Murder In The New Forest by Carol Cole

May 4, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder In The New Forest by Carol Cole
Publisher: The Book Folks
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

A Scottish detective in England’s New Forest.

Detective Inspector Callum MacLean should be unpacking boxes in his new home. But when a man is run over and killed outside Godshill Village Hall, his week’s leave is cut short.

The victim, Brendan Stafford, was a retired lecturer from Birmingham. No one knows why he was attending a local village meeting in the middle of the New Forest on a freezing January night.

The post-mortem reveals Stafford was already dead before the car wheels struck him.

Everyone in the village seems to be hiding something — from the butcher to the forest keeper. Callum and his team must dig into old quarrels and quiet vendettas — and uncover secrets as tangled as the forest brambles.

DI Callum MacLean has newly arrived in rural Hampshire from the bustling city center of Glasgow and he immediately is drawn to the stark contrasts. Called onto his first murder investigation before he’d even official clocked on to his first day, Callum hits the ground running. Learning about his surroundings, his new team, the office politics as well as the locals, can Callum sort everything out in time?

I bought this new to me author and series on a whim and am very happy with the discovery. I feel this book stands very well on it’s own, and while it is absolutely a British Police Procedural with the slower mystery pace of the genre I still thought there were plenty of twists and red herrings to keep even more active readers engrossed.

I thought the author did a good job balancing between all the new information – a whole cast of new secondary characters, as well as the main protagonist and new scenery – but keeping the plot and mystery moving forward at a decent pace. There were no info-dump sections which I was grateful for and while there was a lot of explanations needed I didn’t find myself bored or skimming ahead.

I also enjoyed the fact that I managed to guess a few parts of the plot, but was delightfully surprised by a few twists and secrets that I hadn’t seen coming. This made me feel like there was a good amount of conflict and mystery but nothing so high level it’s impossible to figure it out until the main characters lead you there.

A lovely first book that I greatly enjoyed – I had already ordered the next in the series before finishing this one. I expect this to be a series I shall enjoy further in the future. Recommended.

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Murder Never Misses by Faith Martin

May 1, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder Never Misses by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Three missing young women. One evil stalker. But Hillary doesn’t think it all adds up.

Hillary is recovering from the vicious attack by her stalker. It appears that he is also behind the disappearance and murder of three women. Her bosses want these unsolved cases closed, but Hillary has a theory that will shock everyone.

However, as the truth comes to light, Hillary and the team are faced with a dire emergency — can they prevent an imminent murder?

Hillary Greene has returned to Thames Valley Police HQ, acting as a cold-case consultant for the Crime Review Team, looking into murders which the police have never been able to solve.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to go back. But solving crimes is irresistible for Hillary Greene. And it doesn’t hurt that her new boss is devastatingly handsome.

Hillary Greene and her team are searching for three missing young women and the connection these ladies have to her stalker. With the cases closing in, can Hillary keep on top of everything?

While this book definitely had it’s own trilogy of linked cold cases, I feel it should be noted these directly relate to the previous book (Murder of a lover) and Hillary’s stalker. The cases and resolution of Hillary’s circumstances are all well contained in this book, I do feel it’s likely readers might find a deeper emotional connection and understanding of the stakes if they’ve read the previous book in this series.

I thought the pace of the cold cases – and especially the way they unfurled – was really well written and interesting. This plot wasn’t there just for padding or show, I really enjoyed how it wasn’t quite as you might expect and while I admit I had correctly guessed some of it, parts still took me delightfully by surprise. I think this should definitely keep most readers on their toes and I found it thoroughly enjoyable.

With solid plotting and a strong cast of well written secondary characters I feel this has been a great series and I am eager for the next installment and to see where it leads Hillary next. Recommended.

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The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly

April 27, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly
Publisher: Orion (Hachette UK)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

There’s chaos in Hollywood at the end of the New Year’s Eve countdown. Working her graveyard shift, LAPD detective Renée Ballard waits out the traditional rain of lead as hundreds of revelers shoot their guns into the air. Only minutes after midnight, Ballard is called to a scene where a hardworking auto shop owner has been fatally hit by a bullet in the middle of a crowded street party.

Ballard quickly concludes that the deadly bullet could not have fallen from the sky and that it is linked to another unsolved murder—a case at one time worked by Detective Harry Bosch. At the same time, Ballard hunts a fiendish pair of serial rapists, the Midnight Men, who have been terrorizing women and leaving no trace.

Determined to solve both cases, Ballard feels like she is constantly running uphill in a police department indelibly changed by the pandemic and recent social unrest. It is a department so hampered by inertia and low morale that Ballard must go outside to the one detective she can count on: Harry Bosch. But as the two inexorable detectives work together to find out where old and new cases intersect, they must constantly look over their shoulders. The brutal predators they are tracking are ready to kill to keep their secrets hidden.

It’s mid-pandemic and detective Renee Ballard has noticed the department is going through quite a change. Called out to a murder on New Years Eve and also helping out on what appears to be a serial rapist with the Sex Crimes unit, Renee doesn’t want to lose the murder when she finds her case links back to a much older case – an open case – from Harry Bosch’s time. Can they work together again to solve both their cases?

I’m a longtime fan of Bosch (more than twenty years now) and love seeing him retired but still in action with Ballard. I feel Connelly manages to really blend the old and the new with this book and I also admit I enjoy the dynamic now between Bosch and Ballard – they’ve really found a good groove to give them both their independence but also a trust and working relationship that works for them both. I found it a joy to read.

I also enjoyed the reality and Covid additions. It felt there was enough there to be real and truthful without delving too deeply or harping on about the pandemic years. I feel Connelly did a really good job with this balance and reality too.

Readers looking for a modern and realistic police murder mystery with an excellent plot and relatable characters should absolutely give this a try. While I feel the book can absolutely be read as a standalone I do think more emotional attachment might be felt for readers who have at least a few of the previous books under their belts.

A solid and well written mystery. Recommended.

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One Less Snake by Rhys Dylan

April 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


One Less Snake by Rhys Dylan
Publisher: Wyrmwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Even sleepy, picturesque coastal towns have their secrets.

Welcome to Solva, where a burned-out car, a corpse, and a hauntingly precise execution greets a morning walker.

DCI Evan Warlow faces a case steeped in fear and the worst of modern crimes.

As clues lead him down twisting trails, Warlow must confront not only the killer’s identity but also the lingering echoes of a community’s darkest sins and the intersection of power, revenge, and justice.

DCI Warlow and his team are called in to investigate when a body is found in a burned out car at the bottom of a quarry. Suspecting the body is that of a local politician Warlow and his team soon discover there are any number of murky possibilities. Can they unravel the truth?

I have been greatly enjoying this Welsh police procedural mystery series and found this book to be a solid addition to the ongoing storylines. While the main murder mystery was the primary focus of the book I was really interested that various sub plots around the police team had a good amount of time too. Gina’s visiting brother and some of Jess’ Italian relatives and a bit more of her back story. While this book can absolutely be read as a stand alone I admit I do think readers who have read at least a few of the previous installments – and therefore have a strong emotional attachment to the team – might find this books hits a bit deeper and the enjoyment might be a little more than someone just picking this up fresh. I also really appreciated that we had a good update and a few scenes with Catrin as well. I’m looking forward to her return soon.

Readers looking for a well plotted, primarily police procedural style of mystery should find this really works for them. I admit I enjoy the fact this is based in Wales. I do find this gives a slightly different atmosphere – a little grittier or harder sometimes – than the usual British mystery storylines. I enjoyed the pacing and the conflict – I also am wondering if down the line there might be a bit more trouble from a new character – a female reporter who struck me very much as not a finished plotline in this book.

With a solid cast of strong secondary characters and an enjoyable mystery I can easily recommend both this book and the series as a whole. Highly enjoyable.

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Dead Ground by M.W. Craven

April 20, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Dead Ground by M.W. Craven
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe is in court, fighting eviction from his beloved and isolated croft, when he is summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle where a man has been beaten to death with a baseball bat. Poe is confused – he hunts serial killers and this appears to be a straightforward murder-by-pimp – but his attendance was requested personally, by the kind of people who prefer to remain in the shadows.

As Poe and the socially awkward programmer Tilly Bradshaw delve deeper into the case, they are faced with seemingly unanswerable questions: despite being heavily vetted for a high-profile job, why does nothing in the victim’s background check out? Why was a small ornament left at the murder scene – and why did someone on the investigation team steal it? And what is the connection to a flawlessly executed bank heist three years earlier, a heist where nothing was taken . . .

DS Washington Poe and analyst Tilly Bradshaw are in court, fighting his eviction from Poe’s beloved croft home. Before the verdict can be made, they are both whisked away in a flurry of secrecy to a brothel where a murder with important ramifications has occurred. Can Poe and Tilly work out the complexities of what’s happened without stepping on too many feet?

I have been greatly enjoying this series and absolutely loved this book. Poe and Tilly are both very different characters but I adore how well they work together and their skills mesh and compliment one another. I also particularly love how there is a great working and friendship chemistry between them – bot no hint of sexual tension or “more” which is rare in this sort of dynamic and I really love it.

There is a good cast of strong secondary characters that I also find enjoyable – but the plot and complexities revolving around the various moving parts here is where I really feel the author shines. I found it clear from the beginning that there were multiple layers to everything and watching both Poe and Tilly connect everything and unveil the next layer down was just a pleasure. Nothing came too easy for them but – equally important to my mind – nothing felt beyond reach or like there would need to be a bending of realistic to make something occur. I thought the plot and author walked a good line between complex but realistic.

Readers who enjoy mysteries and in particular British based police procedural style settings should absolutely enjoy this book. While I personally love them all and would happily start back at the beginning of the series I feel the plot and story is well encapsulated within this book and it’s not strictly necessary to have read any of the previous books – but why deny yourself? This is an exceptional series and one of my absolute current favourites, do yourself a favour and go back to the beginning and enjoy the full ride. Highly recommended.

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

Murder Of A Lover by Faith Martin

April 15, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder Of A Lover by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Ten years ago, Rowan Thompson was found stabbed to death with a pair of scissors in his student house. It turns out that Rowan was quite a lover, with many disgruntled partners left in his wake.

But did any of them have a strong enough motive to murder him?

Meanwhile. Hillary’s stalker is getting more aggressive with his messages and flowers. And it looks like he may be much, much worse than she thought.

Has Hillary finally bitten off more than she can chew?

Hillary Greene has returned to Thames Valley Police HQ, acting as a cold-case consultant for the Crime Review Team, looking into murders which the police have never been able to solve.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to go back. But solving crimes is irresistible for Hillary Greene. And it doesn’t hurt that her new boss is devastatingly handsome.

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.

Hillary Greene has settled into being a civilian officer quite well. With the successful closing of her first cold case she’s eager to begin her second. But with her personal and professional lives crossing over can she keep her streak going?

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this series and am quite happy with the slightly new trajectory the author has taken these books. Hillary and her case solving skills remain top notch, but she’s having to learn to trust her team more than ever. I’m curious as to where the blossoming new romance might lead, and I find the sub-plot of the stalker is also coming along very well.

With some longer running story arcs as well as an interesting and well contained cold case mystery I thought this was a very well written book and an excellent addition to the series. Recommended.

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The Snob by Megan Slayer

April 14, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Snob by Megan Slayer
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Dacre will risk everything to keep Carley safe, but he expects a high price — her heart.

Carley Mathers isn’t just the “party girl” daughter of a congressman. She’s more. But these days, in a world of fake friends, she’s determined to keep only true ones close. Because she puts them at arm’s length, her classmates at college refer to her as “The Snob.” But she comes from wealth and means — she shouldn’t be able to mix with her bodyguard, right?

Dacre Jennings has been given the job of protecting Carley while she’s off at college. The same classmates who make light of her silence also make fun of him, too. He doesn’t care that they think she lives with the old man. He’d rather she lived with him than alone. He sees the real woman, and he’s been in love with her for as long as he’s worked for the family.

With threats on her life, Dacre refuses to let Carley be used or abused. He’ll put his life on the line for her, as long as he knows he’s got her heart as well.

With social media and fake friends nowadays, Carley is determined to only keep her true friends close. When her classmates call her “The Snob” she mostly shrugs it off. Dacre is her bodyguard, keeping Carley safe while she’s off at college. He couldn’t care less that those same classmates make fun of him – finding humor in Carley living with an old man – but he’s the one who sees Carley for who she truly is, and loves her deeply. Can Carley and Dacre find their way together?

While the trope of bodyguard falls in love with his client is not new, this is a refreshing, modern and interesting story. Carley’s father is a super rich businessman and influencer who begins to orbit the president’s social and government circle. When Carley finds herself being used as her father’s pawn she and Dacre decide to rock the boat and help Carley assert her independence. This was fresh enough it not only kept me interested but felt like a different take on a well worn plotline.

At first it was hard to connect with the blossoming romance between Carley and Dacre – mainly because they were shifting and changing their roles and relationship to each other. It’s not a bad thing that took some time, and the author definitely wrote this aspect well. I was definitely pleased that Carley and Dacre’s relationship was firmly established before the secondary plot of a stalker/killer really moved into action.

Normally I really enjoy a book that has a solid plot along with a good spicy relationship, but in a way it seemed like this book changed mid way through. It was somewhat jarring for the plotline to shift from “my father is trying to use me and set me up” and into “I have a killer stalker”. Perhaps the story would have felt stronger and more stable had it just been one plotline or the other and not a shift from one to the next.

Despite this, I really did enjoy this story – particularly the slow burn and steamy chemistry between Carley and Dacre. Readers who enjoy a seriously spicy, bodyguard style of story should absolutely find this one hits the right spot. I did enjoy the thorough plotting and will happily read more by this author. Enjoyable.

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

Devil’s Gambit by Jade Rowe

April 9, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Devil’s Gambit by Jade Rowe
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

My abusive husband lost me in a poker game.
Now I belong to the most dangerous man in New York.
And he only has one condition:

Give him two weeks.

Two weeks under the constant watch of his whisky-colored eyes.
Two weeks next to his perfect, tattoo-covered body. In his billion-dollar bed.

Two weeks to be treated like a queen. And dominated like his toy.

Two weeks. That’s all Dante Caruso demands. Then I can make my decision.
Leave this dark life behind and never look back. Or become his forever.

But there’s one secret he doesn’t mention. Something I could never have predicted.

He’d burn the world down to make me stay.
And I’ll yearn to melt in the fire.

Bella’s life is a series of being constantly on edge. When her abusive husband – whom her father sold her to in order to settle his debts – then puts her up as a last stake in a poker game, she finds herself sold on to another unknown, tattoo-covered mafia man. Dante demands very little, and insists at the end of the two week period Bella can make her own decision. Leave this dark life behind, or become his forever.

I have to admit this is my first foray into the dark mafia romance genre and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. While there are certainly dark themes in this book, and some of the action, fighting and bloodshed in certain key scenes is descriptive – I have to say this story wasn’t as dark as I was expecting. Yes, there is shooting and fights, mafia style scenes and posturing. There is also some violence against Bella in a few scenes – but there is nothing titillating or over-indulged to my mind. The violence is there and not shied away from, but it’s also not drawn out or dwelled on. So I feel this was a good balance between what I was expecting and not hiding it away, either.

This is also a fairly spicy book. I don’t feel this is as explicit (or as sex-heavy) as many erotica stories I have read. That said, it’s not a mafia story with a little romance. I definitely feel it rates a spicy level and not “mainstream romance” sort of heat level, but neither would I slot it in with the erotica genre or more sex-based-plot sort of books either.

I was particularly pleased that the plotline – the mafia fighting and posturing – was absolutely front and center though much of this story. Dante and Bella’s romance is equally prominent, but I feel the plot had about equal amounts of time and this gave the book a better foundation to my mind that had the author primarily focused on the romance between the two main characters. There was also a good number of strong secondary characters and I absolutely felt the next book was set up towards the end of this one – likely featuring Marco, Dante’s older brother and Grace. I’d absolutely be keen to follow on with that book.

Readers should also be aware that while I did find Dante’s character to be fairly straightforward, Bella’s character is quite complicated and might not be to everyone’s tastes. I found she really grew on me but Bella was not what I would think of as a traditional heroine. She is complicated and layered – and what I found brilliant (and slightly difficult) is that in many ways she’s just as morally grey as Dante. Bella is a survivor. She is intelligent and strong. These are brilliant things, but in the difficult mafia world she finds herself embedded in – that means making difficult decisions and not necessarily walking a pure and white path. I’m not sure this will appeal to more traditional romance readers and is likely why it comes more under the dark mafia genre heading – even though I, personally, didn’t find it as dark as I was expecting it to be. Readers who enjoy complicated plotlines and character journeys and growth should likely find this as engrossing as I did.

With a good balance between plot and spice, I found this to be an interesting story and a good “first try” of the dark mafia genre that seems to be everywhere lately. I enjoyed this book and will absolutely be looking at others this author has written. Recommended.

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Close To Home by LT Ryan

April 8, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Close To Home by LT Ryan
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

For years, Bear Logan served alongside Jack Noble. A top hitman. A top operator. When his chance at a simpler life came, he took it. But freedom is meant for the free, and that’s a luxury Bear might never have.

Bear Logan escaped a life of espionage, severing ties with all but his adopted teen daughter, Mandy. But Mandy isn’t a regular teen. Her family dead or estranged, raised with Bear and Jack Noble. She knows how to survive.

Relocated to a sleepy town in upstate New York, Bear and Mandy try to blend in. But when Bear unearths human remains in their backyard, unwanted attention is soon thrust upon him.

Working with the local sheriff, Josephine McKinnon, they discover there’s more going on in the town than anyone realized. A long history of families falling sick and dying plagues the area. As the mystery unfolds, Bear, Mandy, and McKinnon find themselves in the middle of a decades old conspiracy and cover up. And Bear is their number one target.

Now, facing a corporate giant trying to correct the sins of its past, Bear must step out of the shadows to deliver justice for the town, even if it means his life.

Riley Logan and his teenage daughter Mandy have just moved into a small town in New York. Their only goal is to lead a quiet, private life and set down some roots. When digging in their yard to begin a vegetable patch, Riley (Bear) uncovers the old septic system, and inside is the remains of a long-dead teenage girl. Bear and Mandy are soon drawn in to the dark underbelly of this seemingly idyllic small town and their peace is forever shattered.

This is the first book in the Bear and Mandy father/daughter series and I found it an interesting and well plotted book. I found the plot moved at a good pace – not hectic or breakneck but a lot faster than many mystery books tend to be. The mysteries surrounding Bear and Mandy’s past as well as the nefarious villains led this book to have a bit of a thriller style of edge to me.

I found it quite clear that some big conspiracy was deeply rooted in this small town, but the book was written in such a way that it wasn’t clear for quite some time exactly who (or what conglomerate) was at the tip of the apex. I enjoyed that quite a bit of the menacing in this book came from the nebulous manner of the conspiracy and it added a lot of tension to my mind. Readers who like small town mysteries – or conspiracy tales – should find this an excellent book.

Readers should be aware there is a strong tie to the teenagers in this book. Mandy is not a shrinking violet nor will she sit back and let the grown ups handle things. I found her character a little bit unrealistic in this book but have to admit the teasers and hints of her unusual childhood and upbringing helped me understand a little of why Mandy’s character didn’t act like any fourteen year old that I know of. I did also greatly enjoy how snippets of Mandy’s high school life made a stark contrast to all the other – far more grown up – mess surrounding her in the story. It was a good contrast and helped make the book feel a little more realistic.

I enjoyed this new-to-me series and am interested enough to pick up the next in the series. Readers who like mysteries set in small towns with a good plot and pacing should find this highly enjoyable.

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

The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave

April 3, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave
Publisher: Stamford Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Starting a new life in Snowdonia was always DI Ruth Hunter’s dream. Until a twisted killer turned it into her worst nightmare.

Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of London for a more peaceful life in rural North Wales. But Ruth has barely settled into her new position in North Wales Police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. Teaming up with an obstinate deputy, Ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. When another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation.

Has Ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?

DI Ruth Hunter is struggling with the pain of her partner’s mysterious disappearance. Burned out from the Met and unable to face the stalled, unsolved disappearance, she decides it’s time for a change and moves to rural North Wales hoping to begin her fifties with a clean start. Instead of the quiet life, however, a local school teacher is brutally murdered on Ruth’s first day, and the quiet idyl is shattered.

I was eager to try another Welsh police procedural style of novel. I’ve found Welsh writing to be a little more gritty and harder-hitting than regular British style and this book did not disappoint. Readers should be aware that the main characters have deep-seated, real kinds of issues and problems and this isn’t a fluffy or gentle story or read. I found myself impressed that the author didn’t shy away from making the characters and situation realistic but didn’t push the envelope so far as to try and be shocking just for the sake of it. I found both Ruth and Nick’s characters to be highly relatable and believable. I thought the tight balance between gritty and real, without being shocking or overly sensational just to get views or push the envelope was exceptionally written in this novel.

Readers looking for a strongly plotted mystery with slightly harder and more life-like characters should absolutely give this book a try. I also loved the setting of the Welsh countryside and found it highly atmospheric and virtually a character by itself.

A gripping murder mystery and different style of police procedural book – this was a great find. Recommended.

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