Murder Never Forgets

 Murder Never Forgets

A Western Edge Mystery #4

Nicole Helm

Reviewed by Helen

Another fabulous, twisty story in this series, it was a great trip to Marietta and catching up with Sam, The Bennet’s and The Harrington’s. Things seem to be settling down now for Sam who is now living and working with Nate Bennett, Aly and Landon are getting married and eldest Bennett brother Cal is moving back home but when the past leaps back in front of them again, danger abounds.

At the end of the last book Jill Harrington asks Sam Price PI to investigate why her grandmother Glenda does not speak even though she did speak at the trial for Benjamin Bennett but not many words, Jill has lived in the cabin with Glenda since she had her stoke, Jill is happy with her and writing her mystery books, Sam is not uncovering much but little strings that soon lead to the deaths of a couple of men twenty five years ago, one of them being Glenda’s husband, could this be the trauma that caused her silence and what part does Cal play in this, has he more childhood memories that have been suppressed?

Will Sam uncover what happened before there are more deaths, and will they finally get Glenda opening up? This series just gets better with every book. I was turning the pages in this one, it is a fabulous story and one that I highly recommend, and the ending sets up book five and I can’t wait to read that one.

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

5 stars

April 1, 2026 by Tule Publishing

The Drowning Hour

 The Drowning Hour

A Catherine Snowden Supernatural Thriller #2

Annie Seaton

Reviewed by Helen

Detective Catherine Snowden is back and now that her and Brett. her forensic scientist partner have moved from Somerset to London and have settled into new jobs, Catherine is hoping for a quiet new life but that is soon to change on her walks to works past The Thames River where she feels things from the river and then when she find herself in hospital and a man is bought in after his car went into the Thames in a serious condition he spirit calls out to Catherine to help prove that he was murdered.

Oliver Ashford-Kent’s accident is being called an accident that he had been drinking but Catherine knows better now after Oliver has reached out to her, his brakes had been sabotaged after he uncovered a huge embezzlement that had been going on by his uncle Marcus it is in the millions, from the family pharmaceutical company, Oliver is now in a coma but his spirit is pleading with Catherine to prove what really happened and of course Catherine will do everything she can to help.
As Catherine digs deeper with the help of Brett and another detective, DI Vance she uncovers many other deaths that appear to be connected to Ashford-Kent Pharmaceutical Company and Marcus many of whom have been drowned in The Thames and Catherine is feeling them and their pleas to help prove their deaths were not accidents or suicide, the river remembers everything, will she safely find the evidence that is needed?

Another fabulous story in this series Catherine is put to the test in this one with some very personal issues going on at the same time, Brett is again a fabulous partner workwise and personal and I really liked DI Vance, Catherine’s life and job are in danger throughout this story and I loved it Annie Seaton has again drawn me into a story that is a must read. I do highly recommend this one and the first in the series and am looking forward to more.

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

5 stars

March 31, 2026 by ASA

The Forest Keeps

 The Forest Keeps

A Catherine Snowden Supernatural Thriller #1

Annie Seaton

Reviewed by Helen

I love Annie Seaton’s stories and this one is a little different but so very good, we get to meet Catherine Snowden a detective she uses her instincts while investigating her cases and when in her opinion there is a definite link to two cases of missing woman and now another woman has gone missing but her boss disagrees, Catherine will not give up and keeps searching for clues and answers, when Catherine feels a presence, a request maybe something she cannot explain, something that leads her to the forest and this presence lets Catherine know that there is more than one body here.

Catherine is determined to find the killer against her boss’s wishes she keeps going and then Forensic Detective Brett steps in to help and with the help of the spirit that keeps appearing and with accusations going around her workplace that she not thinking right Catherine will not give up till she has the killer under lock and key.

What a fabulous story it kept me turning the pages and the twist at the end was something that I never saw coming I had my thoughts on who the killer, I loved the supernatural twist in this one and I think Brett is a fabulous partner in work and personal ways for Catherine, fabulous characters and a fabulous setting and am now really looking forward to book two.

I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a goo thriller with a twist.

5 stars

February 28, 2026 by ASA

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