimes make rash decisions  which could jeopardise the case. Or worse. I wish she would sometimes take a breath before jumping in! I love her relationship with her immediate boss Nathan, who used to be her colleague - there's respect there but also an easy going camaraderie, they know each other well. And outside of work seeing Maggie attracted to someone who irritates the hell out of her was a joy to read. 

There is something going on pretty much all the time in this book as three seemingly unrelated cases begin to come together as we race towards the finale. There is some twisted thinking here from Holten and her antagonist is a truly nasty piece of work! I love it when a character gets me all riled up and this one certainly does! We find out about the private lives of some of Maggie's colleagues in this book, more so than in the previous ones, if I remember correctly. Just the right amount of information to serve the story but not too much to detract from the tension. And it helped to flesh out the characters. Holten deftly weaves the individual plot lines together, throwing in the odd red herring here and there. There is a good amount of tension with a bit of danger thrown in. 

Dead Secret is a solid, well researched crime novel. The author's background in probation serves her well as does her knowledge of sexual abuse (I have heard her speak about this). Her novel is real, gritty and full of great characters struggling to make sense of difficult situations. A fab addition to the series. 

The Author

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at
www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of risk cases as well as working in a multi agency setting. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, attending as many book festivals as she can afford and sharing the booklove via her blog. Dead Inside – her debut novel with One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK is an international kindle bestseller and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.


Author Social Media Links

Subscribe to Newsletter: http://ow.ly/cgww50BkBtt
Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/
Blog FB page: https://www.facebook.com/crimebookjunkie/
Instagram: @author_noelleholten
Website: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk
Bookbub Author page : https://bit.ly/2LkT4LB