Tropical Girl Reads

Title:- Death Among The Diamonds ( A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1)

Author:- Fliss Chester

Date published:- will be published on September 21st 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Genre:- Mystery/Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida Fawcett: fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?

Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend’s glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.

Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests’ elegant clothes with fresh eyes…

The short-tempered Detective insists that she keeps her curious nose out of the investigation, but it’s Cressida who realises the stolen diamonds were hidden in the sparkling chandelier. Convinced there is a connection between the theft and the murder, the case takes a sinister turn when a guest is killed in his sleep after a brandy-fuelled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida’s sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?

If you are fan of Agatha Christie, then I would strongly recommend you try reading Death Among the Diamonds, the first book of A Cressida Fawcett mystery set in 1920’s London.

Everyone in London knows Honorable Cressida Fawcett. So one day, when Cressida is at a party at her friend Lady DottyChatterton, an accident happens inside the house which results in the death of a person. Soon the accident turned out to be a murder. Not to mention that a few days before the accident happened, Lady Chatterton’s diamonds went missing.Together with DCI Andrews, Cressida works to solve the mystery of the stolen diamonds and murder.

I do like the setting of the story and reading this story reminds me of those Agatha Christie novels I used to read. The story is also set in the elite circle as well, the 1920’s being the era of jazz and fashion. Besides the setting which I really enjoyed the most, I do like the writing as well and Cressida’s character is an amicable and likable character in my opinion. Truly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the second book! Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- Catch Her Deat (Detective Madison Harper Book 5)

Author:- Wendy Dranfield

Date published :- will be published on September 9th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 344 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

“Mommy, wake-up,” he cries, pulling at her beautiful blonde hair. She’s silent, and her skin is deathly white. Tears roll down his cheeks as he realizes something is very wrong…

As snow falls on the small town of Lost Creek, Colorado, a three-year-old boy is found playing quietly in his car seat, his mother, cold as ice, slumped against the steering wheel in front. Tearing herself away from reconnecting with her special agent father who abandoned her for his career, Detective Madison Harper is haunted by the fear in the boy’s sky-blue eyes, and vows to find justice for this innocent child, left motherless just days before Christmas.

Madison works around the clock on her only clue: a perfect circle of clean glass found on the car’s rear window. But she’s stopped in her tracks the moment another mother is found dead outside a church during Midnight Mass, her young boy left sucking his thumb on the frozen ground beside her. It can’t be a coincidence.

The need to spare the children might hint to the suspect being a woman, but the deeper Madison digs, the closer she gets to a serial killer her own father spent a lifetime chasing. Has the killer followed her father here? Could Madison, single mother to a son herself, be next?

As a blizzard closes in, wreaking havoc on the investigation, Madison hits the same dead ends her father did all those years ago. But when her closest friend goes missing, Madison must dive into the mind of this twisted soul and risk it all to stop another heart-shattering tragedy. But will she make it in time?

An absolutely gripping read that will get your pulse pounding! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.

Wendy is the bestselling author of the Detective Madison Harper crime series.

She is a former coroner’s assistant turned crime writer who writes a mixture of standalone thrillers, crime series and short stories. Some of her books have been shortlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the Mslexia novel competition and the International Thriller Writer Awards.

You can find more information on her website: wendydranfield.co.uk

Catch Her Death is the fitfh book of Detective Madison Harper series and just like her previous book, this is a five starred book and a nail biting thriller that will put you on the edge.

It’s almost Christmas Eve and a three year old boy was found in the car with his mother dead by the steering wheel. His mother had been brutally beaten to death. Madison Harper along with her colleague was called to the crime scene. Meanwhile, another woman was also found murdered in the similar fashion with a small boy playing next to her. As the investigation moves on, the detectives find that this case was similar to the ones that committed by an infamous serial killer back in 1990s–the one that Madison’s father was investigating as a special Agent FBI. Meanwhile, Nate gets a Facebook message from someone from his past.

This was really an intriguing read! The author really does a good job of making the reader hook into the story and making the reader wrong whenever the reader would think that this was going to happen–which in other words means the author does a good job of surprising the reader with completely unexpected twists and turns! The story itself is fast paced and too many suspects to really know who could be the actually killer. I do like the relationship between Madison and Nate and how her relationship with her father grew towards the end. Overall, this book would take you on a rolle coaster ride and you wouldn’t really want to put the book down. Guaranteed that this book will keep you up all night–worth five stars!

Cannot wait for the next book of Madison Harper series!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- Someone’s Watching Me

Author:- Zor Rossi

Date published:- will be published on 15th September 2022

No. of pages;- 249 pages

Publisher:- Amazon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Is someone dangerous out to get her? Or is it all in her mind?

Becky’s life is almost perfect. Growing up, she could never have imagined living in such a safe, beautiful home, with a boyfriend as loving and kind as Alex, and hopes for a little family of her own. But then stand-offish Max moves in next door, and things begin to fall apart.

First, someone starts trolling her social media. Then she finds her tyres slashed. By the time she discovers the dead bird, left waiting for her like a prize, she’s sure someone is after her. And having spied some strange goings-on beyond her kitchen window, she suspects that person is Max.

Frightened, Becky turns to Alex for help, but she’s surprised to find that he and Max have become firm friends—and that Alex is convinced it’s all in her mind. But when news of a missing young woman breaks, Becky knows she has to do something. She’s sure she’s seen this woman in Max’s home—hasn’t she?

With Alex concerned that she’s losing her grip on reality, does Becky dare keep digging, knowing her almost-perfect life could shatter into imperfect little pieces?

The story starts with Becky, who seems to be having a perfect life with a perfect boyfriend Alex. But a stand offish man named Max move into the the next door house and soon, someone is coming after Becky–from ruining the estate open day to leaving a dead crow at the front of her car. Becky is convinced that someone is out getting revenge on her and she suspected Max, who has become friends with Alex. Alex doesn’t believe her and Becky would do anything to find out who is out about to ruin her life.

The plot wasn’t really original but the writing was great. There were some twists and turns along the way and Becky to the reader could be an unreliable narrator. However, even though the plot wasn’t original, I like the pace of the story–it was fast paced and the author did a magnificent job of drawing the reader into the story so to make the reader feel like they are part of the story. The ending was unexpected and completely shocking, though I suspected that person could be the one who is hell bent on ruining Becky’s life. Overall, this was a good gripping psychological thriller, quite unputdownable that will keep you at the edge of the seat. Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Amazon publishing UK for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- The Lucky One

Author:- Jessica Payne

Date published:- will be published on 14th September 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

No. of pages:- 376 pages

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

We were all there that prom night, but one of us didn’t make it home…

Ten years ago: We laughed together on the dance floor that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last…

Now: They say that I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth—the thing I’ve been running from all this time. How I escaped.

Back in my hometown a decade later—the place I’ve avoided—I can feel the questioning eyes on me, the whispers. The rumors.

I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and I tell myself it’s all in my head. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you.

I should have known I couldn’t run forever. I want to feel safe surrounded by my best friends. But everyone has something to hide, and I don’t know who I can trust.

Someone out there won’t let me forget what really happened that night, what I promised. What if, this time, I’m not so lucky?

Jessica lives in the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound are home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat or dog in her lap. Jessica writes suspense and thriller and is the host of #MomsWritersClub on Twitter and YouTube. You can find out more about her at her website, jessicapayne.net

After reading this author’s debut novel, I was excited to read her next novel The Lucky One and I must say, this was a very interesting premise.

Norah is a sole survivor of ruthless serial killer, known as Hansel and had watched her friend Augusta killed by Hansel. Now almost ten years later, Norah who is known a WWE coach living in California moves to Kansas where her story is being adapted into a book. But soon a dead body, similar to what Hansel had murdered years ago was found by the alley, implying Hansel is back.

This was a fast paced thriller with twists and turns. The story is mainly told in Norah’s perspective and devides between the present day and the past, when Norah escapes from the clutches of the serial killer. The great thing about this book was there were too many suspects and one of them, someone close to them, could be that notorious serial killer. Although I prediced as to who would be the killer, this did not stop me from enjoying this book. Quite a page turner that will keep you at the edge and the author had done a good job of keeping the reader in suspense.

So if you like a fast paced thriller, then this book is one for you. Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- Jane Doe Series Book 1

Author:- Victoria Helen Stone

Date published:- August 1st 2018

Publisher:- Lake Union Publishing

No. of pages:- 270 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

A double life with a single purpose: revenge.

Jane’s days at a Midwest insurance company are perfectly ordinary. She blends in well, unremarkably pretty in her floral-print dresses and extra efficient at her low-level job. She’s just the kind of woman middle manager Steven Hepsworth likes—meek, insecure, and willing to defer to a man. No one has any idea who Jane really is. Least of all Steven.

But plain Jane is hiding something. And Steven’s bringing out the worst in her.

Nothing can distract Jane from going straight for his heart: allowing herself to be seduced into Steven’s bed, to insinuate herself into his career and his family, and to expose all his dirty secrets. It’s time for Jane to dig out everything that matters to Steven. So she can take it all away.

Just as he did to her.

This was really an unusual thriller that I read and I actually enjoyed reading this thriller. This is a story about a woman who is known as “Jane Doe” (we don’t know if that’s her real name) coming back to Minneapolis to avenge on her friend’s Meg’s death. She meets Steven at the work, who is or might be responsible for Meg’s suicide and soon works her way to make Steven fall in love with him. Eventually, she is able to enact her revenge plan.

The story is mainly told from Jane’s perspective and I was surprised that I actually enjoyed reading this book. From the first chapter till the end, I was hooked into the story, wondering if Jane will actually kill Steven or not. The author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story. Though there wasn’t much twists in the story, nonetheless, I enjoyed the fast paced theme in this book. The ending was really a gripping and unexpected ending. Overall, it was a fast paced and unputdownable thriller that will keep you at the edge of the seat. Worth four and a half stars!

Title:- Safe With You

Author:- R.M. Ward

Date published:- will be published on 9th September 2022

Publisher:- HQ

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

It used to be more of a community round here. I was going to say something like this wouldn’t have happened then, but it would, wouldn’t it? Maybe a lot of it was kept quiet. But was it really any safer? Is anywhere safe?

Kath has lived on the same London estate for decades. Lately she’s become friendly with the little girl next door, who is often left alone for hours at a time while her mum is at work.

They have a system. When Mina gets home from school to the empty flat, she knocks on the wall three times. Knock, knock, knock. I’m home safe and sound.

But one day Mina’s knock doesn’t come. Kath raises the alarm and the police begin the search. Kath was the only person looking out for Mina – now she might be the only one who can bring her home

This was actually a good thriller and I simply couldn’t put the book down as I was reading this. Nelson Flats is where Kath, a seventy something year old woman lives and in another apartment, Mina and her mother Sandy also living in that apartment. Kath befriends the little girl Mina as Sandy spends most of the time working and have a sort of routine where MIna knocks on Kath’s door. But one day, Mina doesn’t knock on the door and Kath realizes that Mina had gone missing.

The story is told from Kath’s, Sandy and another man named Den’s points of views as Den becomes the suspect. It was quite unputdownable as well as Den started facing backlashes from the community as they suspect that he was responsible for Mina’s disappearance. Honestly, the author made all these three characters, Kath, Sandy and Den unreliable narrators that one of them could be responsible for Mina’s disappearance. This was also a page turner as well. I wanted to really find out what really happened to Mina in the end. Not much of twists and turns you normally expect in a thriller but nonetheless, it was an engaging thriller. The ending was slightly predictable as well.

Overall, this was a good, unputdownable thriller–worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- The Nanny

Author:- Ruth Heald

Date published:- will be published on September 8th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 351 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

20 years ago, a little girl disappeared. You thought it was your fault. Until now…

To the outside world, I am just like any other mother. I juggle my job with the school run and taking care of my mum, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My family is everything and I want to keep them safe.

But when a young woman arrives on my doorstep, a past secret that I have spent years running from comes hurtling into my present.

In an instant, I am taken back to a dream trip to Thailand and to a job as a nanny that changed my life forever. It was supposed to be my chance at a better life. But it turned into a nightmare.

I try to tell myself that I am overreacting. But the woman in front of me looks so much like him. Is she the child who vanished without a trace? Does she want to be part of my life, or destroy it?

Ruth Heald is a bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books include The Wedding, I Know Your Secret, The Mother’s Mistake and The Woman Upstairs.

Ruth studied Economics at Oxford University and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. She worked at the BBC for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with two children and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.

Wow this was such a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the beginning till the end and was up till all night reading this book!

Hayley and Lars are in a bit of a financial problem that they decided to look for a lodger. So when a woman named Johanna answered the ad, Johanna reminded her of someone long time ago…Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, while Hayley and her friends are backpacking around Thailand, Hayley answers an ad that was looking for a nanny. She gets the job but her dream job soon becomes a nightmare…

The story shifts back and forth between the present day and the year 1999 when Hayley was in Thailand. I enjoyed reading the part where Hayley was in Thailand and the descriptions of the Bangkok including the temples and the lives of the expats living in Bangkok for the reader felt like they are also in Bangkok with the main character. The present was also an interesting read as a man had found out about Hayley’s secret back in Thailand and is pursuing after her coupled by the fact that Johanna makes a shocking revelation. There were some unexpected twists and turns along the way and the pace of the story was fast paced that the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story! The ending was a complete shocker to me and completely unexpected.

Overall, if you are looking for a thriller that will take you on a roller coaster ride, then I highly recommend this fast-paced unputdownable thriller that is packed with twists and turns–worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Title:- Hostage

Author:- Clare Mackintosh

Date published:- June 22nd 2021

No. of pages:- 357 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

You can save hundreds of lives. Or the one that matters most.

A claustrophobic thriller set over twenty hours on one airplane flight, with the heart-stopping tension of The Last Flight and the wrenching emotional intensity of Room, Hostage takes us on board the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney.

Mina is trying to focus on her job as a flight attendant, not the problems of her five-year-old daughter back home, or the fissures in her marriage. But the plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.

It’s twenty hours to landing. A lot can happen in twenty hours.

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of New York Times bestseller I LET YOU GO, and Sunday Times bestsellers I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE and AFTER THE END. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, and have spent a combined total of 50 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart.

Her new thriller, HOSTAGE, comes out in June 2021.

Clare is the patron of the Silver Star Society, an Oxford-based charity which supports the work carried out in the John Radcliffe Hospital’s Silver Star unit, providing special care for mothers with medical complications during pregnancy. Clare lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children

So this is the fourth Clare Mackintosh book I have read and after reading her debut novel “I LET YOU GO”, I was determined to read all her novels.

HOSTAGE is very different type of thriller from the psychological thrillers that Clare Mackintosh usually writes. In this novel, Mina, a flight attendant is getting on the inaugral non stop flight from London to Sydney when she gets a threatening note from an anonymous person, asking her to do something for them if she wants to save her daughter Sophia. Meanwhile back in London, Mina’s husband, Adam with the daughter Sophia is locked up in the cellar by the babysitter Becca.

To me, this felt more like an action packed thriller with a mysterious Passenger 1G who seemed to be in charge of the hijacking situation. The scenes in the plane was so dramatic that I actually feel like watching a blockbuster movie. The story is told from Mina’s and Adam’s perspectives, each of them carrying a secret of their own–Adam’s gambling addict and the fact that he owed money to loan sharks and Mina’s past. The ending felt like a heart beater as the reader was put on the edge of the seat, wondering what is going to happen next and the Epilogue was completely and totally unexpected and I must say, I did like how the author ended the book.

Overall, if you like an action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge, try this book out–worth four stars!