Tropical Girl Reads

Third and final blog post for today! Who’s Next by Chris Merrit and here is my review

Stumbling to the ground, he claws at the earth around him, trying to stabilise himself, but his attacker is on him in seconds. As he stares at the lights of the bustling streets on the other side of the park gates, he doesn’t even have time to shout for help before everything goes black.

When the body of wealthy businessman Charles Stott is found dead on Wimbledon Common, covered in bruises just feet away from his luxury home, Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate the shocking scene. Examining the sickeningly disfigured body before him, Lockhart knows he’s dealing with a brutal killer. Looking more closely, he notices something on the victim’s neck: a small, crudely drawn symbol in black ink. It seems the murderer has marked his victim, but why? Dan needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, so he contacts psychologist Dr Lexi Green.

As the ensuing media circus puts pressure on Dan and Lexi’s investigation, another victim is found and the headlines are quick to report a serial killer is on the loose. The body of a successful lawyer has been discovered in a park with the same bruising and hand-drawn symbol on his neck. Dan fears that more victims will follow.

As the case intensifies, Dan uncovers a new lead on his missing wife, Jess, who disappeared eleven years ago. Determined to follow it up, he must choose between tracking down a serial murderer and finding Jess. Can he make the impossible decision before the killer strikes once more?

No. of pages:- 449 pages

Date published:- 11th September 2020

Genre:- Thriller

Hello! I’m a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.

My second series features detective Dan Lockhart – an ex-soldier with a missing wife – and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.

I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When I’m not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an unpublished version of this book!! This review is strictly based on my true honest opinion.

This is the second book of the series Detective Lockhart and Green but this is the first book I have read from this author. It’ s not really necessary to read the first book though.

A wealthy film director was murdered brutally by the street side and Detective Lockhart was called to scene. Besides beating the director into a pulp there was a strange symbol drawn by the killer on the neck of the victim. Together with the psychologist, Dr. Green, the two work together to tackle the killer. Meanwhile, a series of sexual assaults are happening around London and DC Smith is in charge of trying to catch the pervert.

I really enjoyed reading this book–this book is filled with turns and twists that will make the reader guess and aching to know what is going to happen next. Also what I really like about this thriller is this is actually fast paced so I was so hooked into the story that I really wanted to know who is this violent killer. Amid of all these murders and sexual assaults going around, I also like the personal background of the story, about how Detective Lockhart was trying to locate his wife, who went missing years ago, while he was on duty in Afghanistan. The thriller itself to me was like a roller coaster ride and I couldn’t simply put the book down as I want to know, what is going to happen next. I also like the part where Dr. Green is trying to help Detective Lockhart as she has some secret feelings towards him. The only thing about this book is I wish the author has written the killer’s part not as a chapter but as a separate page, maybe written in italics so to differentiate the killer’s part with the story. But I do like how the author put the killer’s part so we do know what his/her next action is going to be and her/his motive and we can get a dig at what he/she is going to do next.

Overall this is a fast paced thriller with unexpected twists and turns that would make the reader yearn to read more. Worth four stars in my opinion! This book will be released on 11th September 2020 so if this is the book you want to read, you can pre-order now on Amazon!

Hey all! Just finished Shalini Boland’s The Wife, which will be released on 8th September 2020! Here’s my review!

Zoe fainted on her wedding day, and she never knew why. She’s always felt sure something bad happened. Ten years later, she’s going to find out what…

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Zoe was sitting in her hotel room, in her perfect white dress, looking forward to the moment when she would make kind, handsome Toby her husband.

Then, there was a blank.

They said she must have fainted, overcome with emotion. But nothing felt quite right afterwards. Did something happen in that missing time?

Now, Toby and Zoe have two beautiful children and a perfect life. They’re planning their ten-year anniversary party for their family and friends. The invitations have been sent, the food ordered. They’re going back to the grand hotel where they got married.

But as the anniversary gets closer, it becomes clear not everyone is looking forward to celebrating. Zoe catches Toby lying about where he’s been. One of her best friends seems to be ignoring her. And someone is spreading stories that might stop the party from happening at all.

Zoe is increasingly sure that she doesn’t have the full story. But does she want to know the truth, if it will destroy everything?

No. of pages:- 292 pages

Date published:- 9th September 2020

Genre:- Domestic Thriller

Shalini Boland is the million-copy, USA-Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers: ‘THE GIRL FROM THE SEA’, ‘THE BEST FRIEND’, ‘THE MILLIONAIRE’S WIFE’ (optioned for TV by Legendary Studios), ‘THE SECRET MOTHER’, ‘THE CHILD NEXT DOOR’, ‘THE SILENT SISTER’, ‘THE PERFECT FAMILY’, ‘THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL’, ‘THE OTHER DAUGHTER’ and ‘ONE OF US IS LYING’.

THE WIFE is now available to pre-order!

Her titles are published by Bookouture, Grand Central (USA) and Tantor.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing psychological thrillers (in between school runs and endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling Young Adult series as well as a children’s WWII novel with a time-travel twist.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! The review is completely based on my honest opinion.

Zoe fainted on her wedding day with no recollection of what really happened a moment before she fainted. Ten years later, Zoe and her husband, Toby are happily married with two children and are about to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary and they will be celebrating it at the very same hotel they had their wedding. But soon, while the wedding preparations is under way, Zoe feels odd–her best friend is seemed to be ignoring her and Toby seems to be hiding from her on something. And Zoe keeps seeing a woman who seemed to look like her sister Dina, who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago. And there’s a secret that would threaten to ruin Zoe’s happy life if it was have revealed…

Truth to be told, I have always wanted to read Shalini Boland’s books but this is the first book I have read from this author. The story is completely told from Zoe’s perspectives, switching between Present Day and the Past so as a reader we would get to know the life before and after. The story is filled with twists and turn and the writing was good as well. The thriller was actually fast paced. The ending was however a bit expected as I have expected that type of ending. I truly enjoyed reading this book and this book actually kept me up all night!

Overall, this is a fast paced thriller and it is actually really a good book! Worth four stars!