Lee Allen's Blog, page 30
August 19, 2019
Steve Cavanagh's The Defence - Review
The Defence by Steve CavanaghMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
An intense, gripping legal thriller by Steve Cavanagh, introducing the character of Eddie Flynn, reluctant lawyer and reformed conman.
Accosted by members of the Russian Mafia, Eddie is forced, under threat of his daughter’s life, to take on the case of mob boss Olek Volchek, who is on trial for murder. But it’s not an acquittal they seek – they wish Eddie to plant a bomb to dispose of the key witness in the trial, who is currently in witness protection and known to the public only as Witness X. Volchek knows who betrayed him, but is unable to access him until he arrives in court. Left with little choice, his daughter kidnapped and her life hanging in the balance, Eddie smuggles the bomb past security into the courthouse.
As he familiarises himself with the case, determined to save his daughter’s life and avoid taking the life of Witness X if possible, Eddie believes he may have a chance of winning Volchek’s case. He knows even that won’t guarantee his daughter’s life and comes up with a daring plan to ensure her safety, having to thwart not only his captors, but the FBI agents with a keen interest in the case and now in him.
Eddie Flynn is an endearing, relatable character – he reminded me of John Grisham’s Mitch McDeere (featured in ‘The Firm’), with a dash of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher thrown in. You could easily imagine Tom Cruise playing him in a film adaptation. Delving into his backstory throughout the novel, we learn how he turned his back on his criminal past to become a defence attorney, before also turning his back on the law after losing his family, now forced to return to both careers against his will. This isn’t a straightforward or typical legal thriller, as much as Flynn isn’t a straightforward or typical lawyer.
Seizing you from its opening scene, ‘The Defence’ barrels relentlessly through to its conclusion. A superb debut novel; a high-stakes legal thriller packed with courtroom dramatics, gangland villains, breath-taking action and edge-of-your seat suspense. I cannot wait to read more from Steve Cavanagh and Eddie Flynn.
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August 13, 2019
Those Crimes of Passion
Seven years ago, I published my first novel Those Crimes of Passion.
A labour of love, it was written over a decade ago, in between studying for my GSCE’s and A Levels. I was becoming rapidly disillusioned with school and the education system in general. I wanted to write, to be creative, to immerse myself in subjects that interested me. Looking back over my final two years in school, I can only remember enjoying Religion & Philosophy, some History topics and the single creative writing project in English. I would often be seen taking walks around the school grounds by my Biology teacher; he would berate me for not studying the subject, but my mind was elsewhere. I was with Jennifer and Jonathan, coming up against organised crime, police corruption, sadistic predators and trials of the heart.
When I left school, I approached a few publishing agents, receiving rejections and a handwritten response advising one agency had recently been wound down. I saw RJ Ellory speak at my local library – hearing the number of submissions he made before obtaining a publishing deal was staggering. It was something I couldn’t support at the time, while I struggled in other ways. I was no longer writing.
Through voluntary work and starting work at a training company, I began to talk about my passion again and the novel I had completed. I was introduced to self-publishing through a colleague who published her self-help book and I wondered if I could do the same with fiction. I returned to the Crimes of Passion draft and began editing. A recent acquisition by the company I worked for brought with it graphics design tools, while I worked with an artistic friend on the cover design. I began formatting, crafting the synopsis, rediscovering my dream. I’d still collected ideas in the intervening years and was beginning work on new projects again.
I became obsessive about editing and proof-reading the retitled Those Crimes of Passion manuscript. Overcoming the anxiety and feelings of inadequacy to finally publish was difficult, but I pushed through it. I remember when I received the first copy of my first book in the post – a truly surreal and emotional moment. Those Crimes of Passion was published on August 13th, 2012. I received some fantastic support and feedback, which remains special to me to this day.
Now, seven years later, working on new projects, with two other books already published, it remains a defining moment in my life.
_______
We are all capable of the most unimaginable things. But many of us never find out what they are.
A school is locked in an atmosphere of unease and suspicion, and a young woman is brutally raped by a dangerous assailant. But events are soon to spiral out of control for Jennifer Kraystone and her friend Jonathan Baker. Caught in a web of crime and corruption, they are finding they can truly trust no one, while finally embracing the feelings they have denied themselves for so long.
But as their lives rip apart, can their growing passion protect them through all they must face, or will it ultimately threaten to corrupt their relationship with tragedy?
_______
Read on for a sample below:
Prologue
Dark shadows coiled tightly around the little light eyes could find, as fingers of ice caressed every inch of bare flesh. He’d have sworn it was set to be warmer than this, after the unusually bright and shiny day they’d had. But he supposed it was now winter – at least, that’s what this night marked; the beginning, though it was now an excuse for complete debauchery. But that was the way he liked it. He took a final drag and stamped out the cigarette in the gravel, a quiet wisp of smoke rising from the sodden ground.
As he turned to head back inside, he felt he was being watched. He looked out into the darkness, and something from the not-so-distant past seemed to return to the forefront of his mind, and he smiled to himself. An old friend whispered in his ear. It was as if he was back. It was time again. Nearly time anyhow. He took one last look at the desolate darkness before disappearing back inside.
As he went in, the figure hidden in the bushes moved uncomfortably, before emerging from their prickly cover. The blood coursed to his crotch, the aching, straining pleasure becoming almost too much to bear in his tight trousers. But that only made it all the more interesting. He crept to the window, gingerly looking inside to see his adversary moving across the dance floor. He was desperate to get inside, spying out his prey sat at the bar, bare legs entwined around each other; almost tighter and tighter, like a vice. That’s how it would feel. For both of them.
He shrank quickly back as two people headed for the door, laughing merrily. Their macabre costumes did nothing to deter their obvious attraction. Had they been anyone else they’d have disappeared already tonight, however these two seemed to be afraid of something. It only worked in his favour - he’d always be the first to go there. He shrank back into the bushes as they appeared outside.
“Nat is clearly completely off her face now,” the girl said, standing close to her male companion.
“You know Simeon’s still got the hots for her.”
“And how about you?” she giggled playfully. “Who have you got the hots for?”
“I don’t think I need to answer that.”
“Why not?”
“You know.”
“No. I don’t.”
“Yes you do, you little minx.” She broke down in a fit of giggles, staggering slightly, and he grasped her, their bodies clashing comfortably. Her giggling abruptly stopped, as she looked up at him.
“You know what?” she said, her face getting closer to his.
“What?” He stared at her slightly parted lips, his own moving closer.
“Jen!” The girl in the doorway seemed unaware of what was happening.
“What is it Rox?”
“Just need to talk to you for a bit. Do you mind Jonathan?”
He paused, the look in his eyes saying he minded very much, but he slowly shook his head. The girl in his arms looked at him, the glistening blue crystals apologising as she was yanked away. Jonathan soon followed them back inside.
Having been reluctant to breathe, the figure began to emerge from the bushes, just as his adversary appeared, as if from nowhere.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing,” came the hoarse reply.
“You know I thought it was you when I was having a fag earlier.” He neared him, a hint of menace in his posture. “You won’t do it you know. You never could. You lack my assertiveness, my charm, my…magnetism.”
He simply turned from him and disappeared into the night. Give it time, then he’d show him. Rage burned in his heart, and he thought of those unassuming, pretty little things he’d watched through the window. With all their short dresses and prim little bodies bursting out in a carnal delight. One day they would feel his wrath. And still he felt the moaning ache in his trousers.
Still stood by the open door, his adversary lit another cigarette, quickly puffing on it before stamping it out. Droplets of rain fell on him, and he felt a chill wind on the open neck of his shirt. Retreating inside, he bumped into an attractive brunette and grinned to himself.
“Natasha,” he whispered. “You alright?”
She looked up at him, her eyes huge and drugged. She murmured something and stumbled forward, her head resting on his chest, and she laughed quietly. He tilted her head up towards his, and she moved closer to him. He covered her open mouth fully, his tongue roughly passing her lips, her feeble drunken kiss responding to him automatically. As he withdrew, she still seemed completely unaware, and sank into a nearby chair.
He walked off toward the toilets, catching the eye of the blond stood by the door. He glanced around the room and saw Jennifer at a table; drink in her hand. She tilted her head and took a long sip. It wouldn’t be long now. He entered a cubicle and undid his trousers, closing the cubicle door. He looked down at the girl on her knees, pushing her head toward him as he leant back against the cubicle partition.
“What a night,” he muttered, as she pulled back from him, her wide eyes looking up at him, her mouth wet. He zipped himself up and opened the cubicle door, dragging her to her feet before returning to the dance floor, the heavy sound of disco filling his eardrums. Glancing around, he saw his prey leaving the group of girls she was dancing with and disappear to find a seat. He found her and sat down beside her.
“Fancy a dance Jen?”
She shook her head, suddenly feeling quite dizzy. Her mouth was dry, and she swallowed uncomfortably, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She began to stand up, not quite sure of where she wanted to go - before she was suddenly on the ground, aware of people gathering around her, someone calling her name. The lights danced in front of her glazing eyes, the music pounding inside her head. She could feel herself slipping away, disappearing in a haze of blackness.
_______
Continue reading with:
Amazon Kindle
Apple Books
Rakuten Kobo
Barnes & Noble NOOK
Also available in multiple formats on Amazon and Lulu.com.
A labour of love, it was written over a decade ago, in between studying for my GSCE’s and A Levels. I was becoming rapidly disillusioned with school and the education system in general. I wanted to write, to be creative, to immerse myself in subjects that interested me. Looking back over my final two years in school, I can only remember enjoying Religion & Philosophy, some History topics and the single creative writing project in English. I would often be seen taking walks around the school grounds by my Biology teacher; he would berate me for not studying the subject, but my mind was elsewhere. I was with Jennifer and Jonathan, coming up against organised crime, police corruption, sadistic predators and trials of the heart.
When I left school, I approached a few publishing agents, receiving rejections and a handwritten response advising one agency had recently been wound down. I saw RJ Ellory speak at my local library – hearing the number of submissions he made before obtaining a publishing deal was staggering. It was something I couldn’t support at the time, while I struggled in other ways. I was no longer writing.
Through voluntary work and starting work at a training company, I began to talk about my passion again and the novel I had completed. I was introduced to self-publishing through a colleague who published her self-help book and I wondered if I could do the same with fiction. I returned to the Crimes of Passion draft and began editing. A recent acquisition by the company I worked for brought with it graphics design tools, while I worked with an artistic friend on the cover design. I began formatting, crafting the synopsis, rediscovering my dream. I’d still collected ideas in the intervening years and was beginning work on new projects again.
I became obsessive about editing and proof-reading the retitled Those Crimes of Passion manuscript. Overcoming the anxiety and feelings of inadequacy to finally publish was difficult, but I pushed through it. I remember when I received the first copy of my first book in the post – a truly surreal and emotional moment. Those Crimes of Passion was published on August 13th, 2012. I received some fantastic support and feedback, which remains special to me to this day.
Now, seven years later, working on new projects, with two other books already published, it remains a defining moment in my life.
_______
We are all capable of the most unimaginable things. But many of us never find out what they are.
A school is locked in an atmosphere of unease and suspicion, and a young woman is brutally raped by a dangerous assailant. But events are soon to spiral out of control for Jennifer Kraystone and her friend Jonathan Baker. Caught in a web of crime and corruption, they are finding they can truly trust no one, while finally embracing the feelings they have denied themselves for so long.
But as their lives rip apart, can their growing passion protect them through all they must face, or will it ultimately threaten to corrupt their relationship with tragedy?
_______
Read on for a sample below:
Prologue
Dark shadows coiled tightly around the little light eyes could find, as fingers of ice caressed every inch of bare flesh. He’d have sworn it was set to be warmer than this, after the unusually bright and shiny day they’d had. But he supposed it was now winter – at least, that’s what this night marked; the beginning, though it was now an excuse for complete debauchery. But that was the way he liked it. He took a final drag and stamped out the cigarette in the gravel, a quiet wisp of smoke rising from the sodden ground.
As he turned to head back inside, he felt he was being watched. He looked out into the darkness, and something from the not-so-distant past seemed to return to the forefront of his mind, and he smiled to himself. An old friend whispered in his ear. It was as if he was back. It was time again. Nearly time anyhow. He took one last look at the desolate darkness before disappearing back inside.
As he went in, the figure hidden in the bushes moved uncomfortably, before emerging from their prickly cover. The blood coursed to his crotch, the aching, straining pleasure becoming almost too much to bear in his tight trousers. But that only made it all the more interesting. He crept to the window, gingerly looking inside to see his adversary moving across the dance floor. He was desperate to get inside, spying out his prey sat at the bar, bare legs entwined around each other; almost tighter and tighter, like a vice. That’s how it would feel. For both of them.
He shrank quickly back as two people headed for the door, laughing merrily. Their macabre costumes did nothing to deter their obvious attraction. Had they been anyone else they’d have disappeared already tonight, however these two seemed to be afraid of something. It only worked in his favour - he’d always be the first to go there. He shrank back into the bushes as they appeared outside.
“Nat is clearly completely off her face now,” the girl said, standing close to her male companion.
“You know Simeon’s still got the hots for her.”
“And how about you?” she giggled playfully. “Who have you got the hots for?”
“I don’t think I need to answer that.”
“Why not?”
“You know.”
“No. I don’t.”
“Yes you do, you little minx.” She broke down in a fit of giggles, staggering slightly, and he grasped her, their bodies clashing comfortably. Her giggling abruptly stopped, as she looked up at him.
“You know what?” she said, her face getting closer to his.
“What?” He stared at her slightly parted lips, his own moving closer.
“Jen!” The girl in the doorway seemed unaware of what was happening.
“What is it Rox?”
“Just need to talk to you for a bit. Do you mind Jonathan?”
He paused, the look in his eyes saying he minded very much, but he slowly shook his head. The girl in his arms looked at him, the glistening blue crystals apologising as she was yanked away. Jonathan soon followed them back inside.
Having been reluctant to breathe, the figure began to emerge from the bushes, just as his adversary appeared, as if from nowhere.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing,” came the hoarse reply.
“You know I thought it was you when I was having a fag earlier.” He neared him, a hint of menace in his posture. “You won’t do it you know. You never could. You lack my assertiveness, my charm, my…magnetism.”
He simply turned from him and disappeared into the night. Give it time, then he’d show him. Rage burned in his heart, and he thought of those unassuming, pretty little things he’d watched through the window. With all their short dresses and prim little bodies bursting out in a carnal delight. One day they would feel his wrath. And still he felt the moaning ache in his trousers.
Still stood by the open door, his adversary lit another cigarette, quickly puffing on it before stamping it out. Droplets of rain fell on him, and he felt a chill wind on the open neck of his shirt. Retreating inside, he bumped into an attractive brunette and grinned to himself.
“Natasha,” he whispered. “You alright?”
She looked up at him, her eyes huge and drugged. She murmured something and stumbled forward, her head resting on his chest, and she laughed quietly. He tilted her head up towards his, and she moved closer to him. He covered her open mouth fully, his tongue roughly passing her lips, her feeble drunken kiss responding to him automatically. As he withdrew, she still seemed completely unaware, and sank into a nearby chair.
He walked off toward the toilets, catching the eye of the blond stood by the door. He glanced around the room and saw Jennifer at a table; drink in her hand. She tilted her head and took a long sip. It wouldn’t be long now. He entered a cubicle and undid his trousers, closing the cubicle door. He looked down at the girl on her knees, pushing her head toward him as he leant back against the cubicle partition.
“What a night,” he muttered, as she pulled back from him, her wide eyes looking up at him, her mouth wet. He zipped himself up and opened the cubicle door, dragging her to her feet before returning to the dance floor, the heavy sound of disco filling his eardrums. Glancing around, he saw his prey leaving the group of girls she was dancing with and disappear to find a seat. He found her and sat down beside her.
“Fancy a dance Jen?”
She shook her head, suddenly feeling quite dizzy. Her mouth was dry, and she swallowed uncomfortably, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She began to stand up, not quite sure of where she wanted to go - before she was suddenly on the ground, aware of people gathering around her, someone calling her name. The lights danced in front of her glazing eyes, the music pounding inside her head. She could feel herself slipping away, disappearing in a haze of blackness.
_______
Continue reading with:
Amazon Kindle
Apple Books
Rakuten Kobo
Barnes & Noble NOOK
Also available in multiple formats on Amazon and Lulu.com.
June 29, 2019
Thomas Harris' Cari Mora - Review
Cari Mora by Thomas HarrisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thomas Harris is back! The creator of Hannibal Lecter returns with his first novel since ‘Hannibal Rising’ in 2006, his first standalone novel since his debut ‘Black Sunday’ in 1975.
The novel revolves around eponymous character Caridad “Cari” Mora, a young immigrant living in Miami on Temporary Protected Status, currently working multiple jobs, one as caretaker to a mansion previously owned by Pablo Escobar. It has been long-rumoured that millions of dollars in gold has been hidden beneath the mansion. A ruthless gang, led by Hans-Peter Schneider, is determined to uncover it. Schneider’s sadistic appetites draw him to Cari, placing her in peril beyond her proximity to the gold. Meanwhile, mob boss Don Ernesto is determined to reach the gold before Schneider, dispatching his own gang to recover Escobar’s millions.
The novels layers are carefully applied like the construction of a piece of fine art. Schneider is a twisted villain - the pleasures he and his associates enjoy send shivers down your spine. He does not have the finesse of Hannibal Lecter, more a truly diabolical character like Mason Verger (who featured in ‘Hannibal’). Cari is a kind young woman, scarred by the horrors of war, having escaped her country and not succumbed to the pain inflicted on her – she is kind and gentle, with ambitions to become a veterinarian. She is drawn into the stand-off between both criminal gangs, reluctantly agreeing to help Don Ernesto’s team when one of their number is killed.
The gold is heavily protected. As they close in, dangers lurk out of sight and the stakes get higher, while Schneider is determined to close in on his ultimate prize once the gold has been recovered. It will take all Cari’s strength and determination to survive.
‘Cari Mora’ is a delicious indulgence of a novel – incredibly fast-paced, multi-layered, with a large cast of characters. It’s difficult not to race through to the finish, but to do so would risk you losing track of the character threads. Cari herself is an endearing creation, a strong-willed, damaged young woman, fighting back against the men who seek to use and abuse her.
Harris is a master of the crime genre. Rumours of two new books circulated prior to the publication of ‘Hannibal Rising’, so it has been a long wait of thirteen years for the second of those. I hope it won’t be quite so long to wait for another and would welcome further standalone crime stories in the vein of ‘Cari Mora’.
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June 22, 2019
James Patterson & Candice Fox's Never Never - Review
Never Never by James PattersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Having enjoyed the Bookshots novella ‘Black & Blue’ which introduced us to sex crimes Detective Harriet “Harry” Blue, I’ve been looking forward to her continuing story in the first novel in the series and it did not disappoint.
‘Never Never’ picks up where ‘Black & Blue’ left off - Harry discovers her brother, Sam, has been arrested for the murders of multiple young women. Her boss and mentor wants her away from the media frenzy that will inevitably follow, assigning her to the case of an unexplained death, following the discovery of a foot belonging to a missing person, last seen at a mining camp in the middle of the Australian outback where he had been working. Along with a new partner whom she suspects of being in place to keep an eye on her, Harry soon finds that the missing person is one of three, revealing a deadly game is in play with the victims as prey.
Unsure who she can trust, feeling isolated and distracted by the mystery surrounding her brother’s case, Harry is unaware how much danger she is in as she pursues a devious killer, exploring the camp and the nearby 'base' of a protesting environmentalist group, who object to the damage the mining is causing. She uncovers numerous motives, but who would go so far as to kill? While the twist may not be unpredictable, it is delivered well, the final showdown between Harry and the killer delivered with a bang.
Harry is strong-willed, defiant and at times impulsive, driven to be a voice for the victims and to uncover the wrongdoing against them. The allegations against her brother cause her great conflict. This dilemma drives the novel, despite being unlinked to the main investigation; the development of Harry’s character being the central narrative, while the arc of her brother’s case, continuing from ‘Black & Blue’, simmers away in the background, revisited in the finale, setting up the sequel ‘Fifty Fifty’.
Fast-paced and featuring James Patterson's trademark short, punchy chapters, 'Never Never' is great for reading while travelling or relaxing on holiday.
Black & Blue by James PattersonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A gripping novella introducing a brand new series by James Patterson and Candice Fox.
Detective Harriet "Harry" Blue is called to the scene of the discovery of a young woman's body - believed to be the latest victim of the Georges River Killer. Alongside her new partner, Tate "Tox" Barnes, Harry soon uncovers that their case may not be as straightforward as it first appears.
Featuring well-written and developed characters, 'Black & Blue' is an enjoyable police procedural and a fantastic introduction to Detective Harry Blue, with a shattering twist that will have implications stretching far into the series' future.
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June 15, 2019
Robert Thorogood's The Killing of Polly Carter - Review
The Killing Of Polly Carter by Robert ThorogoodMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
DI Richard Poole and the team return to solve another intriguing murder mystery on the island of Saint Marie, in the second novel from the creator of the BBC series ‘Death in Paradise’.
Richard is still stranded on Saint Marie, suffering its many discomforts and indignities. To make matters worse, his mother is due to visit and he is scheduled to pick her up from the airport. But he is soon thrown into a new case – ex-supermodel Polly Carter has fallen from a cliff, minutes after declaring she’s going to commit suicide and running down the cliff steps away from her disabled sister, the exchange overheard by her sister’s nurse. Richard becomes convinced she was murdered – but how could the murderer have committed their crime and escaped unseen? This is the first of many questions in a case that features many twists and turns.
In the same way as each episode of the TV series, the suspects are introduced to us early in the story, part of the joy for the reader found in theorising whodunit alongside the detectives. The team are as entertaining as they are on television, written with the same wit and humour with which they are portrayed by the actors. The suspects are well-written, their backstories explored to reveal their potential motives. ‘Death in Paradise’ has always done well in balancing drama and comedy, keeping the mood light-hearted while at the same time never detracting from the seriousness of the crimes. Much of the humour comes from the characters and their personal interactions – Richard’s dilemma arising from his mother’s visit playing alongside the case, giving us a rare insight into the emotion hidden behind the buttoned-up Englishman. The mystery concludes with a satisfying revelation of the murderer, showcasing Thorogood’s clever sleight-of-hand writing (to highlight particular scenes would spoil the ending).
‘The Killing of Polly Carter’ feels like a feature-length episode in written form; an enjoyable follow-up to ‘A Meditation on Murder’ and continuing addition to the TV series, currently in production of its ninth series, with a tenth also commissioned, featuring its third lead detective in DI Jack Mooney. Thorogood has also published two further novels – ‘Death Knocks Twice’ and ‘Murder in the Caribbean’ – so there's still plenty more mystery and intrigue to enjoy in the company of original series lead DI Richard Poole and the rest of the original team.
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June 9, 2019
Caroline Kepnes' You - Review
You by Caroline KepnesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An intense psychological thriller that approaches the romance genre from an unconventional angle; the first in a series by Caroline Kepnes, which has been adapted as a TV series, with a second series currently in production by Netflix.
Joe Goldberg runs a bookstore, watching the comings and goings of his customers on a daily basis. When Guinevere Beck, known to her friends as Beck, becomes one of his customers, he is instantly and deeply attracted to her – an aspiring writer, witty and gorgeous, she’s probably the woman of his dreams. So, he begins to follow her, watching her at home, in her intimate moments, when she’s with her boyfriend and friends and generally living her daily life. A near-fatal moment at a train station provides Joe his opportunity to enter Beck’s life, escalating his already barely controlled obsession.
They begin to develop a relationship, while Joe continues to stalk Beck, gaining an insight into her innermost thoughts and feelings, the true nature of her relationships with friends and family, and how she really feels about him. It soon becomes clear that Beck has her own demons and that this collision between them may have drastic and tragic consequences.
The novel’s core strength is the relationship between Joe and Beck, capturing both the addictive romance between them and Joe’s burgeoning obsession perfectly, laced with eroticism and fantasy, building to several tense moments. Joe’s violent interactions with other characters are secondary to his encounters with Beck and at times feel like mere distractions, though this is in keeping with the psychological realism – Beck is the centre of his world and everything and everyone else fades in comparison, and the reader is drawn in and taken along with his obsession.
There are several tense, escalating scenes throughout the novel, where you expect Joe's world to come crashing down in the next moment, all leading to a thrilling climax as Joe and Beck's relationship finally implodes.
Addictive and lightning-paced, ‘You’ is an exciting debut novel – I will be eagerly reading the sequel ‘Hidden Bodies’ as well as Kepnes’ standalone novel – ‘Providence’. She is also working on a third and fourth in this series; no doubt there is much more intensity and obsession to come.
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June 1, 2019
Stephen King & Owen King's Sleeping Beauties - Review
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen KingMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A supernaturally-charged apocalyptic epic from Stephen King and his son Owen King.
Stephen King, as well as being a master of horror, is known for his apocalyptic epics, amongst them the superlative ‘The Stand’, and this novel is evidence that his son Owen also possesses the same skill and imagination. Such stories are incredibly timely in the current global political climate, the authors evoking the unease and societal disintegration that can escape no one’s attention in the age of technology and social media.
The novel takes place in the town of Dooling, while all around the world women are falling prey to a mysterious pandemic – they fall into a sleep from which they don’t wake, cocoons developing around their slumbering bodies, a phenomena that becomes known as Aurora, named after the princess in the Disney adaption of the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ fairy tale. Concerned and panicked men attempt to break some of these cocoons, with fatal consequences. Meanwhile, a preternatural woman, Evie, has arrived in Dooling, destroying a meth lab and killing the drug dealers with her bare hands, which brings her to the attention of local sheriff, Lila Norcross. Lila’s husband, Clint, is a psychiatrist at the nearby women’s prison, where Aurora begins to affect the inmates.
As more women and girls fall prey to Aurora, anarchy rises, men either giving up or allowing aggression to rise to the surface. It takes little time for society to begin crumbling, organisations such as the sheriff’s department, hospitals and the correctional facilities succumbing to the strain. Volunteers step into the breach, but their intentions may not be altruistic, motivated instead by their own agendas. Amongst the terror and panic, it becomes clear that Evie is different to all the other women – she can sleep and wake again, unaffected by Aurora.
While our world is falling to pieces, the sleeping women find themselves in a new world and must face the challenges of their separation from their male loved ones and the opportunity to live life without the dominance and aggression of men. The novel explores this delicately - another crucial theme at a time when women are fighting back against their abusers, while as a society we are striving to achieve gender equality and snuff out patriarchal prejudices. Politically, prejudice is a monster from which society is struggling to shake free; the novel explores how we should depart from the mistakes of the past – whether we should cut ties and start over, or learn from past mistakes and move into the future.
The novel climaxes in a showdown between the remaining correctional staff and the volunteer/vigilante sheriff’s department, as Clint fights to protect Evie from the growing mob that is convinced she holds the answer to bringing an end to Aurora. The answer may surprise them, which leads to a thought-provoking conclusion.
Arresting and emotive, ‘Sleeping Beauties’ is an immersive experience, as all King epics are. You live with the characters through their journeys, arriving at a satisfying ending that stays with you after the final page. Evie is captivating, reminding me at times of another Stephen King character, with her supernatural abilities and smooth palms, but she proves to be more morally ambiguous than outright evil. It would be intriguing if either or both of the Kings were to revisit her in the future.
A fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable novel, with plot, characters and themes blending to create a thrilling concoction.
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April 24, 2019
The Understudy - Review
The Understudy by Sophie HannahMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Four authors. Four mothers. Four daughters – and a fifth girl around whom the mystery knits together. ‘The Understudy’, a serial from Serial Box, written by Sophie Hannah, B.A. Paris, Clare Mackintosh and Holly Brown, is an intriguing mystery, a gripping thriller and an insight into the complexities of human relationships.
Thank you to Serial Box for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy, which I devoured across the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Jess, Ruby, Bel and Sadie are pupils at the Orla Flynn Academy, studying musical theatre, who form an apparently close-knit friendship group. Their mothers, Carolyn, Kendall, Bronnie and Elise, also became friends, until an incident of bullying the previous year shattered this illusion. This year’s troubles begin with the discovery of a music box in Jess’ locker, featuring a bloody and broken ballerina, which can only be interpreted as a threat.
In an effort to prevent trouble before it escalates, the academy’s headmaster suggests a new girl is introduced to the group – Imogen, strange and at times almost otherworldly. The four girls make her feel welcome, but soon it is clear that this has simply put a new strain on them and cracks begin to appear. Told from the perspectives of the four mothers, the tension, the paranoia and the incidents escalate. The women know their daughters are in danger – but which of the girls is responsible and where will it end?
Formed of ten parts, with writing duties for each of the four mothers split between the four authors, I couldn’t wait to move on to the next episode as I finished the last, as bingeworthy as a TV serial. Serial Box presents fiction in eBook and audio formats, split into episodes that you can enjoy in the same way as novels serialised as radio plays or in magazines, with the ability to binge as you would series via streaming services.
Secrets are revealed, lies are uncovered, and the lives of both mothers and daughters are exposed to scrutiny and judgement. I particularly enjoyed the way the story was told from differing perspectives, whilst still driving the plot forward. Prior to this, I have only read work by Sophie Hannah, so will definitely also be looking to read the other three authors in the future.
Light, refreshing and fast-paced, ‘The Understudy’ makes a perfect summer read.
The Understudy will be available from SerialBox.com in May 2019 - The Understudy
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April 1, 2019
Lynda La Plante's Widows' Revenge - Review
Widows' Revenge by Lynda La PlanteMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lynda La Plante’s gripping sequel to her gangland thriller ‘Widows’.
Originally published in 1985 as ‘Widows 2’, ‘Widows’ Revenge’ is a novelisation of the second series of La Plante’s hugely successful ‘Widows’, the first series and novelisation of which had been broadcast and published two years before. As she did last year with the original novel, La Plante has revised and updated the ‘Widows 2’ novel, now available in a stunning hardcover edition.
(Warning: contains spoilers for 'Widows')
Dolly, Bella, Linda and Shirley return, months after their escape to Rio following the successful robbery that had originally been planned by Dolly’s husband, Harry, assisted by Linda and Shirley’s husbands, Joe and Terry, who both died in their attempt at committing the robbery. Unbeknownst to Dolly and the others, Harry survived and has now followed them to Rio. Meanwhile, Dolly has returned to London, making preparations to move on with her life following Harry’s betrayal. Hunting the women down to their villa, Harry attacks Linda and she reveals to him where Dolly has hidden the money they stole.
Alerted to the danger they are in, Dolly hurries to move the money, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game between the women and Harry. Tragedy strikes as they enact their plan to have him arrested and framed for the robbery they committed, further fuelling their desire for revenge. As Harry plans a new robbery and the police begin to close in on them all, can the widows hold on to their freedom and their new lives?
Despite having seen the television series (multiple times) and previously read the novel in its incarnation as ‘Widows 2’, I was nevertheless hooked from the first to the final page, on tenterhooks throughout. Much like the first novel, the plot is engrossing and fast-paced; the characters well-written, their stories captivating. Dolly is without a doubt my favourite character, the first of the strong women La Plante became famous for creating. Her conflicting emotions for Harry are hidden beneath a steely exterior. She still drives the plot despite Bella taking a lead in their plans against Harry. The novel hurtles towards its conclusion, neatly tying the loose ends and concluding the story arcs of many of the characters that continued from the first novel.
Most of the cast of characters return in the sequel, which was also matched on screen, apart from Bella being recast after Eva Mottley left the production, tragically passing away shortly afterwards.
Coupled with La Plante’s writing, Ann Mitchell’s superb performance as Dolly and the performances of the rest of the cast continued to thrill audiences. It was no surprise that Dolly would return ten years later in ‘She’s Out’, nor that even thirty-five years later the novel would top bestseller lists and a brand-new movie adaptation be produced.
With ‘Widows’ Revenge’, Lynda La Plante once again proves why she is the Queen of modern crime fiction.
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March 7, 2019
Josh Malerman's Bird Box - Review
Bird Box by Josh MalermanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A chilling psychological horror thriller about a woman’s fight for survival for herself and her two young children.
‘Bird Box’ is a post-apocalyptic tale, led by Malorie, who, after years of waiting, decides the day that she and her two young children will escape the home that has become their prison has arrived. She lives in a future where it is no longer safe to see in the world outside. Blindfolded, they make their way to a boat and begin their journey on the river.
Flashbacks reveal how, years before, Malorie was living with her sister when she discovered she was pregnant, just as the attacks were first beginning. People were attacking and killing each other and finally themselves. Speculation grew and it soon became clear that all the attacks and deaths happened after the victims saw something. Malorie finds her way to other survivors; a group of them living in the house of a man who tragically died while striving to find a way to overcome what lay outside.
Malerman expertly builds paranoid tension, drawing out each of the characters’ fears, exploring how the deprivation of sight affects them. The survivors strive to find ways to live, while the mistrust between them begins to bloom. The arrival of a new survivor builds more tension, while the creatures outside may be closer than they dare to believe.
Captivating and unsettling in equal measure, ‘Bird Box’ is a fantastic debut novel; Malerman expertly builds the horror to a crescendo, never letting the tension slip throughout. The characters are well-developed, driving the plot forward, particularly Malorie, Tom and Gary.
I shall be adding Malerman’s others books to my future to-read list and am also eager to see the Netflix adaption starring Sandra Bullock.
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