The Valley

 The Valley

Ivan Lucis & Nell Buchanan #4

Chris Hammer

Reviewed by Helen

I am loving this series, when Ivan and Nell are sent on another case this time to small town down south a long drive from home base in Dubbo, it ends up being very personal for Nell when the body of a well -known entrepreneur is found, it is discovered through DNA that Nell is a close blood relative, what else will they uncover in this investigation?

It seems that the past in encroaching on the present in this investigation, an old gold mine that some locals tried to re-open thirty odd years ago, a robbery a couple of years before that what really happened in The Valley all those years ago and what has Nell’s mother got to do with it, is it linked to police and political corruption and is it linked to the this murder? What will Ivan and Nell uncover, will the truth come out and will Nell finally find out who her father is?

This is such a brilliant story, I love Chris Hammer’s writing style he pulls the reader in with so many scenarios of what could or could not have happened he had me thinking throughout and wanting to get to the end to get all of the answers, I think Ivan and Nell are fabulous characters and they team up together so well, this one has a cast of wonderful characters who all added to the story and it is one that I highly recommend to any lover of a good crime mystery.

My thanks to Allen& Unwin for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

October 1, 2024 by Allen & Unwin

Risky Obsession

 Risky Obsession

Wolf Security #3

Kendall Talbot

Reviewed by Helen

Another fast paced, action packed story in this series, it had me turning the pages as this time Detective Lacey Brooks is offered a job to help out Aria and her Wolf Security team and goes undercover to help find more of the Nazi gold bars she is to team up with treasure hunter Kane Devlin, and the sparks fly.

Lacey has been a police officer for ten years now and doing her best to make amends for the life she led before that but when she is attacked by a criminal Lacey is more determined than ever to get to the bottom of this terrible cartel of criminals once and for all, but when she goes undercover to work with Kane she must keep who she is a secret and told not to trust Kane, but as they fight danger at every turn in the treasure hunt through Germany, Lacey sees Kane for who he truly is.

Kane made a big mistake years before and when his grandfather leaves him is antique shop after spending many years with him treasure hunting is in his blood, he discovers a map hidden behind a painting and finally gets to talk to Aria from Wolf Security about it she finally agrees to him going in search for the gold bars but he must go with another treasure hunter Tory and soon they are travelling through old castles in Germany dodging bullets and doing their best to stay alive.

Can they learn to trust one another because their hearts are swelling with love for each other but to do so they must both be honest with each other first but with killers hunting them down they need to find this gold and stay alive, Kane seeks help from an old friend, Archer Mahoney but will he be in time to save them?

This is such a fast paced story filled with danger and a sensual romance and a story that I highly recommend I am looking forward to the next one in the series,

My thanks to the author and Booksprout for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

September 27, 2024

Scublands

 Scrublands

Marin Scarsden #1

Chris Hammer

Reviewed by Helen

I have read three of Chris Hammer’s books and loved them all and I am starting at the beginning and so glad I did this book is fabulous a gritty crime, thriller story that had me turning the pages, a small town, Riversend in The Riverina and a mass murder one year ago brings journalist Martin Scarsden to the town to do a story of how the town is getting on but what he discovers makes him want to do his own investigation as to what happened that fateful day when a priest opened fire and killed five people.

Martin is digging deep, getting to know the locals and listening to what they have to say, but when he thinks he may have gotten a good inkling of what happened another horror rocks this small town, and the media arrive in droves, Martin is getting front page stories with his reports until everything turns upside down and he finds himself the enemy, but he is determined to not give up.

Martin has demons of his own and with the Sydney homicide police arriving and there is another shocking event, Martin seems to team up with one of the visiting investigators and together they hope to uncover the truth of it all, but will they?

This is a fabulous book, written so well with fabulous characters and a story that kept me guessing all the way through, secrets, cover-ups, but by who?

I do highly recommend this one, it is such a great read,

5 stars

July 25, 2018 by Allen & Unwin

Lest Tides Turn

 Lest Tides Turn

Detective Liz Moorland #3

Phillipa Nefri Clark

Reviewed by Helen

Another brilliant story in this series, Liz Moorland is just so good and now she is part of a new secretive team, there are some people we know and love in with her, Pete, Ben Candice and a few new ones, with plans for their first case to finally find the man who fathered Liz, everything gets changed when old friend and partner Vince’s neighbour Lyndall is kidnapped and the teams jumps in and must get this case solved and Lyndall back before the police take over.

With the disappearance of Lyndall the search is on but there is a lot that Lyndall appears to have kept secret about her life before moving to this small country town, Liz always wondered why she had a panic room and the more the search uncovers the more that could lead to a very dangerous life before, but will they return Lyndall safe and well and will the team come through together, are all of them on the same side and the biggest question who is behind Lyndall’s disappearance in the first place and what is it that they want?

This is such an awesome story, twisty, dangerous for the team and the more they uncover they are realising that there could be links to someone else they are after, which way to turn, this one had me turning the pages and I could hardly put it down as Liz and the team are just starting out but is one of them not on the same path as the rest?

I was so happy to get this one to read and am now eagerly awaiting book four to see where all that they have uncovered ends, or will it. This is a fabulous story and series best to read in order but you won’t be sorry, I loved it so much and I do highly recommend it, Phillipa Nefri Clark never disappoints a must read author for me.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

August 25, 2024 by Phillipa Nefri Clark

The Creeper

 The Creeper

Margaret Hickey

Reviewed by Helen

It is ten years since the murder of five hikers up on Jagged Ridge on the mountain above the small town of Edenville in Victoria’s high country, murder suicide they said when the body of Bill “The Creeper” Durant is found at the scene, open closed case, but with the anniversary looming and a new young cop Sally White in town she is doing some digging on complaints she has received from Lex Durant, Bill’s brother and what she uncovers will have you turning the pages.

Sally is the only cop in the small town and her boyfriend Jim Brear is a park ranger and happens to be the hero who carried the only survivor, Laura down the hill ten years ago, he doesn’t talk about it much, and with Laura coming back to town with a film crew and organizing a vigil, Sally is determined to find answers to the accusations Lex is making about Bill and past discrimination to his family from the police at the time.

Is there a link between the victims it seems the more digging Sally does that there may be but she appears to be putting herself in danger with all of her inquiries and when her boss, who happened to be one of the first officers on the mountain ten years ago suggests that Sally take the family members up to Jagged Ridge for the vigil, Sally must go but will they come back down the hill alive? Will history repeat itself? Is the Creeper dead?

This is such a great story one that I highly recommend to any lovers of a good atmospheric thriller, with twists that had my head turning every which way, MS Hickey has bought the characters to life as well the suspense and the atmosphere on the mountain, I felt every movement up there as Sally finally uncovers what happened ten years ago, this is one not to be missed, I do hope that we see more of Sally in the future.

My thanks to Penguin Books AU for my copy to read and review.

5 stars

July 30, 2024 by Bantam Aust

A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey

 Reviewed by Nas Dean

A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey is a March 2024 release. 

In "A Stranger in the Family," the chilling disappearance of nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall sets the stage for a gripping tale of family secrets, betrayal, and the haunting legacy of a lost child. Sixteen years after Rosalie vanished from her bed, her mother Helena is found dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide alongside her husband. However, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent quickly uncover layers of deception that point to a far more sinister truth.

The novel hooks readers from the outset with its compelling premise—a child's disappearance and the devastating aftermath on her family. Author Jane Casey expertly weaves together a narrative that blends the intensity of a police procedural with the emotional weight of a family drama. Maeve Kerrigan emerges as a compelling protagonist, driven not only by professional duty but also by a personal connection to the case that resonates deeply throughout the story.

The strength of "A Stranger in the Family" lies in its skillful exploration of characters and their motivations. Each member of the Marshall family is painted with complexity, revealing layers of vulnerability and hidden agendas. As Maeve delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Rosalie's disappearance, the tension mounts, culminating in a series of shocking revelations that challenge everything the reader thought they knew.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, propelling the plot forward with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The author's ability to maintain suspense is commendable, as is the seamless integration of multiple storylines that converge in a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

Furthermore, "A Stranger in the Family" delves into themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones. It confronts uncomfortable truths about the nature of grief and the impact of unresolved trauma on individuals and families alike.

Overall, "A Stranger in the Family" is a compelling and thought-provoking thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and intricate mysteries. With its expertly crafted plot and memorable characters, this novel solidifies Jane Casey as a talent to watch in the realm of crime fiction. It's a book that will linger in readers' minds long after the final page is turned, leaving them questioning the true meaning of family and the secrets we keep buried within.

The Last Trace

 The Last Trace

 Petronella McGovern

Reviewed by Helen

What happens when you have a memory blank, could you have committed a crime, this is what happens to Lachy Wilson it has happened a few times now and it is starting to worry him, he is now got the care of his fifteen year old son Kia and there is also the fact that he has been asked for a DNA test by a young woman he doesn’t really remember, life is getting hard for Lachy how will this all turn out?

Sheridan loves her brother, Lachy and her nephew Kia they are a very close family and with the loss of their father and their mother now in care suffering from dementia and Lachy back in Australia they are planning Easter at the family property something that has been done for many years but it soon turns into a near tragedy and everything changes.

Lachy and Kia take a trip to the States so as Lachy can first chase up the woman who requested his DNA, also to look up a young woman from his past and to talk to his boss about a workmate but pretty much as soon as he arrives the police are requesting an interview about the DNA test.
Soon the past is being unraveled and secrets unearthed will Lachy finally be able to put the past to rest and think about the future for him and his son and family, his American family finally know what happened to their sister and Lachy and Sheridan have a better understanding about their mother’s early years.

This story takes in family and secrets set in 1968 in America and now two different eras in two different countries how times change, Lachy woks around the world helping with water resources and cares about the environment, this one was slow to start for me but the ending worked out really well and I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

3.5 Stars

July 2, 2024 by Allen & Unwin AU