Crime, Luke’s Blog

18Mar 2023 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson book review

The Jigsaw Man was another book that when I asked people which book I should read from my physical TBR list received a lot of recommendations. The reviews on the blurb and the front of the book likened it to Val McDermid too which is high praise. However, I must say... I was incredibly underwhelmed. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. The Jigsaw Man tells the story of DI Henley and her return to the frontline of the police force after a couple of years out and her experience with…

15Feb 2023 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Dead Head by C J Skuse book review

Book reviews, Crime, Thriller

The third book in the Sweetpea trilogy, Dead Head, sees our hilarious secret serial killer, Rhiannon, on the run. She’s trying to hide from society as the whole world has found out about her and weirdly made her into an exciting celebrity for the whole of Twitter to talk about. In fact, she even has a book out now. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. As I said above, Dead Head is the third book in the series, so if you've not read the previous two books in the series,…

15Feb 2023 by Luke Harkness No Comments

In Bloom by C J Skuse book review

Book reviews, Crime, Thriller

The Sweetpea series by C J Skuse is a series recommended to me by a fair few of my friends and one that I see a lot of people raving about online. In Bloom is the second in this series and sees us pick up Rhiannon's story right after she's just successfully had her cheating boyfriend sent to jail for the killings she's committed. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the product. In Bloom carries right on after where Sweetpea finished. If you've not yet read Sweetpea you definitely need to -…

26Jan 2023 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris book review

Book reviews, Crime, Historical Fiction

Act of Oblivion is a book I was recommended and lent by a good friend. He's a big fan of historical fiction and rated Act of Oblivion as a book that I definitely needed to pick up and read. It focuses on a story that I don't think a lot of people know about but one which is actually really interesting! The problem when you write historical fiction based on a real story is if the story isn't deeply fleshed out in real life then you've really got to fill out the book with other details. Does Robert Harris do this enough here? Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase any products via any of the affiliate links below, I may receive a…

28Dec 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson book review

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery, Thriller

A Good Girls' Guide to Murder is another of those books I'd seen a lot of on social media. And, as with a lot of my next book choices, it became available to listen to via the library-lending app, Libby and so I decided to pick it up and give it a listen. It's a book possibly aimed at a younger audience but one that I found myself very much enjoying as a man in his late 20s also! Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links provided below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. A Good Girl's Guide…

15Nov 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle book review

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery

I love a good murder mystery - especially one where the killer and the victims are all stuck in the same place, so when I needed to pick up a new read, A Fatal Crossing leapt out at me from my bookshelf. When a man dies on a voyage from Britain to America, there are suspicions it may have been murdered and the murderer could still be on the ship! Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. A Fatal Crossing is a book I was partly drawn to by the cover…

15Sep 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Rivers of London By Ben Aaronovitch book review

Book reviews, Crime, Fantasy, Mystery

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch is a book I have actually read before. I picked it up three years ago as it sounded quite cool and the front cover pulled me in. However, when I initially picked it up, it kind of flew by as I listened to the Audiobook, not really appreciating anything I was listening to. However, this time I had a lot more appreciation for the writing, and the comedy but I believe I still hold some of the same opinions as before. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion…

09Sep 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Revelation by C.J. Sansom book review

Book reviews, Crime, Historical Fiction, Mystery

The Matthew Shardlake series by CJ Sansom is one of the best historical fiction crime series around. It's likely not an overcrowded genre but nonetheless, Sansom seems to have marked himself down as the one to beat in the genre and the king of historical fiction crime. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links provided below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of any of the products. Revelation is the fourth book in the Shardlake series by Sansom - a series that sees lawyer Shardlake get himself embroiled in murders far more often than he'd like and end up having to…

03Sep 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett book review

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery

The Twyford Code is Janice Hallett's second book after The Appeal was very positively received. I absolutely adored The Appeal - I enjoyed the incredible way it was written and how, despite having the technicality of trying to write a book in that way, Hallett still managed to write great characters and a clever twist and crime story. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any of the products below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of any of the products. The Twyford Code is similar to The Appeal in that it is written in a unique way. The Twyford Code uses dictated voice notes to…

17Aug 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Death on the Pier by Jamie West book review

Book reviews, Crime, Historical Fiction

Death on the Pier by Jamie West is West's debut novel set almost 90 years ago on a Brighton Pier Theatre that longer exists. During a play in which the main character is supposed to die at the end of Act 1, she is found to actually be dead when the curtain goes down - but who is the culprit and why? Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. Death on the Pier was sent to me by Jamie West himself in return for an honest review. It releases on 10…