It is November 1944; Captain Gregor Reinhardt is in Vienna and finds
himself suddenly transferred to the Feldjaegerkorps - military police.
By March he is back in Sarajevo area where his unit has discovered a
massacre of civilians plus the killings of some soldiers.
Back in Sarajevo, Reinhardt is given the responsibility of coordinating
the Feldjaegerkorps within the city. However, not far in the back of
his mind is the massacre. He also meets with a judge by the name of
Dreyer, whom he had known in the past. Dreyer wants Reinhardt’s help in
getting a major in charge of a penal battalion for corruption.
Reinhardt feels that he really can’t help.
Later he is called out to where three Feldjaegerkorps men were
attacked. Two are dead. Casting about, Reinhardt discovers another set
of bodies, all shot and disfigured. They were also at some time tied
up. He plans to keep the investigation from the local police. His
investigation leads him back to the witnesses to the massacre outside
Sarajevo. However, they have disappeared.
Shortly after this, the local secret police, known as the Ustase, show
Reinhardt several bodies. In this case they are their own men, who they
claim were killed by partisans. The leader of the police then shows
him the brutal way they are controlling the populace.
Will Reinhardt have time to complete his investigation before the
partisans take the city or will he be part of the army escaping to the
north before the onslaught? Or will the Ustase kill him?
Author Luke McCallin ‘ second novel in this series has plenty of action
awaiting Reinhardt. Betrayal is a way of life amongst the Ustase and
some German soldiers as they try to find a way to survive the war.
Another exciting and enjoyable read by this author.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
The Risk of Darkness
DCI Simon Serrailler has been seconded to the North Riding Yorkshire
where a child has gone missing. The evening of his first day there
another child is abducted, however this time there are witnesses.
Fortunately this results in the capture of the person who took the child
and the release of the child. Now the police need to find the other
child.
The day after returning to his own patch, Serrailler finds himself involved in a hostage taking. A man has taken Reverend Jane Fitzroy hostage in her home. Fortunately the hostage taking comes to a safe, positive conclusion.
Forensic evidence shows that the other child had been in the kidnapper’s car. It also shows that there was another child in there, but who?
Author Susan Hill’s psychological thriller has many victims in it, from the kidnapped and murdered children to people that are the victims of random acts of violence. Although none seem related, all are in one way or another. The reader is left with lots to think about at the end of this novel.
The day after returning to his own patch, Serrailler finds himself involved in a hostage taking. A man has taken Reverend Jane Fitzroy hostage in her home. Fortunately the hostage taking comes to a safe, positive conclusion.
Forensic evidence shows that the other child had been in the kidnapper’s car. It also shows that there was another child in there, but who?
Author Susan Hill’s psychological thriller has many victims in it, from the kidnapped and murdered children to people that are the victims of random acts of violence. Although none seem related, all are in one way or another. The reader is left with lots to think about at the end of this novel.
Monday, January 14, 2019
The Stolen Girls
DI Lottie Parker has been off work for four months, and on this first
day back at work a young woman appears on her doorstep asking for help.
The unfortunate thing is that she is unable to communicate in English,
so she gives Lottie a sealed envelope telling her that her troubles are
written in her own language in the envelope and then she leaves.
Moments after arriving back at the station she and her DS Mark Boyd, are headed off to a site where the body of a female has been found in a water main excavation. Pathologist Jane Dore informs Parker that the victim had been shot, and that she was pregnant at the time of her death. Dore also thinks that she is of Eastern European descent.
Parker and Boyd check out a detention centre for asylum seekers. They are sure afterwards that the head of the centre knows something.
Whilst in the middle of their investigation, a seventeen year old girl is reported missing. She is the daughter of a well known felon who now resides in Spain. Not long after this another body is found in similar circumstances to the first, and by the same man who had found the first! Is it the missing girl?
Then a third body is discovered, and once again by the same man. The thing is he was with his boss this time, and the boss had received a phone call to go to the location to make a minor repair.
Is the man who has been finding all the bodies really the killer? Why would he kill and then find the bodies? Is he an attention seeker? Author Patricia Gibney’s latest thriller is fast paced and immensely engaging. I couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Moments after arriving back at the station she and her DS Mark Boyd, are headed off to a site where the body of a female has been found in a water main excavation. Pathologist Jane Dore informs Parker that the victim had been shot, and that she was pregnant at the time of her death. Dore also thinks that she is of Eastern European descent.
Parker and Boyd check out a detention centre for asylum seekers. They are sure afterwards that the head of the centre knows something.
Whilst in the middle of their investigation, a seventeen year old girl is reported missing. She is the daughter of a well known felon who now resides in Spain. Not long after this another body is found in similar circumstances to the first, and by the same man who had found the first! Is it the missing girl?
Then a third body is discovered, and once again by the same man. The thing is he was with his boss this time, and the boss had received a phone call to go to the location to make a minor repair.
Is the man who has been finding all the bodies really the killer? Why would he kill and then find the bodies? Is he an attention seeker? Author Patricia Gibney’s latest thriller is fast paced and immensely engaging. I couldn’t put this book down. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Secrets of the Dead
DI Tom Shearer has been called out to a spa where the manager has been
found inside the sauna, done to a crisp. Shearer suspects that the
victim had a heart attack and the sauna overheated.
Meanwhile DI Robyn Carter has a case of her own to investigate. Someone has been attacking people with a knife to rob them. He has injured a few of the people he has robbed. Fortunately her team has their man due to someone turning him in.
A friend of the man who died in the sauna tells Carter that there was no way he would have gone into the sauna because he had a heart condition, which would have been aggravated by the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, DCI Mulholland will not let Carter look into it any further.
A few days later the barman at the Happy Pig pub has his throat slashed. This is Carter’s case. In the hand of the victim was an invoice, marked “Paid in Full”. It is quickly discovered that the barman had worked at the spa in the past.
Unable to get the other case out of her mind, and unable to continue to investigate it, Carter asks her cousin, Ross Cunningham, a private investigator, to check into things on her behalf.
Shearer is next to have a case similar to Carter’s. A woman has been murdered in her own home. She also has an invoice with her body. What is going on, and why kill a young mother? What was the debt that was being called in? Carter vows to catch the killer.
She hopes to interview another man who works at the spa, but he is killed by a hit and run driver. Again an invoice is found with the body. Carter immediately arranged protection for another man who she thinks could be in the killer’s sights.
Can Carter stop the killer before he strikes again? Author Carol Wyer’s murder novel is fast paced, and a page turner. I found it hard to put down. A thoroughly enjoyable quick read.
Meanwhile DI Robyn Carter has a case of her own to investigate. Someone has been attacking people with a knife to rob them. He has injured a few of the people he has robbed. Fortunately her team has their man due to someone turning him in.
A friend of the man who died in the sauna tells Carter that there was no way he would have gone into the sauna because he had a heart condition, which would have been aggravated by the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, DCI Mulholland will not let Carter look into it any further.
A few days later the barman at the Happy Pig pub has his throat slashed. This is Carter’s case. In the hand of the victim was an invoice, marked “Paid in Full”. It is quickly discovered that the barman had worked at the spa in the past.
Unable to get the other case out of her mind, and unable to continue to investigate it, Carter asks her cousin, Ross Cunningham, a private investigator, to check into things on her behalf.
Shearer is next to have a case similar to Carter’s. A woman has been murdered in her own home. She also has an invoice with her body. What is going on, and why kill a young mother? What was the debt that was being called in? Carter vows to catch the killer.
She hopes to interview another man who works at the spa, but he is killed by a hit and run driver. Again an invoice is found with the body. Carter immediately arranged protection for another man who she thinks could be in the killer’s sights.
Can Carter stop the killer before he strikes again? Author Carol Wyer’s murder novel is fast paced, and a page turner. I found it hard to put down. A thoroughly enjoyable quick read.
Silent Scream
DI Anna Travis has just finished a case and is immediately called out to
investigate the murder of a young actress. The same murder team that
just finished the last case is reassembled. Travis wants an experienced
DI to work with her, so DI Simon Dunn becomes her new partner.
Travis and Dunn are unable to get anything of value from the workers on the set where the victim was filming nor from the parents of the victim. As the investigation progresses, they find out a bit more about the victim. She used drugs and was anorexic. Her diary is missing as is a toy bunny, which she apparently slept with. Also found with the victim was a gold crucifix and chain. Does it belong to the victim or the killer?
Due to lack of progress, DCI James Langton is beginning to put pressure on the investigative team.
From the way those they are questioning respond, Travis is sure that people are covering up something. But what and why?
It isn’t long before Langton steps in, reassigns Dunn and turns the investigation over to Detectives Mike Lewis and Tony Barolli, who Travis has worked with before. Lewis discovers that much of the money the actress earned has disappeared due to unwise investments. The victim’s accountant was unaware of the situation and is surprised to find vast amounts of money were not passed on to the victim by her agent. Could fraud be the reason for her death?
As they gather more evidence, Travis continues to work independently much to the consternation of her team and Langton. Will it be enough to get the culprit?
Author Lynda La Plante’s murder mystery may seem dragged out, but in reality it’s her way of building a case and catching the culprit. It is an intriguing read and well written.
Travis and Dunn are unable to get anything of value from the workers on the set where the victim was filming nor from the parents of the victim. As the investigation progresses, they find out a bit more about the victim. She used drugs and was anorexic. Her diary is missing as is a toy bunny, which she apparently slept with. Also found with the victim was a gold crucifix and chain. Does it belong to the victim or the killer?
Due to lack of progress, DCI James Langton is beginning to put pressure on the investigative team.
From the way those they are questioning respond, Travis is sure that people are covering up something. But what and why?
It isn’t long before Langton steps in, reassigns Dunn and turns the investigation over to Detectives Mike Lewis and Tony Barolli, who Travis has worked with before. Lewis discovers that much of the money the actress earned has disappeared due to unwise investments. The victim’s accountant was unaware of the situation and is surprised to find vast amounts of money were not passed on to the victim by her agent. Could fraud be the reason for her death?
As they gather more evidence, Travis continues to work independently much to the consternation of her team and Langton. Will it be enough to get the culprit?
Author Lynda La Plante’s murder mystery may seem dragged out, but in reality it’s her way of building a case and catching the culprit. It is an intriguing read and well written.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
The Baltic Prize
Sir Thomas Kydd is back in England with his new bride Persephone. They
have time to set up their new home before Kydd is called back to command
Tyger. What’s in store for the ship and its crew now?
A new expedition under the leadership of Vice Admiral Sir James Saumarez. A massive fleet is to sail into the Baltic to show the flag and aid in trading vessels to go about their commerce. Alongside the fleet will be an army, ordered to serve King Gustav as he requires. General Moore, in charge of the army is shocked to learn that Gustav plans to invade Denmark and make it his own.
Meanwhile, the Danes’ only ship sets sail from Norway. Tyger is tasked with stopping it, along with two smaller ships from getting to Copenhagen. At the same time the merchantmen want to get underway. They are going to be hampered by Danish gunboats.
Be as that may, Tyger was not to be part of the Baltic Fleet, rather orders were for the gallant ship to sail to the Arctic. There, Kydd’s actions are bound to cause consternation to the Russians. However, that is not how Saumarez interprets it. It may in fact cause the Tsar to send the much larger Russian fleet against the British Baltic Fleet.
Saumarez assigns Kydd to be a naval liaison to the Swedes. He is to work with Commander Jens Stromsson. It doesn’t take long for the two men to establish a good working relationship. After an interesting ordeal, the pair return to their superiors with news that the Russians have taken a strategic Swedish naval base.
Kydd is then assigned to return to the mouth of the Baltic to hunt pirates. Will the Tyger’s actions be enough to stop the pirates? What further action is needed by Saumarez’s Baltic Fleet to hold the Russians in place? Author Julian Stockwin’s navel novel is based on historical fact and gets his hero Kydd back into naval action. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
A new expedition under the leadership of Vice Admiral Sir James Saumarez. A massive fleet is to sail into the Baltic to show the flag and aid in trading vessels to go about their commerce. Alongside the fleet will be an army, ordered to serve King Gustav as he requires. General Moore, in charge of the army is shocked to learn that Gustav plans to invade Denmark and make it his own.
Meanwhile, the Danes’ only ship sets sail from Norway. Tyger is tasked with stopping it, along with two smaller ships from getting to Copenhagen. At the same time the merchantmen want to get underway. They are going to be hampered by Danish gunboats.
Be as that may, Tyger was not to be part of the Baltic Fleet, rather orders were for the gallant ship to sail to the Arctic. There, Kydd’s actions are bound to cause consternation to the Russians. However, that is not how Saumarez interprets it. It may in fact cause the Tsar to send the much larger Russian fleet against the British Baltic Fleet.
Saumarez assigns Kydd to be a naval liaison to the Swedes. He is to work with Commander Jens Stromsson. It doesn’t take long for the two men to establish a good working relationship. After an interesting ordeal, the pair return to their superiors with news that the Russians have taken a strategic Swedish naval base.
Kydd is then assigned to return to the mouth of the Baltic to hunt pirates. Will the Tyger’s actions be enough to stop the pirates? What further action is needed by Saumarez’s Baltic Fleet to hold the Russians in place? Author Julian Stockwin’s navel novel is based on historical fact and gets his hero Kydd back into naval action. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
The Man from Berlin
It is May of 1943 and Captain Gregor Reinhardt has been called to the
scene of a murder just outside Sarajevo. A German officer has been
killed as has a woman he was with. Reinhardt’s superior, Major
Freilinger wants Reinhardt in charge with the local police assisting.
Chief Inspector Putkovic of the Sarajevo police feels that they should
be in charge.
Putkovic assigns Inspector Padelin to work with Reinhardt. Reinhardt’s right hand man is Sergeant Claussen. Padelin has his own take on the killings, which Reinhardt is unwilling to accept.
Reinhardt learns of a club nearby that both victims regularly attended. There he learns that another branch of the armed forces and Padelin had already been there asking questions. Two of the young women who work there were also roughed up. As he was leaving, an SS officer warns Reinhardt off. Reinhardt was left wondering why another branch of the army was investigating the murders almost as soon as they had happened.
As his investigation progresses, Reinhardt learns that the soldier victim was investigating the army group whose Lieutenant-colonel had warned him off. Also, the Sarajevo police apparently have a suspect who has admitted to the murder. It would appear that the case is done.
Is there anyway the investigation can continue? What follows are pages of tension and excitement as Captain Gregor Reinhardt continues with his investigation despite being threatened. Author Luke McCallin’s first novel in this series is well written, entertaining and a top notch read, which I found hard to put down. I’m eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Putkovic assigns Inspector Padelin to work with Reinhardt. Reinhardt’s right hand man is Sergeant Claussen. Padelin has his own take on the killings, which Reinhardt is unwilling to accept.
Reinhardt learns of a club nearby that both victims regularly attended. There he learns that another branch of the armed forces and Padelin had already been there asking questions. Two of the young women who work there were also roughed up. As he was leaving, an SS officer warns Reinhardt off. Reinhardt was left wondering why another branch of the army was investigating the murders almost as soon as they had happened.
As his investigation progresses, Reinhardt learns that the soldier victim was investigating the army group whose Lieutenant-colonel had warned him off. Also, the Sarajevo police apparently have a suspect who has admitted to the murder. It would appear that the case is done.
Is there anyway the investigation can continue? What follows are pages of tension and excitement as Captain Gregor Reinhardt continues with his investigation despite being threatened. Author Luke McCallin’s first novel in this series is well written, entertaining and a top notch read, which I found hard to put down. I’m eagerly looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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