Death's Silent Judgement by Anne Coates #bookreview

About Death's Silent Judgement

Death's Silent Judgement is the thrilling sequel to Dancers in the Wind, and continues the gripping series starring London-based investigative journalist Hannah Weybridge.

Following the deadly events of Dancers in the Wind, freelance journalist and single mother Hannah Weybridge is thrown into the heart of a horrific murder investigation when a friend, Liz Rayman, is found with her throat slashed at her dental practice.

With few clues to the apparently motiveless crime Hannah throws herself into discovering the reason for her friend's brutal murder, and is determined to unmask the killer. But before long Hannah's investigations place her in mortal danger, her hunt for the truth placing her in the path of a remorseless killer...

The series is very much in the best traditions of British women crime writers such as Lynda La Plante and Martina Cole.

My review of Death's Silent Judgement

Death's Silent Judgement is the second instalment in the Hanmah Weybridge crime series by Anne Coats, the first book being Dancers in the Wind which I read and very much enjoyed. I couldn't wait to read the continuing saga of Hannah's  ever complicated life, and this book didn't disappoint. It's a fantastic read.

Death's Silent Judgement is set in 1994, and tackles some serious and disturbing issues. The story begins with the murder of Hannah's long term friend, Liz, a dentist who was providing free dental care for the homeless in the area. Hannah had agreed to meet her at her dental clinic, based at the local church, but instead stumbles upon a bloody murder scene, her friend's throat slashed. It is assumed that a homeless patient is responsible for her murder, but Hannah does not believe this to be true, and once contacted by Liz's mother, Lady Rayman, she begins her own investigation to find out what happened to her friend. As  an investigative journalist on retainer with The News, she begins to investigate and it is this investigation that leads Hannah to unearth hidden secrets from Liz's former life, while working as an aid worker in Somalia.

I don't want to give the game away in terms of plot, or the subject matter that is discussed in this book, as it is all interlinked with Liz's death. But I will just say that the author has obviously done much research on the subject and tackles this particular storyline with tact and empathy. The author also does the sane with regards to the homeless community in the novel. It would be very easy to write in a stereotypical manner, but these characters are vividly brought to life, their circumstances realistic and once again their stories are told with great empathy.

This is a story which grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I was thrown into a world of corruption, where those with money have the power. Hannah is a resourceful and strong woman, fighting for justice, with the need to find out who killed her friend. Although much of the subject matter was uncomfortable to read, this was a fascinating and enjoyable book. I had no idea what the outcome would be. The real joy gained by reading this book, is from walking side by side with Hannah as she slowly digs her way to the truth. She is such an interesting character, and because I believe in her, I believe in the story.

I will just mention that although this book can work as a stand alone novel, I do think it is best read after Dancers in the Wind. Many of the characters reappear in this novel and I think you get a richer reading experience when you already know them. I do hope that there are more books to follow in this series, as I believe that there is a lot more for us to discover about Hannah.

Death's Final Judgement is a hugely enjoyable read. Hannah Weybridge is fast becoming one of my favourite literally characters.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Death's Silent Judgement, published on May 11 by Urbane Publications can be found on Amazon here.

About the author

For most of her working life in publishing, Anne has had a foot in both camps as a writer and an editor, moving from book publishing to magazines and then freelancing in both. Having edited both fiction and narrative non-fiction, Anne has also had short stories published in a variety of magazines including Bella and Candis and is the author of seven non-fiction books. Born in Clapham, Anne returned to London after graduating and has remained there ever since. In an attempt to climb out of her comfort zone, Anne has twice "trod the boards" - as Prince Bourgrelas in Ubu Roi when a student and more recently as a nun in a local murder mystery production. She also sings periodically in a local church choir and is relieved when she begins and finishes at the same time - though not necessarily on the same note - as everyone else. Needless to say, Anne will not be giving up her day job as an editor and writer. Telling stories is Anne's first love and nearly all her short fiction and novels begin with a real event followed by a "what if ..." That is also the case with the two prize-winning 99Fiction.net stories: Codewords and Eternal Love.

Boys Don't Cry by Tim Grayburn #bookreview

About Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don't Cry is a book that will make sense of depression and anxiety for people who might not recognise those feelings in themselves or others.

Suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged 20-45 in the UK. Depression and undiagnosed mental illness are huge contributors to these deaths as they're often more difficult to diagnose in men. And those men don't tend to talk about the typical symptoms or visit their doctor.

Meet Tim.

For nearly a decade he kept his depression secret. It made him feel so weak and shameful he thought it would destroy his whole life if anyone found out.

And Tim is not alone.

After finally opening up he realised that mental illness was affecting many men around the globe - and he knew that wasn't ok.

A brutally honest, wickedly warming and heart-breaking tale about what it really takes to be a 'real man', written by one who decided that he wanted to change the world by no longer being silent.

This is Tim's story, but it could be yours too.

My review of Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don't Cry is a poignant, honest and incredibly heartbreaking account of living with clinical depression and acute anxiety. Tim Grayburn writes with honesty, rawness and humour. I read the book with tears in my eyes, some tears were due to laughter, others because of what Tim lived though in isolation and silence, as he was ashamed to tell others about how he felt. This book well and truly breaks down all walls.

Before I write the rest of my review, I just want to state that this book is a must read for everyone. It really is such an important book about mental health and the fact that there is no shame, or stigma, in seeking help and support.

When I first saw the blurb for Boys Don't Cry I knew that I needed to read this book. My knowledge about clinical depression is very limited, information that was barely covered while doing my general nurse training many years ago. I have slightly more knowledge about anxiety, as my youngest son is autistic, and a huge part of his life is controlled by his anxiety. But, I wanted to know more about 'young men and depression' as I have two boys, plus the fact that autistic individuals are statistically more likely to suffer from depression.  I need to be more aware, and I know that reading personal  accounts is the best way for me to gain useful and credible knowledge, much more useful than reading a textbook on the subject.

Tim's personal account is powerful and poignant. The book deals with his life before diagnosis, during diagnosis and his life now. I was so happy to read that he is now in a good place, that he has a wonderful, caring wife and a gorgeous little boy.

This is an incredibly raw account of life with depression. On paper you might think that this kind of book wouldn't contain many laughs, but you would be wrong to assume so. This is a funny book, and an incredibly uplifting one, that pulls no punches, but is funny at the sane time. Tim writes with humour, detailing his many escapades as a young man, which help to shed light on what life it is like for young people living with depression.

It's an incredibly engaging book, one that I found hard to put down. Tim writes so well, the words flow, and I really felt that I got to know the real him. Ultimately though, I felt that I got a clear insight into what it must be like to live with depression and anxiety. I will never fully understand, but I now feel more aware of what signs to look out for, and what help and support I can offer.

I really do think that it takes much courage for anyone to write about their mental health so candidly. I really do feel that Boys Don't Cry will help those individuals who feel alone, who feel that they cannot talk about their mental health. I hope now that they can do so.

Boys Don't Cry is an important book, an honest book and one that I feel everyone should read, so as to end the stigma that is associated with mental health issues. The strong message from this book is that we all need to talk about metal health...let's end the silence.

Boys Don't Cry, published by Hodder & Stoughton on May 4, 2017. A link to the book on Amazon can be found here.

With thanks to the publisher and Bookbridgr for the proof copy.

About the Author

Tim Grayburn is a man. He's a dad, a brother and a son too. After working in advertising for ten years he quit the rat race to perform around the world in the award-winning show Fake it 'Til You Make It. This is his first book.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club by Samantha Tonge #bookreview

About The New Beginnings Coffee Club

Everyone deserves a second chance…don’t they?

Jenny Masters finds herself living the modern dream. Wife to a millionaire, living in a mansion and mother to Kardashian-obsessed ten-year-old April, there isn’t anything missing. Until, her whole world comes crashing down, forcing Jenny and April to leave behind their glittering life and start over with nothing.

 

With village gossip following her wherever she goes, she finds refuge and a job in the new coffee shop in town. As the days pass Jenny fears she doesn’t have what it takes to pick herself back up and give April the life she always wanted to. But with the help of enigmatic new boss Noah, and housemate Elle, Jenny realises it’s never too late to become the woman life really intended you to be!

My review of The New Beginnings Coffee Club

The New Beginnings Coffee Club is a delightful read that envelops you in a warm hug. This was just the book I was looking for after reading some very dark and disturbing stories. This novel is all about hope, and the fact that anyone can make a new start in life, no matter what the circumstances.

So, the book rotated around Jenny, the protagonist, mother to April, who suddenly loses it all. Her whirlwind life, married to hunky millionaire Zach, isn't quite what it is cracked up to be and she soon finds herself forging a new life foe herself and her young daughter with the help of Noah and Elle. On paper, this would seem to be a superficial and lighthearted read, but there is much more to this book. This book is all about finding your identity, believing in yourself and knowing that life just finds a way... in the end.

I liked Jenny the instant I met her. The young Jenny, making cakes with her mother was delightful, and I soon realised that this essence of who she really is, had been obliterated by marrying Zach and his expensive and luxurious lifestyle. Throughout the book we see a gradual change come over her, as she begins to truly believe in herself. The same is also true for April. My heart broke when I read that this little girl was more interested in her makeup and designer clothes than playing and just being a 'little girl'. It was therefore delightful to see her 'be' a little girl once more.

My heart though truly belonged to Noah. How could I not fall in love with this man? He is kind, gorgeous and is a generally nice guy. Plus, he owns a coffee shop and knows everything that there is to know about this addictive bean. I love coffee, in fact it is probably safest to say that I am slightly addicted to it, so I really enjoyed the many coffee references that were dotted about this book. What I also found refreshing, was that Noah also had depth. He wasn't just the run of the mill 'hero'. He too had his own secrets and demons to face and completely surprised me with his back story.

The New Beginnings Coffee Club is a gorgeous treat of read and perfect for those long summer days. This book made me appreciate all the simple things in life, those things that I just take for granted. It also made me drink a lot of coffee while reading it... so win win! A thoroughly enjoyable  read! 

The New Beginnings Coffee Club published by HQ Digital on 5 May 2017, is available to buy from Amazon here.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Samantha lives in Cheshire with her lovely family and a cat that thinks it's a dog. Along with writing, her days are spent cycling, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. A love of fiction developed as a child, when she was known for reading Enid Blyton books in the bath. A desire to write bubbled away in the background whilst she pursued other careers, including a fun stint working at Disneyland Paris. Formally trained as a linguist, Samantha now likes nothing more than holing herself up in the spare room, in front of the keyboard. Writing romantic comedy novels is her passion.

The Second Sister by Claire Kendal #bookreview

The chilling new psychological thriller from the author of the top ten bestseller, THE BOOK OF YOU, which was selected for Richard and Judy in 2015. Perfect for fans of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and DISCLAIMER.

It is ten years since Ella's sister Miranda disappeared without trace, leaving her young baby behind. Chilling new evidence links Miranda to the horrifying Jason Thorne, now in prison for murdering several women. Is it possible that Miranda knew him?

At thirty, Miranda’s age when she vanished, Ella looks uncannily like the sister she idolized. What holds Ella together is her love for her sister’s child and her work as a self-defence expert helping victims.

Haunted by the possibility that Thorne took Miranda, and driven by her nephew’s longing to know about his mother, Ella will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth – no matter how dangerous…

My review of The Second Sister

I was so very excited when I found out that Claire Kendal had a new book due out, as I had read The Book Of You many years ago and absolutely loved it. The good news is that I loved this book just as much. The Second Sister is a powerful and emotive read about the bond of sisters and the bonds of family.

The book is narrated by Ella, whose sister, Miranda, disappeared ten years ago, leaving a baby boy behind. Ella is now thirty, the same age that Miranda was when she went missing. The family have no answers and are effectively left in limbo as the police have no leads on where she went or what happened to her. The only suspicion that they had, was that Thorne, a serial murderer of women who is now locked up, could have taken her - but their investigation has led them to no answers.

Throughout the book we follow Ella on her journey to find out what happened to her sister. I really liked the fact that Ella speaks to her sister throughout the book, she is addressing her, not the reader, and although this seemed a little strange at first, I soon become used to it and understood why Ella spoke to her sister in this way. It was so very important that she did so, as it brought Miranda to life as well as highlighting the strong relationship that they had. I really liked Ella, a strong woman, a kickboxer, strong wiled and who wanted to protect all women. She is maternal, in her instincts to protect her sister's son, Luke, she was very much a mother figure to him.

The Second Sister really is about the strength of women, Many women in this novel have been victims of violent crime, perpetrated by men. Ella runs a charitable support group for such women, and provides practical help as well as emotional support. Her job is much more than a job, it is a vocation, and one in which she sees redemption for not being able to save her sister.

I have to admit that my most favourite character in the book was that of Ted. Ella's friend since their first day at school,  and on/off boyfriend. He really intrigued me, and throughout the book I really grew to love him and his fierce protectiveness of Ella. He had his faults, but I was able to forgive him as he was such a likeable character.

This book contains so many false leads, that I thought I knew who was responsible for Miranda's disappearance  serval times throughout the novel. The ending truly shocked me, and although slightly unbelievable, was enjoyable to read. The Second Sister is a fast paced and emotional read, about the bond that sisters shadre, no matter what happens to them.

The Second Sister is published by Harper Collins on 4 May 2017. You can buy a copy on Amazon here.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Claire Kendal was born in America and educated in England, where she has spent all of her adult life. Her first novel, THE BOOK OF YOU, was a Richard and Judy title and SUNDAY TIMES top ten bestseller. It has been translated into over twenty languages. Claire teaches English Literature and Creative Writing, and lives in the South West with her family. THE SECOND SISTER is her second novel.

The White Road by Sarah Lotz #bookreview

About the White Road

Adrenaline-junky Simon Newman sneaks onto private land to explore a dangerous cave in Wales with a strange man he's met online. But Simon gets more than he bargained for when the expedition goes horribly wrong. Simon emerges, the only survivor, after a rainstorm trap the two in the cave. Simon thinks he's had a lucky escape.

 

But his video of his near-death experience has just gone viral.

 

Suddenly Simon finds himself more famous than he could ever have imagined. Now he's faced with an impossible task: he's got to defy death once again, and film the entire thing. The whole world will be watching. There's only on place on earth for him to pit himself against the elements: Mt Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

 

But Everest is also one of the deadliest spots on the planet. Two hundred and eighty people have died trying to reach its peak.

 

And Simon's luck is about to run out.

My review of The White Road

 

"Fingers in your heart, lad"

Oh my! Where do I start? I have no idea as my mind is still lingering on this chilling and deeply unsettling story, which I absolutely loved! This story just won't let go and I find myself thinking about the characters, and what happened to them with a great sense of unease. It is one of those books that will haunt you, long after you have read the final page. It is utterly brilliant. I'll try and organise my thoughts and explain why I couldn't put this book down once I had read the first few pages.

So, at the beginning we meet Simon Newman, a man in his late twenties, an adrenaline junkie and a man who wants to help his best friend, Thierry, succeed in his dream to make his website go viral. So, it is with reluctance that Simon enters the notoriously dangerous and off limits cave, known as, Cwm Port in Wales. His only companion is a caver he has only met online. As soon as Simon meets Ed outside the cave he has reservations, and half wonders about getting back in his car and driving home, but his loyalty to his friend 'T' is fierce and so he goes into the cave. As a result of this, his life will never be the same again.

It is what happens to Simon while in the cave that is the catalyst for the rest of the story. He is the only survivor, but what happens in the darkness of the cave is his secret, and his burden alone. This part of the story is what really got to me the most, and which I found the most chilling. I could smell the dampness of the cave walls, hear the water and believed everything that Simon told me, the reader.  When the footage from his headcam is uploaded to the site and goes viral, Thierry wants more, and as such a loyal friend, Simon accepts the next challenge to reach the summit of Everest. But his motives for doing so are very different to the rest of the climbers that he meets.

Simon is a complex character and, if I am honest, I never really liked him, but that didn't stop me wanting the absolute best for him. I cared for him, all because of what happened to him and Ed in the cave. Simon tells us his own personal story, we follow him into the cave, his rescue from the cave, and then  his mammoth  journey up Mount Everest. We are with him every step of the way and his story well and truly got under my skin.

We also have the personal accounts from Juliet, a hiker who climbed Everest many years before. We read her thoughts, her entrees from her journal while on the mountain, and just like with Simon, I felt incredibly close to her. At first it seemed that Simon's and Juliet's stories were separate, but it soon  became apparent that their two stories were linked. They become entwined, which gave an even creepier edge to what was being unfurled on the page.

As I have already said, I couldn't put this book down, telling myself, just a few more pages... and then finding that I had read half the book. The way in which the caves and Everest are described took my breath away. I actually felt like I was crawling through that rat run with Simon or fighting for breath while on a mountain ridge.

This book really did leave me feeling unsettled and I can't quite put my finger on why that is so. I think it is partly due to the characters within it, they all crawled under my skin, and I am not quite able to let them go. But another, maybe more darker reason, is that I believed their stories, they felt acutely real to me, and it is the unseeing, the 'third man' that walks alongside us, that is much scarier than the dead.

The White Road is a story about ghosts, and about having that sense, that feeing, that someone is with you, walking with you. I shall never forget the last two pages. They, and the rest of the story, will stay with me for a very long time. This is a creepy book, that slowly hooked me in and it isn't quite ready to let me go.

The White Road is published by Hodder and Stoughton on May 4. It is available to buy from Amazon here.

With thanks to Bookbridgr and the publisher who sent me a proof copy for review purposes.

About the author

Sarah Lotz is a screenwriter and novelist with a fondness for the macabre and fake names. Incapable of holding down a 'proper' job, over the years she's painted outrageous frescos for dubious casinos, written scripts for South Africa's first full-length sci-fi cartoon show and lived homeless on the streets of Paris as a teenage runaway.

Among other things, she writes horror/thriller novels under the name S.L. Grey with author Louis Greenberg, a YA pulp-fiction zombie series with her daughter, Savannah, under the pseudonym Lily Herne, and quirky erotica novels with authors Helen Moffett and Paige Nick under the name Helena S. Paige.

Stephen King said her solo novel The Three was 'really wonderful' (which made her cry in a very very good way) and her latest solo novel, Day Four, will be published in the U.K by Hodder & Stoughton in May, 2015.

Pompidou Posse, a YA novel based on her experiences living rough and behaving badly in Paris, will be out in September 2015.

She likes cake, scruffy dogs, fast cars and sitting in her attic making stuff up.

Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World by Laura James #bookreview

About Odd Girl Out

What do you do when you wake up in your mid-forties and realize you've been living a lie your whole life? Do you tell? Or do you keep it to yourself?

 

Laura James found out that she was autistic as an adult, after she had forged a career for herself, married twice and raised four children. Odd Girl Out tracks the year of Laura's life after she receives a definitive diagnosis from her doctor, as she learns that 'different' doesn't need to mean 'less' and how there is a place for all of us, and it's never too late to find it.

 

Laura draws on her professional and personal experiences and reflects on her life in the light of her diagnosis, which for her explains some of her differences; why, as a child, she felt happier spinning in circles than standing still and why she has always found it difficult to work in places with a lot of ambient noise.

 

Although this is a personal story, the book has a wider focus too, exploring reasons for the lower rate of diagnosed autism in women and a wide range of topics including eating disorders and autism, marriage and motherhood.

 

This memoir gives a timely account from a woman negotiating the autistic spectrum, from a poignant and personal perspective

 

 

 

 

My review of Odd Girl Out

 

Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World is a raw and startlingly honest account of what it is like to be on the autistic spectrum. Laura James always felt that she was different, bit it wasn't until her mid forties that she finally got her  diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, (ASD). Odd Girl Out chronicles Laura's memoirs from when she was first diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in August 2015, through to December 2016. This book was incredibly insightful and informative, and once I started to read I couldn't stop.  It made me nod in agreement, it made me cry. This is also an uncomfortable read at times, but an important one. I feel that everyone who is affected by autism, individuals themselves, parents and professionals, should all read this book.

 

I wanted to read this book as my youngest son has ASD, he was diagnosed at the age of three in 2011. I like to read books on the subject of autism so that I can better help and enable him to live as independent life as possible. Knowledge as they say is power. I have read many parenting books and autism books by professionals, such as Tony Attwood, Simon Baron-Cohen, Steve Silberman (NeuroTribes was such an interesting read) and Temple Grandin. I do find that books written by individuals on the autistic spectrum,  are by far the most helpful to me. They explain candidly about what it is like to be autistic. Odd Girl Out is one of those books. But never before have I read a book that is so raw, that has been stripped to the absolute bones so that all emotions are exposed, and all with the intention of helping indivials who are on the spectrum, and in particular, women. I felt that I was hugely privileged to be allowed into Laura's world, to read her innermost thoughts and to share her experience in the world as an autistic woman. In doing so I felt like I learned so much more about my son's condition and that now, some of his behaviours make more sense to me. I feel that it is very hard for a neurotypical person to fully understand what autism is, in fact scrub that, I will never understand what it is like to be autistic, but by reading such book's as this, I now have more underrating.

 

This book is also such a breath of fresh air. I am sick to the back teeth of reading about 'cures' and how we need to find a 'cure' for autism. I agree wholeheartedly with Laura when she says that we need to put more resources in place, to have early intervention and help available to parents, rather than ploughing money into researching a cure. Autism is simply different, not less, once again I agree with Laura when she says that autistic brains are wired differently. Just as I find it difficult sometimes to understand my son, he too in turn, most probably finds it difficult to understand me.

 

Books such as Odd Girl Out are vital. We need voices from the autistic community. This is a fascinating read that features Laura's opinions as well as voices from leading autism professionals such as Tony Attwood, Sara Wild (head teacher at Limpsfield Grange, a school for girls on the autistic spectrum) and Dr Judith Gould, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. and the Lead Consultant at the Lorna Wing Centre for Autism. All of these factors make for an incredibly informative book, but one that I also read as a story. By the time I had finished the book, I felt terribly sad. I  wanted to carry on reading, to learn more about Laura's life. It felt like she had become a close friend, I knew her that well.

 

I would like to thank Laura for writing such a powerful and emotive book. It brought a lump to my throat while reading it because of her sheer honesty. She definitely pulls no punches and I liked this. Laura James will help so many autistic individuals and their families by sharing her personal story, and in particular she will help so many women, who for too long have been misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

This book really is a must read... for everyone.  



 

Odd Girl Out is published by Bluebird Books for Life on 6 April. You can find a copy on Amazon here.

With thanks to Bluebird Books for Life who sent me a hardback copy for review purposes.

To find out more information about autism, please visit the National Autistic Society (NAS) website at http://www.autism.org.uk/

About the author

Laura James is an author and journalist and the owner of a communications agency. Her writing has appeared in many national and international newspapers and magazines.when not frantically fighting deadlines, she can generally be found hiding under a duvet with a stack of good books and lots of chocolate. She is the mother of four adult children and lives with her husband their dogs and cat in North Norfolk. Since her diagnosis she has campaigned for autism awareness and acceptance.

The Darkest Lies by Barbara Copperthwaite

About The Darkest Lies

Melanie Oak appeared to have the perfect life. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Jacob, the couple live with their beautiful, loving, teenage daughter, Beth, in a pretty village.

Nothing can shake her happiness - until the day that Beth goes missing and is discovered beaten almost to the point of death, her broken body lying in a freezing creek on the marshes near their home.

Consumed with grief, Melanie is determined to find her daughter’s attacker. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won’t they talk?

As Melanie tries to piece together what happened to Beth, she discovers that her innocent teenager has been harbouring some dark secrets of her own. The truth may lie closer to home and put Melanie’s life in terrible danger…

A completely gripping psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. Fans of The Girl on the Train, The Sister and Before I Let You In will be captivated.

My review of he Darkest Lies

The Darkest Lies is a captivating and brilliant read from Barbara Copperthwiate. This novel takes the ideal and seemingly perfect family unit and turns it on its head. Secrets are kept in this tiny rural village, located by desolate marshland and, as a reader, I got to spy on all of its occupants. This is a somewhat disturbing, chilling read that had me racing through the pages, savouring every word. I found it hugely enjoyable.

The novel is fast paced throughout, it really doesn't let up from the moment you read the somewhat chilling prologue. It left me frantically gripping onto the cliffhanger, wondering what on earth had just happened. It's such a clever start to the novel and sets the scene beautifully for just how desolate the marshes are in this quiet and sleepy little rural village. In fact, the way in which the village and its inhabitants are evoked is so descriptive, I actually felt like I lived there.

The Darkest Lies illuminated family life and that every perfect family has its own share of secrets. When thirteen-year-old Beth is found left for dead in a cold creek on the boundaries of the village, Melanie begins her own investigation in the village to find out what happened to her daughter and who attacked her. What she discovers is that her daughter had her own share of secrets and Melanie begins to question who she can trust. Melanie was an interesting character and I understood her completely. Partly because she is a mother like me, and that as a mother you would do everything in your power to protect your child. I understood her need to find out the truth and I was with her one hundred percent on this. I also believed in her because of the skilful witting, I saw what she did, I was with her every step of the way during her journey, during every twist and turn.

This is a dark novel, and I'll admit that it unsettled me. The fact that a family could have their entre world turned on its axis was shocking. I could have been reading about my family, or a family down the road. Parents who loved each other, and their daughter, began to question each other and had to face the harsh reality that they didn't know everything about their not so little girl. This is what really unsettled me, that our children are not children forever and that they need to forge their own path. It's just that sometimes we have no idea of what is really going on in  their lives.

This is really a novel of two stories. We have Melanie's story, as she strives to find her daughter's attacker and uncover her hidden secrets, as well as the story from the attacker's point of view, an unknown voice that I found completely compelling. The two timelines work wonderfully well together and create a gripping narrative, right until the final, surprising twist. I honestly did not see it coming.

The Darkest Lies is a dark, compelling and unforgettable read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The final paragraph haunted me, long after I had finished reading.

The Darkest Lies is published by Bookouture on 12 May 2017. You can find the book on Amazon here.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

About the author

Barbara is the author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE and FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD. Both have been Amazon best sellers. Her latest book, THE DARKEST LIES, is out on 12 May.

Much of her success is thanks to her twenty-odd years' experience as a national newspaper and magazine journalist. She's interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. Thanks to people sharing their stories with her, she knows a lot about the emotional impact of violence and wrong-doing. That's why her novels are dark, realistic and tackle not just the crime but its repercussions.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.

To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCopperthwaite or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com