Blood Line by Mark Billingham

September 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Blood Line by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Detective Tom Thorne specializes in solving the London Police Department’s most difficult murder cases. When he’s called into what seems like an ordinary domestic crime scene, he thinks he’s caught a break. A woman has been murdered by someone she knows. Thorne plans to question the husband, arrest him, and get back to his own deteriorating personal life. But something doesn’t fit . . .

A sliver of X-ray was found in the victim’s fist. When bits of the same X-Ray are found at other crime scenes around the city, Thorne realizes he has a grisly puzzle to solve. As the pieces begin to form a picture, a terrifying truth is revealed: the murderer is following in the footsteps of infamous serial killer Raymond Garvey—hunting the children of Raymond’s victims.

Now, as Thorne attempts to protect those still alive, he gets dangerously close to one of the most twisted killers he has ever hunted.

What appears to be a standard domestic murder quickly turns out to be connected to another case when a sliver of an x-ray is found clenched in the dead young woman’s fist. DI Thorne and his team soon find a far larger series of connections linking all the way back to a notorious serial murderer – who died in prison a number of years ago. Can Thorne and his team capture this twisted killer before all hell breaks loose?

I have been greatly enjoying this series – a British police procedural but quite gritty and even noir at times. I was very pleased this book shows a bit of the main character starting to thaw a very little bit with some of the connections he’s been building both within his police team and with a few select people on the periphery of his work. While this is still a gritty and complicated mystery book I was thrilled it didn’t feel quite as harsh to me as many of the others – even though there is quite a bit going on in this mystery.

Readers who enjoy a complicated plot should find this an excellent book. There was quite a twist toward the end that I loved. The plot had been clearly leading somewhere, and I knew there would be a twist, but there was quite a lot in the big reveal that I hadn’t guessed and the last quarter or so of the book was absolutely at a break-neck speed and I really enjoyed it. With plenty of layers I found this to be an engrossing read and there was just enough personal stiff – especially in the first quarter or so of the book – for me to feel like we’re getting to know DI Thorne a little better and have the murder and mystery elements balanced just a bit out by character growth and deepening knowledge of the main protagonist.

A well written and delightfully plotted complicated mystery, this is a series I am enjoying and a book I enjoyed. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Death Message by Mark Billingham

September 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Death Message by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Delivering the “death message.” That’s what cops call those harrowing moments when they must tell someone that a loved one has been killed. Now Detective Investigator Tom Thorne is receiving messages of his own: photographs of murder victims sent to his cell phone.

Who are the victims? Who is sending the photographs? And why is he sending them to Tom Thorne? The answer lies in the detective investigator’s past, with a man he had once sent to prison for life. But even behind bars, the most dangerous psychopath Thorne has ever faced is still a master at manipulating others to do his dirty work for him. And Thorne must act fast because the photos keep on coming, and the killer’s next target is someone the detective investigator knows very well . . .

When a convicted murderer is given the death message that his wife and young son have been killed in a hit and run “accident” a few weeks before his release from prison – the police didn’t give it too much thought. But then bikers and other “associates” are found killed and it’s DI Tom Thorne who is being sent photos directly of these murders. Thorne and his team quickly find the connections, but all too soon the case becomes murky, and Thorne begins to struggle to find which side is right and which side he’s meant to be acting on behalf of.

I have been really enjoying this British police procedural series and found this to be yet another strong book. With a number of excellent supporting characters – now becoming quite familiar this far into the series – and with a number more well written supporting characters I feel this is a strong book that should appeal to many readers.

While the plot is delightfully complicated readers should absolutely be aware of the fact the usual lines between black and white, good and bad are far more shaded in this series and far less clear cut than in many other British mystery series that I’ve read. And while I absolutely feel a number of the previous books could be quite gritty, harsh and even bleak, this book is not quite as stark as I’ve found the others to be. I feel this could be partly because the strong cast of secondary characters are playing more of a role now and so Tom’s world feels a bit more “peopled” and less harsh, but also the plots – which still are heavily complicated – are more intertwined with other cases and feel less isolated and more layered in reality and regular lives.

I still definitely feel this is a strongly written murder mystery – but while we know the “who” fairly early on, the “why” is deeply complex and has quite a few interesting twists and layers to it which is really what make this an excellent mystery book. I also feel the fact Thorne is flawed – and knows it yet continues to do his best – also helps make this an addictive read.

Like many of the previous books in the series this is not an easy read, but I did not find it an uncomfortable read either – which I definitely struggled with in some of the previous works. I found this book gripping reading and much like Thorne at times I deeply empathized with the “bad” guy and found some of the “good” guys quite questionable. So, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea – but I look forward to the next book in the series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Badger by Paige Warren & Harley Wylde

September 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Badger by Paige Warren & Harley Wylde
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Badger — I went to prison for ten years after beating a man to death. He deserved it, and then some. I only wish he’d suffered more. Now I’m free, but things aren’t the same as when I left. The little girl I once saved is now a tempting young woman with curves in all the right places. I should stay away, far away, but I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. The pres of my club adopted her, so she’s definitely a no-fly zone, but damn if I don’t want her with every breath I take. A little sample wouldn’t hurt anyone, right? As long as Griz doesn’t find out, I’ll keep breathing. Sneaking around should be easy enough. I never counted on falling for her, or finding out she was carrying my kid. Now what the hell am I supposed to do? I’m a longtime repeat offender. I can’t walk the straight and narrow. Can I?

Adalia — I’ve worshiped Badger ever since the night he saved me. But what started as a young girl’s infatuation has grown into something more. I know he’ll never see me that way, or at least I thought he wouldn’t. When we’re together, it’s like we just can’t keep our hands off each other. It’s probably against his parole for us to be together, but he doesn’t seem to care. The heat between us is undeniable. He didn’t promise me forever, just right now. But neither of us counted on me getting pregnant, something that wasn’t supposed to happen too easily, and I have no freakin’ clue what to do. I’m scared Badger will run for the hills. He never asked for this, but then neither did I. One thing is for certain. If he doesn’t man up and my daddy finds out, there will be hell to pay. No one can hide from the president of the Devil’s Fury MC.

After beating a man to death – and saving a young girl in the process – Badger didn’t mind the ten years he spent in prison to pay for what he never saw as a crime. Now Adalia is all grown up, but as the adopted daughter of the president of the MC she’s strictly off limits. Badger has never been one to walk the straight and narrow, and Adalia has always been in love with her savior. When she finds out she’s pregnant, life is going to change dramatically for them both.

This is a steamy short story that I really enjoyed. While Adalia had been very hurt in the past, Badger was her hero and despite his rough exterior I enjoyed that he clearly had a soft spot for the young woman. All grown up now, the heat sizzles between them so it’s no wonder they can’t keep their hands off each other. I really liked how they were on even footing when it came to their attraction to each other and it was clear their shared history had their mutual feelings more than just skin deep.

I really enjoyed how Badger and Adalia actually got to know each other – their histories as well as what they were like as people – and not just roll around between the sheets. This helped me feel like the story was more than just about two people coming together and having some fun, but more about two people falling in love and deepening the brief connection they had and their shared history. I really feel that readers looking for some spice – but who equally like a plot and some emotional depth to their story should find this a good fit.

With plenty of steam but an equal amount of deep conversation I found this a refreshing and interesting story with a solid plotline. Recommended.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Party Animal by Gale Stanley

September 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Party Animal by Gale Stanley
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Casey can get just about any man he wants, except for the one he wants the most.

Casey Cox is a porn star legend. Life is a never-ending party and there’s always a hot guy or two willing to play. Then Casey meets the one man who isn’t interested and suddenly it’s a challenge he can’t resist.

Casey’s life is one big party – as a porn star he can have any man he wants and there’s always a few willing participants. But then he meets the one man who isn’t interested in some fun and games and the challenge is more than Casey can resist.

I found this to be a fun and lighthearted short story. A quick read, there is plenty of steamy sex, but readers should be aware that Casey and Lee don’t hit it off right at the start. Personally, I was pleased that Lee didn’t fall over himself to get into bed with Casey – much as virtually every other character did – and so that tension and discord between the two men made for some good chemistry.

Being honest I’m not sure I’d have liked Casey too much if he’d been a secondary character in a different couple’s story. While I enjoyed his lightheartedness and it was clear he had feelings beneath his carefree, playboy, pornstar exterior the fact he so frequently judged and made assumptions about Lee didn’t always sit well with me. Casey came across a little to me like anyone who had seriously different views – like Lee’s wanting to feel a connection and butterflies before having sex and not wanting to jump directly into bed after meeting for the first time and so forth – was wrong or a stick in the mud. In some respects, Casey struck me as a little obnoxious and while that was certainly interesting from a reading perspective, I’m not certain all readers will find him as a relatable or enjoyable character.

That said it was quite clear that Casey really did want connections – with his sister as well as his solid and lasting friendship with both Paul and Joey is proof of that. And while Casey could be a bit of a pain, I do feel the changes Lee brought out in him and made him look into himself we a real pleasure to read about.

Readers looking for a slightly different and interesting take on the “playboy can have everyone except the one he wants” style of story should give this quick read a shot. I really enjoyed it.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Burn by Mychael Black

August 28, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Burn by Mychael Black
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Humans and vamps were never meant to be mates, but an accidental meeting changes everything.

Cam Sharpe is just trying to make ends meet. Living in the city can easily break the bank, but that’s where the jobs are. It’s also where crime runs rampant. One night, he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, putting him in the crosshairs of the city’s ruling vampire coven.

Nikolai Hart loves his job — maybe a little too much. When hunting a rogue proves to be a pain in the ass, he’s the one House Saridan brings in to find the unfortunate soul. The latest job, however, has hit a snag: a mortal has witnessed everything.

On his bike making a delivery, Cameron witnessed a vampire executing someone in a dark alleyway. Determined that it was none of his business, Cameron tried to not think of how appealing all those muscles were. Nikolai was well used to keeping the finer details of vampire enforcement under wraps – humans were already pretty skittish around them. So when Nik tracks Cam down it’s a quick matter of wiping the memory and moving on. Only neither Cam nor Nik knew that would not be the end – but the start of something neither of them expected.

I really enjoyed this medium length story. I found the world building fairly easy and quick to pick up – I don’t believe I’ve read anything by this author set in a similar vampire/human world so I was pleased to pick up the general gist of it quite easily. I also found it quite refreshing that Nik didn’t fall over himself from the moment he laid eyes on Cam. While Cam was certainly attracted to Nik early on neither of them were looking for a commitment – and certainly not a longer-term pairing – so I thought it gave the story a slightly different vibe and that was refreshing to me.

I did feel that both Cam and Nik embraced the whole mate thing fairly easily – but this isn’t a fuller length novel, and I admit I get a bit tired when characters spend a large chunk of the book running away or denying their attraction instead of owning it. I thought the author had some good balance with this book – thought I have to admit once they realise they’re mates everything moved really quite quickly.

Readers who enjoy a bit of world building should enjoy the fact we see quite a big of the vampire headquarters – and while there is ample steamy sex between Cam and Nik this doesn’t overshadow other aspects of the vampire plotline. I feel readers who like plenty of steamy M/M sex, male pregnancy and destined mates but also a nice amount of plotline should find this to be an excellent read and really enjoy it.

I found this to be a well-balanced book and an interesting read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

With A Whie by Stephanie Burke

August 25, 2025 By Leave a Comment


With A Whie by Stephanie Burke
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Evan Whie has a big brain, a big company and an even bigger issue… in his pants. Being that big can be a problem when it comes to dating… but he’s not interested in dating just anybody. He wants his queen.

Cleopatra Cockie has a big problem when it comes to love, and an even bigger solution to fix her woes… Seduce her business partner and man of her dreams, no matter what the rumor mill has to say.

They’re two gamer geeks on a mission and if they can work it out, Cockie will always be connected to a Whie.

Cleopatra Cockie and Evan Whie work together and are both smart gamer geeks on a mission. Each has been pining for the other, but for their own reasons haven’t quite yet taken the plunge. When they finally work out the courage, sparks will fly.

I really enjoyed this short story. With a small number of interesting and well-drawn characters and plenty of humour thrown in I found this to be a fun, quick read. Both Cleo and Evan made it crystal clear from the beginning their sights were on each other, so this didn’t feel like an intra-lust story with no real basis. I also really enjoyed that they were both smart people and pretty much on an even footing together work-wise.

The chemistry between them sizzled off the page and I think readers will absolutely feel as drawn into the story as I was. I enjoyed there were equal parts humour and connection between Evan and Cleo, and this helped me relax back and just enjoy the story – going with the flow.

Sit back with a deliciously cool drink, relax and enjoy the fun and sexy shenanigans – I thought this was a good short story.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Vigil For The Dead by MS Morris

August 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Vigil For The Dead by MS Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A desolate moor. A burned body. A deadly conspiracy.
DCI Tom Raven is enjoying the long summer days when an encounter with an old army pal spouting conspiracy theories reignites long-buried memories he would rather forget.

A few days later, walkers crossing the North York Moors discover the burnt remains of a body beside a stone cross on a Bronze Age burial mound.

When the investigation leads to a top-secret military base, Raven is drawn into a plot that threatens national security. He must confront his mixed emotions about his own military past while in a race against time to unravel the conspiracy and catch the killer.

When a small group of walkers found the charred remains of a dead body in a deserted stretch of the moors DCI Tom Raven and his team are called in to investigate. Their early inquiries lead them to a nearby military base and all too soon the secrets and red tape begins to pile up. Can Tom and his team uncover what really happened?

I’ve been greatly enjoying this series and found this to be an exceptional addition. I really enjoyed the progress of Tom’s character and that of his team as well. I was particularly pleased that they’re all growing and moving on in their own ways and at their own rate. That felt very realistic and logical to me. While parts of the plotline felt a little far-fetched to me, the author didn’t stretch the boundaries of my disbelief too much and while I’m not sure all readers will enjoy some of the twists in the plot overall, I think most mystery readers should find the various overlaps and the multiple layers to the plot a solid and enjoyable read.

I also am getting used to the author regularly allows the last few pages to be a bit of a foreshadowing into the next book and while nothing very cliff-hanger-ish or spoilery occurred, I definitely have learned to have the next book or two on hand just in case I find myself desperate to read the next one hard on the heels of the current one.

A solid and well-paced British police procedural style of mystery novel this is a great series and an author I am growing to be a big fan of. With a solid cast of characters and a lovely smaller town setting I found this to be an easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable story.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Buried by Mark Billingham

August 19, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Buried by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Sphere
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Luke Mullen, the missing teenage son of a former police officer, was last seen getting into a car with an older woman. No one knows whether he went willingly or was abducted, whether he’s living or dead.

Then the videotape arrives . . .

On special assignment, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne is in charge of the investigation into Luke’s disappearance. But it’s the information that Tony Mullen, the boy’s father, is not freely sharing that Thorne finds particularly disturbing—like the names of dangerous criminals who have openly threatened the tough ex-detective and his entire family. Something shocking and deadly may well be buried deep in old cases and past lives. But Thorne knows he doesn’t have the luxury of time to dig—especially when a kidnapper brutally demonstrates that he is willing to kill.

Teenager Luke Mullen is last seen near his school, getting into the car with an older woman. When he still hasn’t turned up after the weekend even his parents acknowledge something has gone wrong and begin to call in favours from the retired detective’s former colleagues to help trace what happened to his missing son. DI Tom Thorne is part of the team called in to help bolster the case – but as three crucial days have already been lost, can they make up for lost time?

I have been greatly enjoying this British police procedural series. I was happy to note this book had a few key differences. Most of the previous books have felt quite bleak and harsh to me and I was very pleasantly surprised that while still a gritty and edgy read, this didn’t feel hopeless or too bleak to me. I think part of this came from the fact two other cases completely unrelated to the kidnapping were given a strong boost from the two police teams working together and that was a delightful surprise to me. I really feel much of the tone of the book was lightened in that – while the main kidnapping case continued to progress slowly – other links and other cases were aided from the dedicated and strong work performed by the police teams. This helped lighten the tone to my mind.

I additionally feel that having more characters in the two police teams working together and interweaving helped make the tone and feel of the working relationships feel a little more flexible and a little less weighted. I certainly had the feeling that having more crossover between the teams and having people pair up differently and yet still clearly work together gave the story a different tone.

I would certainly add this isn’t a light or easy read still. We do get a few snippets from Luke’s perspective throughout the book and while nothing too overly graphic is described – I do feel a kidnapped teenager and seeing what he’s going through likely won’t be easy ready for some. This is not a happy or light book – but I have to admit I strongly felt it wasn’t the bleak or emotionally taxing read I was expecting it to be when I began. I am glad the author has changed his tone somewhat and I hope this might continue on into the further books in the series.

A strongly plotted and highly realistic British Police procedural mystery novel, this book was a good addition to this series. While I don’t feel it will suit all readers, those looking for a UK style, tightly plotted and strongly written mystery should feel this is a series to look into.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Matter Of Evidence by Rhys Dylan

August 13, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Matter Of Evidence by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

One wrong does not justify another

In the desolate landscapes of SENTA, the Bannau Brycheiniog army training grounds, DCI Warlow and his seasoned investigators find themselves ensnared in a deadly game of shadows.

A man, recently released from prison after a 20-year wrongful conviction, is discovered dead, igniting a storm of doubt and suspicion. As long-buried secrets claw their way to the surface, the line between truth and deception blurs. With everyone involved in the original case now a potential suspect, they must tread carefully and confront the crimes of old as well as the present.

As the stakes escalate, can Warlow decipher the puzzle of the past before the present claims another victim?

DCI Warlow and his team are called in to investigate when a young man – who had only recently been released from prison after a wrong conviction overturned after nineteen years – has been murdered. As they look into the original crime and the resultant mess left behind the team discovered that more than a few people had reasons to keep this freed young man from telling the truth. Can they right these past grievous wrongs?

I have been really enjoying this slightly grittier Welsh based crime/mystery novels but have to admit we’re fast reaching the stage where there’s a number of plots arching across multiple novels and the team are getting more and more settled in together. While I do feel this book can be read by itself, there’s a few strong sub plots that have carried over from the previous few books. Additionally, I don’t feel this book ends quite on a cliffhanger, but it was very very clear to me what is about to happen almost immediately after this book has finished and I find myself really eager to carry on and not wait through a few other reads. So I was quite grateful that I already had the next book in the series waiting for me and I’ll be moving directly onto that next book. I have a strong feeling some other readers might feel the same as me and while this plot wraps up I’m very eager for the dangling thread left right there on the last few pages and so I’d strongly recommend readers consider having the next in the series on hand.

I really enjoyed this main plotline – how the team were determined to right the wrongs of the past police team who let this young man slide into the system and never tried to own their own errors. I also enjoyed how parts of the plot were quite convoluted and how I guessed some of it but also made inaccurate guesses in other places of the book. I thought a number of things wound together very well and while there wasn’t as much closure on some of the longer running plots that I’m eager to see wrapped up, there was some movement in them and that was good to read too.

Readers who enjoy a slightly more complicated British Police Procedural series should find this enjoyable. I admit it’s a little gritter and less “small town” or “comfort read” as many other British mysteries out there, but the plot is solidly written, and I find the series as a whole enjoyable.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Lifeless by Mark Billingham

August 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Lifeless by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Sphere
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Tom Thorne’s career is on the skids. Having seriously crossed the line on his last case and depressed over the recent suspicious death of his father, the once ambitious police detective has been reduced to pushing papers . . . and is being encouraged to take a prolonged leave of duty.

But someone is stalking the city’s most destitute citizens. Three homeless men have recently been kicked to death, each brutalized corpse discovered with a banknote pinned to its chest. With nothing to lose, Thorne volunteers to try to find the killer—taking to the streets he knows so well from his days as beat policeman and as a homicide detective, but this time joining the squalid ranks of life’s rejects. In this harsh and harrowing netherworld, with its own rules and moral codes, a shocking link between the brutal crimes and a fifteen-year-old atrocity could end up costing Thorne what little life he has left.

Three men (all homeless and sleeping rough on London’s streets) have all been brutally murdered; kicked to death and found with a twenty-pound note pinned to their jackets. The murders each appear random, but – even still grieving and newly shuffled out of the murder team – DI Tom Thorne can tell there has to be more to this series of killings than is readily apparent. Convincing his boss that going undercover and living rough with these people, Tom is determined to navigate this disturbing underworld. Can Tom uncover what’s happening before he, as well, is lost amongst the masses?

I have been really enjoying this gritty and well written British Police Procedural series. I’ve remarked a few times in the previous reviews for earlier books that this series can be quite harsh and difficult at times to read and this story was absolutely up there with the best of them. The entire premise of the plot is a difficult subject – the vulnerable homeless which every large city has, so I feel everyone can relate on some level to this group. While I was pleased the author didn’t go overboard with the harshness and tragedy of this subject, neither does he gloss over anything.

I found myself really impressed with the depth and balance to which the author – through Tom – filled out this book. I thought the balance was just right, with plenty of description and showing much of this underbelly through Tom living 100% rough on the streets full time with this community (and all those associated taboos) but not making this aspect more important than the other humans there or the plot of unearthing a killer.

Like most of the previous books in this series, I strongly suspect this will not be every reader’s style or favoured plotline. I feel this is meant to be an uncomfortable book and meant to make you think and push your boundaries and I found that here in spades. I equally found myself enjoying Tom’s character – and his boss and Holland’s to a lesser extent – and hoping each of them could grow and expand through this experience.

I admit the murder mystery – while always present – definitely took a secondary seat at times to the life experience Tom was getting on the streets. I was quite happy with this, but I do feel readers interested more purely in the mystery and not as engrossed in the rest of the story might find the spotlight should have been more firmly on the mystery and less on the homeless world and streets that were the atmospheric backdrop to this story.

Readers looking for a different, grittier and at times harder storyline should absolutely give this series – and this book in particular – a crack. While it might not resonate with everyone, I am really finding myself darkly addicted to this series and am happy there’s a number more to come before I’m caught up.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »