The Gambler

 The Gambler

PI Vince Reid #2

J P Pomare

Reviewed by Helen

I got to know Vince Reid PI in the first book and now he is back this time an old friend, Nick gets in touch with him to suggest a case that had been offered to him, Reid has promised his partner Peyton that he will not put himself in danger after his first case but Nick assures him this one will be easy and a good payday, so he travels to Nick’s place a smallish town and starts investigating why a woman in her sixties, a well- respected woman would open fire at a political rally, killing a young woman and injuring many more.

Reid goes firstly to the home of the parents of young Katie the victim to ask questions, the answers send him on a path looking for the man who shot the killer and saved many more people, Jason King, he is hard to find, but the more he uncovers the more twist that are there, and a visit to Amish country as well is there a link to an old unsolved murder and this one, was there someone who was an intended victim, did money play a big part in this shooting so many questions and not enough answers. Soon it seems that Reid is under threat and in danger of not making it home, will he get the answers before he is killed?

This is another fabulous story from JP Pomare one that kept me turning the pages there are twists, turns and a red herring along the way my mind was twisting with who and why, the characters are strong and very good, I do highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good crime, mystery thriller. I am looking forward to the next one.

4 stars

February 24, 2026 by Hachette Australia

In the Clearing

 In the Clearing

J P Pomare

Reviewed by Helen

Amy has grown up in The Clearing raised by her mother with a brother and a total of eleven young children they are schooled and trained by their minders and keepers, it is the only life she has known and then another young girl is bought in and things start to change this young girl does not fit in and then Amy’s life changes.

Freya lives near the river with her young son Billy, she likes to feel that everything in her life is normal and that her and Billy are no different from any other mum and son but when a young girl goes missing this has Freya sitting on edge, everything that she thinks is normal for her feels different now and then there is a visitor and the unthinkable happens and all of a sudden Freya’s life is turned upside down will she and Billy survive?

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books that I have read from this author and I read this older one for a challenge and so glad I did, it is filled with twists and turns, fabulous characters some good some not so good and had me turning the pages, I do highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery, crime. Thriller.

5 stars

December 31, 2019 by Hachette Australia

Tell Me Her Name

 Tell Me Her Name

Margot Phalen FBI Series #1

Kate Wiley

Reviewed by Helen

I am so glad Kate Wiley is writing another series with Margot Phalen as the lead because I loved the first one and this one had me turning the pages.

It is five years since Margot and Wes left SFPD as homicide detectives, they have moved to a ranch started a new life with dogs and cats and Margot has taken up the job with the FBI investigating cold cases after years of interviewing killers in prison she is very good at her job and the search is on to get answers for the families who still have missing family members.

While Margo and the team are busy questioning and investigating a killer who had been killing young pageant contestants, a young teenage student of her partner Wes’s is murdered in their home town and seeing as he was the last one to see her the sheriff has arrested Wes for murder after all that Margot has been through in her life, this could be the worst to happen and her mind is going in all directions she knows Wes so well.

WOW I loved this one from start to finish, Margot is at her best with the pressure of the case she is on and then what happens at home surely their new lives could not be turned upside down already, Margot is under pressure from all ends and she cannot let Wes’s case go by without some investigating but will they get answers? As for the FBI case wow what they uncover throughout this one had me stumped.

I do highly recommend this one and am hoping that book two is not far away, Margot and Wes and the FBI team are fabulous characters, don’t’ miss this one.

My thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

February 18, 2026 by Storm Publishing

Winter Harbor Secrets by Ciara Knight

 Reviewed by Nas Dean

A gripping blend of romance and suspense, Winter Harbor Secrets by Ciara Knight pulls you in from the very first page. The icy coastal setting creates a moody, atmospheric backdrop while the layered secrets and emotional tension keep the story moving at a steady pace. 

The characters feel real and flawed, making their struggles and growing connection believable and engaging. Perfect for readers who enjoy mystery wrapped in heartfelt romance, this book delivers twists, warmth, and just enough intrigue to keep you turning pages late into the night. 

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Helen's Review

Book two in this series and we meet FBI agents Vivian Durand and Thomas Blake as they go undercover as a married couple on their honeymoon to try and in infiltrate Laurel Tide and bring them down and find out who the traitor is in the FBI but these two do not get on very well and there is friction from the start but could it be more for them both as they journey through gunfire, snowstorms and rusty yachts to save a child and bring this mob down once and for all.

A fast paced, action packed story with wonderful characters but will they stay alive and get Laurel Tide and the traitor in the bureau and will they find that the friction between them is closer to love? Recommended to any lover of a good romantic suspense.

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

4 stars

January 28, 2026 by Defy the Dark Publishing

Beneath the Shadows

 Beneath the Shadows

Townsend & Gray #0.5

Tanya Nellestein

Reviewed by Helen

I have read and loved the first two books in this series and the author has given us a look at the reason why Ashleigh Gray packed up and moved across the world from The Northern Beaches of Sydney to the small town of Sergis in Connecticut USA.

Ash is under the pressure from her boss to get answers and the killer when another young girl goes missing this is seven in six months and the spotlight and media are riding her as well as her boss and the politicians, she has someone of interest but after the last inspector lost his job over chasing this person of interest will Ash as well.

Ash stands her ground she is not going to let another child die on her watch and her future is on the line, this one pushed her.

I did love this one as I am loving the series and I thank the author for this prequel it is one that I highly recommend to anyone who is loving this series or looking for a new series to start, I can’t wait for the next installment.

5 stars

January 21, 2026 by wine&words publishing

A Disappearing Act

 A Disappearing Act

Jo Dixon

Reviewed by Helen

Four friends, Sarah, Poppy, Xanthea and Marnie, lived in an old converted warehouse in Melbourne known as Ellzon in the 1990’s meet up again in 2024 for a trip to Tasmania and nobody saw what was going to happen but secrets from the past start to unravel, how will it all turn out?

Marnie Elliot is now a bestselling author who lives in London she has not seen her friends for many years and decides to invite them all for a week long holiday, is it to drink and have fun or does Marnie have another reason to be here with them, could it be something about the exposé that is just about to be released, she knows she has not always told the truth but this could blow her career sky high along with her life.

Sarah, loved her life back in those years being young and living the good life but things changed and a vow of secrecy taken soon everyone moved on from Ellzon and made new lives, Sarah marries and has a daughter, Poppy marries but not happily and Xanthea married her girlfriend and has two sons.

Now one night together in Tasmania and three of them are keen for monetary help from Marnie but what happens is those secrets start to unwind and soon one of them is missing, who and why?

This is a twisty story of friendships secrets and the past erupting, will they get the truth? I did very much enjoy this one a bit slow to start and the characters are all good although I don’t think I was fond of any of them but for me the story line was really good and I did not see what was coming in the end, I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a good twisty mystery.

My thanks to Harlequin AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

November 1, 2025 by HQ Fiction

On The Edge

 On The Edge

Kate Horan

Reviewed by Helen

WOW I didn’t see the twist coming in this one, what a fabulous story, it was very hard to put this one down.

Sixteen years ago sixteen year old Maddie Marshall’s body was found washed up on a beach after being missing for three days, what really happened to Maddie the daughter of a high profile politician was never solved but fingers were pointed, accusations thrown about.

Nel Foley was Maddie’s best friend and she was the last known person to see Maddie alive she was interrogated not once but twice Nel was followed by rumours for two years before she fled the small town on Carrinya leaving her family behind to become a doctor like her father.

Nel is thirty two now and her father has just passed away suddenly and for the first time in sixteen years Nel returns to Carrinya but opinions have not seemed to have changed in all of these years but Nel is older now and stronger and when she discovers something from old medical records, she catches up with Jimmy an old friend from school who is now one of the local police officers and together they re-investigate the case but can they get the answers?

Nel is still sure that Maddie’s old boyfriend Ryan had something to do with it all, he is now married to Sophie and they have three children when Nel meets Sophie she knows something is wrong but can she help Sophie without anyone getting hurt?

This story had me turning the pages there are lots of twists as Nel pushes through many hurdles to get the answers she wants of what really happened to her best friend, it is so well written and Nel is such a fabulous characters, this story also looks into some issues that are very much in the headlines today. I do highly recommend this book it really is a fabulous book.

My thanks to the publisher Harlequin AU for my ARC to read.

5 stars

December 30, 2025 by Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd