A Spy for the Redeemer

Owen Archer is still in Wales, where his father-in-law had gone on a pilgrimage to.  Sadly, Sir Robert died, but was happy at the end.  Owen has just found out that the stonemason he had hired to prepare the tomb cover for Sir Robert had just recently hung himself, without finishing the cover.  Will he be delayed in getting home to York as a result?

The local archdeacon tells Owen that the stonemason was murdered.  He also claims to have the killer in custody.  The archdeacon insists that Owen is at the centre of the murder, so he insists that Owen stay to help find the truth.

Back in York, Owen’s wife, Lucie, has to travel from the city, to inform her aunt about her father’s death.  She finds her aunt not well in mind and body.  Unfortunately, the estate is attacked by armed horsemen just before Lucie and her aunt were to return to York.  The raiders made off with some valuables.  Could they have been helped by someone who lives on the estate?

A man has been arrested for the murder.  The suspect’s brother is the man that Owen was supposed to sail home with.  When Owen and his man, Iolo, go to speak to the parents of the stonemason, they are attacked and injured.

Meanwhile, back in York, Lucie hears rumours that say that Owen is going to become a traitor to the king.  In addition, people are talking about her supposed paramours that she is taking advantage of while Owen is away.

Will Owen make it safely back to York, or will he join the Welsh rebels?  And what if the people trying to destroy Lucie?

Author Candace Robb has the answers in the remaining pages of this medieval thriller.  A quite enjoyable read.

Cut to the Bone

DCI Kate Riley has a new case on her hands; a missing young woman.  Since it is early morning, she gets DS Zain Harris to open the investigation.  Harris learns that the missing woman, Ruby Day, is a vlogger.  The parents had called 999 to ask for the police.  They have no idea how Commissioner Justin Hope became involved.  He was the one who assigned the case to Kate.

Later that morning, the parents received an anonymous video of Ruby running for her life.  The parents think that the boyfriend could be behind the video.  He too, is a vlogger, and Ruby was planning on dumping him.  Shortly after that, the video is posted online.

As they continue with their investigation, they are sure that those they question are lying or leaving things out of their stories.  The next video posted online is extremely shocking.  The team will have to up their game before someone else becomes a victim.

Author Alex Caan has developed a thriller that involves international corporate greed, which involves the PMO.  However, the end result is completely shocking.  The reader will find themselves on the edge of their seat as they turn the final chapters.  A thoroughly engaging read.

A Season of Knives

Is Sir Robert Carey wanting a bribe for the victuals at the castle in Carlisle, or is he wanting to take over the contract himself.  He has the men who are currently in charge of the contract unsettled.

Carey also has heard that reivers are preparing to possibly kidnap Elizabeth Widdrington as she returns to her home.  What can he do, since he has no men available.  They are busy bringing in the hay.  However, he is able to assemble a small group of soldiers and ride out, hoping to prevent a catastrophe.

While Carey is away dealing with the men who would attack Elizabeth, his man Barnabus, is thrown into the dungeon at Carlisle Castle, accused of murder.  Richard Lowther, the man who wanted the job that Carey now has, is the man behind the accusation.  What can Carey do to prevent his own neck being put in a noose?

Things are thrown into disarray when the lover of the murdered man’s wife confesses, and then moments later she also confesses.  With two confessions, which he knows are both lord, how will Carey get at the truth?

Author P. F. Chisholm has Carey come to the truth in an unusual way.  It will prove to be a costly way, but the truth will out.  A good, quick read.

Without a Trace

DCI Kate Daniels has travelled from Northumbria to the Met in London with DS Hank Gormley to offer their services in light of a plane crash in the Atlantic.  A plane on which her loveJo Soulsby, was on.  Will the Gold Commander at the Met allow her and Hank to participate?  Would her own governor allow it?

Of course Detective Chief Superintendent Bright denied her request.  Not put off, Kate, with Hank in tow, heads off to Terminal 5 at Heathrow.  There it is confirmed that Jo had boarded the plane.  But Kate refuses to give up, thereby putting both her job and Hank’s on the line.

Understanding where his protégé was coming from, Bright relented and arranged for both Kate and Hank to join the Met team.  An airport security official tells the pair that two women did not board the flight.  Could one of them have been Jo?  She doesn’t know.

CCTV coverage shows that Jo didn’t check in luggage on her connecting flight out of Newcastle.  Shortly after this, USA Homeland Security requests Kate to immediately become a part of the inner circle.  Why?

With an intense murder case having occurred back in Newcastle, Bright orders one or the other back.  Both refuse, thereby putting their jobs and pensions on the line.

Meantime, Kate is ordered undercover by her Homeland Security connection.  Will her history with Jo endanger her?

What follows not only endangers Kate, but also her team.  Author Mari Hannah’s story takes a sudden turn when she throws a wrench into Kate’s investigation.  This turn is unexpected for the reader and leads to a tragic incident.  Will there be a sequel in this series?

Scared to Death

DS Kay Hunter and DC Ian Barnes have been instructed by DI Sharp to attend the scene of a murdered girl.  When they get there they are informed that the parents of the seventeen year old had just paid a ransom, only to find their daughter dead.  They had not involved the police.

Back at the station, Hunter is informed by SIO Sharp that DCI Larch was going to be following the case closely.  Along with Barnes, DC Carys Miles plus PCs Gavin Piper and Debbie West would make up the investigation team.

When a man hangs himself, and leaves a note incriminating himself for the death of the girl, Hunter isn’t convinced.  Could there be another person who is the mastermind?  Barnes agrees with her.  Hunter’s fears are confirmed when the dead man’s message is  not recognised by the mother of the kidnap victim.

How do they find the real killer?  Author Rachel Amphlett’s thriller grows in tension as the reader becomes aware of a second kidnapping, which the police are unaware of.  When will they become aware of it?  Can they pin the murder on the one suspect that they do have?  Amphlett’s thriller is a real page turner and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

An Unholy Alliance

Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael have just commenced morning service when they are interrupted and requested to attend another church.  There the Chancellor informs them that a body of a friar has been found in the university chest on top of the documents.  How he got there is unknown.

Examining the locks on the chest, Matthew discovers a small blade on one of them.  Earlier he had noticed a small cut on one of the hands of the friar.  He deduces that the blade had poison on it, and that caused the death.

The Chancellor instructs Matthew and Brother Michael to investigate the death, plus the death of his clerk who had died and been buried.  Could his death have been caused by the same poison?  Matthew is aghast that he will have to examine a body that has been buried.

As the pair go back to their college, they are told of a murdered woman.  She had been found in a nearby churchyard with her throat slashed.  Matthew notices a mark on one of her feet.  He had seen a similar mark on another murdered woman recently.

The next morning, a dying woman is found in the orchard of Michaelhouse.  Matthew is called to help, but she is at death’s door.  She tells him that it was not a man who did this this to her.

As their investigation continues, more mysterious events occur and more questions arise.  What ensues in author Susanna Gregory’s medieval mystery involves subterfuge, kidnapping, satanism, witchcraft and of course murder.  Matthew and Brother Michael make a formidable team of detectives.  An enjoyable read.

Crimson Rose

Will Shakespeare has a bit part in One of Kit Marlowe’s plays.  He is to fire a gun.  Unbeknownst to him, the gun is loaded with shot, and he kills a member of the audience; in fact his own landlady!

Hugh Thynne, High Constable of London immediately began an investigation.  He arrests Shakespeare and takes him to the Clink.  Marlowe thinks all will be well in time.  He begins his own investigation by questioning Shakespeare in jail.  He then bribes the jailer to let him take Shakespeare out of the Clink.

Recreating the shooting, Marlowe determines that Shakespeare couldn’t have shot the woman.  However, it isn’t long before Thynne is after Marlowe, himself.  A man has been murdered and Marlowe’s knife was found lodged in his back.

How will Marlowe get out of this mess?  Author M. J. Trow’s thriller has several adventures ahead for Marlowe and Shakespeare.  Trow presents a surprising conclusion and hints of more adventures to come for Marlowe.   A good, enjoyable, fun, and quick read.