Crime Archives - Page 3 of 3

14Mar 2022 by Luke Harkness

Book review of 1979 by Val McDermid

I've heard quite a bit about Val McDermid so when I saw her latest novel on offer in my local supermarket, it was a bit of a no brainer. I've heard Val McDermid as one of the best writers of her generation and certainly a leader in the crime genre. 1979 was a brilliant new book in her series and one I'd recommend to all crime fans. 1979 is a novel set in 1979 (shock eh?) which follows the life of Allie Burns, a new investigative journalist at her local newspaper. When she comes across a big case that could not only jumpstart her career but also potentially stop a terrorist act, she does everything in her power to get the answers she needs to write the honest story of…

04Jan 2022 by Luke Harkness

Book Review of Sweetpea by C.J. Skuse

Book reviews, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Thriller

As I start many book reviews, I’d seen quite a lot of good things about Sweet Pea on my Bookstagram before I picked it up with some even stating it’s their favourite book series. Therefore when it came on offer on Kindle and was a cheap Audible buy, I had to pick it up! [caption id="attachment_1573" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Sweet Pea by C.J. Skuse is a book about a psychopath who lives a normal life alongside her murderous other life. We follow Rhiannon as she goes about her everyday duties via the entries of her diary. Plot – 3.5/5 Rhiannon seems like a very regular person to most people - she may be a little odd, but no more so than everybody these days. However, little does…

01Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery

Along Came a Spider is the first crime/action thriller in the critically and commercially acclaimed Alex Cross series. If you’re a fan of crime fiction or action books, you’ve likely heard of James Patterson and you’ve also likely heard of Alex Cross. [caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that the article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Along Came a Spider via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Along Came a Spider focuses on the story of the kidnapping of two high-powered individuals’ children. There are some focuses on race and equality, there is an interesting storyline…

25Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus

Book reviews, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Mystery

A couple of years ago I picked up One Of Us Is Lying but for some reason or another ended up DNFing it. I've picked it up again though however and managed to plough through and I must say I have mixed feelings about it. [caption id="attachment_1172" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase The Final Empire via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. One of Us Is Lying is the first book in what is going to be a trilogy. It focuses on the unraveling events after five teenagers walk…

17Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

Book reviews, Contemporary Fiction, Crime, Mystery

The sequel to the record-breaking The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is now out. The Man Who Died Twice brings back all of our favourite characters with their wit, intelligence and dry sense of humour and introduces us to some new characters, expanding on this utterly enjoyable fictional world that Osman is building. [caption id="attachment_1136" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Set after The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice has quite the hype to live up to after Osman's first book broke records for the speed at which it sold. With intelligent, funny characters, an utterly loveable fictional British town and Osman's dry and very English writing style, this is another huge success. Plot – 4.5/5 The Man Who Died Twice sees our favourite Thursday Murder…

26Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan

Book reviews, Crime, Sci-Fi

I’m a huge fan of the Cyberpunk science fiction genre. I love a futuristic gritty world where humanity seems to have gone back culturally but technology has advanced significantly. Altered Carbon is one of the best books at this and is accompanied by an in-depth crime story too. [caption id="attachment_1020" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Altered Carbon via any of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links to not affect my opinion of the products. Altered Carbon is set four hundred years in the future when humanity has reached other worlds including Mars and people can have their existence uploaded…

14Aug 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery, Thriller

I picked up The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides simply because I’d heard very good things about it. I read it during its big hype and I'm very glad that I did. There wasn’t a moment during reading it where I wasn’t utterly fascinated with what was going to happen next. [caption id="attachment_980" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Silent Patient is one of those novels where you’re kind of just reading along and then all of a sudden it clicks as to what the purpose of the novel is and you’re utterly drawn in. It does also help that I read this during lockdown last year during a wonderful summer. Plot – 4/5 The Silent Patient follows the story of Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber. Alicia was a…

28May 2021 by Luke Harkness 1 Comment

Book Review: The Terminal List by Jack Carr

Book reviews, Crime, Thriller

A book that I described as a “stunning debut novel” on my Goodreads, The Terminal List still sticks in my mind as one of the best first books I’ve ever read by an author. Jack Carr pulled didn't hold any punches here. Pin me! Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL who led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander and Task Unit Commander and in 2018 he wrote his first fictional book about a character called James Reece who experiences the dark side of the government and becomes an enemy of the state. Plot – 5/5 The plot of The Terminal List sees the main character, James Reece, with nothing left to live for after he finds out the American government are responsible for the…

27May 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: Lockdown by Peter May

Book reviews, Crime

Back in 2005, Peter May wrote a book in which a crime takes place when the city of London is in lockdown due to the second-coming of the bird flu pandemic in humans. However, when May tried to present this novel to publishers, it was deemed too unrealistic. Then Covid-19 happened. (more…)

Category: Crime