Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham

December 30, 2025 By Leave a Comment


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

In Love Like Blood, DI Tom Thorne, “the next superstar detective,” teams up with perfectionist DI Nicola Tanner, the protagonist of Billingham’s acclaimed stand-alone thriller Die of Shame (Lee Child).

When her domestic partner Susan is brutally murdered, Nicola Tanner is convinced that she was the intended target. The murderer’s motive is likely connected to her recent work on a string of cold case honor killings. Despite being placed on leave, Tanner insists on pursuing justice for Susan—and she turns to fellow DI Tom Thorne for help.

Agreeing to take the case, Thorne quickly finds that working in such controversial territory among London’s Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities can be dangerous in more ways than one. But when a young Bangladeshi couple goes missing, Tanner and Thorne must put everything on the line to investigate a case that is anything but cold.

DI Tom Thorne is reluctantly drawn in by a fellow officer to what appears to be a series of contracted honour killings. The link is tenuous, but Nicola Tanner is convinced and – always one to play by the rules – her conviction sways Thorne. Tanner is up front by the reasons for her tenacity, but when another pair of young lovers go “missing” Thorne has to admit there seems to be something to Tanners theory. Can they work out what’s really happening?

While I absolutely have been enjoying this series I admit I find most of the books varying degrees of uncomfortable. The author has an amazing knack of taking difficult – if not taboo – circumstances and cantering his plot lines around it. I found this book – based around a pair of killers who hire themselves out to perform honour killings for families refusing to get their hands dirty – to be equal parts discomfortable and an excellently writer murder mystery.

Readers who enjoy a grittier – or even noir – style of British police procedural should definitely find this book appeals to them. I can also recommend the rest of the series as being along a similar line.

This is well into the DI Thorne series this book can absolutely be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Readers shouldn’t worry about not having read previous books, this one stands well by itself. Found it to be an excellent – if slightly uncomfortable- read and worth the emotional investment.

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The Talisker Dead by JM Dalgliesh

December 19, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Talisker Dead by JM Dalgliesh
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Digging up the past… is enough to kill you…
When a teenage islander goes missing on Burns Night, D.I. Duncan McAdam takes a strong interest despite the apparent lack of concern shown by the boy’s father. When a woman’s body is soon discovered in Talisker Bay, with a single stab wound to the chest, Duncan and his team realise they have a killer on the island.

A brutal winter storm is battering the island, and it soon becomes a race against time to find the missing boy. Is he hiding or is someone keeping him from coming home? As the team delve deeper into the lives of the teenager and the deceased, they come to the conclusion that nothing is quite what it seems and more than one person has a vested interest in concealing the truth.

A closely guarded secret, lying in a shallow grave for years, is under threat of being revealed and no one seems willing to face up to their past… least of all, Duncan McAdam himself. Duncan has a decision to make, one that will impact not only his life but the lives of those he cares about the most. Does he have the courage to follow his instincts? And just who is he acting in the interests of… the people he loves… or purely for himself?

A teenager goes missing on Burns Night, and although some of the lad’s family aren’t too concerned, DI McAdam still takes a strong interest in the case. Soon afterwards, a woman’s body is discovered, and even though Duncan and his team can’t see how the two incidents can be connected, there’s no denying that there’s now a killer on the island somewhere.

This is the third book in JM Dalgliesh’s mystery series based on the Isle of Skye. While still feeling very much like a British Police Procedural style of murder/mystery to me I must admit I really enjoy the remote, island community feel these stories bring. I feel somehow the author really manages to balance just right the isolated small town feel with enough personalities and links to still keep things interesting and keep me as a reader guessing. And I’ll admit that while I certainly managed to work out a few aspects of the plot, there were still a number of items I hadn’t guessed, and some of the characters still managed to surprise me too.

Readers looking for an action-orientated or fast paced story might not find this book quite fits their needs, but the characters are delightfully complicated and realistic, and the situations are relatable and believable. I also thought the murder mystery was interesting and also layered enough to keep my attention throughout the story.

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Murder By Fire by Faith Martin

December 15, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Murder By Fire by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed Fern

Meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.

David Merchant’s body is found in a bonfire in his back garden. David was a publisher and devout Christian. Who would want to kill this seemingly very decent man?

DI Hillary Greene faces one of her most puzzling cases as she struggles to find anyone with a strong motive to kill the pious publisher.

Then, as Hillary unearths greedy business partners and an estranged son, her focus is diverted when a new team member is targeted by a vicious gang.

Hillary’s under massive pressure and will she finally crack? And if she does, where will she go from here?

DI Hillary Greene is back again. Still feeling a bit low from recent events, life is slowly returning to normal and her team is soon called out to a suspicious death right on their doorstep. An older man is found burning on a small bonfire in his back yard in an otherwise quite little village. With a new team member to train can Hillary uncover who would want him dead?

This has been a really good series and I enjoy how the author keeps it fresh but still consistent. I can appreciate how Hillary’s team is largely stable, but with enough character growth and movement for it to stay interesting and new, I’m intrigued by her newest – and youngest – member. I also enjoyed that there was plot development around most of the other secondary characters, both within Hillary’s team and her two bosses.

The murder mystery itself also was quite interesting, with enough people to investigate and the leads allowing the plot to unfurl at a decent pace I found this to be a well written and thoroughly enjoyable British police procedural style of book. Well into the series, I did find that my emotional attachment to a number of the characters was quite strong mainly because I was well aware of the history, but I must admit the plot in particular stood well and was confined to just this story. I also really do feel that readers should be able to pick this book up by itself and still thoroughly enjoy it without having any of the past escapades under their belt.

An enjoyable and well written novel, this is more of a slower paced book that still moves along well. This is not an action-orientated or fast paced book, but it allows the reader to figure things out alongside the main characters, and I enjoyed that.

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A Darkly Shining Star by MS Morris

December 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Darkly Shining Star by MS Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

It’s nearly Christmas in Oxford and Detective Inspector Bridget Hart is enjoying a rare day off at Oxford’s Christmas Market. A ghost tour seems like a fun way to round off the day. Until, that is, a brutal murder brings the evening to a tragic close.

Torn between work and family commitments over the festive season, Bridget soon discovers that the ghost of Christmas past is reaching out to the present with fatal consequences.

Not everyone believes in the season of goodwill to all men, and with a real-life, flesh-and-blood killer at large in Oxford, Bridget races to solve the case in time to prevent yet more murders.

With only a few days remaining until Christmas DI Bridget hart is enjoying a rare day off and spending time with her partner at the local Christmas market. They decide on a whim to enjoy the ghost tour before heading home only the group leader is stabbed to death as the group enjoys a quick drink after the tour ends. Shocked and curious who in earth could want to kill the kind and pleasant man, Bridget and her team investigate the murder, quickly finding that it’s strongly linked to a strange disappearance decades ago.

I have been enjoying this British police procedural series and found this to be a well plotted and enjoyable addition. While I am pleased the other team members have different personalities and stand well alone, I must admit some of the personal drama between Ffion and Jake was starting to drag a little for me. I was pleased that the authors seem to have wrapped it up – at least for now – but I really hope they both move on swiftly from this and some of that angst and drama really settles down.

Oddly enough I find the family drama surrounding Bridget and her family – especially that of her daughter and sister – much more palatable and even though this a drama is even more lingering than that of Bridget’s colleagues, I think I find regular family conflict – a new boyfriend, feelings of not measuring up – a lot less grating and far more relatable. I also enjoy how the regular personal conflicts make a good contrast to the police work and murder plot line.

Readers looking for a well-balanced, police procedural style of murder mystery should find this book really suits that niche.

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Vanished Trails by LT Ryan

December 5, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Vanished Trails by LT Ryan
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Amidst Shadows and Secrets, a Deadly Hunt Begins.
Six kids walked into the woods, but only five walked out…

18-year-old Liz Turner’s vanishing act sets off a relentless storm of secrets and suspicions. Her tight-knit group of friends, on the verge of starting their college journey, becomes fractured as they grapple with the puzzling nature of her disappearance. Without a body to be found, the police investigation stalls, leaving the case enshrouded in uncertainty.

Maddie Castle, tormented by personal tragedy. In the depth of her despair, the vanishing of Daisy Miller, her boyfriend’s sister-in-law, stirs old wounds and ignites a flicker of hope. Desperate for answers and redemption, Maddie seeks alliance with Detective Ashley Harper, the relentless investigator assigned to the Liz Turner case.

But their partnership comes at a cost. Maddie, once a respected law enforcement officer, must now rely on her instincts and her loyal K9 partner, Tempest, to navigate the treacherous terrain of this perplexing enigma. Harper’s bargain is simple: unravel the threads of Liz Turner’s life in exchange for assistance in solving Daisy’s disappearance.

As they plunge deeper into the heart of darkness, Maddie and Harper find themselves entangled in a web of danger, deceit, and deadly adversaries. From the eerie depths of the Pennsylvania wilderness to the clandestine world of hidden foes, they discover that every step taken toward the truth could also lead them closer to their own demise.

PI Maddie Castle is still recovering from her previous case. Struggling with her grief and despair she’s finally ready to help her childhood friend Bentley discover what happened to his sister in law Daisy. Yet when Maddie reaches out to try and find details of that case, another vanishing falls into her lap. The parents of a recently missing teenager – presumably lost in the woods – hire Maddie and her K9, Tempest, to search for their wayward daughter. Only Maddie quickly finds that case is far more complicated, and volatile, than she expected.

I have been really enjoying this series and found this to be an interesting and well paced book. There is quite a lot of personal growth and character movement – both for Maddie and the other secondary characters directly around her. While I thoroughly enjoyed the progress on a number of the longer running story arcs I can’t help but feel that maybe readers new to this series might feel all the character growth and development might be slowing the pace of the mystery plot. I enjoyed the – long time coming – developments, but I am also heavily emotionally invested in a number of these character arcs. Readers who are fresh to this book and series, or readers more interested in the mystery, might not feel the same.

That said, I did feel the two main mysteries here – one longer running and one well encapsulated in this book – were well written and intriguing enough to hold the readers attention. While I admit this is not a highly complex, deeply plotted storyline I found it fresh and not too cliched. I also appreciated that the missing teenager was not the usual sort of “innocent missing kid” that is usually in this scenario. That definitely gave the plot a realistic and more modern feel to me and had me interested on what had actually occurred that weekend. Watching that puzzle get solved was fun and kept me turning the pages.

Readers should definitely be aware that one of the sub-plots and quite a few of the character story arcs are ongoing throughout the series, and while the main mystery plot gets very well wrapped up – the sub-plot is a longer running line and is left with quite a few important questions still hanging at the end of this book. While I found this incentive to hurry into the next in the series – I could understand if readers who hate any kind of cliff hanger might not be as thrilled by this style of book ending.  This was a good book with plenty of character movement.

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Like The Stars by Jonathan Wright

December 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Like The Stars by Jonathan Wright
Jack-O-Lanterns, 9
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

If a Lycan loves you he will take you and ravage you with intense passion, make you come all night, and leave you exhausted and satisfied. In return for your love and your unquestioning obedience he will protect you, cherish you, and love you forever. He will fight to the death to keep you.

A vampire will seduce you with detached casualness and make you come until you scream. He will not stay with you, but will depart smiling, uncaring, having satisfied his own selfish desires and leaving you never wholly satisfied. You will beg to be his slave. He may accept you as such, but will feel no responsibility for you. He will use other women and you will not care as long as he uses you. If you disobey him the punishment will be harsh and painful. If you die he will feel nothing but a vague sense of what-might-have-been.

Lycans and vampires do not mix well.

Denise loved Halloween and particularly enjoyed the fantasy of vampires. Dressed for a party in the French Quarter as a succubus, she was determined to nab a vampire-costumed hottie. What she ended up with was Razul – an actual (not wannabe) vampire. Can one smoking hot night lead to something more?

I thoroughly enjoyed this super short Halloween themed spicy story. While I feel the story is somewhat unconventional, I do think other open minded erotica readers should enjoy this as thoroughly as I did. Readers needing a one-man, one-woman style of sexy story might not enjoy this quick read, but I do think if you keep an open mind this interesting and slightly different Halloween read could be something fresh and different.

I enjoyed how the author led us along and felt the story and changes to Denise were well explained. This is a new-to-me author, and I’d definitely be intrigued and interested to read more of his work. With a surprisingly robust plot for such a short story, I enjoyed both the twist (which I absolutely didn’t see coming) and the world building.

Equal parts sexy and intriguing, I found this to be a really well written, slightly darker spicy romance. Recommended.

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Bunny’s Special Treat by Wanda Violet O.

November 28, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Bunny’s Special Treat by Wanda Violet O.
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

His Bunny. His rules. One night of denial becomes a lifetime of surrender.

I never dreamed being Max’s Bunny would feel like this. Owned, protected, and utterly consumed by his desire shouldn’t be the enticement, but pleasing Max, submitting to him, fulfills something inside me I didn’t know I was missing. Every touch, every command, every whispered promise reminds me I belong to him. But belonging comes with its own exquisite torment.

Daddy Jacob’s masquerade promises a night of temptation and denial, where every glance burns hotter and every stolen touch leaves me trembling on the edge. I ache for release, but Max’s rules are absolute: I come only when he allows it. And tonight, he intends to push me further than I’ve ever gone before.

Surrounded by power, lust, and dangerous devotion, I have only one truth to hold on to. I’m Max’s Bunny. Always.

Max and his Bunny are enjoying a special night at Daddy Jacob’s masquerade. Even though the night is filled with friends, power and lust, Bunny knows Max’s rules come above all else. No matter the provocation or situation, she only comes when Max allows. Can Max and his Bunny enjoy this exquisite but tortuous evening together?

I enjoyed this brief but spicy Daddy Dom erotic short story. While I think I’ve read one of this series before – I haven’t followed along fully, and I still found the story spicy and enjoyable. I do think readers might feel a stronger connection to Bunny and Max and their friends if they’ve read the other books – but I found it certainly easy to pick this up pretty much by itself and still enjoy the proceedings.

Readers should be aware this spicy romance has multiple partners for Bunny, and the party is quite the enticing and exotic event. While there isn’t really much of a plot – I still found this an interesting and fun quick read. Absolutely have a cold drink on hand and I’d recommend not reading it anywhere public – Bunny is thoroughly put through her paces, and this isn’t the sort of book you want to be reading when others are around.

Short and sexy, this was a fun Halloween themed erotic story that should appeal to many BDSM readers.

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All Dressed Up by Ashlynn Monroe

November 27, 2025 By Leave a Comment


All Dressed Up by Ashlynn Monroe
Jack-O-Lanterns, Book 8
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday, Paranormal
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Halloween isn’t just for trick-or-treating. Sometimes it’s about playing dress up. When Isaac’s wife brings home a friend on Halloween, he never expects them to show him just what his sex life has been missing or that demons are real. Will he be willing to share his wife with two demons?

Isaac and Suzy’s marriage had gone from strength to strength after they moved. Reconnecting in the bedroom they each had loved the injection of heat into their sexy antics. Isaac is somewhat disappointed, therefore, when he gets home on Halloween to discover Suzy is out collecting her good friend Roneka who had come over for an unexpected visit. Can Issac and Suzy be honest about what each of them want?

I found this to be a super spicy foursome romance. While Suzy and Ronnie have been friends for quite some time, neither had acted on their attraction. When Ronnie also brings fellow demon Renault the four of them virtually set the bedroom on fire. Readers should absolutely sit back, keep calm, and enjoy the ride.

I do feel readers should be aware that there is very little plot to this spicy short story, and I found each page thoroughly enjoyable. The chemistry between all four characters is sky high and I really didn’t mind they didn’t even leave the house for the duration of the story.

Readers looking for a smoking hot four-way Halloween orgy can’t go wrong with this spicy short story.

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Murder In the Garden by Faith Martin

November 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Murder In the Garden by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Edward Philpott is found bludgeoned to death with his own spade in his beautiful garden. He lived with his daughter Rachel and his two grandchildren.

Hillary’s only lead is a rival from the village flower show who used to argue with the victim about the size of their vegetables. But what dark secrets from the past and present does this village hold?

Hillary has returned to work after the slaying of her boss and is desperate to track down his murderer. His pregnant widow is even more determined to get revenge, but will she go too far?

Can Hillary cope with two complex investigations full of extreme emotions, one of which is very close to home?

DI Hillary Greene has been off on two months compassion leave after the explosive ending of her last case. She returns to work slightly changed from the person and officer she was on that last fateful day. When her team is called onto a new investigation before she’s even sat down at her desk, Hillary knows she’ll need to be in top form if she really wants to return to her job – and life – after this enormous change.

I was pleased that the ramifications of the previous book are still solidly sounding through this story. While I don’t feel readers need to have read the previous book to understand the importance of what happened in it – I do think a deeper emotional connection and better understanding will be had if readers have at least a few of the previous books under their belt and they know the connections and deep friendships between Hillary and some of the secondary characters.

I was also pleased that while the resolution of this previous case is very strongly represented, it didn’t really detract from the new murder case. I thought the author handled the two powerful plotlines quite well. I was also intrigued by how Hillary’s character is still very much the same – but she’s clearly grieving and not at her best. I’ve never felt Hillary had been written as some omnipotent or untouchable heroine – but seeing her somewhat disjointed and not in top form was very realistic and quite interesting to read. Particularly since she continued to play to her strengths and remained the appealing and gripping character she’s always been.

This book was layered and very interesting. I’m eager to continue the series.

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

Murder In The Meadow by Faith Martin

November 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Murder In The Meadow by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Wayne Sutton is found dead by a stream in a beautiful meadow. His head has been bashed in and a red paper heart left on his body. The handsome young artist had a reputation as a ladies’ man.

DI Hillary Greene discovers that many wealthy married women were buying his paintings and taking ‘private’ art lesson from him. It appears that several of them might have wanted him dead.

Hillary also has a new detective sergeant, Gemma Fordham. Seemingly efficient and pleasant, she harbours a secret agenda.

Can Hillary get to the bottom of a complex case involving jealousy, love, and cold-blooded murder?

When two schoolboys find a dead artist in a nearby meadow DI Hillary Greene and her team are called in to investigate. All too soon they have more suspects than they can handle – cal DI Greene work out what’s really going on?

I’ve been really enjoying this British police procedural series based around Oxford. Greene is a wonderfully different character, a middle-aged woman, secure in her career and with plenty of brains and intuition. I love how she’s smart and competent without being omniscient or unrepeatable. I also enjoy how the author has managed to switch things up a bit by over the last few books having two of Greenes team move on – one through a transfer due to marriage and one through promotion. This realistically and easily opened the doors for two new team members to arrive and become strong secondary characters.

With enough interpersonal intrigue to keep me turning pages, the fact the murder mystery was also well plotted and set at a good pace was just icing on the cake.

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