Why has Hawkwood been sent to one of the hulks in the Thames?
The Home Secretary is concerned about escapes by French prisoners of war
from the hulks. Two naval officers had been sent to investigate. One
has turned up dead, while the other is missing. Bow Street has sent
Hawkwood under cover as a result to investigate the escapes.
Hawkwood latches on to the captain of a privateer. Lasseur makes it
well known to Hawkwood that he plans to escape. The how and when are
the unknown, however. It is not long before the pair make a connection,
but the cost is damnably expensive.
Hawkwood and Lasseur run into trouble when they try to protect a boy
from some of the dregs of the hulk’s society. Could they be hung for
killing their opponents? However, since both are badly injured they are
confined to the sick berth. How will they ever be able to escape in
their injured condition?
What awaits Hawkwood and Lasseur is friendship, treachery, gold and
plenty of action. Hawkwood’s old friend Nathaniel Jago will play an
integral part, too. Well written and researched, James McGee’s
historical thriller is hard to put down and a fun, exciting read. I am
looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
The Various Haunts of Men
The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
DS Freya Graffham and DC Nathan Coates are checking out the home of a reported missing woman. The empty house is unremarkable, but Graffham does find a gift wrapped box, and inside were a set of cuff links. Who was the mysterious man they were intended for? Later Graffham discovers that the missing woman had been purchasing other jewelry.
DC Nathan Coates is willing to help Graffham despite there not any overtime available. He has discovered that there were a few other missing people recently. The case becomes more serious when a young woman goes missing. Graffham has no difficulty in persuading DCI Simon Serrailler to put more effort into the investigation.
There are links amongst the missing persons, but beyond that Graffham has nothing. Then an elderly woman goes missing. Serrailler tells Graffham to act on it. Will Graffham be able to find what or who is behind the missing people before another goes missing?
Author Susan Hill entwines the stories of the victims into the search done by Graffham and DC Coates. Hints about who the perpetrator might be are seeded throughout the story, but it isn’t until very late in the mystery that the reader starts to pick up on the truth. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down. I’m looking forward to picking up the sequels.
DS Freya Graffham and DC Nathan Coates are checking out the home of a reported missing woman. The empty house is unremarkable, but Graffham does find a gift wrapped box, and inside were a set of cuff links. Who was the mysterious man they were intended for? Later Graffham discovers that the missing woman had been purchasing other jewelry.
DC Nathan Coates is willing to help Graffham despite there not any overtime available. He has discovered that there were a few other missing people recently. The case becomes more serious when a young woman goes missing. Graffham has no difficulty in persuading DCI Simon Serrailler to put more effort into the investigation.
There are links amongst the missing persons, but beyond that Graffham has nothing. Then an elderly woman goes missing. Serrailler tells Graffham to act on it. Will Graffham be able to find what or who is behind the missing people before another goes missing?
Author Susan Hill entwines the stories of the victims into the search done by Graffham and DC Coates. Hints about who the perpetrator might be are seeded throughout the story, but it isn’t until very late in the mystery that the reader starts to pick up on the truth. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down. I’m looking forward to picking up the sequels.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Little Girl Lost
DI Robyn Carter has been taking an extended leave from her police work
due to personal reasons, however to prevent the dulling of her mind, she
has been working for her cousin, Ross Cunningham, doing private
investigations. The latest request is to find a missing husband. Upon
speaking to the missing man’s wife, she informs Carter that when she
discovered that he was missing, she went through his computer and
discovered a file that points to him being a pedophile!
Carter decides to return to work early and make her investigation official. She learns that the father of the missing man has recently passed away due to a heart attack. Anyway she turns, she can’t seem to gather information on the missing man. Fortunately Ross is able to locate the heat attack victim’s computer. Will Carter be able to access it?
While Carter is in Farnborough checking on possibilities, she receives a call from a member of her team telling her that the housekeeper for the heart attack victim has been found dead in his house. Not long after this, Carter is informed that the missing man has been found, murdered! When police go to inform the wife of the victim, they find her dead, also murdered.
Can DI Carter find the killer before they kill again? Author Carol Wyer’s murder mystery is a complex psychological thriller. The reader thinks that they know who the killer is only to find themselves questioning their ideas later. Throughout DI Carter’s investigation, the thoughts of the killer are interspersed to create the basis for the crimes about to be committed, which makes the mystery much more interesting. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the sequels.
Carter decides to return to work early and make her investigation official. She learns that the father of the missing man has recently passed away due to a heart attack. Anyway she turns, she can’t seem to gather information on the missing man. Fortunately Ross is able to locate the heat attack victim’s computer. Will Carter be able to access it?
While Carter is in Farnborough checking on possibilities, she receives a call from a member of her team telling her that the housekeeper for the heart attack victim has been found dead in his house. Not long after this, Carter is informed that the missing man has been found, murdered! When police go to inform the wife of the victim, they find her dead, also murdered.
Can DI Carter find the killer before they kill again? Author Carol Wyer’s murder mystery is a complex psychological thriller. The reader thinks that they know who the killer is only to find themselves questioning their ideas later. Throughout DI Carter’s investigation, the thoughts of the killer are interspersed to create the basis for the crimes about to be committed, which makes the mystery much more interesting. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the sequels.
Above Suspicion
DCI James Langton and DS Mike Lewis are working on a series of cold case
files when they learn that one of their number has been hospitalised.
Langton requests that a rookie DS, Anna Travis, join their squad. She
is the daughter of his former mentor.
Along with DC Barolli, the three attend a murder site, however they can’t claim it unless they can prove a connection to their cold cases. Following the autopsy, Langton is sure that the victim has died in the same way his cold cases had. This victim had been dead at least four weeks. He tells Travis to begin to familiarise herself with the case files.
Will forensics be able to show that the most recent victim is connected to the cold cases Langton and his team have been working on? Travis feels very inadequate as a rookie on the cases. Langton is fortunate enough to get the recent case turned over to him, because he is sure that he has a serial killer on his hands.
There are alarming differences between the past victims and the most recent, but not the method of killing. The murder team get a few lucky breaks, and are sure that the killer will strike again. Travis is sent to Spain to question a former cop who may have some ideas about the killer. Travis comes up with a suspect, but all the evidence the team gathers is circumstantial; not enough to take the man to court.
Author Lynda La Plante’s first murder mystery in this series is immensely intriguing. The reader’s attention is grasped right from the first page. The detectives find themselves making progress only to receive a setback, over and over again. The reader is left wondering if the team will ever get the culprit. I found this book hard to put down; one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequels.
Along with DC Barolli, the three attend a murder site, however they can’t claim it unless they can prove a connection to their cold cases. Following the autopsy, Langton is sure that the victim has died in the same way his cold cases had. This victim had been dead at least four weeks. He tells Travis to begin to familiarise herself with the case files.
Will forensics be able to show that the most recent victim is connected to the cold cases Langton and his team have been working on? Travis feels very inadequate as a rookie on the cases. Langton is fortunate enough to get the recent case turned over to him, because he is sure that he has a serial killer on his hands.
There are alarming differences between the past victims and the most recent, but not the method of killing. The murder team get a few lucky breaks, and are sure that the killer will strike again. Travis is sent to Spain to question a former cop who may have some ideas about the killer. Travis comes up with a suspect, but all the evidence the team gathers is circumstantial; not enough to take the man to court.
Author Lynda La Plante’s first murder mystery in this series is immensely intriguing. The reader’s attention is grasped right from the first page. The detectives find themselves making progress only to receive a setback, over and over again. The reader is left wondering if the team will ever get the culprit. I found this book hard to put down; one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read. I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequels.
Friday, October 5, 2018
Winter's Fire
Sigurd Haraldarson and his small crew have settled into their overly large and cold hall for the winter. Elsewhere, King Gorm wants revenge on Sigurd, but is wary because Sigurd is god-protected. Gorm’s former champion, Moldof, promises to wreak vengeance on Sigurd.
Gorm sends an envoy, hoping to buy Sigurd’s allegiance. Sigurd doesn’t accept the purchase price and sends the envoy back - dead. Gorm’s reply is to send an assassin. However, before the assassin arrives, Sigurd takes his ship and crew south. It will not be an easy trip.
Wanting his sister, Runa, to be safe while he set about his vengeance, Sigurd arranges for her to be left on the island of Freyja Maidens; women who train to be warriors.
Will the assassin get to Sigurd or is there some other treachery afoot that will do in Sigurd and his men? And what if Runa? Is she to be forgotten or will she become a warrior?
There are plenty of battles in author Giles Kristian’s latest historical thriller, each one with rough, dangerous action; each one leaving Sigurd and his small band of men on the cusp of destruction. The story is well paced and hard to put down. I am looking forward to reading the third book in this trilogy.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
The Armada Boy
Neil Watson was all prepared for an archeological dug at an old decrepit
chapel when he discovered the body of an elderly man there. DS Wesley
Peterson and his boss DI Heffernan begin the investigation. It turns
out that the man was part of a WWII veterans group visiting the area.
Early on, three young beggars come to the attention of Heffernan and Peterson. One of them has threatened his aunt with a flick knife. Unfortunately the police can only apprehend his two sidekicks.
The following night, an American tourist goes missing. She had actually been from the area prior to the war, and had married an American GI. Her clothes and suitcase are also missing. Her car would be found later by a constable, locked, but with what appear to be blood stains on the seat.
A psychic repeatedly insists to Heffernan that he needs to find “The Armada Boy” in order to solve the case. When Peterson finds The Armada Boy, it brings some ideas to mind, but will it be enough?
Author Kate Ellis has plenty of twists and turns followed by dead ends before DS Peterson is able to figure out who the culprit truly is. A good, quick read for fans of this genre.
Early on, three young beggars come to the attention of Heffernan and Peterson. One of them has threatened his aunt with a flick knife. Unfortunately the police can only apprehend his two sidekicks.
The following night, an American tourist goes missing. She had actually been from the area prior to the war, and had married an American GI. Her clothes and suitcase are also missing. Her car would be found later by a constable, locked, but with what appear to be blood stains on the seat.
A psychic repeatedly insists to Heffernan that he needs to find “The Armada Boy” in order to solve the case. When Peterson finds The Armada Boy, it brings some ideas to mind, but will it be enough?
Author Kate Ellis has plenty of twists and turns followed by dead ends before DS Peterson is able to figure out who the culprit truly is. A good, quick read for fans of this genre.
Monday, October 1, 2018
The Fire Court
It is several months since the great fire, which had destroyed much
London. James Marwood’s father has just been run over by a cart and
killed. A street sweeper had been amongst the first at the scene of the
accident and heard Marwood’s father ask, “Where’s the rook?”, before he
died. Marwood wonders what that means. Also, a note with names is
found in his father’s jacket. Marwood learns that the names are
connected to the Fire Court. What could that mean?
He turns to his friends, Simon Hakesby and Catherine Lovett for help in gathering information about the judges at the Fire Court.
A few days later, Marwood’s boss, Williamson, sends him to investigate the body of a woman found amongst the ruins of a building near the Fire Court. She is identified as the niece of of a wealthy man, who is trying to rebuild in one of the burned out areas. However, not long after that, Marwood is sent off to Scotland on a fool’s errand. Is that to keep him out of the way?
Catherine has also gathered some information about the victim. Could the niece have been killed by her lover?
Before Marwood can head off to Scotland, he is badly injured in a fire while trying to save a man who could possibly provide him with information. Not long after this, Cat has to go into hiding. She finds out that there are people looking for both her and Marwood.
Dangers await the pair, will they discover proof to bring the killer to justice or will the killer escape? Author Andrew Taylor has plenty of crises and surprises ahead as Marwood and Cat move forward to the final culmination of this thriller. An excellent read, and difficult to put down. I highly recommend it.
He turns to his friends, Simon Hakesby and Catherine Lovett for help in gathering information about the judges at the Fire Court.
A few days later, Marwood’s boss, Williamson, sends him to investigate the body of a woman found amongst the ruins of a building near the Fire Court. She is identified as the niece of of a wealthy man, who is trying to rebuild in one of the burned out areas. However, not long after that, Marwood is sent off to Scotland on a fool’s errand. Is that to keep him out of the way?
Catherine has also gathered some information about the victim. Could the niece have been killed by her lover?
Before Marwood can head off to Scotland, he is badly injured in a fire while trying to save a man who could possibly provide him with information. Not long after this, Cat has to go into hiding. She finds out that there are people looking for both her and Marwood.
Dangers await the pair, will they discover proof to bring the killer to justice or will the killer escape? Author Andrew Taylor has plenty of crises and surprises ahead as Marwood and Cat move forward to the final culmination of this thriller. An excellent read, and difficult to put down. I highly recommend it.
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