Inspector Lynley investigates the London end of an ever more darkly disturbing case, with Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata looking behind the peaceful façade of country life to discover a twisted world of desire and deceit. The suicide of William Goldacre is devastating to those left behind. But what was the cause of his tragedyContinue reading “A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George”
Author Archives: marypicken
Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson, translated by Quentin Bates
When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life. An avalancheContinue reading “Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson, translated by Quentin Bates”
The Turning Tide by Brooke Magnanti
Erykah Macdonald has a nice life – the kind of life you’re meant to want. But on her twentieth wedding anniversary, she’s about to cross a line. Several hundred miles away in the shallow waters of a Hebridean island, a body is found. It’s been in the water long enough to make identification tricky butContinue reading “The Turning Tide by Brooke Magnanti”
Reviewer’s Dilemma
Can’t exactly classify this as a problem, but I realised while I was away over Christmas that I have a huge backlog of books that I want to read but haven’t got round to. And the reason for that is that the books I am reviewing take precedence in my reading, so that I canContinue reading “Reviewer’s Dilemma”
The Ex by Alafair Burke
In this breakout standalone thriller in the tradition of Gillian Flynn, William Landay and Paula Hawkins, a lawyer agrees to help an old boyfriend who has been accused of murder-but begins to suspect that she is the one being manipulated. Widower Jack Harris has resisted the dating scene since the shooting of his wife byContinue reading “The Ex by Alafair Burke”
Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary
You’ll never be out of Harm’s way The young girl who causes the fatal car crash disappears from the scene. A runaway who doesn’t want to be found, she only wants to go home. To the one man who understands her. Gives her shelter. Just as he gives shelter to the other lost girls whoContinue reading “Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary”
The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore
Dr. Caleb Maddox is a crack San Francisco toxicologist leading a ground-breaking study of the human pain threshold based on minute analysis of chemical markers. He has also just broken up with his artist girlfriend after she discovered a shocking family secret in his past. Seeking solace, Caleb finds a dark, old-fashioned saloon called HouseContinue reading “The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore”
The Widow by Fiona Barton
We’ve all seen him: the man – the monster – staring from the front page of every newspaper, accused of a terrible crime. But what about her: the woman who grips his arm on the courtroom stairs – the wife who stands by him? Jean Taylor’s life was blissfully ordinary. Nice house, nice husband. GlenContinue reading “The Widow by Fiona Barton”
The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood
Apologies for the general email, but I desperately need your help. My goddaughter, Coco Jackson, disappeared from her family’s holiday home in Bournemouth on the night of Sunday/Monday August 29/30th, the bank holiday weekend just gone. Coco is three years old. When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a mediaContinue reading “The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood”
Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz
There is, of course, tension and malevolence, but it is threaded through with a gentler exploration of self-awareness and imagination.