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No Stone Left Unturned by Annette Dashofy

Feb10

Superb Crime Suspense

No Stone Left Unturned by Annette Dashofy is a gripping contemporary crime suspense that I could not put down. It is the fourth book in A Detective Honeywell Mystery series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces. Once more the police work in tantum with photographer, Emma, in the hope of solving a brutal crime. Newspaper archives hold secrets that are clues.

The crimes are far too close to home as an unknown figure goes on a crime spree that seems to be a personal vendetta.

As the body count rises, the law enforcement is left scratching its’ heads.

Annette Dashofy has created a marvellous plotline, with the suspense ramping up. Locations become seedier and darker, to mirror the action. My heartrate rose as I read towards the conclusion. There were times when I gasped out loud, yelling ‘no’ at my book!

There were tender moments too, particularly concerning an elderly dog who was in need of love and care.

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The Shadow Carver by Nadine Matheson

Jan6

Gripping

The Shadow Carver by Nadine Matheson is a gripping contemporary psychological murder suspense that I just couldn’t put down. It is the fourth book in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series and can be read as a stand-alone. I, however, recommend reading the books in numerical order for character and storyline progression. Though each book deals with a new crime, there is one storyline that is running throughout the books. As this book ended, we are perfectly poised to pick up the thread in book five – and I cannot wait!

Once more we join inspector Anjelica Henley and her team as they chase a very gruesome serial killer or killers. It appears to be vigilante justice but who is the mastermind? Is there a mastermind?

The law enforcement team are relentless in their pursuit. We also witness personal relationships and office politics. There are personality clashes and jealousy over friendships. We see the back stories and families of some.

Family is important. Not just personal family but the police family too. They have each other’s backs. When one of their own is hurt, everyone picks up a piece of guilt.

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The Ghost House by Andie Newton

Oct30

Protecting The Innocent

The Ghost House by Andie Newton is a powerful historical supernatural suspense that has its’ roots in facts, interwoven with fiction.

The book is set in occupied France in 1944. Much of the action surrounds the forbidden forest that has grown up around the site of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. There is a mythical feel to it as the stories abound to do with bodies buried, live mines and cannisters of poison gas. What everyone can agree on is, it is not safe.

The Nazis were pre-occupied with the occult. Within the tale, sinister forces are used in order to try to break the innocent.

The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, mirroring the action which has sinister twists and turns.

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Specters In The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Oct29

Arising From The Ashes

Specters In The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright is a powerful dual timeline Christian novel that consumed me from the start.

The tale is set in 1921 and present day as we view the action through alternating chapters with the two lead characters.

The leading ladies have parallel lives – both are alone as their parents have died. Both had mothers who struggled in life – one through addiction, the other with a genetic mental illness. And both leading ladies have good hearts, despite their upbringing.

Mental illness is an ongoing theme in both time periods. Today there is a lot of help. Back in 1921 characters were shut away from the world if there was any glimpse of mental illness.

We also meet a character who is physically disabled, having lost a leg during a battle in World War I. He fears that others may see him as ‘less than’ he was but he is still the same kind-hearted person. “I’m no less a man now than I was when I went to France.”

There is much to fear in the novel. We learn that “It is alright to be afraid… It’s what we do with that fear that’s important.” Fear may still exist even though we have faith. “I choose faith… even though I’m still… afraid.” When we have faith, we can look to God and our fears will diminish.

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