Before I Let You In by Jenny Blackhurst My rating: 4 of 5 stars A very clever novel with lots of twists and turns, Before I Let You In follows Karen, Bea and Eleanor who have been friends since they were kids. One day Karen, who’s just received a big promotion as a psychiatrist, starts…
Author: Christina McDonald
If I Die Before I Wake - Emily Koch
If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch My rating: 4 of 5 stars A cleverly written psychological thriller written from the POV of a victim who everybody thinks is in a coma. The twist is he can actually still hear, feel and think. He’s trapped inside his own body while trying to figure…
I Never Lie - Jody Sabral
I Never Lie by Jody Sabral My rating: 4 of 5 stars I Never Lie is a compulsive, easy read that I sped through. It is a book about addiction and its consequences, centering on the protagonist’s alcoholism. The story follows Alex, a self-destructive reporter who fled to London from Manchester after a traumatic incident…
Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng My rating: 5 of 5 stars Truly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Everything I Never Told You opens with the death of teenager Lydia, Marilyn and James Lee’s favorite middle child. Both have had their share of disappointments in life and…
All the Hidden Truths - Claire Askew
All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew My rating: 5 of 5 stars This captivating crime novel deftly balances that perfect line between moving and gripping, tackling a topical and emotive issue that has been in the headlines a lot lately. A why-dunnit rather than a who-dunnit crime novel, you see the crime and how…
Unraveling Oliver - Liz Nugent
Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent My rating: 4 of 5 stars A cleverly written why-dunnit, in which Oliver, a handsome, charming man, has beaten his wife Alice near to death. In the aftermath, Oliver tells his story and we learn why he did it. Unravelling Oliver does a great job of creating suspense and tension.…
My journey to publication – The full story
My journey to publication – The full story I’ve never liked New Year’s resolutions. I think they’re unrealistic and silly. If I make a resolution it’s a life resolution, something I’m willing to work at forever. But back in January 2011 I was chatting with my sister and her husband about a story I’d read…
The Fear - C.L. Taylor
The Fear by C.L. Taylor My rating: 4 of 5 stars CL Taylor is a reliably excellent author, and she has again provided a fantastic thriller about sensitive subject matter. The story follows Lou Wandsworth, who ran away to France with her teacher Mike when she was 13. Now, at 32, she discovers he’s grooming…
Thirteen - Steve Cavanagh
Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh My rating: 5 of 5 stars Whoa! This book should come with a warning – don’t start right before bed! I stayed up late reading and then had to catch my breath after putting it down. A slick, fast-paced legal thriller that had me racing through the pages to find out…