Kim Ebner's Blog, page 11

Dr. Potter's Medicine Show

Publication Date: 7 February 2017.This is a story about alchemy in the late 19th century. The story follows a group of entertainers and misfits in a freak show led by the violent and coldhearted, Lyman. Together with Dr. Potter, an opium addict and regular drunk, they are using the show as a platform to sell Chock-a-Saw Sagwa Tonic, a tonic that will cure all ailments of both body and mind. But for some, the tonic is anything but a help and leads to a fate worse than death.This novel came at just the right time for me. After a spate of nail biting thrillers, I needed to read something different, and this novel was that and more. I'd probably classify this novel as part historical fiction, part western and part fantasy. I can say with some confidence that this book won't be to everyone's taste, but I loved it. It's a strange read, filled with weird and fantastical happenings. The characters are largely unlikable, except for Sol and Ag, who I found truly hilarious. The brothers really lightened the mood in the scenes in which they appeared. One of the strengths of this novel is the quality of the writing. It's impressive. I was transported right into every scene and I lived the often gory events with each of the characters.  I could smell the damp grass, feel the pain in my hand as a finger was severed and see the disgust in Mercy's eyes whenever Lyman touched her. This novel did it for me on many levels. If one of the joys of reading is to be entertained, to go on an adventure, then this book filled me with joy. It was escapist and magical. But it's not all circus acts, smiling clowns and fairies. This novel is dark, and at times violent. So be warned. But with each turn of the page I was transported to a different era, to events that were both strange and bizarre, and I loved it.My rating: * * * *Thanks to author Eric Scott Fischl, the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

Those That Remain

Detective Lucas has recently returned to work after a traumatic experience, although we don't know what that experience is. The story then jumps back eight months. Cue the deranged serial killer - The Mechanic - so named for the macabre way in which the victims bodies are displayed. The victims, members of traditional family units, are positioned inside their own cars, in their own garages, the father in the front seat with the two children in the back. All have been shot in the head. But why, in each case, has the mother been spared? This is what Detective Lucas needs to figure out. Lucas is at a stage in his life where he's cruising towards retirement and he doesn't want or need a crazed serial killer on his hands, especially not one that had been confirmed dead three years earlier. But The Mechanic has returned from the dead and Lucas has no option but to stop him.I seem to remember that many years ago, serial killer novels were all the rage. I don't think they're as common these days, or maybe it's just that my reading tastes have changed. Either way, I haven't read a good serial killer book in a long time and so when I was offered the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at it. And boy, am I glad I did. This book ticked all the boxes for me - a sadistic, deranged serial killer, innocent victims that (mostly) pull at the heart strings, a likable detective to support and a plot that moves along at pace. What's not to like? Not much actually. This was a pretty fine read. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, and I felt a tiny bit lost during the first chapter introducing The Mechanic, but I had a feeling that everything would come together, and it did. And it didn't take long for that to happen either. This is a ride that had my heart beating faster than normal, especially during the chapters about The Mechanic and the attacks launched on the innocent victims. This isn't a specifically violent novel, but some of the actions of The Mechanic did make me squirm, and so they should. This is, after all, a book about a serial killer. It was a great read. Loved it.For those of you that decide to give this one a try, note that it's the first book in a trilogy. Yay! I'm looking forward to the others in the series.My rating: * * * *Many thanks to author Rob Ashman and TBC on Facebook for my copy. It was my pleasure to write a honest review.

Witness

Publication Date: 20 December 2016.Imagine being young and in love, the man of your dreams literally having run into your life during a marathon in support of cancer research. He's kind, charming, great with your ailing mother and most importantly, he adores you. Now, fast forward six months. Imagine living in fear, being verbally and physically abused for the slightest things, not being able to leave the house without permission, always having your guard up. Well, welcome to Rebecca's world. So, when Rebecca testifies against Solomon, her fiance, she knows that her life is about to change forever. When Solomon gets out of prison he'll want revenge, which means that she needs to disappear. But Solomon has other plans for her. It's time to play a game, one in which Rebecca will be the sole witness to a host of terrible crimes.This is a nail biter of a read with tension that increases with each chapter. Jumping between the current day and Rebecca's diary entries from 2007, a vivid picture is portrayed of her life with and after Solomon. I found the characters to be very real, although I did want to slap Rebecca at times for the decisions that she made. Having said that though, it's impossible to imagine how I would act after months at the hands of an abuser. The author, Caroline Mitchell, is a former police detective and I have no doubt that she draws on her experiences in order to create her stories. I could perhaps be exceptionally picky and say that certain elements of the story might have been slightly far fetched, but hey, this is fiction after all. And there was a nice little twist that I didn't see coming! Overall, this is a great read that I really enjoyed.My rating: * * * *Thanks to author Caroline Mitchell, the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

Witness

Publication Date: 20 December 2016.Imagine being young and in love, the man of your dreams literally having run into your life during a marathon in support of cancer research. He's kind, charming, great with your ailing mother and most importantly, he adores you. Now, fast forward six months. Imagine living in fear, being verbally and physically abused for the slightest things, not being able to leave the house without permission, always having your guard up. Well, welcome to Rebecca's world. So, when Rebecca testifies against Solomon, her fiance, she knows that her life is about to change forever. When Solomon gets out of prison he'll want revenge, which means that she needs to disappear. But Solomon has other plans for her. It's time to play a game, one in which Rebecca will be the sole witness to a host of terrible crimes.This is a nail biter of a read with tension that increases with each chapter. Jumping between the current day and Rebecca's diary entries from 2007, a vivid picture is portrayed of her life with and after Solomon. I found the characters to be very real, although I did want to slap Rebecca at times for the decisions that she made. Having said that though, it's impossible to imagine how I would act after months at the hands of an abuser. The author, Caroline Mitchell, is a former police detective and I have no doubt that she draws on her experiences in order to create her stories. I could perhaps be exceptionally picky and say that certain elements of the story might have been slightly far fetched, but hey, this is fiction after all. And there was a nice little twist that I didn't see coming! Overall, this is a great read that I really enjoyed.My rating: * * * *Thanks to author Caroline Mitchell, the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

Everything You Want Me To Be

Publication Date: 3 January 2017.Seventeen year old Hattie is a great actress. Not only is she wonderful in her annual school play, but her acting abilities transcend into her everyday life as well. Hattie will be whatever people want her to be - the academic, the achiever, the girl with her life on track. So, when Hattie is found brutally murdered in a barn - severe stab wounds to her chest and face - the small town that she lives in goes into shock. How could this happen to a young girl who has her life together, a girl who is clearly going places?This story is told from the point of view of three different narrators - Hattie herself, Del, the Sheriff assigned to the case who happens to be best friends with Hattie's father and Peter, the English teacher at Hattie's school. I generally love books with different narrators as I find that the different viewpoints give the novel depth. The reader is able to see and feel the story in different ways. And this novel was no exception. I loved the narrators and found the backstories engrossing. The character development in this novel was wonderful and by the end of the book, I felt as if I knew the characters intimately. I'm going to miss them all now that I've finished the book. The dialogue was also spot on and believable, the accents perfect. This was pure quality writing - fast paced, gripping, believable. At its heart, this is a crime novel, but actually it's so much more than that. This is a story about relationships in all their forms. It's a human story. I absolutely loved it!Bookworms, keep your eye on this one. I have a sneaky suspicion that this is going to be a big hit in 2017!My rating * * * * *Many thanks to Atria Books, author Mindy Mejia and Netgalley for my copy. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

The Couple Next Door

Book DescriptionMarco and Anne have a beautiful baby girl, Cora. They live in a nice house in a good area, so when Marco suggests that they leave the baby sleeping in her crib while they go to a dinner party at their neighbours, Anne tentatively agrees. They'll have the baby monitor on the whole time and they'll also take it in turns to check on her every 30 minutes. What could go wrong? But, when they arrive home just after 1am, their front door stands ajar and the baby is missing from her crib. And this is only the beginning of their nightmare. Detective Rasbach, a senior detective assigned to the case, has learnt one thing from his years on the force, and it's that people are capable of almost anything.My ReviewThis is the author's debut thriller and all I can say is that I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author. This is a read that twists and turns and never lets up on the pace. And the main theme of the novel, being that people are capable of almost anything, is thrust onto the reader time and time again as the various characters do things that you would never expect. I loved the idea behind this book and the concept that people, no matter what their background or how much money they have, can and will do things that you would never expect from them. It's a book about people's flaws, and about whether it's possible to ever truly know someone. I've read numerous comments describing this novel as a "marmite" novel, and to be honest, I didn't know what that meant. I've now learnt that it means that you either love it, or you hate it. Well, I fall into the latter category. If I had to criticize the novel on any level it would be that some of the character development seemed a little superficial, for example detective Rasbach. We never actually learn what makes him tick. That being said, this is still a great read that I gobbled up. I recommend it to fans of the psychological suspense / thriller genre.My rating: * * * *

When She Was Bad

Book Description​Doctor Anne Carter, a child psychologist who is starting out in her career, is assigned a very difficult child abuse case in the USA, one that will test her resolve and her ability to stand up to the experienced and much respected senior psychologist that she is working with. A number of years later in London, a group of people who have worked together happily for many years in a recruitment agency are lamenting the dismissal of their much loved boss and battling to come to terms with her replacement, Rachel, a woman who is making all their lives a misery. When the company bigwig decides that a team building session outside of the office will be a good idea, the once close group of friends and colleagues each drag themselves there filled with dread. The team building exercise that is supposed to bring them all together as a team, ends up doing nothing more increasing the divide between the already upset colleagues. Will they ever be able to be friends again or will their new boss destroy their friendships forever?My ReviewThis author is very quickly becoming one of my favourites. Her stories are always gripping and tense, and this one is no exception. Having worked in a corporate environment most of my life, I really felt for the employees who, after losing their wonderful boss, inherited a tyrant. My heart went out to the employees. Despite trying their best to impress their new boss, they all fell constantly short in their own ways, with some of them being singled out as the weakest links more often than others. The tension in the office and between the individuals grew with each turn of the page and I was absolutely hooked. Then there is the story line set in the USA many years before the story set in the office, and oh gosh, what a gripping story line that was as well. It was obvious that there must be a link between the two stories, but I couldn't see it. When the full link and story was revealed, it was a surprise and I didn't see it coming.This is an easy, fast paced read. I was truly and utterly gripped by it, and I really loved it. I'd recommend this book for fans of the psychological thriller genre. The suspense was great, and the story kept me interested and engaged.My rating * * * * *