Author: Christina McDonald

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood A lovely, moving story about how one parent’s decision to give up their Down Syndrome baby affects the entire family. When Ginny finds out the special school her daughter, Lucy, is being kept is squalid, she decides to take Lucy and run. But her husband and his domineering father are…

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben A first-class crime thriller that oddly vacillates between being really, really fast where I found myself completely immersed, and then really, really slow where I started skimming a little. Coben is the king of plotting, and is obviously an excellent writer, even if sometimes the plot did stretch credulity…

Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell My rating: 4 of 5 stars Clever, smart and with super-fast plotting, this crime novel is the first in a series. With a twisty plot and some really well-drawn characters, this was exactly what I needed for a quick, easy read. When DI Amy Winter receives a letter from…

The Wife by Alafair Burke My rating: 4 of 5 stars An excellent domestic suspense about a woman who’s husband has been accused of rape. Considering she’s been there, she’s put in a position of ‘believe the woman or believe the husband’ – Quite the predicament! While the first half is a little slow, the…

I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney My rating: 5 of 5 stars A tightly woven, intricately plotted, heart-in-your-throat thriller, I couldn’t put this book down! I Know Who You Are is expertly crafted and tightly plotted. I never once guessed the end – and that is something of a feat for me! Every…

Three Secrets by Clare Boyd Wow, this story revolves around one seriously dysfunctional family! With secrets and lies at every corner, it was sometimes hard to feel sympathetic to any of them, although they really came into their own as the story progressed. The pacing is slow, so go into it knowing that, but the…

Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little After her mother is killed, Janie Jenkins is convicted of her murder based on circumstantial evidence. But her memories of that night are missing. Released from prison on a technicality years later, Janie decides to find her mothers killer and clear her name. This sharp thriller has an abrasive, irritating,…

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker My rating: 5 of 5 stars A slow-burning, psychological thriller with a ton of mind games that will warp your sense of what’s true and who to trust! From a technical standpoint, this book is pretty much flawless. The dual narration is perfectly executed, flowing seamlessly between the…

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim My rating: 5 of 5 stars A captivating, tightly-woven courtroom drama with a crime at its heart and characters I loved to follow! This is a fantastic debut from Kim, who uses a courtroom as the launching pad to tell the story of a devastating crime that left two people…

Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf My rating: 5 of 5 stars Heather Gudenkauf is one of the most reliably excellent authors I’ve ever read, so I was delighted to read an early copy of Before She Was Found. The story is about three pre-teen girls who sneak out to the train tracks during…

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding My rating: 5 of 5 stars A VERY unsettling tale with echoes of Grimms Fairy Tales, Little Darlings is utterly captivating, gorgeously atmospheric and deliciously creepy. The story follows Lauren, who’s just given birth to twins. Exhausted and overwhelmed, Lauren isn’t coping well, and things go from bad to worse…

The Woods by Harlan Coben Such a fun, interesting read! I love Harlan Coben because, as a writer, I can learn so much for him. He hits every plot point perfectly and even the character development is great. Yes, it’s maybe a little formulaic, but you’ll definitely be entertained along the way. Lots of twists…