Tag: old review

Posted in Reading, Reviews

Halfhead – Stuart B MacBride

Posted on by J

There are worse things than the death penalty…

They call them halfheads: convicted criminals, surgically mutilated and lobotomized by the State, then sent out to do menial jobs in the community so everyone will know what happens when you break the law. There are no appeals, no reprieves, and no one ever comes back. Until now.

Dr Fiona Westfield, one of the most prolific serial killers Glasgow has ever seen, is waking up. Surrounded by blood and death and darkness.

William Hunter has risen through the ranks since putting Westfield away; now he’s Assistant Network Director, in charge of police actions. But a routine murder investigation is about to embroil him in an appalling conspiracy.

The vast connurb blocks on Glasgow’s deprived south side are ready to explode. Eleven years ago the VR riots killed millions – now someone wants to start them all over again. And Will is being dragged back into a past he desperately wants to forget…

Without the B, Stuart MacBride writes slick, gruesome thrillers featuring DS Logan McRae.

I’ve read all of these, so you’d think I’d be used to the level of blood, guts and gore that spout from each vein of violent prose, but oh no, this novel is far more disturbing.

The bleak future setting, with its inhumane justice system, combined with the fantastic plotting and fabulous writing, make this one novel that will certainly create a few sleepless nights.

Go. Get it. Then enjoy.

Posted in Reading, Reviews

The Last Winter of Dani Lancing – P D Viner

Posted on by J

Twenty years ago Dani Lancing was brutally raped and murdered.

Her death left more tragedy in its wake by tearing her family apart. Her Father has withdrawn from the world and lives with only a ghost for company. Her best friend, is now a Detective, a last hope for lost young girls, and her Mother, obsessed with the truth is about to find out what happened, all it takes, is for her to become a murderer.

This book took me completely by surprise. It was nothing at all like my expectations, it was much better, and another of my one sitting reads.

The narrative switches in turn between the three main characters, as they embark on the journey that will lead them to the truth of what happened to Dani, and captures well the devastation to a family caused by such a tragedy, the healing power of knowledge and understanding, and the dangers of hidden lives and secrets kept for the best of intentions.

Whether you like murder mysteries, love stories, ghost stories or all of the above, there’s something in this book for you

Posted in Reading, Reviews

The Missing Ink – Karen E Olson

Posted on by J

Murder leaves a mark

Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist and owner of an elite tattoo parlor in Las Vegas. When a girl makes an appointment for a tattoo of the name of her fiancé embedded in a heart, Brett takes the job but the girl never shows. The next thing Brett knows, the police are looking for her client, and the name she wanted on the tattoo isn’t her fiancé’s…

Sometimes when I need a break from heavy action and violent crime I turn american cosy crimes. They are like my guilty little pleasure. There are lots of great series out there, from coffee shop and tea shop mysteries, to bakery and vineyard mysteries, and everything you can think of in between.

The Missing Ink is the first in the Tattoo shop mysteries, and I was intrigued to see how it would work. I am pleased to say I was pleasantly surprised, it worked really well.

As is usual I read it in less than a day because it had enough going on to keep you curious and involved all the way through.

If you like the cosy crimes of MC Beaton, and haven’t tried any American cosy’s yet then this is as good a place to start as any.

Enjoy