Dead Secret by Noelle Holten Book Review @botbspublicity @nholten40

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021 / berittalksbooks / 1 Comment

This new WordPress format has me pulling my hair out! I no longer have a choice so bear with me as I learn an entirely new way to post.🤬

Excited to share today my review for this excellent crime thriller! I truly believe this is the best of the series yet and I look forward to what’s next from Noelle!

My Thoughts

DC Maggie Jamison is back! Love this crime thriller series and this might be the best book yet! Each book is a self-contained case and can be read as a standalone, but once you’ve read one you’re going to want to read them all! Maggie is working on a seemingly innocuous murder case until a photograph is discovered that changes it’s trajectory. Lucy Sherwood plays a bigger role in this story then she did in the previous two. I have to say I was really thrilled to see more of her character after getting to know her so well in the first book. Lucy is opening up a home for victims of domestic abuse and her first resident is a bit of an enigma. Now I knew somehow these two storylines had something to do with one another, and I had so much fun trying to puzzle it out. I also really liked getting to no Maggie a bit better and enjoyed her flirty banter with reporter Julie. As always I was completely fascinated by the politics and inner workings of the police department and enjoyed that aspect of the story. This was such a well told fast paced thriller that had me completely invested! I did figure out who the culprit was slightly before the reveal in this book, but wow so well executed! And that ending?!?! That ending has me salivating for the next story in this excellent series!

About the Book

‘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…

About 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.

Connect with Noelle on Social Media here:

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

The Frozen Girl by Roberta Gately Cover Reveal @bookouture

March 1, 2021 / berittalksbooks / Leave a comment

Happy happy Monday!

It’s always a good way to kick off your week and your month with a cover reveal!😁

About the Book Releasing May18, 2021

The young woman’s mouth is slightly parted, as if waiting to speak. Her body is frozen in ice and her blue eyes stare at the sky, perhaps wanting to look at the stars one last time…

When the body of a woman is found in a frozen river, Jessie Novakand her partner Detective Sam Dallas rush to the scene. Jessie is shocked to find the girl in the ice is Sheila Logan, who she worked closely with for years. Jessie desperately wants to find out how this young and talented woman ended up an innocent victim.

But who would want to kill her? As she digs into Sheila’s past, Jessie realises she was having an affair with a colleague and may even have been pregnant. Was someone looking for revenge? Jessie knows how it feels to be betrayed by those you love—her mother walked out on her when she was just a baby and never looked back.

When another body turns up, this time Sheila’s elderly neighbor, Jessie sees a lethal pattern forming. Next, someone breaks into her car and she knows she’s being warned off the case. But with the killer in her sights, will she take the deadliest risk of her life? Can Jessie catch him, before he catches up to her?

This utterly addictive novel will keep you up all night! Fans of Lisa Regan, Angela Marsons and Tess Gerritsen will be totally hooked until the last heart-thumping page.

BUY LINKS

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08XMTCBN2Cover

Apple: http://ow.ly/ObXK50DLC5R

Kobo: http://ow.ly/gfNV50DLC5k

Google: http://ow.ly/98Yp50DLZKh

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roberta Gately, lives in Boston where she works as a nurse at the Boston Medical Center. It was in the ER where she developed an interest in the investigations behind the crimes and the victims she encountered. Working in a busy ER is much like being a detective—the search for answers is a methodical process, not unlike the work required to solve a murder!

Her crime series with Bookouture stars the brave and brilliant ER nurse Jessie Novak who teams up with her detective friend to solve tricky Boston murder cases. Expect addictive mysteries, breathtaking suspense and a gutsy heroine you’ll never forget. When she’s not writing or working at the hospital, Roberta enjoys reading, working out and spending time with friends and family.

She has also worked in humanitarian aid, providing medical care in some of the world’s bleakest spots ranging from Africa to Afghanistan. Her two previous novels, Lipstick in Afghanistan and The Bracelet were based upon her experiences of nursing abroad. Her memoir—Footprints in the Dust tells the true stories of some of the extraordinary people she met.

Author Social Media Links

Roberta loves hearing from readers and you can get in touch with her using the links below.

Author website: robertagately.com

Twitter: twitter.com/RobertaGately

Facebook page: facebook.com/RobertaGatelyAuthor

Instagram instagram.com/roberta_gately

—

Dead Perfect by Noelle Holten Book Review @botbspublicity @onemorechapter @nholten40

December 23, 2020December 19, 2020 / berittalksbooks / 2 Comments

happy hump day!

well this will be my last post of the year! I am taking a little bit of a break until January 5. I know Christmas is looking a little different for all of us this year but I hold out hope that next Christmas will be the best one ever!❤️💚

My Thoughts

A dark and creepy tale. This is the third book in Noelle Holten’s DC Maggie Jameson series; and I’d have to say the BEST YET! I also have to say Noelle you’re starting to scare me a little, what’s going on in that brain of yours? The book picks up right where the last book ended. A dead body is discovered that bares an uncanny resemblance to one of Maggie‘s friends. relieved to find out it was not her friend, but concerned that this is no coincidence Maggie puts her all into the case. but as the bodies start falling it looks as though the killer is escalating. What is his end game and is Kate the true prize. A twisted and disturbing Game of cat and mouse. I could not figure out what the killer was playing at, I just knew he was one screwed up person. Maggie showed a little more emotion in this book. She generally keeps others and the reader at arms distance but it was nice to see a little more about her in this book. it was also nice to see some diversity with Maggie coming to terms with her sexuality. I am not certain they would’ve kept Maggie on this case, I thought it was a bit of a conflict of interest, but hey it’s fiction. The investigation was intriguing and even though I read quite a few reviews that said the culprit was revealed early I truly had no idea who it was. And more than that I was very surprised by his motivation, not sure I’ve ever seen things play out like this before. another electric installment in this compelling series.

*** Big thank you to One More Chapter for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

‘Hugely confident … harrowing, visceral … recommended’ Ian Rankin

‘Kept me hooked’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

‘Gritty, dark and chilling’ Mel Sherratt

A murdered woman…

When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she’s dealing with no ordinary killer. The murder victim has been disfigured; her outfit changed to resemble someone else. Someone Maggie knows all too well…her close friend Dr Kate Moloney.

A determined detective…

Maggie is determined to keep her friend safe, but with Kate already struggling with a threatening stalker, Maggie now fears Kate’s life is in real danger. Who else would want to harm Kate and why else would the killer be turning his victims into exact replicas – his living dolls?

Can Maggie find the depraved killer? Or will Kate become his next living doll?

Author Bio:

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.

Connect with Noelle on Social Media here:

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

Her Final Prayer (Detective Clara Jefferies Book 2) by Kathryn Casey Book Review @bookouture

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020 / berittalksbooks / Leave a comment

Happy hump day all!

Hope life is treating you well! It is times like these I am most grateful for books!

My Thoughts

A tense and clever police procedural. This is the second book in the detective Clara Jeffries series. In the previous book Clara is summoned to her isolated Utah hometown to help investigate the disappearance of one of her sisters. In this book Clara has decided to stay in the fictional town of Alber where she is now the acting police chief. When there is a gruesome murder of a family on the outskirts of town Clara is on the case. But it’s even more complicated than solving a murder. The town is not excited to have Clara back, they have shunned her for leaving years ago.

This isolated backwards polygamist small town offers the perfect backdrop to this police procedural. The religious beliefs of this fringe polygamist sect creates an abundance of tension. Clara’s familiarity with the community is both helpful and harmful in the search for answers. Clara is a great character and I really like learning more about her backstory. But boy oh boy does the girl have so much more baggage to unpack. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Max and Clara. Max is such a good guy and I really hope that Clara and he can help one another heal their wounds. The mystery was perfectly paste and compelling. I truly had no idea who done it until the culprit was revealed. Another great installment in this chrime series.

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

Her pulse pounded in her ears as she scanned the house. Her eyes traveled over the porch where three empty chairs lazily rocked in the breeze, surrounded by scattered children’s toys. In the yard, there were mounds of earth. Graves. Only big enough for children…

When Detective Clara Jefferies is called to a family ranch just outside of Alber, Utah, she’s horrified to find two innocent young children murdered alongside their mothers. But she arrives at the scene quickly enough to rush their father, Jacob Johansson, to hospital where he begins fighting for his life, and to save his two-month-old son Jeremy, left untouched in his crib.

As Clara begins to investigate, nothing she finds out makes sense. Though she uncovers photos of one of Jacob’s wives in his best friend’s trailer, her flower necklace underneath his bed, there are rumors that she was in love with a different man altogether. And as the close-knit community comes together to support Jacob, Clara’s own family shut her out of the investigation…

But Clara won’t give up. With the killer still at large, baby Jeremy is at risk, and every moment her family are helping Jacob they are also in danger. To earn her family’s trust, Clara finally has to face the past, but can she do it before it’s too late?

Impossible to put down, Her Final Prayer is perfect for readers of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. You’ll race through the pages until the final heart-pounding twist.

About the Author

A novelist and award-winning journalist, Kathryn Casey is the author of eleven highly acclaimed true crime books and the creator of the Sarah Armstrong mystery series. Library Journal picked THE KILLING STORM as one of the best mysteries of 2010. Her latest true crime, IN PLAIN SIGHT, investigates the Kaufman County prosecutor murders, a case that made worldwide headlines. Casey has appeared on Oprah, 20/20, the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Biography Channel, Reelz, The Travel Network, Investigation Discovery, and many other venues. Ann Rule called Casey “one of the best in the true crime genre.”

http://www.kathryncasey.com/

Twitter: @KathrynCasey

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3crjGHL

Apple: https://apple.co/30RrI9s

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2Bkpgx9

Google: https://bit.ly/2Y76keg

—

Save Her Soul by Lisa Regan Book Review @bookouture @lisalregan

August 14, 2020August 13, 2020 / berittalksbooks / Leave a comment

Happy Friday all!

Wow this week went fast! Today…. Josie Quinn… that’s all I need to say.

My Thoughts

Lisa Regan is the queen of crime thrillers! Josie Quinn is back in the ninth installment of this stellar series. Each book in the series is bursting with tension, atmosphere, brilliant storytelling, fascinating characters, twists, turns, and thrills. This book kicks off with Josie and Gretchen involved in a water rescue. Denton is in the midst of epic rain storms and the city is rapidly flooding. This really offered the perfect ominous atmospheric setting for this mystery. While in the middle of the water rescue Josie discovers a dead body. The body had been buried for over 16 years and the flooding has brought it to the surface. Turns out the dead woman is someone Josie went to high school with and the kicker she’s wearing Josie’s dead husband ray’s baseball jacket. This mystery drags up many pieces of Josie’s past. A dead body, a hairdresser, a drug dealer, A mysterious caller, floodwaters, gunshots, protests, DNA, and an orange cat.

Once again I was 100% invested in figuring out the mystery in the story. Love Josie and all the other characters in these books. Josie has had so much growth throughout the series. I hated to see her drug back into the past dealing with not only The ghost of Ray, but also her terrible supposed mother. My only complaint with the story is that once again poor Noah had to play second string to Ray. I mean I really like them together and I think Noah is really good for Josie, but man I almost want him to call her out sometimes. Another spectacular installment in this series with an ending that took me by surprise.

This book in emojis 💦 🐱 ☔️ 💊 🔎 🧬 ⚾️

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

Josie flinches as she takes in the faded blue sports jacket wrapped around the girl they just pulled from the water. Josie knew someone who’d once owned that jacket. He had died in her arms five years ago.

Heavy rain pours on the small town of Denton causing the riverbanks to break and the body of a young girl to float quietly to the surface. With no crime scene to examine, the odds are against Detective Josie Quinn and her team. Mercifully, the victim’s body is perfectly preserved, right down to the baseball patch on the jacket she was wearing. Josie can’t hide her devastation—her dead ex-husband, Ray, owned one just like it.

Following the trail back to her high school, Josie identifies the girl as Beverly Urban, a troubled student rumored to have been dating Ray before she left town for good. It looks like a tragic accident until the autopsy reveals a bullet in her head and the heart-breaking secret she was keeping.

Josie visits the salon where Beverly’s mother used to work, believing she was at the heart of a terrible scandal around the time her daughter’s life was taken. With the Denton wives remaining tight-lipped, Josie’s only hope is a secret meet-up with a terrified woman willing to talk. But she is murdered moments before giving Josie crucial information. It’s clear that someone is prepared to keep on killing to stop the truth from getting out.

Digging deep into memories of her own past with Ray is the only advantage Josie has on this twisted killer… but at what cost?

Another jaw-dropping crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author that will have you absolutely gripped from page one. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.

About the Author

Lisa Regan is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal bestselling author and Amazon bestselling crime novelist. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter. Find out more at her website: www.lisaregan.com

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Who’s Next? by Chris Merritt Cover Reveal @bookouture

July 9, 2020July 8, 2020 / berittalksbooks / Leave a comment

Coming September 11, 2020

About the Book

Stumbling to the ground, he claws at the earth around him, trying to stabilise himself, but his attacker is on him in seconds. As he stares at the lights of the bustling streets on the other side of the park gates, he doesn’t even have time to yell for help before everything goes black.

When the body of wealthy businessman Charles Stott is found dead on Wimbledon Common, covered in bruises just feet away from his luxury home, Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate the shocking scene. Examining the sickeningly disfigured body before him, Lockhart knows he’s dealing with a brutal killer and, as he bends down to take a closer look, he notices something on the victim’s neck: a small, crudely drawn symbol in black ink. It seems the murderer has marked his victim, but why? Dan needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, so he contacts psychologist Dr Lexi Green.

As the ensuing media circus puts pressure on Dan and Lexi’s investigation, another victim is found and the headlines are quick to report a serial killer is on the loose. The body of a successful lawyer has been discovered in a park with the same purple bruising and hand-drawn symbol on his neck. Dan fears that more victims will follow.

As the case intensifies, Dan uncovers a new lead on his missing wife, Jess, who disappeared eleven years ago. Determined to follow it up, he must choose between tracking down a serial murderer and finding Jess. Can he make the impossible decision before the killer strikes once more?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Cara Hunter will love this thrilling new series from Chris Merritt. From an explosive start to a heart-stopping finale, you will not want to put this book down!

About the Author

Hello! I’m a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.

My second series features detective Dan Lockhart – an ex-soldier with a missing wife – and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.

I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When I’m not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.

You can find out more about my work at www.cjmerritt.co.uk or follow me on Twitter @DrCJMerritt

The Fallen Girls by Kathryn Casey Book Review @bookouture

June 4, 2020June 3, 2020 / berittalksbooks / 1 Comment

Happy Thursday!

This was a good start to a new police procedural series. But I’m not going to lie I had a hard time reading and then reviewing a police procedural with everything going on in the world especially here in the US. I don’t want to get political on this blog, but I just needed to be real with you.🖤 I also know it’s not the books fault, it was just bad timing.

My Thoughts

A clever police procedural. Kathryn Casey has written a smart and compelling story. Often I struggle with police procedurals, but not this one. I was completely invested from the creepy cornfields to the satisfying end. Clara is a police officer in Dallas, she is summoned home by her old crush Max to investigate the disappearance of her sister. But the folks and her family living in her small hometown are not excited to see Clara. Clara was raised in an isolated polygamist society in Utah and once she denounced her faith she was shunned. Now one of Clara’s many sisters, Delia is missing, and nobody is willing to talk. Where is Delia? And why did Clara leave this town years ago?

I have to say this book drew me in from the start. These creepy cornfields I could just feel and hear the wind running through the corn stocks. *shiver* The author did a really good job with creating a sense of place in this book. I found the structure of this polygamist society quite fascinating. Clara was a likable and interesting character and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better in future books. Max her old crush was a sweet guy and I’d love to see more of the two of them together. All in all this was a well done engaging start to a series.

This book in emojis 🌽 🔦 📿 👩‍👧

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

She didn’t notice the corn stalks shiver a few feet to her right. By the time she looked up, the man towered above her. In a single movement he wrapped one thick hand around her waist, the other he clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams.

Detective Clara Jefferies has spent years running from her childhood in Alber, Utah. But when she hears that her baby sister Delilah has disappeared, she knows that the peaceful community will be shattered, her family vulnerable, and that that she must face up to her past and go home.

Clara returns to find that her mother, Ardeth, has isolated her family by moving to the edge of town, in the shadow of the mountains. Ardeth refuses to talk to the police and won’t let Clara through the front door, believing she and her sister-wives can protect their own. But Clara knows better than anyone that her mother isn’t always capable of protecting her children.

When Clara finds out that two more girls have disappeared, all last seen around the cornfields near her family’s home, she realizes it’s not just Delilah who’s in danger. And then she gets a call that a body has been found…

Clara will have to dig deep into the town’s secrets if she’s going to find Delilah. But that will mean confronting the reason she left. And as she gets closer to Delilah, she might be putting her more at risk…

Gripping and spine-chilling, readers will love Detective Clara Jefferies, reading The Fallen Girls deep into the night. Fans of Kendra Elliot, Lisa Regan and Melinda Leigh won’t stop turning the pages of this unforgettable new series from bestselling and award-winning author Kathryn Casey.

About the Author

kathryncasey.com

https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.casey.509

@KathrynCasey

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2zDKLbP

Apple: https://apple.co/2AgcCic

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3c8HMWa

Google: https://bit.ly/2THaEyb

—

Have a delightful day! XOXO Berit🖤

Find Her Alive by Lisa Regan Book Review @bookouture

April 16, 2020April 15, 2020 / berittalksbooks / 1 Comment

Happy Thursday all! It is Thursday right?

How are you all doing? Not going to lie I’m starting to go a little stir crazy! Thank goodness for Books and especially for addictive books like this one!🚨

My Thoughts

Guess who’s back, back again
Josie’s back, tell a friend.

If you have not read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Lisa Regan has brilliantly plotted each of the books in this series and this might just be the best one yet! Explosive, tense, smart, suspenseful, addictive. Crime thrillers with well-developed characters and clever storylines. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I strongly encourage you to read them all. Josie is such a great character and there’s so much growth in her throughout these books. Also each story offers you a glimpse into each of the secondary characters backstories. This book gives us an opportunity to learn a little more about Trinity (Josie’slong lost twin sister).

Josie has not had contact with her sister Trinity a popular morning news host for several weeks, not since they had a bit of a fall out. When Josie is not able to contact her by phone she decides to head to the cabin where she has been staying. When she gets there she finds Trinity‘s car and purse, but no Trinity. She also finds human bones laid out in an artistic manner. Who’s bones are these? And do they have anything to do with what Trinity was investigating before she went missing? Once again Josie finds herself investigating a dark crime where Time is of the essence. Loved playing detective and investigating right along side Josie and crew. All the usual characters helped Josie with the investigation, my favorites of course being Noah and Gretchen. We also get to know Josie‘s parents better in this book as well as her brother Patrick. The mystery was intelligent and I loved how it incorporated shorthand and symbolism. Another winner in this excellent series!

This book in emojis 🚨💀🦅🎤📓🔎

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About the Book

Josie treads gently, careful not to disturb the pile of perfect white bones laid out in the grass by her feet. Her voice is little more than a whisper.
“No! Not my sister…”

Detective Josie Quinn hasn’t heard from her sister since Trinity stormed out of the house in the heat of an argument three weeks ago. So, when human remains are found at the remote hunting cabin where Trinity was last seen, Josie can only assume the worst.

Gathering her team, Josie feels a surge of relief when the dental records match a different body – that of a missing single mother from a neighboring town. But now Josie’s is not the only broken family desperate for answers.

Dusting the crime scene for prints, a name smudged into the side of a nearby car is the first in a trail of clues Trinity left for Josie. In need of a big story to save her journalism career, it seems Josie’s sister was attempting to make contact with a dangerous serial killer known for creating sculptures with his victim’s bones. And Trinity won’t stop until she’s found him, even if it means becoming his next masterpiece…

Josie is certain there’s a critical clue in the ivory hair comb delivered to Trinity just days before she went missing. But as more bones surface, each set more likely to be Trinity’s than the last, time is running out to find her alive. Can Josie’s team trust her instincts in a case that is so deeply personal? Can she find her sister without putting other innocent lives in danger?

An unputdownable crime thriller from an Amazon, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author that will have you sleeping with the light on. This gripping rollercoaster ride is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine. Prepare to be totally hooked!

About the Author

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Regan-189735444395923/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Lisalregan

WEBSITE: www.lisaregan.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6443334.Lisa_Regan

Let’s Connect!

Instagram|

Goodreads|

Twitter|

Have a splendid day!🦋

Berit☀️✨

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson Book Review @wmmorrowbooks @harperaudio @tlcbooktours

March 16, 2020 / berittalksbooks / 1 Comment

Hello lovely book people!

Have you read this one yet? I strongly encourage you to pick it up, it was so good! The perfect read while your social distancing.

My Thoughts

What a clever book! A captivating, compelling, and intelligent murder mystery. Peter Swanson has really hit it out of the park with this one. Not a thriller, but a well thought out, refreshing, murder mystery. A nod two classic mysteries of the past. Malcolm Kershaw owns the Old Devils Bookshop in Boston. He is an expert on all things Mystery books, even though he’s not reading them anymore. Mal is approached by an FBI agent who believes that a serial murder is using a list he posted on his blog years ago to commit murders. The blog post was about the eight perfect murders committed in literature. Perfect meaning the killer was almost guaranteed to get away with it. Mal is sucked up into the investigation not only to find out who is using his list, but also to prove his innocence. Tense and addictive I was completely hooked!

Graham Halstead does an exceptional job of narrating this audiobook. He really brought the perfect voice to Mal. His steller delivery and perfect pacing added some extra tension to this already engaging story. I loved all the literary references in this book. The story unfolded so well the perfect amount of twists, turns, and misdirection. I have seen other reviews mention that this book does spoil all the books on the perfect murder list and I suppose it does, but I also think it probably sparked some interest for those books as well. Mal was such a sympathetic yet quirky character who I didn’t quite trust, bu I was definitely rooting for. The secondary characters were all equally interesting and I cannot forget the cat Nero. Another winner from this exceptional author.

this book in emojis. 🔎 📚 ✍🏻 🧩 🐱

*** Big thank you to William Morrow & Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

About Eight Perfect Murders

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (March 3, 2020)

“Swanson rips us from one startling plot twist to the next… A true tour de force.” —Lisa Gardner

“Fiendish good fun.” —Anthony Horowitz

From the hugely talented author of Before She Knew Him comes a chilling tale of psychological suspense and an homage to the thriller genre tailor-made for fans: the story of a bookseller who finds himself at the center of an FBI investigation because a very clever killer has started using his list of fiction’s most ingenious murders.

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne’s Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox’s Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald’s The Drowner, and Donna Tartt’s A Secret History.

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. There is killer is out there, watching his every move—a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife.

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects . . . and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Photo by Jim Ferguson

About Peter Swanson

Peter Swanson is the author of five novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and his most recent, Before She Knew Him. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. He lives outside of Boston, where he is at work on his next novel.

Find out more about Peter on his website and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Last Day by Luanne Rice Book Review

February 21, 2020February 21, 2020 / berittalksbooks / 2 Comments

Happy weekend bibliophiles!

Do you like a good who done it with a beautiful setting? Then this is the book for you!🖼🌼

My Thoughts

Murder, Family secrets, infidelity, betrayal, friendship, and a tragic past. This was a who done it with a whole Lot of suspects. What I liked best about this story was the relationship between the sisters and how their past tragedy had ties to the current murder. The bulk of the story is told from the perspective of Kate and while I did like her she wasn’t easy to get to know. This was a story that kept me guessing… Red herrings, miss directions, loads of secrets, and plenty of suspects. The setting of the book added a lot of intrigue to the story. I was completely hooked until the very end and then I was kind of let down. The ending while it caught me completely by surprise, I cannot for the life of me figure out why this person behave the way they did?

This book in emojis. 🖼 🩸 🛩 🕵🏻

About the Book

SYNOPSIS: From celebrated New York Timesbestselling author Luanne Rice comes a riveting story of a seaside community shaken by a violent crime and a tragic loss.

Years ago, Beth Lathrop and her sister Kate suffered what they thought would be the worst tragedy of their lives the night both the famous painting Moonlight and their mother were taken. The detective assigned to the case, Conor Reid, swore to protect the sisters from then on.

Beth moved on, throwing herself fully into the art world, running the family gallery, and raising a beautiful daughter with her husband Pete. Kate, instead, retreated into herself and took to the skies as a pilot, always on the run. When Beth is found strangled in her home, and Moonlightgoes missing again, Detective Reid can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

Reid immediately suspects Beth’s husband, whose affair is a poorly kept secret. He has an airtight alibi—but he also has a motive, and the evidence seems to point to him. Kate and Reid, along with the sisters’ closest childhood friends, struggle to make sense of Beth’s death, but they only find more questions: Who else would have wanted Beth dead? What’s the significance of Moonlight?

Twenty years ago, Reid vowed to protect Beth and Kate—and he’s failed. Now solving the case is turning into an obsession . . .