Category: Book reviews

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.…

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 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…

The Last Breath by Kimberly Belle My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fantastically plotted Whydunnit, more than a Whodunnit. The Last Breath follows humanitarian aid worker Gia Andrews as she returns home to take care of her dying father, who has been released from jail on compassionate grounds after famously murdering her stepmother over…

Those Girls by Chevy Stevens My rating: 5 of 5 stars Those Girls was an easy, fast read about three sisters who’ve had a seriously hard life. Forced to run from their alcoholic, abusive father, they soon find themselves in even more danger on the road. Eighteen years later they’ve changed their names and tried…

With or Without You: Are you ever sure you made the right decision? by Shari Low My rating: 5 of 5 stars As the millennium approaches, Liv must make a choice: stay married to the man who’s become more friend than lover or leave her safe marriage and break out on her own in the…

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller My rating: 4 of 5 stars A literary novel recommended by book clubs and lauded for its complex themes and beautiful writing. Structurally, Swimming Lessons moves seamlessly between the present, when Flora arrives to see her ailing father, and the past, with letters written by Flora’s mother, who went missing…

Love Will Tear Us Apart: The totally captivating new novel from the author of Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon My rating: 5 of 5 stars A sophisticated, graceful and poignant exploration of love in all its many forms. Holly Seddon’s newest novel, Love Will Tear Us Apart, unfurls slowly, like a rose in…

Missing Pieces by Laura Pearson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Elegant, honest and breathtakingly beautiful, Laura Pearson’s debut novel is an impressive and raw portrayal of how one tragedy affects an entire family. In this captivating story Pearson explores the fragility of childhood and how trauma inherently changes our future, focusing on themes of…

The Day of the Accident by Nuala Ellwood My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nualla Ellwood has leapt the hurdle of the sophomore novel effortlessly and gracefully. The Night of the Accident is an intriguing, compelling and surprising thriller, with a deliciously complex plot, and realistic characters I didn’t exactly trust, but liked and rooted…

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love B.A. Paris! While I figured out the twist really early on, I think that’s more to do with my twisted mind than anything else! Finn’s character was very well balanced – he was annoying and selfish, yet I found myself still…

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica My rating: 5 of 5 stars Equally intriguing and surprising, The Good Girl is full of sharp, flawed characters and compelling plotting that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could to see how it would end. The story follows Mia, who is kidnapped by Colin. Colin…