There is no doubt that this is good. Like really good. Incredible characters, great writing, and an excellent level of tension that was maintained thrThere is no doubt that this is good. Like really good. Incredible characters, great writing, and an excellent level of tension that was maintained throughout the whole novel. But I really struggled with the nature of the crimes. They were the brutal murders of young children. The crime scene descriptions were stomach churningly grizzly and I had actual chest pains thinking about the children's final moments and the horrors perpetrated upon them after they were killed. I had to force myself to keep reading because I was compelled to see justice served. In hindsight I should have bailed in chapter one as I am not sure the balance between the crimes themselves and the investigations was quite right. I did really enjoy the characters tasked with finding the killer so that made it all somewhat more tolerable.
CW: brutal murders of children with detailed descriptions of bodies and causes of injuries and death....more
Another twisty and twisted story with DI Mack and PI Atticus. But that ending, Mark! You better be tippy typing book three right this very moment, gooAnother twisty and twisted story with DI Mack and PI Atticus. But that ending, Mark! You better be tippy typing book three right this very moment, good sir!...more
A good crime and legal drama with some interesting twists and really engaging characters. DCI Mackenzie Jones is investigating a mass shooting at a reA good crime and legal drama with some interesting twists and really engaging characters. DCI Mackenzie Jones is investigating a mass shooting at a remote farmhouse when her case becomes all the more challenging with the arrival of disgraced former colleague turned P.I., Atticus Priest. Whilst they are working on opposite sides of this case I can't wait to see them working together in the future as I think they have incredibly good chemistry. Priest is the kind of character I enjoy as he is at quite a low point in his life but isn't dark and brooding. Instead he is a quirky guy whose Asperger's syndrome and Sherlockian skills of deduction make him a complex and compelling character. I listened to book one and two back to back as I enjoyed this author's writing style, layered plot and fully developed characters....more
An anonymous witness delivers some convenient evidence used to convict a supposed killer but DS Zoe Mayer's instincts lead her to believe that the casAn anonymous witness delivers some convenient evidence used to convict a supposed killer but DS Zoe Mayer's instincts lead her to believe that the case is too clean and too cut and dried. A deeper delve into other similar cases has her wondering if she is dealing with serial killer. A good story line with characters I could get behind. An enjoyable murder mystery. ...more
That was deeply unsettling and a lot to process. Like A LOT. There were 'skeletons in the closet' aplenty in this thriller that sees two youn3.5 Stars
That was deeply unsettling and a lot to process. Like A LOT. There were 'skeletons in the closet' aplenty in this thriller that sees two young kids being the object of a deranged mans obsession. I liked our fierce yet fragile Etta Fitzroy and enjoyed seeing a vulnerable character cast in the role of hero detective. Will definitely want to see how this all plays out after that ending so will read book 2 in the near future....more
UPDATE: 7/12/2022 - Still gripping second time around!
UPDATE: 6/12/2022 - Rereading books 1 and 2 in preparation to read book 3!
4.5 Stars
Evie Cormac UPDATE: 7/12/2022 - Still gripping second time around!
UPDATE: 6/12/2022 - Rereading books 1 and 2 in preparation to read book 3!
4.5 Stars
Evie Cormac is the kind of character that captures my heart instantly. A traumatised and damaged child with a steel barrier around them to keep everyone out and protect what little they have left of their love and trust. I want nothing more than to watch their walls come down and for them to find someone to anchor their trust and recovery to, so I read with my heart in my throat as I turn the pages, hoping to see this unfold. Enter, forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven. He is investigating the murder of beautiful and successful teenager, Jodie Sheehan. I did struggle to fit these two stories together as they didn't intersect enough to flow for me, however, in and of itself the murder mystery was really engaging too. I was thrilled to secure book two from the library and will be starting that tonight. It promises to be every bit as fantastic as this book.
CW: (view spoiler)[violent sexual, physical, mental, emotional abuse of child not on page but some description of injuries suffered (hide spoiler)]...more
UPDATE 01/08/2023 - Pretty chilling storyline...see what I did there? Enjoyable reread.
Bodies hidden inside snowmen? That's next level.
Another great bUPDATE 01/08/2023 - Pretty chilling storyline...see what I did there? Enjoyable reread.
Bodies hidden inside snowmen? That's next level.
Another great book in this series. I love the Monkeewrench crew and sadly they didn't feature as heavily in this one. What I do love about this series is they introduce so many new characters who also get to take centre stage for large parts of the story. You see different types of police officers, detectives, sheriffs etc from different parts of the country so everything always feel fresh and interesting. On to book 5!
This is a great police procedural thriller that sees DS Max Craigie at war with a well known local crime family. After being relati3.5 rounded up to 4
This is a great police procedural thriller that sees DS Max Craigie at war with a well known local crime family. After being relatively new to this genre and having read a lot of police procedurals lately I am starting to notice what works and doesn't work for me. I prefer when the main characters have a bit of depth and potential for development or growth, as opposed to the cookie cutter donut eating police detective who behaves the same way but has a new bad person to put behind bars each book. I also like the actual police type investigation stuff to happen on-page such as crime scene descriptions and investigations etc. Actual detective work where the Reader gets to see the clues/evidence unfold and not just be told about it after the fact. This book hits both of these preferences. However, where it falls a little bit short (but does not affect my overall enjoyment) is on the character development of the criminals. It was like Laurel and Hardy were the heads of the crime family. While reading this I was reminded of an American police story that made it to NZ newspaper reports about 20 years ago. The US police were casually pursuing a criminal on the run in a stolen vehicle. They were fairly casual in their pursuit because the buffoon was indicating 3 seconds in advance before changing lanes or making turns thereby making him easy to follow. I prefer intelligent, polished, charismatic, calculating criminals with vicious under tones. Not the obvious big beefcake bruiser types. I still really enjoyed this and will continue on with the series. I am thoroughly enjoying getting to read beyond YA fiction but also think a lot of these crime novels would be enjoyed by senior high school students too, but they need to read the content warnings.
My husband just came running up the stairs ready to wrestle a bear because I had shouted/screamed "Oh my f"%king sh£t, Noooooo" so loudly I could be hMy husband just came running up the stairs ready to wrestle a bear because I had shouted/screamed "Oh my f"%king sh£t, Noooooo" so loudly I could be heard on the street. I have never had a jump scare like that in a book! I tore my earbud out and threw it on the ground and now it is making crackling noises. That. Was. Brilliant.
The story itself was a little predictable but crikey my heart has not stopped racing!...more
Great police murder mystery with two excellent female main characters. Together the sisters are trying to get to the bottom of a murder and be taken sGreat police murder mystery with two excellent female main characters. Together the sisters are trying to get to the bottom of a murder and be taken seriously in testosterone filled work environments. Thoroughly recommend this whole series and I am so sad that I have now read all the books. Please be writing another book, Dervla!...more
Yuuuuusssss Cormac! Now that's what I am talking about and been waiting 3 books for!
Wow that was a gripping and stressful book where Cormac and his lYuuuuusssss Cormac! Now that's what I am talking about and been waiting 3 books for!
Wow that was a gripping and stressful book where Cormac and his loyal team faced roadblock after roadblock in their attempts to vindicate the actions of one of their own. With corruption rife it's hard to know who to trust. I am alarmed to see that there is no mention of a book 4. I am reading the two novellas at the moment but I hope the series continues! Superb police thriller! I am obsessed....more
Well that was a superb mystery that had me reading into the wee hours of the night! It was a tense thriller that was intricately plotted, weaving pastWell that was a superb mystery that had me reading into the wee hours of the night! It was a tense thriller that was intricately plotted, weaving past and present together seamlessly to create an atmospheric read. The characters leapt off the page with some evoking sympathy and others unease. I listened to it as an audiobook and it was fabulously narrated by Irish actor, Aoife McMahon. At one point I was shouting at my phone because it was soooo stressful. Highly recommended for people who love layered murder mysteries.
CW: (view spoiler)[child abuse, drugging and rape, loss of loved ones, paedophilia, discussion of suicide, murder, drug overdose, discussion of abortion, abuse in foster system, gun violence, miscarriage. (hide spoiler)]
That was honestly such an entertaining murder mystery with two main characters that absolutely deserve a series. The social issues made for t4.5 Stars
That was honestly such an entertaining murder mystery with two main characters that absolutely deserve a series. The social issues made for tricky reading at times because Fabian certainly tackles homomisia and racism within our communities, both in a historical context and in the present day, in a confronting but thought provoking way. This sounds pretty heavy but it was written by the co-creator of Deadpool so it was also irreverently funny. "57 week" pregnant mother, Andie, was so single-minded in her determination to act according to who she is and not who her husband expects to be that she ended up making some questionable parenting choices whilst dragging her kids along in the pursuit of justice. Kenneth, former Pulitzer Prize winning journalist now disgraced reporter for the local rag, was also such a brilliantly written character.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be reading book 2.
Well that was another fun outing with wise-cracking wizard, Harry Dresden.
I was less enamoured with this book as I coulCW: Hugely bloody murder scenes
Well that was another fun outing with wise-cracking wizard, Harry Dresden.
I was less enamoured with this book as I could almost see the formula developing. Same plot, different blood thirsty creatures. I will definitely continue with the series at some point but I don't think binge reading them will work as I am worried they may become tired and same-samey. I could be totally wrong but I don't want to risk it as I truly love Harry!...more
Well I am absolutely confused as to how a book about such a daringly brilliant undercover police operation could end up being quite a dull read.
When Well I am absolutely confused as to how a book about such a daringly brilliant undercover police operation could end up being quite a dull read.
When it came down to it, not much actually happened so there wasn't much to write about I guess. I loved that Ron infiltrated the Klan and that they were able to get some valuable information but sadly the stilted writing, less than ideal narration, and lack of intrigue made this just okay for me....more
Well that was a brilliant Hanna crossed with JCW: (view spoiler)[sexual content, described murders, kidnapping and torture of children (hide spoiler)]
Well that was a brilliant Hanna crossed with Jason Bourne type action thriller!
I loved the main characters and the story was so engaging. This would make an excellent movie or TV mini series. Seriously, I kept finding my husband and telling him how entertaining this was and what was happening at various points. Just an exciting cat and mouse thriller with kick-arse assassins and a shadowy organisation. Fun times! ...more
Well that ended up being a fabulous ownvoiCW: (view spoiler)[Murder suicide by gun, drugs, addiction, on page rape, death of loved one (hide spoiler)]
Well that ended up being a fabulous ownvoice YA mystery!
I loved the characters and enjoyed learning about the Native American Ojibwe community in Michigan. Daunis is biracial and struggles to find her place and bridge the divide between her white mother's family and her Indigenous family. I find small town community stories incredibly absorbing as they feel emotional and intimate. Whilst I think there could a have been a bit of an edit to create a bit more intensity it was still a reasonably well paced story. The last third was utterly gripping and I felt fully invested in Daunis and the future of her community. An incredible debut.
I just want to add that this book made it to the Times Best 100 YA books ever written so it's definitely worth reading....more
CW:(view spoiler)[abduction and drugging of children, horrific cult-like murders of young children, some sexual references (hide spoiler)]
Wel4.5 Stars
CW:(view spoiler)[abduction and drugging of children, horrific cult-like murders of young children, some sexual references (hide spoiler)]
Well the truth is definitely out there that I have always been a huge fan of all things X-Files!
I loved the TV show and of course David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson ARE Mulder and Scully. This Mulder origin story was, in my opinion, spot on in terms of Mulder's personality. The case itself was grimly gripping and the murder mystery element was incredibly well done. It is quite dark and fast paced so it will have a lot of appeal in a high school. As it is an origin story it won't matter that today's teens may not have watched the X-Files as no prior knowledge is necessary to understand the novel. Loved it! ...more
CW: (view spoiler)[brutal murders, references to heinous crimes committed by criminals such as rape, terrorism, murder of fam4.5 Stars rounded up to 5
CW: (view spoiler)[brutal murders, references to heinous crimes committed by criminals such as rape, terrorism, murder of family among others. (hide spoiler)]
Well I am finally writing this review after spending 3 days outside in the freezing cold watching netball!
I had an absolute blast reading this fast paced and fun book! It was a dramatic, high-stakes prison break story with the worst of the worst terrorising the poor unsuspecting public. I had to laugh a few times because there were some totally ridiculous situations in there, however I loved the book all the more for them. The female main characters were fantabulous (go away red line, it's a word!). They had a gutsy take-no-prisoner approach to their jobs......more
CW: (view spoiler)[rape, drugging, kidnapping, murder, Stolen Generation (First nations people), loss of loved ones, car accident, depression, racism,CW: (view spoiler)[rape, drugging, kidnapping, murder, Stolen Generation (First nations people), loss of loved ones, car accident, depression, racism, authority figures covering up crimes (hide spoiler)]
Well that was an emotional and slightly traumatic reading experience.
This short, powerful novel touches upon a shameful history in which First Nations People were treated horrifically during times of colonisation. The story is told in a contemporary setting through alternating POVs of two Australian Aboriginal teenagers. Beth was killed in a car accident and has not crossed over to the 'place with colours' because she feels she can't leave her grieving father who can see and talk to her. They are in a small Australian town to investigate a deadly fire. There they meet Isobel Catching who has a dark, seemingly magical, story that she needs Beth's father, a police detective, to hear. The two main characters are so vivid. Beth is quite naive and sheltered which contrasts well with a hardened, world wary Catching. The writing is absolutely wonderful with Catching's POV written in captivating verse. I don't want to say anything that will potentially spoil the story but I loved the use of allegory as a vehicle for the horrible truth.
The content is quite heavy so I recommend this for NZ Year 11 and above. I will definitely be looking to read more from these ownvoice authors....more
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